After the Crown

by K. B. Wagers

  “What?”

  “He dreams you died. Every night since the explosion, that’s all he sees.”

  6

  I didn’t know what to say to Zin’s revelation, and he refused to elaborate further, so I curled up in one of the library chairs and read a book until the flames died out.

  The walk back to my rooms was silent and my Ekam was nowhere to be found. I ate dinner alone and went to bed early, hoping that the gods would be kind enough to grace me with another night of dreamless sleep.

  Why I thought that, when the gods have never been kind to me, was the real question. I woke, gasping in the dark, and sobbed as the nightmare faded.

  It took some coaxing, but I eventually fell back asleep. There was no more death, though my dreams were still chaotic and stressful enough that I woke in a foul mood.

  My mood only worsened when I saw the report from Emmory about his meeting yesterday with General Saito. It was perfect and detailed, and likely would answer any questions I had.

  It was so he wouldn’t have to talk to me.

  I closed it without reading it and slid out of bed. My breakfast was laid on a tray and I picked at it while staring out the window.

  “Are you not hungry, Majesty?” asked Bene, one of the newer maids, a young girl with large brown eyes and short brown curls.

  “No.” I waved a hand, snatching my chai off the tray before she could take it. Stasia didn’t say a word when I put on my customary uniform, nor did my maid attempt to do much more than braid my hair back out of my face before I left the room for my first briefing.

  Cas was at my shoulder. Normally his presence wouldn’t have bothered me, but today all it did was highlight Emmory’s absence. Zin had also gone off duty overnight and so I was surrounded by the members of Team Two as we headed through the palace.

  Alba picked up on my mood as if we’d been working together for years, and no one bothered me when I passed through the hallways. I sat silently near the back of the room while the Raksha—Indrana’s military council—discussed the latest Saxon fleet movements.

  “The three Vajrayana ships that were out on maneuvers when the Saxons hit us arrived in system yesterday. I’m working on integrating them into Home Fleet. Since the hit on Canafey, we haven’t seen any overt movement in that direction from the bulk of their forces,” Admiral Hassan said, pointing at the worlds floating above the table in the War Room. “What we have seen is some movement closer to the heart of the Saxon territory since our last briefing, but nothing unusually large.”

  “Word on the ground in Canafey is they’re still fighting pitched battles with forces they claim are Saxon Shock Corps Marines, but no one can give me a verified image.” Caspel leaned on the table and frowned. “I also can’t get a total on how many ships might be in the area. Initial reports said it was less than a dozen.”

  “We need to get reinforcements in there.” Lieutenant General Aganey Triskan, Prajapati’s replacement for the council, was a lean man with a sour face who’d come highly recommended by not only Admiral Hassan but General Saito as well. I was expecting some fallout for the decision—not only because he was a man, but because he was barely older than I was. “Our troops have to be running low on supplies.”

  “We can’t send Admiral Shul in until we know what the situation is,” Caspel replied. “Canafey isn’t worth the entire 2nd Fleet, even with the Vajrayana ships. We’re better off closing up the gap behind them and starving them out.”

  “There are people down there! Women, men, and children. How can you—”

  “I am fully aware of who is on Canafey, Aganey.”

  “But not who’s in the space above it? What good are you?”

  “Enough, both of you.” General Vandi slammed a hand down on the table after a glance in my direction. “Aganey, I know you are worried for your daughters, but let’s keep a clear head, yes? Director Ganej is doing what he can with the limited information he has.”

  “His daughters are on Canafey?” I asked Admiral Hassan over our com link.

  “Yes, ma’am. One is stationed with the army on Minor. The other is Navy; she was working on the Vajrayana project.”

  “My apologies, Director. I was out of line.” Aganey folded his hands and bowed to Caspel, who waved him off.

  “I understand your concerns, General. We’re doing what we can. I promise you.”

