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Chapter Twelve

Aurelia

W hen the light from the overhead lanterns glances off my sword, an image flashes through my head: scarlet staining the steel, a dying gurgle.

A tremor runs through my pulse. I gather myself and manage to block Captain Evando’s next strike, but a kernel of horror stays lodged in my stomach.

How much time will it take before the memories of my first violent kill fade? Or will they always linger, no matter how much time has passed, no matter how sure I am that I made the best choice I could?

I can’t dwell on those uncertainties—not when I have so much more to accomplish.

I aim a smile toward the several noblewomen who showed up to train this afternoon. Bianca and the companions she gathered are moving through a few simple sparring moves the soldiers have shown them.

Please, don’t let them regret throwing their lot in with me even this much.

From what I’ve seen, the palace military force hasn’t resented the intrusion. Evando even suggested to his underlings that teaching skills to others can reinforce their own. But I’m keeping a close eye on the volunteer tutors all the same.

I need all of the palace’s inhabitants, noble and staff, to be a united front behind me. If I don’t have their support in whatever appeals I need to make to the other seven godlen, I won’t get far.

And then I might be responsible for bringing down outright war on us all.

I don’t want Sabrelle to assume I’m completely dismissing her, though. Improving my combat skill both increases my chances of surviving this coup and endears me to my main defenders, so I’m not giving up my practice sessions.

Evando tuts at my next block. After our multiple past sparring sessions, he’s become more confident in correcting his empress.

“You’ll be better off angling your blade more on a diagonal when someone comes at you like that, Your Imperial Highness.

Don’t be afraid to keep the sword fairly close to your body so you’re not straining your arm more than you need to. ”

As I nod, Neven gives a cough where he’s paused in his own training to watch our mock skirmish. “Why are you sticking to just the sword work? If she’s keeping her forms tight, she could knee an attacker in the balls while she’s blocking. That’d knock him right over.”

The captain stares at the prince as if he’s suggested I dance a waltz with my enemy’s entrails. “I hardly think— The empress needs to follow proper combat decorum. ”

Neven snorts. “Decorum is for performing. In a real fight, all that matters is not getting stabbed. She isn’t going to feel good about being properly sportsman—er, woman—like if she’s dead.”

Evando narrows his eyes. “I’m not saying she shouldn’t do whatever she can to defend herself if her life is on the line. But if you develop enough skill with your weapon, no one needs to resort to base tactics.”

“I hardly think anyone who decides to murder an empress is going to be worrying about sticking to morally upright fighting strategies.”

“That isn’t the point. It’s my duty?—”

I hold up my free hand before their tones can get any more heated.

“I appreciate both of your commitments to ensuring I remain unmurdered. If the empress gets a say in what she’s taught, I do want to learn every possible move that could protect me.

Captain, I promise I won’t bring any of them out in respectable company unless it’s absolutely necessary. ”

Evando’s mouth tightens, but the dip of his head looks more abashed than annoyed.

“Yes, of course, Your Imperial Highness.” At the peal of the bell that signals the end of my session, he shakes himself, his shoulders relaxing more.

“Next time, we can incorporate more, ah, street tactics into your practice.”

The noblewomen head toward the door as I do. Baronissa Hivette glances at me while dabbing the sweat on her brow. “We’ll see you in the hall of entertainments, Your Imperial Highness?”

“As soon as I’m presentable,” I say. “Thank you all for your company today. The empire’s strength comes from all of us!”

As I clean up and change in my chambers, my current host of personal guards switches off. I emerge to find Kassun among those on duty… and High Commander Axius standing in the hall where I’d have expected a fourth guard to be.

He speaks without preamble. “There’s something we need to discuss, Your Imperial Highness.”

Marc’s gaze flicks over his new colleagues from where he’s emerged behind me. “What’s happened?”

Axius frowns. I step in before he feels the need to chide Marc for his presumption. “I’m sure we’ll find that out in a moment.”

The former emperor looks as if he’s restrained a grimace, but he tamps down his impatience.

I motion from Axius to my door. “Do you want to step inside? It’ll be as private in my apartment as any of the official military rooms and save us time.”

The high commander hesitates—I suppose my suggestion isn’t proper military decorum either—but he appears to think efficiency is more important. “All right.”

