One Thousand Nights Read Online Free

for my maid, some years earlier, telling Torric that I simply could not bear to have those women spying on everything I did. That announcement had caused quite an uproar in the household, for of course my mother, the Dowager Empress, thought it the grossest breach of protocol. But Torric had prevailed, and I was left blessedly alone. Ashara, however, had not been allowed that luxury.
    “May we speak?” she asked formally.
    “Of course,” I replied at once. I knew precisely why she was here, and I did not wish for such a conversation. But I also knew to turn her away would only set tongues wagging. “Arlyn, go and fetch us some tea, if you please.”
    That would get her safely out of the way for a while. In actuality, she would go out and relay the request for tea to one of the upper-level maids, who would then pass it down the chain of command until the order arrived at the kitchens. But at least she would remain outside until the tea in question appeared, and that should take several minutes. And Ashara’s retinue would not be allowed to follow her into my chambers, but rather would have to loiter in the hall until Her Majesty’s business was concluded.
    She came in and paused, and one of the guards moved forward to shut the door behind her. I could see the relief pass visibly over her face before she moved forward and took a seat on the divan before the fire.
    “One would think you would be used to all that, after three months,” I said.
    “I doubt I ever shall, but I will endeavor to hope that it will become slightly less obtrusive as time wears on,” she replied, a little smile at the corner of her mouth telling me that she had recognized my teasing for what it was. Then even that faint smile faded, and she added, “I suppose you know why I am here.”
    “I can guess. Torric knows that I am angry with him, and so has sent you as his ambassador, thinking that perhaps you can persuade me where he has not.”
    A shake of her head, those amazing dark copper curls shimmering in the firelight. “Well, that is what he asked of me, but it is not the real reason I came.”
    “It isn’t?” I inquired in some surprise. Oh, Ashara was not overly meek, and had stood up to Torric on more than one occasion if the situation warranted it. But they were usually of one mind on everything, and so they rarely disagreed. For some reason, I had thought for sure she would have sided with my brother on this matter.
    “No, of course not!” she burst out. “Lyarris, you are the sister I always wished for. Surely you cannot think I would support sending you away to marry someone simply because it was politically expedient! I told Torric as much, and he said that while he admired my idealism, such sentiment had no place in politics.”
    “He is right, you know. I should be thinking coldly. I should be remembering my place as the Crown Princess of Sirlende, and doing what is best for the empire.” Suddenly my legs felt as if they could not support me any longer, and I sank down on the divan next to her. “But oh, Ashara, I cannot do it! Perhaps if I did not love someone else — perhaps if my heart were not already given — I could have made myself submit to such a scheme. Torric seems to think that because this Hierarch is not so many years older than I, and comely, it would be easier.”
    “It is because Torric is a man,” Ashara replied, fine eyebrows drawing together even as she reached out to pat my hand. “And your brother. That is, in his mind he feels that he had some hand in drawing your attention to Sorthannic Sedassa, and so because he had done so once before, he can now redirect those attentions to the ruler of Keshiaar.”
    “It is not the same thing at all!”
    “Well, I know that, and you know that, but….” She let the words trail off, and I saw some curiosity in her eyes. “And how is it that you know he is comely?”
    Without replying, I stood and went over to my desk, where I had set the little pouch