Behind the Throne

by K. B. Wagers

  “Alba, I’m glad to see you unharmed.” I smiled at my chamberlain when she came into the room, but it was brief and crowded out by the grief that settled around me. “Where’s my mother?”

  “The empress-mother’s body is still in her quarters. Bial locked them. I believe now that your Ekam has access, he can unlock them.”

  “Emmory?”

  “Yes, Majesty?”

  “I want to see my mother.”

  27

  Not only had Bial gone to the trouble of protecting Mother’s maids, but he’d instructed them to prepare her body for the funeral. The mystery about my mother’s Ekam deepened. If he’d been involved in her death, it made no sense for him to be so concerned about her body.

  It looked like she was asleep, dressed in a pristine white dress and a purple sari with her hands folded neatly on her stomach.

  “Majesty.”

  I flinched, startled by the sound of Emmory’s voice, and blinked up at him. “I never told her. I meant to, but it just never came up. She didn’t know why I left home. She didn’t know I was trying to—” I gave up and rubbed my hand over my stinging eyes.

  “It doesn’t matter, Majesty. We don’t get to say everything that needs saying before the end. She knew you loved her. You have to let that be enough.”

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him down to the floor. “Thank you.”

  “Majesty?”

  “For bringing me home,” I said. “Thank you for giving me the time with her. Sometimes I still”—I laughed—“think that this might be a huge mistake for the empire because I’m pretty sure I’m going to screw it all up. But I owe you for this.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Majesty. I was just doing my duty.”

  “I couldn’t do it without you. How long have I been sitting here?” The sudden pain of movement answered my question before he could and I didn’t fuss when Emmory helped me to my feet.

  “A while, ma’am.”

  The time stamp on my smati confirmed his words. I’d been sitting there for over an hour.

  “Bugger me.” I leaned on him, abruptly aware of the weight of the crown still on my head and the fact that I hadn’t eaten anything since early in the morning. Coupled with the massive adrenaline crash, I wasn’t entirely sure that I could make it back to my rooms without falling on my face.

  “Breathe.” Emmory held his hand up in front of my face, the tips of his gloved fingers brushing against my cheek. “There’s food in your rooms.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him, but inhaled. My head cleared and my legs no longer felt as limp as oct-noodles. “Emmy, did you just drug me?”

  “Temporary fix, Majesty. I am assuming you don’t want to be carried back to your rooms.”

  “Good call.” I straightened and cracked my neck. “Right.” Confident I wasn’t going to fall over, I let go of Emmory and cleared my throat. “You said food?”

  “Waiting for you in your rooms.”

  I didn’t look back at my mother’s body again as I left the room. I’d see it at the funeral, and anyway it didn’t matter. She was gone.

  My family was gone.

  Emmory’s hand on my elbow stopped the tangle of emotions before they could well up and strangle me. It kept me from losing it when Mother’s head maid stopped and bowed before me.

  “Your Majesty.”

  I’d never much cared for Subra; she had been constantly on my case to behave as a proper princess when I was younger. But she’d taken care of my mother so faithfully right up until the end.

  “Thank you,” I said, holding out a hand.

  She took it, the grief clear in her blue eyes. “It was an honor, Majesty. You will need maids.”

  “I know.” I smiled at Subra as I laid my other hand over hers. “And we both know that trying to corral me would drive you crazy within the hour. You were always very good to my mother. I won’t forget that. Please, go grieve. When this is all over, we’ll talk about your retirement. I promise that you and all of Mother’s maids will be well taken care of.”

  “Of course, Majesty. Thank you.”

  Surrounded by BodyGuards, I made my way back to the rooms.

  Collapsing onto the couch, I took the offered plate from Kisah. “Thank you.”

  “Of course, Majesty.”

  I wasn’t sure I was ever going to get used to people calling me that, but I tried to roll with it. I wasn’t going to get her or anyone else to just call me Hail, not without almost getting myself blown up again.