The guards all file into my bedroom, presumably to protect my modesty. I come to a stop by my vanity. “Well, what’s the matter?”

Axius’s expression manages to turn even grimmer. There’s something unusually deflated about the large man’s posture. “One of your usual guards is missing.”

I knit my brow. “Missing? What exactly does that mean?”

“It appears he’s abandoned his post. He left quietly in the middle of the night, made an excuse about being on an errand to the guards at the gate, and never returned.”

Dread starts to pool in my gut. “The errand could have taken him longer than he anticipated,” I say, but I suspect if that was likely, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

Axius holds my gaze. “If he had reasonable intentions, he’d have reported them to his commanding officer—or to me. He was dedicated to Sabrelle. ”

Ah. “You think he’s defected to Tribune Valerisse’s forces.”

The high commander inclines his head slightly. “All the evidence points to that conclusion.”

I swallow thickly. “Well, I suppose that’s better than him attempting to assassinate me while he was here.” Whether that was out of some remaining shred of loyalty or more practical concerns, gods only know.

“He… He may not be the only one.” Axius appears to gird himself. “No one’s seen Severo since dinner yesterday.”

I stare at him for a moment before my mind catches up. “My counsel ?”

“Yes. He wouldn’t necessarily have felt the need to report his reason for stepping away from court if it’s only for a day or two, but at a time like this…”

Nausea pools in my stomach. “He was dedicated to Sabrelle too, wasn’t he?”

“He was,” Marc mutters from behind me, and shuts his mouth firmly at my sharp look.

Axius attempts to rally. “It’s possible his absence is temporary and unrelated. And we’ve had defections in the other direction. A few soldiers who were stationed in Lavira or nearby have been arriving in Vivencia to offer their support.”

My stomach churns harder. “Why would they feel they need to do that?”

If Axius’s jaw clenched any harder, I think his face would snap in half. “From what they’ve said, Valerisse has been stirring up a lot of hostility toward you among her local forces. She’s building her own personal army just outside Rodrige, and it’s already grown to a concerning size.”

None of the soldiers stationed that far away have had much of a chance to get to know me as a ruler.

I only spent a few weeks in Lavira months ago, and then my presence was overshadowed by my husband’s.

The one challenge I carried out was solely for Linus’s benefit and conducted with only my personal guards as witnesses.

A handful of those soldiers have returned to me, but all the others… How can I sway them in my favor when they’re several days’ riding beyond my reach?

I know the answer, but I can’t help asking, “I don’t suppose the local Lavirian forces can stand up to them?”

Axius shakes his head. “Even if we could coordinate with the local authorities, their military has been kept small and spread out—for obvious reasons. We may see some revolt from the Lavirian citizens… but I’d imagine most would prefer to stay out of the conflict.”

A contingent of Raul’s people revolted against Marclinus just a year ago. They might enjoy seeing the empire attack itself.

How much support do I have even here in Vivencia? “Have we lost many other soldiers—or anyone else—from the palace?”

“I know of a couple from the infantry, but that’s all.”

Kassun draws himself up straighter. “My colleagues are more than honored to serve you, Your Imperial Highness.”

“That sentiment seems to be shared through much of Dariu,” Axius goes on.

“We’ve called in troops that could be spared to the surrounding towns so they’re nearby if we need them.

I have messengers standing by to summon more reinforcements and sentries posted farther abroad.

She can’t march on us without us knowing. ”

One of the other guards scowls. “We should march on her .”

Marc inserts himself with an authoritative tone only I know he’s earned. “If we go to meet her on what she’s made her turf, she’ll have the advantage. And the Lavirians are much more likely to fight with her if we bring the battle to their home soil.”

“And she hasn’t actually carried out any of her threats yet.

Until she brings her forces onto Darium soil against imperial orders, there’s still a chance of avoiding a real war.

” I drag in a breath. “We have to keep waiting to see what moves she’ll make.

In the meantime, we’ll solidify our position as much as possible. ”

Including my individual position as empress.

Those thoughts are buzzing through my mind when a gentle knock sounds on the door. Kassun opens it to reveal one of the nursemaids with Coraya.

She takes in the guards surrounding me and draws back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I heard you were going to join the court and thought you’d want to have Coraya.”