by Megan Derr
She looked over at Sabah, who was sitting quietly beside Ihsan, one hand resting on his forehead, pulling away occasionally to stroke his hair or fuss with the blanket Sabah had draped over him. "Sabah." He looked up. "Would your father accept if I asked him to take on the role of Steward, at least temporarily?"
He smiled faintly, approvingly. "Ordinarily, probably not, but under the circumstances he would gladly help."
"Good. I—" she broke off at the sound of a commotion outside the door, right before her father came blowing in. He stopped short when he saw her at the table, Gulden, Asli, and Canan with her or nearby, cleaning up the mess that had been made in what must have been quite the struggle. Euren preferred to keep ignoring it, especially the blood staining the pale floor. "Captain."
Pain and worry flickered across Fatih's face, but he did not voice his concerns, simply dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "Majesty, all councilors and ambassadors are accounted for, safe and sound."
Euren nodded. "Confine the ambassadors to their rooms. They are not to leave them, and if they try, they will be dragged into a cell and left there." She drew a breath, letting it out slowly. "Arrest all of the councilors save for Lord Cenk. Send him to me."
He looked up again, eyes widening, but after a moment, he dropped his head again. "Yes, Majesty. Do you want them given any explanation, past the obvious?"
"The obvious will suffice. Let me know if they cause a disturbance."
"Yes, Majesty." He rose, bowed, and with a parting look of concern followed by a smile of reassurance, strode off to carry out her orders, calling to his guards. The sound of their heavy steps, the rattle of swords and armor, could be heard until they turned off the hall.
Divine, that was going to take adjusting. Euren rested her elbows on the table and cradled her forehead in her hands.
"You should eat something," Canan said, piling up the rags they'd used to clean up the worst of the mess.
"I'm not certain I could stomach it right now."
Gulden dropped down next to her, brushing back a strand of hair that had slipped free of her loose knot. "Try anyway, because it's going to be a long day. I'll fetch it—and find some servants to finish cleaning this place." She kissed Euren's cheek then rose and left. Asli replaced her, looking over the paperwork and steadily sorting through it.
"Sabah," Euren called. "Do you know why Ihsan came to see you tonight?"
"No, unfortunately, though if I had to guess I would say he wasn't able to sleep and was working instead. He's been trying to sort out the financial anomalies; he may have come to ask me about them. But he could have also just wanted to be worn out." A bare smile flickered, but then it vanished, and Sabah bent to watch Ihsan again.
Someone knocked on the door, then swung it open at her call. A guard stepped into the room and bowed. "Majesty, Lord Cenk is here to see you."
"Thank you." Euren pushed her papers aside as Cenk entered, sank to his knees, and bowed low. She was never going to get used to that. "Lord Cenk, thank you for coming so quickly. I am certain I do not need to explain the situation, or the direness of it, to you."
"No, Majesty," Cenk said quietly. He slowly sat up, glanced at Sabah and Ihsan, then back at her. "I am honored you've not put me with my fellow councilors. How can I serve you?"
"With Bulut gone, and all that has happened tonight, I am in need of a Steward. Will you accept the role, at least temporarily, until the palace is settled and certain problems are resolved?"
He bowed again, and whatever he felt about the situation was hidden from sight, though she doubted it would have shown on his face anyway. Sabah had definitely gotten his calm, contained demeanor from his father. "It would be an honor, Majesty. Have you a specific duty I should attend first?"
"The councilors," Euren replied. "Sabah and Kitt must have told you what we've been trying to unravel. I want the councilors picked apart, every stone of their lives overturned. Secure their families, their deputy councilors, the staff and servants. No one leaves this palace, or communicates beyond its walls, without permission from you. I want to know who was party to and orchestrating the slave trading, who was bribed into compliance, who was being blackmailed."
Cenk nodded. "Yes, Majesty. If I may, Lady Seth is trustworthy. She can oversee council matters and begin to look for possible replacements, as we will surely be needing at least a few of those in the very near future."
