Stardancer (Tellaran Series) (28 page)

She was still reeling from it when he shifted his body above her.  He was clumsy with need now, hard and ready against her center. She made a soft sound, holding him close as he entered her, her hand cradling his head.

He buried his face in her hair as he moved, his body trembling. She covered his cheek with kisses, tasting the saltiness of sweat against her lips, her fingers tracing the straining muscles of his back.  

He groaned, thrusting deep and fast. She cried out, the wave hitting just as she felt him spend within her.

“
Cy’atta
,” he murmured against her hair, his moist skin sliding against her as she tried to catch her breath. She could feel his heart hammering in his chest as he turned his face, his mouth seeking hers again. His mouth brushed hers, soft and tender, and her fingers slid through the thick strands of his hair as she returned the kiss.

He shifted to cradle her against him. They lay close, skin-to-skin, taking refuge against the sounds of the warriors drilling in the garden below. 

Later, when the house had quieted, he reached for her again and Kinara didn’t spare even one precious moment to think of Senya.

For this night he belonged to her again.

Kinara’s hope to avoid attention was dashed the moment they left the Az’anti estate. Proper arrival at the Imperial Palace meant being carried in a ceremonial litter through the city with Aidar and Laric walking at her side and a dozen honor guards around them. It was slow going as many went out of their way to watch the red-haired
Ti’antah
and her entourage pass. 

Kinara spotted familiar faces on the street but they did not acknowledge her.

“Nobody loves a loser,” she uttered as Helia of the Az’shu avoided her gaze.

“Truly they are cowards,” Aidar said.

She raised her eyebrows at the anger in his voice. 

“You can’t blame them for watching out for themselves. If somebody else was up here, that’s what I’d be doing.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Did someone else ride here, you would stand in the middle of the street to greet them.”

Kinara settled back in the elaborate — and damned uncomfortable — litter. “I would not. I’d run like a sular out of the slaughterhouse.”

Aidar snorted in disbelief. Kinara shot him a look then turned to her maid. 

“Laric, is there anything else you can tell me?”

“No, my Lady,” Laric said quietly. “There is much speculation but most agree with Unata, that you are summoned for punishment.”

“I’m surprised she isn’t shouting it from the rooftops,” Kinara grumbled. “That woman has a tongue long enough to block a road.”

She heard what sounded suspiciously like a laugh covered by a cough from her mate.

Kinara smiled grimly. “I’ll tell you one thing—if I get out of this, Unata’s going to wish she’d never
come
to the Imperial world.”

They were delayed at the gate of the Palace. The guards insisted on searching the litter for hidden weapons.

Kinara’s face flushed with annoyance.
Hey, guys, did you happen to notice that I’m surrounded by armed guards? 

But Tellaran logic was no match for Az-kye tradition and, with both Laric and Aidar’s help, she stepped down. 

It was no easy task. Her hair had been curled, coiled and piled on her head with enough jewels to make a Zartani High Lady double take. The whole thing was as heavy as a boulder and it was uncomfortable to even turn her head. Her formal gown, black as space and decorated in black glittering stones, covered her from her over-jeweled neck to her black bead encrusted shoes. Against this, her coppery hair shone like a beacon and she knew that someone a half-mile away would have no trouble recognizing her as the
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti.

Even at the gate she was gathering stares.

Damn it, I should have covered my hair somehow.

Finally allowed to climb back into the litter, Kinara felt her heart jump as the servants lifted her up.

Kinara’s lips parted when she got her first real look at the inside of the Palace walls. Its polished stone was a riot of color and decoration. The carvings were so elaborate and detailed that a thousand academics from Apovia could have spent a lifetime studying them all and the people themselves — from lowest servant to highest
Ti’antah
— were swathed in black.

It was well before midday but Kinara had to choke back the urge to order her people to hurry. They had not yet reached the main arch of the Palace and gods knew where on the grounds they would have to present themselves.

A woman in the black and gold of a Servant of the Empress stopped them at the second arch.

