Page 36 of Poisoned Empire

“Sorry, what was that? I think I heard gratitude, but I’m not certain.”

“Thank you, Selene. Had you and the griffin not intervened, I would be dead.”

His sincerity stopped her next taunt before it could roll off her tongue. When he approached, he took her hand and kissed the back of it, like she was a proper noblewoman. His eyes were dark pools, drawing her in. Before she did something she regretted, she pulled her hand from his and backed away.

“Uh, sure. I’ll see you at dinner, I guess.”

Selene tore off, trying to outrun the strange fluttering in her chest.

Chapter 14

Sneakingaboutabusypalace was a lot harder than Selene made it out to be. This was especially true when one was significantly taller than the average woman. Wearing clothes dirtied by sweat, grease and grit among the ornate finery probably didn’t help matters. Nevertheless, Iliana persevered, doing her best to disappear into the busy tapestries and hide behind overflowing vases nearly as tall as she.

Iliana’s furtive trips to the forge were saving her sanity amidst the overwhelming decadence of noble life. From the time the sun rose to long after the stars had come out, some stranger was touching her, speaking with her or expecting something of her, and through it all she was to be composed and docile, a perfect conversationalist and flatterer. There was a serving girl to wash her, comb her hair, choose her clothes, change clothes, apply make-up, brew her tea, even brush her teeth if she so desired! Noble women lived like extraordinarily pampered pets. Every aspect of their care was seen to, and in return, they were expected to be perfectly companionable every moment of every day. She didn’t know how they could stand it. It was its own kind of hell.

Not for the first time, Iliana envied Selene the outrageous behaviour expected of her. So far, Selene had poisoned several servants who had come into her room without enough advance notice. Gossip about the harridan Magister Amethyst had hidden away for so long was dominating conversations amongst the noblewomen. Some had even wondered aloud exactly why the prince had not sent her away yet.

Though, given her own experience earlier in the day, Iliana suspected that gossip would soon begin to swirl about herself and the strategos. As far as she could tell, she was the only one amongst the dominae who had even spoken to the beast mages within the prince’s closest circles of power.

She touched her lips, wondering what his kiss would’ve felt like, if his stubble would have distracted her from the feel of his tongue, or if the bite of it would have made his kiss all the sweeter.

But her daydreams came at an inopportune time. Convinced the hallway was deserted, she’d allowed her mind to wander. She didn’t notice until it was too late that the eldest Domina Emerald was striding towards her with purpose, her green silk gown flowing about her ankles, her bejewelled slippers winking up at her from below. A gold and emerald necklace, earrings and hair pins framed an undeniably beautiful visage with full lips and high cheekbones. Two palace servants, in drab grey and trained to be unnoticed, trailed at a respectful distance.

“Domina Roxane? A moment of your time.”

Iliana almost didn’t stop. She still wasn’t entirely used to hearing that false name.

“I’m afraid I’m rather dishevelled, Domina Zoe. Perhaps we can have this discussion at the ball in a few hours?”

“No, we cannot. And please do not use my name so freely. You may be a Domina, but you still possess menial magics. It would be unseemly for an ignoble to presume herself on the same level as an elemental.”

Instead of bowing and scraping as she’d been taught, Iliana stiffened her spine and held her tongue. Though Domina Emerald might be a refined beauty with a flawless dark complexion, piercing green eyes and fashionably swathed in the finest silks, at heart she was what her parents had taught her to be—an elementalist. Even within the highest ranks of the nobility, a twisted pecking order persisted. Iliana refused to bend to it. She would stand tall and proud despite it all, as Marduk did.

Domina Emerald bristled. The proper protocol had not been followed.

“Since you seem to be of a mind to pursue a gentleman befitting your circumstances, rather than aiming unbecomingly for the prince, I propose we make allies of each other. You have enough sense and daring to put unsuitable women in their place, like you did to that ridiculous Amethyst creature on the first night. In any case, I should very much like to make it known what I have just discovered. Of course, as the future empress I cannot be seen speaking of such things, you understand?”

More curious than acquiescing, Iliana nodded her head. The domina was not one to be indirect, nor one to mince words. A relief, given some of the conversation Iliana had been privy to. She briefly wondered how much power one needed to feel so free to discuss one’s motives.

“When I become empress, should the rumours ever get back to you, I will protect you and yours completely. As for what I just saw… well, it shouldn’t take long for word to spread.”

“What about your servants?”

Iliana nodded to the women who stood at a distance with serene, downcast expressions on their faces, giving away nothing. Why was it nobles always forgot the presence of their servants? Domina Emerald smiled and crooked her finger. Iliana obligingly leaned down so that the woman could whisper in her ear.

“Only I witnessed the event. Dominae Opal and Topaz in a lovers’ quarrel. Apparently, rumours about the islanders being voracious in their sexual appetites are true. Domina Topaz was often invited to the islands in the past, and it seems she is displeased that Opal has rejected her advances now that they are no longer girls. I will ensure that they are the candidates selected amongst the finalists. Opal may be a serious contender, but Topaz only wishes to prevent her paramour from marrying out of her reach. When we three are selected, you will winnow the field by spreading the tale. Once I’m the only serious candidate left, I’ll be empress, and you’ll be handsomely rewarded. What say you?”

“I do so love an intrigue,” Iliana replied with a practiced smile, careful not to reveal her displeasure.

Domina Emerald would assume she’d agreed, and by the time the woman would expect Iliana to do as she’d been told, she would be on a ship full of gold halfway to another continent. The domina beamed, her eyes sparkling like the glittering jewel of her province’s namesake. Was it a trick of the light, or a spell? Iliana curtsied a polite farewell as Emerald sashayed prettily down the corridor, her servants following silently after.

Noblewomen liked to fight just as underhandedly as common ones. Exactly how Domina Emerald planned to ensure only those she wanted were chosen during the final selection was beyond Iliana. The strings the Emerald Province pulled must be truly entrenched for her to be so certain of herself, because if there was one thing Emerald projected, it was absolute confidence in herself and her position. Whether or not such pride was justified was something only time would tell. Iliana shivered, hoping she would be well and truly gone before Emerald expected anything of her. A powerful woman like that was unlikely to suffer those who disappointed her.

“Domina Amethyst, I regret to inform you that the Poison Compendium is imperial property and belongs in the chained books section under strict supervision. I must ask that you relinquish it.”

Selene kept her gaze on the page before her. It bore a precisely rendered picture of a rather noxious weed that grew in damp conditions, which caused severe gastrointestinal problems in anyone unfortunate enough to ingest it. It was one she’d made a tidy profit selling in the past. Who didn’t love inflicting explosive diarrhoea on their least favourite neighbour? She licked her finger and placed it on the page directly on the picture, depositing a sample of the poison as she did so.

When she looked up at the middle-aged, immaculately groomed, bespectacled librarian, she raised an imperious brow. There were several more librarians, but they stood several paces behind the one who had spoken. As far as she knew, the man before her was neither a dominus nor anyone of any consequence. He had a great deal of gall, to speak to a domina in that way. That simply wouldn’t do.

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