Another ten years passed. Sayana heard nothing from the court other than random gossip. There were some rumors about the Imperial princes, so Sayana knew that at least a few of the other courtesans had been found. She wondered who had been found and what they made of the fact that she was still unaccounted for. She wished she knew what was happening with the council and if the emperor was close to finding her.

Ethian was fifteen years old and was very much the spitting image of his father, other than the black hair and green eyes. He was strong and powerful as Reynard had kept him up on a steady regime of exercise and general fitness. He had a firm grasp of strategy and tactics from Reynard’s lessons and was already turning into a young scholar thanks to Sayana’s lessons. He was very much the kind of young man that Sayana felt the emperor would be proud of.

Sayana noticed she was still connected to the messaging application. After some long discussions with Reynard, she decided to reach out to Lord Arken after Ethian’s sixteenth birthday if they weren’t found before then. Karis and Ethian needed to know each other.

Summer was baking Covus, and Reynard and Ethian were off for one of their training rambles. Sayana was cleaning up after breakfast. She finished and realized she had nothing to do for an hour, so she thought to sneak in a bit of reading. It was hard to find time for a little personal reading, most of her free moments were spent teaching Ethian these days. As she reached for her pad the comm went off. A large group of people were approaching the house. She grabbed her veil and her vibroblade. A few minutes later, someone pounded on the door.

“Open up in the name of the emperor,” a voice barked.

Sayana hastily sheathed her vibroblade and opened the door. There, surrounded by a dozen Imperial guards, was the emperor. “Karis.” Her voice carried her surprise. She dropped into the elegant bow she’d learned as a courtesan. “I never thought you’d be the one to come searching for us.”

“You two, stay with me,” Karis ordered the guards. “The rest of you can go back to the ship.”

The guards split up and most of them headed back to town. “Won’t you come in?” Sayana opened the door wide.

Karis walked in, his dark green and gold outfit looking very out of place in the simple interior of the house. His guards positioned themselves behind him and watched. “Where is he?” Karis asked, showing no signs of emotion.

Sayana felt her heart break. He’d only come for Ethian, not her. She sighed. “He’s out for a training session with Reynard, the retired warmaster we’ve been living with. They should be back in time for lunch.”

“Your husband has been taking good care of my son?” Karis was still showing no sign of emotion. This was not like him.

“He’s not my husband.” Sayana wondered what he was thinking. “But yes, Reynard has been a huge help with Ethian.”

“If he is not your husband, what is he then?” Karis wouldn’t look at her.

“We’ve told everyone here he’s my older brother and that’s how we’ve lived. He treats me as he would a younger sister. He has no interest in women in any way, so it was the easiest way to explain our relationship.” Sayana paused. “Did you really think I would forget my promise to you so easily?”

“You left me. What else was I supposed to think?” Karis finally faced her fully. His control broke and an expression of pain spread across his face. “Why Sayana? Why did you leave and not come to me?”

“I couldn’t risk Ethian’s life, and you weren’t known for acting decisively when it came to your council.” Sayana knew that would hurt him, but it was the truth. “Lynet told us what the council was going to do to our sons, and we weren’t going to risk waiting for it to happen. We left to protect them.”

“She lied to you, Sayana.” Karis watched her closely. “She lied to you in order to force me to give her custody of the boys. I pried the truth out of her when you all went missing. I executed her for treason a week after you vanished.”

“Lynet lied to us?” Sayana put her hand to her mouth. “How could she? The poison she mentioned really exists.”

“We found reference to the poison in her personal papers.” Karis looked angry as he thought of it. “She found out about it somehow and decided to use it as a way to convince you that she was telling the truth. She knew you would never think that she came up with the poison idea on her own because she was not well-read.”

“We were lied to.” Sayana leaned against the wall. “But the council did try to kill me and Ethian. Ten years ago, an assassin showed up.”

“I know the council tried to kill you.” Karis’ anger grew more pronounced. “Vasco somehow managed to find you. He convinced my council, even the ones I had replaced, to support him in his efforts. I executed them all, except for Vasco who took poison. Unfortunately, that slowed us down in finding you because he was the only one who knew where you were.”

“I wondered why your spy network took so long to find us.” Sayana stared at him. “When you see Ethian, you’ll understand one of the reasons why I’m surprised it’s taken so long. Not to mention I haven’t done much to change my appearance except to change what I wear. I still wear the veil and kept my long hair. I figured someone would have gotten word back to your spy network years ago.”

“They did.” Karis grimaced. “My spymaster failed to notice the report. When someone else found it and followed up on it three years ago, he still dismissed it. I retired him.”

“Karis, I didn’t want to hurt you.” Sayana could read the pain on his face. “Perhaps we should have told you what Lynet was doing. We didn’t think of that. We weren’t sure what to think and reacted out of a desperate instinct to save our sons.”

Karis held out his arms and Sayana ran into them. He grabbed her and held her tight. “My Sayana. So afraid all this time. I am so sorry. I should have done a better job protecting you.”

