Free Reckoning (The Empyrean Chronicle) by Patrick Siana Page B

dead.
    Through our history we have ever been at each other’s
throats, involved in one border conflict after another, in an antagonism that
culminated during my father’s long reign. I hope that with his passing so too
will the lingering vestiges of animosity between our nations.
    It has been twenty winters since the last blood was drawn
between our peoples—one year of peace for each year of blood. I hope that this
has been sufficient time to heal our mutual wounds.
    It is my hope that we may put our violent legacy aside
and begin diplomatic relations. In good faith, I wish to send an emissary, mine
own cousin Agnar Vundi, and some few kinsmen to accompany him, to initiate a
friendship between Galacia and Ittamar.
    You are doubtlessly aware by now that we have engaged in
trade relations with Aradur. It is my desire that we negotiate a trade treaty
as well. The children of Ittamar are hungry and have need of your ample grain. In
turn, we have deep reservoirs of ore and precious metals in abundance.
    While we can continue to acquire Galacian grain from our
dealings with Aradur, trading with you directly and cutting out the
intermediary would be beneficial to us both, for it means more grain for me at
a better price, and more coin for you.
    My emissary and his party will wait at the central
standing-stone on the Sheer for your reply. Your men may approach without fear
of reprisal. On this I give my word. We ardently await your reply.
    —Baruch Rachman, High King of Ittamar.
    Eithne handed the letter to Ogden.
His eyes darted back and forth as he read, his brow furrowed. After he finished
with the letter Ogden sat back. He tapped a finger thoughtfully against his
lips and his bushy eyebrows drew down over his eyes like a cowl.
    “So,” Eithne said, “what do you think?”
    “He has a gentle hand and a cultured tone, unlike his
father.” Ogden sighed. “I don’t need to tell you how depleted our coffers are
of late, and we’re already in debt up to our eyeballs with House Oberon and
Phyra. It might be worth the risk. I can’t think what danger a single delegate
party could present.”
    Eithne nodded. “Rachman must realize that his men would be
watched like hawks.”
    “That, and let us not forget that his need of grain is real.
Your father often mused that the potato famine that struck Ittamar some
twenty-five years ago may have been the driving force behind their incursion
into southern lands. It is reasonable that he would seek a diplomatic way to
feed his people before resorting to another bloody conflict. If he can’t feed
his people in times of peace he will have next to no chance of doing so during
a campaign. No, I don’t think that Ittamar can risk another war with Galacia.”
    Eithne snorted. “Nor can we,” she said, though Ogden knew it
as well as she. They had turned back Ittamar in the quarter-century war, but
only just.
    Twenty years after the armistice Galacia still recovered
from the cost of the lengthy conflict, both in coin and the virtual loss of a
generation of men. The Galacian Regulars had yet to fully rebound, and was
almost entirely populated by youths barely out of adolescence and veterans who
should have, by rights, retired years ago.“We have to consider that this may be
a ruse,” Eithne said. “This trade delegation could be nothing more than a deft
ploy to sow dissent in our court, or to gather intelligence. A divided Galacia
is easy pickings, and if Ittamar has forged an alliance with Aradur, giving
them leave to case Peidra could be disastrous.”
    Ogden offered his queen a broad smile. “Your father
instructed you well—to question everything.” Ogden spread his hands. “It could
be a cunning gambit, but it seems unlikely that Rachman would be willing to
sacrifice his cousin as he, to our knowledge, has no heir. Since the Ittamar
royal line passes only along the male bloodline, and Baruch has no living
brother, Vundi as his first cousin is heir to the throne. As a token of