Page 65 of Poisoned Empire

“Oh! I’m so sorry. Your injury, I forgot.” She tried to pull back, but he held on, firm and unyielding.

“Your touch is healing in its own way. Don’t go.”

Iliana was suddenly very aware of the situation. She was astride his thick, powerful legs, dress rucked up to her thighs, arms tangled around his neck and shoulders, her breasts mashed to his chest. Despite his pain, he was not unaffected, his eyes unfocused, breathing ragged and an unmistakable hard member poking her. Nothing short of a thick blanket could hide her blush. The only thing that made her sudden embarrassment easier was that Marduk, too, was blushing. He scratched the stubble on his chin ruefully.

“I must confess I have no ring to give you.”

“A ring? Oh, yes, a ring! I confess, it had slipped my mind as well.” She smiled shyly.

“I will rectify that immediately,” he assured her, wiping the remnants of her tears.

“Mmmhmm,” she replied, her smile growing in time with his discomfort.

“I apologize for that. You deserved a more thoughtful proposal.”

He blushed, chastened. It made her bold.

“Marduk?”

“Yes?”

“You can make it up to me by kissing me.”

And so he did.

Chapter 23

ThejawsofBelisarius’trap were drawing closed. The magistri had been summoned to Nadioch to negotiate the engagements and attend the false weddings. Had Marduk not been attacked, the prince might have been more confident in his plans. Marduk and Nicephorus stood before him in his study as Belisarius contemplated throwing his weight around for the first time since he’d taken the reins of power.

“Since this latest attack, I’ve begun questioning my confidence in our original plan and my reluctance to having more than a handful of people know my motives.”

“Did you have something in mind?” Nicephorus asked eagerly.

“I don’t want any more surprises if we can help it. We’ve resisted speaking with the Diamond, Sapphire and Amethyst women in any capacity because we assumed they couldn’t be of help in their current conditions. However, given Sapphire’s daughters had been given strict orders to commit suicide under certain circumstances, they may have the ability to understand complex orders. I want them questioned by our silver-tongue mage regarding the magistri, their plans, any changes to their routines, any new guests, everything. The young silver-tongue has recovered enough for that, so use her. Can you arrange this, Nicephorus?”

“I shall draw up a list of questions we will want answers to.” He nodded.

“It goes without saying, I want each of them incapable of revealing any details of their interrogations to anyone else.”

“Of course.”

Belisarius turned to Marduk, his heart in his throat. He’d almost lost his oldest friend. He’d spent the night of Marduk’s attack hovering on the edge of panic, praying not another loved one would be cruelly taken from him. But Marduk had survived the night and was on the mend. A few days had passed, and Marduk had been sufficiently healed by the court mages. It was a relief to see him without the pallor of pain.

“I want you to choose two of your most trusted naval commanders. Have each take a complement of ships and officers on the fastest, most secretive route to the harbours of the Sapphire and Amethyst provinces. Lock down their harbours and march on their castles. When the magistri arrive in Nadioch, if things go poorly, I don’t want them to have a chance to flee in any direction. I want them surrounded, blockaded and their strongholds sieged and warded against escape, if necessary. Meanwhile, I want you to have the imperial forces ready to defend the palace. Send an extra detachment to the Ruby Province as well. If the traitor among my family resides there, I want him dealt with.”

“I will have the ships provisioned and ready to set sail by dawn tomorrow,” Marduk replied.

“See that you do.” Belisarius dismissed them. Nicephorus didn’t waste a moment as he hurried from the room. But Marduk lingered, watching the praetor’s retreat. “Was there something you wished to tell me?”

“It’s about Iliana. I’ve offered her a position at the Imperial Forge. Her enchantments are brilliant. If we’re to provision our ground forces, I want her enchantments on all our equipment.”

“Brilliant? That’s high praise.”

“She can enchant arrows never to miss their targets, swords which consume those of the enemy, blades so sharp they cut through steel with ease. I want her working on these and new creations.”

“Gods below.” Belisarius couldn’t hide the hoarse croak from his voice.

Such things could change the face of battle in the empire. Even a small force could turn the tide with enchantments like those. As such, if she, or her creations, fell into the hands of others, Lethe could once again be consumed by another Great War. An unsettling thought for the future.

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