Page 94 of A Dance of Shadows

Marc lifts his hand to the window as if gauging the temperature. The breeze that wafts in holds a hint of coolness, but I’ve been comfortable so far without my cloak.

“We’ve managed our timing well enough, don’t you think?” he says. “Only halfway through autumn. I expect we’ll be out of Accasy again before the winter snows without any trouble.”

“We should be.” Thank the gods. I welcome the excuse not to inflict the Darium court on my people any longer than necessary.

Another thought occurs to me with a tickle of warmth through my chest. “We’ll be in Costel for my birthday.”

Marc sits up straighter. “How fitting. I should have kept that in mind. It’s the third day of next month, isn’t it?”

The information must have been included in the reports Tarquin’s representative made. Naturally Marc would have committed every detail to memory. I doubt Linus remembers I evenhavea birthday.

“That’s right.” I drop my gaze. “I don’t expect there’ll be any particular to-do about it. It only just occurred to me.”

“I suppose we’ll see what fits the circumstances.”

A shout from the head of our convoy brings my attention to the scene outside. We’re coming up on the waystation where we’ll take our luncheon.

Once we’ve stopped, I ease out of the carriage to stretch my legs. Marc steadies me with a careful hand on my arm and then strides off several carriages away to confer with High Commander Axius about something.

I drift after him and position myself far enough away that I couldn’t be eavesdropping but near enough that I expect his guards would notice any hostile magic aimed at me. So far no other unlucky “accidents” have befallen me, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.

As our traveling staff hustles to the waystation to join the locals in their preparations, Bianca glides to my side. She rolls her shoulders and primps her hair with a sigh. “As exciting as it is getting to take in so many exotic realms, all this carriage riding does become tiresome.”

I smile in wry agreement. “If any among us had a gift that could transport us from one capital to another in an instant, I’d certainly welcome that talent. But I suspect the body couldn’t endure the sort of sacrifice that immense a blessing would require.”

“Definitely not.” Bianca laughs lightly and then lowers her voice. “I didn’t have the chance to mention this to you sooner… Last night, I overheard my husband and yours and Marchion Blesium joking about Accasy. In a rather insulting way. HisImperial Majesty sounded rather particularly critical. He made a comment about looking forward to watching you all scurry like rats. I don’t know what he meant by that, but it sounded rather alarming.”

Like rats. My skin twitches at the thought of one particular fable set in Accasy that he could have been referring to.

Linus was acting as emperor yesterday. He’ll have been making his plans for his Accasian challenge.

“Thank you,” I say to the vicerine, meaning it. If I can tell my parents quickly enough, we can hope to survive Linus’s lunacy without any severe harm done. “If you hear any other remarks about my home country…”

She dips into a brief curtsy. “I’m at your service. And I’m sorry about Ennius. If I thought he’d listen to anything I have to say about it… His temper didn’t use to be quite so short.”

My throat tightens. “There’s no need for you to apologize about that.”

Bianca manages an airy laugh. “You’re putting up with him because of me. How are you faring with all this travel in general?” Her gaze flits over my belly.

“Not too badly so far.” But my thoughts have stuck on her previous remark. Biancahasbeen at my service, in so many ways during our travels.

Our history is far behind us now. Have I really repaid her for all the risks she’s taking on my behalf?

“Bianca,” I say tentatively, “I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to think my friendship is enough reward for all the help you’ve offered me. Is there anything else I can do foryou—now or once we’re back in Dariu?”

Part of me is worried she’ll take offense, but I should have known better. The vicerine simply knits her brow in thought.

After a moment, she aims a crooked grin at me. “I can’t think of any specific thing I need. As long as I can maintain myposition in court, with the respect and prominence it entails, I’m more than happy.”

She’d be even happier without her bullying husband pushing her around… but her position is tied to his. From what she’s said, the estate of her birth was farther down the ladder of nobility.

Is there some way I could remove him without removing the status he’s given her? That would be quite a gift…

“I’ll see to it that you do,” I promise, mulling over the additional possibilities in the back of my mind. Ennius certainly hasn’t acted as any friend to me. It’d benefit both of us to have him out of the way.

Marc rejoins me, taking my elbow. “Your friends should be coming to you rather than the other way around,” he says, aiming a chiding glance at Bianca.

The vicerine flashes him a smile without any hint that I came all the way over here before she did. “I’ll make sure to do that next time, Your Imperial Majesty.”

---