They landed on the emperor’s private landing pad and Sayana donned her veil once more. She was escorted off the ship. Karis and Ethian were taken in one skimmer, and she was loaded into another.

“You have had us all quite worried, Lady Sayana,” said her escort. It was Lord Tremere. “Arken has been beside himself with worry about you for years now.”

“I’ll apologize to him when we get back to the palace.” Sayana felt a flash of guilt. She should have contacted him.

“Well, let us get you back. I am certain you want a long, hot shower after that trip.” Tremere gave her a knowing look. “And something a little more comfortable to sit on than those darn chairs. I know the emperor’s ship is decked out for comfort, but there is only so much they can do with the weight limits for these things.”

“They were comfortable enough.” Sayana smiled. “But they were nothing compared to the chairs in the courtesan wing.”

Tremere laughed and the skimmer took off. They landed at a very familiar door a short while later and Tremere escorted her up to the guards. “Lady Sayana Akitane for the courtesan wing.”

“It’s about time she was found,” muttered one of the guards. He let them in.

Tremere led her through the twisting corridors to the courtesan wing and escorted her inside. “Sayana!” Marin rose to her feet and hurried over to her. She embraced the other woman warmly. “You’re back.”

“Yes, I’m back.” Sayana returned the embrace.

“Ah, Sayana.” Arken came out, smiling broadly. “We have missed you. Your room is ready for you. I have reassigned your servants to you. Your new wardrobe has been made and is hung up in your closet. That was very clever of you to send the designs ahead of time to me so I could have the dressmakers work on them. Unless there is something you need from your luggage, we can send everything in it to the dressmakers to be recycled.”

“I just need my pad and a holo still I have in there out of it, and it can all go.” Sayana didn’t want to lose the picture of Ethian.

Tremere handed her the items before taking her luggage and disappearing through another door. “I have been very worried about you, Sayana.” Arken gave her a stern look.

“I’m sorry to have worried you, Lord Arken.” Sayana removed her veil.

“Go get cleaned up and changed. And I would call for your servants. I know Vai will be telling them all about you, so they will be quite anxious to see you for themselves.” Arken smiled at her.

Sayana laughed. “I will call for them immediately, Lord Arken.”

Sayana walked into her room and looked around. Everything was as she had left it. She sighed and pressed the button to call for her servants. A few minutes later, Ardatha, Faviola, and Vai walked through the door as they had fifteen years earlier. “My lady.” Ardatha grinned widely. “You’re back.”

“I’m back, Ardatha.” Sayana smiled at the women. “And in desperate need of a shower and a clean dress.”

“I should say so.” Ardatha looked at her younger sisters. “Vai, go set up the shower for her.”

“Yes Ardatha.” Vai disappeared into the bathroom.

“Vai told me she told you about the princes, but did she tell you the whole story about Lord Vasco and what happened ten years ago?” Ardatha asked.

“No, she didn’t.” Sayana regarded them with some curiosity. “I know Lynet died fifteen years ago, and I got the details of that. But I don’t know what happened with Lord Vasco and the council.”

“My lady, that’s quite a story. We’ll tell you after your shower.” Ardatha’s eyes sparkled. Sayana hid her laughter. Ardatha was never so happy as when she could tell a story of the court.

Vai poked her head out. “Shower’s ready, my lady.”

Sayana went in and took a shower. She dried off and pulled on a robe. “I see you never cut your hair.” Faviola grinned. “That’s going to take some time to brush out.”

“I knew the emperor would need something to identify me with, and my hair is one of my most noticeable features.” Sayana smiled. “I left it long so he could identify me more easily.”

“Well, where to begin.” Ardatha frowned as they got Sayana seated and went to work. “Lord Vasco was off the council. The emperor never let him back on. But the council was still going to him for advice, so he was influencing them. Even the newer members of the council started going to him, which irritated His Imperial Majesty. Lord Vasco had agents out looking for you and Lady Marin.”

“How did he even know what we looked like? The man never saw us except at high feast days.” Sayana was confused. “And maybe occasionally bumping into us in the emperor’s chambers.”

“No one knows that part, my lady.” Faviola shook her head. “It’s believed he bribed one of the wing’s servants into giving him your descriptions, but it’s never been proven.”

“Wonderful.” Sayana sighed.

