Page 13 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“Allow me to introduce you to my fellow ambassadors.”

He placed her hand upon his forearm and they walked to where Iliana and Marduk stood.

“This is Illustrus Marduk, strategos of Lethe’s armies and administrator of the Protectorate. His wife, Illustra Iliana, administrator of the Protectorate. Illustri, this is Prince Mereruka of the Land of Maat.”

“We are honoured by your arrival, Prince Mereruka.” Marduk bowed his head.

Taisiya glared at Iliana when she didn’t extend the same courtesies. An ashen, bloodless pall marred her tawny complexion. Was she frightened by their appearances? No, it wasn’t fear. She looked ill. What in the hells had happened? Just a moment ago, she was the picture of health.

“Please forgive the illustra. It seems she’s feeling ill,” Taisiya said.

The prince’s eyes had narrowed, his lips pressed thin as he suppressed some unpleasantness, but with more success than Iliana.

“Is the illustra a witch?” the prince inquired with a grimace.

“No, she is a metals mage,” the strategos replied, looking between the prince and his wife with growing concern as Iliana began trembling and clutching her stomach.

Without any more warning, Iliana threw up.

All over Taisiya’s dress—and the prince.

Stunned, Taisiya didn’t know what to do. No—she knew what shewantedto do, but violence and curses wouldn’t fix this. Neither would summarily executing the strategos and his incompetent wife.

“I-I’m so s-sorry,” Iliana stuttered.

“It’s understandable, Illustra. Rest assured, I feel the same way about you.” The prince’s smile was made with a clenched jaw. “Though you claim not to be a witch, it seems you share the same physical aversion to the fae that they’re known for.” He turned to Taisiya. “Perhaps it would be best if you were the one to escort our group to the palace.”

“Yes, it seems that would be for the best.” Taisiya turned to the strategos. “Please return to the palace without us. I’m sure we’ll be along shortly.”

She hoped.

Thankfully, the beast mage didn’t need to be told twice. He hurried Iliana off into one of the carriages and was on his way. Unfortunately, that still left Taisiya in a soiled dress dealing with an insulted delegation of fae whose prince had been vomited upon. She cursed her rotten luck. Just more evidence this role was one of Selene’s punishments.

“Perhaps it would be best not to travel along the streets, Prince Mereruka.”

She could just imagine the stench if the fae affected most mages the same way they had the illustra. Not exactly the welcome she’d planned, and it would all be on Taisiya’s head. She couldn’t let this go wrong, not when her family was so precariously toeing their way back into the good graces of the imperial court. Not when her sisters’ futures were on the line. She could not fail them.

“I had the same thought.” He eyed her soiled dress. “We brought many gifts for the empress, dresses among them. I’m sure she wouldn’t miss one, if you’d like to change. I’ll be doing so myself.”

Taisiya's eyes widened, surprised by his kindness. She’d expected retribution, not comradery.

“I would be grateful for that, Prince Mereruka. Though I’m sorry it was necessary at all.” She curtseyed.

He took her hand and placed it on his arm. As he patted it, he grinned.

“No need to apologise. We were concerned all mages would have the same aversion. I consider myself lucky to have found one that does not.”

Though his tone was light, there was something in his eyes that spoke of some deeper meaning. Instantly on alter, she tried to parse it out as he led her back to his vessel. A staircase of water sprouted to give her access. One of the women, her skin robin’s egg blue and her hair made of rippling water, led her to a small door. When she opened it, Taisiya had to suppress a gasp. The interior was far larger than the ship could have possibly allowed. The well-appointed cabin was impossibly large, with a ceiling painted like the sky and somehow radiating the same light. As Taisiya gawked, the woman returned with two men in tow who carried an intricately carved chest and a bowl of clean water with soap. The fae woman quickly shooed them away.

“The prince requested that this be given to you, Ambassador.” She opened the chest to reveal a heavily embroidered white gown in a slightly looser, less revealing style than the ones worn by the other fae women. Beside it lay a pair of slippers dripping with jewels. “Is this acceptable?” she asked.

“Yes, more than acceptable,” Taisiya replied.

The woman opened a drawer nearby.

“He also asks that you select appropriate footwear for his presentation to the emperor and empress.”

Taisiya stepped over and perused the many jewelled sandals and slippers before her. She chose a pair that covered the toes. No one worth their salt appeared at court with their bare feet showing, sandals being the fashion of commoners and rural, provincial nobles.

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