Page 27 of The Exile's Curse

There was curiosity in the colonel’s eyes now. "That is not a small ambition."

"Are women supposed to have only small ambitions? You are a colonel in the Imperial mages. I can't imagine you got here by lacking the will to succeed. I wouldn't say Imogene has small ambitions either. She invented a ship that can fly through the air. Something that will change the empire, I think. But it needs to change it for the better. So it will take care and consideration to spread that idea safely. And that's just one invention. There are changes and developments every day that could aid everyone. And there are disagreements and squabbles and people who would seek to use power for their own ends. Those need to be kept under control, lest we end up with death and disruption like Anglion."

She fell silent, a little surprised at her speech.

Honore regarded her with something like approval. "That was a good answer. Too many people view politics as a path to power rather than a way to help. If you said as much to His Imperial Majesty, then I can see why he likes you."

"Thank you," Chloe said, unsure what else to say. Perhaps she should have said the same thing to Aristides, but they had spoken of chains and fate instead. Found an unexpected moment of understanding. Not that she wanted to share it. A conversation with the emperor was private.

"It's not all excitement and adventure," Colonel Brodier said. "The travel can be long, tedious, and uncomfortable, and, if I'm honest, so can some of the diplomacy."

"I am not looking for sword fights and skullduggery, Colonel," Chloe said. "And I am good at detail and seeing things through. I think I could serve the empire well, should you give me the chance."

"And if you don't like it?"

"Well, I imagine I would do what many soldiers have done before me. Give my service until the end of my term, then part company and find another path. You needn't worry that I would go running to the emperor, asking to be released from duty. I don't know him that well. And I believe in paying what I owe and keeping my word. I wouldn't shirk."

Honore's brows were only a few shades darker than her hair, but they arched nicely. "No, I don't think you would. All right, Madame de Montesse. Let me speak to the Academe, see how they assess your skills. If I am happy with what they have to say, and if you are happy to do whatever remedial training is considered necessary, then I believe we can come to an agreement. You'll be a lieutenant. A junior one. That's the best I can offer you. There will be some grumbling that you're taking a spot in the corps without time served elsewhere as it is, so giving you a higher rank would only add to the problem."

Chloe pressed her lips together to stop the smile that wanted to spread across her face. The colonel didn't need to be grinned at. Save the excitement and celebration for when she was safely away from the barracks. "That is perfectly fine with me. I had no expectations of a high rank. I’ll work hard for you, Colonel. I want to earn my place."

Colonel Brodier nodded. "Good. I will see that you do."

Chloe looked at the message one of the clerks had just handed her, and her stomach tightened uneasily. It was only her third day in the mages. Only a little more than three weeks since her meeting with the emperor.

The time had passed so quickly the days had blurred together. She'd spent most of her days at the Academe, practicing with Madame Simsa and several of the other venables, and her nights at home, studying more about the history of the corps, except for a few dinners spent with Imogene and Jean-Paul, where she had thrown politeness to the winds and grilled them both relentlessly about life in the army.

And then, in the blink of an eye, it had been her first day. She'd spent most of it, and most of the two days since, completing paperwork of her own and then filing paperwork for one of the captains, in between listening to one of the older lieutenants give her several well-rehearsed speeches on the basics she needed to know as a new recruit.

There hadn't been time for her to mess up yet.

So why was she being summoned to Colonel Brodier's office?

Hoping she didn’t look as worried as she felt, she smiled her thanks at the clerk, poked her head in to tell the captain she had to go see Honore, and then, when he waved her away, headed for the colonel's office. She'd only gotten about halfway when she met Honore coming in the other direction.

"Ah, Lieutenant de Montesse, there you are. Walk with me."

"Good afternoon, Colonel. Where are we going?" She quickened her pace as Honore set off again. The colonel was moving fast. She looked as though she'd had a busy day, some blonde hair escaping her neat crown of braids to curl around her face, her fingers smudged with ink.

"We have a meeting with Major du Laq."

Imogene?"We do?" The question popped out before she could stop it.

The colonel glanced at her, smiled briefly. "Don't look so nervous, Lieutenant. You're not in any trouble. How have your first days been?

"Busy, sir," Chloe said. "But interesting."

"Good. You'll be happy to know they are about to become more so. You are being assigned to a mission."

Chloe gaped at her. Then recovered and snapped her jaw shut again. "Sir?"

Honore's mouth quirked. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you that this is unusual."

"No, sir."

"Good. Then I will get straight to the point, as we have no time. We're sending a mission to Andalyssia."

Andalyssia?Chloe managed not to gape with an effort, clenching her jaw shut. But some of her shock must have shown on her face.

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