Page 137 of A Reign of Embers

Calvus simply arches his eyebrows at me. “You’ve hoarded all the other princes. I suppose I’m lucky I got to dally with one while I did.”

A sound of protest escapes Neven. “You shouldn’t talk to the empress like that. She never— AnythingIdid?—”

The harpist raises his hands in surrender, his expression softening as he meets his former lover’s gaze. “It was more a compliment than a complaint. I think the ‘wild princess of Accasy’ has been good for all of us in different ways—including you. It’s been a relief to see you in a better temper these last few months.”

Neven hesitates, and his stance relaxes slightly. He aims a trace of a smile at me. “She’s definitely got a knack for leading the way.”

Calvus bobs his head to me again. “Let that talent lead us all the way to victory.”

I watch him ride off with the others and try to ignore the sinking sensation in my stomach. It remains heavy through the short trek back to the palace.

I stride into the front hall already girding myself for the final meetings and preparations ahead—and a small crowd of nobles hustles in to meet me.

Bianca steps forward at the head of the bunch. Most of the noblewomen who’ve joined our combat training sessions, including Hivette’s wife Damina, follow her alongside perhaps fifteen of the court noblemen.

Bianca holds her head high. “We’re not letting you go out to fight those would-be usurpers alone, Your ImperialHighness. Tomorrow morning, we’re all setting out with you to do battle however we best can.”

A sharper pang radiates through my chest, but a simultaneous swell of affection dulls the worst of the pain. “I’ll be honored to fight alongside you.”

By all that’s holy, let our efforts be enough.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Lorenzo

Raul grabs another patch of shadow, which solidifies into a thin ribbon in his grasp. “One more go?”

I nod, readying myself.

Raul flings the shadow ribbon like a whip, and I cast my gift alongside his. As I picture the shadow seeming to stretch longer and wider, it shifts before my eyes.

But not just as an illusion. Raul threw it toward the posts we set up as targets near the wall of the training room, aiming for only the one in the middle. The expanded swath smacks into two others on either side as well—and knocks them over.

We’ve accomplished the combined effect several times before, but seeing it in action still brings a breathless laugh to my throat. When we work our gifts together, my illusions can turn real—at least, when the illusion I’m conjuring is playing off what my foster brother is already wielding.

I grin at Raul as he lets the shadows dissipate. With matching enthusiasm, he bumps his shoulder against mine. “I wonder just how much shadow we could master if we really stretched ourselves?”

Aurelia’s voice carries from the other side of the room. “We’re not finding that out today. We won’t be finding it outat allunless the battle depends on it.”

I turn to meet her firm stare. The worry I can sense behind her deep blue eyes brings an ache into my chest.

She could see everything she’s worked for fall to ruin in the next few days, but she’s still doing her best to keep us safe. Still trying to ensure no one sacrifices more than they have to for her mission.

I can’t even imagine how much that battle is going to wrench at her no matter its final outcome. My wife isn’t made for war, even if she’s willing to grit her teeth and push through it.

I make a gesture of acquiescence alongside Raul’s huff of mock-disappointment. “We’ll play nicely,” he promises in a teasing tone.

We’ve been careful to only experiment with relatively small effects, partly to avoid any harmful consequences of merging gifts and partly so we don’t exhaust ourselves before we face the enemy.

Aurelia has needed to make similar considerations in different ways. She returns to the form she was moving through with the Sabrelle-blessed sword, weaving the blade through a series of parries, feints, and stabs that looks graceful after all her practice. She’s moving slowly, though, rather than risking more strain to her muscles and her recently healed arm.

Captain Evando frowns where he’s standing a few paces away to evaluate her process. “If all goes well,youshouldn’t need to use that sword at all.”

“But that’s not something we should count on.” Aurelia lets out a ragged sigh and lowers the weapon. “Sabrelle will see that I haven’t forsaken her, even if she has me. I’m willing to honor the might and skills she champions, even if not exactly the way she’d prefer.”

“If she can’t tell that already, she’s an idiot,” Raul mutters, and then flicks his fingers through a hasty gesture of the divinities as if afraid his insult will make more trouble for our empress if he doesn’t atone.

Aurelia rolls her shoulders. “I think that’s enough training for today. It’s getting late, and I need to check on my brews.”

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