“His agents found someone who remembered you and they tracked you to Covus.” Ardatha looked grim. “They gave that information to Lord Vasco. At that point, Lord Vasco went to the council and asked them for money to hire an assassin to kill you and Ethian. It was decided to do that to prove to the emperor that you all were still vulnerable and if he didn’t do as the council said, they’d kill all the rest of the courtesans and their sons.”

“I was very vulnerable,” Sayana pointed out.

Ardatha nodded. “Lord Vasco sent an assassin, but he never returned, and he was in the process of sending another when his wife found out what he was doing and went to the emperor. She told him that it was the council working with Vasco who had supplied him with the money to hire the assassin in the first place. The emperor arrested the entire council and sent men to arrest Lord Vasco and his personal secretary, but Lord Vasco took poison, and his personal secretary disappeared. No one’s been able to find the man.”

“That’s interesting.” Sayana shivered at the thought that the man could still be on the loose. “I wonder where he went.”

“The emperor has a price on his head, so eventually he’ll be caught.” Ardatha seemed quite convinced of this. “When the emperor took the council into custody, he sent them straight to his inquisitors and had them questioned extensively about you and Marin. The council all confirmed it was Lord Vasco who had the information. They’d just provided him with money and a ship for the assassin to travel in. The emperor had them all executed for treason for their part in the attempted assassination of an Imperial prince.”

“Was there any fallout with the court when he executed his council?” Sayana wondered if Karis had faced any repercussions for executing so many people.

“Not really.” Ardatha shook her head. “That’s what was surprising. To be honest, a lot of us expected there to be a huge uproar. There was more a sense of everyone being happy they were gone.”

“I’m glad to hear that there was very little trouble over the deaths of the council members.” Sayana sighed with relief.

Ardatha helped her into one of her new day dresses and she slipped her feet into a pair of the delicate shoes that went with it. They twisted her hair into an elegant style. A little light makeup finished the look, for she only wore jewelry when she went to high feasts and to the emperor, and she was ready.

“Thank you.” Sayana smiled at her servants. She had missed the sisters while on Covus, and it was pleasant to be around them again.

“You’re quite welcome, my lady.” Ardatha giggled. “Now you’d better get out there before the other women die of curiosity.”

Sayana laughed and dismissed her servants before heading out into the main room. She noticed it had changed since she left. The walls were now pale green and the plush on the floor was dark green. The chairs had changed color as well. They were now green and gold to match the new decor in the room. Sayana sat down in the chair that was in her usual spot and pulled out her pad.

“Don’t think we’re going to let you start reading when it’s been fifteen years since we saw you.” Zarina giggled and playfully tried to steal her pad.

Sayana grinned at her. “I thought questions were saved for mealtimes.”

“Usually yes.” Renate glared at her teasingly. “But not this time. Where have you been?”

“I was on Covus, out in the colonies.” Sayana put her pad down. “Before you ask, no I was not alone. I found a retired warmaster and lived with him. It was similar to living with Lord Arken, though he wasn’t a eunuch. He and I claimed to be brother and sister. He helped me raise Ethian, with Ethian calling him Uncle Reynard.”

“It must have been hard leaving him, if the two of you were so close as to be living as siblings.” Ji-Hye watched her closely.

“I didn’t leave him.” Sayana shrugged. “He came with us. He’s to continue training Ethian until he’s eighteen and the emperor names which of his sons is his heir.”

“Really?” Marin asked. “How is that going to work with the rest of the boys?”

“They’re getting retired warmasters and non-Imperial scholars as trainers too.” Sayana remembered what Karis had said. “The emperor set it up on his way back. The warmasters should have arrived around the same time we did.”

“My Rhys doesn’t need a warmaster to teach him anything.” Angharad tossed her hair over her shoulder. “He already knows what he needs to know about being an Imperial prince.”

“He doesn’t know discipline, strategy, tactics, or physical fitness.” Sayana looked at the woman. “Which are the things the warmasters will be teaching the princes.”

“An Imperial prince doesn’t need to know those things.” Angharad’s voice dripped with scorn.

“The emperor thinks they do, which is why he called in warmasters for each prince.” Sayana held up a hand. “I must warn you, the warmasters are not going to be gentle. Reynard was very strict with Ethian and punished him when he didn’t meet his expectations. He still does. The emperor will know this and expect the warmasters to do the same to the other princes.”

“My Rhys? Punished? I’ve never even spoken harshly to him a day in his life,” Angharad protested.

“Which is why he’s such an abysmal human being.” Marin glared at Angharad. “My servants aren’t as full of gossip as Sayana’s, but they tell me things and Rhys is awful, Angharad. He could use with a dose of discipline.”