  “Caspel, I’d like a plan from you by this evening to get intelligence on how many Saxon ships are in the system so we can decide how to proceed,” Admiral Hassan said. “Until we have that information we are rather stuck. I, for one, am not interested in sitting around waiting for the Saxons to make their next move before we respond.”

  Heads nodded around the table. I got to my feet as the meeting wrapped up and headed for the door.

  “Majesty, I’d like to apologize for our lack of progress with Bial.” General Saito met me at the door, folded her hands together, and bowed. “Given that the accident occurred so soon after the pairing, there was no formal training for him. But he seems to have an innate talent. My Trackers are finding it challenging to follow his trail.”

  “You lost him?”

  “I’m sorry, Majesty. I thought Emmory briefed you.”

  “He sent me a report. I haven’t had a chance to read it.”

  “Oh, I assumed you two would talk.”

  “The morning was chaotic. If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with the matriarchs.” That answer sounded forced even to me, but I ignored the general’s concerned frown and left the room.

  I was dreading this meeting; however, dragging my feet wasn’t an option since I was fairly certain Clara would just wait to start until I was there.

  Better to be in my seat anyway. I hadn’t officially met with the Matriarch Council since the coup attempt, and I was curious to see just how the ones who’d supported Matriarch Khatri would react.

  “Cas, Iza’s coming in there with me,” I said as we hit the door. I turned to the young woman without waiting for a confirmation from my Dve. “I want you watching for any reactions that seem out of place.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Iza had been swept up in my wake during the coup attempt but didn’t seem to mind her new job at all.

  Matriarch Desai was already in the room and did little more than raise an eyebrow when Iza followed me inside and settled into parade rest behind my chair. The late-morning light filtered in through the stained-glass windows, throwing blue across the far wall.

  I watched the door, carefully cataloging the entrance of each matriarch. Alice and Zaran were in deep discussion as they entered, but both curtsied in my direction and their smiles were genuine.

  Matriarch Waybly, by contrast, couldn’t meet my eyes and hurried to her seat. The dark-haired woman had voiced her agreement with Elsa Khatri’s objections over my legitimacy for the throne, though she hadn’t been involved in the loud debate that had followed. I made a note to investigate her further.

  Ganda’s mother, Loka Naidu, had dark circles under her eyes. I held a hand up to stop Iza before she could intercept the matriarch. My aunt came straight to me and dropped to her knees.

  “Your Imperial Majesty. I offer my family’s most sincere apologies and beg your forgiveness.”

  “Mai Loka.” I held a hand out as I shifted to the edge of my seat. “Your other daughter already spoke with me. Ganda’s actions were her own. I don’t hold you accountable.”

  “I raised her better, Majesty. I don’t know where she went wrong.” Eyes dark with grief, she looked back at the floor. “I should have known what she was planning.”

  “Children are good at hiding things from their parents. My mother could have told you that. Get up. The floor is cold and you are forgiven.”

  “Thank you, Majesty.” She smiled in relief, bowing again as she got to her feet and then moved off to take her seat.

  I’d missed the entrance of the other matriarchs, one of the reasons I’d wanted Iza in the room. There were a handful I w
asn’t too sure of, and as I scanned the faces at the table, it was easy to take note of who met my eyes and who didn’t.

  Clara tapped her fist on the tabletop and all the side chatter stopped. “For obvious reasons there is a BodyGuard in the room. I expect this will continue until we can be certain we’ve cut all the rot out from this traitorous infection that plagues us.”

  Matriarch Prajapati shifted uncomfortably at Desai’s words, knotting her slender fingers together until her knuckles were almost white. Her sister’s betrayal had been no fault of her own, but I noticed how the space between her and those around her was a little wider than normal.

  “I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Matriarch Zaran Khatri to the council chambers.” Clara smiled warmly. “Though the circumstances are unpleasant, we are looking forward to her wisdom.”

  I stomped my left foot on the floor in acknowledgment, the sound echoed by the others in the room for a few seconds before we returned to silence. Zaran nodded, slightly embarrassed by the attention.

