“To put us,” Phalue corrected. “I may be governor now, but I train just as hard as the rest of them. And Tythus here knows my worth in a fight. If I die, Ranami will know what to do with Nephilanu.”

“Thank you for coming,” I said, and meant it.

She gave me an odd look, like she’d never expected gratitude from an Emperor. And then she shrugged and turned, leading her guards to where my general was directing troops.

Ragan appeared at my shoulder. “Tell me what I can do,” he said.

“Can you send a tremor through the ground to them? Before they get here? Is that possible?”

He nodded. “I have a fair range. But I’ll have to get closer. You should come with me.”

Urame gave me an odd look, tossing her gaze between the two of us as though trying to catch the joke.

“Yes, I suppose I should,” I said, past the uneasiness clawing up my throat. I was the Emperor; I should remain behind the soldiers and the guards. But if Ragan failed, he would need backup.

Urame didn’t know that I had the same powers as Ragan did. “Eminence, do you…?” She stopped, unsure of how to phrase the question. “Do you have some means to defend yourself?”

“I do.” I put a hand on Thrana’s neck, and she bared her teeth in response. It was all I would say on the matter. She would protect me with her life, and I would protect her with mine. I didn’t care what Ragan said about ossalen relationships and the nature of balance. “We should go. Before they get here,” I said to Ragan.

I felt the gazes of the soldiers as we strode through the camp. Most had finished readying themselves by now, and they stared at Thrana first before they found me. She certainly didn’t look like any creature I’d seen before, and though I’d watched her grow somewhat gradually, I could see how her size could be intimidating.

We strode a little way down the switchbacks – just below the plateau on which the soldiers had set up their defense. Rain pattered against my cloak. I could hear my breath echoing inside my hood, warming my cheeks. At the front of the lines of soldiers, I felt alone. Thrana was at my side, but none of these people were here for me, not the way they were for Phalue.

I shivered as a trickle of rain made its way beneath my cloak. “On my word,” I said. “When they’re close.”

I saw Ragan nod out of the corner of my eye. I wished I had more Alanga with me.

I wished I had Jovis.

His face swam into my mind – his haunted expression as he confessed he’d been spying on me. As he told me what he’d written in the letter. He’d seemed genuine.