After the Crown

by K. B. Wagers

  Which was how I found myself in Father Westinkar’s study midmorning several days later sipping a glass of whiskey. I pushed away from the table littered with empty dishes and wandered to the small window. The wide sill was the same gray stone that made up the rest of the room, and it was cold under my palms.

  The day was gray, the sun struggling to cut through the heavy cloud cover and failing miserably. “Is this winter ever going to be over?”

  “Nothing lasts forever, Majesty. Not the cold, not the heat.”

  “Nothing lasts,” I murmured, still staring out the window. There was an ache in my chest I couldn’t define.

  “I would tell anyone else that the gods last.” Father Westinkar smiled. “But I know that means very little to you, Majesty.”

  He was right, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud. I had some newfound faith. It just didn’t include believing gods lasted forever. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing meeting Trace?”

  He raised a gray eyebrow at me. “I am just a priest. My opinion on state matters is worth very little. However,” he continued before I could finish my inhale and voice my protest, “Indrana needs peace. More war—especially one we are unlikely to win—does us no good.”

  “So in other words, what harm can it do?” I returned to the table and tossed back the last of my whiskey. “I could start a war, Father.”

  “You have been in war, Majesty, or something close to it. I can see it in your eyes. You would not throw your people needlessly into such horror.”

  “You have a lot of faith in me.”

  Father Westinkar laughed and spread his arms wide. “I am a priest, Majesty. Faith is something I have an overabundance of.”

  I hugged him and laughed, but it was strained enough that the priest held on for a second longer before he let me go.

  “You are a good person, Your Majesty. Never doubt that, and never doubt your abilities.”

  I mustered up a smile as I stepped away. “Thank you for lunch, Father, and the conversation. I appreciate it.”

  “My door is always open, Majesty.” He bowed low, exchanging a nod with Cas as he came up. My young Dve returned the nod and we headed back through the temple.

  Emmory’s new schedule may have given my chamberlain and my new heir heartburn. I, however, loved the fact that I could lie down for an hour before my meeting with Alice so that I wasn’t all groggy and dimwitted.

  It was necessary. My heir was quickly getting over her awe of me and had started to voice her opinions during our regular get-togethers.

  Most of the time she remembered I was empress.

  “There are a few women obviously not qualified to be part of the negotiating team,” I said, leaning back in my office chair and fiddling with the photograph of my father and his friends. “Matriarch Maxwell is too old for space travel.”

  “Don’t let her hear you say that,” Alice murmured with an amused look.

  “Clara is also out of the question; we need her here, along with Zaran. I don’t want to disrupt her work with the Upjas.”

  “You crossed Matriarch Zellin and Prajapati off the list?”

  I nodded. “We’re still not sure about Tare Zellin’s involvement in the Christoph affair, and given her sister’s poor judgment I’d rather not be on a ship with Matriarch Prajapati right this second even if she did publicly denounce Maya’s actions.” I studied the list for a long moment. “Do we think Matriarch Tobin is in good enough health to go?” Masami Tobin had a sharp mind despite her age, and I could see her laughing in the face of the Saxons and their male-dominated culture.

  “According to her last physical, yes.”

  “Let’s ask her then. I was thinking about asking Matriarch Naidu also. I thought the work would help take her mind off things.”

  Alice shook her head. “She is doing poorly, Majesty. I don’t think she would be as focused as we would like.”

  “True.” I set the frame back it in its spot. “What are your thoughts on Caterina Saito?”

  Matriarch Saito was fourteen years older than me and had been quiet during all the debates on my legitimacy. Her family ran one of the largest private banks on Indrana.

  “She and my mother were close, despite their age difference,” Alice said. “Her husband died the year I was born. Mother used to say she never recovered from the loss, and threw herself into her work instead. She’s smart, Majesty; I think she’d be a good choice.”

  I slid Caterina’s name over to the other side of the screen and studied the remaining names. “I want Matriarch Vandi,” I said, sliding the youngest member of the council over as well.

