Free Fate War: Alliance by E.M. Havens Page B

rested.
    He took her hand, kissing the gloved fingers, then wrapped them around his elbow to lead her to the balcony. “And how are you this morning daughter-in-law?”
    “I’m well. Thank you for asking, King Arnold. And you?”
    “Doing well, my dear.” He patted her hand as they reached the balcony where Cole stood, fidgeting with his tawny waistcoat. Under her fingers, Samantha felt the King tense. He and Cole nodded to each other, but no words were exchanged in salutation. Cole pulled out her chair, and both men helped her settle for their family breakfast. As the men took their seats, they continually eyed each other, like one expecting a tame tiger to turn man eater at any moment.
    Thankfully, the servants began uncovering today’s dishes, and the men were distracted by bacon. Sam placed a vegetable and cheese omelet on her plate. The back of her tongue hurt, she was salivating so much, and she hoped the gentlemen couldn’t hear her stomach growling.
    “So, Princess, I hear there are no trees in Perspicia,” the King stated between bites of sausage. She looked up from her plate to answer his question, but was caught off guard by his eyes. They were exactly like Cole’s. She didn’t think there could be two people in the world with such unique, two toned eyes. A grin spread across the King’s face. Samantha realized she was staring. She cleared her throat and dabbed her mouth with a napkin to cover her impertinence.
    “That’s the rumor, and it isn’t far from the truth.” Samantha put on her most pleasant smile as she contradicted the King. “There are a few protected forests left on the island. I will admit that, in the past, Perspicia has not been forward thinking in the use of its resources. Thankfully, we were able to ally with a kingdom of great resource.”
    King Arnold sat back, a pleased smile on his face, apparently satisfied with Samantha’s answer. “Mind you though, Perspicia has as much to offer as the Arboreal Lands. Your people are wizards of technology, something we are happy to use, but slow to invent.” He circled his fork in the air for punctuation and cut into another sausage. “Not like those barbaric Nakona to the east. They won’t touch anything mech. Live in huts or some such. Backwards people, warriors though. They should keep the Fate busy long enough to integrate your technology into our army. We might stand a chance against Fate mech then.” He popped another sausage in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
    Samantha had been sheltered in the school, but stories of the Fate army had filtered in just the same. Advanced weaponry and ruthless soldiers were the most believable of the rumors. One tale had them as mind readers, another being able to see in the dark without torches.
    The clatter of silver on china drew Samantha’s attention to Cole, whose jaw muscles danced and bulged as he glared at his father. “The Nakona are people, Father. People, not Fate fodder.” His voice was even, but Samantha could hear the restraint it took to keep it that way.
    King Arnold placed his knife and fork delicately on either side of his plate, then folded his hands in front of his face, elbows resting on the table as he finished chewing. With a measured tone, equally restrained as Cole’s, he answered his son. “Do you think me so callous as to throw anyone away, like so much chaff before flames, like you suggest I do with the Nakona before the Fate?”
    Cole’s jaw only worked harder in reply. Samantha hoped all of his teeth would be intact by the end of breakfast. The King continued. “If you had appeared at the summits with the Nakona as requested, you would know full well that they wanted nothing to do with any alliances.”
    The men continued to glower, their eyes locked, as the seconds ticked by, and Samantha was afraid the table might be tipped over when they went for each other’s throats.
    “I would love to hear more about Arborea’s resources,” she interjected, hoping