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Chapter Twenty-Nine

Aurelia

A s I approach the imperial strategy room, an unexpected sight meets my eyes. Kassun went off duty about an hour ago—and there he is down the hall, smiling avidly enough to dimple his cheek while the maid he’s talking to peers at him through her eyelashes.

Why shouldn’t my guards have their flirtations while they’re on their own time? The sight hits me with a pang that’s both warm and sharp, like an ember glowing a little too hot for comfort.

I’m glad Kassun has someone he’d like to flirt with. I can’t help thinking of the men I’d usually look at that way, whom I haven’t heard from in nearly a week.

All I can do is keep going, laying the groundwork so we’re all in a better place when they return.

I motion for Counsel Etta to follow me into the strategy room. She peers at the vast, enchanted table with a nervous purse of her lips. “I’m not sure how much I can weigh in on any military matters, Your Imperial Highness. I believe High Commander Axius has advised you very well there on his own.”

“He has.” I shoot a smile across the table at the grizzled man who was waiting for us, my frequent companion in this room. “But this task involves more than just military might. I thought I should get your opinion too.”

Marc watches avidly from the post he’s taken just inside the door. I haven’t mentioned the proposal I’m going to make in any detail to him either, though he’s watched me digging through the library for records to inform my approach.

If he’s going to disapprove, I’d rather find out after we’ve both heard two of the top imperial advisors’ opinions on the subject as well.

I tap the table to bring up the conjured map and draw the area to the northwest closer.

“When the coronation tour passed through Cotea, I heard about a longstanding problem afflicting the northern areas of that country. It seems the lowlands there have always tended toward dryness, and the empire has exacerbated that situation.”

I sketch my forefinger over the routes I remember from the maps I studied.

“Since the defection of the western half of the empire and the establishing of many additional forts along the Seafell Channel, several canals have been constructed. They divert water from the natural rivers and streams and funnel it to pass by the forts.”

Axius clears his throat. “By necessity. The soldiers at those forts ensure that the dissention of the western countries never crosses farther into the empire.”

I lift my eyebrows. “I was under the impression the forts were mainly there for the launching of new incursions into the western territories. The most recent emperors and empresses have spent most of the past century attempting to regain the ground they lost, haven’t they?”

Etta pipes up. “They have—but it is partly a defensive function, I’m sure. If we didn’t stay on the alert and show our power, there’s no telling what they might do.”

I shift my skeptical gaze to her. “Have Icar, Silana, or Bryfeen ever launched an attack on our side of the channel?” I can’t remember hearing of any overt hostilities from the western countries closest to our border.

“There was that strange business several years ago near the Silanian city of Rexoran,” Axius says gruffly. “The nearest fort got word that the king wished to treat with Emperor Tarquin in exchange for military support, but when our soldiers crossed the channel, they were ambushed.”

Another incident I came across in my research. “The Silanians made no attempts to cross the channel to our side then either, from what I understand. And didn’t it become clear that the note had been forged? The Silanian king was assassinated shortly afterward.”

Etta’s voice lowers. “We were never able to work out exactly what the circumstances of the request were. There’s been all that unnerving business over there with the resurgence of scourge sorcerers and riven magic…”

“Nonetheless, there’ve been no aggressive actions taken against the empire’s existing territory. That’s true, isn’t it?”

I fix Etta and then Axius with a firm look until the latter inclines his head in agreement. He grimaces. “It’s generally been thought—to regain the rest of the continent, for the benefit of the empire—it’s not a legacy easily abandoned.”

I soften my tone in turn. “Of course not. But after more than a hundred years, I fear our efforts there have not served the empire well . How many soldiers have died without any ground regained?”

Axius opens his mouth to protest, but I hold up my hand to stop him.

“In any case, I’m not suggesting that we evacuate the border.

Only that perhaps, at least until we see the outcome of this potential war, we greatly reduce the number of forts still active and the number of soldiers stationed in each.

And that would allow us to stop up the canals, letting the waters resume their natural course as much as possible. ”

Etta knits her brow. “Are Cotea’s problems really what we should best concern ourselves with now? With all due respect, Your Imperial Highness.”

