Page 136 of A Dance of Shadows

I ease back my chair and stand while restraining a grimace. Even the imperial beds in the waystations can’t cushion my unwieldy body well enough to prevent new aches from springing up. The long days in the carriage hardly help.

But now that we’re across the border, we should be back to the imperial palace within the week. As long as we can keep Linus on track.

I’ve been able to carry out one more scheme of my own in the meantime. As we head toward the front of the building to wait for the staff to bring around the carriages, I scan the crowd for the figure I’m hoping I can aim my husband’s ire at next.

There’s Viceroy Ennius, sauntering along with his usual sour but haughty expression, prodding Bianca to keep up with himwhen she pauses to exchange a remark with Baronissa Hivette. The fine wool of his winter dress shirt looks deep blue in the mix of lanternlight and the filtered glow from the windows.

I gave Bianca that shirt to add to his wardrobe shortly before we left Goric. She didn’t ask any questions, just arched her eyebrow and accepted my instructions.

This is the first time he’s happened to wear it. Once we’re outside in the full sun for a few minutes…

Linus strides alongside the growing throng of nobles, his steps brisk with impatience. I trail close behind him to stay within the range of his guards. No odd “accidents” have befallen me since our journey to Goric, but I’m not throwing caution to the wind.

We emerge into the bright mid-winter morning. This waystation suits my purposes well, its front courtyard facing east where it can absorb the full impact of the rising sun.

In glimpses, I see Ennius’s shirt brighten and shift in hue bit by bit… until it’s a vibrant imperial purple.

With my last glance, I suck in a breath as if I’m startled. Linus’s head jerks around so he can follow my gaze.

The agitation I sensed in his movements turns his voice harsh. “What the fuck is this, Viceroy?”

Several of the other nobles are already staring at Ennius. He flinches at Linus’s voice. As he spins around, his gaze locks onto my husband’s furious expression and then drops to himself.

For the first time,herealizes that the shirt he’s wearing isn’t exactly the one he thought he put on.

No one outside the imperial family is allowed to wear anything close to that particular shade of violet. Even I’m restricted from it.

Linus halts in front of the viceroy and slashes his hand through the air to gesture at the other man’s chest. “You think you’re on the same level as the emperor now, do you? I supposeyou have all kinds of thoughts on how my rule isn’t quite to your liking?”

My comment about the muttering among the nobles should have served two ends—not just riling up his obstinacy, but also reminding him of the supposed observations I’ve mentioned to Marc about one particular noble who’s criticized the emperor behind his back.

Ennius blanches. He wrenches at the shirt as if he means to tear it off right in the courtyard. “I wouldn’t have— It didn’t look like this before.”

Linus scoffs with a shake of his head. “You thought I’d be too busy ‘rushing’ along in our journey to notice. How much farther were you going to take this insurrection once we reached Vivencia?”

The viceroy manages to wrench the shirt off. He drops to his knees in front of the emperor with his head bowed low.

The crowd around us has fallen into an ominous hush. Unsettled expressions cross several faces. Everyone knows the consequences of crossing Marclinus… and after our fraught tour of the continent, his nobles are celebrating his volatility less than they once did.

“There’s no insurrection, Your Imperial Majesty, I swear,” Ennius rasps out. “There’s been some mistake. You have all my loyalty.”

Frozen next to him, Bianca catches my gaze with wide eyes. I dip my hand in a subtle gesture for her to follow her husband’s lead.

To my relief, she understands. She crumples beside Ennius, dipping her head even lower than his so a few strands of her upswept hair brush the dirt. “Please have mercy, Your Imperial Majesty. You know we have only ever served you well. I’m sure my husband meant no real harm.”

Linus scoffs. “Youhave served me plenty. This would-be traitor, I’m not so sure.”

Ennius’s voice is muffled by his pose. “I’ll do whatever you ask of me to prove my loyalty, Your Imperial Majesty. All I need is the chance.”

Linus’s lips draw back in a sneer. I rest my hand on his arm.

“Husband,” I say, gently but loud enough to be sure most of the court can hear me, “whatever his intended crime may have been, he does appear quite penitent. And it was a very brief crime, was it not? Perhaps we could give him time to contemplate his mistakes and make amends, and see if he can satisfy you.”

Let every noble before us observe that the real mercy comes from me.

Linus narrows his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

I give a soft laugh. “I wouldn’t say the viceroy shouldn’t be punished for his arrogance. Why should he get to remain in your wonderous presence when he’s attempted to mock it? Banish him to his estate for however long you like. Perhaps without the company of his wife, so he can feel the isolation that much more keenly. If he does anything else to displease you, then you will know where he stands for certain.”

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