Broken Stone Read Online Free

“We will get you through this,” her handmaiden promised.
    Once she had stepped out of the way, Emariya suddenly realized that the crowd in the tent wasn’t there to support her. They’d each come to offer their highest possible tribute to her father. Garith, Torian, Rees, and Blaine each took up a corner of the litter. Rink fell in on one side, holding the middle. Norval, the unofficial spokesperson of the Eltar troops and one of Oren’s oldest friends, came in when they were just about to proceed. Commander Plank, of the Thalmas Royal Forces, accompanied him.
    After a quick discussion, Commander Plank accepted the honor of carrying the remaining side.
    Jessa and Norval each took one of her hands and led her to the head of the procession. The soldiers from both Sheas and Thalmas joined the men of Eltar. Standing shoulder to shoulder, each man tapped his fist to his heart before dropping to a knee with his head bowed as she passed, leading her father to his final rest. Once the procession passed, each man stood and crowded behind the litter, following it toward the bluff.
    When her father had been laid in the prepared grave site, each attendee was given the chance to say their final goodbye. One at a time, everyone stepped forward and added a scoop of dirt along with a word of respect, or a memory, until finally all that remained was a carefully piled mound of the earth, welcoming its son home while his daughter stood by shaking with grief and pride.
    Emariya stepped forward, then knelt to the ground. Placing her palms in the fresh soil, she sent as much warmth and love as she could muster into the soil, even while her thoughts chilled her deep inside. I love you Father. Reeve will pay for this, and soon. I swear it.

CHAPTER THREE
The Exception, Not the Rule
    Emariya looked at the men seated around her in the dimly lit command tent. She glanced at Torian, and then took a deep breath. “Before we decide anything, I just want to say thank you. Each of you did my father—and me—a great honor when you bore his litter. I won’t soon forget it.”
    Rees cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. “Perhaps I should have paid respects to your father sooner. I held ill will where I should not.”
    Standing behind his father, Blaine Hendel looked as if he wanted to say something, but he remained silent.
    Emariya looked her uncle straight in the eye. “How can we ensure Sheas and Eltar never raise arms against each other again?”
    Rees turned slightly to face Torian. “If we enter into a peace agreement, Thalmas will join?”
    “Absolutely,” Torian said. “We’d like nothing more.”
    Turning back to Emariya, Rees asked, “What assurance do I have that you can halt your brother’s attacks on my people? It would do no good to promise a peace you cannot deliver.”
    Emariya gestured around with her hands. “You saw the men here follow me, and heed my demands. Your heard my father’s words. Eltar is mine to lead.”
    Rees laughed. “Child, I know many things, not the least of which is that you may declare yourself leader, but you don’t truly lead until the people chose to follow you. Setting aside one leader for another can be harder for the common people than you might imagine. You will essentially be asking your people to admit they have followed someone not worthy of being followed.”
    “They didn’t have all the necessary information. None could have foreseen my brother’s machinations.”
    “All the same, while I am hopeful from what I have seen here, I am not yet convinced you can bring your land to heel.”
    Fear of defeat threatened to close Emariya’s throat, and she willed herself not to tremble. “Has it all been for naught then?”
    Her uncle regarded her carefully, and then at last he shook his head. “I will give you until the weather turns cold again. If you cannot make them follow you and renounce your brother in half the year, I will move upon Eltar before winter comes.”
    “And what