Lin shrugged off her robe, the light from the window glinting off sinewy shoulders. “I understand,” she said. “And please tell the Sai that I appreciate the offer. But such a jacket will clearly not do.”

“It’s all we have to offer—”

She broke in smoothly, talking over the man’s protests. “The jacket the Sai was wearing when we met will do nicely.”

The servant sputtered. “It’s a man’s jacket.”

“And I don’t have the most womanly of figures.”

The man bowed as he backed out of the room, making apologies as he went. He hadn’t meant to comment on her Eminence’s figure – that was not his intent. And of course, of course, the Sai’s jacket would do.

“Is this how you intend to garner Riya’s support?” I asked when the door had closed.

She threw up her hands. “I don’t know what else to do. Should I let him bully me?”

“No, of course not. Quite literally taking the jacket off his back, though…”

“Petty, I know. But lying down and taking his polite abuse won’t earn me his respect.”

I had to admit – it wasn’t just the eyes. There was something of Emahla’s fierceness in this woman, her determination. She was the Emperor. I had to keep reminding myself of that, for more than one reason.

“Food?” Thrana said, startling me.

“They’ll feed us soon enough,” Mephi said to her.

“Ah,” Lin said, smiling. “Our charges. I forgot to ask for food to be sent for them. I’ll ask when I get the jacket.” She lifted the headdress from her brow and placed it on the table. It still dripped from the rain. “We have a good deal of time before dinner. Go get dry and comfortable and make sure my guards are alert. I’ll have food sent up for our little beasts when it’s time for us to eat.” She gave Thrana an affectionate scratch beneath the chin.

“Or our not-so-little beasts, more accurately.” I eyed them both. If they kept growing, they’d be the size of ponies before long. That was a thought. Instead of Mephi curling around my neck as he had when he’d been small, perhaps I could curl around his. Foolishness, really. His growth had slowed lately.

She waved a dismissal at me, and I retreated out into the hall, Mephi on my heels. I snagged a servant by the elbow, asking which room was meant to be mine.

It was much, much smaller than Lin’s, but I had it to myself, which was more than the other guards and maidservants could say.