XXV. THE HOUSE OF THE IBIS

  “You bite your lip anymore it’ll fall off.”

  Admrilia shot Flavius a dark glare, her teeth releasing from her gum. She threw her momentum into her first step towards the sizable group below. The governor was shorter than she had been anticipating, but undoubtedly her mother’s father. They shared the same complexion, set jaw, and observant brown eyes. He had a large nose and set brow with permanent worry lines etched into his forehead.

  “Governor Kai.” Admrilia said when they had reached him. “The triumph thanks you for your service to the empire and for your people’s hospitality.” She paused. As a member of the royal family, she should present her hand. But the Governor was her elder, her mother’s father, and she was in his land.

  The Governor kissed her knuckles. Admrilia mentally chided herself as he rose. “The people of Ash-Kai have eagerly awaited your arrival. As have I.” Wyn-Kai gestured to a cluster of individuals who shared an uncanny resemblance to her mother. “Princess Admrilia, allow me to formally introduce you to the rest of our house.”

  Our. Admrilia soured at the Governor’s deliberate word choice. Her lips tightened as he pointed to a tiny elderly woman who shared her mother’s heart-shaped face and warm smile. “This is my wife, and your grandmother, Ibi-Kai.” The woman’s pleasure radiated off of her as she kissed Admrilia’s knuckles. “My brother Hubei-Kai, and your uncles naturally, Jax-Kai and Tho-Kai.” He gestured to two shaven men in their mid-forties wearing scholarly robes. “And this is Tho-Kai’s wife, Ola-Kai, and their sons, Sena and Seta.”

  Admrilia blinked twice. She felt overwhelmed. Her family was in Aegtrys a world away. Asho was her only living cousin, not these boys looking at her with fear in their eyes. She was simply the byproduct of a political marriage. Her existence simply a condition for the surrender of Ker. Admrilia didn’t share anything with this family from the other side of the world. The House of the Ibis had never seemed like living, breathing, tangible people. Until now.

  The Governor was looking at her expectantly. “What an honor it is to be formally introduced.” She said shortly.

  “The honor is all ours, Princess Admrilia.” Ibi-Kai bowed from the waist. “We have long dreamed of the day when we could finally meet our granddaughter.” A few of the Kai’s nodded stiffly. Admrilia did not know how to respond to that.

  “Governor. I demand to know what these two are doing here.” Admrilia turned as Advisor Clavo pointed to two individuals on the edge of the group. A legionnaire and a woman. Admrilia had assumed they were attendants of some kind. But then why would Advisor Clavo recognize them?

  The legionnaire stepped forward. “We are here on behalf of your son, Advisor.”

  “Preposterous.” Clavo barked.

  Wyn-Kai raised his hand. “Advisor Clavo, I am confident we can all discuss matters of the empire when we are within shade and out of prying ears, hmm?”

  “Matter of the empire.” Clavo scoffed. “What could that beast possibly have to do with the empire?”

  “Name yourselves.” Admrilia demanded.

  The legionnaire stepped forward and saluted. “I am Lero-Uro, son of the House of Uro. I report to the legate of the Ninth Legion. With me is my sister, Nia-Uro.”

  Admrilia observed Nia-Uro with calculating eyes as she bowed. She clearly was not a legionnaire like her brother beside her. She didn’t have the posture. The discipline. But her arms were tanned and taut with sinewy muscle. She was wearing riding pants underneath her tunic and a long knife was sheathed at her hip. Not a woman kept indoors. There was something unmistakably off about the Uro woman, and not just because of Advisor Clavo’s uncharacteristic outburst. Maybe it was the way she was holding a hand against her chest. Or it could have been those eyes, like pools of melting metal. Admrilia wrenched her gaze away when amber eyes locked with hers.

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  “We shall discuss these matters later.” Admrilia said, inclining her head to the advisor. “Lead the way, Governor. My men tire of this heat.” She was confident that Helmsman Ros would finish docking and unloading the ships. No doubt her men were eager to be released into the streets and taverns after the long weeks at sea.

  She slowed to match the Governor’s shuffling gait. He extended a hand to the crowds that had formed around the harbor and spread into the marketplaces. Ker, Ashenian, Thrysian, Pi-Yenjan. They all screamed for her. Asho would love this. Admrilia thought wryly. At the end of the harbor, The Governor escorted her to a set of awaiting palanquins. A burly attendant helped her into the cushioned platform. The Governor grumbled as he was aided into the seat across from hers. They were heaved overhead by a team of twelve men.

  Admrilia rested her hands on the thin armrests, schooling her features into stoic disinterest. Their adulation meant nothing to her. She had spent the early dawn hours in her cabin, carefully cultivating her appearance as she laced up her boots. She was not some long lost relative returning to the homeland. Nor should there have been any mistaking her visit as one of diplomacy. The Conqueror had not sent her here on a mission of peace. Her black eyes roamed the crowds as they were carried. Where among them were the rebels harboring insurrection against the Empire? Where were the Legate’s murderers?

  “It is truly an honor to meet you.”

  “Thank you, Governor.” She said, clipped.

  “You know, in private, you don’t have to be so formal.” The Governor whispered conspiratorially.

  Admrilia pulled her eyes away from the sloped Ker architecture and regarded the Governor. “It’s a matter of respect.” She insisted. Admrilia could not fathom disrespecting the Emperor by anything other than the titles he had earned, and certainly not his birth name.

  The old man leaned forward. “If grandfather is too intimate then call me Wyn-Kai at least. I insist.”

  “Grandfather.” She rolled the sharp kiyr term across her tongue like a barb.

  “You speak well.” Wyn-Kai complimented, switching over to Kiyr. “My daughter has done well.”

  “She ensured I was fluent in the language.” Admrilia’s hand found the creased letter in her pants and passed it over. “My mother has insisted I hand deliver her letter to you myself.”

  The Governor brought the missive to his nostrils and inhaled. “My Raja.” He said fondly. “Thank you. My wife and I will certainly cherish this gift.” Admrilia inclined her head. “I must admit, I feel as if I have known you through your mother’s letters, but this is the first time my eyes have beheld you.”

  His eagerness caught her off guard. She extended the verbal olive branch. “The sentiment is mutual. My mother raised me as Ashenian, for the role of my birthright.” Admrilia’s eyes darted back out into the crowd. “She was wise in that, I think.” When the Governor did not respond, Admrilia turned back to him. “Tell me, Wyn-Kai.” His name caught on her tongue. “What do you know about this rebellion?”

  “We can get to the grave matter of your visit in the morning.” The governor deflected. “Tonight, I wish to introduce you to your mother’s homeland.”

  “Argenti?” Admrilia swiveled her head from the window to where Flavius stood in the doorway of her chambers. She had just finally had a moment to herself after the hours of feasting, and she felt a flare of irritation for being interrupted. “The guard has been established.”

  “Thank you.” Her head was already turning back to the window.

  “Is everything alright? You seem to.” Her friend paused. “Troubled.”

  Paper lanterns lit the streets where crowds gathered in the forums and marketplaces. “They welcome me into their home as if I am one of them.”

  Flavius took a cautious step forward. “This is your mother’s homeland. THey have great cause to celebrate.”

  Admrilia took a steadying breath. “Some lines cannot be crossed, Flavius.”

  “I just thought you’d like it, Argenti.”

  Admrilia turned back around. “It’s not up to me.” Don’t you see? She wanted to ask him. It never has been.