Page 138 of A Reign of Embers
She slides the sword into the scabbard on the thick leather belt strapped around her waist—the same one she’ll wear when we ride out tomorrow.
Raul and I head to Aurelia’s chambers alongside her and her guards. After her announcement of our role in her life, no one dares to make a remark when we follow her right into her bedroom.
Marc stations himself by the door as usual. He doesn’t seem to have been able to shake his sense of himself as her guard first—or maybe he really is concerned that he’ll need to defend that doorway on her behalf.
Over near the desk, a couple of cauldrons are bubbling. An acrid herbal scent laces the air. Aurelia’s cat perches on a nearby trunk, eyeing them with apparent suspicion.
Bastien glances up from where he’s sprawled in a nearby armchair, a thick text open on his lap. “Do we have any dried osserfew? It seems as if that can be a key ingredient in certain paralytic potions.”
As she rests her sword on her vanity, Aurelia nods. “I’ve got a bag of it with my other supplies.”
Bastien glances back at the book, worrying at his lower lip. He’s been trying to contribute to Aurelia’s preparationshowever he can, but I don’t think there are many medicinal substances she’d be unfamiliar with.
Our empress moves to each of the cauldrons, sniffing and pausing to tap into her gift. She turns off the burner under both, giving one a stir and adding a sprinkling of pale powder to the other. “As soon as they’re cooled, we can bottle them.”
The saddlebag lying nearby is already stuffed with all sorts of ingredients. She wants to be ready to craft a concoction in the moment if the need arises.
I don’t want to think about how muchshemight sacrifice if she calls on any of us to enhance her magic with our own. I’m not sure any effort would feel like too far to her if she thinks it could turn the tide from tragedy to victory.
Even at her own expense.
One of the nursemaids has been waiting in Aurelia’s apartment as well. When Aurelia walks over to her, the servant gets up from her chair and holds out Coraya, who’s dozing.
Aurelia slides her arms around her daughter and tucks her close, dipping her head as if in an attempt to completely encompass the baby. The ache in my chest spreads up to my throat.
We’ve come so far, created so much of a family, and yet it feels as if we’re still on the brink of disaster, barely a bit of stable ground beneath our feet.
But I suppose completely overturning the course of a centuries-old empire could never be easy.
All the same, a pulse of determination pushes through the ache inside me.
The battle we’re charging into tomorrow could be the worst horror of Aurelia’s life. I want her to remember how far she’s come to get to this point—and how much she’s gained along the way. All the joys we’ve found in this lifetogether that she can draw strength from no matter what else comes.
Aurelia cuddles Coraya for a few minutes longer and presses a kiss to the baby’s forehead. She hands her daughter back to the nursemaid, who bows and leaves the room.
Before our empress can suggest more preparations, I go to her and grasp her fingers. With my other hand, I make a quick sign in the air.Come with me?
Despite the stress tightening her expression, a hint of a smile touches her lips. “Where?”
I motion to the hidden panel in the walls and extend my illusionary voice so my foster brothers will hear my explanation as well.“A little walk, just the two of us. For old time’s sake.”
Marc’s posture pulls straighter. “She shouldn’t be going off without any guards at all?—”
I wave off his objection.“No one will even see her. We won’t be gone for long.”
As I meet his steely gaze, I aim a few more words only at him.“She needs this.”
The former emperor’s jaw works, but he backs down—mostly. “If she isn’t back here in an hour, we’re raising the alarm.”
I shrug in acceptance of his demand and tug Aurelia with me. Bastien’s and Raul’s gazes follow us, Raul’s mouth tensing, but they let us go.
We are a family, but we also know that sometimes we can each bring our wife something special on our own.
As I guide Aurelia into the secret passages, keeping my fingers twined with hers, she stays silent and allows me my secret. I lead her to the unused bedroom that’s our most frequent entry and exit point. Before we step out into the hall, I project an illusion around us that should hide us from the view of any passers-by.
Tension hangs over the entire palace. Even though it’s relatively early in the night, few nobles are ambling through the halls. No music spills from the hall of entertainments. The occasional voices I catch are low with strain.
We slip out into the back gardens. As we venture beyond the glow of the lanterns along the palace façade, I loosen my grip on my gift a little. It’s easier to conceal forms and movement in the darkness, as Raul well knows.
