It was worse.

The other guests had already been seated by the time we made our way to the dining hall, so that when I entered, Jovis on my heels, everyone turned at once to scrutinize me. I was glad I’d asked for Iloh’s jacket. It might have been a man’s jacket, but it fit me. I’d forgone the heavy headdress, but I tipped my chin up and strode to the two empty cushions, hoping I conveyed power and dignity. Jovis was seated at my right hand, and he shifted on his cushion as everyone looked at him, obviously uncomfortable with the attention.

“Thank you for joining us, Eminence.” Iloh was seated across from me. “The jacket suits you nicely.”

“Thank you for sending it,” I said, willing myself to be gracious. I needed this man to be my friend, after all.

“Allow me to introduce my other guests.” He went around the table, giving the names and positions of the seven other people seated for dinner. I did my best to remember them. There was the mining supervisor on Riya, a ceramics artist, three close relatives of Iloh, a visiting governor from a nearby isle and a wealthy landlord.

The woman seated to my left was Pulan, the visiting governor. She was soft-spoken and had a pleasant manner about her; she wouldn’t meet my gaze, but smiled when she spoke. I struck up a conversation with her as the food was being served, and learned that her isle had its own, smaller witstone mine.

The supervisor of Riya’s witstone mine was seated next to Jovis, and I heard him rather boisterously asking after Jovis’s magic. “You set those Imperial soldiers on their heels, I heard,” he said. “Gave them something to remember you by, didn’t you? And now you’re one of them. Hilarious, isn’t it?”

“I’m the Captain of the Imperial Guard,” Jovis said smoothly. “Hardly a soldier.”

“Is it true you’re from some backwater isle? You carry yourself like a Sai, even if you are half-Poyer.”

Not really the flattering assessment the man intended. But Jovis only smiled. “I’m from a backwater, it’s true, and was a smuggler to boot. Can you tell my mother I carry myself like a Sai? I’d appreciate the gesture. She is constantly disappointed in me.”

The supervisor laughed and slapped the table. “Ah, so she’s the Empirean one, then. You have my sympathies, Captain.”

Would that I could so easily win over the table.

In Riya, food was served on large platters, placed in the center of the table for everyone to share. Servants shifted the position of the dishes every so often to ensure that everyone could have their fill. I’d researched this ahead of time, so at least I hadn’t embarrassed myself by bringing a maidservant to test my food.