Tsar Raja Reznik stiffened at Anubis' words. Her smile widened at his discomfort and she rose from her curtsey.
"Kathrine." He said and Anubis' smile faded. She stared at her hands, at the mark on the right palm. Her eyebrows raised in surprise, lips twitching back into that twisted smile.
"I lost that name nearly eighteen years ago—the empire calls me Anubis and you will too." She looked up at Ketil who nervously chewed on his bottom lip. "You sent for me."
The Crown Prince met her eyes and he hid a smile behind tightly shut lips. He winked at her once before lowering his gaze.
The Tsarina shifted uncomfortably, but the Tsar nodded. "You look well—I suppose you should after learning how much your rogues have stolen from the Empire's elite."
"I have a permit that you granted. A permit that allows me to hunt down those not in the Inquisition who wrongly persecute my kind." She straightened up into almost military straight posture.
"Just because you are the royal bastard doesn't mean you can do whatever you want." Valentina muttered, her voice carrying farther than she meant.
Anubis' voice carried a bit of confidence, a confidence that declared she was the rightful occupant of her throne. "Then have me killed. I have five of my group ready to defend my name to the death. You kill me and you not only break the Law of Blood, you start another Riesun War. And my Crown," she added a bow, "I don't believe you will win another one."
The Tsar smiled before turning it into a snarl. "I have called you here to talk about the business with the Polarian Empire. They have crossed into our territory and claimed two outlying cities. Empress Aslaug has taken it too far. She is mobilizing her army—an army of riesun."
Anubis hid her emotions behind a mask of thick apathy, but her mind had already taken flight.An army of riesun? This could be the dawn of another Riesun War.
"I could find an army of skilled riesun for you. You'd have to overturn the Inquisitor's mark. They would serve you faithfully if you overturned the one act. And they'd fight to the death."
"No." He lifted his head, staring at Ketil who refused to meet his eyes. "I have another solution, one that will solve any further issues with our neighbors to the north. I want you to kill Empress Aslaug Østberg."
Anubis stopped, her blood freezing in her veins. Ketil's head snapped to attention, his mouth open but no words coming loose.
Anubis grabbed his arm as he whispered a string of Polarian curses. "You want me to kill her?"
The Tsar nodded as if that was enough of an order. "Take your band of rogues into Polaria. You have the Riesun Prince in your Order, you will establish him as the true Emperor of Polaria."
"I can't kill my sister," Ketil's words were accented even more than normal, flowing together in one long string. There was a panic in his tone, but he took a hurried breath, containing back the flood of panic. "I cannot, your majesty. That is unthinkable!"
The Tsar gave him a look, his lips curling up into a disdained purse.
Anubis opened her palms, "we can't just march into the palace and kill her. Polaria is guarded by riesun far more powerful than us."
"But that's where you are wrong Katherine—
"My name is Anubis," her open pals curled into fists.
"If you accomplish this, I will put a law into effect saving condemned riesun. Anubis, I command you as your Tsar to complete this mission. The fate of your kind is on your shoulders, it is up to you to do what you will with it."
"And I have no say in this?" Ketil's voice rose, anger pulling at the edges of his words. "You want me to kill my sister and take the throne? I did not die for that cause."
The Tsar did not address him. He did not even cast his eyes in the man's direction.
Anubis bowed her head, dark hair spilling over her shoulders. Her heart thumped in her chest at the thought of this mission.
Kill Empress Aslaug?
Impossible.
And Ketil would not kill his sister. Not for the throne that he was robbed of. And the Order? She could count on Raziel and Ketil, but the others? They weren't an especially strong group of riesun and the prisoner wasn't even one of them.
The Tsar continued, standing to his impressive height to look down at them. "I don't care how you do it, Anubis. Kill her with a touch, send in one of your others to do the work, kill her with an arrow—as long as she's dead."
Ketil took the words from her. "We are not prepared for the Polarian winter."
He ignored Ketil again. "Gather what supplies the Polarian needs, you have sufficient funds. I am commanding you, Anubis. You don't seem to understand that you have no choice."
She paused, looking into Ketil's icy eyes which he quickly averted. "What else do you desire of us?"
Prince Mikhail took a step down, "my father has offered you a proposition contrary to the beliefs of the entire Rajsend Empire. If they had their way, they would tear you apart with their bare hands."
She smiled, "they'd die then."
He continued, holding back a small smile. "They would have you all killed for having riesun blood. But this proposition—if completed—holds the fate of your kind—"
Anubis let out a snort, "your kind? My Prince you are severely mistaken... I believe you mean our kind."
