The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2)(110)
“What do you intend to do?” I asked.
Lady Tea placed the silver heartsglass around her neck, next to her black one. “We are going to face the army, Bard, and see how badly they want me dead.”
“And this is not even the craziest thing we have done today,” the Heartforger sighed from behind us.
28
The celebration back at Ankyo was a muted and silent affair. Tensions remained high and the city was on alert, with Deathseekers and soldiers patrolling the borders separating Kion from Odalia. That the First Daughter had fled with a handful of asha and a Deathseeker had been a carefully guarded secret, and it was a surprise to most when we came riding back to the city gates with no azi in sight.
Empress Alyx was nearly apoplectic in her relief, clasping Princess Inessa tightly and refusing to let go until her daughter gently pried herself free. Althy was in attendance too, no worse for wear than when I had last seen her and smiling broadly. “Polaire and Mykaela are much better” were the words she greeted us with, even as I dashed into her arms. “They’re eager to see you.”
She was right. Polaire was still weak and exhausted looking, but of the two, Mykaela had fared better, color returning to her thin cheeks. It was difficult to recount everything that had happened since we had left Ankyo for the doubtful safety of Santiang, and not even Polaire’s fragility could shield me from her criticism, all of which I bore in a much better spirit than I had back in Odalia. Now that most of the lingering effects of the Dark had faded from my consciousness, I had more time to reflect and more time to consider my rash decisions.
“You married the emperor?” Empress Alyx asked her daughter, horrified, to which the latter could only manage a sheepish shrug.
The older woman turned to Zoya with blazing eyes. The asha put her hands up in protest. “Annulled as soon as we could. We might have also threatened the emperor with more daeva if he refused and then also offered him trade and a better alliance in the same breath.”
“I am glad that I was not awake long enough to take part in this,” Polaire muttered. “Inessa’s, Zoya’s, and Tea’s ideas of diplomacy seem to stop just short of declaring war.”
Mykaela, perhaps still too weak to scold, laughed instead. “It worked out for the best, Polaire. We might not approve of their methods, but we cannot fault their success.”
“Was the annulment more than a political ploy?” The empress’s eyes fell on Inessa’s hand, which had found its way to Fox’s.
My brother moved to step away, but Inessa only tightened her grip, staring back at her mother with a wary fierceness. “And what of it?”
“You might have found your way out of one engagement, but there is one more with Odalia that comes to mind.”
“Odalia attacked us, Mother. In light of such events, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to break off that engagement.”
“And is that the only reason, Inessa?”
Her daughter took a deep breath. “No, Mother.”
The empress’s eyes shifted to Fox. “You do realize that he is a Dark asha’s familiar.”
“Really? I thought he was a raven prince from Tresea.”
Empress Alyx allowed herself a small smile. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“No, we’re talking about this now.” Inessa straightened. “If you find anything wrong with my relationship with Fox, then say it to my face. I have been hiding my feelings for years when I should have been honest about him from the start, and for that, I am sorry. But I am tired of hiding.”
The empress regarded her daughter for several long moments. “I find nothing wrong with the nice Pahlavi boy. But I was worried for his sake. You are not the world’s most amiable noble, Daughter.” Inessa’s mouth fell open as her mother continued. “I was cautious, of course, as any mother would be, but if I had had any pressing issues with him, I would have voiced my concerns two years ago.”
“You knew?” the princess sputtered.
The empress grinned; it was identical to the one Inessa wore so often. “Of course. Did you think it would have escaped my notice, given the frequency you snuck out of the palace? If I had disapproved, I would have nipped it in the bud early on. Remember: your own father was a general from Arhen-Kosho, and I was no stranger to eluding my chaperones in order to arrive at a promised rendezvous. Gods, I miss that man. As straitlaced as they come, except when it came to me. He sent dozens of marriage proposals after our first meeting, so prim and proper and quite ironic, given our circumstance. I accepted only after he could admit our relationship was more meaningful than simply saving my honor and his.”
She sobered slightly. “There is, of course, the question of offspring and whether or not a familiar can give me grandchildren… Should I discuss that with you in front of everyone else?”
“No, Mother.” Inessa’s face was scarlet.
Empress Alyx laughed.
“How are you two faring?” Khalad was on his knees beside Polaire and Mykaela, examining their heartsglass.
“All bed rest and no excuses,” Althy said from behind him. “Over the sounds of Polaire’s lamentations and expletives, I might add.”
“I feel better now, Althy!” the brunette said, scowling. Althy shot her a glare right back; Polaire acquiesced eventually, sinking back onto the pillows, huffing.