The emperor had prepared a table laden with Kraeshian delicacies. Vibrantly colorful fruits and vegetables grown right there in the Jewel, served with fresh kintha herbs and rich saffra oils. The Kraeshian diet eschewed all meat except for fish, and today there seemed to be no species unaccounted for—smoked salmus, red prawns, shelled lobrarus, to name but a few. An artful spread of sweets was arranged on a separate table, including indigo-berry tarts and sugar-cakes of the most intricate details and designs, and all nearly too beautiful to eat.
Amara watched the king with careful curiosity. Every gesture, every word, every sneaking glance. She had to admit his little act was quite convincing. If she didn’t already know what a conniving snake he was, she’d believe he was actually enjoying the company around him. His words were smooth, his demeanor charming and polite, and he was handsome and charismatic.
Very unlike what one would expect of a man who’d earned the nickname of the King of Blood.
Amara drew closer to him, pretending to admire the dining table so she could listen in on his conversation with her father.
“These are my sons,” the emperor said, placing a hand on Dastan’s shoulder. “Dastan, my firstborn, undefeated in every battle he’d ever commanded . . .”
“Yes, of course. We speak of this young man’s fine reputation all the way back in Mytica. Congratulations on your recent acquisition of Castoria,” the king said.
Dastan pressed his hand to his heart and bowed. “Thank you. And since you’re aware of my victories I suppose it’s fortunate that we’re meeting on friendly ground, isn’t it, your grace?”
King Gaius smiled. “This couldn’t be more true.”
“And this is Elan,” said the emperor, patting the boy’s back and prompting him to perform the Kraeshian greeting. “I like to think of him as my most trusted vizier, one whose opinion is always invaluable to me. In all his twenty-three years, I don’t believe he’s ever told a single lie. Correct, my peach of a boy?”
“Correct,” Elan agreed. He stood as if sewn to his father’s sleeve, like a child afraid of getting lost.
Elan really was so sweet, so without guile, and Amara had always hoped they’d one day become close. Yet despite his gentle nature, he was still a Kraeshian male, raised not to show an iota of respect or regard to his sister or any other woman.
“Unfortunately, Ashur, my youngest son, isn’t here to greet you. But I’m sure you had plenty of time to become acquainted with him during his stay in your little kingdom.”
Every muscle in Amara’s chest clenched up at the sound of her dead brother’s name. To steady herself and keep from keeling over, she took a sip from her glass of sparkling wine.
“I did indeed,” Gaius said. “Ashur is a charming boy, you must be so proud of him.”
Instead of nodding proudly, as he had when introducing Dastan and Elan, the emperor winced a bit and then pursed his lips. “Ashur reminds me of his mother in so many ways. Always gallivanting around the world, searching for treasures.”
“Is he successful in his quests?”
“Not nearly often enough to justify the time and finances necessary to fund these little excursions.”
With that, the emperor gestured for his guests to take their seats at the table and eat of the feast. Amara watched as Gaius’s two bodyguards filled their plates with piles of food, and when Felix caught her looking, he grinned and winked at her.
She didn’t find his boldness offensive, but rather took it as proof that he hadn’t been to very many formal banquets before.
As the guests tucked into their meal, the emperor drove the conversation, informing Gaius about a new structure currently being built in the Jewel, an auditorium that would play host to poets, singers, and theater troupes.
“My, that sounds wonderful. Culture is so important to the vitality of civilized countries,” the king said.
“I’m surprised you think so,” Amara said, taking the opportunity to speak up. “Especially since artistic endeavors are discouraged in Limeros.”
Gaius lifted his goblet and swirled his cider around thoughtfully. “That is true, princess. Our radiant goddess did not approve of frivolity or flights of whimsy, and if Limerians are anything it’s loyal to our beloved goddess’s laws. However, having lately spent so much time in Auranos, I’ve come to realize that the arts have the ability to elevate the spirits of citizens during difficult times. Art gives them hope. And without hope, what is there to live for?”
“Well said, Gaius,” said the emperor, spearing a chunk of fried squar fish and dipping it into a spicy shanut sauce. “And please excuse my daughter’s boldness; I was not aware she’d be joining us today. But, yes, hope is a beautiful thing—and I love beautiful things!”
The guests talked and ate happily straight through until dessert. When the servants had cleared all the plates away, the emperor leaned back and patted his large belly. “Now, Gaius, my friend. Tell me, why are you here?”
The king raised his brow a tiny fraction of an inch. “I’m here, your eminence, to get to know you better. To understand your intentions. I know you soon plan to conquer Mytica.”
Amara stifled a gasp at the king’s unexpected bluntness and gazed around the room to see the others’ surprised reactions in the moment of echoing silence that followed. While the king’s two guards remained as composed as the sentries they were, she did notice a momentary raise of Felix’s brows.
The emperor acknowledged this with a nod. “I must confess, given its size, Mytica hasn’t been a high priority for me. Your country would make for just a tiny speck of dirt on my map. But yes, Ashur’s great interest in your history and legends drew my attention. Your shores are a mere leap from my Jewel, so the cost and effort to acquire the land would be minimal. And then there are your vineyards, which are reputed to produce the finest wine in the world. I think it would make a nice little addition to my empire.”
“I see. And when were you and your sons planning to visit my lovely speck of dirt?”
The emperor laughed. “Let’s not talk strategy, Gaius. Today we sit around this table as friends, not enemies.”