“I know how they work. It was them. They orchestrated the whole thing. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Phalue had already dressed for the occasion, which meant, for her, just adding a decorative chain about her shoulders and a cloak that was a little less shabby than the one she wore for everyday purposes. She still wore her leather armor and her sword belted to her side. No one was going to convince her she should meet Gio without a weapon. Phalue drew herself up and offered Ranami her arm. “Better to face them head on than to sit and wait for another strike.”

Ranami pulled the hood of her cloak over her hair before taking Phalue’s elbow. She wore a turmeric-yellow dress beneath it – a color Phalue always thought looked lovely against Ranami’s darker skin. It was cut shorter than her dry-season fare, though, with knee-high boots protecting her feet from the mud.

Seven years of this, Phalue thought in dismay as they made their way outside. Rain pattered against her cloak. Ranami sidled up against her. “It will be the dry season again before you know it, and then we’ll both yearn for rainy days.”

So her thoughts must have shown on her face as plainly as her emotions. Ranami was the one who should have been born a politician, not her.

Ranami stopped her as they stepped beneath the arch of the gate. “Before I forget, you received a missive.” She pulled an oilskin envelope from her bag and handed it to Phalue.

It was sealed with wax, the impression of a phoenix stamped into it. The Emperor’s seal. “What does it say?” Phalue asked.

“It’s for you, and it’s still sealed. The envoy gave no accounting of its contents.”

Phalue broke the seal, pulled the letter out, taking care not to get it wet, and skimmed the contents. “She’s requesting to visit. She’s asking for discretion until the details of her trip are finalized.” Phalue could imagine the chaos if the news got out before the Emperor could put out her own declaration. There would be those who would look upon the Emperor with skepticism and others who would see any visit as an opportunity – either to attempt a coup or to curry favor. Other island governors would wonder if they were on her itinerary and would jostle to be included.

How long had it been since an Emperor had set foot on Nephilanu? Before Phalue could remember. Her father had bragged to other governors more than once about the time Shiyen had visited Nephilanu, but that had been even before her father had succeeded his mother as governor. Once, the Emperor would have regularly visited the islands, treating with the inhabitants. But Shiyen had preferred to let the constructs do that work.