Page 80 of Conspirators' Kingdom

Taisiya stared at him, horrified.

“Lethe must look like some insolvent backwater to you.”

He shrugged.

“It looked young and mostly stable. Maat has existed in its present form for tens of thousands of years and we’ve long grown fat off our control of the Hapi.” When he grinned, it was a touch savage, “Though now, should you visit Lethe, you will outshine all its inhabitants.”

Hells, she could probably buy the bloody palace out from under the imperial swine. The nobles of Lethe would be begging to eat out of the palm of her hand.

“Speaking of, I’d like to send a fair number of gifts to my family and begin trade with the empire. When can a sea-going vessel be made ready?” Taisiya asked. The sooner her family prospered, the sooner they could wrap the empire around their fingers.

“Are you certain you wish to send it so soon?” Mereruka asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Don’t you want to see what your new nome will have to offer? Once the barge is completed, we’ll be on our way to Shedet. Besides, where else are you going to put your palace’s worth of new goods?”

“He has a point,” Vasilisa said.

“And before the barge is ready, you’ll need to approve the new scribes, soldiers and palace servants that need to be hired to oversee the running and security of Shedet,” Bas pointed out.

Taisiya slumped in her seat. There was so much to be done. Then again, what had she expected? If she wanted to be queen, she was going to have to scheme and work harder than she ever had. Their enemies were no pushovers, and she wouldn’t even be playing a game she’d begun herself. The first move had been Khety’s. As she looked at those around her, Taisiya’s resolve hardened. For her family, what wouldn’t a Dragonsblood do?

Chapter 32

Mererukahadquicklylearnedthat when his wife was working, he should either make himself useful or scarce. When he’d come into the office he’d set up for her personal use, he’d found her buried under rolls of papyrus, dictating letters, commanding a small army of servants and duplicating documents being read aloud into Lethe’s script. At the mention of another appointment, he’d feared for his own health and had taken to commissioning her barge himself. Taisiya spent the morning exhausting herself with her many tasks. By the time the sun had reached its zenith, she had already chosen the staff for her soon-to-be palace. It was only then, once his business was complete, that he dared interrupt her.

“Perhaps a refreshing meal in the shade would rejuvenate you,” he said as he kissed her cheek.

He offered his hand and she reluctantly put down her reed, wiping the traces of ink from her fingers on a towel provided by one of the servants. Though by now all the palace staff knew the mage language and she had several personal scribes, not a one knew how to write in her language. He would have to see to it that one of the scribes was trained to read and write the mage script.

“That does sound good.” She sighed and took his proffered hand.

Just as he was leading her to the courtyard where a hearty meal had been laid out, Qar appeared, his expression grim and his hippo ears twitching angrily.

“Forgive me, Your Tranquility, but I couldn’t stop her.”

Her?Mereruka’s sigh was drowned out by the booming echo of the doors of the inner palace being flung open with a powerful, hooved kick.

“Gods below, you’re actually not dead!”

Mereruka raised a violet brow at his elder sister, Itet. Her blue and gold soldier’s tunic complimented her shocked blue eyes. Black hair fell down her back in thick braids, the teeth and claws of fallen foes woven in as grim decoration, swinging with her strides and noisily knocking against each other. No crown sat upon her head, but in Maat she didn’t need it. Itet’s reputation preceded her. Oversized skein in her lime green hand, she took a swig. Full of alcohol, no doubt. As she raced forward, with no concern for personal space, she inspected him all over, her horns nearly impaling his chin.

“Shockingly, neither are you,” Mereruka replied.

Her bawdy laugh was rich and unrestrained. She circled Taisiya with great interest.

“Princess Consort Taisiya, this is my sister, Itet,” Mereruka said by way of introductions.

Taisiya sized her up, her mask firmly in place, standing still as a statue while his sister gawked.

“You look like a witch,” Itet accused.

“Better a witch than a goat,” Taisiya retorted, her eyes lingering tellingly on Itet’s horns and hooves.

“Ooh! A feisty one! We should go drinking together.” Itet smiled.

Mereruka stepped between them, narrowing his eyes at Itet.

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