Free Soul Relenter (Soul Saga #3) by E. L. Todd Page B

utilized.”
    Laura nodded. “It’s too late now,” she said. “We may as well use her. I just hope we don’t regret this.”
    Mikah looked away from the queen. “So do I. I hope we don’t regret all of this.”
    Accacia looked a round at the ambassadors seated before her. She met the gaze of each advisor then looked away, meeting the face of the next one. “We won’t.”
    Illan ya pushed her tea cup away, finished with its contents. “So what do we do when we get there?”
    Mikah nodded. “Yes, what are your plans? What do we do first?”
    “We will dock in the harbor of Orgoom Forest,” Accacia said. “I am certain there will be enough accommodations for our ships on the shore. I know we will be safe in the borders of the trees.”
    Zyle leaned forward. “If Orgoom Forest is already compromised, whether i t’s burnt in flames or overrun by the king’s men, we will turn back immediately. If there is any threat to our people, we will abandon our kin to the Soul Binders. I will not risk out immortality; however, I find this unlikely. When we reach Orgoom Forest I will speak with the Nature Priest and begin the planning of the siege. I suspect he has more knowledge about the current events of the Continent than Accacia and I.”
    “When will we move toward the king?” Illana asked. Accacia knew she was anxious to avenge the death of her family. Accacia smiled at her, pleased she was determined to succeed in the endeavor. “Will the others be waiting for us?”
    “I’m not certain,” Accacia answered truthfully. “But we will meet them shortly. The Nature Priest o f those woods is a powerful man. He will be a great ally. Together we will meet with the uprising and then we will decide—”
    “—s o we are playing this by ear?” Mikah didn’t control the annoyance in his voice. He despised his queen more than ever. She had no idea what she was doing.
    Zyle felt his body snap under the interruption—the last one Mikah would make—and the anger flooded his veins. It didn’t matter that Accacia was his soul mate. His obvious disrespect was intolerable. Zyle couldn’t stand to hear the ambassador speak another word. He knew he would have been just as furious if he had addressed anyone this way, any of his ambassadors, or even himself. “No, we don’t know exactly what will transpire when we get there. Your expectations are ludicrous, Mikah.” Accacia closed her eyes at the sound of his voice. She knew he was too far gone. The power in his words reverberated through her mind and she could hear the silent threats slither from his words as he spoke. “How could she possibly know? You are so determined to see Accacia fail, to see this endeavor end in vain, and I am no longer tolerant of your disrespect and attitude. You are no longer the ambassador of education— get out .”
    The other ambassadors froze in their seat s. No one had ever been dismissed from office before. Zyle’s eyes were wide with spitting fire and his voice was deep and powerful. He was more than angry—he was furious. Mikah remained glued to his seat, still processing his dismissal from the room. Accacia felt the heat emit from Zyle’s body, the inferno of uncontrolled rage seeping through his pores. She feared the fire would burn her.
    Zyle rose from his chair and pointe d to the doorway. “GET OUT, MIKAH!”
    Mikah got to his feet slowly and met the gaze of the king. His own anger was burning in his eyes.
    Accacia pulled Zyle back into his chair. She rose from her seat and marched to the head of the table. The queen pointed at Mikah’s chair. “Sit,” she commanded him. Avey fell into the chair. “I understand we’re all stressed, frightened, and scared—we would be stupid if we weren’t. We aren’t just fighting for our lives, but our immortality, and the lost souls of our kin. This mission is too important to be given nothing less than our complete devotion.” She stared at the ambassadors before her. Zyle met her