It wasn’t until he said the words that I realized I was practically humming with power, my bones vibrating. I knew if I struck a foot against the ground, if I concentrated, I could shake this palace from its foundations.

That thought sobered me.

I took in a deep breath, and Thrana, whom I just realized had a low growl in her throat, subsided. The governor meant to rile me. What did he mean to prove? That I was unfit? That I was too young? That I knew nothing of how an Emperor should carry herself?

He entered from the opposite side of the entrance hall, the woman who’d guided us following at his heels, her head bowed. He was a short man, older than I was but younger than I’d expected, and with the trim figure of someone who did not have bad knees. Indeed, his stride seemed unbothered. He wore a neatly kept beard, and had the beady black eyes of a stoat. His hair was tied back, his blue jacket embroidered with bright gold koi.

“Eminence, you do us honor with your presence,” he said, giving me a short, perfunctory bow. “Iloh, governor of Riya.” He glanced behind me to Jovis. “And Jovis, the hero of the people. I’ve heard much about you.” The bow he gave to my Captain of the Imperial Guard was deeper than the one he’d given me.

I studied his face, the way he peered at me, the almost imperceptible quirk at the corner of his mouth. He thought he knew me, or at least, knew my type.

He did not.

I was not some pampered, cloistered Emperor’s get. I had clawed my way tooth and nail to this position, defying my father and teaching myself his magic. I was Lin, and I was Emperor. “Riya has an interesting way of greeting guests, Sai,” I said, my voice even. “Honored ones in particular.”

He opened his mouth to issue some supercilious apology, and I held up a hand to silence him. I was more than a little pleased when his mouth snapped shut.

“Allow me to apologize. This is surely the fault of Imperial. Too long have we been absent from the lives of our governors. So long that cultural niceties are no longer observed. I’ll be sure to station a permanent envoy on Riya, near to the palace, so that we may keep in closer touch.”

Iloh’s eyes narrowed. He smoothed his expression – clumsily, I noted. “Of course. Riya would welcome such an envoy.”

I kept my amusement to myself. It would not. An envoy near the palace meant eyes and ears in his court at all times. Any ill word about the Emperor or Imperial would eventually find its way back to me.