Chapter 10
Ten
Sabina
The conversation and obnoxious singing from the guards and legionnaires are so loud, I can’t hear the music. A barmaid leans next to me and shouts over the din, asking if I want anything else, though I haven’t touched the ale that’s sitting in front of me.
Caiden sips his drink, watching me out of the corner of his eye while he smiles and laughs with the legionnaires.
His men joke with him, slap him on the back, knock their glasses against his while they make bawdy jokes and laugh too loud when someone passes out from too much drink.
He wanders the tavern, interacting with nearly everyone. He’s the life of the fucking party.
These men think he’s one of them. That he cares about them. It’s a good way to ensure they’re more loyal than they were to his father. Every single thing Caiden does is for a reason. Calculated. Masterful. Brilliant. I’ve underestimated him.
He knows I want him dead. He’ll expect me to try to kill him in his sleep. He might even expect me to try to seduce him. There’s no point in playing the compliant princess. He knows me too well. I gave too much away.
It’s going to take more than that. I know I’m not required for his plans. Especially once Ludis has the crown. Which means I need to kill him before that, but I’ll get one chance. If I fail, there’s nothing preventing him from killing me.
He returns to our table; a smile plastered on his rosy face. He plops down next to me, then wraps his arm around me, pulling me against him. “C’mon, Sabina, have some fun. Everyone else is having fun.”
I glare at him.
He grabs my chin and turns my head so I’m facing forward. “Look at how beautiful our empress is.”
Everyone cheers.
He releases me, then lifts his glass. “A toast to our empress. My queen, my love, the woman who inspires everything I do.”
They cheer again, clanking glasses together, ale sloshing over the floor, men tossing back glasses and draining pints with massive gulps.
Caiden drains his own glass, then slams it on the table with a flourish. He grips my chin again, then presses his lips against my cheek in a wet kiss.
I wince, my nose wrinkling in disgust. His lips brush against my ear. “Do try to look a little less like you’re plotting my death, my darling little raven.”
Pulling away from him, I stand. “I’m tired. I want to retire.”
“I’ll return with you,” Caiden offers.
“No need,” I say.
“Alright.” He snaps his fingers and two guards near the door hurry to his side. Neither of them has been drinking. They’ve been waiting there in case they were needed.
“Please prepare a carriage for my wife. She’ll be returning to camp.” Caiden waves them away, and the men leave the tavern.
A barmaid arrives with two glasses in her hands. “More ale, Your Majesties?”
“No, thank you,” I say.
Caiden takes them both, then leans closer to her until his nose is nearly against her cleavage. Ale spills over the sides of the glass. “And what is your name?”
She giggles. “Gretchen, Your Majesty.”
He sets one of the glasses down, then drinks from the other while whispering to the barmaid. I use his distraction as my opportunity to leave. By the time I reach the door, Gretchen is in his lap, and his lips are on her neck.
She looks over at me, and I can read the guilt in her expression. I mouth thank you, hoping she understands that she’s welcome to him.
A smile replaces her slight frown, and she leans into Caiden’s touch before sliding her hand down his back.
I step outside into the cold night air. My breath fogs and the thin layer of snow over the ground seeps into my slippers.
I reach out toward the falling snow. They’re small, hard flakes.
Not the beautiful fluffy ones. Still, I catch them on my fingers, watching them quickly dissolve as I wait for the carriage to arrive.
Several guards assist me into the carriage, and I’m silent for the short ride to camp. When we arrive, they insist on checking every inch of my tent, leaving me to shiver in the falling snow.
When they tell me it’s safe, I duck inside and look around for myself. There’s no sign of anything amiss, but I still don’t trust anything that’s in my trunk.
Instead, I remove my dress, leaving my underclothes on before tucking myself under the blankets.
I burrow under them, shivering but feeling numb. Closing my eyes, I will sleep to claim me. If only so I could leave this place for a short while. Instead, I see Brevan using his magic to kill without mercy. Another dangerous man with too much power.
Squeezing my eyes tight, I try to push the image away. I know why he does what he does. I know Caiden keeps his sister captive, just as he holds Anya to keep me in line.
What would I do if he asked me to use my magic to kill dozens of people? Would I go along with it?
My chest tightens. Brevan has been doing this for years. I know my brothers would have rather died than allowed me to become a killer on that scale.
Flopping onto my back, I open my eyes and stare up at the canvas of the tent. There’s a warm glow from the small lamp on the table. My insides twist as it reminds me of the flames that consumed that entire village.
Yet they spared this new village. At least for now. Were they going to drink their ale, fuck the people who lived here tonight, and slaughter them tomorrow?
I toss the blankets aside; anger I can’t tamp down bubbling up.
Before I can think better of it, I burst outside the tent.
The two guards at my door straighten at my presence, then their eyes dart away quickly.
I remember that I’m in my underclothes so I wrap my arms around my chest to cover my peaked nipples.
I imagine if their cheeks weren’t already red from the cold, they’d be flushed with embarrassment.
“Where is the enforcer?” I demand.
The pair look at each other as if hoping the other knows how to answer.
“I need to see him. Now. I want to know what he’s learned about the poison in my tent. I can’t sleep until I know I’m safe,” I say, hoping the excuse is enough.
“Your Majesty, we checked your tent. I can assure you, it’s safe,” the guard nearest me says.
“And was it not checked last night? Yet, someone entered unseen. How am I to know they can’t enter while I’m asleep?” I demand.
“I’m sure the emperor will return soon. You can ask him,” the other guard says.
“My husband was drunk and had a whore in his lap when I left the tavern. I can’t count on him tonight.” I set my hands on my hips, daring them to challenge me.
The guard standing nearest me swallows hard, his attention shifting from me to his companion. Finally, he sighs. “I’ll take you. Marcus, watch her tent.”
I keep my chin high and work to keep my teeth from chattering. I really should have put my dress back on, but it’s too late for that now.
We pass a few other tents, then stop at the farthest tent on the edge of camp. I wonder if he’s always this far away from the emperor, or if he’s been placed here because of me.
“Wait here,” I tell the guard in a whisper. “I won’t be long.”
“Your Majesty, I don’t think you should—”
I raise my hand to stop him. “What is your name?”
“Nate, Your Majesty,” he whispers back.
“Nate, I need allies. People who report to me. Who are loyal to me. I know what I’m asking, but you have a chance here to have the favor of the empress or be just another soldier to the emperor.
The choice is yours.” I stare at him, using the same cold calculating look I watched Caiden give countless times.
“Your Majesty, I’m loyal to the empire…” he starts. “But I think I could do what you’re asking.”
“Good. Then I will request you as my personal guard. I can assure you, your loyalty will be rewarded.” I’m surprised by the tone I’m able to muster. “Now, as far as anyone knows, I am not here. I never left my tent, do you understand?”
“What about Marcus?” he asks.
“When we return, you give him the same offer I gave you. If he agrees, you two will not regret your loyalty. I can promise you that.”
He nods.
I pull the fabric aside and slip into the dark tent.