“What are you talking about?” Caris asked.
Blaine waved his left arm at Soren, gears clicking subtly in his mechanical prosthetic. “When the Imperial emperor was a prince, he was nearly assassinated and thought dead for a few days back in 931. The news made it to E’ridia via telegraph and broadsheets, and then an update came a few editions later, stating he’d survived with the aid of a warden. We never found out the warden’s name, though.”
“A rival House tried to poison Vanya. At the time, they didn’t approve of his marriage. I reached him before the poison could take effect,” Soren said.
Caris came around the worktable and approached, only stopping when she stood toe to toe in front of Soren. Her eyes were locked on the vow, gaze unreadable. She didn’t try to touch it, which Soren was thankful for. “Would the Imperial emperor truly lend us his Legion?”
Soren wrapped his hand around the medallion, the imprint of the lion cutting into his palm. He tried not to think about the devastation in Vanya’s eyes during their last night together. “He will if I ask.”
It would forever bar him from Vanya’s side, no chance of returning to the man he wanted more than anything. He hadn’t lied when he’d told Vanya he would never ask for himself, but Ashion—no,Maricol—was worth losing Vanya forever.
It had to be.
“Then you’re my newest Solarian diplomat. I assume you know the language?”
Soren smiled tightly. “Better than Ashionen.”
“You’re lucky we’re fluent in trade tongue, or it’d be a headache for all of us.” Caris looked over at Blaine, looking more hopeful than she had mere minutes ago. “If Solaria joins the war effort, do you think that would prompt E’ridia to as well?”
Blaine made a face. “TheComhairle nan Cinnidheanwouldn’t take that as a sign to ally ourselves with your country. It would take more than a given vow to bring the E’ridian air force into play. Honovi is set to fly to Glencoe in a few days. He will argue your case, as always.”
“If I can’t have your airships, I’ll take Solaria’s Legion. Let’s bring this news to Meleri and Clarence. I anticipate a long evening ahead of us.”
Blaine was the first one out of the laboratory while Caris lingered behind. Soren was astute enough at social hints now that he kept his feet planted as well. She met his gaze with a frank steadiness that he returned. “Is there a chance the Imperial emperor would deny your vow, despite your assertations?”
Soren had a feeling Vanya would try, if only fleetingly. The Houses who already distrusted Vanya’s decisions wouldn’t trust this, but Soren told himself he couldn’t think about that. Vanya had offered the vow with no restrictions, and Soren had never thought he’d ever use it, for he’d had no intention of painting Vanya into a corner. But he knew if he brought the vow to Vanya and demanded payment, Vanya would keep his word because if he didn’t, the House of Sa’Liandel would lose all the loyalty left to it.
“He won’t,” Soren said with a sureness he felt down to his bones.
Vanya was, above all else, an honorable man. He would do what was right; of that, Soren had no doubt. It would just break Soren’s heart in the process.
Five
SOREN
The wind on an airship was nothing like the sort on the ground. Despite the heat of Seventh Month, the higher altitudes were cold, and Soren was glad for the fur-lined leather flight jacket he’d been given for the journey. It had necessitated leaving his gear in the small cabin assigned to him on the Ashion airship, but it meant he was warm as the airship flew through a cloudless blue sky.
The small glass dome that encompassed the lounge provided a clear view of the surrounding flight deck, the sky beyond, and the balloon above. Certain windows were able to be winched open, but none were at the moment.
The whistling of the passing wind outside was a white noise that helped drown out his thoughts as Oeiras drew ever closer. Their route had taken them south first, away from the fighting to reach Solaria. They’d first touched down in Karnak to bring Caris’ diplomatic corps on board, who’d traveled there from Calhames.
They’d been notified the Imperial emperor held court these days in Oeiras while the new Imperial palace was being built. It meant a longer flight, crossing the width of the southern portion of the continent to that eastern city. It was still quicker than if they’d taken a steam train, and Soren couldn’t decide which travel option he would have preferred. Either way, Vanya would be waiting for him at the end of the trip, and that knowledge was enough to make Soren’s stomach roil uneasily. He couldn’t even blame it on the turbulence they’d experienced off and on, though he wished he could.
“You look tired,” Lore said in the trade tongue as she sat at his table. Her accent wasn’t the best, but it couldn’t be helped. Lore’s linguistic skills had focused on E’ridian, though she was picking up Solarian out of necessity. They still couldn’t have a conversation in that language, but the rest of the diplomatic corps were fluent in it.
“I slept enough,” Soren replied.
A crew member approached with a tea set on a silver tray, nimbly serving them the drink. The tables and some viewing benches were bolted to the floor, but the cushioned seats were not. Soren eyed the delicate teacup and the dark tea inside it, wishing for some chai or the spiced red tea he’d come to love over the years. He had to make do with thick cream and honey rather than sugar to make it palatable.
There was a lot of Ashion culture that Soren didn’t care for, wasn’t comfortable with yet, and didn’t know if he ever would be. He’d promised Caris he would be her heir, but he’d give the spot away the moment she claimed the starfire throne and married Nathaniel. They could have as many children as they wanted, and Soren would gladly cede any right to their heritage.
What he wanted couldn’t be found in Cosian or Amari or any city in Ashion.
“Lord Dariush, in his capacity as our ambassador, believes your vow will be a miracle,” Lore said.
Soren resisted the urge to reach up and touch the shape of the vow beneath his shirt. “I’m not doing this for a miracle.”
Lore sipped her tea, watching him with keen hazel eyes. “You seem to think the Imperial emperor will give you anything just because you saved his life. Most rulers wouldn’t offer up something like that with no restrictions.”