  “Majesty, Ambassador Toropov would like to see you,” Alba said.

  “All right. Send him in.” I made an effort to sit up, and even though it was a useless gesture, I tugged my stained shirt into some semblance of order.

  Cas came through the doorway first. “Highness—” He broke off, crimson stains appearing on his cheeks. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Your Majesty, my apologies.” His new rank as second-in-command gleamed on his low collar. I was privately surprised that Emmory had chosen Cas to replace Nal instead of Zin and made a note to ask him about it later.

  “Forgiven. The promotion suits you, Cas.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  “Your Majesty, it’s a relief to see you well.” Ambassador Toropov didn’t look at all like he’d just spent the last several hours holding off an assault on his living quarters and I felt a little uncomfortable in my disheveled state.

  “You also, Ambassador. Have a seat. Are you hungry? Would you like something to drink?”

  “A drink would be appropriate at this point, I think.” He nodded once and sat across from me. “If I may, Your Majesty, it has been an interesting few weeks since your return. I am an old man. I’m not sure my heart can take all the excitement.”

  I laughed and picked my plate up again. “I suspect you’ve caused your share of excitement in your time, Ambassador.”

  “True enough.” He took the glass Stasia handed him with a nod of thanks. “I have heard rumors that some of the insurgents were dressed as members of my kingdom’s military?”

  “I heard the same rumors. I have yet to see any actual proof of it. Though it’s not outside the realm of possibility that those responsible for all of this decided to play on the tensions between our nations.”

  “Well said,” Toropov murmured, sipping at his drink. “It would also explain the supposed attacks by Saxon military on your territories.”

  Thankfully I had just taken a bite of ajazut—a local lamb-like creature—and couldn’t say the first thing that came to my mind. Instead I gave Toropov a smile and a tiny shrug. I set my plate aside and swallowed as I stood. “Well, I am glad you’re unhurt. I’m sure someone is taking care of cleanup around your quarters. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to let Alba know.”

  Ever the consummate politician, Toropov took his cue and rose. “Your concern is appreciated, Your Majesty, and I am much relieved to see you well. We will talk again soon. I will, of course, inform King Trace. I suspect he will contact you tomorrow.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  The incoming ping of a call sounded as soon as the door had closed behind Toropov. I sat back down to answer it.

  “Admiral.”

  Admiral Hassan smiled. “Your Majesty. Cleanup is almost complete. We’ve got the insurgents who surrendered in custody. We’ll see what, if anything, we can get out of them about this plot.”

  “Probably nothing,” I replied, shrugging. “If whoever is behind this is the least bit capable, they wouldn’t have shared their plans with the grunts on the street.”

  “True. We can always hope, though.”

  “Any news on General Vandi?”

  “None, ma’am.” Hassan’s look was grim. “No one can raise her smati. It looks like the blast that took down HQ may have killed her. Admiral Shul just reported that Major Bristol stole a shuttle with a handful of ITS troops and fled the battle group. According to Shul, your brother-in-law was headed for Canafey Major.”r />
  Bugger me. I swallowed down the curse. “I just had Toropov in here trying to convince me that the attack on Canafey was part of this whole plot. Was he right?”

  Hassan shook her head. “We’ve had too much physical proof to believe anyone but the Saxons are responsible for that attack, Majesty. Scattered sightings like the ones here on home world are easier to discount, but they’ve taken two whole systems. We can’t turn a blind eye to this.”

  “I know we can’t.” I hissed out a breath and shoved a hand into my hair.

  Hassan’s expression was grim. “We can’t not respond, Majesty. They’ve backed us into a corner. And now with Major Bristol bolting—”

  “Do you believe Shul?” I said abruptly. “Or do you think he’s lying?”

  She froze and the silence in the room was absolute. It took effort, but I kept from cursing out loud at my faux pas.

  “Ma’am,” Hassan said carefully. “I do not currently have any reason to disbelieve the admiral.”

  I suspected that if she had proof, this conversation would be a bit different.