Lady Seth was Master of the Temples, charged with overseeing all the temples in the kingdom. She was not a priestess herself but had very close ties to them. Attempting to drag her into a slave ring would have guaranteed failure. "Very well, see it's done."
"Majesty," Cenk replied and rose. "I will come find you when I've something worthwhile to report, or at the end of the day, should I have something or not."
He left and Euren sighed. She should have brought up the financial problem, but that could wait until matters were a little less chaotic. She was going to be busy enough soothing angry ambassadors and planning a royal funeral.
"He did not mention my father," Asli said softly. "In all of this, no one has once said that my father might be free of wrongdoing." Tears fell down her cheeks.
Guilt and remorse curled through Euren. She dropped the papers she'd picked up and hugged Asli tight. "I have every faith your father is a victim, not a conspirator. I'm sorry I locked him up. I can—"
"No," Asli cut in sharply. "Don't play favorites. If he's party to this, even by force, then he has to—has to stay right where he is. I'm sorry, I shouldn't complain—"
Euren kissed her, hard and biting at first, gentling it slowly. "I won't let anything bad happen to him if it can absolutely be avoided. I am sure most of the councilors are victims of blackmail. We'll straighten it out, and I'm certain Cenk will make sure your father is one of the first cleared."
"Knowing my father," Sabah interjected, "he knew why he was being called here, had already considered your father, and by the time he arrived, had laid out a rough plan on how to proceed." He smiled when they looked at him. "I should add my father has never been beaten in taaki, and he doesn't always understand why no one else plays it as easily as him. He has a strategist's mind; it exasperates my mother to no end that he always seems three steps ahead. It's troubling so much was done under his nose because that means someone knew my father is that shrewd, which confirms that a lot of powerful people in the palace are tangled up in this mess."
"Well, that strength will also be the weakness that brings them down," Canan said. "If they are anywhere near as smart as they think, they'll start thinking of sharing their secrets to keep their heads attached."
Nodding, Asli drew back and wiped the tears from her face. "My father had best hope so, or my mother will insist on being the executioner."
"I have every faith your father will see sense," Euren said. The door opened again, and Gulden reappeared, though her arms were empty. "I thought you were going to make me eat."
"Oh, I am," Gulden said. "But you can't work here. I have servants preparing one of the smaller offices for you and bringing food and tea there. By the time you've changed into more suitable clothing, all should be ready. Come along, my queen."
Euren nodded and stood, feeling numb and faintly queasy as she walked with Asli, Canan, and Gulden back to her room. Once there, they quickly washed off again, cleaning away sweat and blood. Then Euren let them dress her: snug, dark orange pants; a skirt of dark blue with dark orange, stylized, geometric flowers trimmed in gold; and a dark blue shirt that came to her hips, with bands of orange on either side. The sapphire choker around her neck felt heavy, stifling, and the cuffs around her wrists felt like manacles. She quelled the panic clawing through her body, focused on stupid, silly, little things, like the scent of sweet, flowery soap clinging to Gulden's skin and how pretty all three of them looked.
They added sapphire earrings, then pulled her hair loosely back, securing it with a sapphire and amber comb. Withdrawing, they quickly dressed themselves
. Euren wished it could have been a happier occasion the first time they dressed fully as royal concubines before the court. Like Ihsan's harem, they wore black pants and skirt. Canan wore gold bands shaped like snakes around her upper arms, longer ones on her forearms, and a necklace of colorful jewels around her throat. The long tail dangled down and just barely fell into the space between her bare breasts. Jeweled hoops gleamed in her nipples, another in her stomach.
Gulden was dressed in gold and diamonds, a gold net over her bound hair, a collar spreading down over her chest to just barely cover the tops of her breasts. Asli had chosen rubies, ropes of them around her throat and waist, a gold chain connecting them, and more at her ears, wrists, and forearms.
"Am I causing unnecessary trouble by reclaiming my harem immediately in the wake of the king's murder?" Euren asked. "It may be too distracting, or cast suspicion."
