“Begin training Sagam for his position.” Tallu finally took a drink of juice, the liquid wetting his lips. “We will be traveling nearly the entire Imperium. You will have more than enough opportunity to introduce him to any remaining Dogs you have and find out why your kennel failed to predict the loss of the Imperial Capital.”
“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” The Kennelmaster stood, bowing low to Tallu, and after a long, hesitating second, he put his fingers into the shape of a triangle. When he stood, I tried to see some deceit, some hint of his true feelings in his expression. Instead, he said, “I am grateful that you offered me a chance your father did not offer my predecessor.”
Then, he strode out the door, yielding the protection of Tallu’s quarters to a pair of General Saxu’s guards.
The Imperium was dividedinto twenty different provinces, each ruled over by one or two families. Before Tallu had destroyed his father’s council, each of the provinces had been under the management of one of the councilors, and those men had strictly controlled the provinces via governors and stewards.
With the loss of the council, rule had been granted to whichever members of court Emperor Millu liked. As we traveled, Empress Koque proved almost as invaluable as the blood mage ghosts did at gathering information about who was likely in charge of various provinces.
She had secured a place in Tallu’s carriage, sharing it with me, Iradîo, and Asahi. Prince Hallu curled up on her lap, watching the conversation with wide eyes. Periodically, his brow furrowed with confusion, but he made no move to interrupt the conversation.
“In River Otter Province, Lord Yiilipo shares custody of the territory with Lord Domusho.” Koque stroked her hand down Hallu’s back. “Lord Domusho was gracious enough to travel with the military, even though they would have had to stop in River Otter Providence on their waytothe Lakeshore Palace.”
The blood monks had been watching Lord Domusho carefully and said that the closer we got to his seat of power, the more nervous he became. According to the blood monks, he had left his wife behind in the capital. That alone was enough to make me dislike him, and on top of that, he had also begun receiving notices from his estate, and the monks could tell that most of them were regarding the taxes and what had been done on his orders to those who hadn’t been paying.
“What do you know of the Yiilipo family?” I asked.
“Lord Yiilipo’s title is mostly honorary. His wife was a lady of a noble family, but when Emperor Millu had her father executed, her husband was granted the title ‘lord.’ Before that, he was a local tradesman and had gained enough respect and wealth that he was considered the unofficial governor of the province.” Empress Koque looked out the window at the expansive farmland, the wide river cutting through it. “Lord Domusho has not enjoyed sharing control of the province with Lord Yiilipo, but he has little recourse as the emperor himself bestowed Lord Yiilipo’s title.”
So, we had our first victim, and the court was about to enjoy the sight of Tallu striking again. They called him a viper and he would live up to the moniker. When we reached Otter Cub City, we were taken to Lord Domusho’s expansive palace. It was nothing in size compared to either the Lakeshore or the Mountainside Palace, but the number of servants who greeted us had to be similar.
Lord Domusho seemed relieved to have Tallu in residence and announced that he had already ordered a formal dinner prepared. By the time the evening came, it was clear he assumed that Tallu’s presence meant Tallu’s support. So, when the Yiilipo familyarrived, Domusho made a show of seating them with the lowest ranked of General Saxu’s officers at the dinner.
Tallu’s face might have been placid, but I could see a spark ofsomethingin his eyes. It wasn’t quite pleasure, more the knowledge that for the first time in a very long time, he was about to destroy a man who deserved it.
“Lord Domusho,” Tallu said.
The table quieted, and I could see the other courtiers looking between each other. If Tallu granted Domusho favor, then their gambit of staying with him would pay off. It would be hard to argue with the might of the imperial army in any province.
“Your Imperial Majesty, how may I serve?” Domusho asked.
“It has come to my attention that, in abandoning your wife in the capital, you have created a gap in your own line of inheritance. She was with child, was she not?” Tallu asked.
Domusho paled, coughing up the wine he had drunk. It stained his beard red. “She was not, Your Imperial Majesty.”
But already the whispers were circling the room. It was one thing to flee in desperation, but to abandon your unborn heir was entirely another.
“With the traitor generals in control of the capital, I fear we must expect the worst for her and your heir. You have the throne’s utmost sympathy for such a grievous loss.” Tallu frowned, looking at me, as though deep in thought. “That means, if Domusho falls, River Otter Providence would become unstable. It would be easy pickings for Kacha, a man known for his greed. Why, he even took over abandoned farmland in the Blood Mountains because he thought it might have some value.”
“Husband, what a terrible future for one of your most loyal provinces,” I said. “We must, of course, bring Domusho with us in order to keep him safe, and House Domusho with him. But, who will rule River Otter Province, then?”
“It must be someone with a firm line of succession. In these times of great uncertainty, all of the provinces could use theguarantee that the best house will rule them,” Tallu said. He looked over the room, which was suddenly very still.
“Dear husband, Ididhear that Lord Yiilipo’s son recently had a child of his own by his recently married wife. That means the Yiilipo family already has three generations living in River Otter Province.” I frowned, as though trying to remember. “That should be more than enough. And with his ties to the province, I’m sure Lord Yiilipo would be a good choice for the position?—”
“Consort Airón,” Domusho interrupted. “I understand you often speak with servants, and I am not sure if that is where His Imperial Majesty has acquired the vast misunderstanding that my wife was with child or that she would have borne my first. No. In fact, I am happy to present any number of my bastards among the population. I have one now who is old enough to hunt.”
“Domusho,” Tallu’s voice was suddenly cold, and the expression on his face lost all of the playfulness I had been able to read into it, “are you questioning my husband?”
“Of course not, Your Imperial Majesty. I would never think to question the consort. I am just saying, that perhaps because in the north they are less flexible about such arrangements, he might not understand that here in the south, any one of my children could inherit. I’m sure it is just a cultural misunderstanding.” Domusho reached for his napkin, finally wiping at the wine in his beard.
“I believe it isyouwho has a misunderstanding if you think insulting my consort is the way to keep your seat of power.” Tallu spoke quietly, and the entire room leaned in to listen. “You have just abandoned your wife and first legitimate heir in the capital. You wish to usemyforces to prove that you should have control of River Otter Province. You wave about your bastards as though a prevalence of them will not cause chaos in your line of succession when you die. Moreover, you have implied that my husband is lacking.”
Under his thick makeup, Domusho went pale, then pushed back his chair, the legs screeching against the tiled floor.He bowed low, his fingers triangled. “Consort Airón… Prince Airón, forgive me for my implication.” He turned to Tallu, dropping heavily to his knees and prostrating himself on the ground. He was not a man who had survived long enough in court to miss that the last person Tallu had taken a disliking to had ended up beheaded. “Forgive me, Your Imperial Majesty, for any insult I have leveled against you or your beloved consort.”
The silence in the room was profound. Tallu gestured to the nearby seat that Domusho had vacated when he prostrated himself. His quiet words were as loud as a shout. “Lord Yiilipo, attend on me.”
Eight
