The Emperor's Arrow

by Lauren DM Smith

  That made him laugh. “He is young, isn’t he?” When she only nodded, he grinned. “Galen sent me to fetch you. He says he has something he needs to talk to you about.”

  She studied the man in front of her as she considered her options. While she could refuse, she doubted anyone as high up as a legate would do something like try to lead her off in public to do something to her. And doubly so for her. She still had her bow and quiver in addition to the knives she regularly wore, which were all the more obvious in the short chiton she was wearing.

  Evony also had to admit that so far this man seemed to only want to help her. He’d gotten her into the palace and had backed her skill at the training fields. Really, he’d given her no reason not to trust him so far. “Where is he?”

  The legate flashed another smile at her. “In his rooms. He’s having breakfast and I ensured he had extra brought for you, since we’re pulling you away from your meal. And from what I’ve heard, you more than earned yours today. You’re leaving quite the impression on our archers.”

  Evony fell into step beside him. “I was in charge of training my brother before I came here. I don’t mind giving others advice. If they’re receptive to it.”

  “That is always the issue,” he said, nodding for a moment, the lines on his face momentarily deeper as he stared ahead. Then it was all smoothed away like it had never been there and he turned back towards her. “How are you finding the competition?”

  She wondered at what lay behind that brief expression even as she replied, “As it is, I imagine.”

  That startled a laugh out of him. “I can hardly argue with that! How do you like the palace so far?”

  “It’s quite different from home. There are a lot more people here, in such a small area. There is less wilderness here as well. Sometimes I find myself wishing for more trees,” she said as she shaded her eyes from the bright light pouring from a sun just above the horizon. She blinked a bit, not sure if the prickling was due to the sunlight or to the brief pang of homesickness she felt. It hit her every once in a while, but she did her best to push it back down. There was nothing to be done and she had her duty, so until she completed it, there was no point thinking about going home.

  They passed through an archway that led to a small courtyard filled with plants in shallow stone dishes arrayed in lines around the paved ground. The legate took the arched doorway on the right, leading them into the palace’s main building. “You should head out past the training fields,” he said. “There’s a small wooded area that’s kept up for people to ride through. I think you’d enjoy it there.”

  Evony looked back at him, surprised. She hadn’t realized there was such an area. Obviously her earlier explorations hadn’t been as in depth as they should have been. She smiled her thanks at the legate. “I’ll take a look when I have time. Admina might like it as well.”

  He grinned back, turning them rapidly down two halls until they were heading down a very narrow hall. They could walk comfortably side by side, but a third person would have had all three touching shoulders. At the end of the hall, the space expanded out around three arched doorways, each guarded by a set of soldiers. Their stances stiffened as their eyes found her weapons, but all they did was glance at Balint then settled into watching her carefully. Evony inwardly approved of the defensive opportunities the hall offered as she followed the legate through the open door on the left.

  The first thing that struck Evony was the contrast. Floored in gold-veined black marble with columns of matching stone that circled around the opening in the ceiling that lit up a single burbling fountain, the room was at the same time brighter and darker than everywhere else she’d been in the palace. The walls were painted with scenes of fantastical forests, mist wreathed mountains, and azure seas, all with creatures out of legend woven throughout. It was beautiful, if distracting.

  Across the fountain from them was a wide table made of white marble covered in piles of papers on the far end, while matching chairs encircled it, most softened with plush cushions. Sitting at the end, clear save for platters of food, was Galen.

  He frowned slightly as he watch them both approach. “That took far longer than I had thought it would.”

  The legate crossed his arms over his chest. “The palace isn’t small, which you should know.”

  Galen nodded, turning his attention to Evony, who gave him the full bow of her people. The sound of a throat being cleared caused them both to look back to the older man. He had his eyebrows raised, his gaze locked onto the emperor.

  He coughed quietly. “Thank you, Balint. I appreciate your help in this.”

  The legate chuckled. “And there’s the manners I beat into you. I’ll be next door looking over this year’s reports on new recruits if you need me.” He waved at both of them then sauntered back out the way he’d come.

  Evony shook her head at his departure and turned her attention back to Galen. His eyes met hers and he stared at her for a few punctums before he gestured towards the chair beside him. Evony didn’t need a second invitation. She sat down carefully, readjusting the way the quiver at her hip hung and leaning her bow up against the table her focus on the emperor.

  “What do you know of the feud between the Flanna and Vernell families?”

  Already used to the way Galen seemed to launch into conversations without preamble, Evony frowned. “I wasn’t aware there was a feud. It does explain why those two never went near each other. Then again, I assumed that was because they were in different factions.”

  “Factions?”

  “They weren’t as obvious when there were more of us, but there are four at the moment, but only two of them really matter. One seems to be me and Admina, while the other outsiders are Asahi of Aoi and Mahina of Alani. I wouldn’t really call us factions, except that none of us belong to the other two.