He stared down at her with a cocked head. "It would mean a sanctuary, a truce between us." He took another step away from the dais. "The choice is in your hands."
Anubis lifted her face, "the choice is not in my hands, it lies in Ketil's—your Riesun Prince's—hands." She looked to Ketil again and he shut his mouth.
"That will be all, Anubis." The Tsar finished, an air of ultimate authority cutting alongside his words. A few guards positioned around the room clicked their heels in attention before following him out.
All who were left in the throne room was the Tsarina and her children. Anubis immediately stared into her eyes, "Tsarina."
"Anubis."
There was a moment of harsh tension as the woman stood, face contorted with a grimace as she struggled to maintain her perfect posture.
"Ketil," Anubis whispered, "you are dismissed."
He touched her arm gently and she pushed him away. "You are dismissed."
He opened his mouth to protest, but her eyes told him to leave now. He bowed to the Tsarina quickly before spinning on his heels and walking away.
There was silence, only interrupted by the quick beats of his heels against the stone floor and then the open and shut of the door.
The Tsarina lifted her head, "you are nothing but scum. The Law of Blood does not count riesun as people."
"Go on and kill me then," there was a bite in Anubis' voice, one that knew the Tsarina could never lay a hand on her. "You want to start a war, is that it? Did you propose this so you could kill me and get around the Law of Blood?"
Her small feet padded down the steps of the dais. "Anubis, you're quite the clever girl, aren't you? But no, I had no hand in this decision. Other decisions regarding your fate have been in my hands, but not this one."
Anubis' hands tightened into fists. "'Decisions'? That's what you call what you did? You killed my mother. You had her dragged from her home and beat to death on the streets. I watched them do it, they were from the Crown. And then when you tried to have me killed, the Law of Blood was dragged into the mix. You killed her in cold blood and if it would be up to you, you'd have me killed to. You're nothing but a murderer."
The Tsarina's left eyebrow raised. "She was a riesun."
"She was a woman."
"She was a whore."
"Then what does that make your husband?" Anubis spat the words out like poison and the Tsarina stutter-stepped backward, anger writhing on her face.
"My mother was a good woman. I know you sent royal guards to hunt her down and kill her. And if you had known I was a riesun, you would have had me killed too. You would have broken the Law of Blood if it meant killing out my kind. You would have committed the unforgivable crime of breaking the Law of Blood."
The Tsarina looked back to her children before glaring at Anubis. "She was a riesun, her death was a duty to my Empire. She seduced men into her bed for a spare kip."
Anubis' body shook with anger as she took a step forward, barely containing her voice into a growl. "My mother was a clockmaker! She seduced no one, she was hungry and your Tsar took advantage of her. He knew she was hungry, he knew she needed a few kips and he took her for a fool. And at least he knows when to admit fault! You murdered an innocent woman to cover up the sin of my existence! An existence that he created!"
"That is a lie!"
"Look at me! Look at your son! We are a testimony that man—even a Tsar—is no god!"
Prince Mikhail took another step forward, looking back to his mother with a look of feigned innocence. "Mother, don't wear yourself down. Go and rest. I will see her out."
The Tsarina nodded, Valentina touching her arm and guiding her out of the room.
"Hello Anubis," Mikhail said as soon as the two of them were alone.
Anubis crossed her arms. "You look like a Tsar."
He smiled pridefully, a lock of dark brown hair falling into his deep green eyes. He looked down at his regal uniform, gloved hands brushing along the scarlet red fabric. He was classically handsome and was the type that knew it too. He was the Crown Prince and her half-brother and severely ambitious—far too much so for her tastes.
"Father believes that appearance can help persuade subjects into control. I think it makes me look too thin." He played with the button at his throat, taking a small breath.
"You've grown into your skin. You're not a skinny beanpole anymore." She shook her head, "your mother is insufferable."
"And she grows more insufferable with each day," he extended his hand to her. "She wants what's best for the family, even if that's what will ruin the Empire."
"And that will be her undoing. If the riesun know that they hold the power, they could easily rise up and depose this house." She took his hand with a bit of hesitation.
His soft velvet gloves grasped her hand and enlaced his fingers in hers. "I am eager myself to depose of this house," his voice lowered. "The Inquisition grows restless and hungry. I have tried to delay their persecutions, but I fear there's not much else I can do."
"What do you mean?"
"The Inquisition wants more power, but I doubt my father will relinquish it. They are willing to do whatever it takes to regain control—even stage a coup. It could be the perfect opportunity to stage my own for our own reasons."
