“I’m not sure why they kept so many of them,” Quuri said.
I knew. It was the same reason that King Inor had taken the head of every messenger sent to Krustau. It was the same reason that he had sent assassins when Tallu was in the holy space of the Dragon Temple. To kill a man was one thing, but to take away his chance at the afterlife was the true power of an emperor. By keeping the bones here, the Emperor of the Southern Imperium denied his enemies the honor of returning to their mountains.
At the edge of the pile, a skull had rolled away, lying on its side. Most of the teeth had fallen out.
Picking it up, I held it between my palms. “We are going to givethe bones to King Vostop, the Shadow King. Find a way to make them presentable.”
Quuri nodded, although I could see the hesitance in the dip of her chin. The light in the room shifted as someone stepped into the doorway, blocking the meager reflection. We were suddenly in near darkness, a twilight of shadows. Quuri straightened, eyes going wide, and I felt a tremor of power shiver up my spine.
I didn’t even need to look over.
“If that is agreeable to you, husband,” I said, gently placing the skull back next to the other bones before I stood.
Tallu stepped fully into the room, and his eyes swept over me with concern rather than possessiveness, although from the way Quuri flinched, that wasn’t obvious. His Dogs followed, crowding into the gaps between the plunder of the Krustavian King’s palace.
I smiled pleasantly at Tallu. “I’ve spoken with Empress Koque, and understand her reasons for hesitating. She, of course, would never deny you, my lord, but perhaps we might spare the dowager empress some grace as she mourns her husband? I thought, perhaps, giving the new Shadow King the bones of his ancestors might be good recompense instead.”
“I trust your judgment,” Tallu said.
“I believe it is a start. Your Imperial Majesty needs solid allies. Especially as we do not know what is going on in the rest of the Imperium.” I pointedly didn’t glance at the Kennelmaster, although I saw him shift, heard his wheezing breath. “Please forgive my tone, husband. I’ve spent the morning doing more politics within House Atobe than I’m used to.” I made a small bow as though mocking my own inadequacies.
“I would think, given the family dynamics in the north, you would be familiar with negotiating complex relationships and strong personalities,” Tallu said.
I felt my eyes wrinkle as I fought down a smile, enjoying the tease in his words. “You would think so, but such skills are more prized than hunting, fishing, or even farming. Being able to prevent a couple fromspending the whole winter screaming at each other over dried elk meat is so highly prized that, if I had any skill at it, my father would have risked another war with the Imperium rather than send me south.”
“Well, given that you have acted outside of your skill set today, I will reward the effort. We shall return the bones of our Krustavian foes to the new Shadow King.”
Several hours later, in Tallu’s throne room, Tallu presented King Vostop the bones. They had been carefully wrapped in silk and placed in caskets. Vostop’s eyebrows went up at the sight. With some reverence, he stepped forward, lowering himself to touch the bones.
“These are what is left from those who defended this palace?” Vostop asked.
Tallu inclined his head. On his other side, Koque sat stiffly, her chin up as she focused just above Vostop’s head.
“We hope that it may solidify the peace between our two nations so that we may act as one against the traitors Bemishu and Kacha,” Tallu said.
Vostop’s eyes strayed to Koque. It was impossible to miss that her hand was no longer on offer. He swallowed. “You have my gratitude. My people believe that the greatest gift that can be offered after our death is our bones. We believe it is what keeps our mountains strong. I will be happy to return these bones to their rightful place once we choose a new mountain to make our capital.”
“We look forward to one day seeing the new city Krustau will build as a capital.” Tallu nodded. “Until then, the territory around the Lakeshore Palace is available to house your people.”
“As long as we defend it from Bemishu or Kacha?” Vostop asked. “Their offense was not against us or Krustau, but we would be ignorant to not recognize that they are not offering us the boon you are.”
Vostop’s eyes slid back to Koque, his expression tightening as he restrained whatever emotion sat in his throat. Swallowing itdown, he said, “I will take the bones back with me now, although I regret to cut my visit so short.”
“I believe we have said all that needs to be said. When we leave the Lakeshore Palace, we trust in your defense of it and the land around it, as it is to all of our benefit to keep the traitors out of this territory.”
“As King of the Shadow Throne, I am grateful to have your faith in my abilities.” Vostop turned to his men, ordering them to take the boxes. He nodded one last time to Tallu, and Tallu inclined his head just as low as Vostop did, a sign of respect and trust between the two leaders. Then he was gone, and I looked over at Koque, expecting to see some sadness on her face, some unhappy feeling at watching her lover leave for perhaps the last time. Instead, her eyes were still fixed on the far wall.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” she said. “I am grateful?—”
She cut herself off, her eyes moving as she tried to find the right words. For someone as fluent in imperial doublespeak as she was, I knew how uncomfortable the struggle must be.
“I am grateful His Imperial Majesty has changed his mind,” I said. “I still find myself so lacking in knowledge of the matters a consort must be capable in. I look forward to your continued guidance, Empress Koque. And I know His Imperial Majesty is grateful for the strong hand you’ve taken in educating his heir. It would be a tragedy for Prince Hallu to lose such a positive influence in his life.”
Koque looked at me in surprise, her lips twisting. “I am not sure what else I have to teach you, Consort Airón. Having heard that speech, I imagine you have much to teach me.”
I smiled, grateful that my clumsy attempt had been passable enough. Tallu stood, and Koque and I both followed. He took one step down the dais, then turned, his eyes fixed on Koque.
“As one who lost his mother too young, I would never wish that upon anyone, much less my own brother. Have no fear onthat front.” Tallu strode out of the room, leaving Koque blinking behind him.
