“Are any of the remaining courtiers ones that youwouldn’twant ruling over their provinces?” I asked, my eyes finding a small white rabbit hiding in the corner of the canopy.
“The only ones with us who aren’t worthy of their provinces are too weak to keep hold of them anyway.” Tallu exhaled. “It’s why they are with me in the first place. They hope I will lend a few soldiers to help them keep hold of their meager power.”
“Then we make it a challenge. I’ll speak to Lady Jolushi. House Jolushi has to have boats and captains, if they’re transporting their lumber south. I’ll strongly suggest to her that she offer their boats as a faster way for you to get to yourdestination. We take the soldiers, we take the Dogs and our servants.” I turned onto my side, grinning at Tallu. “And you let the remaining courtiers know that you were very impressed with Lady Jolushi’s initiative.”
It was Tallu’s turn to smile. “I will imply that I would love for them to show similar strategy. They know exactly what my father did when his whims weren’t met. They will fall over themselves to rush back to their own provinces, because they know that traveling with me is no guarantee that they will get to keep their petty power.”
Tallu’s expression folded with relief. He could have thought of it himself, but I could see his exhaustion, now that the anger had fallen off his face. His brow was creased. It must take so much for him to remain stoic all day long, for him to remain the emperor they expected at all times.
I raised my fingers to his face, smoothing them over his brow and letting them drift over his eyes, covering them with my palm.
“Sleep. We have a plan. We can implement it tomorrow.” I pressed a soft kiss to his exposed temple, keeping my fingers over his eyes. “Sleep.”
“I cannot. It’s already morning. And every morning thus far has brought me more thorny issues to untangle. My hands are bloodied with the work of it. If I sleep, I will only wake to more problems.”
“I won’t let that happen this morning,” I soothed. “Go to sleep, husband.”
It took no more coaxing. Within seconds, Tallu slept.
His golden skin mellowed in sleep, the brass undertones going flat, losing their metallic sheen. His face relaxed, too, and he seemed so young, so much younger than his years.
I lay next to him, watching for some time, silently promising again that tomorrow everything would go as we planned.
Of course, as with most things, Tallu turned out to be right.
Ten
The next morning Tallu dressed in dark silks and heavy fabrics, his skin back to its lustrous sheen. His curls fell over the golden crown servants had placed on his brow, his fingers were adorned with gemstone rings and delicate gold bracelets patterned like leaves.
Slipping in quietly through the door, Sagam observed for a few moments before speaking. “General Saxu wishes to speak with you.”
Tallu tilted his head, raising a bejeweled finger to brush a stray strand of hair off of his ear. “Show him in.”
“Privately,” Sagam said. “He wishes to have a word before you call court this morning.”
Tallu looked up, meeting his Dog’s eyes in the mirror. “And what does he have to say?”
The words were a challenge, just as much payback for Sagam denying him what he wanted the night before. Sagam met his eyes, and Tallu nodded. Tallu gestured at the steward of his quarters.
“Prepare a private breakfast for us. Send word to General Saxu that he should join us.”
The steward bowed low, forming a triangle with hisfingers, then ushered all of the servants out, leaving only Sagam in the room with us.
I settled on a chair near the window, unsure whether I should intervene.
Tallu still had his back to Sagam, only watching him through the mirror. I had to break the tension.
“Sagam, you look tired. You were up all night. You should yield His Imperial Majesty’s guard to someone more rested.”
“There are not enough Dogs to protect His Imperial Majesty.” Sagam looked at me, and I could barely see the crinkle in the corner of his eye. “Dragon Chosen Emperor Tallu would help me rest better if he let us protect his safety.”
I huffed out a snort, then glanced up at Tallu, waiting. Tallu turned, his chin raised. He was playing the part, just as I was, just as Sagam likely wanted him to.
“What do you know about this meeting General Saxu wants to have?” Tallu asked.
None of the blood monks had come to us yet. I hoped that was only because they were still watching, still observing, and not because even more of them had disappeared in the night.
“Last night, several members of your court disappeared.” Sagam nodded when I looked at him sharply. “Yes, Lord Domusho’s allies. The ones we thought were sympathetic to General Kacha have all taken their leave in the early hours of the morning, just after dawn. Saxu had men follow them, but we have no idea if they were fleeing for their lives because they assume your next move will be to kill them or if there is some larger plan at play.”
