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

you, Valor?”
    “Happened to me?”
    “You and I have shared eyes, ears and heart more often than not.”
    “We could still if you would but open your eyes, open your ears and open your heart,” he said softly.
    Taritana was startled by both his words and tone but continued as if he had not spoken. “We both took our duty to the Empire seriously. We were both devout followers of the Spirit. You knew, as I know, that she is vapid and loose.”
    “Nothing has happened to me. I would turn that question on myself if I were you.” He stepped closer to her. “Now before I leave, I warn you, Taritana. Do nothing that harms her.”
    “I would never harm the Empire!” She was appalled he would even suggest such a thing.
    “No, you would not. But you would hurt Raeche.”
    “Raeche is the Empire.” She could not keep bitterness and aggression from her tone.
    “You misunderstand on purpose. I do not believe you would do anything to change her status in the Empire or even lessen her status in the eyes of the Emperor, but I believe you would hurt her. I am asking you not to.”
    “I have no power here.”
    “You have more than her own mother, who is lost to her own desires. You have as much as a sister, had she had one. She views you as her woman-kin.”
    Taritana swallowed. Heat built in her neck and ears. “She does not. She hates me as I do her.”
    “Maybe, but you are the only one who is close to her outside of the child and, in his own way, Lanus. Neither of those relationships nurtures her.”
    “I am not her friend.”
    “You have seen the tree from which that leaf falls. Raeche does not know the difference. Listen, Tana. No matter what you do,” Valor said, stepping slowly away from her, “Lanus will never love you, yet he would happily destroy us all to have her.”
    “Then he is a–”
    Striking fast as a timra, Valor used Spirit to close her lips over words that would be blasphemous. “What has driven you this far?”
    Still silenced by his power, Taritana did not even attempt to speak though rebellion burned in her blood.
    Valor grabbed her wrists. She tried to pull away but he would not allow it. He ripped off the red scrap of material covering the skin on her palm and pressed his fingertips there.
    She tried to show him nothing, to hold back her visions. Instead, Taritana could sense him searching her naked mind and the vision Taritana chose to show him faded.. He found with ease the memory truly at work stirring her Spirit.
    * * * *
    “Empress,” Taritana prodded. “Your attendance at Prince Praytor’s Request for Ascension is requested.”
    “Has the Emperor asked for me?”
    It was not Taritana’s place to question the Empress, but in this she had been lax. “Is it necessary that he make this request? Whrennal, though in the West, borders the South and has been in dispute for seven long rings. Your appearance as well as the Emperor’s in support of either of the claiming heirs would settle the disagreement.”
    “Has the Emperor requested that I attend?”
    “No, Empress, he has not.”
    “Then I will not go.”
    “Surely you must. The rebellion in Whrennal must be ended. It is the first land outside the Death White Border to sympathize with the South. Should they threaten secession, there will be war. We must eliminate this threat at any cost, but not through approving and rewarding Praytor. His reign must fall.”
    “‘At any cost, but.’ Listen to yourself, Taritana. The wedding of Dahouina and Praytor ends this battle. At least so I have heard. There is nothing more to say on it.”
    Taritana took her leave of the Empress, failing to conceal her disdain and anger. She sought out the Emperor. Surely, Lanus would help if she made her case to him properly?
    Her heart was broken when she realized he would not favor her request. It was made worse when she saw Raeche had followed her to bear witness.
    “Lanus,” Taritana pleaded. “My sister is too young for Praytor. I have heard