Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

“ M istress Terena Luca.”

Terena strode into the emperor’s throne room after the herald’s announcement. It was larger and more quietly elegant than Duke Aurora’s, with white and gold decor throughout. Beautiful portraits of past emperors adorned the walls. Portraits of the empresses, of course, were conveniently absent.

Other courtiers milled about, but as she made her way to the center of the room, she caught sight of Lerek on the dais to the right of the emperor. She dared not show any emotion as she met his gaze; her face a careful mask, but something inside of her softened at seeing him after so long. His hair was longer than she remembered, now falling below his collarbone in soft waves, the light in the room picking up copper highlights when he tilted his head in silent greeting. His dark brown eyes flashed as he gazed at her, and Terena’s breath caught. She lifted a corner of her lips in response, then turned her attention back to the emperor.

Xoran, Captain of the Imperial Guard, stepped up next to Emperor Solon, his scarred hand on the hilt of his sword as he looked at her with his usual sneer. Xoran tolerated her because her father, Lorence Luca, had been his captain before his death at the Battle of Alloras five years ago, but the man had never liked her and made no secret of the fact.

Emperor Solon watched her as she stopped a few feet before the dais and bowed low. She kept her gaze on the marble, looking at her reflection while she waited for his command.

“Rise.”

Terena straightened and clasped her hands behind her back. Her eyes picked a spot on his prominent forehead and remained there. The emperor regarded her behind dull brown, down-turned eyes. His Imperial robes seemed to hang off him, though he was not a small man. It was just his frame was not commanding, and his clothes seemed to know it. The white did not do his olive skin justice, unlike his son, and yet he preferred the color to any other that might suit him better.

“Mistress Luca, you have uncanny timing,” the emperor said, his voice carrying across the marbled room. His steward, Salorus, to whom he’d been speaking before her entrance, bowed low and stepped away.

“Your Excellency.”

“I trust by now you’ve heard of the convoy I’m sending to the north?”

“Aye, Emperor.”

“Good,” the emperor said and stood. He stepped off the dais, his movements elegant, unhurried, as he came closer. He stopped a foot away and folded his arms across his chest. “Stay a moment. I need a word alone. Everyone else, out. You too, Xoran.”

The captain didn’t like that at all, less so when Terena dipped her chin and gave him a pointed look, but he walked off the dais, his gold and green cape snapping as he strode past her.

“Should I stay, Father?”

“No,” Emperor Solon said with a sigh. “You may finish preparing, but see me again before you leave in the morning.”

Terena shifted her gaze then and looked at Lerek. He bowed and took his leave. As he passed, close enough his arm brushed hers, he murmured a greeting. She nodded in return .

The sound of the doors closing behind him echoed in the room. Terena kept her eyes fixed on the throne, but sensed when the emperor walked off to her left.

He had gone to the southern facing wall, a large tapestry depicting the fall of the Olympians taking up the bulk of the space. The emperor’s hands folded at his back while he gazed at it. Terena wasn’t sure if he was thinking about what he wanted to say, but for her part, she wished he’d get on with it so she could leave and find Lerek.

“As I said, your timing is impeccable. I’d hoped you’d return before they departed, but my messengers returned without word of your whereabouts until this morning.”

He turned at last. Terena saw new worry-lines as he furrowed his brow. He was not handsome like his twin sons, Lerek and Isher; they inherited their good looks from their mother, the Empress Adanna. But their height was their father’s.

He sighed, his eyes small in a face dominated by his forehead.

He regarded her steadily when he asked, “You’ve heard of the man who calls himself king in the northern provinces?”

“Aye, Excellency.”

He nodded. “You’ll have heard, too, he is building an army. Encouraging men to join him with the promise of riches. We’ve had reports of many with and without experience heading north. Some have left the legions. General Peleon has told me, despite floggings and a few hangings, men are still leaving our armies in secret, working with smugglers who are getting paid by the new king’s men to bring my soldiers over the border in Osta.”

Terena hadn’t heard, of course. What made no sense was how fast this was all happening. Again, she thought of her conversation with Benson in Laurica. She’d been in Elis and then Aurora for the past few months, but surely she should have heard something.

