The Empire (The Lover's Opalus) Read Online Free PDF Page A

not take it. Instead, she lay in bed with her body burning, reminding her of Galan, but not of Galan.
    She had come to curse Galan and think of him as a thief. Long before Rucha’s birth, Raeche had sent him away, fearing what would happen when the truth was known, fearing what was happening as she found herself no longer stirred by his caresses or impressed with his small stature or even interested in the lovely play of his timra. Yet now, though she did not want him and had trouble remembering his face, her breasts and womb ached as they had when first he had come to her, and she could not keep her thoughts from turning to the Emperor.
     

 

 
    Chapter 6
     
    “You called for me, Taritana?”
    For some reason, his voice caused an itch in her belly and between her shoulder blades. Its rasp became a tangible touch. It was the oddest thing. Then again, Valor did remind her very much of his brother.
    “Yes.” Taritana dipped her head in a greeting that showed respect absent of deference. “I heard that you had returned from the South.”
    “I would not miss Rucha’s celebration. She is, after all, my favorite niece.”
    “You have no other.”
    “Favorite just the same.”
    Taritana nodded but said no more. He shifted under her gaze and she wondered why he always seemed to be in motion.
    A weary sigh parted his lips as he raked his hands through his hair. He smiled at her and the smile was…odd. “What is the state of the Empire?”
    “Valor?”
    “Taritana, you have summoned me. You only do so when you would like to educate me on the state of the Empire. So let us discuss it.”
    Her brows furrowed. Valor did not usually handle her so. Usually he was kind to her, soft with her, conspiratorial even. Still, he was correct. She did want to discuss the Empire.
    She fiddled with the pad covering the palm of her left hand. “That she believes she has a private life demonstrates how much of a young fool she is.”
    Valor shrugged. “That may be true. But what does any of it matter? Even in the South, I have seen girls painting red hearts on their faces to mimic the blood-mark. They find it romantic. The warriors do not find my brother weak–they think him virile because the most beautiful and powerful woman in the Empire desires him so much that she bedevils him, seeks him through Spirit, and has forgotten her would-be lover altogether. They believe that Lanus inspires passion. He does. Women, low- and high-born, practice deceit and treachery solely to get a glance at him. Those who get a glance long to know him. Those who know him personally fall in love.”
    Taritana coughed.
    “He is also lethal and fair. A warrior without rival as well as a scholar of the Empire and the Spirit, which makes him a judge without compare. The Empire recognizes their leader.”
    “Fine, Valor. Maybe that is true. But what of her? She has never performed her duties as Empress. Every task she does not do falls to me as her Personal.”
    “She does not share a bed with Lanus–does that fall to you?”
    Before reason could take control, Taritana lashed out, nearly making contact with Valor’s cheek. Instead her hand slammed against a wall of Spirit. She snatched it back, stung by the blow.
    Valor laughed at her. “You strike not because that responsibility does fall to you, but because it does not.”
    The Empress’s Personal recovered quickly. “I forget myself.” She bowed her head, eyes on the ground. Then she cleared her throat. “Perhaps you do not understand the significance of this situation. You spend all your time at the Death White Border chasing the ghosts of Poachers and Riddlers. Like the Empress, you also ignore your duties. By rights, you should either be here in the palace or in Old Castle learning to run the Empire in the event of the Emperor’s–”
    “My brother is safe. As is his heir. The Codices speak of Rucha’s rule, so I am certain the Empire would pardon my neglect.”
    “What has happened to