Chapter 8
Eight
Even in the low, flickering light, I can see the injuries. The prince has a purple bruise under his right eye and a large cut down his left cheek. His lips look a little swollen, like he was punched in the jaw.
What could have happened in the last few hours to cause all that? Who was he brawling with? For a brief moment, I wonder if there’s someone here who might be on my side.
“You look beautiful. The Pendralian colors really suit you.” His gaze drops, taking in the gorgeous steel gray dress that’s tied with black silk ribbons.
I hold up the skirts. “It is a beautiful dress, but I do miss my old things. And I miss color.”
“My father and his monochromatic obsession.” He shakes his head. “Though, it does make quite the statement when we visit other kingdoms. So perhaps I can see why he chose to establish that rule.”
Caiden pulls out my chair for me. My stomach churns. I hate being so close to him.
“Thank you,” I say as I take a seat.
He pushes my chair in, then makes himself comfortable at the head of the table. There’s already wine in the glasses, and as soon as he sips his, I take a large gulp from mine.
“How do you find your ladies?” he asks.
“They’re really wonderful,” I say. “I enjoy their company.”
“Good.” He takes another sip of his wine, and I catch a fleeting wince as he sets his cup down. He’s got other injuries that I can’t see.
I want to ask him about them, but I’m not sure if that’s considered impolite. Instead, I focus on my goal. I need to know where the emperor is. Especially if I’m going to have to run from the castle before Darkfall.
“Were you with your father today?” I ask.
“No. But I was attending to some of the matters he should have settled.” He gestures to his face. “As you can see, it did not go well.”
“What happened?”
“I’d rather not discuss it,” he says.
“Why is your father putting you in such dangerous situations?” I ask. “You’re his heir. He needs you alive.”
“Thank you for your concern for my health,” he says.
Now I’m wincing. “I’m sorry. I just don’t understand. I know sometimes kings and emperors fight their own wars. Princes, too. But I keep hearing whispers…” I shake my head. “Never mind. It’s not my place.”
“What whispers?”
I force myself to look hesitant, and he gives an encouraging nod. I sigh, as if reluctant to share. “I’ve heard rumors that your father is dead. Or dying. That you are secretly already emperor.”
His expression darkens.
“It’s only that I thought there would be many years of learning before I had to step into the role of empress. If I’m being honest, I need more time. I’m afraid.” It takes everything I have to not roll my eyes.
“I can assure you, my father is very much alive. Even if he’s making me do his job right now.” He sounds frustrated, but honest.
“That’s good. That he’s alive, I mean.” I wish I didn’t believe him. If the emperor were dead, I could end this now. Kill the prince. Kill the enforcer. It would mean my own death, but it would be worth it to end their line and cause chaos as the nobles fight over who should rule.
Servants enter through the secret door, and I sit in silence as they add food to my plate. A roast with rich gravy, honey-glazed carrots, and creamy potatoes. My mouth waters at the scents, but I wait for Caiden to eat first.
He takes a few bites, then I pick up my fork and try the food. I close my eyes to collect myself. I didn’t know food could taste this good. During our first dinner, I was so stressed, I hardly tasted anything.
“They want to move up the wedding,” he says.
I open my eyes and find him staring at me, waiting for my response. “What do you mean?” Traditionally, royal weddings are held in autumn, and we just entered winter. I should have nearly a year to figure out what I need and get out of here.
“The high priest had a vision. Said we must wed at the summer solstice.”
“What kind of vision requires that?” I ask.
“He wouldn’t elaborate,” he says.
I swallow hard. It’s less time, but that might not matter, anyway. Not if they intend to send me to the temple on Darkfall.
“I’m not exactly thrilled about it, either,” he says.
“You’re beautiful and smarter than I expected.
But let’s not pretend either of us wants to wed the other.
I know it’s our obligation. We both know we have to do this and that we’ll need to provide an heir.
Once that has occurred, you’ll have more freedom around here. More status.”
The thought of bedding this man makes my skin crawl. That will absolutely not be happening. But I’m Sabina, not Taylan, so I respond as I think she might. “Of course.”
“I need you to learn our customs, to become familiar with my court. I’ve scheduled your formal introduction for this weekend. My mother’s seamstress will be here tomorrow to craft you a new gown. Your ladies can help you prepare. I assume you know how to dance?”
