Log in
Empire of Night Ch45
Elliza glared across the table. Alex and Lisril met her gaze evenly, unfazed. While Iiandere squirmed, just a bit.
“What were you thinking?” Elliza demanded. Parliament was in an uproar, at each other’s throats. A lady taken, her property all but destroyed. All within the legal authority of the inquisition, but still. “Why didn’t you consult with me?”
Iiandere shrugged. “I didn’t need to.”
Elliza clenched her jaw. “You should have,” she said. “See you do so in the future.”
“As her Magnificence pleases,” Iiandere said.
Elliza huffed, shaking her head, and fixed her gaze upon Alex and then Lisril. “And you? What possessed you to involve yourself in this mad errand?”
“I was asked for help, and it seemed like Iiandere needed something to even the odds,” Alex said.
“And you allowed this?” she demanded.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Lisril asked. “I married him for his peculiarities, and of course, I was there with him.”
Elliza sighed; this was the risk of the company she kept; Lisril was brilliant, but she did tend to do things her own way. “The parliamentarians are barking.”
“So let them bark,” Iiandere said, “methods aside, I was within my rights, and if that fool woman had cooperated when given the chance, violence wouldn’t have been necessary.”
Elliza shook her head, rubbing her temples. “They’re demanding a meeting, and I can’t deny them. I think it would be best if you weren’t in the palace when they come; return home; I’ll send for you when I can.”
“As her Magnificence pleases, will there be anything else?” Iiandere asked, bowing her head.
“No,” Elliza said. “Thank you for your time; you may go.”
The woman stood bowing. “I shall look forward to hearing from you.”
With that, Iiandere turned, leaving the empress alone with her guests. Elliza slumped back into her chair, heaving out a rib-creaking sigh. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Why should you want to do anything?” Lisril demanded. “He’ll never be a Dyrantisa man; if that’s what you want, you’ll never get it.”
Elliza shook her head, but Lisril just smirked at her, throwing a protective arm over her husband. “You wouldn’t believe how long it took me to convince him to stop running off on his own.”
“Eli,” he said. “I’m sorry I’ve caused you trouble.”
She scrubbed a hand through her hair; now, she’d gone and upset him. “It isn’t you who’s the problem; I’m just- in a delicate position at the moment,” she said.
He stood, slipping out of Lisril’s arms, and stepped around the table to join her. “I’m not helping,” he sat on the table, taking her hands.
She squeezed his hands, swallowing. “You’re going to have to meet them,” she said. “I had hoped to have more time to prepare you.”
“It’ll be fine,” he drew her fingers to his lips. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Elliza rubbed at her eye. “They’ll know all about your exploits last night by now.”
“You wanted a demonstration.”
She had at that, and from the sound of it, it had been a spectacular display. “What were you doing with such a weapon?”
“Oh, it’s a little side project I’ve been toying with, adapting the technology for one-way attacks onto hostile planets.”
She pursed her lips. “You didn’t offer to make a demonstration of that.”
“No shit,” he snorted. “I could have probably bought that woman’s manor for the price of one of those shells.”
Elliza shook her head, unsure if she should believe him, but not having much choice, either. “You seem to have impressed Lady Faragal.”
“That’s something, anyway,” he said, smiling.
“When can we expect our guests?” Lisril asked.
“Soon,” Elliza stood, pushing her chair away from the table. “I need to get ready; I’m informed our guests will be here for lunch.”
Lisril nodded. “I’ll have my family ready for you.”
“Thank you,” Elliza leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Alex’s cheek. “You stood me up last night.”
He gently caressed her cheek, pressing his lips to hers. “Sorry, I’ll make it up to you.”
She sighed, pressing her forehead to his. “I think you scared them,” she whispered.
“Modern war is terrible; it should frighten people,” he murmured.
She bit her lip; it was hard to comprehend, a people fearing the glory of conquest. And yet, even Taaraiin believed that last night’s activities had changed war irrevocably, though she couldn’t say how.
“Enough,” Elliza shook her head, stepping back from him. “Get ready; I’ll have a bath drawn for you; we need to make a good impression.”
He nodded, and Lisril joined him, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet.
“I’ll see to him,” she said. “We’ll make sure to come looking grand.”
“Thank you,” Elliza said, nodding to Lisril and drawing herself up to press a kiss to his cheek before taking her leave.
“Your Magnificence!”
Elliza turned, even as she stepped out of the room, and found Miss. Albright striding toward her.
“Good evening,” the Dyrantoro woman said, bobbing her head. “I’m informed there’s to be a function this evening.”
