Caspel, will you hold back a moment?”
If he was startled, he hid it well. Caspel nodded and remained in his seat. No one else said a word to me as they filed from the room, though Admiral Hassan gave me a sharp nod and the briefest of smiles before she turned on her heel and headed for the door.
“What can I do for you, Highness?” The head of the GIS was the epitome of politeness and had a poker face that would be envied in most illegal gambling establishments on Resita Semora.
“What’s the possibility of sending our own stealth teams in?”
“It’s something ITS head General Vandi and I have discussed, Highness,” Caspel replied. “I am trying to get a feel for the situation first.”
“How many more planets do I lose before that happens?”
Caspel tilted his head and studied me. “As many as need be to make certain your Highness doesn’t lose the empire entire.”
“Fair enough.” I ran my tongue over my teeth and then smiled. “I’d like the names of the people responsible for the deaths of my sisters and my niece.”
“I would give them to you, Highness, if I had them.” His non-answer told me more than any names could have. “Your empress-mother had five men arrested for the transportation and sale of the ebolenza virus but we were never able to figure out how it made its way into the palace. Two of the men killed themselves in their cells, and the other three were executed before my people could finish questioning them.
“When Princess Cire and her daughter were killed, we were able to trace the explosives back to some of the more radical members of the Upjas. However, the two men and one woman whose names we obtained were killed in a shootout with royal BodyGuards the day you returned home. My contact with the Upjas was understandably edgy about the way things went down and hasn’t been in touch since.”
“A shootout? I heard they were executed.”
“I suppose it depends on who you ask.”
“Do you think it was the Upjas?” I didn’t mention I had contacts of my own; it was just a matter of trying to get them to see me.
Caspel studied me for a silent moment before answering. “No, Highness. Not the main group anyway. Abraham Suda wants change, not bloodshed. But he doesn’t have as tight a grip on the group as he once did, and there are factions who are a little more willing to see blood spilled to achieve their aims.”
“Which are what?”
“The end of the matriarchy,” Caspel said, flicking a glance at Emmory over my shoulder as he spoke. “I don’t know if they’re looking to put a man on the throne or dismantle the empire entirely, Highness.”
“Do you think we’d be better with a man on the throne?”
“It will cause chaos we cannot afford. Whatever King Trace says in the public venue, his troops are moving. The Saxons have been preparing for this moment while we have been trapped by tradition and economic struggles. If Indrana goes down on a knee, Highness, we will lose the fight.”
Besides Emmory, this was the bluntest response I’d gotten from someone since my return. Even Admiral Hassan had been vague in her replies.
“It’s a risk to be so bold with me, Caspel.”
He met my eyes unflinchingly. “I am the head of your intelligence service, ma’am. If I do not speak up, no one else will dare, and there is not much use for an intelligence service that does not share what it knows. Your sister appreciated the truth; I would hope you share that trait.”
“A truthful spy. I confess that is a new one.”
His grin was as quick and sharp as his bow. “Your spy, Highness. Indrana’s spy.”
“If you would send what information you have to Emmory, he and I will go over it. Perhaps a pair of fresh eyes will give us somewhere new to go with it. Given the number of times someone has attempted to kill me, it would seem that the perpetrators are still on the loose.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, Caspel.”
“A pleasure, Highness. Please call on me if you have need of anything.” The smile transformed Caspel’s face into something less severe.
I have stood up to murderers. Walked into Zheng-owned warehouses and back out again without even a scratch on me. I have fought my way through bars that even the law wouldn’t set foot in just to have a drink. I have been shot, stabbed, blown up (or nearly so), had guns jammed under my chin and shoved in my eye.
None of that ever scared me as much as walking into those council chambers did.
The two hours flew by, barely giving us enough time to lay out all the possible objections and come up with compelling arguments against them. Thankfully, there were few realistic ones that Alba and Tye felt like the council might lay on the table.
