Dawn of Cobalt Shadows (Burning Empire Book 2) by Emma Hamm (free novels to read TXT) 📗

resounding yes. Of course he had believed the Beastkin were a problem. They were a pest which needed to be dealt with swiftly and eradicated so the rest of his kingdom could flourish in their absence.

Now, he wasn’t so certain. He’d seen the way Sigrid had been an asset to his kingdom. She’d guided his people toward a softer future, one where they were significantly kinder to other people. Even to each other.

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “I don’t know what to think of the Beastkin. On one hand, my entire training and life has been spent hating the creatures. The history of my kingdom is in direct opposition to them. But on the other, I’ve seen what they can do. I’ve seen the good in their hearts and how their children don’t view us as anything other than a terrifying mass of people who want them dead. It’s hard to reconcile what I know with what also is.”

“Being a king isn’t all that easy, is it?”

“A sultan,” Nadir corrected. Then cautiously added, “but you are correct. I have to think from every angle. I will admit, it’s difficult to view the world as some of my own people do. Namely, because of what I am.”

“This is why I wanted your ear.” Hallmar stared him down, blue eyes so full of emotion they almost glowed. “Our people don't need to fight. This is a century-old hate that comes from Beastkin and humans, not from kingdom and kingdom. What fight do we have together? There’s no reason to hate each other’s countries.”

“It’s widely known that Wildewyn steals water from Bymere, which is why our kingdom is arid and desert.”

Hallmar waved a hand in the air, dismissing the words and wiping them away as if Nadir had never said them. “That’s simply the way the world was formed. Wildewyn didn’t do anything other than survive with your leftovers. Flourish, even. Our people want to live in peace, just as yours do.”

The words made sense, but they didn’t fit in with the world Nadir knew. He’d already seen that there was much he didn’t know. So many things that Bymerians had gotten wrong, or perhaps just the royals had gotten wrong.

Stories and fables were one thing, but facts that he could see, touch, understand were far more important to him now. Nadir nodded slowly. “I see your point, Hallmar.”

“Then you do not wish for this war either?”

“I didn’t say that.” Nadir rifled through some of the paperwork on his desk, then slid a single sheet of parchment toward Hallmar. “You also can’t deny the truth in this.”

The king’s eyes scanned the document for a moment before glancing up. There was a haunted look in his eyes, one that Nadir recognized from staring in the mirror in the morning. The king had the same reaction to the truth in front of him. That was just how Nadir had felt when his advisors had brought it before him.

“Damning evidence,” the king said quietly. “I’m not sure how or why you have this.”

“Neither am I. This is one of the many documents of Beastkin hunting in Bymere.” Nadir leaned back, exhaustion riding on his shoulders like a well-worn cloak. He’d felt this way so often lately that he didn’t know what it meant to not be tired. “If this gets out—”

“Then we can’t let it.”

“How am I supposed to stop people from finding out the truth? Your people used to hunt ours for sport. That’s how the Beastkin ended up in Bymere. That’s why we hunted them in return, and that is why such hatred grew.”

Hallmar leaned forward, his voice pitched low and his shoulders tense with emotion. “We cannot let this get out. This is something you and I can control. Let such foolish pain remain in the past and our people will forget the follies.”

“If I had that much control over my advising council, do you really think I would have accepted your visit?” Nadir tilted his head to the side and felt the satisfying pop of his neck. Some of the tension drained out, but not enough. “I wish there was more I could do, Hallmar. They’re blackmailing me just as much as I am blackmailing you.”

“Then there’s nothing you and I can settle on?” he asked. “Nothing at all that could save our kingdoms centuries more of fighting and death and bloodshed.”

“If I could do more, I would. My people desire some kind of retribution for the attack from before, and all the history between our countries. I don’t want to fight anymore.” Nadir clenched his fists. “There’s only so much control I’ve gained here, and much of it is superficial. I have to be careful about my decisions in the coming years. Once the kingdom rallies behind me, I can get rid of my council for good. These are words that stay between the two of us, yes?”

Hallmar nodded.

“Then listen to me, Earthen King. If you can survive a war for the next few years, then I will be able to do much more than just sign paperwork. I can stop our people from fighting. I can do more than a sultan can do now. But in this moment?” Nadir shook his head and tried to hide that his fingers were shaking by crossing his arms. “I cannot stop the growing beast of hatred within my kingdom. I’ve tried. And I failed.”

“I had hoped my appearance here would somehow ease the fears of Bymerians. They could see that myself and my soldiers are nothing more than men. There are so few Beastkin in my kingdom.”

But that was a lie, wasn’t it? There were far more Beastkin in the king’s homeland than here in Bymere.

Nadir shook his head. “That’s not exactly true, now is it? You’ve not only harbored Beastkin for centuries, but now you’ve given them a kingdom. I have no more words to argue with. The Bymerians are convinced you support the animals who have attacked us for years.”

“I