XLVIII. THE TRAITOR’S GAMBIT

  The Conqueror was tended to by a beehive of priestesses and healers as the plundering of De-Asha continued for three days and three nights. By the dawn of the fourth day, the Argenti rose to the smell of blood and ash. She dressed in her neptori armor— no longer polished to perfection— and braided fresh barbs into her hair. She wondered, briefly, as she grabbed for her spear, if the Emperor would ever wake. What if he never did, and she was never named heir…

  “Stop it, Aregenti.” Admrilia grit her teeth and exited the chambers. Alexandros and Flavius flanked her immediately. Flavius stifled a yawn as they exited the main building and into the courtyard of the Uro estate. Admrilia frowned. “Where are the prisoners?”

  “Your cousin ordered them underground to the dungeons.”

  Admrilia scowled. She nodded her head towards the outbuilding, and her loyal neptori trailed her through the destroyed gardens towards the jail. She nodded to the centori standing guard as she was allowed into the outbuilding. The centori grabbed a lantern and led her down the dark passageway.

  The cells were at capacity with the Ten’s prisoners. The cells had been separated by house, and all glanced up at their approaching footsteps. Admrilia’s gaze darted into the cell to her left and immediately regretted it. Nia’s broken form lay unmoving on the muck-covered floor. Her sister glowered up at her, cradling her son protectively in her lap.

  Admrilia kept marching. She knew where she was going. She wanted, no, needed answers. “Take out the others.” She ordered her neptori. “And leave us.”

  They were alone. Wyn-Kai glanced up from where he had been meditating cross legged. His cheeks were guant from hunger, but he appeared otherwise unharmed. “Ah, granddaughter. I was wondering when you would pay me a visit. Would you like to take a seat?”

  Admrilia frowned in the shadows of her neptori helmet. “I’ll stand.”

  “Suit yourself.” Wyn-Kai crossed his palms over in his lap, his expression patient.

  “You killed the Legate Xur.” Admrilia stated in kiyr. At the tilt of his head she continued. “Why?”

  “Is desiring the death of a monster not enough?”

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  “Hardly to risk an act that would attract the eye of the Empire.” Admrilia replied.

  “The legate was growing, untethered in his old age. His eye was on Ash-Kai’s young, and his history with the flesh trade had always repulsed me.”

  “And the other legate? Silius?”

  Wyn-Kai shook his head. “That was not me.”

  “Your associates I presume.” Admrilia kicked off the wall. “Why did you summon me to Ker, grandfather? To assimilate me into your plot? To indict me in this foolish rebellion?”

  “To bring you into the rebellion?” Wyn-Kai’s smile was crooked. “No child. The Ten and I fail to see eye to eye on our ambitions for Ker. I merely piggybacked on the Ten’s mounting resistance to summon you home.”

  “Ker is not my home!” Admrilia said savagely.

  “You are half-kerai, Admrilia-Kai.” The governor whispered. “It’s in your blood.”

  “My blood runs pure to the Empire!”

  “Does it?”

  “Enough of this.” Admrilia swept out her hand. “Who is in the Ten?”

  “I think you know that princess. The Houses that stand remain united.”

  Admrilia took a deep breath. “What do they want?”

  “Huh. Isn’t it obvious? They wish to incite a rebellion to liberate the kingdom from the empire. They wish the Conqueror dead.” Wyn-Kai shook his head. “A fool’s errand. A dead Emperor does not serve my desire for peace. The Ten were growing too dangerous. I sought them to be destroyed. Your mother had written about your thirst for power, for control. And yet, I underestimated the hubris of youth.” Wyn-Kai shook his head. “Your hubris led us on the hunt for the star and it was our undoing.”

  “I secured the Emperor a star. I needed to. It was my duty!”

  “With the Goddess’ mane in the Conqueror’s possession, our annihilation is all but assured. Did you consider your duty then? Your hubris clouded your foresight, why do you believe the Emperor sent Clavo on this impossible quest? Your success will be your end, Admrilia.” Wyn-Kai shook his head sadly. Admrilia scowled, knowing she was guilty by association with the Uro siblings. She had been completely blindsided by Lero-Uro’s insubordination at the hippodrome; betrayed by Nia-Uro’s involvement, and was utterly furious at herself for allowing her own ambition to cloud her duty to the empire.

  “What do you want me to do grandfather?” She whispered.

  “The war was horrible, there was no victory to be found against Atesh, only death. If I had to do it all over again, a thousand times over I would surrender. Honor does not feed bellies and warm houses. Honor does not secure the next generation’s change of survival. Honor does not spur the hope that one day our region may be embraced and assimilated into the Empire. Unoccupied. Respected. Equal just as Sugia and Ironore are. We lost and I made a desperate gambit for Ker’s future.”

  Admrilia lowered her voice. “And what was that gambit?”

  “Oh please, child. Don’t you see? It’s you.”