“You’re just jealous because it took the emperor ten years to find you and Fallon.” Angharad sneered at her.

“Why would I be jealous of you for being found first?” Marin gave her an incredulous look. “The whole goal was to not be found, and Sayana and I achieved that the longest. Fallon at least should have little difficulty accommodating himself to the new training regime.”

“I haven’t heard anything about Jair since he left me.” Renate bit her lip in worry. “I can only hope that he has stayed true to what I taught him.”

“I’m sure Meinard is keeping them all entertained. His sense of humor was already well developed by the time he left me.” Zarina laughed.

“Rhys says Meinard deliberately teases him.” Angharad glowered at Zarina. “And then gets him into trouble for starting a fight.”

“How are you still speaking to your son, Angharad?” Zarina asked. “I know we’ve asked you before but I’m sure we’d all like to know. You’re not supposed to have contact with him once he leaves the courtesan wing.”

“Just because Rhys and I are smarter than you doesn’t mean I’m going to help you.” Angharad fixed them all with a superior stare.

“Once Lord Arken finds out, you’re both going to be in trouble, Angharad.” Marin shook her head.

“He hasn’t found out yet, and I doubt he will in the future.” Angharad sniffed disdainfully. “My Rhys is the firstborn son of the emperor, most likely to be chosen to be crown prince. I’m not letting any of you ruin his chances.”

“Angharad, you know the emperor said that just because he was born first doesn’t mean he’s in line for being crown prince.” Marin shook her head. “He said that back at the beginning when we were all pregnant.”

“It only makes sense that the firstborn son becomes the crown prince.” Angharad glared at Marin. “Anyone else doesn’t make any sense at all.”

“It will be up to the emperor, Angharad.” Arken joined the women. “And he has said repeatedly that even though Rhys was firstborn, that does not mean he is the heir. He is watching all his sons to see who has the characteristics and personality he wants for the crown prince. Rhys’ attitude towards the others, the way he treats the servants, those are all going to tell against him for what the emperor is looking for.”

“You don’t know what the emperor is looking for.” Angharad turned her glare on Arken.

“I do know what he is looking for and I can say definitively that Rhys does not have it.” Arken fixed her with a severe look. “I know how all of your sons are behaving and so far, there are only two who do. He has not seen Ethian yet, so we will have to see if there are three now who have those traits.”

“Our sons are really behaving that badly?” Ji-Hye was concerned.

“Hanzo is an inveterate gambler, Ji-Hye.” Arken looked at the other women. “He is completely addicted to games of chance. He has lost everything of value he owned. Renate, Jair chases everything female he can get his hands on. Zarina, you’re right. Meinard keeps them entertained with his jokes. He does goad Rhys into fights, but Rhys needs to learn to control his temper, so the emperor doesn’t see this as a bad thing. Marin, Fallon is quiet, studious, and is dedicated to improving himself. He seems a little apathetic at times, but the emperor thinks that is because he has not found a reason to act on anything yet.”

“My son has turned to gambling?” Ji-Hye was horrified. “Where did he even learn of such a thing? I know I never taught him those games.”

“He probably learned them watching the guards in their off hours.” Arken shrugged. “The guards have been ordered not to play with him anymore, and his brothers do not play those kinds of games, so there is a chance we may be able to break him of his addiction.”

“Jair was always reading. He never let me see what though.” Renate frowned. “I wonder now if I should have pressed the issue. He wasn’t training to be a courtesan, after all.”

“My Rhys is not horrible. It’s his brothers who are terrible to him.” Angharad sulked. Everyone ignored her.

“Good to know Meinard is living up to what I taught him, though I don’t like the fact he’s goading Rhys into fights.” Zarina frowned.

“I hope Fallon outgrows that apathetic nature.” Marin seemed concerned. “I tried to teach him to act on things when they happened, but it sounds like I didn’t do as good of a job at that.”

“Ethian will find his brothers a challenge as he’s never really been around anyone his own age.” Sayana was anxious about how Ethian would react to the other princes. “Reynard and I kept him busy, so he didn’t have time to make friends.”

“He will be fine, Sayana.” Arken smiled reassuringly at her. “He will not have time to worry too much about his brothers. Reynard and the other warmasters will have them up at an hour past sunrise and will keep them going until dinnertime, after which they will be required to attend their scholarly duties.”

“What about their free time?” Angharad was aghast at this new schedule.