“Yes,” Elliza said. “Thank you for coming to see me.”
“Are you joining us?” Elliza glanced over her shoulder to see Lisril in the doorway; Alex clutched protectively to her side, frowning at the Dyrantoro woman.
“I’ve asked her to attend, yes,” Elliza said, glaring at Lisril.
Lisril bowed her head. “As you say, if you’ll excuse us.”
She led Alex away, leaving Elliza with the diplomat.
“I get the impression my presence isn’t entirely welcome,” the dark-skinned woman said.
“She’s just a little insecure, doesn’t quite know where she stands in relation to you,” Elliza said.
Jessica laughed. “Does she think I want to steal him?”
“Something like that,” Elliza said. “I’m reliably informed you Dyrantoro have- unique marital practices.”
“I see; well, I’m not interested in rocking the boat.”
“You’ll have to prove it, I’m afraid,” Elliza said. “Walk with me.”
She led the diplomat through the palace halls, grabbing one of the servants as she went. “Draw a bath for Our guests.”
“Yes, Magnificence,” the woman curtsied and trotted off to carry out her orders.
“Are you aware of the reason for tonight’s activities?”
“No, my predecessor wasn’t overly interested in- information gathering,” the woman said.
“Predecessor, I thought you were just- warming her seat?”
The woman shrugged. “I get the impression that our fearless leader is being ‘encouraged’ to relocate to Earth.”
“I see,” Elliza said, “did you intend a coup d’état? Or did the opportunity simply present itself?”
“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the woman said, tossing her hair.
“I’m sure you don’t,” Elliza said. “You failed to mention the nature of your previous assignment.”
“Did I? I’m quite sure I mentioned being a naval intelligence officer.”
“An admiral.”
“Purely administrative.”
“Be that way then,” Elliza snorted. “What’s your goal here?”
“To ensure smooth cooperation between Earth and Nyx.”
It wasn’t that Elliza didn’t believe the woman so much as the answer was transparently incomplete. She was a spy, but as to what information she sought? It was impossible to say.
“What is the purpose of tonight’s gathering?” the woman asked. “If you don’t mind my prying.”
Elliza pursed her lips, it was difficult to believe she really didn’t know, but she might as well maintain appearances. “Alex and Lisril ran off with one of my people last night after we separated and took part in a- well, in an incident. My parliamentarians have been searching for an excuse to disrupt the current state of affairs since I imposed martial law; they think this incident is the pretext they’ve been looking for.”
“Is it?”
“It’s unlikely, but this has proved inconvenient.”
The woman seemed lost in thought for a moment, “would you have allowed it, had you known?”
“I don’t know, probably,” Elliza said. “I wish I’d been given a choice.”
Jessica sniffed. “Well, shit in one hand.”
“What?”
“Nothing, just a saying from Earth. Wishing won’t get you far.”
“I suppose not,” Elliza said, stopping in front of her personal quarters. “Come in.”
She held the door, allowing the Dyrantoro woman to proceed her before closing the door behind them.
The woman took a seat at the table, Elliza joining her. “Drink?”
“No, thank you,” the woman said. “How may I assist you?”
“In brief,” Elliza said, briding her fingers and leaning over the table. “I need you to impress upon them that these sorts of actions are perfectly usual for Dyrantoro men.”
The woman chewed on the request a moment. “I think Alex would be happy to fill that role.”
“They won’t listen to Alex.”
“And why not?” Jessica scoffed. “Surely they can’t be that foolish.”
“They’re parliamentarians,” Elliza said, and when that didn’t seem to clear things up for the Dyrantoro, she huffed an unhappy sigh.
“Impressive as he may be, Alex is still a man, a Dyrantoro man, but a man nonetheless. Perhaps the women who were present, who have seen his acuity in battle, will listen, but the ancient prejudices of my people won’t be overturned so readily.”
“And you think a woman’s word will help?”
“A Dyrantoro woman’s, specifically,” Elliza said. “Your words will carry more weight than a Dyrantisa woman’s and far more than a man’s.”
“That hardly seems fair,” Jessica said.
“Who gives a damn about fair? I need results; fairness can come once my position is solidified.”
“Well, alright,” Jessica shrugged. “Is that all you need?”
“I can’t plan for everything, especially in the time I have available. Use your best judgment,” Elliza said.
“I’ll try not to let you down,” Jessica said.
“Good,” Elliza said. “I’m glad we have an understanding.”
Jessica shifted in her seat. “I think I’ll have that drink after all.”
Elliza nodded, standing and retrieving a bottle and pouring the amber liquor for the pair of them. “For luck,” she said, raising her glass.