  “She’s very inexperienced, ma’am. Her mother only passed last year. I’m only five years older but I’ve been on the council for—”

  “I want young. She’ll bring a fresh eye to the whole thing.” I smiled at Alice. “Times are changing, aren’t they? Best if we use the ones who are more open to it.”

  “Is that why I’m not going with you?”

  I blinked at her in surprise. “What?”

  “I’m not going because I’m not open enough in my thinking. Too set in my ways even though I’m younger than you are.”

  “Are you putting your mother’s words in my mouth?” I asked softly, and Alice flushed.

  “I’m sorry, Majesty. I just—”

  “You’re not going with me because you’re my heir, Alice,” I replied, tapping a finger on the desktop. “Both of us off-planet at the same time is bad enough, but to have us in the same room on an unsecured planet with potential hostiles? If something went boom, where would that leave the empire?”

  “Why do you assume something is going to explode?”

  I shared a look with Emmory. “Because something always does. You should probably figure that out, Alice, before it catches you off guard.”

  She nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Matriarch Desai wanted to remind you that Prime Minister Phanin will be part of the delegation.”

  “More’s the pity,” I said. “We’ve still got a week though; maybe the prime minister will fall and break something in the shower.”

  “Majesty!”

  I rolled my eyes at Alice. I’d been browbeaten and overruled about having Phanin as part of the delegation by practically everyone. In truth I wasn’t all that surprised, as “I don’t like his face” wasn’t a good enough excuse to bar someone of Phanin’s abilities and political clout from the negotiations.

  I needed someone more experienced and he was the man for the job… no matter how much I disliked him.

  “You dislike him because he’s an ass.” Taz shifted in his hospital bed, winced, and hissed at me when I moved to help him. “Leave off, Hail. I’m fine.”

  We were alone in the room, which was the only reason he could get away with both the irritable tone and using my name. Still, he smiled sheepishly when I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “You still have that disapproving eyebrow. Can I blame that slip on the pain meds?”

  “Nurse Suggitt says you’ve been refusing the meds the last few days, so I’d say you’re better off blaming it on the lack of meds. Or being an idiot, take your pick.” I stood. “Now, do you want me to help you or should I call Oni?”

  Taz sighed. “You’re as much of a bully as Nurse Suggitt is, Your Majesty. Don’t call her. I really am fine and she’ll fuss for a half hour if she comes in here, which means I lose my time with you.”

  He gave me such an earnest smile I sat back down. “I’m only going to be gone a week.”

  “The last time you left I didn’t see you for twenty years.”

  I made a face at him. “Saying stuff like that is what leads to the gossip, you know.”

  Taz smiled. The bruising on his face was fading and his obvious cuts were healing. It was the internal injuries that kept him under Oni Suggitt’s watchful eye.

  He wasn’t healing as fast as Dr. Flipsen had hoped, and the concussion had been brutal enough that Taz occasionally forgot where he was or
how to do simple tasks like use a fork. He’d protested but she insisted on keeping him until he’d been at least a week without any episodes once his internal injuries were fully healed.

  “What?” I finally asked when I couldn’t take the silence any longer.

  “I do still love you, Hail.”

  My heart twisted. “Taz, please don’t.”

  “Hear me out? This needs to be said.” He reached for my hand. “I always will, but I know things are different now. I can see the ghosts in your eyes.

  “I’m grateful for the chance to get to know you again and hopefully forge a new friendship. I’m not going to push for more than you want to give. Let them gossip, you and I know the truth.”

  His gentle words eased one of the million knots that had taken up residence in my stomach, and I let slip a relieved laugh as I squeezed his hand.

  “I am really glad you didn’t die.”

  “Me, too.” He grinned and released me. “All right, Your Majesty, enough sappy talk. Captain Gill said they found some bone fragments that were ID’d as Christoph’s.”

