Page 50 of A Reign of Embers

“I don’t think he means that. Only that he needs to be sure whatever I’ll do if I stay empress will balance out the sacrifices they’ll have to make.”

Bastien takes the paper from me and scans it. “Yes, that’s how I’d interpret the message too.”

“How do you dothat?” Neven asks.

Another silence descends on the room.

I haven’t the slightest idea. What can I promise Bastien’s family that they’ll believe? How can I prove my intentions?

Any of the conquered kingdoms might be able to turn the tide in this war… but I don’t know how to invoke enough loyalty to make them want to.

It doesn’t look as though any of my princes or the former emperor has an easy answer either. Lorenzo’s eyebrows draw together. Raul opens his mouth and then closes it again with a scowl.

The silence is broken not by any of us but by shouts of alarm reverberating from outside my bedroom window.

My stomach lurches in anticipation of some new catastrophe. I rush to the window, but all I can see outside are several of the palace soldiers hustling across the front courtyard to the gates that lead to the city.

I motion the princes into the bathing room out of view and go to the door with Marc beside me. I poke my headinto the hall just in time to see another soldier hurrying over to speak with my guards.

“What’s going on outside?” I ask.

The soldier makes a pained expression. “We’re looking after it—I didn’t mean to bother you, Your Imperial Highness.”

I shake my head. “It’s not a bother. I need to know anything that concerns my people.”

He draws his posture straighter. “We’re still investigating. There are reports from the city of prominent divine omens around the Sabrellian temple near the arena… Unsettling ones.”

A shiver travels over my skin. Omens intended to undermine my rule, no doubt.

I hesitate for only a second. “I’d like to see them for myself.”

The soldier balks. “I’m not sure— Until we have a handle on the situation?—”

“There’s no actual danger being reported, is there? Omens have never harmed anyone.” I turn to the rest of my host of guards. “You’re all prepared to defend me as you always do if any new threats emerge, aren’t you?”

They all nod briskly alongside a salute from Kassun. “Of course, Your Imperial Highness!”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s head out.”

By the time my escort and I reach the palace’s front steps, the staff have been alerted and sent a carriage around. As I clamber inside while my guards take their places on the outer benches, Axius jogs out of the palace with Cleric Pierus hustling behind him. “If we could join you, Your Imperial Highness? We’d both like to get a look at these phenomena.”

I wave them inside. “It’ll be useful to get your opinions on these omens too.”

It’s a short ride to Vivencia’s main Sabrellian temple. Thedriver stops the carriage at the edge of the growing crowd of civilians there.

I ease out with my guards forming a close ring around me. My gaze fixes on the temple.

At first, there’s nothing to see but the formidable stone face of the building. Other soldiers have gathered all around its base, and a few devouts in formal red tunics and trousers are watching alongside the rest of us.

A ripple of ruddy light crosses the gray stone. An image like a crown forms, only to be slashed through by a sharper bolt of light.

Next to me, Pierus sucks in a breath. “My gods.”

Murmurs pass through the crowd. Several civilians glance my way. The arrival of my carriage hasn’t gone unnoticed.

I swallow thickly. Sabrelle isn’t exactly being subtle. It’s incredibly unusual for any of the godlen to create signs this blatant.

I’m trying to decide what I could say to the crowd that might diffuse the tension when a paler light gleams overhead. An impression of a dove, glinting as if it’s made of sunlight, swoops toward my head.

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