Page 35 of A Dance of Shadows

Aurelia

Idip my head to Queen Anahi respectfully as we wait in the front courtyard for the imperial procession to finish assembling. “Thank you again for your generous hospitality. I hope I can extend the same to you before too long.”

The queen of Rione’s typical subdued smile gives me no indication that I’ve endeared myself to her. “I’m glad we could make your time in our country enjoyable.”

I grope for one last remark that might sway her in my favor and settle on the most honest thing I can say. “I wish we could have stayed longer so I could have gotten to know your family, your people, and your country better. It’s important to me to fully consider every kingdom that contributes to our empire.”

Her smile remains unchanged. “And we are happy to contribute however we’re called to.”

That’s not what I was getting at,I grouse in my head, but I can’t state my commitment to the outer territories any more baldly without sounding dangerously close to treason. Especiallywhen my husband has just joined us, slipping his hand around my arm with a painfully possessive squeeze.

Just that gesture is enough to tell me I’m dealing with Linus today.

He grins broadly at Queen Anahi and her husband. “Such an excellent visit with so many good times for all! I’m pleased by your people’s devotion to the empire, Your Highness. Make sure it never fades.”

The last words should be part of the compliment, but instead they sound like a warning.

Queen Anahi maintains her control, nodding without so much as a twitch of her expression, though I suspect she must be screaming at him inside. I’d like to punch him for his remarks after the awful trial he put her people through, and this isn’t even my kingdom.

To show I don’t entirely agree with his stance, I turn to him with a brush of my fingers over his hand. “I’m sure we don’t need to worry about that.”

Linus simply clicks his tongue at me. “Ah, you have much more to learn about the running of an empire, wife.”

How about punching him andthenkneeing him in the balls?

Instead, I form a smile as sunny as I can make it. “Very true, so I learn from every example of rulership I can. Queen Anahi and King Emilio have given such an excellent demonstration of how to guide a kingdom in both happiness and security. I’m sure they were inspired to rise to the occasion by your presence, of course.”

The twitch of annoyance that’d started to cross my husband’s face smooths out at my final compliment. “Naturally.”

When I look at Queen Anahi again, there’s something thoughtful showing through her normally implacable expression. “A high compliment all the same,” she says—and isthat a trace of warmth in her voice after all? “I look forward to seeing how else we might be inspired by each other.”

It’s only the vaguest of enthusiasm, but the fact that she’s shown any sends a tiny thrill through me. Perhaps I have won a little ground here with the cautious queen.

The imperial carriage draws up right in front of us. I lift my hand in farewell. “I’ll remember our conversations.”

And I hope she will too, with more fondness than she showed up until now.

As my husband and I travel through the streets down to the harbor, we keep the curtains drawn well back. Linus extends his arm right out the window as he waves to the spectators who’ve gathered along the sides of the road.

Listening to their cheers, I can’t help wondering how many of them are actually celebrating our visit rather than reveling in the fact that we’re leaving.

As on the day of our arrival, the large square by the harbor is absolutely swarmed. Our convoy of carriages rattles along the edge of the square and comes to a stop so the emperor can address the crowd once more.

I step out at Marclinus’s side. We stay perched on the ledge just outside the carriage door, raised above the ground where more of our audience can see us.

Our guards and the soldiers of the convoy form a barrier in front of us. I spot more figures in imperial indigo and many in the black-and-white uniforms of regular soldiers all around the fringes of the square. A few weave into the crowd, their heads turning to scan the spectators.

Marclinus offers a final exuberant wave. “Thank you again for your zealous welcome, citizens of Rione! You’ve been a credit to the empire. The rest of our territories will find you a difficult act to follow.”

A shiver travels down my back. Gods help me, what is he planning for the other conquered countries?

It’s bad enough when he orders their hostage princes to perform in his court. Now he’s demanding a performance of the entire kingdom.

As the chill seeps right into my bones, a shout that isn’t celebratory breaks through the cheers. My gaze catches on a few young men jostling against each other farther off in the crowd.

One shoves another. A third smacks the second across the head. As they continue yelling at each other, the spectators around them shuffle back as far as they can get in the packed space.

There’s only one soldier nearby, her stance gone rigid in her skeletal uniform. She glances around with a hasty swivel of her head, but her patrol has taken her well away from her colleagues.

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