"You speak of treason—deposing your father, delaying the Inquisition? What else have you been doing?"
"Plotting." His grin widened to expose slightly crooked canines.
"Then you know how dangerous this scheme is. You are putting my life as well as my team's in jeopardy. All for what? You think Ketil is capable of murdering his sister."
"But if you succeed," he looked up at the golden skylight. "Think of the world we will make. Ketil Østberg on the Polarian throne, me on Rajsend's—"
"We would create an alliance with Polaria to grant sanctuary to all riesun. That would ensure safety for us in the two major kingdoms."
Anubis stared at him with a bent brow.
"A world without the Inquisition," he waved his other hand, resting it on the saber on his hip. "A world without the fear of death and branding."
"It's hard to imagine."
"You forget that I am a riesun myself," he lifted up his eyes. "Albeit, not a powerful one, but a riesun nonetheless. And you could be so much more than a petty rogue. Imagine how this Empire could be."
Anubis snorted, "I'd rather continue with my life in Kantloe—in the Spire."
"Stealing a few spare kips from the wealthy? Never truly exercising your power?"
She shook her head, "I don't want to exercise my power. I don't want it to become out of hand."
"You could be so much more, Anubis. You could have this place in the palm of your hand if you would just try harder."
"Stop."
"If you wanted, you could rule—"
"I said stop." She thrust her hand out, silencing him with the movement.
He changed the subject. "How is the Order?"
"Alive—if that's what you mean. Alive is the best state a riesun can be," she placed her hand on her hip. "Raziel has created quite the reputation for healing in Kantloe—he doesn't know that I know the entirety of it. It was a mistake for me to bring Dante into the group. She is unable to do what it takes to survive."
"She's a child, Anubis."
"That means nothing. Riesun and Crown Princes don't get the privilege of childhood. You should know that."
It was his turn to place his hands on his hips. All regality in the Prince disappeared and he looked more like an angsty young man rather than heir to the Rajsend throne. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You forget I lived here for years. I saw you pour your time and energy into whatever father commanded. Battle strategy. Construction. Language studies. Geography. Fencing. Dueling. Kinesthetics. Never allowed to practice your abilities. And I saw you pour over that ratty book of stories—I saw you writing in smudged ink by candlelight. I saw you practice on the guards, I've seen the scratches of poetry in the stables."
Mikhail smiled, "the world has no pity for fools or poets."
"And which one are you, brother?"
The smile grew a bit wider. "I am still trying to figure that one out."
There was a bit of silence and he shook his head. "It's not right—any of what happened."
"I know."
"I should have stopped what happened to Lio."
Anubis bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to draw blood. "We took a risk with what we did. We both knew he couldn't live here anymore. He made too many enemies and it was only a matter of time until they decided that he was a legitimate threat."
"He could have died permanently. I could have accidentally issued his real death."
"He's not mad that he's dead, Mikhail. He knew it would happen and he knew I'd reanimate him. He's just lonely. I can't be there for him all the time and only Raziel and Ketil know who and what he is."
"He's not a dog, Anubis. He's a man and you can't keep him pinned up forever."
"His death changed him, Mikhail. Even more than yours changed you. He's a different person. At times wrathful towards others. Never towards me, but anyone who gets in his way. He changed." Her voice shook a little, "I still love him, but he's changed."
Mikhail was silent, a gloved hand running through his tousled hair.
Anubis straightened up, taking a deep breath."If the Tsar knows he's alive, he'll try his damndest to kill him. I don't want to talk about him anymore."
The Prince straightened out his uniform, lifting his head to its natural regal position. His head was naturally set to wear a crown, even the waves of his hair presented a fine resting place for the empire's crown. "By the time you return, I hope to have established myself on the throne, through a coup of riesun, or an internal overthrow."
"Violently or nonviolently?"
"Whatever I have to do. Father has been pushing Valentina into my position—I don't know if he desires that she takes the throne or if he has knowledge of my plans. I have been practicing my abilities, I believe I can stun them for enough time to establish command. If that means killing father...so be it. It would be a feat, but a worthy one I believe."
"It would be the dawning of a new age."
"It would save so many." He lowered his eyebrows, leaning closer to her. "I will meet you tonight to speak about this. I want your thoughts. There are too many things to consider."
"You're throwing a coup, not deciding what color to paint your walls. There are many things to consider, is a bit of an understatement."
He smirked, a single strand of dark hair falling into his eyes.
"You're a mess—a beautiful mess, my brother. Keep your abilities secret, you don't need the people against you." She pressed a hand against his shoulder. "Godspeed Mikhail, if you succeed, you will go down in history as a hero."