  “The main factions are Venita of Argentia’s and Chana of Yarkona’s. Venita’s includes the girls from Regem, Eirian, and Deniz while Chana’s is Tale, Dimon, and Gavino. Beyond knowing who’s in each, I can’t tell you too much about either. Though of the two, I much prefer Chana.”

  “Hmm...” Galen leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers against the arm for several moments. “That has a sense to it and does not at the same time. Is there a candidate you would recommend to me over the others?”

  “Not Venita,” Evony said immediately, then wished she’d kept that thought private.

  “Why not?”

  She sighed and did her best to put words to her feelings. “Venita wants to be empress for the sake of being empress. She’s... An empress should think of what she can do for her people. Venita only thinks of what people can do for her, from what I’ve seen.”

  “Then who would you recommend?”

  As much as Evony wanted to say only one name, she knew she had to be honest and fair. “It would depend on what type of empress you’re looking for. If you want an empress to be your partner, to take over for you when you need her to, someone who has ambition herself, then I would say Chana. She’s capable, clever, and well-liked.

  “If you’re looking for someone to be completely loyal, who will be a respite, who will be the balm to soothe people after you’ve had to be harsh, then I would say Admina. She is your opposite and would serve as a good counterpoint.”

  “Interesting... You have a unique perspective and your thoughts have merit. I will have to consider them once we have ferreted out the conspirators. Once we have burned them out root and branch, I can resume a more leisurely look for an empress,” Galen said, eyes and voice going hard as he talked about his enemies.

  Evony frowned. “Maybe you should push your people less.”

  He looked at her, a faint crease appearing on his forehead. “I do not understand.”

  “We Amazzi know that a cornered creature is at its most dangerous. All the ru
mours I heard about you prior to my arrival painted you as a man of overwhelming force who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy all his enemies, no matter the cost. If this is how you’re seen, and you keep pushing people, you’re only going to create more enemies. Even if you succeed this time, it will only be a matter of time before another group sprouts up.”

  Galen stared then ran his gaze over her, studying her like she was suddenly a different person. “At times, you have unexpected depths.”

  Evony snorted. “That’s true of everyone if you pay attention.”

  “Not in my experience.”

  “Then you’re not looking closely enough.”

  He frowned at her. “You are never what I expect.”

  “Then don’t expect anything.”

  “And if I wish to?”

  “Then you may end up disappointed.”

  That got his mouth half-quirked up. Evony wondered if he was actually capable of smiling let alone laughing. She’d pay money to see Galen laughing so hard he cried, the way her brother did sometimes.

  “Have you come to a decision on my proposal?”

  That brought Evony back to what was in front of her. She eyed Galen for a moment, before she nodded. “I would like to accept as it seems good for both of us. But I do have a condition of my own.”

  “Oh?”

  “I want you to keep Admina in this competition as long as I am,” Evony said. “Even if you don’t consider her for empress, I still don’t want her to be forced home. I get the impression she doesn’t get along well with her family.”

  “That is true. Her brother...he has ideas.”

  Evony waited for Galen to elaborate, but he said nothing further, so she shrugged. “Is it a pact then?”

  His gaze steady on her, Galen, the man who conquered the world, nodded. “It is a pact.”

  Chapter 10: Unexpected

  It was just after lunch when Rakin made his appearance in the candidates’ hall. Evony and Admina were heading out, Evony determined to find the wooded part of the palace complex that Balint had mentioned, when they saw him come down the hall and both stopped. Flanked by two guards and holding the same wooden box from the third task, the emperor’s aide had his usual neutral expression. It made Evony long to kick him to see if that would force the mask off. She didn’t get the mainlander habit of trying to hide your feelings. At least, she assumed it was a mainlander thing. She supposed it could be a palace thing...

  Evony refocused her attention on Rakin as the rest of the girls hurried forward to see what their next task was. Eyeing the box, Evony hoped it wasn’t another group challenge. She thought if she was with Venita in a group, she’d end up punching her. That girl didn’t seem likely to get better any time soon.

  “Greetings and congratulations on making it this far in the competition, ladies,” Rakin said, giving them all a half bow. “For your next challenge, you will each be drawing a piece of paper from this box, which will give you a task that you are to complete. It will also give you the location of your task. Each person’s task will be different. Now, if you would all be so kind as to draw a paper?”

  Evony held back as half the girls surged forward. She didn’t see much point in hurrying to pull out a surprise task. As the first few girls took a look at their papers, there were more than a few shocked and confused faces. “How am I expected to do this?” Venita demanded when she looked at hers, glaring at Rakin.

  He ignored her, focusing on moving around to the girls who hadn’t pushed forward, ensuring everyone had a paper. Evony watched Paran of Regem’s eyes narrow as she looked over her paper, while Chana only sighed when she read hers. Not a single person looked pleased with their tasks, making Evony more than a little curious.

  Unsurprisingly, Admina and Evony were the last that Rakin stopped at. Admina selected first, reading her paper with a pale face that quickly relaxed. Evony was about to ask what she’d gotten when Rakin cleared his throat offering her the box. Hiding a wince, Evony reached in and drew out the last slip of paper.

