Deception
936 A.O.P.
One
VANYA
“You need more of a House presence if you are to sway the others,” Amir said on the morning Vanya was set to appear before the Senate.
“I didn’t ask for your advice,” Vanya replied coolly as he adjusted the position of the crown on his head.
Amir sketched a shallow bow over the cane he always carried. “Nevertheless, I offer it out of loyalty to your House. You cannot stand alone before the Senate and the Houses. They will see that as a weakness.”
Vanya pressed his lips into a hard line, trying to smooth the anger from his face. He stared at himself in the large mirror of the foyer that led to the forecourt where his motor carriage awaited. His formal white robes were tailored to perfection, showcasing the gold embroidery that spread over his shoulders and down the front like starfire, the design depicting the Lion constellation. The trousers were cut narrow, and his white leather shoes were tipped in gold.
When he was younger, he used to stand like this with his mother and father, ensuring that the last little details of their appearances were taken care of. Leaving the Imperial palace as a united front had always been politically important. Since he’d buried them, it had only ever been Vanya to walk this road alone. Raiah was still so young, and he wanted to protect her for as long as possible from the double-talk and falsely caring stares of those who would see them removed from power.
Not all Houses were against them, as proven by Amir’s loyalty. Where thevezirof House Vikandir went, the generations around him followed. But he was one House who had not ruled on the Imperial throne for several centuries, and Vanya knew there were those in his bloodline who coveted power.
And, grating as it was, Amir was correct in his opinion. One House was not enough to hold the Imperial throne. Vanya could not stand alone, he knew that.
And yet.
Over Amir’s shoulder in the mirror, he caught sight of Alida hurrying down the hallway, the majordomo’s keys jangling on her belt. When she reached them, she bowed to the Imperial degree in Vanya’s direction and offered a shallower form of greeting to Amir.
“Your Imperial Majesty, I’ve been made aware that yourvalidehas arrived,” Alida said.
The words didn’t make sense at first. When they finally penetrated, Vanya turned away from the mirror to glare at Amir. “Is this what you mean by more of a House?”
Amir lifted his chin, meeting Vanya’s gaze with an honesty that could get a man killed. “If I had called for your father’s family, the Senate and the Houses would not see them as your House but mine.”
“You had no right to ask for anyone on my behalf.”
Amir’s eyes blazed as he drew himself up to his full height, mustache quivering from the harsh breath he let out. “I asked on behalf of myownHouse and have the right of it. Taye may be dancing amongst the stars, but he was House of Vikandir before he joined with yours. Some see marriage as a debt even if it isn’t. Your great-aunt is of that mind, and I used it to my advantage.”
Vanya was too well taught to reel back in shock, but he wanted to. One did not offer a debt without weighing its worth, and few Houses did so lightly. Even if Amir never meant it as such, the veneer of owing someone was dangerous at their level. “Why?”
“Because I cannot offer you a marriage with a son or daughter of my House. Because I would rather people think I owe yours than another. At least in doing so, I know mine might live, but only if you do.”
The main bloodline of the House of Sa’Liandel was whittled down to two, but its roots were buried in other homes and households. Zakariya had been the oldest of three children. Vanya’s aunt had died in her teens, and his uncle had wanted nothing to do with House games, having stepped back years ago to command the Legion.
His uncle had taken a bullet to the back in a skirmish between two minor Houses, and Vanya could not say his mother hadn’t orchestrated the trigger pull. There was risk involved, after all, in having the Legion feel loyalty to someone not seated on the Imperial throne. He saw the aftermath of that with thevasilyetin the northwest. Meanwhile, his handful of cousins lived in luxury, bartering their connection to the Imperial throne for wealth and inroads to other Houses.
None in his generation could cast starfire.
Past generations? Well. Of those who could, apparently Amir had summoned the only one alive and capable of such feats away from the salt air of a well-to-do seaside town overlooking the Constellation Sea. Calhames, Vanya knew, would not be tovalideTaisiya Sa’Liandel’s liking.
Angry at being outmaneuvered—whether or not it was to the betterment of his House didn’t matter—Vanya stalked past Amir. Rather than step outside to the forecourt, he headed down the hall Alida had come from, the majordomo taking great pains to not overtake him as she hurried to keep pace.
“We hadvalideTaisiya checked per current protocol, Your Imperial Majesty,” Alida said.
Vanya’s lips curled. He rather knew howthatmust have gone. “Where is she?”
“The family library, at her request.”
Vanya knew the way. It took long minutes for him to return to the family wing of the palace. Alida remained in the hallway when Vanya entered the library, closing the double doors behind him.
“You are not one for last-minute trips to the capital,valide,” Vanya said in greeting.
