My heart sank as he shook his head. “I have to look after my own first. I received a report this morning of a construct attack on a village just east of here. If I send guards away now, they’ll see me as abandoning them. These are hard times, with constructs attacking, Deerhead sinking and the bog cough on the rise. The bog cough has already begun to hit Riya, and caro nuts are expensive. I can commit some of my guards, but not as many as you would probably like.”

The construct assassins and an attack on one of Riya’s villages at the same time? I had the feeling these things were related. “And if this attack originates from the group in the north-east? You’ll just be swiping at the legs of the beast instead of cutting off the head.”

He spread his hands. “The fact of the matter is that I am responsible for Riya. You are responsible for the Empire. The constructs are the purview of the Emperor. I’m sorry.”

The floor felt like it was dropping, my stomach going with it. He couldn’t do this. I could order him to commit all his guards. I could take back his shard or the shards of his family, use them to threaten him until he did my bidding. It wasn’t for me. It was for people like Numeen and his family, who needed an Emperor who cared about them.

My senses sharpened, and I was aware of the tea steeping in the next room, the moisture gathered on the roof, the sweat beaded on Iloh’s forehead. I might not have constructs, but I had other powers.

Thrana nudged her nose into my palm. I thought of the crane Numeen’s daughter had folded, wet with her blood, the way my father dealt with the people who he felt had opposed him. I took in a deep breath.

I was not him.

But then I studied Iloh’s face. He wasn’t shutting me down, not completely. He was waiting.

He wanted a counter-offer.

My mind raced over the words he’d said. Ah. “You need caro nuts.” Imperial had a store of oil. Nephilanu’s shipment to Imperial had been delayed – I wasn’t sure why yet – but we would be receiving more. “Let me solve another of your problems. I’ll have my steward send you some of Imperial’s store of oil. It should arrive quickly.” I ran some mental calculations. Considering how many people usually got sick with bog cough, there’d be enough left over for Imperial in case anything went wrong.

“That would put my people much at ease,” Iloh said. “And it would save my coffers. I’ll be able to hire and train more guards in the interim. In the meantime, my guards are at your disposal.”

He might have driven a hard bargain, but I’d made an ally instead of an enemy.