Page 131 of A Reign of Embers

I squeeze Lorenzo’s hand. “It was. I thought, with the relationship I’m hoping to form with Rione and the other conquered countries, that I should be open about the smaller relationships that will help us build those first bridges. Although they don’t feel all that small to us.”

“No. I can imagine they don’t.” She pauses. “I’ve also gotten wind that your enemy is on the move.”

I lift my chin. “That’s true. We expect to have to engage her forces in a matter of days.”

“And woe betide us all if she strikes you down,” Queen Anahi says, sounding as if she actually means it. She dips her head to me. “Let us begin our relationship of cooperation in earnest now, Your Imperial Highness. I’ve already sent all the soldiers we can offer to the boats to setsail on your word. They’ll reach you as quickly as they’re able.”

My lungs tighten. I can’t imagine Rione’s squadrons alone will be enough to turn the tide.

I don’t know if I can promise them anything but a slaughter.

But she’s putting her trust in me. I have to accept it—and ensure I prove her right.

“Send them,” I say, with all the determination I can summon. “Let us put down the usurper and usher in the future every country of the empire deserves.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

Bastien

High Commander Axius reins his horse to a stop at the crest of the low hill. The rest of our small party draws to a stop around him.

We peer down over a sprawl of fields and shrubland that stretches at least a couple of miles before rolling into small slopes farther north. The mild early-spring breeze carries the faint scent of the newly blooming wildflowers that dot the landscape.

It’s a far more peaceful scene than it should be, given our purpose here.

Axius glances around at us—Aurelia, her guards, my foster brothers, and a handful of other military officers he holds in highest esteem. “This is the only route it’d make sense for Tribune Valerisse to take when approaching Vivencia. The hillier areas to the west and the river marshesto the east would slow them down too much and make them vulnerable to ambush.”

Gazing over the open terrain, Aurelia nods slowly. “And there aren’t any settlements near this particular stretch of terrain?”

“The nearest town—other than the one we passed an hour ago coming here—is on the other side of those hills to the north. There aren’t even many farms in this region as the soil doesn’t take crops well.”

“All right.” The empress appears to gather herself. “This does appear to be the best place to make our stand. Good visibility, some higher ground to position ourselves on, minimal collateral damage.”

She can’t quite stifle her grimace at those last words. The woman I love hates the thought of innocents being harmed in this war more than just about anything.

Which is why I’d rather be marching with her than any other leader I can think of.

“We don’t have much time left to prepare,” Captain Evando remarks.

Axius’s mouth twists tighter. “We don’t. Based on our latest reports from the limited means we have, her army will make it to this point in a few days.”

We’re only three hours’ brisk riding from the capital, but it’ll take much longer for the main mass of our soldiers to make it out this way, just as Valerisse’s force has to travel at marching pace.

Marc clears his throat. “I’d imagine we should give the infantry their orders and send them on their way almost immediately, then.”

He manages to make the statement sound more like a suggestion than a command, no matter how tempted the former emperor might be to give the latter. One of the manyways the man I once hated has transformed himself before my eyes.

How different might the empire have become if it’d always been Marc acting as imperial heir and then emperor—if Linus had never existed?

He was still a prick in his own ways, if not quite as horrific as his twin. And I’d rather not picture any alternate world where he was able to win enough loyalty from Aurelia that she never strayed into my and my fellow foster princes’ arms.

The life I’m living right now… impending war be damned, it’s a more fulfilling one than I dared to picture even a few months ago.

As I’m reminded of by the grunt of agreement from Axius and the sweep of his gaze toward me, Lorenzo, Raul, and Neven in our little cluster off to the side. “They’re already well-organized and prepared to set out. Do Your Highnesses have anything to add?”

I restrain the smile that tugs at my lips. Aurelia has made it amply clear that she considers the four of us generals of sorts in this conflict.

There’s a prickling in my one lung after the exertion of the ride and a knot in my gut at the thought of the violence no doubt ahead of us, but I wouldn’t give up the chance to fight for the woman I love and the dazzling future she’s imagining for anything.

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