Page 9 of Esperance

“Esperance will fail!” The man beside Kian spat at Argent’s feet and was abruptly kicked by one of the guards.

Argent raised a hand, staying further violence. He opened his mouth to speak, but an older voice cut him off.

“The peace will not fail,” the emperor said, his voice wavering only a little. His skin was pale, nearly as white as his hair, and the haphazard bandage on his shoulder was bloodstained. His guards remained close, but the emperor walked of his own volition to stand beside his grandson and face the three surviving attackers. “There is strength and peace in unity,” the emperor intoned. “That is why Esperance will succeed, no matter what you or anyone else attempts to do to stop it.”

Kian’s chest rose and fell as he glared at the emperor. “Death to the conqueror and all who support him!”

The emperor’s eyes tightened. “There will be no peace with men like you.” He nodded to the guards, and a sword was raised.

Cora shrieked, and Amryn’s gut dropped as a blade was rammed through Kian’s back.

Chapter 4

Carver

Carver and Argent stood inthelarge sitting room of the emperor’s apartment. The physician was in the bedroom watching over the emperor as he slept. Carver’s father was elsewhere in the temple, conferring with High Cleric Zacharias and Chancellor Trevill, the man appointed to oversee the newlyweds as they formed the first Craethen Council.

Argent’s arms were crossed over his chest, his breaths low and rigidly even. He’d finally stopped pacing. He was staring at the brightly decorated room, but Carver knew he wasn’t actually seeing the patterned rugs, the oil paintings, or the antique furniture. He was definitely not aware of the stunning jungle sunset happening outside the arched windows, even though they stood beside the balcony.

“He’s all right,” Carver said quietly.

Argent’s stance didn’t relax. “He could have been killed.”

“But he wasn’t.”

Argent’s jaw flexed. “He’s older than he’ll ever admit. He shouldn’t have even made the journey here.”

“He wouldn’t have missed this.”

His friend said nothing to that. But his shoulders lowered, though his arms remained folded across his chest, and his voice was soft as he asked, “Do you think this is a mistake?”

Carver shoved a hand through his dark hair. How to tactfully answer that? “I think the idea of political marriages and the formation of a council are solid ideas. But since we know the Rising has infiltrated Esperance, coming here may not have been the wisest course.” Having Argent here wasdefinitelynot wise. Argent was the only heir to the empirical throne. If he died . . .

Saints, he couldn’t die.

“This was the only way,” Argent said. “Tension has been rising among the kingdoms, and the war with Harvari isn’t over. Craethen must be united or we will be destroyed—either from without, or within.”

“I know.”

The Rising was an organized rebellion, but they weren’t the only internal threat. Today’s attack had been made by a few insurgents from Hafsin—not connected with the Rising at all. Kian—Cora’s older brother, and her escort for the wedding—had not had the opportunity to give them answers before his execution. But his death had loosened the tongues of his friends. Despite the added mess for the servants to clean up, spilling his blood so abruptly had been a calculated choice. Kian’s friends were still breathing after their confessions, and Carver’s father would personally oversee their transfer to a prison in the capital.

They were not the first men to strike out against the empire, and they would not be the last.

Argent exhaled, moving suddenly for the windows. Carver moved with him, the two of them overlooking the courtyard below.

Esperance was a sprawling temple with multiple buildings. It had once been a palace, but when the emperor had conquered the region, he had given the compound to the church. It was deep enough in the jungle that it was a constant battle to keep the foliage from growing back and covering the buildings and grounds. Esperance had many purposes. It was the stronghold of the church; a place where clerics were trained in the prayers and ceremonies of the Divinities, and a place to store their holy records.

Not being religious, Carver could at least see the more practical uses of Esperance. It was a place where the emperor had deposited a great deal of gold, jewels, and expensive relics from all the kingdoms, to keep the empire’s wealth safely divided among multiple, defensible treasuries. The temple had multiple galleries of priceless art, and it was also a place where men and women could find refuge from the world. Anyone could petition for a place in Esperance. Some chose to live in the outbuildings, away from the temple and all others. Some took vows of silence, but served in the temple archives and galleries. All of them sought healing in some way.

Of course, no petition would be granted this year. Esperance would belong to the new Craethen Council—the Empire’s Chosen. The newlyweds wouldn’t be alone, though. They would have all the clerics to keep them company.

That didn’t exactly comfort Carver.

“Rivard will investigate the clerics,” Argent said, as if following his thoughts. “With his family ties to the church, he’ll be able to determine who is friend and who is foe. You will uncover the rebels among the couples.”

“And Jayveh?”

Argent frowned—probably at his tone.