Page 121 of A Reign of Embers

If I were nervous, the pleased expression that softens Bianca’s features melts most of that anxiety away. “It’s far from a hardship to spend more time with you rather than the lot of them. Whatever’s on your mind, I’ll do my best to oblige.”

Does she think I’m going to ask her for a favor? I suppose in a way I am, but not at all the sort she could imagine.

We duck into one of the palace’s many sitting rooms. I leave all of my guards outside, with a pointed look at Marc to hold him at bay.

He shoots me a brief glower, but he trusts Bianca enough not to raise a fuss no matter what I say to her.

Let’s hope our instincts are right.

The vicerine settles into one of the chairs, but now that I’ve decided to make this confession, I can’t bring myself to stay in one place. I pace across the rug, pulling together the right words.

“I want to know what you think about something,” I say finally. “I’d like you to be honest with me. I’m hoping this step will make all of us better off in the end, but it may be a little difficult, in the transition…”

The furrow in Bianca’s forehead deepens. “I’m not sure how much help I can be when it comes to addressing an uprising. It is a little outside my experience.”

I have to laugh at the dryness in her tone, even as a lump chases the sound up my throat. “No. Not like that. I?—”

I force my feet to stop and look her in the eyes. “If I hold on to the throne against Valerisse as I mean to, then once she’s dealt with… I intend to focus solely on Dariu’s security and prosperity. To form alliances with the other kingdoms but remove our authority over them, so we can collaborate as equals rather than tyrant and conquered territories.”

Bianca blinks at me. I brace myself for her reaction, but the first thing that spills out of her is a guffaw of her own. “That’swhy the new palaces. It isn’t just for Creaden’s sake—or it is, but you really mean the recognition of the other royals as more than a show.”

“Well, I didn’t think it couldhurt. And I doubt Creaden would be swayed if he thought the gesture was only superficial.”

Bianca swipes her hand back over her dark hair and shakes her head. “You had me worried, Aurelia. I thought you were so frightened by this errant tribune that you were desperate enough to think I could help win a war. Instead, you’re already planning on restructuring the entire empire in our presumed victory.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?” I press.

She pauses, her gaze going distant as she considers. “Will it mean we lose out on anything we currently get from those other countries?”

“We’ll need to offer them fairer payment for the goods and services we require,” I say. “But I think that balance has been tipped in Dariu’s favor so long we can hardly complain. And we get to lose out on the continued hostilities and rebellions, the underhanded trading and conflicts of interest.”

“I could do without all of those. Sounds like a reasonable exchange.”

Her easy-going words send relief rushing through me. Of course, Bianca doesn’t have direct business interests that will be affected. Many of the other nobles aren’t likely to be quite as accepting.

Her total lack of horror makes the ground beneath my feet feel that much more solid, though.

I can do this. I can defeat Valerisse and Sabrelle and whoever else tries to wrench the empire I’ve fought so hardfor from my grasp, and leave even the nobles of Dariu happier once the dust settles.

As long as this palace and the city around us are still standing when that time comes.

Bianca leans back in her chair, watching me eagerly. “Howareyou going to put that treacherous viper in her place, Empress? I’ve never had to see you at war before.”

The answer rises up as if it was already there, just beyond my reach. “We’re not going to let them even reach Vivencia’s walls. We’ll meet them where the fewest possible innocents will be harmed and bring every skill and trick we have to bear.”

Which means I too will venture beyond the safety of these walls.

Marc once rode into battle against the Rionian rebels. How could I refuse to do the same for the people who are now mine?

Chapter Forty-Four

Raul

The stomp of my horse’s hoof yanks me out of sleep. I roll onto my feet in a crouch before I’ve registered more than the noise and the answering hitch of my pulse.

As my blanket tumbles off me, I peer through the darkness. The night is thickened further by the grove of trees I crashed in for shelter. Its chill prickles into my lungs.

How long have I been out? My thoughts slosh and collide in my head in woozy fashion, but it’s hard for me to tell how much that’s from exhaustion and how much the lingering aftereffects of my straining my gift.

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