Page 115 of A Reign of Embers

Axius tracks the movement of the omen too, his jaw setting. Sabrelle has penetrated the imperial palace in more ways than one, and she’s shown no inclination to draw back.

As we come out into the hall, the high commander glances over his shoulder at my contingent of guards. I gathered he’s personally interrogated every man and woman assigned to my protection over again since this morning’s incident, although those who were with me in the garden all responded impressively to the attack.

“Stay even closer and be even more on the alert than usual,” he orders them before turning back to me. “You have your meeting with the princes?”

“Yes. Perhaps if we can rouse their family’s armies for certain, we can put an end to this threat once and for all. I’m expecting communication from Goric around the eighth bell.”

And Lavira too sometime today, if luck has been on Raul’s side. It’s been long enough that he could have made it back to his home country, but I can’t fault him if it took more than a day to pilfer the governor’s mirror out from under her.

Once I can speak to all the royals… willIbe the one declaring war, on Valerisse? Sending all the troops loyal to me to the northern end of Dariu to tackle her there?

The idea makes my stomach churn harder, but even Counsel Etta and Cleric Pierus are starting to advise me in that direction. The waiting amid Sabrelle’s growing influence is fraying my chances. I may be safer fighting Valerisse on territory more comfortable to her if that means we can get the battle over with sooner.

I just hate the thought of all the innocent Lavirians who’d no doubt be swept up in the conflict so close to their border.

Axius parts ways with us at a branch in the hallway. I pass a couple of barons and a few members of staff on my way, with brief nods of acknowledgment and a creeping of my skin. My hand rises to rub over the sore patch on my forearm where the bone was broken.

Any of these people could be scheming to bring about my downfall. I have enemies lurking within my home, spurred on by divine approval, and I have no idea how to tackle them.

A more welcome figure jogs over to join us. Kassun’s face still looks sallower than usual, but no sign of his actual wound remains on his head.

He comes to a stop in front of me and bobs in a quick bow. “I’d like to return to duty, Your Imperial Highness.”

When I blink, I can still see the scarlet staining his tawny curls. Every particle of my body balks.

The man who’s defended me valiantly on so many occasions nearly died in the gardens today. How can that be right?

How can I ask more of him? He never expected to find himself in the midst of the most twisted sort of civil war.

I clear my throat. “Actually, Kassun, I’m putting you on leave for at least a couple of weeks. You’ve more than fulfilled your duties as it is.”

The guard blinks at me with a stutter of his gaze. “Your Imperial Highness? If I let you down today?—”

I hold up my hand. “No, not at all. You went above and beyond. You should be rewarded with a little peace.”

His forehead furrows. Then he draws himself up straighter. “I wouldn’t consider peace a reward while you’re still in danger. I want to keep defending you from whatever threats are coming.”

“Kassun… You were badly hurt today.”

“And I’d take the same wound or worse again if it meansyou don’t.” He hesitates before clenching his jaw defiantly. “I’ll follow what orders you give me. But won’t you give me the reward of getting to decide what matters to me?”

The question pierces my heart. I swallow hard.

Can I not protect even one man from the troubles that are dogging me?

But he’s right. I’m fighting the war we’re already emmeshed in to give every citizen of the empire more freedom to decide their own fate. How can I deny Kassun the same freedom—just to makemyselffeel better?

Standing aside clearly wouldn’t make him happier.

More guilt winds around my gut, but I manage to summon a smile. “All right. If that’s how you see it. I hope you know how grateful I am for your dedication. But I do think you should take the rest of today off for a full recovery, so you can serve me as well as possible.”

I didn’t realize Kassun could draw himself to even stiffer attention. “Yes, Your Imperial Highness. It will be my honor to return in the morning.”

So much for imperial authority. At least I enforced a few more hours of leisure.

As we head toward the sitting room where I planned my informal meeting with the princes, my gaze slides toward Marc. The former emperor catches my gaze and offers me a crooked smile, as if nothing is all that different from usual.

I think we reached some kind of agreement over my ultimate intentions for the empire. By the end of our last conversation, his stance had relaxed and the tension smoothed from his voice. But I can’t blame him for being upset.

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