He cringed at the mention of the name he hated and turned from the window with a scowl.

“Archie, you need to talk to your man Breckton.”

“What’s wrong with him now?”

“He’s refusing to take my orders. He insists he serves only you. You need to set him straight on the lay of things. We can’t have knights whose allegiance is strictly to their lords. They have to recognize the supremacy of the New Empire and the chain of command.”

“Seems to me that’s what he’s doing, observing the chain of command.”

“Yes, yes, but it’s more than that. He’s becoming obstinate. I’m going to be the emperor in a couple of months and I can’t have my best general requiring that I get your permission to give him an order.”

“I’ll speak with him,” Archibald said miserably, mostly just so he could stop listening to Ethelred’s voice. If the old bastard were not such an accomplished soldier, he would seriously consider challenging him, but Ethelred had fought in dozens of battles, while Archibald had engaged only in practice duels with blunt-tipped swords. Even if he wanted to commit suicide, he certainly would not give Ethelred the satisfaction.

“What about Modina?” Ethelred asked.

The mention of her name brought Archibald’s attention back to the conversation.

“Will she be ready?”

“Yes, I think so,” Saldur replied. “Amilia has been doing wonders with her.”

“Amilia?” Ethelred tapped his forehead. “Isn’t she the maid you promoted to Chief Imperial Secretary?”

“Yes,” Saldur said, “and I’ve been thinking that after the wedding, I want to keep her on.”

“We’ll have no use for her after the wedding.”

“I know, but I think I could use her elsewhere. She’s proven herself to be both intelligent and resourceful.”

“Do whatever you like with her. I certainly don’t—”

“Queens always have need of secretaries, even when they have husbands,” Archibald interrupted. “I understand you’re going to assume total control of the New Empire, but she’ll still need an assistant.”

Ethelred looked at Saldur with a puzzled expression. “He doesn’t know?”

“Know what?” Archibald asked.

Saldur shook his head. “I felt the fewer that knew, the better.”

“After the wedding,” Ethelred told Archibald, “once I’m crowned emperor, I’m afraid Modina will have an unfortunate accident—a fatal accident.”

“It’s all arranged,” Nimbus reported. Arista paced the room and Modina sat alone on the bed. “I got the uniform to him, and tonight the farmer will smuggle Hilfred into the gate just before sunset in the hay cart.”

“Will they check that?” Arista asked, pausing in her journey across the room.

“Not anymore, not since they called off the witch hunt. Things are business as usual again. They know the farmer. He’s in and out every third day of the week.”

Arista nodded and resumed her pacing.