  “Zaran, if you would fill us in on the meeting with the Upjas?” Clara continued.

  Zaran nodded, her short curls bouncing with the movement, and folded her pale hands together on the tabletop. “Three days ago, Alice and I went with the empress to meet with the two ranking members of the Upjas—Abraham Suda and Tazerion Benton Shivan. I believe there is another meeting scheduled today with Tazerion and two new representatives that is open to matriarchs and members of the Ancillary Council to further outline just what they would like to see from the government.

  “During our meeting earlier, Alice and I had the opportunity to talk with both men. Abraham was very pleasant and polite. Not at all what one might expect from a rebel leader.” She smiled briefly. “Since then I have spoken with several other members of the group. They are also all quite articulate and presented a united front in their desire to see what they referred to as ‘true equality of the sexes’ within the empire.”

  “You find something amusing about that, Matriarch Zellin?” I asked when the woman snorted.

  “I find several things amusing, Your Majesty. Starting with the fact that we’re even talking to a known terrorist group openly involved in seditious acts against the throne and ending with the idea that there isn’t already equality for men. There’s a male prime minister, for Shiva’s sake; more than half your BodyGuards are men; and you just appointed a man to the Raksha. What more do they want?”

  “If I could, Your Majesty.” Alice spoke up with a raised hand. At my nod she looked across the table. “They want more than tokens, Tare. They want to not be passed over for promotions when they are more than qualified simply because their boss would rather put a woman in the spot. They want to be paid the same for the same work, not nearly half a ravga less.”

  “That’s preposterous. I don’t pay my male workers any less.”

  “Detailed studies across the empire say otherwise,” Alice replied, but the murmuring agreement with Tare Zellin rolled over her words.

  “Your Majesty, I’m very sorry, but I cannot in good conscience attend this meeting,” Matriarch Surakesh said. “Good people were killed by this group not long ago. This empire has never negotiated with terrorists, and starting now when we are on the brink of war is not something your mother would have condoned.”

  I blinked at her, the refusal to attend the meeting so unexpected I was at a loss for words. Even worse, more than half the heads around the table were nodding in agreement.

  And my mother. I kept my mouth closed even though I wanted to scream. If people didn’t stop throwing her rule in my face I was likely to lose it.

  “Majesty, your blood pressure is a bit high.” Iza’s voice was soft over the com link.

  “I know,” I replied. “You get used to it with this bunch.” I turned off the warning flashing in the corner of my vision and took a deep breath that didn’t go unnoticed by the women at the table.

  “Ladies,” I said, resting my hands on the table and pushing to my feet. “I will say this only once, so I suggest you listen closely. Times are changing. You can like that or not, because no one—not even I—can force you to choose something that is not in your heart.

  “Times are changing,” I repeated. “Indrana must change with them or fall into the rubbish heap with so many relics of the past. I am not my mother, and the Indrana of the future is not my mother’s empire. There is a wealth of untapped potential in our citizenry, and it is long past time our laws reflected a recognition of that potential.”

  I looked around the table. “I could force each and every one of you to show up to that meeting today, but I can’t force you to hear Tazerion’s words and I can’t force you to open your hearts.”

  Alice stood also. “Her Majesty is right. I was skeptical and unsupportive of the Upjas, but I have come to realize that it is time to let go of the arrogance of our past. I encourage you all to actually listen today. Not with the intent to speak back, but simply to hear their message. I encourage you to talk with your own sons. You’ll likely be surprised when you do.”

  A stunned silence followed Alice’s words. I bit my lip to keep my smile in. Less than a month ago she’d told me she didn’t believe in the Upjas’ cause, but it seemed something had turned her around.

  “Well, thank you for that, Your Majesty. Alice.” Clara cleared her throat with a smile and tapped her fingers on the tabletop as we both sat down. “Zaran and Alice have prepared a full report on the meeting. I recommend everyone read it before this afternoon.”

