Page 32 of City of Secrets and Shadows (Empire of Vengeance #2)

32

E veryone in the room dropped into deep bows and curtsies as the Emperor entered, surrounded by his Imperial Guard. I sank into a curtsy of my own, head bowed, heart pounding with hatred so intense it felt like my chest might burst with it.

This was the man. The one who had ordered the destruction of my village. Who had condemned my people to death for the crime of wanting peace with the Talfen. Who had sent soldiers like Arilius to slaughter innocents and burn their homes.

When I dared to look up, I was surprised by what I saw. Emperor Valorian was younger than I’d expected — perhaps in his late fifties — with a face that might have been handsome if not for the hardness in his eyes. There was something almost familiar about him. He moved with the confidence of a man accustomed to absolute power, his crimson and gold robes swirling around him as he acknowledged the obeisance of his subjects with practiced grace.

He proceeded to a raised dais at the far end of the room, where he took his seat on an ornate throne. Beside him stood General Maximus, the commander of all Imperial forces, and several other high-ranking officials I recognized from my briefings with the resistance.

“Rise,” the Emperor commanded, his voice carrying effortlessly through the vast space. “Tonight we celebrate a momentous occasion — the acceptance of a new class of dragon riders into the Imperial Academy. These young men and women represent the future of our great Empire, the shield that will protect our people from the Talfen threat that continues to grow at our borders.”

A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd.

“Recent victories against the Talfen insurgents have given us cause for celebration,” he continued, “but we must not grow complacent. The enemy is cunning and relentless. They hide among us, spreading their poison, turning loyal citizens against the Empire with their lies.”

The hatred in his voice was palpable, stirring, answering hatred in the hearts of his listeners. I could see it in their faces — the anger, the fear, the blind acceptance of his words.

“Just last month, our brave soldiers destroyed a major Talfen stronghold in the northern mountains, killing over three hundred of the enemy, including their leader.”

My grip tightened on my wine glass. I knew this was a lie. The resistance had confirmed that the “stronghold” had been a refugee camp, filled mostly with women, children, and the elderly. Tarshi had learned of the attack during one of the resistance meetings and had told me quietly. It had dealt a devastating and heartbreaking blow to those involved.

“This victory has dealt a serious blow to their operations, but we must press our advantage. Therefore, I am announcing tonight that we will be expanding our military presence in the border regions. All graduates of this year’s academy class will be deployed immediately upon completion of their training to join our forces in the field.”

Shocked whispers spread through the crowd. Traditionally, new dragon riders spent at least a year in ceremonial duties before seeing combat. This was an unprecedented acceleration.

“These are extraordinary times that call for extraordinary measures,” the Emperor declared. “The Talfen threat must be eliminated once and for all, and we will commit every resource to this sacred task.”

Applause erupted, enthusiastic and unquestioning. I forced myself to join in, my face a mask of approval while my stomach churned with disgust.

As the Emperor concluded his speech and the music resumed, conversations around me buzzed with excited speculation about the coming campaign against the Talfen. Nobles who had never seen combat eagerly discussed the prospect of total victory, of wiping the Talfen “scourge” from the face of the earth once and for all.

“Quite a pronouncement, wasn’t it?” a smooth voice said beside me.

I turned to find a middle-aged nobleman watching me with shrewd eyes. “Indeed it was, my lord...?”

“Romus Gato,” he supplied with a slight bow. “And you are Lady Cantius, newly accepted to the academy. My congratulations.”

“Thank you, Lord Gato.” The name struck a chord of recognition. Gato was a member of the Imperial Council, one of the Emperor’s closest advisors — and, according to resistance intelligence, one of the most virulent anti-Talfen voices in the government.

“You’ve chosen an exciting time to join the academy,” he continued. “Your first deployment is likely to be more... eventful than most.”

“So it seems.”

“Does that prospect concern you, my lady? Not all young nobles have the stomach for real warfare.”

There was a challenge in his tone, a testing quality that immediately put me on alert. “I believe in serving the Empire however I’m needed, Lord Gato. If that means combat, so be it.”

“Well said.” His eyes studied me with uncomfortable intensity. “You know, you remind me of someone.”

My heart rate quickened. “Oh? Who might that be?”