The corner of my mouth twitches upward at her belated caveat.

“I’d like to return the natural waters to the plains of Cotea as a gift in honor of Prospira.

Inganne has lent me her support after I honored her.

I’d like all the godlen to recognize my position as empress.

Perhaps if Tribune Valerisse realizes she has only one out of the nine on her side and the others approve of me, she’ll give up this madness before it turns to war. ”

“Ah,” Etta says, a glimmer lighting in her eyes. “That would be the best possible scenario.”

Axius’s expression turns thoughtful. He rubs his jaw.

“I can see how the godlen of abundance would approve of sharing the resources more widely. And I suppose now would be the easiest time to call in a large portion of those soldiers. Those who’ve remained at their assigned posts, following their imperial orders, will be those most inclined to follow new orders you give them.

If we should need to resupply those forts… ”

Marc gives a quiet cough. “I believe a technique was investigated, before the canals?—”

The high commander cuts off the supposed guard with a sharp glance. “You’ve never been stationed outside the palace. I hardly think you should be weighing in.”

He returns his attention to me. “By the end of the day, I’ll put together a plan for seeing your intentions through. Unless Counsel Etta has additional objections.”

She shakes her head. “I can see our priorities must be maintaining the territory we still have—and the peace and order we’ve built here. I only—old habits die hard.”

“They do. Now, in case appealing to the gods doesn’t dissuade Valerisse, I’d better go over the latest reports from our spies within her ranks and how we might make use of the information.”

Etta’s face tightens. I don’t think she has much stomach for war.

I aim a wry smile at her. “Thank you for your input on the situation in Cotea. You can take your leave now if you’d like, unless you have thoughts on the military strategy after all.”

She laughs with obvious relief. “No, I can certainly leave that subject to the high commander.”

Marc opens the door for her to duck out of the room. His eyes meet mine briefly, dark and intense—but I can’t say any more so than usual.

I suppose I’ll find out how he feels about my plan when we’re alone.

Axius pays the supposed guard no mind. He tugs at the illusion on the table to focus the map on Lavira. “I think the reports we got yesterday and today are promising. The influx of new supporters has slowed.”

My smile twists. “That could mean Valerisse will decide it’s time to move on us soon.”

“Yes—but those who haven’t gone over to her are on your side.

We need regular men and women as well as the gods.

” He tilts his head. “The spies have observed that not all the conversation they’ve heard has been completely supportive of Valerisse.

I’ve been thinking about the tactics we’ve seen used against you here—attempts to stir up ill-feeling about your rule.

The attacks with the insults spoken against you, the imposing divine omens… ”

“You want me to ask Elox to project threatening signs over Valerisse’s army?”

Axius chuckles. “That isn’t really his typical approach, is it?

No, I wondered if there’s a way we might spread more doubt and dissent within her own ranks.

Other than the contingent who served directly under her, the loyalty of those soldiers will be shaky.

They are going against their imperial oaths. ”

I mull the idea over. “How would we accomplish that? Surely anyone who spoke out against her openly would be cut down. I’m not sending our people up there to die just to shout a few accusations.”

“True. But if we could come up with a subtle means… It’s something I thought we should discuss.”

Marc stirs at his post. “I’d imagine, if there were soldiers with ideal?—”

Axius scowls at him, clearly annoyed by the second interruption. “Know your place, man. You’ve done a lot of good for Her Imperial Highness, but that doesn’t give you the station to impose on her conversations. I’ve been running this army for decades longer than you’ve even been in it.”

Marc’s jaw clenches, but this time he doesn’t back down. “I simply wanted to suggest—I thought I heard it mentioned that there might?—”

“Enough,” Axius snaps. “We’re going to discuss the possibilities based on facts, not second- or third-hand information you overheard.”

My hackles have risen on Marc’s behalf. Can’t Axius just let him speak?

Maybe I wouldn’t feel this way if it were any other soldier.

I suppose it is overstepping rather a lot for a new guard to be inserting himself into a discussion between the empress and her highest military advisor.

But I know that this particular “guard” has far more experience and understanding than Axius realizes.