Karis sat down and pulled Sayana onto his lap. Sayana stayed there until she noticed the time. “I should start lunch so it’s ready when Reynard and Ethian get back. Would you care to join us?”

“You can cook now?” Karis was amused by the thought.

“I can.” Sayana laughed. “I learned as part of my payment for staying here. I cook and clean, he protects me and Ethian. It seemed fair enough given what I thought we were facing.”

“I can understand that.” Karis rested his hand on her face. “Yes, I would love to join you.”

Sayana got up and checked over her recipes. She decided on something quick and set to work. She finished cooking and dished up the food. She put it on the table, setting it on warming plates. She set the table and put out pitchers of juice. Just as she finished, Reynard and Ethian returned.

Reynard took one look at who was in his house and bowed. “Your Imperial Majesty.” Ethian, not understanding but seeing what Reynard did, bowed as well.

“I see what you mean about it being obvious who Ethian is.” Karis was amused. “Except for his hair and eyes, it is unmistakable whose son he is.”

“Mother?” Ethian was confused.

“Ethian, remember how I’ve been telling you that your father is a very important man on the Throne World?” Sayana tried not to laugh at her son’s confused expression. Karis’ smile grew broader. She gestured to him. “Meet your father.”

It took a moment for it to sink in. “My father’s the emperor?” Ethian asked, his voice cracking a little on the last word.

“Yes, Ethian, he’s the emperor.” Sayana kept up her calm demeanor, but she wanted to start giggling a little at her poor son’s reaction.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ethian stared at his mother.

“Because you didn’t need to know.” Sayana gestured towards the hallway. “Now, go get washed up. It’s lunch time.”

Ethian just stared at his mother incredulously for a moment before heading to the bathroom. Reynard went to the kitchen to perform his wash up. “Sayana tells me you adopted her as your younger sister.” Karis was watching Reynard thoughtfully.

“I did.” Reynard turned back towards the emperor. “As I have no interest in either men or women, it seemed the most likely scenario for us for living together. And she’s been a good younger sister to me. It’s been very pleasant to have her around. I take it you’ve come to take her and Ethian back with you, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“I have.” Karis nodded. “I would like to ask you to come back with us as well, Reynard. To continue training Ethian until he turns eighteen.”

Reynard paused for a moment. “I’d be honored to continue his training, Your Imperial Majesty. He’s a very intelligent young man. Have you considered bringing in a scholar to attend to that part of his education? Sayana has been dealing with it, but once you return to the Throne World, if I understand the rules governing courtesans correctly, she won’t be able to.”

“I planned on bringing in a scholar to deal with his education as well. When does he usually take his scholarly lessons?” Karis looked at Sayana.

“In the evening. After dinner. Before dinner is Reynard’s time with him.” Sayana explained how their day worked.

“I think I might implement that with the others. They will not have as much time with a warmaster as Ethian has had, but it might do Rhys some good to have some discipline in his life. Angharad spoiled him and I am having a hard time breaking him of that.” Karis made a face. “He is plaguing my life, and I do not know what to do with him.”

“A retired warmaster would definitely be a good teacher for your sons.” Reynard looked thoughtful. “And if Your Imperial Majesty would permit, I know some men and women who retired when I did who might be interested in taking on the challenge of teaching your sons.”

“I will take that list, Reynard. It will save me from having to deal with the Warmaster Registry Office. Unless you ask very precise questions, they are difficult to get a straight answer from.” Karis smiled ruefully.

Ethian returned and sat down at the table next to Reynard. Sayana sat beside Karis. She served up the food and everyone ate. “I’ll miss your cooking, Sayana.” Reynard took a few bites. “You’ve gotten quite good at it.”

“I’ll miss cooking. I really enjoy it.” Sayana knew she had to go back to the palace, but she was going to miss this life. “It’ll be strange going back to life at the palace after the past fifteen years.”

“We’re going to the palace?” Ethian looked at his mother.

“Yes, Ethian. That’s why your father is here. He’s taking us back to the palace with him.” Sayana knew Ethian wasn’t ready for court life. This was going to be hard on him. “He’s been looking for us for the past fifteen years.”

“I will admit that I am going to miss your cooking, and I have only had this one example of it.” Karis glanced down at his plate. “You are a remarkably good cook, Sayana.”

Sayana smiled. “I wasn’t in the beginning, but after fifteen years in the kitchen, I’d say I’ve learned a few things.”

“I would say so.” Karis set down his fork. “Now, we will be leaving in the morning. Sayana, are you still an early riser?”

“That’s never changed.” Sayana smiled. She was still the first one up in the house every morning, though Reynard was often up not long after her.

“I will leave word with my guards to let you, Reynard, and Ethian onboard then when you arrive just in case I am not ready to receive guests. I have never been good at getting up as early as you.” Karis grinned at her. “I still do not do early mornings well.” He rose, kissed Sayana’s hand, and left.

“Ethian, once we board his ship, things are going to be very different.” Sayana gathered up the dishes.

“What do you mean, Mother?” Ethian looked at her curiously.

