Lord Sotonam glanced over his shoulder at Emperor Tallu, then straightened his back, raising his chin. He bowed formally, asking Emperor Tallu’s feet, “Would you like Prince Airón in imperial colors?”
“I have already made my preferences clear.” Tallu looked to the side, and Tilo immediately crossed the room. “Ask the chef to make more of that dish Prince Airón enjoyed. I would like to taste the food that almost sent him into unconsciousness.”
Tilo bowed, rushing out of the room. The seamstress came close, offering me three different colors of jacket. One was sky-blue, so pale that it looked almost like ice. Another was the color of seafoam, green and frothy. When I looked at it closely, I could see that the weaver had changed the direction of the thread asthey worked, giving a spiral appearance to the pattern. The last was a dark blue, just a shade bluer than the imperial purple.
“Do you have a preference?” the seamstress asked.
“You have excellent taste,” I said finally. “I would look good in any one of these.”
She looked up at me, her eyes shrewd. Then, she nodded. “You would.”
“Given my skin tone, which do you think would look best?” I kept hold of her eyes, not letting her look at Tallu with nervousness, not letting her feel the fear that clearly knotted her stomach.
Her shoulders relaxed. After a moment, I saw her breathing begin to match mine. “Given your build, the darker color would show all that work hunting has done on your body. But, given your coloring, I think we’re best with the green.”
She held it up to me again and then nodded. Her two assistants rushed to help me, one to put it on, the other finding pants that were a few shades darker. With both on, I looked down before looking over to Tallu.
“I will certainly stand out now.” I tried for a smirk, but he stood, and I had to force myself not to take a step backward at the sudden movement. As he approached me, I could feel the lack of a shirt, the way the expensive silk fit on my body.
“Much better.” Tallu prowled around me, stopping when we were face-to-face. His fingers traced over one of the spirals in the fabric, and I realized it wasn’t simply a spiral pattern; the weaver had managed to create a shape out of silver thread nearly invisibly woven into the fabric. “Now you look worthy of the title I am about to bestow on you. Consort.”
“Do I?” I should have let my voice turn flirtatious, let myself become something he wanted, but the deepest part of me felt some loyalty to my mother raise its head. She had given me myname and purpose. Claiming the title of consort was just one step toward my final goal.
“He will need more than one outfit,” Tallu said as he turned away, almost as though he could read the defiance on my face, even as I worked hard to keep my expression neutral. He sat back on his chair, the simple act turning it into a throne.
The seamstress presented me with more options, and I chose again, and soon, I had a wardrobe of five outfits: two green, two blue, and one gold.
Her assistants helped me into a shirt as the seamstress made some quick alterations to the gold jacket. When they put it on, I held out an arm, wishing again for a mirror.
“You look good,” the seamstress said, giving me a professional examination.
Tilo had returned with the platter of food, placing it next to Emperor Tallu on a small table that Nuti had fetched. When she looked up at me, her eyes went wide, one hand going to her mouth.
“You look like the sun,” she said.
Tallu’s face tightened, and I wasn’t sure if he was insulted or not. He reached over, spearing one of the dumplings on a fork. He bit into it, and I watched him catch a drip of oil with his thumb, sucking it from his fingertips.
He finished swallowing. Turning to the seamstress, he said, “Competent work.”
The words were so clearly trailed by the implication of what would have happened if shehadn’tbeen able to meet with his approval. Even her age and position couldn’t save her from Tallu’s power.
“Of course, Your Imperial Majesty.” She bowed low, one of her assistants catching her before she toppled over. She patted the girl’s hand and said, “We can have a wardrobe made for him and be ready by the end of the month.”
“By the end of the week.” Tallu stood. “I would hate for anyone else to make assumptions about the power of my affection for my new consort. Wouldn’t you, Sotonam?”
“Of course.” Lord Sotonam swallowed, clearing his throat. “Of course no one would dare think anything poorly about a spouse chosen by Your Imperial Majesty…”
He trailed off as Tallu continued to stare. Without another word, Tallu turned, his robe trailing behind him as he descended the stairs. We all stood in silence, and even I couldn’t think of a joke to ease the tension.
“Let me guide you to your quarters,” Lord Sotonam said, his voice clear of any spark of rebellion.
I paused to scoop up my furs, hiding the dragon egg and coin purse in them before following him.
The next morning,I woke in a soft, unfamiliar bed, without even distant whale song to ground me. I blinked open my eyes, staring at the white ceiling and the play of warm, morning light across it.
Turning my head, I watched a tree in the window, yellow flowers attracting buzzing insects that danced between the blooms. Small birds hopped along the branches, pecking at the insects, catching a few in sharp beaks. I needed to get up. I needed to begin mapping the emperor’s schedule, his routines, find a way around the four guards that were as much shadow as protection.
But this was a morning that never could have happened in the Silver City, where my bedroom overlooked the bay, and the only birds who came to my bedroom window were ravens bearing gossip and information for a price.
