"We trained together, Father, though it has been almost two summers--"
"Good enough. You'll stay." Tyrus ducked his brothers' glares as he approached. The emperor continued snapping orders, expelling men from the room.
"I am sorry," Tyrus whispered to Moria. "About Gavril. I could tell you two were close."
"You misjudged, your highness. He was merely a traveling companion."
"Yes," Tyrus murmured. "That is for the best. Say that to all who ask. I am sorry for it, though."
"But not surprised?"
He seemed confused by the question. "It is his father. He must do as he is told. Filial piety comes before everything, even obedience to the empire."
"Even obedience to one's conscience? Slaughtering innocents is acceptable if your father commands it?"
Ashyn tried to shush her, eyes wide with alarm, but Tyrus said, "No, which is why I am certain there is more to it. Gavril is prickly, but he has a true heart. He is always honorable."
"There's no mistake, your highness. He accepted full responsibility."
"There is more. I am certain--"
"Tyrus?" the emperor said. "While I do hate to pull you away from a pretty girl . . ."
Tyrus turned to his father, gaze dropping as he murmured an apology. The emperor clapped him on the shoulder and waved everyone to the table. As they walked, Emperor Tatsu opened the envelope and pulled out the missive.
The men who had stayed were the chancellor, all three major counselors, and one of the warriors who'd arrived with the emperor. He was short, slightly squat, breathing heavily as he tried to keep up with Emperor Tatsu. An older man, the summers weighin
g heavily on him. From the way he dogged the emperor's steps, she presumed he was an attendant, until Tyrus leaned in and whispered, "Marshal Mujina."
He did not look like a man of war, and she wondered briefly if Tyrus was referring to someone else. But she could see the man's tattoos were marks of the Mujina--the badgers. He did rather resemble one. An aged badger, toothless and slow. Not a man Moria could imagine leading an army. Perhaps that was the point--after Marshal Kitsune, the emperor wanted a man he could control. This marshal certainly looked controlled, hurrying after the emperor and then sliding past him to quietly take his seat at the man's left hand.
The chancellor sat at the lesser, right-hand position, with the major counselors beside him. Tyrus tried to seat Moria beside the marshal, but she motioned for Ashyn to go there instead--she ought to speak for them. Tyrus gave Moria the next seat, and pulled out the one beside her as Daigo and Tova wedged in beside their girls.
No one had spoken a word on the walk to the table. No one spoke now either, the room silent as the emperor read. When he passed the missive to the marshal, his face was unreadable, his gaze distant.
"This is--" Marshal Mujina said. "He cannot expect--"
"Of course he doesn't." The emperor snatched the letter and handed it to the chancellor, motioning for the major counselors to read it after him.
When the last counselor handed it back, his face somber, the emperor folded it, then held it out across the table. He was clearly passing it to Ashyn, but she sat there, looking confused, until Tyrus nudged her. Even then, she took it carefully, gaze on the emperor, as if waiting for him to rescind it.
"You brought it this far," he said. "You ought to read it. Seeker, is it? Ashyn?"
She nodded.
"You and your sister will read it, so there can be no question that what we claim is in that letter is true. Otherwise, I suspect there will be those who think we must be misrepresenting the situation."
"It is the old marshal, then?" Moria said. "Marshal Kitsune?"
"It is. As you will see, he includes information known only to the two of us. We grew up together. It is he. He threatens to destroy Fairview if I do not step down immediately and cede the imperial throne to him."
"Cede--? But that is--he cannot expect--" Moria inhaled sharply. "He does not expect it. He is asking for what he cannot have. He means to incite war."
"Yes, apparently even a child can see his true purpose." The emperor shot a glare at his marshal. "It would be difficult for me to make any concessions to an exiled traitor. If he were, however, to ask for something reasonable, such as a pardon, negotiations could be held. This is beyond negotiations. He will have war. The destruction of Fairview and the death of Edgewood's children would lie at my feet."
"But . . ." Ashyn's head shot up from her reading. "Fairview? The children? Are they lost, then?"
"No, child. Rescuing them will be our first priority, one that can hopefully be accomplished before Alvar Kitsune realizes we've refused his generous offer."