Of Kings and Killers (Elder Empire Sea #3) - WIll Wight Page 0,35

as those in the Rose Tower, and they had either been bound and left in the dirt or killed and stripped of weapons and armor.

Greenwardens were largely harmless without access to their trained Kameira, but several of them carried guns or alchemical weapons, and they moved in packs.

Wherever Calder saw combat, he shouted for retreat. Sometimes he was drowned out by the sounds of battle and his Guards carried him past, but sometimes the crown-reinforced order stuck. Imperialists and Independents alike stopped fighting, instead scrambling for shelter with their allies.

As they traveled, he thought he felt the battle slowly dying down. He hoped it was more than just hopeful imagination. There would never be a truly unified Empire if he had to destroy half the Guilds to build it.

Finally, they caught sight of what they had been looking for: a flock of Blackwatch holding a building secure.

The Guards had last seen Bliss here, but for some reason she hadn’t joined the battle yet. That much, Calder could tell on his own. The paving-stones hadn’t been turned into squids.

The Watchmen on the doors drew sabers even though they were being approached by their supposed allies. “Stop where you are!” one shouted.

Calder pushed his way through the Guards so they could see his face. “Where’s Bliss?”

They traded looks and finally lowered their weapons. “Upstairs. Would you have your Guard wait here?”

The Imperial Guard looked like they weren’t even going to slow down, but he ordered them to stay outside with the crown. “Secure the perimeter.”

As he walked in, the older of the Watchmen leaned over to speak in his ear. “She’s having one of her bad days.”

Calder almost stopped.

He could always go around the Palace hunting down the packs of alchemists that were restraining Champions; he had already considered it. But he chose against it for the same reason he had before: Bliss had the potential to end the entire conflict on her own. And she was one more person who might be able to defend herself from Estyr Six.

He squared his shoulders and marched inside.

Following the directions of the Blackwatch, he moved deeper into what was apparently an inn. There were a number of similar buildings inside the Imperial Palace; official guests would stay in guest rooms, but visitors or family members of Palace staff could rent places like these. It was one of the many new things he’d learned since moving into the Palace himself.

He walked up a set of stairs, passing another set of Blackwatch guards, and into a second floor filled with half a dozen rooms. All the doors were open save one.

Before he knocked, he lifted a hand and Read the room.

Overwhelming confusion radiated from within.

He shook off the Intent, blinking rapidly to clear his sight and focus him on reality. No point hesitating now.

He knocked on the door. Before he could hit it a second time, the door was torn open.

Bliss had flung the door wide, face flushed and hair in disarray. Sweat ran down her face, and she looked like she could barely stand.

When she saw Calder, she lit up. “You came! Thank you. Thank…”

She collapsed against his chest, holding fistfuls of his shirt to keep herself upright. Her wet forehead pressed against him, burning hot.

Horrified, he looked from Bliss to the other person in the room: his mother.

She did not look as pleased to see him. Her Blackwatch coat was buckled tight, and she had bared an inch of her saber. He caught a glimpse of a pistol holstered at her hip, and her face was pale as she regarded the Guild Head.

“Bliss,” she said carefully, “please back away from my son.”

Bliss’ fingers trembled as though she were trying to release his shirt. She mumbled as she spoke. “I apologize. This is not very polite, is it?”

One step at a time, Calder shuffled into the room, slowly shutting the door behind him. He was afraid to move too quickly, lest the Guild Head think he was shaking her off.

With his eyes, he asked Alsa what was going on.

She gestured subtly to her own Blackwatch coat.

Calder glanced down at Bliss’ coat. She carried the Spear of Tharlos in there, a weapon made by the Regents from a bone they’d taken from the Great Elder of Chaos. Sometimes, as she tucked it inside, he saw it stretch or try and leave.

This time, it throbbed visibly against the black fabric. Like a beating heart.

Calder spoke in the most soothing tone he could manage. This might be an