I didn’t know what I would have done without the help of the chamberlains or Zin. Despite his seaside upbringing, my BodyGuard had an impressive grasp of imperial politics and he came up with several objections we never would have considered.
It still took a hell of a pep talk to get myself through the door and an even sterner voice to keep me moving when I realized several of the matriarchs were already in the chambers.
Don’t be a baby, Hail. You could take any one of them in a fight.
I’d have laughed out loud at that, except my eyes landed on Ganda at that exact moment. She was sitting in Mother’s chair talking to Matriarch Saito. Her shocked face shook my mirth loose and I spied the quick narrowing of her eyes before she pasted a bright smile on her face.
“Hail! I was hoping your mother would allow you to join us. It’s good to see you.” She jumped up and extended her hands toward me.
Smiling back, I resisted the urge to break her fingers, instead squeezing her hands briefly and releasing her. “We have something important to discuss with the council today.”
Fear flittered across Ganda’s face, but I wasn’t sure of the cause. It could have been my incredibly unsubtle use of the royal we or the fact that Tye was speaking quietly with Matriarch Desai.
Clara raised one gray eyebrow my direction but otherwise didn’t react to the news Tye gave her.
I dipped my head at her and neatly slid into Mother’s seat. I knew Ganda had been occupying it since Cire’s death, and the look on her face as I took it back was priceless. Zin fell into parade rest behind my chair and I spotted the wary glances several of the other matriarchs aimed his way.
BodyGuards were not brought into the council chambers. While I was relatively confident about my ability to survive anything the women in the room threw at me, Emmory had insisted and I hadn’t felt the need to argue with him.
Besides, I wanted Zin’s eyes on the women in the room. He could look objectively at the matriarchs I’d grown up with.
“Ladies, take your seats,” Clara said. “I am afraid I’m going to have to table our normal agenda in favor of something more important.”
I leaned back. “Zin, be a dear and grab a chair for Ganda, will you? She seems to have lost her seat.”
There was a moment of shuffling while Zin found a chair and put it right next to me. Once Ganda was settled, Clara continued.
“Her Imperial Majesty extends her apologies for her absence today and also for the imposition of allowing a BodyGuard into our session.” She scanned the room. “Normally I would protest, but the decision is backed not only by the princess’s Ekam, but the empress’s as well. Given the recent dangers and in light of today’s news, I have allowed it. Now would be the time to file a formal protest.”
No one protested.
“You know no one is going to protest, Clara. Get on with it. You can’t dangle a carrot like that and not expect us to start salivating.” The elderly Matriarch Tobin grinned at me and thumped the floor with her cane. “What’s the big news?”
“The empress is not suffering from Shakti dementia. She was poisoned,” Clara replied.
The inhale was collective, except for Ganda, who was a half second late with her surprise. If I hadn’t been listening for it, I would have missed it, and I couldn’t be entirely sure my hatred wasn’t making me hear things, which is the other reason I’d agreed to Zin’s presence in the meeting.
“Chamberlain Tye has just passed Dr. Satir’s report on to me. I will make it available to anyone here, but news of this is not to leave this room. Am I understood?”
There was a chorus of assent and I settled back in my chair, content to let Desai run the show for the moment even though several of the matriarchs shot looks my way that clearly expected an explanation from me.
“Her Majesty has also informed her chamberlain of her intent to abdicate the throne to her only surviving daughter as soon as she is approved and the coronation is complete. In light of her recent return and the current situation, I am sure the princess will not take offense to any legal objections that are raised during this meeting.”
Oh, nicely handled, Clara. I kept my poker face on and did a quick sweep of the room. Now I’d be able to see the more obvious of my detractors, and hopefully more than a handful of allies.
“No objection.” Matriarch Maxwell had been old before I ran away. Now she seemed practically ancient, but her family had always been crown loyalists. “She was proven the empress’s blood at birth and proven the same when she returned.”
