“I’m sure nothing more would please him than to enjoy such a beautiful estate for the entire season—perhaps for the entire year. But with the unrest throughout the Imperium it would be selfish of us to request it.” I waited, watching her eyes over the edge of herfan. The fan was a dark green, the individual blades decorated in golden veins, as though each segment was a leaf from her garden.
“No one would ever call the emperor selfish,” Lady Jolushi said. Which might be true. Even when he was acting selfish, no one would dare raise such an accusation against Emperor Tallu.
“No,” I agreed. “Yet, nevertheless, His Imperial Majesty wishes to travel as quickly as possible to Tavornai.”
Lady Jolushi was quick on the uptake, her eyes brightening immediately. Clearly she was a woman with as keen a political and geographic knowledge as Tallu. “Prince Airón, I would be remiss if I did not offer our meager boats. They travel south to deliver lumber along the river. They are unworthy of carrying Dragon Chosen Emperor Tallu, but they would allow him to travel south much faster than the caravan.”
“How generous of you, Lady Jolushi. And it is such a shame that these boats do not have room for the rest of the court. Merely the soldiers that Emperor Tallu needs.” I watched the veins of gold on her fan as it moved in a quick fluttering motion. “Such a shame.”
“My greatest regret,” she agreed. “The court will have to be informed.”
“I’m sure, if you inform some of your favorite, closest friends in court, the news will quickly travel. It would be an annoying burden for His Imperial Majesty to have to tell the court directly.”
Lady Jolushi’s chin dipped in agreement, her eyes fixed on my face. “So, this is the true price?”
“I have no idea what you mean.” I frowned as though in bewilderment. “Price of what?”
“His Imperial Majesty could not have married a more worthy partner,” Lady Jolushi said.
“He and I are immensely happy together.” I smiled. “If you could have one of your servants show the boats to Nohe and the steward of the emperor’s residence…”
“Of course.” Lady Jolushi stood, folding her fan in one motionagainst her palm. “His Imperial Majesty will forever have my gratitude, no matter what future payments are required.”
“I’m glad we understand each other.” I watched as she bowed, her fingers forming a triangle before she straightened and walked out the door.
Nohe closed it silently behind her, the servant’s eyebrows going up in surprise.
I lay back on the couch. “Is it too early to go back to bed?”
Nohe chuckled when I used the hand motion indicating I was joking. “I will go track down her servants, Your Highness, and see what is required to make the boats habitable for Your Highness and the emperor.”
She disappeared, leaving one of her replacement servants at the doorway. It was hard for me not to look at her and see Zolle. The new servant looked very little like her; Zolle had a pale pearl skin and wore her hair pinned up in the imperial manner, while the servant wore hers in a long plait that was more common to those who lived near the conquered lands. Even her skin lacked the imperial shine indicating someone of pureblood.
Still, looking at her I couldn’t help but have the same feelings and questions I had had when speaking with Zolle. What drove her? What did she want? Why was she here and was it to betray me?
I marinated in the thoughts for long enough that when someone knocked on the door, it startled all of us except Iradîo, who shot me an annoyed look. The shadows under her eyes were darkening as the day went on; she was only getting more tired, and her temper frayed as her exhaustion rose.
The servant opened the door and spoke with the person on the other side. She closed it, then turned to me and spoke in a small voice. “Lord Sotonam wishes to speak with you, Prince Airón. What would you have me say?”
I could have her pretend I wasn’t here, but it would only serve to reinforce whatever idea Sotonam already had in his head.
“Let him in,” I said.
The servant bowed her head. She opened the door and let Lord Sotonam in with a small bow. I watched him as he entered, surprised at how much larger he had looked when I had first known him. My first few days at the Mountainside Palace, I had felt as though I was drowning, and he had been more than happy to scurry around and empty buckets of water onto my head.
Perhaps it was uncharitable for me to look him over and see the poorly applied makeup that was several shades different than his natural tone. It gave the impression of a mask, not quite covering his cheeks.
He lowered himself into a bow, his fingers forming a triangle reluctantly. It was deep enough for my station, but I caught sight of his eyes. I let him linger for a moment before nodding.
“Lord Sotonam.” I waited, longer than necessary, remembering how he had tried to press my old tutor, Lord Fuyii, for information about me. Remembering that it was his servants Rute Sotonam had raped and tortured, and Lord Sotonam had done nothing to stop him. Finally, I asked, “Why do you wish to see me?”
“Well—I—that is—” Lord Sotonam straightened slowly. The flash in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. He had not forgotten how Tallu had made him prostrate himself, nearly begging for his life. “We were all relieved to hear that you and Emperor Tallu survived the burning of the capital and were safely at the Lakeshore Palace.”
“I am glad to hear that you found relief in our safety,” I said. Lord Sotonam was more difficult than Lady Jolushi, who had played the game easily with me, as though we were two children passing a ball back and forth. With Lord Sotonam I felt I always had to be cautious. He would pass the ball back to me, but I could never be sure he had not replaced it with a venomous snake.
“And our endless gratitude for His Imperial Majesty’sgenerosity in allowing us to travel with him back to our estate,” Lord Sotonam said.
And there it was. If we traveled south by boat, we would neatly avoid taking him back to his estate which was far more west than the river ran. In mock puzzlement, I frowned.
