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Chapter Six

Aurelia

T he warble of conversation filling the audience room only diminishes a little when I step onto the dais with its thrones. I hold my head high and adjust Coraya so she’s nestled even more deeply in my embrace.

She peers up at me for a moment with her perfect blue eyes and nuzzles my breast, but the gesture is half-hearted. I fed her just before heading in here; she’s sated enough that her eyelids drift shut a moment later.

An ache closes around my heart. I hate using my daughter as a political prop… but she was conceived as one. It was inevitable that there would be moments like this, wasn’t it?

It was simply easier to accept that fact before she was a living, breathing, fragile human being I could hold in my arms.

If I’ve ever needed a reminder of my full claim to the Darium throne, it’s now. The discussions buzzing through the room center on Valerisse’s declaration of war and her claims of my unworthiness.

“Silence!” Marc hollers from his place amid my personal guards. “Her Imperial Highness will speak.”

His altered voice still carries the unshakable authority he cultivated as emperor. The nobles swarming the room hesitate, perhaps recognizing the familiar tone with a shiver down their backs.

If they had any idea that the emperor who often terrorized them still walks among them, if in his less sadistic form…

I gather myself and gaze out across the many dozens of tense faces, keeping my own tone as calm and steady as I can.

“You’ve all heard the accusations and the threat one of the empire’s tribunes has made toward me.

I stand before you as both the chosen wife of the last emperor of the imperial line and the mother of his heir, prepared to act as regent empress until she is of age. ”

Before I can go any farther, a voice breaks out from somewhere in the midst of the swarm. “Is it true? Did you fail Sabrelle’s confirmation rite?”

Another noble joins in. “The messenger said Valerisse has proof. The traitor you were supposed to execute still lives!”

Someone else makes a scoffing sound. “It could be all lies.”

Pressure coils at the base of my throat. I’d like to believe that Valerisse has no real evidence of her claims, but I know they’re true. The proof could exist.

Not even the imperial advisors gathered at the edge of the platform look confident. Axius keeps his usual foreboding stance, but Etta’s expression is dour and Severo’s hands twitch where he’s clasping them in front of him.

In their own cluster near the platform, the foster princes shift on their feet. Bastien’s face is drawn. Raul glowers at the crowd, and Lorenzo meets my eyes with a subtle flick of his fingers: Stay safe.

I can’t, though, can I? If I deny the claims now and Valerisse presents her evidence, I’ll lose far more trust than if I face the accusation head on.

My only comfort is that the Lavirian rebel whose life I spared can have no idea that my lovers were involved in his escape. All he’ll know is that he woke up still alive far beyond Vivencia’s walls.

I’ve been preparing to give this statement since the moment I heard the messenger’s proclamation a couple of hours ago. That doesn’t lighten the words as they pass over my tongue.

“When Emperor Marclinus set out to perform the confirmation rites, I joined him as an additional show of my devotion to this country and my role in the empire. I’m the first imperial consort to carry out the rites at all.

Nonetheless, I did complete all of them to the satisfaction of the presiding clerics. ”

I pause to fill my lungs, the ache between them expanding.

“It is true that I did not fulfill Sabrelle’s rite in the traditional way.

The request that I commit murder conflicted with my dedication to Elox, who has always guided me well.

So yes, I found a compromise that allowed me to fell the prisoner without ending his life.

I believe I still proved that I could have ended his life if I’d wanted to, which is the most important aspect of the rite. ”

A renewed wave of murmurs passes through the crowd.

I clear my throat and speak louder to still be heard.

“You all know I’ve gone above and beyond what’s been expected of any past imperial spouse, including the few who’ve needed to act as regents.

I fully completed the other three confirmation rites.

I met every challenge my husband placed on me while we toured the rest of the empire over the past several months. ”

“That’s right!” Bianca moves to the foot of the stage, pitching her voice to carry.

“Our empress showed her strength and courage alongside His Imperial Majesty at every opportunity. To say she’s unfit for the job because she made one small adjustment to a rite that wasn’t even required of her is absurd.

There wouldn’t have been anything wrong with her declining to participate to begin with. ”

One of the marchions huffs. “Maybe she should have done that, then, instead of play-acting at it.”

“There was no play-acting,” I cut in. “The traitor did his very best to kill me. The injuries I took were real. The only difference is that what felled him was a potion lacing my blade rather than the force of the strike itself. I still had to cut him.”

As more uneasy complaints rise up, Axius strides abruptly to the front of the platform near me.

He holds up his hands for attention. “People of the court—you know me. I’ve fought for Dariu for decades; I fought well enough that Emperor Tarquin named me his military advisor.

I can tell you from my experience that what Empress Aurelia did in the rite required more skill and perseverance than if she’d set out to merely stab the prisoner. ”

I hadn’t expected the high commander to throw in his lot with me quite so blatantly.

I blink at Axius before jerking myself back to the problem at hand.

“It certainly wasn’t easy . And who is this woman who wishes to attack me?

Tribune Valerisse has now proven to be a traitor herself, attempting to wrestle the empire from its legitimate leaders.

What trials of rulership has she carried out?

Why should we let her decide what’s right for the entire country when she doesn’t respect any of the traditions she’s threatening?

