Vanya didn’t bother to turn around as Lady Vesper of the House of Aetos entered the tent, the scent of her perfume subtle on the air. She held on to Artyom’s arm, Joelle’s son and heir dressed in robes that were nearly as elaborate as the set Vanya wore.
Neither offered any sort of formal greeting to Vanya—Artyom’s loyalty to his House obvious, and Vesper still clearly tying her loyalty to Joelle. Vanya met Vesper’s gaze over the rim of his wineglass as he took a sip, wondering what verbal pitfalls awaited him.
“That I survived?” Vanya asked drolly.
“That you say you can’t find the supposed master of these abominations that have only appeared in your presence,” Vesper said.
“Ah, is that an accusation I hear?”
“Merely a musing.”
Vanya smiled thinly. “Of course. But these are not the firstrionetkaswe’ve encountered.”
Vesper arched an eyebrow, expression impossible to read. “Do tell.”
“The assassin who interrupted my coronation was arionetka, though we had no name for them at that time. I sent the device to the wardens to undergo a study.”
“Delivered by your warden, no doubt?” Artyom said with a bite to his voice
“I claim no ownership over any warden.”
“Rumors speak otherwise. Much like they say you have no heir.”
Vanya couldn’t help the way his lip curled at that, a tell that Vesper took as a strike if he judged by the smirk she hid behind her glass. “Raiah is safe.”
Artyom waved aside his assurances. “We only have your word, and I would not trust you to keep it.”
“Much like we only have Joelle’s word that nothing untoward is happening in hervasilyet.”
Artyom’s lips twitched as he fought back a scowl. “The Conclave is gathered to judge our grievance againstyourHouse.”
“And my counterargument has a right to be heard.”
“Do you wish to proclaim your ownership overvasilyetsyour House has never governed?” Vesper asked archly.
“My House has held the Imperial throne for the last few centuries. My governance touches everyvasilyet.”
Vesper shrugged, making sure to catch the eye of Cybele, as if she was looking to commiserate. “Your House’s governance destroyed avasilyetonce before. I would not trust your care, and I would counsel others to be just as wary.”
“I’ll make my decision on where my House’s loyalty shall lie on my own,” Cybele said mildly.
“I would think carefully of who is best suited to aid your House.”
“You would have them give loyalty to a House who does not have Solaria’s best interests at heart? One must wonder what you do in your House’s ownvasilyet. Have you allowed a death-defying machine to be built in Seaville? Would you plead ignorance the same way Joelle has? I would think that a terrible trait for someone who wishes to rule,” Vanya said.
Vesper’s expression became flat, her fingers tightening imperceptibly on her wineglass. “Your stories and lies will not sway the Houses.”
“Ah, but I do not lie. The wardens would not heed such warnings that come out of Bellingham if I lied.” Vanya smiled, careful not to show too much of his teeth. “I have only cared for the future of Solaria. I can’t say Joelle feels the same when she denies legitimate requests to review her governorship, and the borders she tends are porous.”
Artyom’s expression darkened, but he kept his teeth clenched together on whatever words he would have said, most likely warned by his mother to not dig any verbal holes they could not climb out of.
Vanya turned to face Cybele. “Therionetkasare real, and they are a threat, one I had no intention of keeping to myself. The Houses may play our games, but we play them with our own minds. The threat ofrionetkastakes that from us.”
Cybele inclined her head ever so slightly. “I’ll take your words under advisement.”
It wasn’t a solid commitment, and hers was a minor House, but any he could bring to his side was one less Joelle could claim. Vanya left the tent with his wineglass in hand, hearing Amir hastily make his goodbyes as well. The older man caught up easily enough since Vanya was in no hurry to beg another House for their support.
“Are the major Houses aligned with Joelle? Is that why you spend time flitting between the minor ones?” Vanya asked against the rim of his wineglass to hide his words.
