Chu Hua had no vivisection scars on her chest. She belonged to no House. Her loyalty was to the throne, but that meant her loyalty could change with whoever claimed that seat of power. Vanya trusted her with Solaria’s Imperial throne and his country’s security, but he did not trust her with his daughter.
They were not one and the same—yet.
“Any news from Bellingham?” Vanya asked, redirecting the conversation. He’d ordered her to send a platoon ofpraetorialegionnaires to thevasilyetgoverned by the House of Kimathi under the guise of field training. He hadn’t been informed of the results, too busy finalizing the trade talks and then trying to guard against the threat ofrionetkas.
Chu Hua moved away from the coffins, clasping her hands behind her back as she turned to face him. “The House of Kimathi arrived in Calhames several days ago. As for the rest of it, do you wish to speak of such things here?”
Vanya had spent a lifetime learning how not to react to terrible news. He kept his displeasure about the House of Kimathi off his face out of habit. “Let us return to my office.”
They left the star temple behind, taking the path back to the palace proper,praetorialegionnaires always within arm’s reach. The palace was far more active now than it had been at his early arrival. He’d yet to receive an update from Javier or Alida, which made Vanya hope they would come up empty with their task of searching forrionetkas.
When they reached his office again, he discovered Alida waiting there, carrying a tray with a small plate of finger food and drinks. She inclined her head at his arrival. “I thought you might like some chai, Your Imperial Majesty. I oversaw the making of it myself.”
“Thank you,” Vanya said.
Alida set the tray on his desk and deftly poured two cups of chai before setting the teapot down and leaving, closing the door behind her. Vanya retook his seat and picked up the cup, breathing in deep the scent of spices. The drink would give him some energy for the long day ahead. What little sleep he’d had on the flight to Calhames would have to be enough when he faced the Senate and the Houses.
“What of the quarry?” he asked.
Chu Hua picked up her glass and sipped at the piping hot chai. “Burned, with nothing left except the remnants of foundations. Everything was ash. If there were survivors, which I highly doubt, they were no longer there. Odds favor the House of Kimathi taking custody of them if that were the case. I have tintype photographs for you. I will have an aide courier them over once the sun rises.”
Vanya frowned, thinking of what Soren had told him days ago in Oeiras. “The entire quarry was burned?”
“According to the report flown back to me, some areas of the ground appeared melted, like a lightning strike. We’ve no record of a weapon that can slag land like that save starfire.”
“The warden who stumbled across the quarry escaped being put into a death-defying machine by use of a bomb.”
Chu Hua tapped her fingers in a slow, steady rhythm against the armrest of her chair. “I know my weapons, Your Imperial Majesty. The pictures do not show the wreckage from a bombing, but perhaps the wardens have a weapon that could scar the land so. Their alchemy is far more advanced than any country’s on Maricol.”
Vanya was doubtful starfire was the cause of whatever had been done at the quarry. Soren was a warden, and the wardens took in no one whose name was written down in the royal genealogies. But no evidence meant a weaker argument. The bodies in the star temple would have to be enough, along with the tintype photographs. His mother had done enough with less information than he currently had. He could only hope to emulate her.
“Recall the platoon you sent into the House of Kimathivasilyet. I want them checked over for vivisection scars, but do so quietly.”
Chu Hua inclined her head. “Identifying theserionetkasin the Legion ranks will take weeks. It will be impossible to keep secret why we are inspecting everyone, and the targets may slip away. We’ll make note of any defectors and investigate accordingly.”
“I plan to meet with the Senate about this threat. I need the reason behind our search to stay quiet until then. If we find anyrionetkas, I want them taken alive if possible. The ones who attacked me had no choice in doing so. Finding out who is targeting our people for this depravity is a top priority.”
Vanya had his suspicions, and judging by the look Chu Hua leveled him from across the desk, she had the same. “Do you know what magic binds them? Is the spell traceable?”
He shook his head. “No. We’re still researching it.”
“Then it may be prudent to install some spell-detecting security devices here in the palace. They could prove useful in specific areas.” She glanced up at the ceiling before shrugging. “Here would be a good location, though I would counsel you not to inform anyone in your House or household that it is present if you agree to its placement. The less people know, the less chance of tampering.”
“How would it work?”
“The device’s range can be adjusted. The clarion crystals are cut in such a way so as to detect most types of spellwork. We typically set them for military spells, but we can adjust the parameters for a broader range.”
“If you think it’s worth doing, then make it happen. I’ll block out a time to meet with you tomorrow to set everything up in here.”
“At your will, Your Imperial Majesty.”
They finished their chai in silence before Chu Hua left, bowing her way out of the office. In her wake, Vanya sent a prayer to the Dawn Star, hoping she would hear him. “I cannot walk this road alone, Callisto. For the good of Solaria, guide me true.”
Two
VANYA
Vanya took no meetings or audiences on the day of his return to Calhames save for one. The midmorning meal at the palace was a quiet affair, held in the private courtyard located within the family wing of the palace, and Vanya did not dine alone.