“I am not a courtier.” Sayana glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “I’m a courtesan. That means I have a set of rules I have to follow. One of which is that no male over the age of twelve who isn’t also a eunuch can see me except for your father. I broke that rule living with Reynard, but once we set foot on your father’s ship, I will have to go back to living by that rule.”

“That doesn’t include me, does it?” Ethian wanted to know.

“I’m afraid it does.” Sayana winced as his face twisted in pain. “We’ll be separated once we’re onboard.”

“That’s not fair.” Ethian looked aggrieved. “You’re my mother. I should be able to see you whenever I want.”

“Life isn’t fair.” Sayana continued cleaning up as she spoke. “If it were, I’d never have become a courtesan in the first place. I especially wouldn’t have become an Imperial courtesan. That is not the life I wanted by any means. However, if I had not become an Imperial courtesan, I’d never have met your father, and you wouldn’t have been born. So, while life isn’t fair, there are benefits to be found in the unfair situations, if you look for them.”

“If life was fair, I’d have stayed on my homeworld and married the woman my father picked out for me.” Reynard joined the conversation. “I’d be the father of half a dozen children by now. I would never have had to go to war. Had I not been made a warmaster, I’d never have discovered that being what I am is perfectly acceptable. I’d never have met you and your mother or made the friends I have here on Covus. Like your mother said, when something unfair happens, look for the benefit to you in the unfairness.”

“What benefit is there in losing my mother?” Ethian was sullen and rebellious. Sayana recognized the signs from other instances of this with him.

“You’ll get to meet your five brothers.” Sayana wondered briefly what the other princes were like.

“I have five brothers?” Ethian seemed surprised by that.

“Yes, you do.” Sayana set aside the dishes she was doing and looked at him. “There are six of us in the courtesan wing, and we all bore the emperor sons within two months of each other.”

“What are my brothers’ names?” Ethian wanted to know.

“Fallon, Rhys, Meinard, Hanzo, and Jair.” Sayana took a moment to remember what the other courtesans named their children.

“I don’t even know how to act at court.” Ethian seemed apprehensive about this as well.

“I’ve taught you everything you need to know.” Sayana had made sure he knew that. “At least the basics. Remember how you used to complain about those lessons in manners I taught you because you thought they were pointless?” Ethian nodded. “I was teaching you the basic manners you’ll need at court.”

“What about my lessons? You teach me in the evenings.” Ethian was determined to find some way to challenge everything.

“The emperor is bringing in a scholar to continue those lessons.” Reynard told him what Karis had said he was going to do.

“Will I ever see you again?” Ethian gave his mother a pleading look.

“From a distance, at high feasts.” Sayana walked over and sat down beside him. “All of the courtesans are required to attend, so I will be sitting with the rest at our usual table. You won’t be permitted to speak to me. I won’t be allowed to acknowledge you. I know it’s going to be hard. But you’re more than old enough to not need me all the time anymore, so you should be able to handle yourself.”

“You’re at an age where if we were serious about warmaster training I’d be sending you off to the academy to start your formal training now.” Reynard gave him a hard look. “You’d be leaving your mother anyway.”

“Okay.” Ethian looked decidedly unhappy.

“It won’t be as bad as you’re making it out to be, Ethian.” Sayana put an arm around her son’s shoulders. “We’ll miss each other, of course. But you’ll be busy with lessons. You won’t have time to think about me nearly as much as you think you will.”

“Yes Mother.” Ethian wrapped his arms around his mother and hugged her back.

“Now, we’ve got the afternoon ahead of us and nothing else to do but wait so let’s go do something purely physical to get your mind off of things.” Reynard motioned for Ethian to follow him. “Fighting practice should wear you out enough to keep you from focusing on what’s going to happen.” Ethian followed Reynard out of the house.

Sayana wished she had something to do to distract her from the prospect of being separated from her son. She didn’t want to lose Ethian. But she knew it was time. Reynard would keep him out of trouble. A scholar would continue his education. He would be fine.

Sayana went into her room and started packing. She looked in her luggage and found her old day dresses. She’d wear one to go to the ship the next day, trading her boots for her flats once she was on board the ship.

She went into Ethian’s room and packed for him as well. It was something to do. She went through the house. She felt a pang as she looked around. It felt strange to leave it all behind. She would miss this life she’d built. It was time to put aside being an ordinary woman and become an Imperial courtesan again.

Sayana dreaded the long years ahead of her, trapped in the wing. She loved Karis and would return just to be near him. However, she doubted he still remembered his promise to her. Lynet was gone but that didn’t mean he was free to do as he pleased. If he married again, it would likely be to be a member of his court. It would be a woman of wealth and standing, not another one of his courtesans.

Sayana walked quickly into her room so Reynard and Ethian wouldn’t see her crying. She wept for everything she was losing – her freedom, her hope, her son. She let it all out now, knowing that she must be perfectly poised and calm in front of Ethian. She couldn’t let him see her distress or he’d become even more upset than he already was.

When she had control of herself again, she went into the bathroom and washed her face. She was surprised to see she was still wearing her veil. She took it off before splashing cold water on her face. She erased all traces of her tears.