  Matriarch Hassan knocked her knuckles onto the table. “As fascinating as this pet project is, can we discuss a more pressing matter? The empress needs to produce an heir and needs to name someone in the interim to make sure there’s no confusion in the line of succession. War is looming. The populace is nervous. This would go a long way to calming them down.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and tried not to glare at Admiral Hassan’s mother. “Me having a baby is more important than the million other problems this empire has right now?”

  Clara shook her head. “You do need an heir, Majesty. Matriarch Hassan has a point. Indrana cannot afford to be leaderless, especially with things being so volatile at the moment.”

  “For obvious reasons, anyone from my father’s line is no longer eligible for the throne.” I gave Loka a small nod. “Any other distant relations are only children and too far removed from the direct maternal line to be considered. Taran and myself are all who remain of Mother’s line.”

  “You cannot name Taran, Majesty. The law—”

  “I am fully aware of the law,” I snapped, cutting off Matriarch Tobin’s protest, and the elderly woman blinked at me in shock. “I am merely pointing out the impossibility in front of us. I have no family left.”

  “All the more reason for you to get cracking, child.” Matriarch Maxwell thumped her fist on the table with a wheezing laugh. “Find a nice-looking and reasonably intelligent young man.”

  I dropped my face into my hands with a groan. Now was definitely not the time to let the council in on my barrenness. All Naraka would break loose.

  Alice thumped her own knuckles on the table. “What Matriarch Maxwell is saying, admittedly without much tact—”

  “Pfft, when you hit my age, child, you’ll see tact is a waste of time.”

  Alice smiled sympathetically at me. “I understand there is a lot going on right now, but it is important you start interviewing candidates, Majesty.”

  “Fine,” I said, leaning back in my chair and thumping a fist on the tabletop. “In the meantime, I’m naming Alice as my heir.”

  The room exploded into chaos.

  Alice gaped at me, her cheeks going pale. “Majesty, no. I don’t want—”

  “And that’s exactly why I chose you.” I pointed across the table, ignoring the din. “You all pushed for this—don’t protest now.”

  “Majesty, you can’t make such an important decision without—”

&nb
sp; “This is ridiculous.”

  “Majesty, this is something you should consider carefully—”

  “Are you suggesting I’m acting impulsively?” I asked Clara with a raised eyebrow.

  “Majesty—”

  “No, seriously. I’ve been watching Alice since I got here. You all act like I haven’t given the issue of who’s running this empire after me—or if something happens to me—any thought at all. I am neither an idiot nor taking this lightly. Alice is highly capable. I trust her to have the empire’s best interests at heart.”

  “Your Majesty, this is highly irregular.”

  “Dhatt.” I ran my tongue over my teeth. “Matriarch Acharya, I am still in the mood for executions. I know for a fact that you were in agreement with the old Matriarch Khatri, and I have reports of you meeting with her outside the palace on more than one occasion, so I would advise you not to cross me right this second.”

  “Are you threatening me?” She gaped. “Matriarch Khatri was an old friend of mine; are we now under suspicion for any interactions we had?”

  “Have you been paying attention? I don’t threaten,” I replied. “We’re done here. Alice is my heir; if anyone would like to formally dispute that, let Matriarch Desai know.” I waved a hand. “Now get out.”

  Everyone left except Alice and Clara.

  “I’m going to be sick,” Alice murmured.

  “Not on the carpet.” I grinned at her. “Don’t worry—you’ll get used to the idea.”

  “Majesty, the fallout from this—”

  “We’ll handle it, Clara. Alice can do the job if something happens to me. That’s the important part of this, if I recall.”

  “At least until Your Majesty has a child.”

  I cleared my throat and forced a smile in Clara’s direction. “Of course.”

  You are going to have to tell someone about that one of these days, Hail, the voice in my head cheerfully reminded me.

  I snarled silently at it as I left the room.