It was a relief to have the eldest member of the council easily dismiss what could have been one of our biggest challenges—that I wasn’t who I claimed to be. It didn’t escape me that the one thing I’d been pissed at Emmory for in the beginning was now an important foundation for my rule.
Several other matriarchs murmured their agreement with Maxwell.
“Are you going to run again?”
Matriarch Gohil had passed away last year. Between my whirlwind briefing and the help of my smati, I identified the questioner as her eldest daughter, Alice. There hadn’t been any malice in the question, but several women shifted uncomfortably as it danced along the edge of propriety. I met her cool, dark-eyed gaze. I liked the look of her.
“My reasons for leaving the first time were my own. I don’t apologize for it. I’ve learned a lot in twenty years,” I said. “Since I left home, I haven’t run from anything—not a fight nor a duty. I’m here and here I’ll remain until the Dark Mother calls me to temple.” Every time I said the words, it felt more right, more like the thing I was supposed to do.
“No objection from the house of Gohil.” Alice dipped her head slightly.
“Ganda has been running herself ragged for the sake of the empire since before the death of Princess Cire.” Matriarch Khatri tugged on an auburn curl as she spoke. “She has done a great service to the Crown and shown an aptitude for leadership. I am not sure I see the wisdom in throwing her aside to put a gunrunner on the throne.”
“Elsa, watch your tongue!” Matriarch Saito snapped. “Objections can be made without insulting the heir.”
“What? It’s not an insult if it’s the truth. You’ve read the stories same as I have! She was a damn criminal from the minute she ran from the palace. Gods only know how many laws she’s broken, how many people she’s murdered!”
Things went predictably downhill after that.
“Zin, you will not say a word. I don’t need you to defend my honor.” I didn’t have to look behind me to know my BodyGuard was watching the sniping in horror.
“They cannot insult you like this, Highness.”
“Khatri is technically right. I was a gunrunner. She’s deliberately insulting me to see what I’ll do.”
“Why aren’t you telling them the truth of why you left?”
“Because I’m all right with this version for the moment. The chambers are protected space, and unless Clara decides she’s out of line, we’re keeping our mouths shut, understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I rested my elbows on the arms of my chair and steepled my fingers, trying not to smile as I watched the show. The older matriarchs were unwilling to engage in the behavior of the younger members, and I knew they were watching me even more than the women shouting at each other to see how I would react.
I had several very obvious supporters who were either genuine in their opinions or very good actresses. Those who supported Ganda seemed to be older, the matriarchs in the middle age range. Interestingly enough, they all came from houses that would stand to profit should Indrana go back to war.
I filed that tidbit of information away to discuss with Emmory later and glanced in Desai’s direction. She answered my look with a raised eyebrow that said, Do you want to stop this or shall I?
People assume gunrunners conduct business with threats and snarls, waving weapons around and pummeling each other with fists.
More often, though, it was detailed negotiations, promises, well-laid plans, and sly deals. The reminder that I’d done all this with people far more dangerous relaxed me, and I laid my hands on the table with a slow smile.
“Enough.” I said the word with a forcefulness that cut through the din. “Ladies, this conversation, such as it is, is over. The empress has named me Heir Apparent, a right I already hold by proven blood. You are welcome to obtain some kind of legal proof to the contrary, but as of yet we’ve heard no real objection that would stand up against either tradition or the law. I wish you luck of it.
“I will, however, caution you. Further destabilizing the throne at a time when leadership is most needed is unwise. My mother is ill, my sisters are gone to temple, and our enemies are chipping away at our borders. There is no coincidence in this. Enemies of Indrana seek to divide us, and we will not sit by and watch our people suffer.”
I rose and shook out my white skirts, smoothing the red sari draped over them, and smiled coldly. “We will announce Mother’s abdication at the celebration this evening, and the throne expects your full support in public unless you choose to file a formal objection with Matriarch Desai.”
