Page 126 of A Reign of Embers

Everyone I turn to, I’m only drawing into deeper danger.

But how much danger will they face under Valerisse and whoever she’ll set on the throne if I give up?

Despite the melancholy news, Axius’s answer does kindle a little reason for hope. Raul said he saw omens from various other godlen appearing to the enemy soldiers, trying to divert them. If those weren’t illusions conjured by our side, then they must have come from the godlen themselves.

Have I proven myself to enough of the gods for them to overcome the warmonger in their midst? From what Raul described, even Jurnus is supporting me, despite my failure to distribute the enchanted mirrors.

But Valerisse’s forces are still marching on us. What will it take to actually stop her?

“Let me think on how to best use them, and we’ll incorporate that into our strategy discussion today,” I tell Axius, and bite into the crisp pastry. Even if my stomach is rebelling, I need to keep my strength.

My gaze drifts across the room and comes to rest on the end of the table where my princes are currently seated. Raul has just walked over, scrubbed clean thanks to my own efforts and dressed for court rather than stealthy travels.

All three of his foster brothers spring up at the sight of him. Lorenzo catches Raul in a quick but emphatic embrace, Bastien claps him on the shoulder with the widest grin I’ve ever seen from the prince of Cotea, and Neven’s face lightswith eagerness, bringing back the puppyish impression the youngest prince has mostly shed over the past year.

As I watch them, affection wells up around my heart. We are a family, in so many more ways than just our romantic entanglements.

Just as I’m about to drag my gaze away before anyone finds my intent interest suspicious, a glow flares around my lovers.

I freeze in place, but no one around me reacts to the pinkish sheen hazing the three princes’ silhouettes. Even Axius takes in my stiffened posture, glances over, and then looks back at me with obvious confusion.

Am I the only one who can see it?

Then it’s an omen meant just for me.

The rosy glow thickens, streaming around my three lovers like the ribbons we used in our marriage ceremony. More light unfurls here and there in the shape of actual roses.

Then the imagery fades away, leaving an ache in my throat and a stutter in my pulse.

An omen like that could only have been sent by Ardone, the godlen of love. Her color, her symbols.

I haven’t made an appeal to her yet. Is she inviting me to?

It hadn’t seemed as though the assistance of a godlen mainly focused on beauty and desire would be all that useful in a war, so I hadn’t given her much thought—but I did commit to courting all of their favor.

We’re going to need an awful lot of love of one sort or another between the citizens of this continent if we’re going to end this war without thousands of soldiers slaughtered. If we’re to have any hope of going forward after in cooperation with the other royal families.

The other royal families those princes represent.

The idea comes to me, as clear as the divine light the godlen cast over my lovers, without any need to draw on mygift. What better way could there be to honor all Ardone stands for in this world?

Picturing the possibilities, a joyful flutter passes through my chest, but a quiver of nerves chases after it. To make such a statement, to declare so publicly…

But that’s what will show Ardone how committed I am to the love I’ve found. My small confession about Marc in front of the court was hardly a gesture on the same level as the traveling palaces being erected nearby or the canals filled in across Cotea.

It’s a message I want everyone to hear, even if I hadn’t been sure I was ever going to risk speaking it.

My throat has totally choked up. I manage to force down enough of the breakfast not to provoke any concerned remarks from my neighbors, but my pulse is thrumming with anxious anticipation.

I know this approach is right. I know I can present my new commitments the right way.

And if I fail… then maybe I wasn’t up to the task of saving the empire anyway.

I go straight from the dining hall to seek out Pierus. The imperial cleric has connections to all the temples in and around Vivencia.

He brightens at my approach as if looking forward to whatever new quest I might set him on. I’m not sure he’ll appreciate my purpose all that much once he’s seen where it leads… but I’m not getting into that part yet.

“What can I do for you today, Your Imperial Highness?” he asks.

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