  “I do think it’s best that we send someone to verify the news, Your Majesty,” she continued. “Unfortunately, by the time they get there—”

  “We’ll already know one way or the other, and if Shul is against us, we’ll have sent someone to their death.” I finished the sentence for her, and Hassan winced imperceptibly at my bluntness.

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “I’m going to mull this over, Admiral. Keep an eye on Shul but don’t do anything until we have another chat.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  I nodded and disconnected the call.

  “I don’t know what the Saxons are up to.” I tapped my fingers on my knee. “King Trace and I knew each other when I was young. We got on well together. The last time I saw him was when King Geri visited Mother the year before the war broke out. I suspect it was a last-ditch attempt to stop the growing tension. Obviously, it didn’t work,” I said to no one in particular.

  “The king was killed in a battle shortly after your father died, Majesty,” Emmory said. “King Trace was only seventeen when he took the throne.”

  “He fought Mother to a standstill.” I wandered over to the windows and cracked one open. The winter sky swept over the water like a painter’s fantasy in blue. “That says something.”

  “He is a master strategist, ma’am.” Emmory didn’t move from his spot when I passed him. “And very good at the political game. He knows the rules.”

  “True, but I’ve never much cared for playing by the rules. Emmory?”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “If the Saxons were involved in this plot, there’s a chance Trace didn’t know about it. They are a constitutional monarchy after all. Who knows what Parliament has been deciding behind his back?”

  Blowing out the breath I’d been holding, I tried to push my jumbled mass of thoughts aside. “I suppose we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it,” I said with a humorless laugh.

  Emmory didn’t answer. Instead, he crossed the room in several quick strides, and I frowned at his back. The reason for his abrupt movement became clear when he opened the door.

  Captain Gill entered, and when she stepped to the side, two ITS officers were revealed.

  My heart sank at the grim looks on everyone’s faces as General Vandi, her uniform stained with blood and covered in dust, lowered herself to a knee.

  “Majesty, it is my understanding you thought me disloyal. Allow me to offer my apologies for my failure to keep you safe and to—”

  “Shiva’s bones, woman!” I interrupted her. Hope sprang out of the ashes. “Why aren’t you in a hospital?”

  “My mother is a stubborn woman, Your Majesty,” the young man at her side said with a ghost of a smile. “When Director Ganej’s people finally dug us out and spoke with her? Well, the general wanted to see you immediately.”

  “Captain Gill.”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Sergeant Terass is indisposed. Is there another Farian on the grounds?”

  “I’ll see, ma’am.”

  “In the meantime, Emmory, find Dr. Ganjen.” I crossed to Mila and urged her to her feet. “Stasia, get some water.”

  “Majesty, I’ll ruin your couch.”

  “Fuck the couch,” I said and watched her eyebrows shoot upward. “Where are you hurt?”

  “Everywhere, ma’am, but nowhere seriously. I don’t know how we survived. My son—” She looked at the young man hovering uncertainly next to her. “Majesty, this is my son, Lieutenant Yara Vandi.” Mila took the glass Stasia gave her with a smile.

  “Majesty.” He snapped a perfect salute.

  “Lieutenant. At ease and sit down. Are you injured?”

  “No, ma’am. I’d come into the general’s office to tell her of the explosion in Garuda Square. I thought you were dead. Alarms started going off. Mom’s—the general’s—secretary ran in shouting we were under attack. I shoved the general under her massive desk and then the building came down around us.” He swallowed. “I don’t know how long I was out. Our smatis were fried from some kind of disrupter, ma’am. When I came to, the general was still unconscious.”

  “I woke up shortly after,” General Vandi said. “We were trapped for maybe an hour before the rescuers found us. Took almost as long to get us out. Caspel had some men looking for me; they filled me in and brought me to the palace.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Sorry I gave you cause to doubt my loyalty and sorry I didn’t see the rot sooner. I suspect some of my inner circle were involved.”

