The Emperor's Arrow

by Lauren DM Smith

  Going to pull out her arrows, Evony bit her lip. If she left and went home, how long would it be before word reached them of his death? How could she live with herself if Galen died?

  Tears pricked her eyes more strongly than ever at the thought of losing him forever. She yanked out the last of her arrows and jammed it into her quiver then ran for the trees, wetness welling up in her eyes. Evony blinked rapidly, trying to halt the tide, but she knew she was fighting a losing battle.

  Surrounded by greenery like her home, the pressure became too much and the dam burst. Evony slowed her run as her vision went wavy, tears streaming down her face. She pressed her forehead against the nearest tree trunk to hide her face as drops continued to fall. This wasn’t how this was supposed to happen. She was supposed to have competed, been eliminated, then found herself a lifemate. She wasn’t supposed to have to deal with plots, she wasn’t supposed to be ordered home, she wasn’t supposed to be forced to choose between duty and—This wasn’t the life she wanted, the one she’d planned for. But it was the life she was stuck with now.

  Evony let her tears flow, little sobs escaping her every so often as she thought about something happening to Galen. She was still so angry with him, afraid for him, and desperate to keep him safe. But how could she? He had ordered her to leave! She couldn’t disobey him, but she couldn’t leave him either.

  Her thoughts awhirl, her emotions still rushing through her, Evony fought her tears down. She had indulged herself enough. Crying wasn’t going to fix everything, as much as she wanted to collapse and sob until she passed out. She swiped at her face with the back of her hand and did her best scrub off the worst of the damage.

  She took off at a fast clip, not running, but not really walking either. Evony headed deeper into the trees, not wanting anyone to see her yet. She had her pride and she wasn’t about to explain to anyone why she’d been crying.

  The quiet under the trees, only interrupted by birdsong and the rustling of creatures through the leaves helped Evony get the rest of her emotions back under control. She’d been trained to do just that under a canopy not so different from this one, the green light and almost familiar scents and sounds helping ground her. By the time she had herself in a state where she could think clearly and without tears, Evony found herself on one of the riding paths that seemed to snake this way and that through the woods.

  Evony followed the trail, having at least some sort of direction feeling more reassuring than wandering aimlessly through the trees. Of course, when she caught sight of the green building through the leaves, she wished she’d chosen differently. Still, she thought, as she got closer and closer to the mausoleum, at least she knew how to get back to her room from where she was.

  Avoiding the green building and its reminder of death, and the death of Fusciennes at that, Evony headed instead for the Amazzi monument. Just seeing the familiar script of home helped calm her further. Even if it didn’t really help her current situation. With a sigh, Evony began to walk around and around the monument. She always thought better when she moved her body, something she attributed to her mother’s training and not often in a good way.

  No matter how many times she went through her options, Evony always came back to the divide she was stuck with. Either she stayed, throwing away her honour and that of her people, and kept Galen safe, or she obeyed his orders as duty demanded and likely left him to die. Both choices would only end in pain for her, and likely suffering for her people. She couldn’t see any way out of it either. Galen had ordered her home.

  Round and round she continued, eyes on the stone monument at the centre of her orbit. She had to obey, didn’t want to obey, was trapped. Her steps hurried as her emotions rose again. She had to go home, had to get on the ship. If only her home wasn’t—

  Evony stopped dead as a thought occurred to her. She stared at the Amazzi words as inspiration struck. She grinned as her plan fell into place in her mind. Galen thought he’d won this game, but she was about to show him who he was up against. Practically laughing with relief, Evony turned and raced back towards her rooms. If this was to work, she needed to pack, and to be safe, she had a letter to write.

  Chapter 19: Going Home

  Shifting her pack so it sat more comfortably on her back, Evony found herself dressed almost identically to how she had been when she’d arrived, just the bandage on her arm marking her as different. Even her abuse the day before hadn’t been enough to reopen the wound that was half-healed already. All the competition chitons and overdresses she left neatly folded in her room, while she wore one of her short chitons and her cloak. She left the hood down as she walked out of the hall where the other girls still stayed.

  This early in the day, none of them were out, which Evony thought was better for everyone. She didn’t need to see Admina’s tears or Venita’s smirk. She sighed as she reached the walkway and the two men waiting for her there.

  Evony didn’t recognize either of the soldiers, not that she expected to. She was sure Galen would have picked people who didn’t know her, to prevent her from trying to bring them over to her side, or whatever else he thought she’d do to get out of getting on the boat. Obviously he didn’t know Amazzi that well. He’d ordered her to get on the ship, and she’d get on it.

  The two soldiers fell into step behind her, one to either side. Evony barely paid them any attention, heading straight for the palace gate. She half expected to see Galen on her way out of the imperial wing of the palace but didn’t see anyone except a few servants. That was probably for the best, she decided, not certain she’d be able to keep it together if she saw him.

  Down one walkway they went, then turned down another. Evony didn’t pay much attention to what she passed, more concerned with what was coming. The walk to the ship was her last chance to change her mind, her last chance to do what she probably should do, what either of her sisters would have done.

