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Memnon smiles. “Good. Very good.” He nods. “Then I give you my blessing. You will ride with your father and all the rest of my warriors in the next battle. May the gods bless you and protect you.”

Kasais grins broadly, and his father’s eyes water. Both bow, then leave the tent.

After they leave, I exhale. I have seen many boy soldiers—Rome is full of them—but this was still hard to bear witness to. And I know it’s Memnon’s people’s way, but all I can remember right now were those times I felt Memnon’s pain down our bond. He’d been young as well.Tooyoung, in my opinion.

But though I am queen, I am a foreign woman and a stranger to these people. I doubt my protests would mean anything at this point. So I swallow down my unease and watch as a pregnant woman with long, braided hair walks up to our thrones.

She stops and bows, and when she straightens, her eyes move to me, her other hand going to her stomach. “I humbly request that my queen says a prayer to the gods that I might deliver my child safely.”

My hands tighten on the throne; I hadn’t expected to be directly addressed so soon.

After a moment, I clear my throat. “Of course,” I say. “I would be happy to pray for the safe delivery of your child.”

She bows again, then leaves.

And so it goes. There are some disputes between neighbors, a few more blessings and prayers, and then, there’s Zosines.

When he first enters the tent, I assume it’s as a guard coming to flank Memnon. But then I notice the woman walking behind him. She’s lithe, her deep brown hair worn loose at her back, her skin a rich honey color.

“Permission to marry Leimeie, Phandarazous’s widow,” Zosines says.

I cannot smother my sharp inhalation, the sound drawing the eyes of many in the room.

Zosines alreadyhasa wife, Mada, one who is set to give birth any day now. By all accounts, Zosines adores her, and after meeting Mada on my wedding day, I understand his praise; she is a lovely human.

So why is she not enough?

Memnon arches an eyebrow. “Another wife, my brother? Are you, who spoke so fondly of Mada during our travels, already so eager to turn your affection toward another?” he says, echoing my thoughts.

“Mada brings me much joy still,” Zosines says, his words overly stilted and formal. “This is no reflection on her worth as a wife. She is good to me in all ways.”

“And yet you request another,” Memnon says. Some of the other men in the room shift a little, as though uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.

“I am a warrior,” Zosines says, taking a step forward. “It is within my right to take more than one wife.”

Outside, the rain pelts harder against the tent, as though even it has thoughts on the matter.

“But it is not just any woman you are asking for, is it?” Memnon raises his brows, his face stern and his voice hard. “Phandarazous has not been dead for a season. Hardly enough time to grieve his loss.”

“This is what he would’ve wanted,” Zosines insists.

“Is it?” Memnon ponders. “And I wonder if you would make such a request ofmywife, shouldIdie.”

The room quiets, the sound of rain particularly loud as tension fills the space. Zosines is careful to look only at Memnonwhen he answers, “I imagine you and our queen would enter the afterlife together.”

I glance sharply at Memnon, uncertain what Zosines means by that. But Memnon’s attention is wholly focused on his blood brother.

“Mmm.” Memnon makes an assenting noise. His eyes slide to Leimeie. “What are your thoughts on this?”

She dips her head. “Zosines is a great warrior and a good man. Phandarazous’s last wish was for one of his friends to care for me.”

Quieter, Memnon says, “And is that whatyouwish?”

Zosines’s jaw tightens, and his eyes grow flinty while Leimeie glances up at Memnon. Her gaze touches his for a moment before she dips her head again and nods. “It is.”

Memnon’s expression turns thoughtful, and he looks at Zosines again. “Then, my friend, it is my great honor to approve of and bless this union.”

I startle at Memnon’s words as Zosines’s anger melts from his face. He shakes his head, then outright laughs, embracing his wife-to-be, his smile large.