The woman’s dark eyes ran over Kinara’s entourage, clearly not impressed. “The Az’anti clan leader?”

Kinara bent her head, careful of her elaborate hairstyle. “I am
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti.”

“
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti, the Empress’s peace is on you and yours. Let no warrior draw his sword in the House of the Empress.”

Wouldn’t the whole thing be easier if no one carried damn swords into the palace at all?

Kinara bent her head again. “As the Empress commands.”

Laric helped her out of the litter and made tiny adjustments to her hair and gown. Finally the maid stepped back and the Servant waved her forward.

“You may be attended by two warriors,
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti.”

Kinara felt a moment of panic.
Does two include Aidar or not?
 

Aidar quickly selected two from her honor guard. Kinara let her breath out. She wasn’t ready for this and the smallest slip-up could ruin her. Right now she felt like a blindfolded man in a maze full of spikes.

With Aidar at her side Kinara followed the woman, Nyat and Reth behind them. When they entered the Great Hall Kinara understood why her guard had been so limited. The soaring room was already packed. If everyone here had been allowed to bring twelve guards no one would be able to move at all.

Kinara was careful to keep her eyes on the Servant’s back. If she lost sight of the woman they could wander forever in this black-clad sea without ever finding her again. Kinara passed many who outranked her but she did not pause to greet them. Kinara followed a Servant of the Empress. Her meeting with the Imperial Majesty took precedence over all.

Laric and Aidar had prepared her as best they could for this meeting. They had explained protocol for her audience before the Heart of the Heaven’s Children—how low to bow, how to greet the Empress and how to leave—but they hadn’t prepared her to be led right through the Great Hall and to the upper floors.

Kinara’s palms were wet. She resisted the urge to wipe them on her beaded gown. 

Where the hell are we going
? If she were about to be bawled out wouldn’t the Empress do it publicly?

The Servant signaled for the warriors to stay behind. She waved Kinara and Aidar inside, shutting the door quietly behind her. 

The black stone floor of the room shone with obvious expense, the walls a riot of hangings and carvings. A black and gold throne dominated the room.

It took a moment for Kinara to realize that the woman seated before her in the simple black gown was indeed Azara-behn, known throughout the Empire as
Shina’ aru’ Az-kye
, the Heart of Heaven’s Children. 

Shaking, Kinara hurriedly sank to her knees before the Empress. The elaborately pinned hairstyle made the roots of her hair scream in protest as she pressed her forehead to the cold, stone floor.

“As my duty is to the Az-kye,” Kinara intoned,
“so is my duty to the Empress.”

“Rise,
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti.”

Kinara straightened and stood. She indicated Aidar with a gesture. 

“My bound mate, Aidar of the Az’anti, Imperial Majesty.”

The Empress Azara-behn was a woman in her prime and streaks of gray were shot through her dark hair. Not beautiful but every inch of her spoke regality and her voice was both musical and strong. 

“Rise, Aidar of the Az’anti.”

Kinara kept her gaze on the Empress as she was supposed to but she was aware of the white-haired woman present. Azara-behn waved the woman forward and, having implicit permission, Kinara turned her gaze. It was Sechon, the Elder who had insisted that she accept Baruta’s bid for her crew.

“Elder,” Kinara said, trying to hide her surprise and bowed from the waist. 

The woman gave a nod. “Kinara of the Az’anti.”

“Come forward, lady,” Azara-behn said.

Kinara took a few steps forward, unsure how close she could get to the Empress without giving offense. 

The Empress looked her over. “You are right, Sechon. No one who sees her would fail to recognize her as Tellaran.”

Kinara flushed. “I am
Ti’antah
of the Az’anti, Imperial Majesty.”

The Empress waved her hand impatiently. “Come, Lady! You were born Tellaran, have worn the white, have been made
Ti’antah,
and now have taken a Council seat by the greatest luck the gods ever visited upon a girl child.”

