“I do not believe the emperor has any intention of taking anyone back to their estates. In fact, it is the court’s duty to provide housing for His Imperial Majesty when it becomes necessary, is it not? It is not the emperor’s duty to provide for hiscourt.”
“And House Sotonam will be more than pleased to oblige Emperor Tallu when the time comes.” Lord Sotonam glanced at the couch across from me, but I could see him make the calculation that it was not worth inspiring my ire by taking a seat without invitation.
“Should the emperor need housing at your estate, you will be the first to know,” I said.
Perhaps I had played the game too well, or perhaps Lord Sotonam really did think me an idiot, because his next words were hissed, and in the curve of his eyes I saw Rute Sotonam.
“We have been loyal! We deserve compensation for that. My province is in chaos. A mere commoner thinks that he has the right to run it as governor. His Imperial Majesty needs to come and set it right.” Lord Sotonam drew himself up, raising his chin. “That is?—”
“I think you have made yourself extremely clear, Lord Sotonam,” I said, dropping any attempt at niceties. Koque would have handled this differently, but she wasn’t here. She had not had this man imply she was a barbarian from the north. “You believe that because you didn’t ally yourself with the traitors Kacha or Bemishu, you deserve Emperor Tallu’s support of your reign. You believe that heowesit to you. However you and I both know that neither Bemishu nor Kacha would ever believe you if you tried to come to their side. They would sooner kill you and take all the money left in House Sotonam’s coffers. You andEmperor Tallu were bound together from the moment he spared your life after finding out about Rute Sotonam’s guilt. He owes you nothing more than he gave you on that day: your life, Lady Sotonam’s life, and all the rest of House Sotonam’s members.”
Lord Sotonam paled, his eyes wide with anger. I could see him clenching his jaw, the movement creating wrinkles that turned to cracks in his makeup. When he opened his mouth, I held up a hand.
“You will not be able to use the emperor’s military for your own ends, and you should be grateful that I do not tell His Imperial Majesty of the great insult you gave him now.” I stood, feeling my braids fall over my shoulders. Lord Sotonam took a step back. “Do not think to crawl to any of the other generals. They will kill you. Your only path forward is to hope you can maintain Emperor Tallu’s favor.”
“I thank you for your time, Consort Airón,” Lord Sotonam said, the words ground out through his clenched jaw. He turned, and at the door, the servant looked at him with wide eyes. She didn’t open the door for him, her breath coming quick.
Then, in her soft voice, she murmured, “Do not add further insult, when His Highness has granted you such grace.”
I couldn’t see what expression was on Lord Sotonam’s face, but when he turned, it was wiped clean. He bowed in front of me, his fingers forming a triangle, his bow so low that it unequivocally spoke to our difference in station.
This time when he turned, the servant opened the door for him. I looked at her, amused.
“Why should I need a guard when I have you?” I teased.
She flushed, a silver color rising high on her cheekbones, before she looked down.
The next twodays were busy, and by the end of it, servants had modified seven large boats to be suitable for our travel. The one that Tallu and I would travel on had been given the most attention, while the others were merely adjusted so that the soldiers could travel comfortably on them.
What was left of the court saw us off, Lady Jolushi holding her infant son in her arms as they bowed, honoring Tallu. I watched from the top deck as the last peaked roof of House Jolushi’s estate disappeared into the forest. Our ship had once been House Jolushi’s personal pleasure cruiser, and the number of rooms for entertainment spoke to how much Lord Jolushi had appreciated hispleasure.
Lady Jolushi had offered us musicians and other entertainers, but we had tactfully declined. Although Tallu’s servants had added to the luxury of his vessel, it was impossible not to realize the ships around us were heavy with soldiers and weapons.
Empress Koque eventually joined me on the deck; Prince Hallu ran around, nearly tripping two of General Saxu’s men where they patrolled.
“Prince Hallu told me of your promise to him.” She turned her head away from the expanse of dense forest, focusing on her son.
“I will try and help him the best I can,” I said.
“Is that why we are headed to Tavornai?” she challenged. I should have known that she would not agree as easily as General Saxu to the military benefit of acquiring Namati’s men and ships.
“Yes,” I said. She waited, and I waited, and several minutes passed before I gave in. “Tallu and Hallu are both cursed by their father’s guilt. The blood mages.”
Koque gasped, covering it by pulling a green fan out of her sleeve. I recognized the gold veins painted on it. She snapped it open, covering half of her face.
“Their fate is sealed, wrapped tight around them by Spider’s threads. I will free them.” I watched the green of the forest passingby. By nightfall, we would be days ahead of where we would be if we had gone by land.
“Spider, who lives in Tavornai,” Koque said. She was quick, eyes widening, face going pale. “You seek to kill another animalia?”
“I have done it once before. And only if Spider denies me the ability to cut these two fates. Two should not be that much to ask.” I remembered the thread I had seen, the way it had pulled tight around Hallu. I could practically touch it and feel that no matter how sharp the blade I used, I could not break it on my own.
“Then I am glad we joined you on this journey. I will do anything I can to free my sons from such a horrible end.” She held the fan up until she had control of herself, only then snapping it closed and stowing it away again. At lunchtime, she called out for Prince Hallu, and they went below deck again, leaving me alone.
I stayed above deck until dinnertime when I finally went below, eating with Tallu, Koque, and the Bemishu twins. We spoke of nothing, pleasantries exchanged in different ways until Tallu stood, declaring it time to sleep.
It was odd settling next to Tallu to sleep. There was little chance of someone attacking us from within the ship, so most of the guards were posted on deck or other entry points. The ship swayed and rolled. Saxu and Tallu had both decided we’d travel through the night, the captains Lady Jolushi had provided having said we were in a safe enough portion of the river that with electro lights they could do it.
I woke in the early morning when Naî jumped up onto the bed, her face next to mine.