“I can’t quite place it. Perhaps someone I’ve seen in passing.” He waved a hand dismissively. “No matter. I understand your dragon is quite exceptional — a royal gold, is it not?”

“Yes, my lord. Sirrax.”

“A powerful name for a powerful beast. You’ll need that power in the months ahead.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Between us, my lady, what the Emperor announced tonight is merely the beginning. Plans are in motion that will change the face of this conflict forever.”

“What sort of plans?” I asked, careful to keep my tone merely curious rather than eager.

“Let’s just say that by this time next year, the Talfen problem will be a distant memory.” He straightened, smiling thinly. “I’ve enjoyed our chat, Lady Cantius. I’ll be watching your career with interest.”

As he walked away, I suppressed a shiver. There had been something in his eyes — a fanatical gleam that chilled me to the bone. Whatever these “plans” were, they boded ill for the Talfen people.

I needed to get this information to the resistance as soon as possible.

“You look troubled,” Jalend said, appearing at my side once more. “Was Lord Gato bothering you?”

“Not at all,” I replied, composing my features. “Just discussing the Emperor’s announcement. It seems our training will be more... purposeful than expected.”

“Indeed.”

“What do you think of the Emperor’s announcement?” I asked.

Jalend was silent for a moment. “I think we’re entering a dangerous time,” he said finally. “This escalation... it’s unprecedented.”

“You don’t sound enthusiastic about crushing the Talfen threat.”

“The Academy will be changing in the coming months. The training will become more... intense. Focused on combat rather than ceremonial duties.”

“Because of the deployment?”

“Yes. But I think there’s more.” He glanced back at the doors, ensuring we were still alone. “I think my… I think the Emperor might be losing the war.”

My pulse quickened. “You do?”

“I do. But I think he’s going to react to that knowledge with more force than anyone has seen before. Be careful who you trust in the coming months. Watch. Listen. Prepare yourself.”

“You’re frightening me, Jalend.”

He took my hand, his grip warm and firm. “Good. You should be frightened. We all should be.”

His thumb traced circles on my palm, a gesture both intimate and comforting. “Just know that not everyone in the Empire supports what’s coming. There are those of us who believe in a different path.”

I was about to ask more, when a couple of noble women walked past, lost in conversation and a snatch of it caught my attention.

“Yes, Lord Varin…”

“…beast, so they say…”

I frowned and looked up at Jalend.

“What was that about Lord Varin? I haven’t seen him in days, I assumed he’d left.”

Jalend shook his head. “He was supposed to, but he never came home from the tavern the night he… Anyway, they found his body a couple of days ago. What was left of it.”

“He’s dead?” I felt numb. Jalend nodded.

“The Watch found him, and the bodies of his personal guard. They think it was some kind of street brawl, but one of the guards told me that Varin himself looked like he’d been ripped apart by some wild beast. I’m sure that’s just a rumour though.”

I kept my expression neutral, though my thoughts tumbled over each other. He’d died late in the night after he’d attacked me. After I’d been to see Marcus. But Marcus couldn’t have dealt with Varin and his bodyguards on his own. I smiled as I realised the three of them must have worked together to bring justice to the man who had tried to hurt me, and my heart seemed to swell in my chest.

Jalend noticed my smile, and misunderstanding its meaning, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“I would have gotten him out of your life one way or another, but it seems I had no need. At least he can’t hurt another woman again.”

I nodded, trying to mask the complex emotions swirling within me. Relief, guilt, a dark satisfaction — all tangled together in a knot I couldn’t unravel.

“No, he can’t,” I agreed softly. “Though I can’t say I expected such... finality to his departure.”

Jalend’s arm remained around my shoulders, warm and solid. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to lean into him, to draw comfort from his touch. But I couldn’t afford such weakness. Not if it meant him discovering my true identity. I moved away, disguising my withdrawal by reaching for another glass of wine as the server passed nearby.

“Some men deserve whatever end finds them,” Jalend said, his voice pitched low enough that only I could hear. “And Varin had clearly made enemies of far more dangerous people than me.”

Before I could respond, the sound of a bell rang through the hall, three clear notes that silenced all conversation. Master Varius stood on the dais, a scroll in his hands.

