“I half believe that.” He took a sip of the treacly wine. Must these people sweeten everything? “I also half believe the rumors circulating about Prince Dar and his new kehok. I’m not quite sure what to think of it. Playing with toys while his people suffer.”
Her smile dropped. “Prince Dar thinks only of his people.”
“Of course.”
“It’s an ingenious attempt to boost morale. He will be a spectacular emperor!”
From her reaction, it was clear that the noblewoman returned the emperor-to-be’s affections, though he couldn’t gauge whether either had confessed to that. Ugh, spare me the defensive indignation of a young woman whose lover has been insulted.
“I only meant that he should devote some attention to what is going on in his own palace, rather than focusing on activities beyond it.” Leaning closer, he said in a voice barely louder than a breath, “I have heard rumors of discontent among his own guards.”
Her eyes widened.
Yes, that was all he needed to do. Plant doubt. Turn the Becarans on one another.
“Warn your prince,” Usan said.
She clasped his hand, her expression every bit as concerned as he’d hoped it would be. “Thank you. I will.”
He hated so many things about Becar, but this was one thing he loved: its people were so easily manipulated. Raising his glass, Usan toasted the lovely, innocent, and gullible Lady Nori before he drifted back into the crowd, looking for other opportunities to serve his king.
Chapter 17
Tamra had visited the Heart of Becar, the glorious capital of the Becaran Empire, countless times over the years. Still takes my breath away, she thought as they sailed beneath an archway made of two stone figures crossing swords. Ahead was the city: white spires with gold domes, palm trees along the streets, and colorful markets near the docks. And of course the statues.
The statues of the emperor’s city lined the river and dominated the city squares. Made of stone, bronze, wood, clay, and glass, they’d been carved by artisans over many generations. Many were hundreds of years old, and a few were reputed to be a thousand. They depicted every creature that had ever walked, swum, crawled, or flown in Becar—every type of vessel that a human soul could be reborn as. Except kehoks, Tamra thought.
Beside her, Raia was gawking at everything.
Tamra grinned at her. “Wait until you see the palace.”
“The Heart of Becar is a marvel,” Augur Yorbel agreed. “It is said that three hundred years ago—”
Lady Evara interrupted. “Yes, lovely. Spare us the history lesson, and tell me: Are the royal stables and training ground ready? I know Trainer Verlas will want to start immediately.”
Augur Yorbel looked uncomfortable, as he usually did whenever Lady Evara issued one of her demands. So far on this trip, she’d insisted on private sleeping quarters on the riverboat, as well as ripe mangoes at every meal and buckets of fresh flowers to cover the scent of kehok. She’d also brought a glass bowl with three koi fish in it that she insisted one of her three servants carry near her at all times, because she said she found it soothing when traveling.
Rich people are strange, Tamra thought.
In this case, though, Lady Evara was correct. Tamra did want to resume training with Raia and the black lion as quickly as possible. It was mere days until the next round of races.
“I’ve sent messenger wights, and we will be met at the royal dock with a transport,” Augur Yorbel said. “But you will understand if the facilities require more time to be restored to their former glory.”
“Sadly, I am not a particularly understanding person,” Lady Evara said. “If you wish the emperor-to-be’s return to the Becaran Races to be triumphant, we must be supplied with all we need to make our debut on the national stage a success.”
“Um, yes, well, of course.” He looked rattled, and Tamra almost felt sorry for him. She wondered if he was underselling the royal training ground, or overselling it. Exactly how neglected was it? She’d been on plenty of less-than-luxurious tracks. Odd that the emperor wouldn’t prepare the stables before recruiting a racer. She wondered if all this was some spur-of-the-moment whim, like Lady Evara’s fishbowl.
He turned to Tamra and asked, “What do you need?”
“Supply of raw meat and fresh water for the kehok, a stall he can’t break, and a track. And no audience until we’re ready.” She felt Lady Evara glaring at her for not asking for more, but that was truly all she needed.