She took his arm, and pulled him to her. She lowered her voice.

“You’re about to become Patron of Saiduan,” she said.

He stiffened.

She continued, “Alaar is dead.”

“Whose hand?”

“Yours.”

“Who, Maralah? This has your smell on it.” The Patron’s minister of war had been killed six seasons before, and that left the Patron with Maralah as confidant. Rajavaa always wondered if that was her doing or just happy circumstance.

“One of the sanisi.”

“An oath-breaker? Didn’t you cast out the last sanisi to break his vow?”

“Taigan’s indiscretion was very public. In this case, you and I are the only ones to know. We’ve kept it quiet, waiting on your return.”

“No witnesses, then?”

He saw her hesitate. Her large mouth firmed slightly. Just enough.

“No,” she said. “Just me.”

Her, the sanisi, and a dozen slaves, more likely. Rajavaa said, “You do have a way of sitting on the seat without wearing the cowl.”

“I could never harm Alaar,” she said, “but others are not so gutless. He was going to hold our ground here. Kuonrada was to be the final stand.”

“We don’t have enough to hold Kuonrada.”

“I know that. His sanisi know that. I believe he knew it as well. But it’s been a long war, and he wanted to go out at a place of his choosing.”

“So you killed him.”

“No,” Maralah said. “You did.”

“Milk and tits, Maralah, I can’t–”

“We’re purging the harem and nursery now, and eliminating the sanisi who will not follow you. I recommend you marry Arisaa, his favorite. She’s from Anjoliaa. We’ll need them.”

“I can’t be Patron, Maralah.”

“You will,” she said. “Who else is there? It can’t be a sanisi. He only has two adult sons left, and they’re in the far north, already targeted by the invaders. They’ll be dead in a month. They have no army. Your force is the largest standing company we still have, and we can grow it as we retreat south.”

“It’s not the right time,” he said.

“When you see what’s been done upstairs, you’ll disagree,” she said. “His family is already slaughtered. If you don’t take up this mantle now, this hold will descend into chaos, and what remains of the country with it. Divided, we’ll be destroyed in three months. With you to lead us, we could last three years.”

“A year at best.”

“Three, if you take my counsel.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I like breathing too much not to take your counsel.”

“Then we are in agreement.”

“I can’t, Maralah.”

“Lords why? You can’t tell me you haven’t thought of it. I’m handing it to you now, Rajavaa. I held this coup for just the right moment. There are people dead upstairs, my people. I have twenty dead women in this harem and forty children–”