The Emperor's Arrow

by Lauren DM Smith

  Admina smiled softly. “They sound wonderful.”

  Evony wrinkled her nose. “I wouldn’t go that far. Everyone gets into everyone else’s affairs, we all live so close together that we know everything about each other, and at times, it feels like there’s no escaping the rest of the clan. I still have a secret fortress in the woods where I go when I need some time alone. I built it as a child and have only been adding to it since then.”

  “It still sounds lovely to me,” her friend said, turning her eyes towards her embroidery.

  Rather than argue, Evony followed suit, pulling out one of her smaller knives and turning her attention back to the spoon she’d started carving near the start of the competition. She thought it was a waste to leave it unfinished, so when Admina had asked if it would be alright for them to sit outside so she could work on her embroidery rather than walk, Evony had agreed immediately.

  They sat in silence for a while, both focused on their respective crafts. It was Admina who broke the silence. “Do you have a favourite spot on Silvinsula?”

  Evony had to think about it. “I guess one of my favourites would be the meadow pond. As you can imagine, it’s a meadow in the forest that has a pond in it. But in spring the whole place is filled with purple, blue, and white flowers. And during summer the pond is one of the best places to go swimming, the water’s always warm but never hot. In autumn, there are always mushrooms, nuts, and sometimes beets. And it’s beautiful when the leaves change, especially when the sun shines through the leaves. Even in winter it’s pretty, though very stark, when the ice and snow encrust the trees so they shimmer like crystals. I went out there in a full moon one winter and the light made the snow look purple while the ice shimmered silver. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

  “I wish I could see that.”

  “If you come to visit, I’ll show you. There are a lot of other beautiful spots too. There are cliffs that overlook the sea, huge trees that have the whole area under them in green twilight all day, and meadows that are like rainbows in spring.”

  Admina shook her head, smiling. “The more you talk, the more I want to go,” she said. “Speaking of rainbows, do you have a favourite colour?”

  Evony blinked. “My favourite colour?” Her friend nodded, blushing. That made her chuckle. “I suppose you wouldn’t know since we’re all stuck wearing the colour of our provinces. But for me, it’s hard to decide between green and red. Green reminds me of home and I find relaxing, but red I find more fun. How about you?”

  “I like pink and orange,” Admina replied, cheeks still coloured.

  “I should introduce you to my sister Obelia then. Orange is her favourite colour, the brighter, the better. It’s almost as bad as her poetry obsession.”

  “You’re close with your sisters?”

  Evony shrugged. “I guess. They nearly made themselves sick, they were laughing so hard when they found out that coming here was my prize for winning the archery competition. Then they tried to scare me. Which I can’t blame them, because if it had been one of them, I’d have done the same thing. Still, as much as I hated it at first, I’m glad I came,” she replied, smiling as she thought of Galen. He wasn’t anything like what she’d expected. But she was glad that she’d had the chance to meet him. She couldn’t really imagine what her life would have been like if she’d hadn’t now, even though that had been her plan.

  “I’m glad you came too.”

  She had to smile at Admina for that. “I’m glad I got to meet you too.”

  “What will you do after the competition?”

  Evony frowned. She intended to stay by Galen, but she really didn’t know what he planned, what he would want to do and want her to do. She didn’t intend to go back to Silvinsula, but if he chose another, she couldn’t imagine how she could stay. Still, so far that didn’t seem likely so there was no point in worrying over it. She sighed “I don’t know. That will depend on a lot of things.”

  Seeing the look on Admina’s face, she smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, you’re one of the first people I’ll let know once I know what I’m doing. I won’t leave without telling you, alright?”

  Admina’s answering expression was bright. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” she replied. In the shade, warm, and sitting in comfortable silence while her hands worked, Evony had to admit that this was the kind of quiet break she needed. For just this time she let herself forget about plots, assassins, and the vipers hiding in the palace.

  Chapter 22: Broken Slumber

  Evony’s eyes snapped open and she rolled out of her bed, knife in one hand, the other reaching for her unstrung bow before she fully registered why she was awake. There was no one in her room or even outside it, but her window and the night breeze brought her the sounds of distant shouting. And this wasn’t the sound of people in revelry. No, Evony knew the sound of battle when she heard it.

  It took her no time at all to fully arm herself, string her bow, and tie her quiver and its belt around her waist. Only then did she leave her room. As much as she wanted to run straight to Galen’s room, to reassure herself that he was fine, she had a duty to the other girls first. Especially since none of them could fight.

  She wasn’t much surprised to see Chana already out of her room, looking around, eyes wide. Admina joined them a moment later, hair dishevelled, her face pale even in the faint light. Neah was the last to emerge, bursting out of her room like she thought the soldiers were in there. Evony waited a moment, then frowned. “Wait here,” she told the others before checking the room beside hers and the one across from it. Both were empty.

  Gaze narrowed she went back to the others who were all but huddled together. “Where are Venita and Paran?” she asked.

