“I want no part of ruling.”
“You claim to be the Ashion queen’s heir.”
“Only because my governor asked me to accept the role. It was the only way to ensure the wardens could be kept safe. Giving it up when the war is over won’t be a hardship.” Caris had Nathaniel, after all. At some point, if they all survived Eimarille’s bid for power, the two would marry and have children and have no need for Soren to owe any claim to the starfire throne.
“What makes you think you’ll have no say in ruling if you give up one throne for another?”
“I’m marrying into a House, not marrying to rule. I already told Vanya I would be his consort, but I won’t be an emperor.”
Taisiya nodded, seemingly pleased with his answer. “We’ll find a place for you.”
“I’ll be with Vanya. That is the only place I need.”
Raiah came hurrying back over, sugar stick clenched in one sticky hand while she used her other to tug on his arm. “You’re staying?”
Soren smiled over at her, watching the excitement rise in her eyes. “Yes.”
She shrieked with glee before burrowing close, hugging him as tight as her skinny arms could. Soren stroked his hand over her braids. When he glanced up, catching Taisiya’s eye, thevalidetipped her head at him in silent acceptance.
This House, this family, was what he’d never prayed for but which Soren would gladly hold on to with everything he had.
Eleven
VANYA
Their arrival in Calhames was met with a fanfare that spawned whispers through the Houses Vanya knew he couldn’t ignore. He had no intention of letting things get out of hand, but the Senate and the Houses were not who Vanya had to convince first of the alliance he owed through the vow. It was Imperial General Chu Hua and the rest of his commanding military officers who required persuasion.
The day after they landed in Calhames, Vanya was driven to the Legion’s military headquarters in one of the inner rings of the city, between a pair of inner walls that had been built in another Age. The Imperial motorcade bypassed sentinel-class automatons that stood guard at the gate leading into the military grounds. The property held barracks for active-duty legionnaires and the administration buildings geared toward the bureaucracy of war.
In times past, the enemy had been revenants, sometimes thieves on the trade roads, sometimes Houses, and rarely another country since the Age of Separation. Vanya was there today to change the Legion’s road, the vow tucked away in his robe’s pocket, feeling less like a noose only because Soren accompanied him.
The Ashionen diplomatic delegation had settled into their embassy, their request to join Vanya to plead their case to the commanders of the Legion denied. Their voices would be represented by Soren, despite the wariness directed toward the warden after his clear preference for the Solarian side of politics.
“They won’t be pleased with what you owe,” Soren murmured as the motor carriage pulled up in front of the main building of the headquarters. Legionnaires stood at attention on the parade grounds, their tan uniforms pristine, red-and-white checkeredeffiyehsunmoving on their heads by the sluggish summer breeze.
“I am their emperor. They will abide,” Vanya said.
The motor carriage braked to a stop, and apraetorialegionnaire moved quickly to open his door. Vanya climbed out of the motor carriage, crown firmly in place. His white robes tipped in crimson and gold were perhaps a bit too elaborate for a casual meeting, but he had a point to make.
Imperial General Chu Hua saluted him from where she stood at the bottom of the grand steps leading into the building behind her. “Your Imperial Majesty.”
Chu Hua had spent her entire military career within thepraetorialegionnaires, the personal guard of the Imperial throne, but that did not mean her skills at war had been left by the wayside. Of all the officers Vanya had ever known, he’d trusted her the most. Her job, and the job of thepraetorialegionnaires, was to guard Solaria by guarding the Imperial throne. Their loyalty was to no House, and their decisions were tempered by what was best for the country, not a single person.
“General,” Vanya said with a faint smile. “Thank you for making yourself available.”
“Always,” she replied, gesturing at the military brass standing on either side of her. “We are ever at your service.”
“Then let us go inside.”
A handful of curious glances were sent Soren’s way, but no one protested the warden’s inclusion. Chu Hua was well aware of Vanya’s favoritism toward Soren, but he knew she wouldn’t like what brought them all together today.
Once ensconced in the private meeting room that had no windows and only oil paintings of past battles won hanging on the walls, Vanya looked down the length of the long wooden table at those present. Soren was to his right, with Chu Hua to his left, and a ream of ledgers scattered over maps spread out between everyone.
“You said you wanted to meet about the Legion, Your Imperial Majesty,” Chu Hua said.
Vanya nodded, the crown unmoving upon his brow. “I do.”
“What concerns do you have for the Legion?”
