Page 84 of Daughter of the Drowned Empire
Shekar arkasva! Time for the false arkasva to be removed and for our true Arkasva Batavia to take her place. Join us in truth. It comes either way.
Me Arkasva, Me Emar.
My Arkasva, my truth.
Ani Dhara Me Sha El Lyrotz
The Emartis.
My mouth went dry. They’d sworn their oath in blood, making it an oath they had to uphold lest the old magic claim what was owed.
Lady Romula pursed her red painted lips together. The wine she drank had dried them into tiny cracks.
“These were sent to all the ruling Kavim in Bamaria. They’ve been silent, biding their time for seventeen years since your father took the Seat, and in that time, they have organized. They believe the Laurel may only pass to a female. A lady of Ka Batavia.”
“No, that was just an angry mob led by my uncle Tarek.” My throat tightened, and just like that, everything fell into place.
Lady Romula watched me closely. “Your uncle Tarek was killed. But the Emartis survived. You think a disorganized, angry mob could kill the Arkasva of Bamaria? There were spies who slipped past the Shadows, double agents, and traitors willing to sell secrets for coin. There were plans in place. Plans that were not lost. Plans that are still in existence from the look of this letter. And by my count, they’ve only gotten bigger and more fanatical.”
I was going to be sick. I clutched the couch, leaning forward. The Emartis had caused the riot all those years ago. They’d attacked my father and caused enough instability to open the door for Ka Kormac to enter Bamaria. Aunt Arianna had been arrested for treason because of them. And with the Emartis rising again, Ka Batavia looked poised to fall as swiftly as Ka Azria. My breath shortened, and the walls felt like they were closing in as my body started to seize with panic and cold.
Take my hand.
Small details. Stay present.
I felt the smoothness of my dress beneath my fingers, tasted the remnants of wine on my tongue, inhaled the scent of Lady Romula’s floral perfume, applied too heavily. I felt the itchiness of my shift against my breasts, the dull ache spreading across my back, the soreness behind my calves and in the arches of my feet, the tightness in my hands. I was at the Grey Villa. I was safe. Nothing was going to hurt me here, not today. We were surrounded by mages, sworn to protect us.
I was safe. I was safe. I was safe.
I willed the walls to stay in place, the ceiling to remain firm.
“The current line of succession is a lie in their eyes,” Lady Romula continued. “And now with your situation, they believe your Ka cursed. They want a woman. And if we are to learn anything from history, they are willing to take severe actions to make it happen. They tried to kill your father once, my dear. They will try again, and if they come in contact with you—they won’t hesitate. You’re tainted in their eyes.”
A numbing sensation crept through me.
Lady Romula’s eyes moved behind me and brightened. Her cracked lips stretched into a grin. “Ah, is there anything more beautiful than freshly bloomed silver snaps? Only happens right when fall is around the corner.”
Arianna and Naria returned, both wearing the silvery flowers in their hair. Tristan walked behind them, a glowing bouquet in his hands that he brought to me.
I was vaguely aware of Naria’s death glare as I accepted the snaps. I inhaled the sharp scent of the flowers, needing something else to anchor me, to keep me from fainting, from drowning in panic.
“Have you two come to an agreement, Grandmother?” Tristan asked.
Lady Romula shook her head. “There is much unrest in Bamaria now. And I don’t like unrest. The economy suffers, and the future becomes unpredictable, unsafe. Before I give my blessing to your union, I need some guarantees that Tristan’s birthright is secured. That Ka Grey is protected. And as long as the Emartis are about, I do not trust Ka Batavia or their Arkasva with my most prized investment. We’ve already lost one priceless heirloom to this mess.” She glared at Tristan, her eyes flicking to his bare hands.
“What might allow for such a guarantee?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“Stop the threat,” she said.
How very soturion of you.It took all I had not to yell at her, first for being so impossible, and then for comparing Tristan’s worth to a Godsdamned ring.
She leaned forward, taking my hand, her skin papery thin. “I have always supported your father. And I know you care for my grandson. But after my son and daughter-in-law were murdered by that vorakh monster….” She dropped my hand, making a noise of disgust, and took Tristan’s hand in hers. “He’s all I have left, the future of Ka Grey. We get comfortable sitting in our villas and fortresses, announcing our titles before our names. But even Ka Azria was comfortable, and look where they are now.”
I stared at my knees, terrified my face had turned red. Was she simply warning me of how quickly a Ka could fall? Or was she hinting that she knew about Meera and Morgana? She could end things between me and Tristan. Shewouldend things.
But she hadn’t. I took a deep breath.
She didn’t know. Just a shrewd old lady determined to play her cards right.