"You killed the man who tried to kill you," Asli said. "Let people whisper and be scandalized. They will also realize that you are not to be trifled with." She gave a sharp nod to emphasize the words. Gulden and Canan murmured their agreements.
Euren drew a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "Well, I became a princess by way of scandal, I suppose I may as well continue on that path. And I would rather have you with me than be alone."
"Majesty," the women chorused, bowing low before they fell into step around and behind her as she led the way from the room.
Six guards were waiting for her, all bearing the black sashes of the court. They escorted her through the halls of the palace to the office Gulden had ordered prepared. Several people were clustered there waiting; their whispering faded off as they saw her, and one-by-one they bowed low.
Except for three: two women and a large, looming man with dark eyes and a face mostly hidden by an enormous beard. He glared at Euren, voice rough and deep as he said, "King Kagan dead, Prince Ihsan nearly, and you show up in finery with your harem? Didn't waste any time, did you, Majesty?"
"Be silent," one of the guards snarled, stepping forward, hand falling to rest on the hilt of his sword. "You will show respect or—"
"Or what!" The man snarled. "She'll lock me up or kill me like the others. We aren't stupid. How long until Captain Fatih is appointed Steward, and suddenly we're all under the power of a new family. Well done, Majesty, I'll give you that. Very well done. The ruthlessness and patience are actually to be admired."
Euren lifted a hand when two more guards stepped forward to help the first and take the man away. She glanced at Asli, who said, "This is Lord Karti, brother to Lady Beleth, Councilor of Tey Province."
"Lord Karti, the councilors have been under suspicion for certain activities for quite some time. Murdering King Kagan, and attempting to murder Prince Ihsan and me, was a step too far. Until I ascertain who is responsible, I am afraid they will remain locked up. If we had been harder on them from the start, perhaps this wouldn't have happened. Please move."
Instead of moving, Karti shoved one guard into the other two then threw himself at Euren.
She grabbed his wrist, wrenched his arm back behind him, then kicked his knees out and pinned him to the floor. The guards rushed in and took him away. Another helped her to her feet, and three others escorted her and her harem into the office while the remaining guards dealt with the scattered, alarmed crowd.
The door closed behind Euren and her harem, and she burst out, "Merciful Divine! Forget the tea, I am going to need the strongest wine available if I am going to get through this day." She moved to the table in the middle of the room, where tea, food, and all the paperwork from Ihsan's room had been arranged, along with paperwork that must have already been there.
Merciful Divine, she did not know where to begin.
"With the tea," Gulden drawled. "Stop panicking about what is to be done; focus on something you can do. You'll feel better after the tea."
"Right. Yes." Euren sat down, stomach still churning, but after a few sips of tea offered up by Canan, she felt a little steadier. The food still held no appeal, but under Gulden's scowl she obediently nibbled as she started going through the paperwork again.
Asli worked beside her, eyes moving rapidly as she read through everything, while Gulden and Canan sifted through Kagan's papers to sort out matters for Euren to address. "Did you want to hold court today?" Canan asked.
"No. Cancel it the rest of the week, in deference to the tragedy. I'll make up for it with extended hours the next few weeks."
"Yes, Majesty. You're going to need secretaries, unless you want to use Kagan's," Asli said.
"I'll talk to Cenk," Euren replied. "I need to speak with him anyway, see what he knows about his Treasury and Collector Masters. What else needs to be addressed immediately?"
"The council, but Cenk said he was going to put Lady Seth on that." Asli shuffled papers, taking a stack that Gulden held out to her. "Oh. Yes. The palace harem. All those potential concubines arrived two days ago; they've been settling into the harem, and Sabah was meant to start interviewing them, sort out those who might be suitable, who must be sent away… There's a little over two hundred concubines, ninety-nine women and one hundred and seven men according to this, sitting around doing nothing. Without Sabah, the only one taking care of them is Ruth."
Euren frowned. "Sabah can't leave Ihsan's side. There's no one else I trust to watch him, except Kitt, who's busy. Which reminds me, we must write to Haluk and tell him about Ihsan. I'm sure he'll insist on remaining with Lord Demir…" She worried her bottom lip, stared at the list of names of men and women who had come to be palace concubines.
