Endure - Sara B. Larson Page 0,5
shown up at the palace in the middle of the night, sick and alone, save for one of Rafe’s men. It almost seemed a dream that Jax truly was back and that Lisbet had healed him of the jungle fever he’d caught.
The door closest to Damian opened, and Lisbet came in, holding Jax’s hand. She’d healed his body, but her power didn’t extend to reversing the emotional damage his abduction had caused. Jax clung to Lisbet as they walked over to where Tanoori and Lenora stood. He hadn’t left her side since waking up in his room, healed from his ordeal the night before. As I watched Damian’s half brother cower against Lisbet, pressing as close to her as he could physically get, I couldn’t help the sadness that washed over me. Yet another child’s innocence shattered by the ravages of war. Thankfully, he hadn’t been forced to face death — but he’d come close. Lisbet had an arm wrapped around him, but her face was also turned up to Damian, waiting with everyone else. The empty space next to her was all too evident, since Eljin was still in bed healing.
“I suppose we’d better get started.” Damian finally spoke.
I felt, more than saw, Deron stiffen next to me, preparing himself for whatever was to come. I, too, found myself looking to Damian, wondering what he was planning on saying. He hadn’t told me about a meeting. General Ferraun stood near Lisbet and Jax, his shoulders stiff beneath his uniform’s golden epaulettes, which denoted his rank. The rest of the guard flanked the king, in our usual positions, even though this wasn’t a formal proceeding. Tanoori and Lenora were to my right, huddled together.
“You are all people I trust — or people who are trusted by those whom I trust.” He glanced at Lenora, standing next to Tanoori. “We are under siege, and I want nothing more than to protect my kingdom — my people — from further harm. I might be the king of Antion, but I admit that I’m struggling to decide what is best. That’s why you’re here. To help me and General Ferraun make a decision. We need help. We need your help.”
I’d spent so much of my life training to protect Damian, but after falling in love with him, that desire extended to more than just his physical safety. And now, as I watched him, that urge to shield him from hurt swelled within me so strongly, I had to force myself to remain still, rather than stepping toward him and taking his hand in mine. He stood tall, his expression as calm and confident as ever, despite his words to the contrary. Even as he admitted to needing help, he still managed to exude the power and surety that would comfort his subjects. But I knew him well enough to see the truth lurking in his eyes.
“Sire, if I may speak.” Tanoori lifted up her hand, and Damian nodded, gesturing for her to continue. “You’ve assigned me to take care of the other women and babies from … from …”
“Yes,” Damian interjected when Tanoori couldn’t seem to come up with a word or name to describe the breeding house his father had sentenced them to, just for the crime of being orphans. “And you’ve done a remarkable job.”
“Thank you.” Tanoori inclined her head. “But some of the women — including myself — wish to do more with our lives.”
“As is to be expected, but I don’t see the relevance to the current situation,” Damian said.
“We wish to fight, Your Majesty,” Lenora burst out, stepping up next to Tanoori, her shoulders thrown back and chin raised. “We wish to learn to defend ourselves and help you defeat the enemies that are threatening Antion.”
Damian’s eyebrows lifted, and I heard a few of the guards around us murmuring in disbelief.
“Impossible,” General Ferraun responded before Damian could speak again. “I don’t have time to assign my men to teach women how to wield a sword. They’d be better off mending uniforms, preparing bandages, doing all that needs to be done to support the men who will be fighting this war.”
“Are you implying that women can’t learn how to fight?” Lenora turned on the general, clearly affronted by the condescending tone in his voice. “What about Alexa? Isn’t she an example of just how capable a woman can be?”
“There are plenty of women who wish to stay here and do the very things you suggest,” Tanoori added, her tone