Shadow’s Lure Read Online Free Page B

to enforce her laws now that the Sacred Brotherhood was disbanded, Josey had turned over much of the daily operations to Hubert, her new lord chancellor, so that she was free to consider larger matters of state. Or so she had told herself.
    “Yes, Your Grace,” she said. “In one moment.”
    Hubert had started to turn away, but halted in midstep. Josey flicked a glance toward the offensive ceiling paintings and tried not to meet the mournful eyes of the Prophet hanging on his noose.
    “When will the ceiling be restored?”
    Hubert cleared his throat. “We have not yet acquired an artist, Your Majesty.”
    “Why not?”
    Hubert turned to the long desk he shared with the new Keeper of the Imperial Treasury. Ozmond Parmian cut a fine figure in his fashionable white suit.
    “It is a matter of funds,” Ozmond said, “which are somewhat lacking at the moment, Majesty. Revenues from the outlying provinces have been late in arriving, while the cost of raising, training, and barracking the City Watch, combined with the new measures put in place to assist the poor—”
    Josey lifted a hand. “I see. Your Grace, you may proceed.”
    With a nod, Hubert faced the ministers, and Josey settled back in her seat. At first, she had looked forward to these meetings, anticipating the chance to enact policies that would improve the lives of her subjects, but it had become apparent after just a few days that only her presence was required, not her voice. While she sat in the excruciating chair, her ministers heard from petitioners and judged their cases. After a short recess, she would be paraded through a series of smaller meetings where she was also encouraged to smile and say little. In short, she was treated like a painted doll.
    While Hubert intoned the day’s agenda, Josey played with the heavy ring on her fourth finger. Her father’s signet. The large carbuncle had been reset onto a new band sized for her hand. She ran her fingertip over the smooth facets. How many emperors have worn this before me ? What would they think if they saw me sitting here now ?
    Hubert talked about the unrest across the empire. It seemed that in the absence of the Church’s authority, some of the nobility took the opportunity to revisit old grudges upon their neighbors. This had escalated into a handful of tiny wars. Every day the Thurim debated options to suppress the violence, but so far they hadn’t actually done anything. Then something Hubert said caught her attention.
    “What was that?” she asked.
    He looked up from the scroll he was reading. “The western territories, Majesty. Lord Ulbrecht of Cantross writes with news of banditry along the border and asks for assistance in quelling the problem.”
    “Any news from the soldiers I sent north?”
    “Ah, not as yet, Majesty.”
    “Lord Ulbrecht commands a fortress in the town, does he not?”
    “Yes, Majesty. I believe so, but he says in his letter he does not possess sufficient soldiers to impose order beyond the town walls.”
    “This makes how many reports of brigandry along the western border?”
    “This is the fourth this month, Majesty.”
    Josey tapped the arms of the throne with her fingernails. Cantross was near the border in a lawless stretch of land where her writ meant very little. Still, the people living in that territory were her subjects. She had a duty to them. “We will send a company of troops to his aid.”
    “Majesty, we have a shortage of—”
    “Draw up a list of those lords who have made war within the empire’s borders without Our consent. Demand from each a levy of soldiers, armed and equipped for a campaign.” A warm glow heated Josey’s cheeks as she spoke. “If we deprive the fractious nobles of their weapons, they will have nothing with which to harass each other.”
    The corners of Hubert’s mouth quivered as if he wanted to smile, but did not dare. “That is one idea, Majesty. But might I ask what we shall do if they refuse?”
    “Any who