Do you want someone so underhanded and disloyal choosing who leads the empire? ”

The tenor of the clashing voices seems to shift in my favor. My personal guards call out, “Long live Empress Aurelia!” and several guards along the fringes of the room echo the chant.

Baronissas Hivette and Damina, who’ve always set themselves a little apart from typical court politicking, join Bianca at the front of the room. I catch fragments of their praise for my accomplishments.

As the atmosphere in the room settles down, most faces are scowling at the injustice of Valerisse’s betrayal and smiling encouragement my way.

I wave for their attention. I think I’ve spoken enough for now… but the court’s opinion isn’t my biggest challenge.

“I swear I will fight for the imperial line every way I can—to the death if it’s required to protect the rightful heir. If I have offended anyone with my adjustment of that one rite, it will be Sabrelle. I’ll go now to the palace temple to meditate with her and see what our godlen would ask of me.”

The crowd of nobles murmurs in approval. My guards stiffen their postures as they prepare to escort me out of the room. I beckon to Cleric Pierus as well.

In this matter, I could use all the religious guidance I can get.

Near the ballroom doorway, I hand Coraya over to a nursemaid, who’s surrounded by her own host of guards for my daughter’s protection.

The ache around my heart tears at the separation.

How do so many of the noble parents stand sending their children off with the staff for the better part of every day?

None of them have to fear for their children’s lives the way I do.

I swallow thickly and force myself to continue into the hall. Whatever message Sabrelle might grant me, I’d rather not subject my infant daughter to her scrutiny.

If I want to keep looking after Coraya in any way at all, I have to be alive and in power to do it.

Cleric Pierus has fallen into step beside me.

Once we’ve left the audience room well behind, I glance over at him, pitching my voice low.

“As much as I’d like to believe I can find common ground with Sabrelle in one prayer session, it seems I’ve offended her greatly.

Have any past rulers run into opposition from the gods?

Any way I can better align myself with their divine will, I’ll attempt it. ”

Pierus frowns, but an energized air comes over his stout body. “I can’t think of any examples offhand, but I could certainly delve into the temple records and other accounts. Would you want to consider even examples that don’t involve imperial figures?”

I smile at him. “Any information you think would be relevant, I’m most grateful for. I’m glad I have an expert so close at hand to turn to.”

He bobs his head with an eager smile of his own at the praise. “I’ll begin the research at once.”

When we reach the temple, Pierus hustles off, I assume toward the records room. All of my guards except for Marc stop at the doorway.

With the extra familiarity he’s been allowed through his position as my rescuer, the former emperor strides several paces farther into the domed room and stands in the middle beneath the bands of multi-colored light that streak through the stained-glass panels.

I turn toward the golden statue of Elox first. With a tap of my fingers to my forehead, heart, and gut and then a clench of my hand over my sternum, I acknowledge the godlen whose brand I bear on my skin. Let me find some understanding with your fellow deity .

Then I walk to the gleaming statue of Sabrelle poised in her own alcove almost directly across from the godlen of peace.

It’s hard not to feel intimidated by this version of her, even if it’s wrought in mortal materials. She’s clothed in armor from helmed head to booted feet. Her heel pins a stag’s carcass.

Her hard stare seems to follow me as I approach.

I kneel down on the scarlet pillow before her and repeat the gesture of the divinities. Inhaling slowly to center myself, I tip my face toward her and close my eyes.

Sabrelle, I swear that any insults you’ve perceived in my conduct were not intended.

I have nothing but respect for the power you command and the might you inspire in your dedicats.

I may disagree with some of those dedicats’ actions, but I’m not out to completely destroy their legacy.

I simply want to amplify the good that exists in the empire while discarding that which diminishes the people’s lives. Please, what would you have me do?

At first, the light that wavers across my closed eyelids remains formless, ruddy blotches that match Sabrelle’s totem color. Gradually, the vague shapes shift and solidify.

Movement ripples through my vision, like a marching army. Palace and temple spires gleam. Faint cheers reverberate at the edge of my hearing.

A hand—a hand that would have to be mine from the angle—reaches out and clasps the handle of a dagger. It turns the point of the blade toward my body.

Then it slams the weapon home, straight into my chest with a spurt of blood.

My eyes pop open, my lips clamping against a gasp I barely stifle. My stomach roils as the impressions echo through my mind.

When I glance back up at her, Sabrelle’s cold expression looks like a sneer .

That’s her answer, then. All she’d want from me is for me to kill myself and give the empire over to whoever would fight hardest for it.

My resolve hardens inside me. I push myself to my feet, tensing my legs against a wobble.

Fine. She’ll just have to see that the person who’ll fight hardest for it is me.

Whatever Valerisse thinks is at stake, it can’t be as much as the hopes and pain of every conquered country on the continent.

I return to the doorway with my jaw firmly set. Axius stands in the hallway just outside.

“Your Imperial Highness,” he starts. “I realize that Emperor Marclinus dismissed me from my position, but?—"

I lift my hand to stop him. “I appreciate all the guidance you’ve already given me and the support you’ve shown today.

As far as I’m concerned, you’re still the imperial military advisor.

And in that role, I’d like you to tell the tribune’s messenger that Empress Aurelia will not be abandoning the throne. ”