She was tempted, so very tempted, to ask Demir to come back. He would know how to take care of all the strays in the harem hall, would make certain they were sent on their way with food and money, or given a place in the palace if it was possible. But he had resigned, had essentially declared he wanted nothing more to do with the palace and its inhabitants. It wouldn't be right to ask him to come back. He deserved a peaceful life. "Ruth will have to manage until I can appoint a replacement. Formally abolishing the council's decision will take some time, unfortunately, but that's a problem for another day. First I have to get rid of this council and form a new one." She scrubbed at her face.
The knock on the door was both relieving and frustrating—a break from her work, but probably bringing new work. Her father stepped in when she called out and knelt just a few steps inside the door. "Majesty, Lord Kitt has returned with Lord Bulut in custody. People have noticed, and it is causing a stir throughout the palace, though my men and I are doing our best to keep everything contained and calm."
"Summon the palace to the great throne room," Euren said. "I guess it's time for a formal announcement." Merciful Divine, she really needed that wine.
"Respect, Majesty," Fatih said, slowly looking up. "Are you all right?"
She smiled, giving up any pretense of queen and captain. "I'm well enough. When there is time, tonight maybe, I'll tell you how everything really happened. How is the council behaving?"
"They're not, but there's little they can do, especially as we have them as spread out as possible, which keeps them from talking to each other. The ambassadors, I cannot do much about, but they are staying in their rooms for now."
"Let them out for my announcement, but see that each one is guarded at all times and escorted back to their room the moment court ends," Euren replied and slowly rose.
Out in the hall, Cenk came walking briskly up. "Ah, Majesty. I was just about to come speak with you." He smiled briefly and sketched Fatih a polite bow. "Captain, I see you beat me to it." He turned back to Euren. "I took the liberty of summoning the palace, save those confined, of course. Lord Kitt is in a waiting room so he will stop drawing attention. Did you want to be announced or walk in without it?"
"Without," Euren said. "Canan, the papers. Steward, there's something you need to look over. I meant to mention it before, but I am afraid I forgot in the chaos of everything." Canan came back out of the office with th
e financial papers. "Ihsan has been investigating the state of the royal finances, but he was not able to finish before he was attacked."
Cenk frowned, took the papers, and flipped through them. His face grew increasingly tense and angry as he did so, and by the end, they had crumpled where he held them. "My apologies, I should have noticed this months ago. That I did not is to my shame. I will address this matter shortly. Captain, by your leave, see that the Master of Collections and the Master of the Treasury are watched during the announcement and arrested at its conclusion."
"Yes, Steward." Fatih bowed in his turn, then signaled to guards waiting patiently further down the hall before striding off to clear the way and ensure all was ready for the queen's entrance.
Euren trailed after him, guards on all sides of her, Cenk at her side, harem behind. "Thank you again for taking the role of Steward, Lord Cenk. The help is appreciated."
"An honor to serve, Majesty," Cenk said, mouth curving. "Not that I was entirely free to say no, with the admonishing look I could all but feel radiating from my son. He seems to have grown into as fine a man as I knew he would. Though I could do with quieter, safer times, I am happy you're all home."
"It will be nice when everything calms down," Euren said. "I am sorry our return has caused such upheaval."
"It was going to come crashing down one way or another. Your presence—and Prince Ihsan's—has helped in the end, I think. Though I am sad that it drove Lord Demir away; we could use him right now, for many reasons."
Euren nodded, fighting the urge to worry her bottom lip. It would not do for anyone to see just how nervous and lost she really felt. "I considered writing him, but it feels wrong to ask that of him after everything he's already endured."
Cenk made a soft, thoughtful noise, then finally said, "I think Lord Demir would say that it is not your place to decide what is right or wrong regarding him. The only right you have is to ask and to respect his right to choose. If you want to write the letter, Majesty, I can send it out today, and he should have it within hours."