No, there wasn’t a lot of dancing in our village or in the city once we joined the rebellion. And certainly nothing that would fit in at court. “I’m afraid the dances I learned might not be the same fashion as here.”
“Very well.” He takes a deep breath, then blows it out. “I would ask Brevan to teach you, but he’s away. I suppose I’ll have to do it myself.”
“I’m sure one of my ladies can help,” I say.
“No, it won’t do for them to know you have weaknesses.”
I lift a skeptical brow. “Not being able to dance is a weakness?”
“It will make it appear that you were not trained well enough to be my bride. There are many unhappy families in my court. They’ve been sending their daughters to seduce me for years. Until the treaty, it was assumed I’d marry one of them.”
“Like your father did,” I say.
He nods. “Yes. My mother was a courtier who caught his eye.”
“Is it me you worry for or yourself, Your Highness? I imagine a group of former lovers who were hoping to be your empress are far more of a threat to you than they are to me.”
“Not if they think they can bolster their chances by killing you,” he says with a shrug.
“And risk losing the treaty? I would think they’d be ostracized from court if they did such a thing.”
“If they were caught.” There’s a hint of a smirk on his lips. Is he actually being playful or did I imagine it?
“I suppose I better learn to dance.”
“If not out of concern for yourself, you’ll learn to dance so you make me look good,” he says. “I can’t have a future empress who doesn’t improve my status.”
I must have been mistaken when I though he was being playful. “So the other women might not be my only threat?”
“This treaty is important, but there are other ways to make it happen.”
“I suppose you’re lucky my father had a daughter. Where would your treaty be now if I’d been a man?”
“If you’d been a man, I’d be working on a plan to overthrow your kingdom.” He grins.
“Why not just do that, then? Why this route? Why now? We’ve never been allies before. Your people have been at my borders my whole life. If you were going to overthrow us, you’d have done it already.”
“You forget, my father has been the one giving the orders. He’s cautious, but also shortsighted. We’re outnumbered, that’s true. I believe that with time and planning, we could defeat Iskvaland. But he doesn’t want to wait. He wants the Shatterlands now.”
“He’s not well, is he?” I ask quietly. “You’re already running most of the empire, aren’t you?”
He clenches his jaw, and a vein in his temple bulges. I see the wariness on his face now. It is almost hidden by the bruises, but it’s there. Dark circles under eyes that have seen too much. I almost didn’t see them with the other injuries on his face.
“This treaty is yours. You want Iskvaland’s armies,” I say. “Your father would never share magic with anyone outside his inner circle, but you found a way. You don’t need him, do you? Is it the relics that Brevan’s hunting?”
We’ve been wondering about that for years.
Some rebels theorized that the ancient relics of the gods could channel magic or even imbue magic.
Nobody ever got to test it out, though. The Night Legion was very good at tracking the relics down.
They must do something. Otherwise, why would they destroy whole villages just to claim the forgotten or hidden relics?
“That’s enough, Sabina.” He rises. “When you finish your meal, the legionnaires waiting at the door will escort you to your room. Marian will stay with you every night. You are not to leave your chambers unescorted, is that understood?”
I pushed too far. I am supposed to be a princess. His future wife. I’m supposed to submit, but I can’t. I glare at him. “Nothing good has ever come from rulers who put ambition before their people.”
“Tell your father that. He’s the one who came to me on his knees, willing to trade his kingdom for immortality.”
I blink, then close my mouth. I should have known. All rulers want nothing more than power, and they don’t care who they sacrifice to gain it.
“I will see you tomorrow. Do try to learn your place before then.” He walks out of the room without a glance back at me.
I grip my fork so tight my knuckles turn white. I’m furious at the games these monarchs play with the lives of everyone around them. Magic in the Iskvalandian armies will mean more oppression for their people. The right people never seem to gain power.
But at least now I know that the emperor isn’t well. If he’s not dying, something else is very, very wrong with him. If he’s not well, he can’t be far from the castle. There’s no way they’d want that information out there.
He’s in the castle. He has to be. And that means he’ll be much easier to kill once I find out where exactly they’ve hidden him.