Page 6 of A Dance of Shadows

A wry smile of my own crosses my lips. “Perhaps we can let my husband take care of some of my detractors without even realizing it. Catch him in a mood when he’s inclined to lash out, and all we have to do is point him at an ideal target.”

Raul chuckles. “And that kind of thinking is exactly why he doesn’t stand a chance against you. We’ll clear the court of dissenters and prime everyone who’s left to welcome you in his place, so the moment you’re ready for him to fall, all you’ll need to do is sit on that throne.”

Chapter Three

Aurelia

As we walk with the court toward the hall of entertainments, my husband takes my arm with a gentle tug. I’m struck by a desire I never thought I’d feel: the hope that he’s finally pulling me aside for a romp in my bedroom.

Of course, it’s no carnal hunger to experience his intimate attentions. I simply want the chance to settle the largest matter that’s been weighing on me. Over the past few days as the celebrations in the capital have wound down, Marclinus hasn’t once initiated an encounter that would give me an opportunity to distinguish one man from the other.

If there are in fact two.

As much as I’d like to resolve the gnawing uncertainty, I’m not surprised when instead he draws me down the hall toward the strategy room where we discussed the coming confirmation rites a couple of months ago. He’s been in his more subdued Marc temperament for most of the day. From what he told me,it’s only ever been Linus who dragged me to my bedroom in the past.

The two times the man who claims he’s Marc thinks he slept with me, I invitedhiminto my chambers, to make sure the timing lined up with my actual interludes with Bastien.

My boldness has been so rare and the current circumstances are so fraught, being so forward again might raise new suspicions. If my husband neglects that side of his duties for much longer, though, I may take the risk and haul him off to bed myself.

But this excursion could lead to other sorts of useful information.

Marclinus ushers me into the strategy room with its vast enchanted table. His four chief advisors stand around it already. I suppose he always ensures they arrive first so His Imperial Majesty never has to wait for anyone.

My husband taps the table’s surface to summon the map of his empire. As the magical image gleams into view, he rubs his hands together. “All right. Our imperial tour. We should get on with that, shouldn’t we?”

The tour of the continent—he mentioned that to me briefly when we were nearly through the confirmation rites. The new emperor needs to visit all of his conquered countries to collect their pledges of allegiance.

A tingle of anticipation passes through my veins. Through my own efforts and those of my beloved princes, I’ve won a lot of good will from the people of Dariu, my new home country. Representatives of the common folk presented me with an honorary crown as a symbol of their faith in me.

They’re only one piece of the larger picture, though. I’ll need to work with the people of all the kingdoms under the empire if I’m going to change its awful practices.

Counsel Severo clears his throat. “There’s no need to rush, Your Imperial Majesty. Past emperors have sometimes waited a year or two before their official coronation tour.”

Counsel Etta pipes up in a firmer tone. “If we follow the typical route, we’d need to leave soon and move fairly quickly to be out of the north before the winter storms set in.”

“Then we’ll leave soon and move quickly.” Marclinus studies the map, his mouth tightening when his gaze lands on Lavira. “The outer countries have already shown more unrest than I’m comfortable with. We need all the empire’s people to see their local rulers submitting to my authority before any more tensions arise.”

He doesn’t mention the other facet of the tour: announcing the coming arrival of his heir and demanding pledges of loyalty to my unborn child as well. We’ll want to be back in Vivencia well before the child is due to ensure his supposed son or daughter is born on Darium soil.

I’llwant to be back, to ensure my baby comes into the world with all the support I can offer him or her.

But we haven’t announced my pregnancy at all so far. It seemed wisest to let my husband decide when the time was right.

In his usual spot across the table from us, High Commander Axius tips his grizzled head in acknowledgment. “We’ll want to see that you’re well defended on the journey in case of additional hostilities. Now that the uprising has been put down, Tribune Valerisse sent some of her most trusted soldiers from Lavira to join your imperial guard.”

“Excellent.” Marclinus motions to the map. “We’ll start in Rione?”

Etta nods. “The usual route is from capital to capital, Rione to Cotea to Lavira to Accasy to Goric before returning home. We could adjust the course to place Accasy ahead of Lavirato further avoid the winter there, but that would require more backtracking?—”

Marclinus cuts her off with a shake of his head. “I want to visit Lavira as soon as makes sense. I’d go there first if it wasn’t in the damned middle of everything.”

My heart beats faster at the thought of returning home. Imagining keeping up this pretense of a marriage in front of my family and friends sets my stomach off-kilter, but the comfort of their presence might be worth it.

My husband rubs his jaw. “I think we should be able to complete the preparations for the tour quickly enough. It’s reasonable to only linger in each capital for a few weeks. That should give us plenty of time to complete the circuit while avoiding the worst weather.”

He pauses and glances at me with a pensive air. “Do you think a week and a half would be enough time for you to make ready, wife?”

I thought he’d forgotten I was in the room. I certainly didn’t expect him to ask my opinion—but I suppose he’s more concerned about how the child inside me will fare than my own well-being.

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