To file a formal objection to my succession meant they not only had to come up with a solid legal defense, but also had to explain to their families why they’d broken from the decision of the empress on such a serious matter.
I’d effectively backed them into a corner, which could come back to bite me hard. Civilized people tend to panic when pushed, and they lash out with unpredictable results. I wasn’t in the clear yet, and once they all settled down and read the report about the poisoning, I wouldn’t be surprised to see an objection questioning Mother’s competence.
Which was why we had to get her abdication signed before she lost it entirely. Right now we were going on the strength of Tye’s impeccable reputation and Dr. Satir’s witnessing my mother’s lucidity.
Neither of which would stand up to a formal objection.
I didn’t let that show as I strode from the room, Zin right behind me. Emmory was nowhere to be found.
“He headed back to your rooms, ma’am,” Zin said at my sideways glance.
Cas and Jet fell into step ahead of me and at my side, and I hid my shaking hands in the folds of my skirts as we headed back to my rooms.
The raised voices hit me before we turned the last corner and I grabbed Cas by the arm to stop him.
“I have listened to your complaints, Nal.”
“Have you? You haven’t done anything about them. You continue to let your partner fulfill my role. You continue to ignore the fact that it is unseemly for the princess to be guarded by only men.”
I arched an eyebrow at Zin, who shrugged in reply.
“I am choosing the heir’s Guards based on their qualifications, not their gender. And I have been listening to your suggestions, Nal. But that doesn’t mean that I have to take those suggestions.” Emmory’s voice was calm, but I could hear the heat bubbling under the surface. “You question me in front of the others. You have constantly thrown obstacles in my way as I try to keep the princess safe. It is no wonder that I have trusted Zin more. You have demonstrated to me that I cannot trust you, and if you continue this way, Nal, I will have you removed.”
“You can’t do that. The empress appointed me.”
“I am the Ekam. I can and will do whatever is necessary to keep the heir safe. Get on board with that, Nal, or get the hell out.”
I moved the moment I heard the door slam, pasting an innocent smile on my face that I knew didn’t fool Emmory for a second. Willimet and Rama looked uncomfortable. Both were staring at the floor and jumped when I greeted them.
“Highness.” Emmory opened the door and gestured for me to precede him. I raised an eyebrow as I passed, but he was looking at Zin, who gave the minutest of shrugs.
There was a murmured conversation behind me, and when the door shut, I was alone with my Trackers.
“So that was an interesting conversation.” I unwound my sari and tossed it over the arm of the rose-colored couch.
“With the matriarchs?”
I gave Emmory a look. “There was little ‘conversation’ there, actually. A lot of hand-wringing, accusations, insults of the veiled and not-so-veiled variety, and we ended with me telling them that if they didn’t like me being their new empress, they could file a formal complaint. We’ll see if anyone can come up with something that won’t make them look like idiots. I was talking about that”—I waved a hand at the door—“little event with Nal.”
“She was angry that I’d sent Zin into the matriarchs’ meeting with you instead of letting her go.”
“Sounded like a bit more than that. It’s pretty obvious she doesn’t like you being in charge, but is that Indranan conditioning or something else at work?”
Emmory shrugged. “I don’t know, Highness. We can’t afford to trust her. You’ve read her file. There aren’t any obvious flags, but—”
“It makes you itchy,” I finished. “I know.”
I had read Nal’s file, and it was so clean, it squeaked. Which, of course, made me nervous as all hell.
“I’ve already gotten a few comments from the matriarchs about having a male Guard in the chambers, and Alba has found several news stories where it’s mentioned.” I didn’t add in the number of times it had been brought up on my Hansi. The younger generation using the service weren’t particularly caught up in things like tradition, but there were some who seemed to be offended—on my behalf, of course—by the fact that my Guard teams were overwhelmingly male. “We have enough things on our plate, Emmory, without adding having to fight to keep you in your position. Let me know if she gets out of line again. I’ll intervene.”