The emperor’s voice rose, the edge cutting through the silent palace grounds. “This is not a pretty serving girl to dally with. She is the gift of our ancestors, sent to protect their spirits and protect us from evil. She is sacred.”
There were many lies Tyrus could tell if he wanted her to follow his lead. But to suggest he’d been dishonorable? Moria could not allow this.
“Your imperial highness,” she said, stumbling over the honorific. “Tyrus didn’t —”
“I was speaking to my son.” The emperor gave her a look that stoppered the words in her throat. He turned back to Tyrus. “I’ve allowed you to charm her and flirt with her. I see no danger in a few stolen kisses. But I trusted that you knew better than to take it further. Bringing her here, at night, a stone’s throw from your quarters?”
“No, your imperial highness,” Moria said. “He did not. He would not. It was a misunderstand —”
“Enough. To my quarters. Both of you. Now.”
SIX
The emperor motioned for them to walk in front of him. Daigo followed Moria, as if buffering her from the emperor’s fury. Tyrus walked silently at her side until the emperor slowed to speak to a courtier.
“It’s all right,” Tyrus whispered. “I suggested this. I’ll fix it.”
He shot a look back at his father, part anxiety, part bewilderment. Nothing was more important to a warrior than honor, and Tyrus ought not to have impugned his to protect her. Ironically, in claiming dishonor, he was acting with honor – taking her punishment because he’d suggested that she eavesdrop.
Her true anger was directed at the emperor. The Keeper was allowed a lover. If she had rebuffed Tyrus and he’d persisted, that would be cause for his father’s disapproval. Yet if he’d merely tested her willingness… well, was that not what young men did? She took no offense unless they failed to understand the meaning of “no.”
Moria was too caught up in her own thoughts for more than a vague impression of the emperor’s residence, which was smaller and less conspicuous than she would have expected for a man who ruled most of the known land.
As they removed their shoes, Emperor Tatsu ordered out the servants with a brusque, “I wish to speak to my son.” They scattered as if he’d wielded a blade. Once they were gone, the emperor walked farther inside. They followed him into a room with a desk inlaid with ivory. Woodblock prints of dragons adorned the walls.
“Sit,” he said, his back to them as he looked at a print of the goddess riding a golden dragon into battle.
Tyrus lowered himself onto the nearest cushion. When Moria didn’t move, he tugged at her leg. She stepped away.
“Your son did nothing wrong,” she said. “He did not do as he claims, and I’ll not have him suffer for —”
The emperor turned. “So you’re saying he lied to me?”
Moria’s mouth closed fast.
“Moria?” Tyrus whispered. “Sit. Please.” His tone added before you get me in worse trouble.
“I was spying on your dinner party,” she said. “I offer myself for punishment and ask that you pardon Tyrus. Whatever he did, it was my fault. I… I seduced him.”
The emperor burst out laughing, startling Moria. “As pretty as you are, child, I cannot imagine you seducing any man. Threatening him at the point of a blade, perhaps.”
“Father,” Tyrus began, rising. “I apologize for her outburst. She’s unaccustomed —”
“— to matters and manners of court.” Emperor Tatsu waved Tyrus down. “I’m well aware of that. She has spirit and honor. You choose your companions well, Tyrus. Though, if I truly thought you had brought her to the palace grounds to seduce her by moonlight, I would be as angry as I pretended. Now sit.” He turned to Daigo. “You, too. While some would wish me to add comportment lessons to your sword fighting, the truth of the world, child, is that some of us are above such niceties. You are a Keeper. Position comes with privilege, and none greater than the ability to speak your mind. The sword lessons will serve you better. Now, I understand you are frustrated by the situation in Fairview. You don’t believe enough is being done.”
“No,” Tyrus said. “If anyone said —”
“I do not need tattling tongues to tell me what anyone can plainly see. The Keeper is angry and frustrated. She throws herself into sparring and eschews the comforts and entertainments of the court. Her sister is equally frustrated, in her quiet way, losing herself in her studies instead. If you had sent Moria to eavesdrop on treaty negotiations, the punishment for both of you would be severe. But you sent her to prove that I was indeed making progress on the matter of Alvar Kitsune.”
When neither said a word, the emperor pulled the low chair from his desk and sat on it.
“Yet that doesn’t truly help, does it?” he continued. “What concerns her immediately is not the fate of the former marshal but the fate of the children. And on that, the news is less heartening.” He turned to Moria. “I have sent spies to assess the situation. One on the very night I learned of the events in Fairview, another two days following. Neither has returned. Presumably they are dead or captured. Alvar expected them. That is the problem with fighting a man who knows me so well.”
“So what now?” Moria asked.
Tyrus cleared his throat.
“I mean, so what now, your imperial highness?”