Page 120 of A Pact of Blood

They need to know how well I can servethem.

Will everything I’ve done with the confirmation rites and the other overtures I’ve attempted satisfy the common folk once word has time to spread? Providing an heir won’t even matter if I haven’t earned enough loyalty for them to let me steer the empire until he or she is grown.

Marclinus yanks the curtain across the window as if putting an end to any discussion of the incident. The carriage rattles on along the road until we stop right in front of the waystation building.

When I step out to stretch my legs, my personal guards draw closer to me, making their presence known more than I’m used to. I bite back a grimace.

They must be worried about what other hostilities I could face here.

Farther down the convoy, the sun glances off Lorenzo’s thick black hair as he ambles toward the still-bustling workers. I suppose he’s going to put his gift to use again trying to sway a few more citizens in my favor.

The gloom that settled over me this morning thickens, as if I’m draped in a sweltering fog. The furtive conversation I had with my princes last night and the whispered plans we confirmed feel so paltry now in the light of day.

If I’m going to ignore my godlen’s guidance and carve out my own path, I need to fight for it.

But what else can I do that won’t harm any of the people I’m fighting for?

While I stew over that problem, the kitchen workers start bringing out our platters of lunch. Marclinus has been strutting along the convoy calling on other friends, but he climbs back into the carriage with me to eat.

I’ve barely taken a bite of my ham-and-egg tart when knuckles rap against the carriage door. High Commander Axius’s grim face shows at the window.

He focuses his attention only on Marclinus. “Your Imperial Majesty, a messenger has reached us from Lavira. I’d like to update you on current developments as soon as you’re ready to hear them.”

Marclinus’s gaze flits briefly to me. I expect him to make some patronizing remark and go off with the high commander to have their discussion where I can’t listen in. Instead, his lips curl with another smirk.

He motions for Axius to join us. “You might as well tell me the news right now. I’m sure my wife can find some way to occupy her mind while we talk business.”

Ah. He’s going to rub it in my face that I’m not supposed to contribute to the discussion. Perhaps this is even another test—confirming that I will hold my tongue, no matter what the news is.

I do want to know what’s been happening in Lavira even if I can’t weigh in with my own opinions. At least I’ll be prepared if my husband ever does let me into his confidence again.

The high commander doesn’t look entirely pleased with the situation, but he lowers himself onto the bench next to me so he can face Marclinus, giving me as much space as the carriage allows. While his emperor gulps down bits oftart and sliced fruit with splashes of wine, he gives his report.

“There’s been one new incident, an attack of hostile magic destroying a couple of Darium ships that’ve been carrying goods across Lake Union. Thanks to our soldiers’ alertness, one of the perpetrators has been apprehended. Tribune Valerisse is overseeing his questioning personally and is hopeful he’ll provide information that allows us to root out the main instigators of the uprising.”

Marclinus hums around another sip of wine. “It sounds as though the traitors have been faltering in general. We’ve put plenty of fear into them.”

He casts his gaze toward me once more with a cool glint in his eyes, as if to rub in the fact that his preferred strategy of unchecked violence appears to have been successful.

Maybe his approach did work. Maybe the rebellion will be quelled sooner because of his tactics. That doesn’t mean all the innocents who died along the way deserved their fate.

But as he goes on to recommend some methods of torture that make my stomach shudder, I find myself studying my husband from the corner of my eye.

His arrogant assurance and his flippant approach to enforcing his rule have rankled me. I haven’t really considered the ways in which they’re effective.

His family has held this half of the continent in hand for centuries. They’re hardly inept. And they know what their own people want to see to keep loyalties at home strong.

I’ve resented that Marclinus refused my advice, but I’ve never asked forhis.

Despite my queasiness, my conviction grows. I have him right now. Why shouldn’t I use him?

Even if in the end, it’ll be to bring about his own doom.

Marclinus says something about making an example of the ringleaders and then pauses to swallow the last morsel ofhis tart. “Well, that should set things back to rights well enough. Where’s your lunch, man? I can’t have my military advisor starving himself.”

Before Axius can answer, Marclinus is waving out the window for another meal to be brought over. The high commander shifts on the bench as if he’d rather be elsewhere, but he stays put to accept the tray.

All the better. He might as well put his mind to this task as well.

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