  Nodding, I settled back in my chair after giving his hand one last squeeze. “They did. Ilyia seems fairly sure that’s all we’re going to find given the size of the explosion and the fact that he was right on top of it when it blew.”

  “Lucky we even found that much,” Taz murmured. “When are you leaving?”

  “Three days. I’ve instructed Alice to continue to come see you and keep you updated.”

  “Do you think she’ll actually do it? I’m pretty sure she doesn’t like me.”

  “She’ll do it because I told her to.” I smiled. “And you’ll be surprised, I think. She may not support the Upjas movement as wholeheartedly as Zaran, but she’s fair and she believes in what’s best for Indrana.”

  “I promise I’ll behave myself.”

  “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  “I am crushed you think so poorly of me,” Taz said.

  “Prove me wrong.”

  His amusement fled and he stuck a hand out at me. “I swear I will, Majesty. We want what’s best for Indrana, no matter the cost.”

  I took his hand in mine. “So do I.”

  14

  Good morning, Your Majesty.” Phanin bowed low.

  “Morning.” I waited for him to come up before I smiled. “Would you care to join me on my walk?”

  “With pleasure. One does get quite restless on board, ayah?” He fell into step with me, Zin trailing behind us.

  Emmory had shifted the team assignments on board the Para Sahi. Even with the size of the massive ship, it was close enough quarters that trying to go anywhere with three Guards made the already claustrophobic space unbearable.

  Besides, Captain Starzin had assured me her crew was loyal and since I trusted Zin’s older sister, I was reasonably sure no one was going to try to kill me.

  At least no one on board.

  We’d jumped from ship to ship after leaving Pashati and boarding Admiral Hassan’s command vessel, the Vajra, finally settling the whole delegation into the Para Sahi.

  Phanin had suggested we break the delegation into separate ships, but that made it more challenging to organize meetings on the trip to Red Cliff.

  I’d promised Alice I would try to get to know the prime minister better, and that meant being on the same ship with him.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  “Surprisingly yes, Majesty. I think I’m sleeping better here than at home.” Phanin smiled. It transformed his severe face into something more pleasant. “Might have something to do with the fact that I’m not being bothered several times an hour.”

  I laughed. “It might.”

  I’d had the best sleep of my life the first night on board. I hadn’t even realized how much I missed the gentle hum of a ship’s systems until we were under way. My claustrophobia didn’t extend to spaceships, not that the Para Sahi was in any way cramped. There were perks to being the empress—my cabin was massive.

  “I have that list of requests you wanted, Majesty,” Phanin said. “Shall I send it to you?”

  “Yes, please.” We were three days out from Red Cliff after this morning’s float into warp. Even though this meeting was largely informal, I wanted a solid platform of issues to talk with Trace about.

  Starting with Canafey.

  According to Caspel, the situation was bad and moving steadily to worse. The only good news was his operative had retrieved Governor Ashwari, and they were going to meet us at Red Cliff.

  It didn’t answer the question of how I was going to retrieve the forty-seven brand-new ships from a shipyard near an occupied planet, but it meant I would be able to do it. We’d left the three ships that had escaped back at home where they’d be safe.

  If Caspel’s operative got the governor to us alive, or soon enough after her death for us to retrieve the information from her smati.

  I shuddered at the gruesome thought, and Phanin looked at me in concern.

  “Always so chilly on board,” I lied with a smile.

  Only Emmory and I had been there for the final meeting with the GIS head before our departure. Caspel had asked that we keep the news about Governor Ashwari secret, and even though I was trying to improve my attitude around Phanin I had no trouble with the request. The fewer who knew about the governor and Caspel’s operative, the safer the pair was.

  We walked along in silence until we met Matriarch Masami Tobin and a guard coming in the opposite direction.

  “Good morning, Your Majesty.” The elderly matriarch greeted me with a smile and let go of her guard’s arm to curtsy.

  “Good morning. How did you sleep?”

  “Horrible. Too noisy on board these things. Apparently the children had no trouble though; I’m certain they’re still asleep.”