“They are not going to have free time anymore.” Arken glanced over at her. “According to the emperor, their bad habits are probably because they have too much of that. They need discipline and order.”

“That’s all well and good for Ethian, who’s used to this,” Angharad protested. “But my Rhys needs his free time. He’s too delicate for such a harsh life.”

“He will have to get used to it because that is the emperor’s command.” Arken gestured and the other women were somewhat startled by this pronouncement. “I imagine the boys are hearing about it now.”

“If this is what the emperor wants.” Ji-Hye sounded a bit unsure. “Then it must be all right.”

“It will be fine, Ji-Hye.” Arken was as reassuring as he could be. “Now, it is time for lunch.”

Everyone gathered around the table. Out of habit, they’d all taken their old places, so Sayana took hers. Arken and the servants passed out the food and everyone got wine except Sayana. “You remembered.” She smiled at Arken.

“I did.” He returned her smile. “I hope you can manage to eat everything. I am certain it is richer than what you are used to eating.”

“I’ll manage.” Sayana ate the food, though it was hard to eat everything.

Sayana read that afternoon, sometimes answering random questions from the other women when they thought of something new they wanted to know. She tried not to worry about Ethian. He was a sensible young man and wouldn’t let himself be goaded into a fight by Rhys or Meinard. At least, she hoped he wouldn’t.

There was nothing she could do. Ethian was out of her hands now. He would have to make decisions on his own and deal with the consequences. It didn’t make it any easier. She supposed she should have begun to distance herself from him a few years earlier, but it was hard to do that when they lived in the same place, and she was a constant fixture in his life.

“Are you worried about Ethian, Sayana?” Marin could see her distress.

“A little.” Sayana sighed. “I know I shouldn’t be. I’m sure he’ll be fine. I just can’t help worrying about him though.”

“It’s always hard to let them go out of your sight,” Marin agreed. “It was hard for me to let Fallon go. I just had to hope that I’d taught him as well as I could and trust that he’d keep everything he’d learned in mind. Lord Arken confirmed for me that he is living up to my wishes for him, though I worry a little about him being apathetic. I hope that’s just him overthinking things and some additional training from a warmaster and a new scholar will cure him of that.”

“Training with a warmaster will be like nothing he’s experienced up until now,” Sayana confirmed. “It should shake him out of his apathy if anything will.” Marin smiled at her.

“Are warmasters hard men to please?” Ji-Hye looked at Sayana, who was the only one who had any experience with this.

“Reynard was, and he even resorted to physical correction a few times when Ethian didn’t measure up.” Sayana winced at the memory.

“My Rhys will not be struck by anyone.” Angharad was angry. “I won’t allow it.”

“Sayana, did you have any input with what Reynard did with Ethian?” Renate turned to Sayana.

“No, I didn’t.” Sayana shook her head. “That was the deal I made with him. No matter how much I might have objected to it, I had to keep silent and let him train Ethian as he wished. I’d have lost my safe shelter if I had spoken out.”

“Didn’t that bother you?” Angharad seemed shocked by her attitude.

“In the beginning it did.” Sayana shrugged. “But I learned to live with it.”

“That must have been hard.” Ji-Hye watched her closely.

“Not really.” Sayana tapped her fingers on her pad. “The benefit to Ethian outweighed my discomfort.”

“There’s a benefit to having your son struck like some ordinary child?” Angharad demanded.

“It taught him discipline and respect.” Sayana’s simple explanation seemed to sit well with the others, but not with Angharad.

“Something every Imperial prince should learn, according to the emperor.” Arken nodded his approval. “That is why he has employed the warmasters.”

“No one should be forced to respect others if they don’t respect him.” Angharad stuck out her chin stubbornly.

“That is not how respect works, Angharad. Anyway, as I said, you do not have a choice in this. Rhys and the others will be under warmasters starting tomorrow morning.” Arken shared a look with Sayana. The two knew Rhys was going to be in for a world of pain.

“The emperor must know what he’s doing.” Renate was quiet but she seemed more confident than the rest. “Otherwise he wouldn’t be doing it. We have to trust he knows what’s best for the boys.”

“I hope you ladies enjoy your books.” Arken left them to their reading.

Sayana went back to her book and soon the other women were reading as well. Angharad glared at Sayana off and on over the rest of the afternoon. Dinner came and Sayana ate without complaint. She read for the rest of the evening and when Arken chased them all back to their rooms, she went willingly.