Page 83 of A Pact of Blood

Her husband perks up, though his tone is cautious. “What do you mean?”

I motion toward their gilded carriage. “I’m sure you’re carrying some coins or trinkets of value you could part with for the rest of the journey. We’ll take a collection and have it presented to the workers on behalf of the court nobles. When we return to the capital palace, I’ll see that you’re repaid twice over.”

They can hardly argue with the chance to double the worth of their valuables while appearing ever so benevolent in the process. An excited titter passes between the marchionissas as they clamber into the carriage to decide what to contribute.

“Quite the stratagem,” Bianca remarks as I turn to proceed along every noble carriage in the convoy.

I raise my eyebrow right back at her. “I hope you’ll join in the generosity too, Vicerine?”

She laughs, more warmly than I think I’ve ever heard before. “I’d imagine I will, for such a reward.”

By the time I’ve made my way through the entire procession, the nobles from the tail end are already bustling toward the front of the convoy with pouches of silver and plainer bits of jewelry. That’s good enough—the townspeople might not be able to easily exchange full court finery for anything they’d actually find useful.

I give an explanation to one of the captains, whose forehead furrows but who swings down from his horse to take up the collection.

As I return to my own carriage, Marclinus saunters over,his smirk more crooked than before. “I hear you’re attempting to empty my imperial treasury for a single bridge, wife.”

My pulse stutters, but I make my own smile as sweet and innocent as possible. “The people are working so hard to ensure that our journey is delayed as little as possible—and they should know what a fantastic court you lead, shouldn’t they?”

“All due to my own influence, I’m sure,” he says.

He doesn’t move to intervene, though, simply watching as the final nobles hurry to offer their contributions. When the captain presents the workers with their reward, a volley of awed voices rise up in response. “Thank you, Your Imperial Eminences. Thank you, everyone of the court! It’s our honor to serve you.”

I think that should be well enough settled, but the swarm of onlookers in the field presses closer to the line of soldiers again. “Empress Aurelia’s kindness is spreading,” someone says.

“She’s setting such an example for the court.”

“What a blessing on our country!”

More of the horses shift uneasily on their hooves. “Give the convoy space!” the other captain shouts.

A couple of his underlings glance back at me with the briefest of frowns.

Damn it all. I’ve lifted up my fellow nobles but caused more trouble for those guarding us.

My heart thumps faster, but perhaps I should consider this moment another opportunity. The townspeople want to see me, to hear from me.

I can give them that and support the men and women in arms at the same time.

I return to the captain who handed over the collectedreward. “Do you have an amplification charm? I’d like to borrow it for a minute.”

His expression turns even more puzzled, but he hands over a small rod that contains the enchantment.

I hold it beneath my chin and speak in a clear, firm voice that the charm pitches across the field ahead. “People of Norbina, as your empress, I have a request to make. I understand you’re interested to know more about me and this court, but please gather farther back on the field. These fine soldiers have one of the most important duties in the empire, which is keeping your emperor—my wonderful husband—safe. They’re committed to that purpose and have never failed us yet. Let us show our respect for their fantastic service.”

Several of the nearby soldiers sit up a little straighter at the praise. The crowd’s murmurs sound somewhat discontented, but the civilians do pull back a few paces.

I ease toward my carriage. Raul and his baronissa companion have long since climbed out, and the prince is now standing near the wheel by the driver’s seat. Perfect.

“Thank you!” I say to the common folk. “Perhaps even a little farther back—because then you can get a better view.”

Lowering the charm, I turn to Raul and take on an imperious tone. “Help me up.”

He blinks at me, but when I grasp the side of the carriage, a smile of understanding flickers across his face. He grasps my slippered foot and boosts me high enough that I can pull myself onto the ledge above the carriage doors.

Being Raul, he also manages to stroke my ankle with a surreptitious caress before he lets me go.

I scramble the rest of the way onto the roof of the carriage and carefully straighten up. Now standing well above the heads of the cavalry, I can see all across the mass oftownspeople and the buildings of their home a little farther down the river.

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