“Initiates, the moment has arrived,” he announced, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. “The Emperor has reviewed the results of your trials and will now announce those who have been accepted into the Imperial Dragon Academy.”

My heart began to pound, not with fear of rejection — I knew Sirrax had chosen me, and that bond was unbreakable — but with the realization that this was another step closer to my goal. To justice. To vengeance.

The Emperor stepped forward, his black robes gleaming in the lamplight. From this distance, he looked almost human — not the monster of my nightmares but simply a man, middle-aged and powerful, with cold eyes that surveyed the crowd like a falcon studying prey.

“The strength of our Empire rests upon the wings of our dragons and the valour of those who ride them,” he began, his voice strong and clear. “Tonight, we welcome a new cohort of riders into our ranks — men and women who have proven their courage, their skill, and their loyalty to the Imperial cause.”

He unrolled the scroll, holding it before him with a practiced ceremony.

“When I call your name, approach the dais to receive your dragon pin and take your place among the honoured ranks of the academy.”

The room fell utterly silent as he began to read.

“Drusilla Seneca.”

“Valeria Nemean.”

Valeria glided forward, her golden mask catching the light, her movements deliberately graceful to disguise the lingering effects of her injuries. Beneath my composed expression, I allowed myself a moment of bitter triumph. She may have been accepted, but everyone in this room knew what had happened between us.

One by one, the names continued. Each new cadet approached the dais, received their pin — a bronze dragon in flight — and joined a growing line of accepted initiates.

“Cassia Metilius.”

Great. Valeria and both her attendants would be at the academy. I rolled my eyes and saw Jalend grin at me.

“Jalend Northreach.”

Jalend squeezed my hand once before stepping away. Unlike the others, he didn’t seem surprised or elated — merely resigned, as though his acceptance had been a foregone conclusion rather than an honour. The Emperor’s eyes lingered on him longer than they had on the others, something passing between them that I couldn’t decipher.

More names were called. The line of accepted initiates grew longer. With each passing moment, the tension in my chest wound tighter. I thought I might break and scream from the suspense.

“Livia Cantius.”

Relief flooded through me, so intense I nearly staggered. I steadied myself, lifted my chin, and walked forward with the measured pace Octavia had drilled into me. The Emperor’s eyes met mine as I approached, and for one heart-stopping moment, I feared he might recognize something in me — some echo of the village he had ordered destroyed, some flicker of the hatred I had nurtured for thirteen years.

But his gaze moved on, disinterested. I was just another noble initiate to him, unremarkable and insignificant.

“Lady Cantius,” he said, pinning the bronze dragon to my stola. “May you bring honour to the Empire.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I replied, my voice steady despite the rage churning beneath my calm exterior. “I will serve with all my heart.”

At least that wasn’t a lie. I would serve — not the Empire, but justice. Not the Emperor, but the memory of my murdered family.

I took my place in the line, standing beside Jalend. His fingers briefly found mine, a fleeting touch of congratulations.

“And so we welcome our newest class of dragon riders,” the Emperor concluded. “Tomorrow your training begins in earnest. For tonight, celebrate your achievement, but remember that you now bear the weight of Imperial expectations. You are the wings upon which our future flies.”

With that, the formal ceremony concluded, and servants began bringing out elaborately prepared dishes for the feast. The accepted initiates were seated at a long table near the dais, honoured guests of the evening.

I found myself between Jalend and Cassia, with Valeria several seats away — close enough to glare but too far to cause immediate trouble. The food was exquisite — roasted meats, exotic fruits, delicacies from every corner of the Empire — but I barely tasted it, my mind racing with the implications of everything I had learned tonight.

The Empire was escalating its war against the Talfen. We would be deployed directly into combat after our training. And Jalend... Jalend seemed to have doubts about the Emperor’s course. Could he possibly be an ally? Or was this simply another trap?

“You’re quiet,” Jalend observed, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

“Just processing,” I replied. "It's been an eventful night."

"Indeed it has." He lifted his wine glass. "To the newest dragon riders of the Imperial Academy. May we live long enough to regret it."

I laughed despite myself, clinking my glass against his. "Your toasts need work."

