Chapter Twenty-Five
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Scarlett
Resplendent in red and gold, Emperor Kalias resembled the sun. Walking a few paces behind him, Zandri was his shadow. A murderous, unsmiling shadow.
All activity on the royal balcony immediately ceased. Nobles bowed their heads, and white-garbed servants prostrated themselves on the marble tiles.
‘As you were.’ The emperor waved a dismissive hand. The golden rings he wore glinted like stars.
Conversation resumed as he strode between courtiers reclining on divans and servants circulating with golden trays. My mother followed, her suppressed rage almost palpable.
‘Father,’ I said, bowing my head.
Emperor Kalias tilted my chin upwards and I tensed, conscious of the strength in his fingers. The firmness of his grip.
Had he somehow discovered what we were planning? Or was he preparing to punish me in Zandri’s place – to discipline her for accepting Mira into the Trials?
Then he spoke, and a whole new set of fears arose.
‘Since your engagement fell through, I’ve been giving thought to future suitors.’ He turned my head, studying me with the same intensity an artist might study a sculpture. With a satisfied nod, he released me – though I noticed he flexed his fingers, as if touching my face had chilled them. ‘You have turned into a truly beautiful woman, even if that beauty is somewhat . . . unusual. This time, I don’t intend to waste your potential on someone undeserving. I will see to it that you wed a prince, or perhaps even a king.’
‘Scarlett can do more than that,’ Zandri said. ‘She possesses magic, and she has a mind for strategy. Once her skills are properly harnessed, she could become formidable—’
‘I don’t need her to be formidable, Zandri. I am formidable enough, and so are my sons.’ He smiled at me, but I had the sense he wasn’t really seeing me. Just what I could buy him.
‘You mentioned suitors,’ I cut in, before Zandri could argue further. I already knew that trying to change my father’s mind was hopeless. The better strategy was to let him believe he’d won – and then negotiate terms. ‘Will I at least have the opportunity to choose my betrothed?’
‘You will have the opportunity to meet them, but the courtship will be short, and the choice will be mine to make. This is a political decision, not a personal one.’
The patronising edge to his voice was like salt to an open wound. It was all I could do to stop my fingers from inching towards the blades in my hair.
‘How much time do I have?’
‘No suitors will visit until after the Trials,’ he replied. ‘Perhaps another month—’
‘I want six months.’
A smile pulled at his cruel lips.
‘Three months.’
‘Four.’
Emperor Kalias considered me for a long moment. A lesser person might have quailed under his scrutiny, but I didn’t so much as blink. I had inherited more from my father than just his looks.
I had inherited his fortitude, too. And his pride.
‘Four months,’ he agreed, his tone indulgent. ‘But I won’t stand for any more complications,’ he added, a chill entering his voice as he looked at Zandri. ‘There have been enough of those already.’
She inclined her head. Tension arced between them, like lightning waiting to strike. But Kalias needed Zandri’s magic to control the Orders, and she was trapped by the deal they had made in blood.
A deal that wouldn’t protect him for much longer.
I retreated to the far end of the balcony without waiting for my mother. Four months, I thought. I have four months to kill an emperor.
Bracing my arms against the cool marble balustrade, I surveyed the Order of Warriors residence below, where the candidates were visible in the open training courtyard. Ever since Zandri had intervened on Mira’s behalf, I’d known this year would be something special. My mother didn’t forgive easily, and she wouldn’t have spared Adalyn’s daughter unless she had good reason.
I’d had my suspicions, but they had centred around Mira’s importance to Kalure. I hadn’t considered that Mira might be the missing piece my mother needed to act against Kalias. But I supposed it made sense; if my mother couldn’t force someone to act against my father, then who better to use than someone who had every reason to want him dead?
A shout drew my attention to the centre of the courtyard. While most of the candidates were waiting for Empress Ivalene to arrive and explain the rules of the first Trial, some had decided to pass the time by sparring.
Zandri certainly has an eye for talent, I thought, watching Mira. Her opponent – presumably a female Warrior candidate – was inching out of reach, her feet on the chalk mark that made up their sparring circle.
Mira waited, her body taut with readiness. When the girl stepped back inside the circle, she was met with a series of expert jabs, backed up by strength and speed she couldn’t hope to match. Mira had her opponent defeated and pinned in less than five minutes.
‘She’s perfect,’ I murmured.
‘ If she survives long enough to be of any use to us,’ Zandri corrected, joining me at the balustrade. ‘Which remains to be seen.’
My mother’s tone was sharp. She hadn’t been pleased to learn that Governor Halvor was still alive, but that didn’t matter. He was rotting in the cells, along with the leader of the resistance. Such a neat solution, and far more convenient than bloodying my own hands.
And now I had Mira, who was perfectly placed to solve all our problems. Or so I hoped, since Zandri hadn’t been entirely clear on the details. But she had been clear about the first steps: keep Mira alive and induct her into the Order of Masks.
‘You have such little faith in her,’ I commented. ‘Perhaps she’ll surprise you. She is family, after all.’
Zandri’s red lips twisted at the reminder. She rarely mentioned her old life or her birth name. She certainly never mentioned her brother, the King of Kalure, or his Ravalian wife and daughter.
‘Regardless,’ she said, ‘the first Trial is only hours away. You need to stay focused.’
I gave my mother a questioning glance. ‘I’m not a candidate,’ I reminded her, ‘and the emperor made it clear that neither myself nor my brothers are to have direct involvement in the Trials. He was displeased enough that you chose Mira in the first place.’
Zandri waved a dismissive hand. ‘If Kalias wanted Mira dead, then she would be. He couldn’t care less about the law, which means he must have another use for her. I think he’s waiting to see how this plays out.’
‘So either she dies in the Trials – or what? What would he do with her?’
‘If I were him, I’d try to discredit her politically. Use her to get to Kalure.’ Zandri shrugged. ‘I’m sure he’ll find something.’
‘Even more reason not to get in his way,’ I muttered. ‘ You might be able to do what you like, but he made it clear what he expects from me.’
Zandri tapped a long, red-tipped nail against the stone. It must have been a signal, because a raven came to perch on the ledge, ruffling its feathers. I didn’t need to ask to know it was the same one I had brought back to life. Its nearness made my skin prickle.
Then she said, ‘Some things are worth the risk. The first Trial is team based; in order to succeed at their set tasks, the candidates in each group will need to work closely together.’
I stared at my mother, understanding all too well. Zandri didn’t want me to observe the first Trial. No – she wanted me to compete .
‘You set this up somehow, didn’t you?’
‘You have to get closer,’ my mother said, ‘to ensure that Mira doesn’t fail. This gives you the opportunity.’
Plans shifted in my mind. I had thought I would be waiting, watching, advising . . . excitement pulsed through my veins.
No more waiting.
‘Be careful with the girl,’ Zandri warned. ‘She’s untrained, but her raw potential is enormous. Not to mention, her mother’s blood ruby is still missing. None of my people found it when they searched them in the cells.’
That made me glance up in interest. ‘I thought you said that was impossible. Isn’t the vault supposed to be secure?’
‘Clearly,’ my mother replied, ‘I underestimated Adalyn’s daring. She must have stolen hers before she left for Kalure; she always was too smart for her own good. And if her daughter finds it . . .’ Zandri unclasped the red torque from her throat. ‘You’ll need this.’
She removed the ruby – the blood ruby – from her necklace and handed it over.
I stared down at the jewel in my palm and breathed out in a soft, contented sigh.
Let the Trials begin.