Page 78 of A Vow of Embers

I got my food and claimed the seat that I’d had during my wedding feast. My adelphia spread themselves throughout the room. That had been Io’s suggestion—she thought it would be better for us to divide and conquer.

There were two middle-aged women seated to the right of me. They immediately introduced themselves.

“I am Themis,” the one closest to me said. She had dark brown hair shot through with strands of silver, kind eyes, and hands that suggested she had known her fair share of work.

“And I am Heliodora,” the other one said. Her hair was white and her hands soft. Neither one of them was armed. Both wore expensive dresses and glittered with jewels.

“Lia,” I said with a nod.

“We were just discussing the surplus for this year’s budget in Ilion,” Themis said.

A surplus that I was certain only existed because of how poorly Ilion treated Locris. I plastered a fake smile on my face. “Oh?”

“The council cannot agree how it is to be spent,” Heliodora said.

“Are both of you on the council?” I asked.

They nodded and I was shocked. Two women served as archons? “How?”

“Money,” Heliodora said with a wink.

“And dead husbands who left that money to us,” Themis said. “Build a couple of aqueducts and they will make you an archon!”

The two women laughed but all I could think about was how Alexandros could use this to his advantage. He should have brought me in on his plans to sway the council. This was a prime opportunity for me to get them on his side. And if I failed, there was no question that he would be able to charm them.

Themis said, “We have been advocating for changes to the educational system. We think girls should be provided with the opportunity to get an education.”

“So do I!” I said far too enthusiastically. It was so nice to meet kindred spirits that I had forgotten myself and where I was. “I thought I was the only one in Ilion who felt that way.”

“Oh no,” Heliodora said. “We are advocating for massive change but the other members of the council are ... resistant.”

“And that one,” Themis said with a nod of her head toward Erisa, “wants to keep everyone downtrodden and ignorant. If she is made queen—”

Heliodora shushed her but Themis waved the sound off. “It’s not anything the young princess doesn’t already know. I have the feeling that she could be an ally.”

“I could be,” I said with a nod. Not only because I needed them to vote for Alexandros but because I truly did believe in their cause. “And I think the prince will agree with you.”

“He hasn’t so far,” Heliodora said.

“Does he speak against it?” I asked, my heart thumping hard against my chest. I wasn’t sure what I would do if Alexandros was actively trying to stop this from happening.

“No,” Themis said with a shake of her head. “He stays mostly silent in council meetings, which is wise. He gives his stepmother enough rope that she can hang herself with it. But she has some of the archons on her side.”

I glanced over at Erisa. If she had the other three council members, that would be all she needed. I would have to convince these women that Alexandros would listen to and agree with them and then get at least one of the others to vote with them.

That didn’t seem too hard.

“I believe the prince can be convinced,” I said.

“Women do have a special way of convincing men, do they not?” Heliodora said with a laugh, and I tried to nod, as if I had that sort of power myself.

Themis reached over and took my hand. “I like your spirit, princess. Would you come and visit me tomorrow? I have been invited to stay here at the palace for a few days. We can weave together.”

“I would love that,” I told her, a bit surprised that it was true. I liked both women and would welcome the chance to know them better.

And to sway them over to Alexandros’s side.

A servant entered the room. “Princess Thalia? Prince Alexandros summons you to your bedroom. He has, er, need of you.”