The Queen's Gambit: Book One of Imirillia (The Books of Imirillia 1) by Beth Brower

Imirillia. Marion has since entertained cautious treaties with the Imirillian Empire. And now, a sudden change is made to the constitution, removing all barriers of previous allegiance? I suspect Marion will not be of any help,” Eleanor said as she frowned. “In all actuality, I fear what damage King Staven may inflict.”
    “The arrogant fool,” Aedon muttered with consternation, his arms crossed. “One cannot court a viper without being bit oneself.”
    After a somber moment where nobody spoke, Eleanor cleared her throat and the council commenced with plans for the battle run. They were just finishing, when Crispin asked to speak. Eleanor gave him the floor, and he stood.
    “I propose we enlist the help of Wil Traveler to—” Crispin said.
    “He is an Imirillian soldier,” Aedon interrupted.
    “Yes,” Crispin responded to Aedon, “and the best swordsman I have ever seen in my life.” Crispin paused. “With due respect to Gaulter Alden, and all our men, we are no fighting nation. We have shunned war, so we do not know the art nearly well enough to defend ourselves from this threat.”
    “And how has he learned his art?” Gaulter Alden asked, raising his eyebrows, leaning forward against the table. “I have watched him sparing. He is a devil with a sword and, obviously, a young man with status and prominence. I want to know why he came into Aemogen mere days before the Imirillian Empire sent us their ultimatum. It is too much a coincidence.”
    Eleanor watched the faces of the men gathered around the table, listening to the questions she had already spent the night before asking herself.
    Sean, in his thick dialect of the Aemogen hills, followed Gaulter Alden’s comment with his own thoughts. “He rides the finest horse I’ve ever seen and I’d like to know where I could get such a beast. I know for a fact,” he said, “that the Imirillian Army uses only black horses. It’s widely known to any man wanting to sell or breed a horse, even in Aemogen. We sell our black horses to Marion and know they trade them with Zarbadast.”
    “So he rides a white horse as a symbol of what he told us last night: that he has cast off the Imirillian army,” Crispin posited.
    “So,” Aedon countered, “he rides a white horse to throw us off.”
    Crispin, still standing, spoke firmly. “We can’t know his true motives in surety, but I do know that the palace guard are now better prepared for war than they were even a mere two days ago, thanks to his training. He is an asset. We should use him.” Then, Crispin turned towards Aedon. “It would be foolish,” he said, “to make this decision based on suspicion or jealousy.”
    “Excuse me?” Aedon challenged.
    “Please,” Eleanor said as she stood, and Crispin took his seat. “I have given this a significant amount of thought. There is much we do not know about Wil Traveler. He may indeed be only passing through. Or,” she said as she met Aedon’s eyes, “his timing, what we know of him, all may be tied in with the Imirillian invasion.”
    Crispin moved to speak, but Eleanor held up her hand. “I have also seen him fight,” she said. “Crispin is right: Wil’s prowess is…astonishing. If he will stand with us, I want to utilize his skills.”
    “And, if he is against us, as almost all the odds grant he is?” Gaulter Alden asked.
    “If he is against us,” Eleanor spoke quickly, “I want to use his knowledge in our favor, and I want to keep him as close as possible, watching his every move. The battle run must begin soon, if we are to be ready in time to face the Imirillian army. I would like to appoint Wil Traveler as an assistant commander of the battle run. We will bring him with us and make certain he can entertain no mischief.”
    “Eleanor,” Aedon said as he stood. “Isn’t it folly to let him see all our strengths and weaknesses before knowing his allegiance?”
    “The queen is right, young man,” Gaulter Alden said, motioning for