Page 100 of A Dance of Shadows

Something twists inside me with an ache that steals my breath. I gather myself and answer the much easier question. “A little more than five months now. And I missed you too—both of you. Everyone. I suppose Cataline, Nica, and the others will be at the ceremony and around afterward?”

Mother nods. “The palace is full—the largest court we’ve held in decades. Everyone wanted to see you back home.”

She takes my hand, a shadow passing through her eyes, and touches my sapphire ring. “You saw through everything we planned. I didn’t think you intended to bring children into the situation quite so quickly.”

Heat prickles up my neck at the thought of all my reasons for that decision. They don’t know that I intend to assassinate my husband too—they still imagine he’s someone I’ve been able to work with.

I suppose today’s events will clarify my “situation” in ways nothing I can say would.

And today’s coming challenge is the one thing Idoneed to convince them of now.

With a jolt of urgency, I grasp Mother’s fingers. “Things have been… rather more difficult than I expected. My husband has some unusual ideas. In particular, for our coronation tour, about how his conquered kingdoms should show their allegiance. You need to listen to me and follow exactly what I say.”

Mother blinks at me. “What? What’s going on, Aurelia?”

My grip on her hand tightens. “I think he’s going to have us go up to the hills—he’s going to re-enact the fable about Kosmel and caves somehow. When he asks you to show him the cave from the story, youmustshow him the ceremonial one where we conduct the ritual during Kosmel’s festival. Not the one people actually hid in. Don’t show any familiarity with that other cave at all.”

Soreena knits her brow. “Is that why he wants to start at the northern square? But why would he have us go up to the caves?”

I wave my other hand vaguely through the air. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is you show him the one I said, the shallow one. And send a few servants to leave magic-blessed lanterns and some food and water in the deeper cave, keeping out of sight.”

More concern tenses my mother’s expression. “I don’t understand. What do you imagine?—”

Footsteps creak in the hall outside. I clutch her hand with both of mine. “Please, just do what I said. I promise we’ll all be better off for it.”

The words have barely left my lips when the bedroom door swings open. I drop Mother’s hand and push my mouth into an innocent smile just in time to acknowledge Linus, who’s ambled over the threshold.

His sharp gaze flicks over all of us as if searching for signs of a conspiracy. Thankfully, both Mother and Soreena have played the game of politics enough to will their confusion from their faces.

But do they believe me? Are they going to listen to my plea or dismiss it as the frantic rambling of a travel-dazed, pregnant newlywed who’s in over her head?

Linus reaches out to pat me on the shoulder, a gesture that probably looks more affectionate than it feels. “I’m sure my wife is too polite to put off family, but the long days on the road takea lot out of her in her… delicate condition. Let’s ensure she has a little time to compose herself before her first public appearance in the country of her birth?”

When he puts it that way, my mother and sister can’t argue without looking like asses. Linus ushers them out of the room.

His gaze flicks back toward me and drops to my belly with a disdainful curl of his lips. “See if you can’t find a gown that gives you a more pleasing shape, so I can enjoy looking at you at least while it’s on.”

I don’t know if it’s even possible to disguise my increasing size at this point, but my cheeks flare hot with unbidden shame. “I’ll do my best, husband.”

I can’t take any comfort from the once-cherished view or the familiar trappings of my surroundings. All through my supposed rest and the primping of my maids, my worries gnaw at my innards.

When Jinalle and Eusette have finished patting the last dab of powder on my face and fastening the final ornate bauble around my neck, the woman I see in the mirror might as well be a stranger.

I join Linus in our carriage, acknowledging more well-wishers all the way to his chosen square. The hills loom high just beyond the last few city streets farther north. I spot my closest friends among the Accasian nobles gathered off to the side of the hastily constructed stage and return their eager grins with more dread souring my mouth.

What horror is my arrival bringing down on them that they can’t possibly be ready for?

It feels nothing but unnerving to watch my parents, Soreena, and Andru kneel down before Linus and me, swearing to serve us. The cheers and joyful hollers of “Empress Aurelia!” echo through me without easing my heart.

My pulse thumps twice as hard when Linus strolls to the front of the platform with one of his wicked smirks.

“Good people of Accasy!” he calls out, familiar words that now make me cringe inside. “I hope many of you will join your king and queen in honoring me with a tribute to the gods. Let us venture up that hill there to commemorate the divine adventure on which Kosmel once led your forebearers!”

Mother’s gaze jerks to me with a tick of a muscle in her jaw. She must have passed the message on to Father, because his expression sets with a hint of resignation.

All I can do is give them the slightest nod of encouragement to follow my guidance and set off after my husband to the waiting carriages.

Chapter Thirty-Six

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