Kinara lifted her chin. “As the Empress says.”

The Empress gave a startled chuckle. “Such fire in you! Tell me, did your spirit not quiver a bit when you seized power from the Council for Food?”

“More than a little, Imperial Majesty.”

Azara-behn raised an eyebrow. “Did you know that Helia of the Az’shu is Sechon’s daughter?”

Was that why she had been summoned? Because she’d taken Helia’s seat? “Yes, Imperial Majesty. I did know.”

“And you pursued her place despite it?”

“Yes, Imperial Majesty, I did.”

Azara-behn stood and circled Kinara, looking her over then turned her attention on Aidar. “You bound yourself to one who wore the white.  Why did you so?”

Aidar bowed his head. “I cannot explain, Imperial Majesty.”

“You cannot?” the Empress asked sharply. “Or you will not?”

Aidar hesitated. “I believe my lady to be a
Cy’atta
. I could do no other.”

The Empress looked at Kinara and demanded, “Are you?”

Of course I’m not one of Lashima’s Stardancers!
Kinara glanced at Aidar and wet her lips. “That’s what he calls me, Imperial Majesty. But I don’t have any magic if that’s what you mean.”

Azara-behn’s eyes sharpened. “You commanded a Tellaran ship and attacked one of my warships.”

Kinara felt the blood drain from her face. “I did command the
Rapier
, Your Majesty.”

“And then took an Az-kye warrior as bound mate. Upon your arrival here, you have been actively garnering power and influence for your clan, Lady.”

Damn it, isn’t that what a clan leader is supposed to do?

“Yes, Imperial Majesty,” Kinara allowed. 

Azara-behn and the Elder exchanged a glance. Sechon stepped forward. 

“You freely acknowledge courting the wrath of a powerful house.”

“As you incurred that of the Az’byn, Elder, when you rose to lead the War Council,” Kinara retorted.

Sechon blinked. 

Oh, fuck, I went too far with that one.

The Elder’s mouth lifted. “I was young then. Young and headstrong.” She looked her over again. “I would bring the forces of my house against yours, Kinara of the Az’anti, if I did not admire you so.”

Kinara blinked. The Elder admired her? “I thank you for your praise, Honored One.”

“You have impressed me as well,” Azara-behn said, seating herself again.

“I am honored, Imperial Majesty.” Kinara bowed deeply. 

When she straightened the Empress gave a nod. “Your actions show you a bold leader, your mate has proven himself a capable, loyal warrior, and your Tellaran birth has made you ideal.”

Kinara glanced at Aidar and saw he was equally puzzled. “Ideal, Imperial Majesty?”

Azara-behn’s eyes went hard. “I have had word that Tellaran ships gather to attack us. I have chosen you to lead my forces against them.”

The room seemed to tilt under her feet.  

“What?” Kinara blurted.

“I have chosen you, Lady of the Az’anti,” Azara-behn repeated. “You will lead my armada and destroy the Tellaran force.”

Aidar’s face was white and shocked. “Imperial Majesty, to place my mate in such danger—I will go, of course but I beg you, allow her to remain here. If you would have a
female
lead in battle perhaps the head of the War Council—”

“Wait!” Kinara cried. “Imperial Majesty, can you be sure that the Tellarans want war?”

“The Tellarans gather at our border,” the Empress snapped. “They
have
war.” 

This doesn’t make any sense.
Kinara wet her lips. “Imperial Majesty, why would you trust me to lead your forces?”

Azara-behn’s lip instantly curled. “I do not trust you, Kinara, born Tellaran. But you alone of all the Az-kye possess the understanding of the Tellaran ships and minds that I require and the strength to lead to victory.
You
are the weapon I have chosen to wield against the barbarians.” The Empress leaned forward, her dark gaze hard. “And I vow if you should falter in your service to me, I will destroy the Az’anti to the last vassal and slave.  I will burn your lands and level your estates.  I will purge the Empire of your clan and even the temples will have no record of its name.”