Page 118 of A Dance of Shadows

Nica pauses in her stride. “You wantusto accuse him of something.”

I nod quickly. “I’ll point him out to you. Wait until the next bell so it isn’t right after we were talking. Then go to my parents and say he made inappropriate remarks to you and then you saw him touching the wine goblets. Our guards will find a packet of lepidex on him, and it should be wrapped up quickly.”

Cataline flinches. “Has he actually been putting lepidex in the drinks? We should?—”

I touch her arm before she can whirl toward the other nobles. “No. It’s only the easiest way I could think of to provide a concrete reason for his arrest. When he’s questioned, we can hope his actual crimes will come out. And if he’s too good a liar… it should at least ensure he’s no longer on duty to remain a threat.”

She stares at me for a moment with her brow knitting. “But—what if it comes out that we’re lying? We’d be accusing one of the emperor’s people…” She flicks a nervous glance toward my husband.

No doubt she’s thinking about what happened to the baron and the duchess at the caves.

“It doesn’t matter if the guard denies it,” I reassure her. “The proof will be there. If there’s any criticism of either of you, I’ll intervene.”

I expected at least Nica to be eager to tackle our enemies however she can, but her air of determination has faltered too. “Even so… If His Imperial Majesty is upset that we caused trouble, he might take it out on our families if not us.”

“I won’t let that happen.” I’d sooner reveal my deceitful request and the reasons for it than let that horrid man cut down my friends. “He may not even know you did the accusing if the lepidex is discovered quickly enough—it won’t matter. It’s just a precaution in case anyone asks.”

Nica’s mouth twists. “I—I don’t know, Aurelia. It’s not that I don’t want to help. But it seems like stepping in could create a much bigger mess.”

She has no idea how big the “mess” already is, how much is at stake.

I open my mouth to tell her my very life is almost certainly on the line—and halt with the words snagged in my throat. Theworry on both of my best friends’ faces reverberates through my chest with a stutter of my heart.

They’re afraid, and how can I blame them for that? Ican’tactually promise them that I’ll keep them safe. I don’t think this plan will go wrong, but I’ve underestimated situations in the past.

They have no reason to believe that I can control what my husband does when the mood strikes him… because I can’t.

If I guilt them into taking risks they aren’t comfortable with, how am I anything but a tyrant myself?

I just hoped—Iassumed—their loyalty and affection for me would overcome any fears they had. I thought they’d see it as simply another challenge for us to tackle together.

But it isn’t, because it involves the empire. Because even here where Dariu’s demands have rarely touched our court directly, where the previous emperor only visited once in my lifetime, even the most privileged among us are terrified of Dariu’s might. Linus’s recent demonstration of brutality has only deepened that terror.

I swallow down my protest and manage a smile. “It’s all right. If you don’t want to take the chance, I understand.”

I also mourn.

As I turn back toward our cluster of friends, my gaze slides over the rest of the nobles gathered around the garden. The Accasian and Darium parties are still keeping rather separate. But over there, a couple of marchions have cornered Lady Elina with leering gazes.

If any of the local noblemen were acting that pushy, she’d have slapped him. Now, she’s keeping her hands tightly clasped in front of her, smiling through gritted teeth.

Over by the fountain, one of the viceroys crows with laughter and smacks Duke Picolu on the shoulder. “That’s why you wild northern folk should let us do the thinking!”

I’ve watched the duke cuff more than one man who’s attempted to insult him in the past. With the Darium viceroy, he only gives a stiff chuckle of his own.

The people of my home court are all afraid—every one of them. I’m not sure I can blame any of them. It’s only that I never realized… I assumed that if I was willing to risk my own life to protect our kingdom, they’d stand with me.

I don’t know if even Father and Mother would go along with my arrest scheme if I admitted to the lies involved. The way they reacted earlier when I spoke about pushing for change…

Resolve gathers into a hard knot behind my sternum. I’m even more on my own than I imagined when I left my kingdom, but at least now I realize that. I might have only myself and my princes to rely on, but that’s enough.

And now I know a few more Darium nobles I’ll want to see the court rid of before my daughter arrives. It’s become such a long list.

Girding myself, I drift toward a row of flowering hedges. Lorenzo is sitting on a bench nearby. As I wander past him, my back to most of the court, I murmur as surreptitiously as I can manage. “They won’t speak up. I need a voice from you.”

Lorenzo doesn’t stir, and I meander on through the garden before returning to my husband’s side—and the shelter of his guards.

After a time, a chillier breeze washes over us. Mother calls out the idea of moving to the archery range so those who wish to can show off their skills.

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