  In a bold, black script, her task was unmistakable. Muck out a stall: Stables.

  Evony raised her eyebrows and looked up. She found Rakin’s eyes on her paper before his gaze found hers. She met his gaze steadily. He gave her a nod then turned and left the hall, his guards following close behind. Wondering what that had been about, Evony turned back to Admina. “What’s your task?”

  Her friend offered half a smile. “I’m to sew a shirt in the laundry. I was afraid it would be something much worse. I have always enjoyed embroidery so it should be fine.”

  Smiling back, Evony relaxed herself. As long as Admina was comfortable with her task, she thought she’d be fine. Sewing was easy enough if you had the patience for it, and doubly so with embroidery experience. “Then we’ll meet back here once our tasks are finished?”

  Admina smiled. “Good luck.”

  “Luck to you as well,” Evony replied, leading the way out of their hall. Once they were outside, they split up, Admina heading towards the building that lay behind the palace’s main one, and Evony heading towards the stables.

  She wasn’t displeased with her task, not if it gave her the opportunity to look over some more of the horses here. The palace had some very nice horseflesh and she itched to try the paces of some of the more powerful mounts. But when she rode with Admina, she kept herself to something that would content itself with staying near the milder tempered horses that her friend preferred.

  It didn’t take Evony long to reach the building that smelled strongly of hay, barley, leather, horse manure, wood, and sweat. As she walked out of the sunny grounds, the shade the stables offered was a delicious contrast. Evony sighed happily, the scent reminding her strongly of home.

  She glanced around and spotted an older man in a rough, undyed linen chiton dropping a scoopful of barley into a stall’s food trough, much to the evident delight of its occupant, who immediately started eating it. Evony approached the stranger, stopping when she was just behind him. “Excuse me,” she said politely. “I was wondering if you could direct me towards the stall I’m supposed to muck out?”

  The man, his white hair cut close to his scalp, turned and looked at her. He ran his eyes up and down, his gaze lingering on her knives, before he bowed his head. “That I can, brightness. Are you experienced with horses, brightness?”

  Evony smiled. “Very. And please, my people aren’t much for titles. My name is Evony.”

  He nodded slowly. “My name is Stodd. If you’ll follow me?”

  She fell into step behind him as he took her down the long hallway lined with stalls on either side. Stodd stopped in front of one of the empty stalls, jerking his chin towards the dungfork and small handcart. “Is there anything else you’ll be needing, brightness?”

  Evony studied the stall, seeing how deep the woodchips that filled it were, and looked back at Stodd. “Where are your woodchips? And is there anywhere particular you would like me to dump the manure when I’ve pulled it out?”

  That got her a nod of approval. “Both are out back,” he said, gesturing towards the far end of the hall. “If you can’t find them, let me know.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, already turning back to her job. She glanced down at her clothes, frowned for a moment, then sighed. Evony pulled off her overdress, leaving it hanging over the front of the stall she was to clean. She grabbed the bottom of her long chiton and pulled it up higher, tying each side around a leg, so that they wouldn’t drag through the chips and droppings. Only then did she grab the dungfork and walk into the empty stall.

  A few experimental prods with the fork were all it took to find the worst spot. Evony slid her tool under, scooping up the clump of pee and tossed it into her handcart. It took less than ten minutes for Evony to find every trace of refuse the occupant had left. She tossed the dungfo
rk into her handcart and trundled the whole thing down to the far end of the stable. She passed stall after stall, more than a few with horse heads sticking out, watching her pass.

  When she finally came to the far end, she understood why Stodd had been so vague with directions. With the open doors at the back covered with a wooden roof open on three sides, you could hardly miss the pile of woodchips sheltered beneath it. Farther out, under the blue sky, was the impressive pile of manure and second of used woodchips. It took her no time at all to dump her loads and half fill her cart with wood shavings.

  Bringing the whole load back to the stall, Evony tossed the clean woodchips into the stall and used her fork to even everything out. Once done, she stepped back into the stable’s hall and looked around. The two stalls beside the one she had finished were empty, and when she stepped into one, the unmistakable aroma of horse leavings greeted her. Shrugging, Evony grabbed the dungfork and made short work of both of them.

  Stodd returned as she was dumping the clean wood shavings into the last stall. He let out a low whistle as he watched her even everything out. “You look like you’ve done this before.”

  Evony grinned at him over her shoulder. “I’ve been taking care of my mare for as long as I’ve had her. That’s the rule in our clan. If you can’t take care of your mount, you don’t get to have one.”

  “Well, if you ever find yourself in need of a job, I hope you’ll think of me.”

  That made her laugh as she came out of the stall. “I’ve seen you work with the horses here and could say the same to you. You would be honoured and respected among my people for your knowledge.”

  “Are you trying to hire me away?” he asked, a glint to his gaze.

  “No, only giving respect where it’s due.”

  He chuckled at that. “You aren’t what I thought you’d be. I’m guessing from your weapons that you’re that wild Amazzi girl everyone is talking about. You have more than a few admirers among the soldiers.”