Royal Assassin: Book Five of The Empress Saga

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Don't have anything to say?

It was only a day since the announcement. As heralds roamed throughout New Sandharbor to spread news of where Shan Alee's loyalty would now lie, Enfri retreated to her personal rooms in the event of reprisal from the visiting delegations. A violent response wouldn't be out of the question. Or unwarranted. Fortunately, most did as the Algaras and took Enfri's warnings to heart. They fled back to their centers of power to prepare for the next stage of Garret's invasion.

Alone in her bedchamber, Enfri waited in silence for the voice she needed to hear.

Answer me, she demanded.

Enfri looked into her vanity mirror as she awaited the reply. She sat with her hands folded in her lap, staring at her own face. There was no smile on her lips, no life in her eyes. Devoid of emotion, as if she were already dead.

But she wasn't dead. No, that was Jin's delusion, not hers. Enfri was wholly and completely aware that she was very much alive. She'd been given irrefutable proof on that matter. There was no way it could be denied. Enfri was alive. She was certain.

The dead felt no pain.

You were chatting my ears off yesterday. What's the point of having you in my head if you don't come when I summon you?

Silence remained.

At last, emotion appeared in her reflection. Enfri saw her own fury and thought it foreign to the girl she used to be. Remarkable, how so much about her own face could change. She observed this stranger in the mirror with detachment, neither recognizing or rejecting her as who she'd become. The crown made one faceless, so if not this face, than any other could serve just as well. But for the moment, a wrathful empress felt appropriate.

Your empress gave you a command, Grandfather. Speak!

New words, soft as a whisper, came to her. It spoke using her thoughts, but not her will.

Can you still call yourself an empress? Shoen asked. You've surrendered our empire to foreigners. You are now subject to whatever whims they lay upon you. Are you so foolish as to believe the old masters will be gentle?

Of course not, Enfri replied curtly. Are you suggesting the battle could've been won?

Perhaps, he said. Kings and warriors from across the Five Kingdoms were prepared to join you. The spawn of Gara, also. The battle would have been hard, but not impossible.

Enfri sneered into the mirror. And what would become of my city?

Shoen didn't have an immediate answer.

I know Master Deveaux better than you, apparently. One volley from his armada would devastated New Sandharbor. Maybe seven volleys beforehand to break down Thaan's interdiction ward. Would you put it past the Glorious Emperor to concentrate his cannons on what we protect? He would let us slaughter a portion of his aviators while the rest burned our homes and killed my citizens. They'd sell their lives to inflict as much damage as possible. Punishment, for defying him.

Shoen grumbled. You are not wrong.

I don't need you to tell me that. I already know I'm right.

He made a displeased sound, and his words became touched with a trace of mockery. You've certainly grown more confident since your savage's return.

Enfri glowered. This has nothing to do with that. Jin was an opportunity. No more.

He scoffed. An opportunity for what?