Page 51 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“Would you be so kind as to bring this messenger to me, Princess Consort?”

“With pleasure, Praetor,” Taisiya said. “Vasilisa?”

Vasilisa stepped from a tall shadow in the corner of the room, the prisoner in tow. He looked very much the worse for wear.

“Antonio?” Nicephorus paled before his shock turned to red-faced fury. “Who else conspired with you? You never do anything alone!”

“Please, Praetor, have mercy!”

“Answer me!”

“No one, I swear! Nobilissimus Procopius only wanted one man to send the letters!”

Nicephorus’ fists were shaking with his rage. Taisiya noted them with curiosity, nothing more. He’d already purged his ranks once in the recent past. No doubt he’d begin wondering just how many under him were as loyal as they seemed. It was unfortunate she didn’t have an ally in Procopius’ ministry to champion at this time. Perhaps Theo or Alexandra would know someone.

The praetor marched over to his set of bell-pulls and yanked the one with a black rope. Nobilissimus Procopius, a shadow mage, emerged from the same shadow Vasilisa had a moment earlier. When he took in the scene laid out before him, he attempted to flee.

Vasilisa coated herself in inky darkness and leapt into the shadow after him. The shadow mage logothete was no match for a more powerful darkness mage; coated in her element, she was as strong as any beast mage. When she tore him back out into the light and brought him before the praetor, she slammed his head on his thick, wooden desk, dazing him. Taisiya did her best not to grin as blood dribbled from his nose. Served that rat right.

“Nobilissimus Procopius, you’ve been accused of using your position to blackmail the noblewomen of the empire. Do you have anything to say to these charges?” Nicephorus asked.

Procopius glared up at the praetor and then turned his hateful gaze at Taisiya. She raised a copper brow in question.

“Only that I find it distressing you would take the word of a traitor’s daughter over your own logothete.”

“Unlike Nobilissimus Procopius, Prince Mereruka and I won’t hold your children accountable for the sins of their father,” Taisiya said. “A mercy he extends to your daughter, though it seems you couldn’t find it in yourself to do the same for me or mine.” She stared at Procopius. “And make no mistake, my husband was quite angry when he discovered that a man of high office pursued a vendetta against him.”

Taisiya’s eyes flicked up to the praetor, whose concern only grew. Yes, now he understood it wasn’t just about a few indelicate secrets of a handful of noblewomen, or a matchmaker thwarted in her feminine ambitions. Future diplomatic relations with a strange and powerful kingdom were at stake. It was the first time she’d been able to make use of her new situation, and the power was heady indeed.

“You will be questioned by Magistra Amber and then sentenced accordingly, Nobilissimus Procopius,” Nicephorus said. He took a key from the pocket of his robe and opened a drawer. When he came before the desk, it was with two negation collars in hand. He placed them around the two men’s necks and pulled another cord beside his desk. Two armed guards entered the room. “Escort these two shadow mages to the dungeons and call on Magistra Amber.”

Once that business was sorted, Nicephorus sat back in his chair.

“I hope that you and your husband will be mollified by my actions.”

“Perhaps, though there is something you could do for me which would encourage me to sway his heart.”

“I’m listening.” Nicephorus grimaced.

“My former home has gone a full year without its magistra in residence. The people of the Amber Province have been left without a manager or advocate. I would like for the magistra to take her rightful place as ruler and caretaker of its people. It is her duty, after all, and it isn’t as though there are so few teleportation mages about that she can’t reside there and still be of service when the palace calls, no?”

He looked a little green about the gills as he realised what that would mean. A silver-tongue mage freed from the palace’s control. In charge of a province. Being wooed by Theodore. And he could not deny her if he wished to avoid trouble from abroad.

“I… shall see what can be done.”

“See that you do, Praetor. I will hear about it if you don’t,” she said with a smile.

The look on his face was somewhere between surprise and unease. Had he just now seen her fangs? Well, it was too late for that. Her family was now related by marriage to an obscenely wealthy foreign prince, their re-entry into the upper echelons of society assured, and her brother was on his way to becoming the magister of their stolen lands. Now, unless Nicephorus wished to anger her, he would lose control of his silver-tongued mage. For as sure as the night followed the day, when Alexandra set foot in the Dragonsblood fortress, its former servants would return to teach her how to stand on her own two feet, and ensure she was never a prisoner of the empire again. It was, after all, Taisiya’s duty to take care of her family.

Taisiya rose, and he did as well.

“If you’ll excuse me? My husband is eager to return to Maat.”

As she swept from the corridor, she was met by Magistra Jade, who slipped her a steel blade when she took her hand in greeting.

“I see now why you were reluctant to sabotage Chloe’s chances. I’m not sorry she’s safe, but I am sorry you had to take her place. Take care of yourself. I’ll do better by your family. Good luck.”

Palming the dagger, Taisiya sighed. At least in failing, she’d secured one potential ally. Alone again, she continued on her way.

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