  The fiery older woman hadn’t supported me in the beginning, but she’d come around eventually. Luckily for me her support of my cousin had been more logical and less emotional in nature. Despite her age, her mind was sharp, and she’d been my first choice to come along for the negotiations.

  The “children” were the two other matriarchs, Sabeen Vandi and Caterina Saito, who rounded out my delegation and gave some balance to Tobin’s acerbic personality. Matriarch Vandi was practically a child at only twenty-seven. Matriarch Saito was almost twice her age, but still far younger than Masami Tobin’s eighty-seven years.

  I hunted for a suitable reply, but thankfully the matriarch didn’t need one as she turned her attention to Phanin.

  “And a good morning to you, Prime Minister.”

  “Matriarch.”

  “I will leave you two here. I must head back to my quarters for a meeting with Alice over the com, and I’m sure that someone will insist I eat first.”

  “Eating doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Phanin said. “Would you like to join me, Matriarch Tobin?”

  I left them deciding if they were going to eat in the mess hall or in Masami’s quarters and headed back down the hallway with Zin at my heels.

  “Your meeting with Alice isn’t for another hour, Majesty.”

  “Thanks for not saying that until we were around the corner.” I smacked Zin on the arm. “I didn’t fancy getting sucked into having breakfast with those two and I do have some things to read before that conference with Alice.”

  Three days later, I sat on the edge of my seat as one of the shuttles from the Para Sahi took us down to the surface of Red Cliff.

  The tiny independent world was located some seventy-five hundred light-years from the Ashvin system and about twice that from Trace’s home planet of Marklo. Designated as Tango on the Solarian Conglomerate’s list of neutral planets, Red Cliff was available as a meeting site for occasions just like this.

  For a price.

  I didn’t begrudge them that. It was one of the major means of income for this little blue jewel floating out here all alone. I’d gladly paid the fee, since I was the one who’d requested the meeting
in the first place.

  The fact that Trace had offered to pay half was kind of endearing, though it added a wild story to the rumors flying around that marriage to Trace’s little brother was on the table as part of the negotiations.

  It didn’t help matters that Trace had been in discussion with my mother—before she started her slide into madness—about the possibility of a union between his youngest brother and Pace.

  Now there was no one left except for me. However, I was seventeen years older than Prince Samuel and there was zero advantage to that sort of alliance—even if it were up for discussion.

  I pushed aside the maudlin thoughts and stood as soon as the pilot gave the all clear. Shaking out the cream silk of my sari, I let Alba fuss for a moment with my hair. Stasia had done it up into a complicated braid and there was a spike with rare black Earth pearls hanging down it in a midnight cascade.

  It was similar to the one I’d used to bust out of the room on the Para Sahi back when this all started. The synchronicity appealed to me and I’d let her put the fanciful thing in my hair.

  “Majesty.”

  I nodded to Emmory’s unasked question and followed him from the shuttle.

  Trace waited inside the hangar a few meters from the shuttle, surrounded by his own bodyguards. A retinue as large as my own stood behind him.

  A man with pale skin and jet-black hair smiled from the edge of the ramp.

  “Your Imperial Majesty.” He executed a bow with all the pomp of one used to the motion. “I am Executor Billings. Welcome to Red Cliff. We are most pleased by your choice of our planet. If there is anything you need at all, please don’t hesitate to ask me. If you’ll permit me, I will introduce you to the others who were invited.”

  “Thank you, Executor.” I paused a moment under the pretense of letting Alba fix something on my dress so I could get a look at Trace through the filter of my BodyGuards.

  He wore a shirt as blue as his eyes tucked smartly into a pair of black pants I was willing to bet were military issue. The boots were combat ready, and I felt a pang of envy because Stasia had insisted I wear something “proper” on my feet. My only victory had been that the shoes were heelless, but it appeared that might have been a miscalculation because it put me several centimeters below Trace in height.