“They speak of failure on her part.”
Vanya nodded in Taisiya’s direction. “I have to agree with myvalide. Since the Dawn Star’s blessing, the Houses have realigned behind mine, even many of those who bought into Joelle’s lies. There are several holdouts, but not enough to be a threat.”
He didn’t like to think about what would have happened if Callisto hadn’t shown up. Joelle had been on track to gain loyalty from a good many Houses, both major and minor, during the Conclave. If she was behind the travesty that had occurred with Amir, then it was merely a last-gasp effort to claw her way into power at the destruction of someone else’s life.
It seemed her habit.
Vanya reached for the wine carafe but froze when the sound of rapid footsteps caught his ear. He watched as Chief Minister Caelum hurried through the courtyard entrance, making a beeline for their shaded table.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” Caelum said with a sketch of a bow, out of breath and harried-looking.
“What is it?” Vanya asked, frowning.
Caelum thrust out his hand, a folded piece of paper held between his fingers. “My sincere apologies for the interruption, but I have news that cannot wait. This just came in from the Warden’s Island, at the behest of the governor’s office.”
Vanya took the note, unease settling in his chest. He unfolded it and read what was transcribed there, the message diligently recorded from a telephone call to the Chief Minister’s office, as Caelum was generally the point of contact for wardens and their border reports.
Daijal attacked the Warden’s Island. Severe damage occurred. The wardens’ governor is recalling a percentage of wardens. The border Solaria shares with Daijal will be affected. We will reach out once our defenses are secure.
The words didn’t make sense at first—the inconceivable actions of Daijal’s queen impossible to accept as he read the note over again. Even knowing the sanctions he’d brought upon Solaria that had yet to be levied, not once had Vanya ever thought about attacking the people who guarded Maricol’s borders to spare his country the higher number of tithes.
Quickly following that thought was the desperate relief that Soren had been delayed in returning Solaria’s border reports to the Warden’s Island. If he’d been there, the likelihood of him being injured or killed by such an attack was high.
Taisiya leaned forward. “What has happened?”
Vanya handed the note to her. “Daijal has attacked the Warden’s Island. Queen Eimarille has broken the Poison Accords.”
Taisiya nearly dropped the note, eyes shocked wide. Malia made a strangled sort of sound, half rising from her seat. “No.”
Karnak had strong ties with wardens by virtue of being the closest Solarian city to the Warden’s Island for transit purposes. All of Solaria’s tithes went through Karnak, and wardens were welcomed inside that city’s walls. The House of Vikandir had always been a huge supporter of wardens.
Vanya stood, looking at Caelum. “Summon the Daijalan ambassador and Imperial General Chu Hua to the palace. I will speak with them in the throne room before the Conclave commences this evening.”
“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty,” Caelum said with a bow of his head.
Caelum left, and Vanya wanted to do the same, but Taisiya’s voice stopped him. “If the wardens stop guarding the borders, there will be an uproar.”
“I know.”
Taisiya looked at him, still holding the note. “Where is your warden? He should know what has happened to his people.”
Vanya didn’t argue that Soren wasn’t his, because in that moment, he wished it were true. “I’ll find him. He was supposed to be back by now.”
A trip to the resupply station in the city shouldn’t have taken so long. Vanya had expected Soren back for the midday meal—the servants had even set a place for him—but it had remained empty. He hoped Soren hadn’t heard the news and left without saying goodbye.
“We have the gathering tonight,” Taisiya reminded him as she handed back the note. He folded it up and put it in his pocket.
Vanya grimaced. “I am aware. I won’t cancel it.”
He realistically couldn’t. For his House, for his country, he had to let the Conclave play out. While he wouldn’t come away with debts, he’d come away with loyalty, and he could ill afford to lose any of it.
Vanya strode from the courtyard, meal forgotten, and headed toward his office. Caelum’s aides would know where to find him once the ambassador and general arrived. He entered it right as Alida came bustling down the hallway, a clipboard in hand and pencil in the other. His majordomo was overseeing the preparations for the gathering and had been busy all morning.
She was unscarred, unlike Amir. The spell-detecting device had never activated for her, but Vanya couldn’t help feeling a twinge of unease whenever she or anyone else entered his office, waiting for the warning system to go off.
It didn’t, of course, and Alida dipped into a respectful bow. “Your Imperial Majesty. The entertainers for this evening’s gathering have all been cleared.”
He grunted. “Have you seen Soren?”
