Shevannis looked at the Magus, wondering if she heard him right. Clyden would see to the construction of the port city a hundred years from now. “Sure, the port city will remove idiotic greed and ambitious conquest for access to the sea trade from being any reason for us to fight in the future. But how could you help build,” Shevannis was in the middle of asking but was interrupted by Danyais.

  “He lives forever,” Danyais said, answering the question for her.

  “Not true. I can still die. If someone was to kill me. I just do not die from old age or sickness. I once had a friend; she was brilliant and came up with a way to reclaim such lands like these. Her method has never been tested on a large scale before. I have confidence it will work,” Clyden said, his thoughts taking him to memories of Lizbeth.

  One of Lizbeth’s most remarkable qualities was her inquisitive nature, and she enjoyed testing herself by solving problems without the use of magic. This remarkable quality also made her a nuisance. When Lizbeth used to talk to any of her friends about her discoveries or theories, the person would usually groan because they knew they would be in for an hour-long lecture at a minimum. She would even drag them into her tests or experiments as unwilling assistants. Only Varoosh could withstand Lizbeth’s lectures for extended hours. Now Clyden desperately wished he could have any boring such conversations with her again, and he would perform any absurd task she might have asked for.

  “Now on to the next point,” Clyden said, hopping back on his horse and pushing the memories of his friends from his mind.

  “The Gods, ‘their only child,’” Shevannis said, finally understanding what Clyden meant earlier.

  “Correct. The Gods’ only accursed child,” Clyden said, nodding his head and smirking at how wide Shevannis’ eyes were as the pieces were dropping into place for her; his plan was taking root.

  Shevannis quickly looked at Danyais, the fear barely hidden beneath her royal appearance.

  “We desire to be friends and allies again, and I can agree to the terms Clyden has recommended for us,” Shevannis said quickly.

  “This is great news, Shevannis,” King Danyais said.

  “With a concession,” Shevannis said, sighing and closing her eyes.

  “Concession? I think this is a favorable outcome for both our kingdoms, as it is, Shevannis,” Danyais countered. He nodded towards the burned cliff face, using the veiled threat of Clyden’s story to strengthen his position. It could easily have been pettiness on Danyais’ part, but this war was the fault of Sukkan, and they broke the treaties they had set between their two kingdoms, and he did not want to give in to any more concessions than he had already made.

  Truth be told, Clyden’s lie was the only position of power Danyais could use to negotiate from. He did not expect the former King of Sukkan to field such a massive army in the first place. Danyais did not even mind giving up a port city at all in the first place, since it would secure peace. And now, with Clyden’s recommendation of the useless tract of land being given to Sukkan. It meant Loudas lost nothing in this deal other than some money on tariffs. And in a hundred years, the port would be one less thing the two nations would have to war with each other about. If Shevannis did not accept the terms and were to strike now, then before summer’s end, all of Loudas faced the real possibility of being swallowed by Sukkan. Maybe it was the desperate situation Shevannis was in with being a newly raised monarch, the grief she was in, or perhaps the impact of Clyden’s story that she was willing to take less than she had to.

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  “I only have two children left, my oldest daughter Vexuna and her sister Marvo. Vexuna is only a year older than your daughter. My youngest is the same age as your son Ryghton, I believe. I will send Vexuna to Rose Claw, and you will send Ryghton to me,” Queen Shevannis said.

  “A hostage exchange!? Out of the question!” Danyais said forcefully.

  “Wait, King Danyais, she thought about this. A mother giving up a child after she just lost one is no simple thing to do. Especially an heir,” Clyden said.

  “Unimaginable actually,” Shevannis said, her eyes closed, “but I am the Queen now as well. When you and I are gone, it will be our daughters who will rule. Is there a better way to assure friendlier terms with our two kingdoms than if they are raised with each other? I will entrust Xuna to you because you are the father of a daughter. Trust me with Ryghton. Even though I am not his mother, I will love him as such, and if by some chance in the future he should fall in love with his childhood playmate, then does that not strengthen the bonds of our two kingdoms even more? Making sure something like this never happens again,” Shevannis finished, pointing at the ugly black scar on the land where strangers from Sukkan and Loudas bleed and died together.

  “We have just warred with each other for two years. The enmity between our two countries cannot be ignored right now. I can promise your daughter’s safety is absolute in my care, but can you do the same for Ryghton? In the eyes of many of your nobles, you have just usurped the throne,” Danyais said. Shevannis could not even deny the points Danyais presented. “My son will not be used as a deterrent so you can secure your throne.” The sides of Shevannis’ eyes tighten a little, since Danyais clearly cornered one of the hidden reasons she wanted to pursue a hostage exchange, but it did not negate the overall practical benefits of switching their children. True, having Ryghton would act as a barrier for her in a way, but it would provide the foundation for a peace they both wanted.

  They all sat in silence, not knowing what should be said next, fidgeting with the reins of their horses. Clyden tried to think of all feasible solutions and impossible outcomes for the monarchs’ dilemma. He absentmindedly looked around, sighing at the black scar left on the ground where they cremated the dead and at the charred rock face of the cliff. So much death. Life never really changes. Ambition and greed. Like a bolt of lightning, an idea started to stir in his head as he chuckled. Haha, ‘summoned demons and horsemen!’

  “It can work, Danyais. I have a way. It’s a gamble. But it is better than waiting for us to annihilate each other,” Clyden said, glancing at both monarchs.

  “Giving Ryghton up is not part of the solution, I hope,” Danyais said. His eyes were stern, and he would have to be convinced.

  “Just hear me out,” Clyden said

  “Okay,” Danyais said in an irritated tone.

  “Queen Shevannis, it is time I told you of the pact I made with Golduvan. The agreed upon price,” Clyden said, turning his attention to Shevannis. Both monarchs sat quietly atop their horses as Clyden explained how if he should die in battle or of unnatural causes, then Golduvan’s army of demons would collect the souls of Clyden’s enemies in his stead and war with the kingdom responsible. Their lives would be forfeited down to even the livestock. Golduvan would have a domain established in their lands, something the God has sought after, and only Loudas would be spared if Golduvan should want to venture out to conquer other lands.

  “You would make such a dangerous pact with all lives?! Yet you fought with this on your conscience the other day?!” Shevannis asked, looking at Clyden with a mixture of awe, fear, and disgust. She did not want to believe what he said, but one look at the charred cliff meant she could not dismiss it either.