Broken Stone Read Online Free Page A

will convince you they follow me? Surely you aren’t asking that I deliver you my brother’s head, so what action will be enough?” Will anything be enough?
    “While I would greatly like to see your brother come to justice for his crimes, and I suspect you would too,” her uncle paused and his eyes briefly met Torian’s, “I recognize that may not be realistic.
    I will send my son with you, and he will be my eyes and my ears. He will see whether you are met with celebration or opposition. Convince him that your people recognize you as their true leader, and you will have convinced me.”
    Emariya’s hopes sank. Blaine hated her. Convincing him of anything wouldn’t be easy. Especially if he thought it would be in his best interests to see her fail. “I will accept your terms, if you accept a condition of my own.”
    Rees sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “I’m listening.”
    “If we are successful, you must reinstate the Roths.”
    Anger and shock crossed Blaine’s face, while amusement colored his father’s.
    “Father, she’s trying to bring us under her command as well! She said she didn’t want the throne of Sheas!”
    Emariya arranged her features into an impassive mask. “And I don’t. But if peace is to be long-lasting, it must be far-reaching. Your own land has suffered under their removal due to the misunderstanding between our lands. Welcome them out of exile, so we may truly lay the bad will to rest.”
    Blaine’s shoulders tensed. “So who do you propose lead Sheas? If they are reinstated, that makes Sheas your brother’s or yours, by rights.”
    “I formally pass on that right, under the condition we remain at peace. The moment peace is broken between our lands, I promise you I will come and claim it with any force necessary. And I think you should lead, when your father passes on or decides it is time. You can bring together the Roth and Hendel regimes.”
    Rees stood from the table. “I suspect my son may learn much about leading from you while he accompanies you into Eltar.”
    Behind his father, Blaine glared, but at least he was glaring at his father, not at her. Still, she didn’t think they would be friends anytime soon. She really couldn’t fathom what Jessa saw in him.
    “If you would please sit, uncle. We still need to decide the matter of the fjord. It is my hope that you, or your son, will decide to swear allegiance to a combined Three Corners when I bring Eltar fully under my control and unite it to Thalmas. With that in mind, I want our choices here at the fjord to reflect that.”
    “If and when that happens, we will consider it. Undoubtedly our lands are stronger and more prosperous together. There is much to be decided first, as you said. What do you propose for the fjord?
    I have no intentions of withdrawing.”
    Emariya smiled. “I didn’t expect you would. In fact, I would like to see you remain here, and work closely with our representatives to build a permanent outpost. If our lands are to be united, I think it would benefit us all to have a central location for trade. As we are close to all three borders, and accessible to your ships, this seems like a good spot.”
    “Who would control it?”
    “Think of it as a trial run for future peace. It would be a collaborative effort. I would leave a representative, His Highness would leave a representative, and so would you. The three of them would then work jointly to oversee the building and the operation of the trading station.”
    Rees rubbed his chin, nodding to himself. “I like it.”
    “Who would we leave, Father?” Blaine asked.
    “I will stay here, until I am able to summon someone from Sheas Harbor.”
    Emariya turned to Torian, sharing a warm smile. “And who will you leave, my love?”
    “Commander Plank will stay on behalf of Thalmas. He has experience with building our guard outposts. Garith can continue to command my forces on our travels, unless of course you’d intended to leave him