“Emperor Solon,” she said, “I concede I’ve been gone longer than I expected, but I’ve only now heard of this new king. Do?—”

“Then you’ve heard all you need,” the emperor interrupted. “I have a different matter of concern. ”

He paused and bowed his head. The silence stretched as he seemed to struggle with how to proceed. Terena felt a prickle of unease.

“You’re aware some of our provinces have been… restless? The dukes dislike my legions at their borders. They believe a war with Lakonia is unnecessary. And now the northern king is making them even more outspoken about the need for peace.”

Terena shifted uneasily. “I’ve not heard, no, Your Excellency,” she lied. She and Croak couldn’t help but notice the tensions as they’d crossed the empire these past few months.

“I understand Duke Aurora contracted you to find him a relic,” he said after an uncomfortable pause.

Terena stiffened. “Aye.”

“And you delivered this relic to him recently?”

“As always, Your Excellency is well informed.”

The emperor lifted an eyebrow. “Do you know why the duke wanted the Shroud of Faybhen?”

Terena’s face was carefully blank as she answered. “No, Your Excellency.”

He paced in front of her, stopping a few feet away. Terena was certain this was the closest he’d ever gotten to her in her whole life, but she wouldn’t quail before him.

“But you know what the shroud is.”

That wasn’t a question, she knew, but still she answered. “Aye.”

“And you thought fit to deliver—to a man who is openly dissatisfied with his sovereign—what is essentially a weapon? The power to bring the Olympian gods back to this realm!”

Shit.

Terena swallowed, keeping her eyes on the throne as she opened and closed her mouth a few times before saying, “That is a myth, Your?—”

“Do not dare ,” he hissed as he snapped forward, his face so close to hers, the heat of his breath was on her cheeks. “Do not dare to lie to me!”

It took everything she had to stay calm and continue to stare at the throne while he seethed .

“Every ruler that has stood where I stand now has understood one thing above all! Since the Immortals War, we must do everything in our power to ensure gods never darken our world again. It is why the gods that remained on the continent were killed. There are no more in all of Elysium because they are dangerous to mankind.

“We let the people worship the Titans, aye, and some worship the mortal heroes, which we also allow. We built temples and priests and clerics for them because we know faith is power.”

Emperor Solon stood so close to Terena she trembled at his nearness.

“But I control that power,” he snarled. “I let them have their religions. Their holidays. I tell them who to worship. And the moment someone comes along and threatens my control of that power, I strike them down as I have my entire rule! The only reason you’re not in the dungeons for your incredibly stupid actions is because I still have need of you. Do not think for one second my son’s feelings for you protect you from me.”

Terena could feel his stare burning into the side of her face, and yet she dared not turn her gaze to his.

“You will leave in the morning before Prince Lerek and the convoy depart. You will go to Aurora and you will bring that fucking shroud to me! ” He roared so loud she flinched and backed up a few steps. Her calm facade cracked, and she shook as her eyes flew to his for a moment before snapping them to a spot over his right shoulder.

“Yes, Majesty,” she whispered.

Silence settled around them, but Terena dared not look elsewhere. Her face flooded with heat as she stood there, hands clasped at her ramrod-straight back while she waited.

A minute passed before he moved, and Terena chanced a quick look at him. Turning away, his hands moved to clasp at his back.

“I do not need to remind you, you will not speak a word of our conversation to anyone,” he said as he turned one last time to look at her, his dark eyes narrowed at her.

“Including my son. If you dare say anything, I will ensure those words are your last. ”

Terena swore she saw a look of disdain on his cold, plain face before he turned away and called out over his shoulder with a wave of his hand, “You’re dismissed!”

Terena walked swiftly up a few flights of stairs and turned down several corridors until she reached the small private garden where she and Lerek usually met.

The Winter Garden was at the top of the Diamond Tower. Before it was converted into accommodations for palace guests, the tower was solely for the empresses and their courts. But Empress Adanna had preferred staying with her husband and sons in the Royal Tower, so had allocated the beautiful rooms to the honored guests and the Tasters.

Terena entered and spotted Lerek immediately, sitting on the stone bench in front of the statue of the goddess, Nyx. He wore the flowing white pants with matching silk coat he usually preferred, gold epaulettes at his shoulders the only adornment, preferring to wear jewelry over detailing on his clothes. A year ago, he would’ve foregone the shirt he now wore beneath the coat, but now his wardrobe always included multiple layers.

He was frowning, lost in thought as he played with a bracelet on his right wrist, pulling it off and on again. As she neared, her heart flipped to see it was the one she’d given him a year ago for his Name’s Day.

The first time he’d kissed her.

As if he’d heard her thoughts, he looked up, his lips curling in a soft smile.

“You look smug.”

Lerek stood, his smile growing. “How can I not? My lady has returned.”

Terena laughed. She watched as he slipped the bangle onto his wrist before pulling her into his arms. She went readily, her face turned up to his for a kiss that snatched the breath from her lungs. He tightened his grip, deepening the kiss, then trailed his lips down her neck.

Terena shivered, her breath coming fast and hot when his hands dropped to her waist. Her eyes closed and she let out a small laugh.

“You’ve missed me.”

“Let me show you how much,” Lerek said, then scrunched his nose. “But first, you need to bathe, my love.”

Terena let out a noise of protest and twisted to get out of his embrace.

“That’s what you have to say after months apart?”

He laughed and tugged her hand to pull her back. “I missed you. Of course, I missed you. But I have a meeting shortly. I figured you’d want to freshen up and then we could…” He leaned down once more and kissed her neck. When she moaned, he tightened his embrace.

“I stink, remember?” she whispered, although she dropped her head back so he had more access to her neck. He obliged by leaving soft kisses along the column down to her shoulder. She shivered and pushed at him.

“Lerek,” she protested.

Lerek pulled back but did not release her. “All right,” he said with a sigh, then winked at her. “To be continued this evening.”

“Tell me what you know of this northern king.”

Lerek blinked. “Ever the romantic.” He released his hold on her and sat back down on the stone bench, tugging her hand so she sat next to him. “What do you wish to know?”

She shrugged. “Don’t you find it odd one minute no one’s heard of him and the next soldiers are leaving their legions and mercenaries are flocking to the northernmost cities of the continent, all intent on fighting under his banner? I’ve not been gone long enough for anyone to become so strong the emperor sees fit to send his heir in a convoy to treat with him.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m going to treat with him, exactly,” Lerek said as he played with her fingers.

“Then why go? ”

Lerek dropped his gaze to their joined hands. She stilled at his hesitation. Terena sighed loudly and rose.

A long, uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Terena dropped her eyes to her hands. She knew there were things he couldn’t tell her. Political things she knew the emperor did not want her or anyone knowing, but it still hurt when Lerek pushed her away like this.

“Forget I asked,” she whispered.

Lerek stood and reached for her hand. She let him take it, threading his fingers in hers. “What did my father want?”

“It’s a secret.”

He snorted. “Really.”

Terena lifted her eyes and smirked. “I’ll share my secret if you share yours.”

He narrowed his eyes. “We’re playing games now? Is this what you want?”

She shrugged. “I think it’s interesting you would have me break my vow to your father, my emperor, and yet you don’t seem inclined to do the same.”

She wandered off toward the statue of Cronos across from their alcove. “What I can say is I leave in the morning for Aurora.”

“Fine,” he said and strode toward her. He settled his hands on her hips. She turned her face up to meet his gaze. “I don’t want to fight with you. We have some time together, that’s enough for me. For now.”

She smiled, and he kissed the tip of her nose. “Will you do me a favor?”

Terena lifted an eyebrow and waited.

“When you’ve finished your business in Aurora, don’t go north. Stay in Aurora.”

“Why?”

Lerek dropped his chin, and she swore she saw him frown before he pasted on a smile. “I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise for me in Aurora?”

“Aye. ”

“What?”

Lerek smirked. “It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you. Trust me, you’ll like this surprise.”

Terena groaned and pulled away, but Lerek grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Do you love me?”

“Aye.”

He bent his forehead to hers. “Stay in Aurora, then.”

“Fine. But you owe me.”

Lerek smiled wolfishly. “I do indeed, my love. And happy to repay as you see fit.”