  What she couldn’t.

  Evony shook the distracting thoughts away and offered a smile to the soldiers they passed on the gates. The men, both of whom she recognized, stiffened and offered her salutes as she walked past. She wondered if they’d been told where she was going.

  Out in the city proper, Evony still felt that the place was too big, too full of people, even when it was barely dawn. Carts, chariots, carriages, oxen, horses, donkeys, and people all filled the streets, the smell of dust, dung, sweat, and smoke all overwhelming the fresh morning air. Evony was glad she hadn’t had to spend much time outside the palace. She really didn’t know how people could stand the smell and the noise.

  Dodging her way in and out of the thin crowds that made up the traffic this early, Evony headed straight towards the harbour, the only other place she’d been in the city. She was glad it was a relatively short journey, the harbour only a mille from the palace complex. Even going against most of the traffic, it didn’t take them more than half an hora to reach the docks.

  Evony inhaled gratefully when they finally rounded the corner and were greeted with the sight of several of the ships and far more importantly, a refreshing sea breeze. It blew away all the other smells and made Evony smile.

  Walking down the wooden expanse of the main dock, Evony eyed the ships, a slight frown appearing on her face. She supposed she should have asked which ship she was supposed to get on. Then again, Galen had to have told the guards, or how could he be sure she got on the right one? About to turn and ask, Evony caught sight of something familiar.

  She didn’t know much about ships, but Evony thought that the vessel in a berth three up from them was the same one she’d come up on. As she got closer, she recognized the green paint and wide eyes painted to either side of the bow. She was certain of it. This was the boat that had brought her from Silvinsula. That would definitely make things easier for her.

  Evony walked straight up to the ship, only stopping in front of the gangway
. She turned to look at her two guards and smiled. “I’m here and about to get on. You can head back now.”

  The man with the beard bowed. “Our apologies, brightness, but his majesty was clear that we aren’t to leave until you are on the ship.”

  She sighed. “Fine then,” she said, turning and heading up the wooden plank. She didn’t stop until she was standing on the ship’s deck. She gave the two men a little wave so that they could tell she was actually on the ship. They gave her full bows and then turned to head back towards the palace.

  Evony snorted and wished them luck. She had more important things to do. While sailors moved all around her, tying ropes, moving boxes, and all sorts of things she didn’t really understand, she went in search of the captain. He was easy to find and the same man from her last voyage.

  Taller than most men she’d seen and stocky, the captain’s bellow could be heard anywhere on the ship. Currently, he appeared to be yelling at his cook. “What do you mean you could only get three barrels of salted meat?”

  While she hated to interrupt, Evony didn’t have a lot of time if she was to pull this off properly. She stepped up so she was beside the grovelling cook and smiled at the man in charge of the ship. “Captain Lubin,” she said when he turned towards her. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

  “Ah, Evony of clan Aureline,” he said, smiling. “I’m surprised we haven’t seen you before now. I was under the impression you weren’t too happy to be coming in the first place.”

  She grinned. “Things change. On that note, I need you to do something for me.”

  “Anything.”

  Evony hid a darker side to her smile as she dug the sealed letter she carried inside her chiton out. “I need you to deliver this to my family. You need to get it into the hands of someone from clan Aureline, I don’t care who, but it can’t go to anyone else, do you understand?”

  Lubin’s smile slowly faded. “Why don’t you just—”

  She shook her head. “I’m not coming with you. There are things I need to finish here, important things. I know you’ve been ordered to take me back to Silvinsula, but trust me, what’s in that letter is as important as bringing me back. I just can’t afford to go.”

  “Princeps Evony—”

  Evony didn’t let him finish. “Promise me you’ll get the letter into the hands of someone from my clan.”

  Lubin stared at her and she held his gaze steadily. Finally he sighed. “Can’t say I like it, but I suppose I do owe you for your help with those pirates on our way in. I was told to take you home, that it was the emperor’s orders for us to sail to Silvinsula, but as you’re a Princeps, I’ll just say you ordered me. We sail as soon as we finish our preparation, so you won’t be able to change your mind. We were only waiting for you.”

  She grinned. “Sounds like you’re set then.”

  He nodded, then frowned. “You certain about what you’re doing? Where will you be going?”

  Evony laughed. “I’m going home,” she said, before she flew back the way she’d come.

  Without having to wait for the soldiers, Evony was able to run through the crowds, darting in and around people like a swallow after insects. It took her half the time to get back to the palace that it had taken her to get to the harbour. She hadn’t seen her guards, but there were enough people that she could easily have missed them.

  She didn’t slow until she reached the palace gates. She stopped in front of the soldiers there, her cloak swirling around her as she grinned at them. “I’m back,” she said.

  They stared at her for a moment then one smiled and the other saluted her. They let her in without question and she hurried past them, with a wave and a promise to see them later. With a smile set to split her face, Evony kept running, barely keeping laughter from bubbling up out of her. She had found her solution, she had obeyed the orders of the Adnuhom and could still stay in the palace. Could still keep Galen safe.

