I Married the Emperor to Kill Him novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Haldermere

"He won't fight in Lisvaine," Cassien said.

The council room turned to him.

It had been scrubbed overnight, but the stain from the steward's blood still showed on the floor.

"He'll want a parley first. A stage. He'll take Ostrel's army to the border and ask for terms in front of everybody."

"Where?" said Isandor.

Cassien looked at him.

Isandor already knew.

"Haldermere," Cassien said. "He always loved that pavilion."

The two armies stood on the two shores of Haldermere in a cold white mist.

Ostrel's blue banners lined the north shore for a mile.

Valdrecht's black and gold lined the south, with the old parley pavilion behind them on its stone steps, its slates dark with rain.

It had not changed.

Cassien had.

At noon a boat came out of the mist under a white flag.

Severen's herald stepped onto the south shore in Ostrel silver and read his master's terms to the Emperor and half his army.

"His Majesty Severen, King of Lisvaine."

Isandor's mouth went very thin.

"His Majesty has no quarrel with Valdrecht. His quarrel is with a brother who betrayed his house and his people and married their conqueror."

"Send the prince Cassien across the water, alone, to answer to his brother."

"Then Ostrel goes home, and no man on either shore need die today."

The herald rolled up the paper.

"His Majesty gives you until the evening bell."

← Chapter 19 · All chapters · Chapter 21 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend