Chapter 10

The logistics of decamping the Imperial court from Oeiras to Calhames took less time than Soren anticipated. Vanya had apparently been ruling out of Oeiras for quite some time, but the Senate remained ever in Calhames. For all that Vanya had the right and power to issue orders pertaining to war, consulting with his military advisors and notifying the Senate in person seemed prudent, especially with a whisper campaign running through the Houses again after the latest attempted assassination against him.

Hanging above all the political maneuverings was the vow itself that Vanya owed, something that Caelum admitted was giving him migraines and stress ulcers. Vanya's Chief Minister was nothing if not a consummate professional when it came to preparing for the pushback sure to come from Vanya's decision.

"The House of Sa'Liandel pays its debts, whether by gaining power over the House we owe it to or acknowledging what is owed and paying it," Vanya had said the day after their time together spent in the bathhouse.

"You forgot murder," Soren had replied.

Vanya had given him a droll look over their midday meal. "We have to pray to Callisto somehow."

They'd talked about more than politics in the few days they spent together in Oeiras. Soren had stayed in the Imperial estate without apology or explanation to the Ashionen delegation, leaving the others to work their politics without him. For the first time in months, he slept deeply and without dreams while in Vanya's bed. He wouldn't trade it for anything.

Lore, when the Ashionen diplomatic dignitaries met with Vanya about the vow, had expressed her concern about Soren's new position—firmly standing with Vanya and disregarding his rank as heir to Caris. The trade tongue was perhaps not the best language to pursue diplomacy in, but she kept at it, worried for her country and her people, having never quite trusted Soren's position, despite both of them having a singular goal.

"You should fly with us," she said when they met at the gates to the airfield on the day they were to depart. The Imperial procession was long and involved, and Soren would have been with Vanya and Raiah in the midst of it, but Lore had asked for a moment, to which he had agreed.

"We'll end up at the same destination," Soren said.

Lore frowned at him, her gaze impossible to read. "You are Ashionen."

"I never wanted to be. Caris is getting what she wants, what Ashion needs. Let that be enough."

"You are her brother. Will you not support her?"

Weeks of knowing each other in the midst of politics and war didn't make a family. Bloodlines were written down in genealogies, but all that granted was power, which neither he nor Caris had ever truly wanted. But Ashion wanted a queen, and he would not take that from her, not when his road led elsewhere. "I am supporting Maricol."

"Do you even wish to be her heir?"

"I don't want her crown." The words came out flat but firm, a truth Soren would tell anyone who asked. What he wanted, Ashion could not give him, but for the future of Maricol, he'd ensure Caris claimed the starfire throne.

Soren walked away from Lore, not interested in explaining the reason Vanya held his heart. He made his way down the pier toward the pair of Imperial airships. Vanya waited on the pier for him, Raiah in his arms, Taisiya already boarded. When he reached them, Vanya tipped Raiah into his arms, the Imperial princess immediately latching onto Soren.

"She asked that you fly with her," Vanya said, a smile twitching at his lips.

The need for an heir meant Vanya and Raiah always traveled separately, with Taisiya seeing to Raiah's care these days, as the household was still without a majordomo. Soren knew it always made Vanya worry, being separated like this, but he'd traveled the same way as a prince when his mother had been alive. Better their House had a claim on the Imperial throne than to see it fall to another amidst the threat of war.

"Is that what you want?" Soren asked Raiah.

She kicked her legs a little, beaming at him. "Yes! Papa said it was okay."

"Well then. If he agreed, it seems I must."

Raiah cheered, pleased with herself, and Soren smiled at her. He'd missed her while away, and she'd grown so in that time. His absence had been felt deeply by her, from what Vanya had said, and Soren was more than willing to prove he wouldn't be walking away again.

Vanya tweaked one of Raiah's braids. "I shall see you both in Calhames."

Soren held still as Vanya leaned in to first kiss Raiah on the cheek and then him. The gesture, done so publicly, felt like a risk with everything going on, but Vanya had made it clear the other day that trying to hide what they were to each other would be detrimental in the long run. They'd have to come clean with the vow anyway, which Soren knew would be a political nightmare, almost as much as Vanya wanting to marry a warden turned foreign prince.

Soren carried Raiah onto the Imperial airship to his right, trudging up the gangplank while she chattered happily away about what she wanted to do when they got to Calhames. Once on the flight deck, a crew member handed over two fur-lined flight jackets. Soren slung both over his free arm before finding the captain. He conferred briefly with the woman to ensure his velocycle had been put in the cargo hold before heading to the observation lounge located behind the flight cabin. A crew member opened the heavy door for him, and Taisiya, already seated at one of the low sofas, waved them over.

"There you are," she called out.

"Raiah had to say farewell to Vanya," Soren said.

The sofas each came with lap belts, and Soren buckled Raiah in after he set her down and got her jacket on. She leaned forward and made grabby hands at the tea tray situated on the low table, the plates filled with small pressed fruit squares dusted with sugar and the rock sugar sticks she loved so much. Soren handed her one stick and a few of the fruit squares on a small plate, declining when she offered him one.

Praetorialegionnaires settled themselves around the observation deck for the launch, politely ignoring the conversation Taisiya seemed determined to have with him. Thankfully, she waited until they were well in the air and Raiah had her nose pressed to the window on the outskirts of the observation lounge.

"I understand Vanya wishes to bring you into the House," Taisiya said, holding her teacup in both hands. Her robes today were thin for summer weather, but she'd worn a fur-lined cloak as well in anticipation of the chill to come from the flight ahead, and someone had provided her with a thick blanket to drape over her legs.

"He asked," Soren said, meeting Taisiya's gaze.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "And did you accept?"

"Yes."

He'd been part of the household since the moment Vanya had given him the vow all those years ago, but to be of a House came with a wealth of social and political power outsiders rarely gained. Vanya had sworn off marriage after Nicca's death, not wanting to make Raiah a target by bringing another House into the tangle of succession rights. He'd skirt that issue by marrying Soren, but there were a host of other problems that would come from the union.

And Taisiya, as with any good valide, knew them all. "The Houses will not care for your ascension."

"Vanya has an heir."

"An heir is not the issue here, and to be quite frank, you haven't the ability to give him one. Many know you as a warden, a people who we owe sanctions to due to the major Houses keeping the old burial traditions alive through the Ages."

"Which you should never have done."

"We prayed how the Dawn Star asked those who ruled to pray."

"You knew it was wrong."

Taisiya shrugged and sipped her tea. "It was wrong only in the risk we and our ancestors took, but it was ours to take. The sanctions are owed, and they will be paid, but the Houses will not take kindly to you gaining even more power over them."

"The wardens aren't the ones who will be marrying Vanya, and the governor says I am no longer a warden."

"A warden cannot be unmade, and you are a foreign prince to the country Vanya owes a vow to. You must see the pitfalls in this endeavor of yours."

"I won't walk away again."

Taisiya's lips quirked upward at the corners, but there was no humor in her eyes. "Good. For all his hurt and anger, Vanya mourned your absence in his life."

Soren found his throat dry and leaned forward to pour himself some tea. The red tea Taisiya favored was far better than the blend he'd had in Ashion. "He knows I never meant to hurt him."

They'd talked about such things late into the night after their reunion, speaking all the words they'd held back over the years, the act like lancing an infected wound. They carried no secrets between each other anymore, only an understanding that everything they'd done—for each other and to each other—had been done out of a sense of duty.

"Most never mean the hurt they give, but that doesn't undo the pain. I am glad you have both come to an accord, despite the delicate and difficult political situation it leaves us in. The House who holds the Imperial throne is never meant to marry for love but for power. Vanya did his duty there, so I suppose he can be granted this."

"Thank you," Soren said wryly.

"Don't thank me yet. You cannot marry Vanya until the war in the north is over and the sanctions are ratified. You will be blamed for both, by virtue of your past."

"I would have died if the Dawn Star had not given me to the wardens."

"You should be thankful it was our guiding star who aided you and not the North Star. If there was ever proof you were meant for Solaria and not Ashion, it would be that, though I anticipate few Houses being pleased about such a truth."

"I want no part of ruling."

"You claim to be the Ashion queen's heir."

"Only because my governor asked me to accept the role. It was the only way to ensure the wardens could be kept safe. Giving it up when the war is over won't be a hardship." Caris had Nathaniel, after all. At some point, if they all survived Eimarille's bid for power, the two would marry and have children and have no need for Soren to owe any claim to the starfire throne.

"What makes you think you'll have no say in ruling if you give up one throne for another?"

"I'm marrying into a House, not marrying to rule. I already told Vanya I would be his consort, but I won't be an emperor."

Taisiya nodded, seemingly pleased with his answer. "We'll find a place for you."

"I'll be with Vanya. That is the only place I need."

Raiah came hurrying back over, sugar stick clenched in one sticky hand while she used her other to tug on his arm. "You're staying?"

Soren smiled over at her, watching the excitement rise in her eyes. "Yes."

She shrieked with glee before burrowing close, hugging him as tight as her skinny arms could. Soren stroked his hand over her braids. When he glanced up, catching Taisiya's eye, the valide tipped her head at him in silent acceptance.

This House, this family, was what he'd never prayed for but which Soren would gladly hold on to with everything he had.