“Prince Airón, I am honored by your invitation.” Lady Jolushi stood, her lips pulling in a pleased smile.
I gestured at the chair across from me with three fingers, and she took it neatly, her eyes not even glancing at Nohe as she served us.
“We are nearly at your estate,” I said carefully. “I thought it best to meet with the woman in charge.”
I picked up one of the delicacies, chewing on it to cover my own wince. Koque would have done it better. My words were too obvious, and I could see Lady Jolushi nearly pull back in suspicion.
“Yes, Pine Thorn Province has been territory that House Jolushi has been honored to care for since gifted it by Emperor Wollu. My son’s territory is beautiful, and I hope His Imperial Majesty will be able to stay long enough to enjoy it.” Lady Jolushi took a delicate sip of tea. “This blend was grown by our farmers. There are notes of the mushrooms we grow in the aftertaste.”
“Your son is lucky to inherit such a balanced province. I understand that his father was interested in expanding House Jolushi’s family tree. I come from the north, where such things are complicated.” And now, it was my turn to use a little selective editing of my own family history. The benefit to having a culture seen as barbaric, seen as soforeign, was that I had found imperials willing to believe any number of falsehoods about the north. “My mother found herself simplifying such matters whenever they became too entangled. So, I must appreciate howsimpleHouse Jolushi’s line of succession is.”
Lady Jolushi’s eyes were fixed on me, and she was careful not to let them narrow, not to give away anything. In the corner of the tent, Naî stretched out, her jaw opening into a wide yawn that displayed her teeth before she settled again, her eyes watching with interest.
“If you will not take offense at the comparison, you remind me a great deal of my mother. As such, I would wish to reward such strength of action.” I set my teacup down. “I’ve heard whispers that Lord Helli sympathizes with General Kacha. I think your province would benefit greatly from a war not being dragged across its borders, should Falcon Ridge Province antagonize His Imperial Majesty. I believe such things should be dealt with swiftly, following the example of my mother.”
Lady Jolushi went pale under her thick coat of makeup. The paint and powder had stained her skin so silver she looked like a full moon. I could see her thinking, see her calculating the angles and considering the losses she and her son might suffer. Finally, she raised her chin.
“House Jolushi would like nothing better than to support His Imperial Majesty in such a manner, but our people are farmers and woodsmen. We keep careful control of our logging and are known throughout the Imperium for the quality of the wood we can produce. Our men are strong, yes, but they are not soldiers.” Lady Jolushi met my eyes. “If His Imperial Majesty asks such a thing ofus, we would happily go to war for him, but we would lose. Lord Helli keeps more guards, and he pays more mercenaries. He is poor, but he is so afraid of losing power that he wastes his money on weapons instead of bettering his province. It would bebestfor our province if the emperor didn’t ask such a thing of us.”
It only confirmed what Topi and Pito had told us, what the blood mages had whispered about her people. I looked at a box in the corner of my tent waiting until Lady Jolushi turned to follow my gaze.
I tried not to think about the time that General Kacha had come to meet me at Turtle House, so confident that he could make me afraid.
“I agree that House Jolushi and your province should not be asked such a thing. However, I believe that presenting His Imperial Majesty with a gift like the one in the box might sway his judgment regarding your request to act as regent for your son.” I took another sip of the tea, tasting the sharp evergreen aftertaste. “You should be proud of what your land has produced. You should be able to protect it.”
Standing, Lady Jolushi approached the box, crouching to open the lid, her bracelets ringing together when she jerked back, letting the lid crash closed. For a moment she stayed crouched, then stood, still facing away from me. She forced her shoulders down, turning and rejoining me at the table, her fingers steady when she picked up her teacup and took a sip.
Lady Jolushi inhaled, her words coming from the back of her throat. “If I give His Imperial Majesty what is in that box, both Lord Helli’s heir and General Kacha will assume I have the men necessary to defend my province.”
“General Kacha has enough to worry about. He will keep his men out of a fight that has no benefit to him. You have lumber and tea farms. Neither of those are the food and metal he needs to win against Emperor Tallu.” I savored my next sip of tea, swallowing it down and waiting until the aftertaste turned nearly sweet in theback of my throat. “As delicious as it is, soldiers do not survive on tea.”
“I was at the garden party when the Bemishu twins tried to make a fool of you,” Lady Jolushi said. “I did not help you then.”
“Lady Jolushi,” I said seriously. “There has never been a time when I needed help.”
She looked at me, both eyebrows raised, the silver on her skin gleaming in the sunlight. I thought she might believe the lie.
Either way, she took the box with the head in it when she left my tent, strong enough to carry it without the help of a servant.
It tookus two more days to reach the Jolushi estate.
Tallu had given no indication whether he would support Lady Jolushi’s attempt to gain the position of regent, and both Topi and Pito had quietly whispered, fanning the flames of the chaos enveloping the court, the rumors whispered behind fans and when courtiers thought they were free from listening ears. What would Tallu do? Would he upend the entire social order of the Imperium?
Some believed he would kill Lady Jolushi for the offense of even asking. Others believed she had been loyal enough that her request warranted Tallu’s consideration.
In the end, we arrived at the estate by midday to find all of House Jolushi’s servants arrayed outside, waiting. Nohe and Tallu’s steward took control immediately, and by the time we got inside, the rooms for Tallu and me were arranged to our liking. After I had bathed, dressed, and snacked on the small plates provided by the kitchen, a servant acting as messenger arrived, declaring that Tallu was calling court into session before dinner.
By the time I reached the large meeting hall that had been cleared of tables and chairs except a single one for Tallu, most ofthe court was there. From the smiles hidden behind fans, and Lord Sotonam moving between groups as though he was taking wagers at a race, everyone else knew that blood was going to be spilled one way or another before dinner.
As an appetizer course, it was grotesquely in line with imperial tastes.
I strode to the head of the room, passing by Lord Domusho. His fellow conspirators were careful enough not to be in proximity to him, but when I looked out at the crowd, they stood out because of their utter stillness.
Tallu didn’t glance at me, and I stood beside him, one hand resting on my belt, the blade at my waist heavy. I could feel the court’s eyes on me as they tried to determine Tallu’s decision based on my expression.
“Lady Jolushi,” Tallu said casually. The lady stepped forward, along with a nursemaid carrying the small child I assumed was the House Jolushi heir. “We have considered your request. We are undecided on the matter. Have you anything to say on your own behalf?”
“Your Imperial Majesty,” Lady Jolushi bowed low, “you honor me by even considering my request. In order to prove my willingness to defend you and this province for my son until he comes of age, I have taken it upon myself to rid you of one of the leeches that let himself be swayed by the traitor Kacha.”
