Tallu had slumped in his chair, but he straightened immediately. I winced. Being so long on the road had to be terrible for the illness his curse caused. I worried that whatever had hold of him would only hurt him more if we traveled through Tavornai.
“You have something to tell me?” Tallu asked. He glanced between Asahi and the girl, the twitch of his eyebrows the only sign that he recognized what I did.
The servant was younger than Sagam, but they shared much ofthe same coloring, the same golden skin, the same curve to their eyes. Their hair was different. Hers was pale like milk, while his was dark brown.
Silver hair wasn’t common in the Imperium, although I had seen it in court, but hers wasn’t silver. It was white, a clearly elven feature that made her parentage more obvious than his. Moreover, she was soaking wet. She had been on the ship that was destroyed earlier. Lerolian and the other blood mages hadn’t heard any whispers of her presence for the simple fact that she hadn’t been on our ship.
I crossed my arms, leaning against the door.
“When did we pick up your sister?” I asked, even though the answer was obvious. “Otter Cub City?”
Sagam glanced fiercely at Asahi before looking down and nodding.
“Is that what you and the Kennelmaster went to go fetch?” I asked.
“No.” Sagam shook his head. “We went to go check his network. He had at least two spies in the city, but we found both of them assassinated. It has been that way everywhere we have stopped. Someone knows most of the network and is killing spies.”
I looked at Asahi. He was wearing his mask, the black ceramic giving off no expression. “You picked her up for Sagam.”
Asahi dropped to his knees. He rested his hands on his thighs before forming a triangle with his fingers and pressing his forehead to the floor.
He said nothing. Tallu stared down at him.
Finally, Tallu said, “Speak.”
To anyone else, it sounded like the harsh order of a frustrated emperor. But I knew the pain underneath. Tallu needed rest. He was exhausted.
“I brought her aboard.Ialone. I alone will suffer the consequences,” Asahi said.
“And what consequences do you think you deserve?” Talluasked. “For defying your emperor’s safety in favor of your lover’s peace of mind?”
“There is only one fate for one who has committed such an offense,” Asahi said.
“I can think of several,” Tallu said, “but tell me what fate you think you deserve.”
“Death.” Asahi said the word easily, as though begging for relief. “I betrayed Your Imperial Majesty for my own gain. For my own benefit. I have pledged my life to serve you, and I betrayed that pledge. I betrayed that trust.”
“Isthatwhat you did?” Tallu looked down at him, his russet gaze piercing through the armor of formality that Asahi had put on.
“What do you think, Sagam?” Tallu asked. “You are now the head of my Kennel. What fate does this Dog deserve?”
Sagam looked pained, glancing at his sister, then down at his lover, clearly unable to form the words he knew he should say.
I laughed. The sound broke the silent tension in the room, everyone turning to me. Tallu frowned, and I waved him off. “My lord, your Dogs are so funny. My previous bodyguard is playing a joke on you.”
Tallu’s expression melted, just enough that I knew no matter how angry he was, he was willing to play along, and my giving Asahi his old title was a broad hint. “They have so little entertainment of their own.”
“Asahi knew that we were traveling to Tavornai, and he knew that your safety must be paramount. He went out of his way to find us a guide.” I gestured to the girl. “Lady?—”
“Joxii,” she said, tugging at the hem of her sleeve uncomfortably. The servant’s dress didn’t fit, dragging too long around her legs. It was discolored from the muddy swamp water, but I could see older stains from where the hem had dragged across the ground.
Asahi might have gone to the effort of making herinvisible by turning her into a servant, but she would need help to not get found out.
“Lady Joxii is clearly familiar with Tavornai and will be a good guide to help us seek out House Chaliko.” I smiled at Joxii and she twitched her head in a nod.
Then she turned to Tallu, bowing low and forming a triangle with her fingers in perfect imperial form. “I am happy to serve Your Imperial Majesty on your journey.”
“Raise your head, Sagam. It appears Asahi has found a guide for us. Find clothes for her and tell General Saxu to add one more to our number.” Tallu gestured a hand in dismissal.