  “Your apology is accepted, as unnecessary as it is.” I reached out and squeezed her hand. “We’ll talk more when you’re feeling better.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Mila got slowly to her feet, her son immediately supporting her with an arm around her waist.

  The room spun around me and I had to lock my knees as whatever drug Emmory had used on me ran its course. My readings must have dropped because my Ekam was at my side, one arm unobtrusively holding me upright.

  He shared a look with Alba, who began to herd everyone out of the room. Stasia appeared on my other side, and between the pair of them I shuffled for my room.

  “Sleep well, Majesty.” Emmory lowered me to the bed. I mumbled something that was unintelligible and slumped over, letting the blackness take me.

  I slept hard but still woke up before sunrise and stumbled out into the main room wrapped in a robe against the chill. It was empty and silent. I padded over to the fireplace in the dim light and moments later had a decent fire going.

  “You could have had someone do that for you, Majesty.”

  I shot Emmory a glare. “It’d be a pity for me to survive everything only to die from a heart attack because my Ekam snuck up on me.”

  “I think you’ll survive.”

  “You might not. Damn it, Emmy, have you slept at all? You look awful.” I grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the couch. The fact that he didn’t resist said it all.

  “An hour, I think.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “We got conflicting stories from Ganda and Laabh—they were playing each other. It’s fitting in a way. Nal’s story aligned with Ganda’s; I think she was a handy tool and little else.”

  “I’ll make sure she knows that before she dies.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  “Those three repeatedly tried to kill me, Emmy. That in itself isn’t much of a shock.” I shrugged, nonchalance seeming a better reaction than wincing at how easily he’d accepted my declaration. “What pisses me off is that the last time they used a little girl to get to me and killed my people in the process. I’ll stand for a lot, but that crosses a line. Sixty-four people died in that explosion, hundreds more were wounded. We lost twice that at the ITS headquarters. They deserve justice.”

  “They almost got you, Majesty. Jet—” Emmory broke off and grimaced. “I’ve got readings on the bomb. He sent them to me before it expl
oded. It coalesced in that little girl less than ten seconds before it went off.”

  “Ramani.”

  “Majesty?”

  “Her name was Ramani,” I murmured. “She was—wait. What? It coalesced in her?”

  “We had no warning until just before it went off.” Emmory nodded sharply. “If we’d been trapped in a building, the explosion would have been magnified, or if Jet had been a few seconds slower, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I’ve got Kisah and Tanish working on a way to detect the bomb components before they fuse together inside the person.”

  “They put the bomb inside that little girl.” Shock and horror waged a war inside my chest, reducing my heart to ashes. I didn’t know why this was so much more awful than the idea of a bomb strapped to her but something about it shut down the tender, forgiving parts of me.

  “Majesty.”

  “I am going to kill them myself.”

  Emmory caught me by the arm before I could get up. “First, Majesty, you’re still in your robe. Secondly, you’ve already forbidden a trial for them. The public will support you on that because they’re still in shock. You won’t get away with it for everyone who’s involved in this.”

  “There will be no trials! There will only be those guilty of this massacre. I have every right to bring judgment down on their treacherous heads.”

  He met my venomous tone with calm silence, staring at me until I felt like I was about four years old.

  “They killed a little girl, Emmory,” I whispered.

  “They killed my men,” he countered. “They killed and injured a lot more people than just Jet and Ramani. Don’t mistake my calm for apathy, Majesty. I want this rot cut out and destroyed as much as you do, but I’ve already told you we’re dealing with powerful people. There’s your mystery man to think of. We’re not so lucky as to have Ganda and Laabh be the ones actually behind this. We have to be careful, doubly so because you’re trying to cement your position.”

  Emmory put his hand on mine. The warmth of it sank past my horrific chill. “The empress thinks ten steps ahead, not just one or two. You damn sure can’t afford to make any snap judgments here. These aren’t gunrunners with nothing to lose. They’re powerful people who’ll stop at nothing to keep their power and to get more.”