  They all looked at her, shaking their heads. Evony hissed but left it. She couldn’t go running around looking for them, not when she didn’t know the situation. Regardless, if there was fighting going on inside the palace, she knew what she had to do. But first she needed to handle the girls.

  She swept the three of them with her stare, projecting confidence and authority. She didn’t have time for questions or arguments. “Are your families loyal to the emperor?” she asked, a hand ready to go for her knife if any of them tried something crazy like attacking her.

  The girls stared for a moment. Chana shook herself free of paralysis first and nodded. “My family is.”

  “Then you need to go find them, get them to gather their warriors and help defend the emperor and the palace.”

  Chana glanced at the door and bit her lip. “Out there?”

  Evony glowered. “Are you a Primus or aren’t you? Your duty is clear. I’m not asking you to fight, only to go to your family. You will be safe there with them, won’t you?”

  “I...” She trailed off, straightening and holding her head up high. “I am Primus Chana of Yarkona and I will do my duty to the emperor and empire.”

  “Good,” she said nodding, then turned her gaze to Neah. “Is your family loyal?”

  She swallowed, but bowed her head. “I swear on the honour of the Dimon family that we will fight for the emperor.”

  Evony smiled coldly. “Excellent.” Her gaze went to Admina, who was staring at the ground. “And your family?”

  Her friend flinched. “My brother...he will wait to see who is likely to emerge the victor and then...”

  She sighed. “There is nothing you can do about that,” she replied. “Stay with me for now then. You two, good luck and I hope to see you when this is over.”

  Neah and Chana bowed, the latter looking calmer. “We will do our duty.”

  “Stay safe,” she told them. “And do your best to stay away from soldiers you don’t know. We don’t know for certain who is loyal and who isn’t.”

  They both looked at each
other, clearly ill at ease, but gave her half bows before they hurried out. Evony turned to Admina then and said, “We’re heading to Galen’s room. Stay close.”

  Her friend nodded, face still unnaturally pale. Evony didn’t have time to worry about how she was holding up and took off in a loping run. If things were as bad as she suspected, if this was a full on attempted coup, then she had to focus on protecting Galen.

  Admina followed behind her, running, though slow enough that Evony reduced her speed slightly. The halls and walkways of the palace were dark, the moon only the tiniest sliver of silver in the sky, the stars providing most of the illumination. Evony could hear other running footsteps, but none approaching them so she ignored them. She saw shadowy figures in the distance, but again, as they weren’t coming towards them, she put them out of her mind. Until she was with Galen, she couldn’t waste her energy worrying about things that didn’t pertain to reaching him.

  Evony didn’t slow again until they reached the narrow hall that was the chokepoint to Galen’s rooms. With a panting Admina following close behind her, Evony strode down it, stopping at the end so that she could be seen in the light of the lanterns that were always burning outside Galen’s door. “Princeps Evony of Aureline and Rector Admina of Miletum,” she told the soldiers who held their unsheathed weapons in front of them.

  “Go ahead,” said the man, shifting away from the door just enough that they could squeeze past.

  “Thank you,” she said, heading straight in with Admina a shadow behind her.

  The lights in Galen’s room were on, the man himself standing near the middle of the room, listening to a young soldier speak. Evony headed straight towards him, only listening with a half an ear to what the stranger was saying as she moved to stand beside Galen. He offered her a sidelong look and slight nod, his attention on the soldier. “...hit the barracks from all sides. Men on night duty saw them, so they could barricade themselves inside, but no one can get out. I only got away because I was out using the jakes. I came straight here, but I don’t know—”

  “Leave that to me,” said Balint, having come in behind Evony and Admina almost silently.

  Galen frowned at him. “What do you intend to do?”

  “I’ll round up those soldiers I can and try to break through the attack on the barracks. If we can get our men out, we should be able to roll over these upstarts,” he said,turning to look at Evony. “Can I leave Galen’s safety in your hands?”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  “That’s what I thought, but it’s important to ask.”

  Galen looked from one of them to the other. “I am not certain this is a good idea.”

  “If this is people trying to take over, you’re going to be their number one target. And everyone is familiar with our tactics, since everyone here fights the same. Except Evony here,” Balint said. “Amazzi tactics are ideal for this kind of situation. I’ll leave you the door guards as well.”

  “Thank you. We’ll find somewhere out of the way and defensible. Normally I would have us be a moving target, but with so much unknown and not knowing who we can trust fully, I think that might end poorly.”

  “Good idea.”

  “I have no choice in this matter, do I?” Galen asked.

  “No,” they chorused.

  He sighed. “Then I have to accept.”

  “Good boy. Listen to Evony and stay out of trouble.”

  Galen looked at Balint, face a stoic mask. “Remember, you are not allowed to die.”

  His uncle laughed. “Same goes for you. I’ll see you when this is all over,” he replied, jerking his head at the young soldier and heading right back out the door with the younger man right behind him.

  Once the door closed, Evony turned to look at Galen. “Are you ready?”

