Page 108 of A Reign of Embers

His father peers back at us from surroundings I can only see hazily around him, presumably a space somewhere in theCotean palace. His crown gleams atop his brown-and-gray hair, and a frown turns his sallow face grim.

I don’t think we’re getting off on the right foot.

I strive to make my tone sound both measured and welcoming. “I’m so glad I can speak to you this way, Your Highness. Truly, communication between the imperial family and the royals of the outer territories should always have been this simple.”

He motions to the mirror. “These blessed tools are certainly an innovation worthy of royalty. Thank you for granting me one for as long as that generosity may last.”

There’s the skepticism I knew to expect.

I offer a mild smile. “You know that if things go as I hope, my generosity won’t have to come to an end. Gods willing, this is only the beginning of a long collaboration between our countries—one you can enter as freely as I do.”

“Yes, I recall the promises of your letter.” He shifts his lean frame. “It seems rather a lot has developed since you penned that missive, though.”

I can guess what he means, but I’d rather he told me what he’s most worried about. “You’re referring to…?”

King Stanislas’s next gesture seems to indicate the entire world beyond our respective rooms. “Your treasonous tribune’s army has marched closer to Vivencia. She’s instructed her soldiers here to intrude even more on my family. It was a near thing preventing them from discovering the arrival of this mirror. And I hear a more dangerous strain of camp pox has been spreading through the imperial capital.”

Ah. So essentially, he’s worried about everything.

I hold my smile in place. “All of those things are true, but we’re conquering the challenges presented. It would be easier to do so—for both of us—if we could fully work together instead of relying on only our own resources.”

Bastien speaks up before his father can. “I told Aurelia about your concerns, and it took her barely a day to find a way to address them. You have to see how important it is for her to make this joint effort work. If…”

He trails off at a twitch of the king’s face. Stanislas’s gaze has jerked away from us to stare deeper into the room.

I register that fact just an instant before a reddish glow flares at the edge of my vision.

My own head jerks around. A flicker of light in the shape of a hawk streaks across the white-washed wall behind me. Prickling heat pierces my chest.

Sabrelle. She’s brought her omens right into my palace, right into one of its most private rooms.

Trying to ward off a man I hope to make one of my strongest allies in the coming war.

When my eyes snap back to King Stanislas, even more color has leached from his face. His lips part with shock. “You— She?—”

Even though the impression of the warrior goddess staring down at me has my skin crawling, I can’t let her ruin this meeting.

I grasp hold of all the calm I can summon inside me. “Sabrelle can’t do anything except send omens to try to frighten people and push them into going her way. She wants to bully the empire into accepting a leader who plans more war and violence. Is that what you’d truly prefer, Your Highness?”

His jaw tightens. “I’m not sure I’ll have a choice.”

“You will. I stood up to two emperors, and I’ll stand up to a godlen as long as it takes to bring about the peace I’ve imagined. Peace forallthe countries of the empire.”

I draw my posture as straight as it will go. “I swear before you on my life and my daughter’s that Cotea and all the other conquered countries will get your freedom of rule ifyou help me push back this threat. That’s all I wanted since before I ever stepped into this palace. Help me make my dream real.”

More light glimmers around me, but even as my pulse hitches, I realize it’s a pale glow like sunlight. White and pure, shining over me.

As it washes across my body, my heart swells with gratitude to my own godlen. Elox is watching over me, standing up for me, in his own way.

King Stanislas blinks, stunned into total silence now.

Bastien looks as if he’s restraining a grin. “We have gods on our side too, Father. It’s up to you whether you fight for more war or for true peace and freedom.”

The Cotean king takes a few rough breaths and firms his expression. “Well, I— That certainly is something to think about.”

The words sound noncommittal, but when he considers me again, there’s a sharper spark of interest in his eyes than I’ve ever seen before. “I do like the future you speak of, Your Imperial Highness. It’s a dream I can support. Let me see exactly whatsortof support I’ll be able to muster.”

I hold back the full giddiness of my smile. “I appreciate that, Your Highness.”

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