  Ignoring the stares of some of the people she raced past, Evony continue her loping run towards the imperial wing, ignoring the sweat beginning to form from her cloak and the sun now fully above the horizon. Nothing was keeping her from what she most wanted to do.

  When she reached the narrow hall that led to Galen’s room, Evony slowed to a fast walk, not wanting to spook the guards on his door into thinking she was assassin number three. She flashed her grin at the soldiers, who waved her through without challenge. She didn’t say anything, but she was definitely going to have a talk to them about that. She should have at least had to prove who she was, even if they recognized her. Who knew what kind of disguises an assassin had access to?

  Once in the main room, Evony glanced around, finally spotting Galen near the window, lying on a divan with a book over his face. She frowned slightly, but slid her pack off, dropping it as quietly to the floor as she could. Only then did she pad over to him.

  She couldn’t help the grin that slowly spread back across her face as she stopped and reached over to yank the book off his face. “I told you, I am not to be dis—” he stopped, his mouth open when he opened his eyes and saw her standing over him.

  He choked, spluttered, and struggled to sit up. “W-what are you doing here?”

  Evony grinned. “I came to see you.”

  Galen jumped to his feet. “I ordered you to get on the ship and go home!”

  “Yes, you did. I got on the ship like you ordered. You forgot to order me to stay on it, so I got right back off again. And as for going home, I am home.”

  “No, you are not!”

  “Actually, yes I am. I made a decision yesterday. My home is where you are,” she said, smiling softly as she looked at him. His tawny hair was a mess, his blue eyes blazed as they looked at her, his cheeks rough with stubble, dark circles just showing underneath them. Even so, he looked good to her. “I love you, Galen of clan Fuscienne, and I won’t be moved in that. You are what I have chosen, and if you try to get rid of me, I’ll make it as hard as I can and I’ll come back as soon as I can. I’m Amazzi and we’re very stubborn.”

  His expression flickered then he glowered at her for several moments while she only grinned back. Finally he sighed and sat back down onto his divan. “I do not know why I bother,” he said, head bowed, hands loosely clasped together in front of him, his voice lighter than his words. “You never do what I expect and are always turning everything upside down on me.”

  She sat down beside him, reaching out to put a hand on top of his. He looked at her and she smiled. “That’s my line. Now, can I come back or do I need to do something really crazy?”

  That got her a real smile. “I cannot win against you. You can stay. It is not as if I have another ship I could send you back on. You must promise that you will be careful though.”

  “Only if you promise me the same.”

  “I promise,” Galen said.

  “Then I promise too,” Evony replied, unable to stop another grin from stretching out. This was how it should be. They both sat in silence for several moments before an idea brought a faint smile to her face.

  Feeling bolder now that everything was in the open, Evony leaned towards Galen and kissed him. He froze for a second then kissed her back. She shifted closer, preparing to straddle his lap as she had previously, she hadn’t forgotten how clever he was with his fingers, when the sound of the door interrupted them.

  Balint took several steps in, gaze on a sheaf of papers before he looked up and noticed them. He blinked then grinned. “I swear, I’m not trying to make a habit of this,” he said. “And normally I’d tell you to continue, but there are things that must be dealt with. Though I have to ask, is Galen done being stupid?”

  Evony chuckled as she stood, her cheeks a little pink at being caught again, though really, there wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about. “Yes, he seems like he’s done, but we’l
l have to watch him to ensure he doesn’t try something again.”

  Galen glowered at both of them. “Remind me why I keep you two around?”

  “Because you need actual human interaction and you’re not good at trusting new people,” Balint replied, smacking his nephew in the chest with the papers he held. “I have the reports from our men in the city and the latest recruit numbers.”

  Galen sighed and ran a hand through his hair then turned to Evony. “My apologies, but this is pressing. Once it is finished...” Galen trailed off as Balint beamed at the two of them. He coughed, glaring at his uncle, before he continued. “All of your things have been left in your room if you wish to return to where the other candidates are. I can send an escort with you—”

  Evony cut him off with a shake of her head. “I’ve had enough of being escorted by soldiers for today,” she told him, with a smile. “And I know the way back. I’ll just get myself settled back in. I’ll see you later?”

  Galen nodded. “Take care.”

  “Glad you’re back,” said Balint.

  Evony smiled at both of them. “If you need anything from me, let me know,” she said, snagging her pack and heading out, passing Rakin on his way in as she went. They nodded at each other but said nothing. She waved at the guards as she passed, deciding to lecture them later or have Balint do it, as they were under his command.

  Humming to herself, Evony strolled back towards her room, glad that Galen hadn’t moved everything out as soon as she was gone as she’d half-expected him to do. It certainly made her life easier. If she was really lucky, none of the girls would have even noticed she was gone, and she could slip back in without any fuss.

  As if to mock her thoughts, when Evony reached the hall she found all the girls assembled there, with Venita standing in front of the others, speaking. As she got closer, she could hear her words. “...those barbarians are only of use in battle and the fact that we were forced to endure the presence of something closer to an animal was likely part of the competition, a test to our mental fortitude. She was never a real consideration for his imperial majesty, merely a formality that had to be observed.”