  He nodded, one hand clenched so tightly his arm shook, face gone full statue as she was beginning to realize was his way of shutting down emotions he didn’t want to deal with. Normally that would have bothered her, but in this situation it was exactly what they needed. She inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of responsibility not only for her life but also Admina’s, the soldiers’, and Galen’s. And by extension, everyone loyal to Galen. It pressed down on her like a hand on top of her head and shoulders, but she did her best to not show it. She’d been trained to lead, and lead she would. For her sake and Galen’s.

  “Before we leave we need to do something about the three of us,” Evony said, mind racing through all the issues, dangers, and things they could potentially face. “Your guards outside will be fine, since all soldiers dress the same. But we’re all too easily identifiable.”

  The other two looked down at themselves then at her. “What do you suggest?” Galen asked.

  “If you have a simple helmet somewhere or can find one, you can blend in well enough with the soldiers once your hair is covered and your face is at least partly hidden,” Evony said. “I’ll take one of your sheets and rearrange it like a longer chiton or overdress over my clothes. For Admina, I’ll need to borrow something with colour to create a stola or scarf for her.”

  “I have a helmet, and I have a cloak that we could use for Admina,” Galen said, already heading towards his room. “I will go get them.”

  Evony followed. “I’ll grab the sheet then.”

  Once they were in his room and out of Admina’s sight, Evony stopped Galen long enough to grab a fistful of his tunic. She dragged his head down and kissed him hard. “Don’t you dare die on me,” she told him then let go.

  He stared at her for a moment. “I share a similar sentiment.”

  She flashed him half a smile before grabbing the sheet off his bed and heading back out to Admina. “Tell me if this looks right,” she said as she wound the material around her body, leaving it loose enough that she could get at her weapons, but enough that they were at least partially hidden.

  Her friend studied her for a moment then shook her head. “May I?”

  “Any help is appreciated. We don’t have the luxury of being wrong.”

  Admina bit her lip but nodded. She grabbed some of the loose folds and rearranged them, tucking some into other places and tying others. When she stepped back, the whole affair looked more like the draping she often saw on statues rather than the rush job Evony’s had looked like. “Thanks.”

  The other girl ducked her head as Galen came back into the room, helmet tucked under his arm, cloak in his free hand. “Here,” he said, tossing it to Evony.

  She caught it. “Your turn,” she told Admina.

  “I can do it myself. I’ve worn a stola,” she said.

  “I’ll leave it to your expertise,” Evony replied then looked at Galen. “Is there anything here that are absolute symbols of the emperor? Anything that shouldn’t fall into the hands of anyone in charge of this insanity?”

  Galen frowned. “I had not thought of that. The imperial seal and the Fuscienne family signet ring...I had best bring them with us.”

  “That was my thinking.”

  He hurried over to his desk, grabbing a large metal seal and slipping on a ring. He hesitated for a moment then grabbed a small carved box, inlaid with stone. She gave him a questioning look with a glance at the box. Galen’s lip thinned. “It is...my sister gave it to me and I...”

  Evony’s eyes widened and she nodded. “Here,” she said. “Let’s wrap it in something to keep it from getting scratched and I can keep it in my quiver. If you’re comfortable with me holding it?”

  Galen offered her the tiniest ghost of a smile. “I should think I would trust you with something like this if I am trusting you with my life.”

  In the end, Evony ended up cutting a scrap of cloth off a curtain to wrap the small box in, carefully slipping it to the bottom of her quiver. She prayed the tips didn’t cut through and damage it. She didn’t kno
w how she could face Galen if that happened. Still, that would mean they were alive, so there were worse things that could happen.

  By then Admina was ready and Galen had his helmet securely fastened and his sword strapped to his side. “Alright,” she said, double checking her own weapons. “Let’s go. This is the first place anyone will look for you, especially given the narrow hall. The sooner we’re away from here, the better. Do you know of anywhere that would be defensible where most people wouldn’t think to look for you?”

  Galen thought about it for a second, his brow wrinkling as he nodded slowly. “There is one place that might suit us. It is a storage area among the servants’ areas. I often hid there as a child when I did not want to attend my lessons. Only Balint and Callisa were ever able to find me there.”

  “Then let’s aim for there,” Evony said, already opening the door.

  The three of them stepped out, with the guards stiffening. “We’re moving somewhere else, somewhere that no one will find us hopefully. For the duration, I need you two to follow my orders, and you’re to treat Galen as your comrade so no one realizes who he is. Can you do this?”

  They saluted. “We’ll follow your lead, brightness.”

  “Good. Then stay with us. Galen, which way is it?”

  “Head towards the original hall you were housed in at the start of the competition,” he said, pointing.

  “Alright,” she replied, striding forward into the darkened hall.

  Already the sound of shouting was closer, and worse, Evony could tell it was coming from more than one direction. That didn’t bode well for them. If the rebels were hitting more than one place, it would mean they could be attacked from multiple directions, and that help would have a lot harder time finding them. She hoped that Balint could find enough men to break out the barracks and run through their enemies like a sword through straw.