"And same to you, sister. I owe you my life so I hope that this will make up for it." He pressed his hand into hers, kissing her cheek. "Godspeed, until we meet again." He released her hand and exited the throne room, posture immaculate.
Anubis stood in the throne room, staring at the Tsar's throne. Perhaps one day Mikhail would sit there, or perhaps he would die before that. And if he died, he would be dead forever. There was nothing more she could do.
She turned back, guards opening the door for her. She gave them both a nod and immediately stepped into Ketil.
"What are you doing?"
He looked to her with large eyes that seemed to belong more to a child than a man. "I—" he trailed off. "I don't like it here."
She shook her head, taking his arm. "Come on."
"What are we doing?"
"I'm going to talk to Mikhail tonight about his plans."
"Plans?"
Anubis dragged him into the hall, her voice lowered as they hurried away from the throne room. "Very dangerous plans."
Ketil dragged his heels a little as he walked through the palace, a bit of wonder and nostalgia lingering in the corner of his eyes. "You will tell me?"
"Yes, but not now."
She dragged him up a flight of stairs before hurrying him into a room. Sunlight streamed through the colored windows, turning their skin to a kaleidoscope of colors. Anubis shut the door with a sigh, leaning against the heavy wood and steal structure. "This is a safe place."
Ketil looked at the window, his eyes green in the light. "Your Tsar refused to address me."
"You're a riesun. You are no use to him. Why would he address you, especially when you spoke out of turn."
Ketil crossed his arms, staring at her as she sat down at a desk. "And what about you?"
"Speaking out of turn is expected for me. I am the bastard child, I just happen to have riesun blood. The Law of Blood says that no illegitimate child can be killed just because they are illegitimate. Not to mention, I saved his only son."
"Mikhail? You saved him?"
Anubis nodded, looking at the room with a bit of fondness. How many years had she spent here? Stuck between these four walls? Hidden from the world like an atrocity? "He went out riding and his horse get spooked. It threw him and he fell down the cliffs. He died sometime later. My father—the Tsar—brought him to me and begged that I save him. I can sill see his broken body, but bones can mend. He was the first person I saved."
"He's a lusccan too?"
"He's different." Anubis shrugged, "he isn't like you or..." she trailed off, lowering her voice. "Or Lio."
Ketil looked back to her, eyes widened. "Who?"
Anubis met his eyes. "Lio."
There was silence, Ketil's brows furrowed.
"Lio. He's been following us, you know." Ketil finally spoke, his voice lowered into a growl. "I don't trust him."
"Don't let what happened between us get in the way of this mission. We need him."
"We don't need him, he's unpredictable. He's unpredictable and dangerous."
"Do you think we can do this alone, Ketil?" She stood to face him. "Do you think that the five of us and a death row prisoner could actually cripple the Polarian Empire? We barely got out of the Weeping mansion with our lives."
He took a step backward, "we aren't strong e—"
She continued, stepping towards him again. "We won't even make it past the wastelands between the empires!"
"What are we supposed to do then?!"
She lowered her eyes, shaking her head. "Could you stand to see Aslaug dead? Could you watch your twin sister die by my hand? Could you stand to be the one to kill her? Would you allow it or would you be the one to kill her?"
He shut his eyes, "I can't do this—"
"I know you can't! We need Lio." Anubis' voice softened. "Mikhail's planning to overthrow his father. If you're on the Polarian throne and he's on Rajsend's... we could save our kind."
"How can I sit on a throne when I know about the blood that put me there?!"
"Grow up, Østberg!" She balled her hands up in his shirt. "Don't you see? Don't you understand what we could build? Safety? An end to the Inquisition? An end to persecution? Don't you understand that this is so much more than your fragile morality. This is the future of thousands—maybe even millions of people! People like me. People like you. Like Dante. And Raziel. And Vasco."
Silence enveloped them and Ketil wrapped his hands around her wrists.
She let her shoulders slump. "I'm sorry."
Ketil nodded slowly, any color in his already pale face draining away. "You're right."
She looked up to meet his eyes, the light behind him creating a halo of green and blue around his body. She released his shirt and he stared down at the floor.
"I should be the one to do it." His shoulders shook. "I will have mercy. I will deal with her in my own way, the way of my people."
Anubis watched him as he fell to his knees, a small cry lodged in his throat. He fell as if he had been shot, as if the life had drained from his body. He bent his head, his lips whispering Polarian words—a prayer.
He stood up, eyes closed. "I will do it. I will kill her."
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