Page 95 of A Dance of Shadows

The servants are just bustling out of the waystation with the platters of our meal. As we head back to our carriage to partake, Bastien strides over to intercept us.

He dips his head to Marc in a swift bow, keeping his gaze fixed on my husband rather than me. “Your Imperial Majesty, there was something I hoped to discuss with you if you have a moment.”

Marc motions for him to go on with a bored expression. “Go ahead and speak, then. We’d like to get to our lunch.”

Bastien offers another bow. “I believe our route is taking us into the northern territories of Cotea before we enter Accasy, to avoid the worst of the mountains? I’d like to request your leave to diverge from the convoy for a day, so I can ride out to where the recent droughts have been worst and call in some rain. I’d keep the inclement weather well away from this procession, of course.”

A pang shoots through my heart. Of course he’d be looking to do what he can for his kingdom while he’s here.

Marc rubs his jaw. “Well, I don’t see the diversion doing any harm. It isn’t as if we have any urgent need of you here. See that you make a prompt return. I’ll send a few soldiers to ensure no one hassles you.”

And to ensure he doesn’t lose his hostage.

As Bastien bobs his head once more in thank you, a request leaps to my lips before I can think better of it. “I’d like to go as well.”

Marc’s head snaps toward me. “What? Why would you trouble yourself?”

I gather my reasoning quickly. “I’d like to understand the needs of the empire and its countries as well as I can. Seeing the exact state of these troubled people should help me think more clearly on their situation.”

And get Bastien’s take on it without my husband’s interference.

With just a small party, I shouldn’t have to worry that any would-be assassins are riding alongside us... I hope. And getting a fuller picture of Cotea’s concerns is worth the risk.

Marc pauses, but he’s always enjoyed seeing me dedicated to my role.

“All right,” he says. “But that means we’ll be sending quite a few more guards.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Bastien

The thump of my horse’s hooves against the matted, yellowed grass is echoed by the dozen steeds around us. Everywhere I look, there’s a soldier in the formal imperial uniform of indigo and dark gray.

I suppose I should be glad our escort is wearing the decorative military wear rather than the skeletal uniforms much more common beyond the imperial palace.

Not that there’ve been many people around to see us. We’ve only skirted a couple of towns on our three-hour trek across the countryside. As the low hills have shrunk into flatter and flatter terrain, we’ve passed shabby farmsteads only at a distance. I doubt any of the locals have realized that one of their princes is traveling nearby—and I’m not sure I’d want them to notice me in this ominous company.

When I pitched the idea to Marclinus—at a time when it seemed obvious I was dealing with Marc rather than Linus, who’d probably have laughed in my face—I had the vague idea ofgoing off on a heroic quest to alleviate my people’s suffering. It’s hard to feel remotely heroic when I’m surrounded by the most dangerous representatives of our tyrants.

I drag in a breath, restraining a cough at the prickle of the dry air in my throat, and resist the urge to glance back at my main companion—the reason for all this security. Aurelia has ridden mostly in silence, never complaining, merely asking a question now and then as something in our surroundings catches her attention.

She isn’tsofar along in her pregnancy that I’d imagine it’s a risk for her to ride—and Aurelia wouldn’t put our child in danger for an excursion like this anyway. But how comfortable can she be sitting in the saddle for all this time?

She must have decided seeing the effects of the droughts firsthand was worth leaving behind her carriage. Maybe she hoped Marc would mention the proposed venture to Linus, and the more sadistic twin would send us off alone as he did with the bog.

No such luck. I can recognize that it was Marc’s more measured demeanor seeing us off this morning, his coolly calculating gaze studying the soldiers along the convoy to pick out who should supplement his wife’s regular personal guard.

I’ve been keeping a close eye on them too, for any sign of animosity toward the woman I love. With her personal guards sticking close at her sides, she should be well protected from threats beyond our entourage—and any within it.

Our diversion from the main convoy should be simple enough. The unconstrained horses move much faster than those hitched to carriages. We’ve set off to the northwest, and we’ll veer back to the northeast when I’m done, aiming to rejoin the main procession by dinner.

We clop over a stone bridge that crosses a narrow gully. I glance down at the cracked mud at the gully’s bottom.

Aurelia must follow my gaze. “That used to be a stream,” she remarks from behind me.

I nod without looking back. “One of the many that’s had its waters diverted into the canals that serve the forts farther west.”

Her frown colors her voice. “Wouldn’t canals branching off from the Seafell Channel have been simpler?”

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