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“Finally, thank the gods,” Katiari mutters, still watching her brother from across the fire like he might double back.

Now that Memnon has left his seat, the circle around the fire seems to break down, with warriors now getting up and moving about.

My gaze moves over Katiari, noting that her earlier wounds have disappeared.

“Memnon healed me,” she explains, noticing the direction of my eyes. “He does that after every battle—goes around and heals those he can.”

Sure enough, as I take in the room of warriors, I notice that precious few actually look like they survived a battle.

“He’s a good king,” I say, my heart swelling, my gaze touching on him again as he laughs at something one of his kinsmen says.

“Eh, he’s decent, I suppose.”

When I glance at Katiari, eyebrows raised, she laughs.

“Ijest,” she says. “Of course he’s wonderful. I reckon he’s the best king we’ve ever had.” She bumps my shoulder. “And I have a feeling you might just end up being the best queen—don’t tell my mother I said that.”

I mock gasp. “I wouldnever.” My lips twist into a wry smile, and my eyes sweep the room once more. “Whereisyour mother?” I ask.

“You want to know where my mother is right after I managed to scare off my other family member?” Katiari gives me a look, one that makes me laugh.

After a moment, she joins in. “She’s old,Empress,” she says, emphasizing my new nickname. “She made an appearance earlier, then took to bed.”

My eyebrows rise again.

“Okay, she’s notthatold, but she’s definitely in bed.”

I bite back another laugh, finding it hard to imagine the hardened former warrior queen tucking herself into bed early.

Seeing my expression, Katiari’s eyes twinkle mischievously. “Sister, there are plenty of open secrets here between all us Sarmatians.” She leans into me. “For instance, Xartamos,” she says, nodding to a brawny man with dark brown hair and pockmarked cheeks, “is particularly lethal with the, uh, battle-ax, but unfortunately, he knows it and wishes us all to know it too.”

Now I do laugh again.

My sister-in-law flashes me a capricious smile. “Want to know more?”

“Yes.”

“Borena is a formidable opponent, but she lies ceaselessly,” Katiari says, pointing an inked finger toward a dark-eyed woman who’s speaking casually to a man I think goes by the nickname War Cry. “The only truth you can count on is that the end of her blade will find its mark.”

I study the warrior with a bit of trepidation.

“You’re well acquainted with Zosines,” Katiari says, pulling my attention away from the woman, “so you know a bit about him already.”

“Only that he likes women a little too much,” I say, remembering his appeal to Memnon for a second wife.

Katiari snickers. “Rumor is that he’s interested in acquiring a third wife, even as we speak.”

Right as she says that, Zosines looks directly at me, then smiles and lifts his goblet.

I glance at Katiari, and after a pause, the two of us burst into more laughter.

“You better be careful, Roxi,” she says. “He might try to acquire you one day.”

“I would sooner put a blade in his belly,” I declare.

“Maybe that’s part of your appeal.”

The two of us laugh all over again, leaning against one another.