Page 143 of A Reign of Embers

I don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t give to ensure it isn’t the last.

Chapter Fifty-One

Aurelia

Valerisse’s army arrives like floodwaters creeping over the northern slopes, a sea of black dotted with fragments of white.

Flanked by Axius and my princes, I watch them come. One of the camp servants presses a steaming mug into my hands, but the richly bitter beverage barely rouses my spirits.

All around me, thumps and clinks sound amid the numerous troops we’ve been able to assemble from all across Dariu. The few dozen nobles who traveled alongside me have set up camp farther along the hill, wanting to leave me most closely protected by fully trained soldiers. Several Rionian squadrons caught up with us last night in their sky-blue uniforms and have settled in at our right flank.

The mass of my army still looks so smallcompared to our enemy.

By the time Valerisse’s force has come to a halt a mile distant across the fields, I think it must be twice our size. And I’m not sure I’m seeing all of it or if even more soldiers remain concealed by the low hillocks behind them.

There’s been no signal to indicate that any of the disguised troops we were hoping would fall in with Valerisse’s have reached her army yet. The soldiers before me are all her loyal followers, ready to cut me down because she and her godlen claim I’m not fit to be empress.

As I stare at them, a tremor of doubt winds through my thoughts.

Am I proving them right? Am I sending thousands of the men and women I’m supposed to guide to prosperity to their deaths instead, for my own hubris?

How does this war set the empire right?

A glance at my gathered soldiers, standing in formation or stirring from their campfires and tents at the news that the enemy has arrived, sends an ache lancing through my gut.

I never wanted this. The plan I made with my parents and sister in hushed conversations in my palace back home only relied on me. I risked my life to bring down Emperor Tarquin. I let my lovers risk theirs too so we could survive Linus’s madness, and even that compromise wrenched at me.

I’m a wild princess from a backwater country most of these people have never ventured to and never will. Who in the realms am I to order them to lay down their lives so I can hold the throne?

Lorenzo notices my reaction and shoots me a quick, warm smile. Among my many guards, Kassun draws himself straighter with a nod to me as if confirming he’ll defend me to the end. All through the troops, soldiers dart gazes my way… and their expressions look brighter after.

I breathe deep against the swell of my nerves. These peoplewantme on the throne. They believe in me and myway of ruling—one different from the imperial figures before and certainly far from anything Valerisse is offering.

They’re fighting not just for me but for themselves, for the empiretheywish to live in. If I surrendered now, I might be saving them from death, but not from whatever miseries the tribune and her godlen would inflict next. I’d be letting my supporters down in a much worse way.

I know all that. I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t. It’s just harder to remember with the likely instrument of our destruction laid out in front of me.

I tap my fingers down my front, extending my prayers to all eight of the godlen I’ve appealed to over the past several weeks.Elox and Inganne, Estera and Prospira, Creaden and Jurnus, Ardone and Kosmel, please stand with me and my people against this gravest of threats. Guide us well and see us through. If I’m alive to do it, I’ll continue to honor you every way you deserve.

The plea feels desperate even to me. May the divinities recognize why the circumstances call for it.

From where he’s set up a temporary shrine not far away, Cleric Pierus catches my gesture. He echoes it, holding my gaze. “The gods are with you.”

Let’s hope that’s true.

Across the fields, Valerisse’s army appears to be settling in rather than preparing for an immediate attack. As evening begins to fall, fires spark amid the masses of bodies.

They’re going to take a break, eat and rest after their long trek. Why not, when they can see they have us well out-numbered?

They can’t imagine we would dare to force the confrontation when it’d put us at the disadvantage of giving up the slightly higher ground as well.

One figure on horseback breaks away from the sea ofuniforms. It streaks across the fields toward us, waving a white flag of parlay.

My throat tight, I go forward with my closest associates and my guards to meet the messenger.

The rider draws to a halt several feet away from me where I stop at the base of the hill. His eyes glint beneath his helm in the waning light. “Princess Aurelia of Accasy, Tribune Valerisse offers one more opportunity for surrender. Have your people lay down their arms, and no blood needs to be shed here.”

That’s it. No real terms to negotiate, just, “Give up or you’ll be slaughtered.”

---