"I save my eloquence for matters that deserve it." His eyes moved to the Emperor, who was deep in conversation with Legate Varius. "Some things are better met with honesty than flowery words."

The feast stretched on for hours, the wine flowing freely as the night deepened. I maintained my careful restraint, sipping slowly, keeping my wits about me even as others grew increasingly boisterous. Beside me, Cassia tried relentlessly to flirt with Jalend, despite his cool responses. After a while, she seemed to get the hint that he wasn’t interested, and her overly cheerful demeanour descended into sheer petulance.

“You don't look like someone celebrating a triumph," she grumbled.

"The real challenges begin tomorrow,” replied Jalend. “This is just pageantry."

"You don't enjoy pageantry?"

"I prefer substance to show." He pushed his plate away. "And the substance of what we face is going to be brutal."

"You mean the accelerated training?"

He nodded. "Six months instead of the usual year, then straight to the front. Half of us will probably be dead within a year."

I shook my head in exasperation.

"Such cheerful dinner conversation," I said. "You'll have to forgive Jalend, Lady Cassia. He has the unfortunate habit of seeing things as they are rather than as the Empire would have us believe they are."

Jalend's mouth twitched in what might have been a smile. "Someone has to."

The feast had finally begun to wind down as midnight approached. The Emperor had already departed, and nobles were beginning to make their farewells.

"I should retire," I said, rising from the table. "Tomorrow will come early enough."

Jalend stood as well. "I'll escort you.”

As much as I was trying to ignore Jalend’s growing attention to me, I couldn’t ignore the little jolt of glee as Cassia glared daggers at me when he slipped my hand through his arm.

“You did that on purpose,” I hissed at him as we moved away from the table.

"Did I?" Jalend smirked, his eyes dancing with mischief in the dimming light of the banquet hall. "I thought I was simply being a gentleman."

"A gentleman wouldn't take such obvious pleasure in Cassia's jealousy," I countered, though I couldn't quite keep the amusement from my voice.

"Perhaps not. But I'm not known for my gentlemanly qualities." His hand covered mine where it rested on his arm, warm and steady. "Besides, she'll recover quickly enough. Her type always does."

We walked in comfortable silence through the grand corridors of the palace, our footsteps echoing against marble floors. The guards stationed at intervals along the walls stood at rigid attention, their eyes fixed forward as if we didn't exist.

"Are you afraid?" Jalend asked suddenly as we turned down a quieter hallway.

"Of what?"

"Tomorrow. The Academy. The war." He glanced down at me, his expression unreadable in the shadowy passage. "All of it."

I considered lying, then decided against it. "Yes."

"Good. Fear keeps you sharp. The ones who aren't afraid are the first to die."

"Is that supposed to be comforting?"

"No. It's supposed to be true."

I laughed softly. "You really are terrible at reassurance."

"I never claimed otherwise." His pace slowed as we approached the guest quarters where I was staying.

"What about you?" I asked. "Are you afraid?"

A muscle in his jaw tightened. "Always. But not of dying."

"What then?"

"Of living too long. Of becoming what I despise." His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Of losing whatever remains of my soul in this war."

The raw honesty in his words caught me off guard. This wasn't the arrogant, cynical man I'd come to know. For the first time, I glimpsed something deeper, something wounded beneath his carefully constructed facade.

"I didn't realize you had a soul to lose," I said, trying to lighten the moment.

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "That's what most people think. It's safer that way."

"You know," Jalend said finally. "When I entered the trials knowing it would mean six months at the academy with nobles like Cassia and Valeria, I was... less than enthusiastic.”

He stopped walking, turning to face me. In the flickering torchlight, his features were cast in gold and shadow, his eyes dark and intent.

"Now I find myself looking forward to it." His voice was soft, almost reluctant, as though the admission had been dragged from him against his will. "At least to certain aspects of it."

My heart began to beat faster. "Such as?"

"You're not a fool, Livia." He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat of him, smell the faint scent of cedar and leather that clung to his skin. "You know exactly what I mean."

Before I could respond, he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against my knuckles. The gesture was proper enough to pass inspection by any watching eyes, but the heat in his gaze was anything but proper.

"Sleep well, Lady Cantius," he said, his voice carrying just enough for anyone listening to hear. "Tomorrow begins your true education."