Page 52 of A Reign of Embers

A glow lights up right inside me.

Marc might very well have saved Lorenzo’s life just now. He didn’t have to. He could have pretended not to see the threat.

If my husband can manage to set aside all the reasons he has to wish my lovers dead, surely some kind of peace can be made here in the city.

Ignoring Kassun’s yelp of protest, I scramble out of the carriage and up onto its roof as I did once in a convoy nearly a year ago. Poised over the crowd, I lift my arms and call out with all the power of my voice.

“People of Vivencia! Your empress asks you to lower your weapons and your fists and listen. We’re all on the same side here. We all want what’s best for our country.”

The voices of the many civilians who aren’t under Sabrelle’s influence echo my own. “Enough! Listen to the empress!”

A wash of white light sweeps over the crowd in the wakeof my words, and most of the figures go still. The few still struggling find themselves hemmed in by soldiers and their neighbors.

I speak into the quietened space. “I’m here with you. I want to see every one of you thriving. Let us be at peace and not harm each other, and I’ll use all the might I have to ensure no one outside this city harms you either. I stand for peace, but I’m willing to fight for it.”

More pale glow swirls around the square, laced through with gleams of yellow. Either it overwhelms the red, or Sabrelle has overextended her influence.

A whoop goes up, and then another. “Here’s to Empress Aurelia! The gods stand with her!”

I ease down from the top of the carriage on wobbly legs, my heart heavy despite the cheers. Two of the gods stand with me, at least, but all these people have also seen how much the empire’s patron godlen standsagainstme.

Valerisse might not have marched on us yet, but Sabrelle has brought war to my doorstep all the same.

Chapter Nineteen

Aurelia

Axius and Counsel Etta approach me just after breakfast, the high commander’s grizzled face so solemn my heart is sinking before they’ve even drawn me aside into a private room.

“We’ve had messages back from two of the soldiers we sent north,” he says without preamble. “They’ve arrived and integrated into Valerisse’s forces without much questioning.”

My apprehension starts to ease. “That’s good news.”

“Yes. What’s less good iswhy. It seems she’s had quite an outpouring of support. Soldiers who were stationed across Lavira, Cotea, Goric, and northern Dariu have all been flooding to join her growing encampment. There’ve even been significant numbers of Darium civilians from the cities nearest the border offering themselves as infantry.”

Ah. My heart resumes its plummeting. “All people dedicated to Sabrelle, I assume?”

Etta grimaces. “It sounds that way.”

“The civilians, almost certainly,” Axius agrees. “The soldiers… I’m sure a large portion of them are, but others will have gotten caught up in the propaganda from those under Sabrelle’s and Valerisse’s influence. They haven’t seen very much of you as a ruler. Many of them know the tribune far better than their empress. Theyshouldremember their loyalties?—”

“But it’s human nature to trust those you know better.” I gird myself. “How do our actually loyal forces fare in comparison?”

“I believe we may be significantly outnumbered if it comes to a battle. If we’re relying purely on human strength.”

Who can say how the gods might factor in? Sabrelle has continued to flare up omens in the city at least a few times every day, often followed by contrasting symbols from Elox.

As I absorb that additional bad news, Etta jumps in. “There is a bright side to the current situation. The shifting of manpower means that there are fewer soldiers monitoring the local forces in Cotea and Goric. Obviously Lavira is essentially occupied, but if we could call on the other territories as I gather you were hoping, it’d be easier for them to act without Valerisse catching on or any local commanders objecting.”

Because we can’t count on even the commanders who’ve stayed at their posts being loyal to me, especially if I call on the conquered countries to attack Darium soldiers.

“That assumes I can convince them to stick their necks out.” I restrain a sigh. “I was going to consult with Prince Bastien on possibilities for combining gifts, which could give us more of an edge in whatever battles might come. Maybe he’ll also have new ideas on how to appeal to his family.”

Axius nods. “Any strategies you suggest, I’ll do my best to implement them. I just don’t know how much time we’llhave before Valerisse feels secure enough in her position to march.”

I leave the meeting room with those ominous words hanging over me and almost immediately run into Captain Evando in the hallway.

“Your Imperial Highness.” He draws himself to attention and then appears to hesitate. “There was actually something I wanted to speak to you about…”

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