they had been called to one of the lowliest rooms in the palace compound.
Kasia tensed in his arms. Xerxes released her and urged her behind him, knowing she would be more comfortable shielded. “My noble friends, your king has need of your wisdom. You were all at my feast—you know I called Queen Amestris to me, and you saw that my eunuchs returned without her. Had her refusal been due to her physical condition, I would have understood. But she refused from anger—which she made clear to everyone within earshot. Such impudence cannot go unpunished. What is an appropriate reaction?”
The men exchanged a few glances, a few whispers. And, if he were not mistaken, a few smiles of glee.
Not fond of her, then. He had expected as much.
The eldest, Memucan, stepped forward. “How harsh does the king wish to be?”
He clenched his teeth, swallowed, and forced himself to relax. “The king would see her killed, were it not for the children we share and the one even now growing in her womb. For their sakes, and only for their sakes, do I wish to spare her life. There must be a punishment less than death but still severe.”
Memucan looked to another of the advisers with raised brows. At the answering nod, he said, “The queen has indeed done a great wrong, not only against the king, but against all of Persia and Media. For when the queen disobeys her husband, why should any woman in the empire obey theirs?
“If it pleases the king, she could be deposed. Knowing the queen as we all do, that may be harsher than death to her. The king could send out a royal decree and let it be written in the law, that the queen is never again to enter the presence of the great Xerxes. Let her crown be given to one more deserving.”
Xerxes’ lips tugged up. Losing her power would indeed be worse than death to Amestris. Yet it would spare his children the grief of losing a mother.
“This pleases the king very much. Write up the decree this very hour, and at first light it shall be sent out to every province in its own language. Let the world know that Amestris is queen no more.”
There would probably be dancing in many a street.
Memucan bowed. “It will be done as the king says. And in her place, who will you name? One of your other wives?”
“Father.” Darius stepped near, a line of worry between his brows. “You can take away her crown, but her power will not be easily negated. Whomever you appointed in her place would be dead before she could feel the weight of the crown upon her head.”
Xerxes smiled. “It is a wise son who knows his mother so well. Let it be enough for now that she is removed. Another queen can be named when we return triumphant from Greece. There is no rush—I have my heir already.”
Memucan and the other six bowed out to prepare the proclamation. Darius drew in a long breath. “Thank you, Father, for sparing her. I know she is a hard woman to love, but she is my mother.”
“I am not the one to thank. Letting her live will undoubtedly prove as troublesome as the canal at Mount Athos, as you yourself pointed out.”
His son acknowledged that truth with a glance over Xerxes’ shoulder. “I will use what influence I have with her to caution her against riling your anger any more.”
“I suggest you go to her now and keep her from anything rash when my decision reaches her ear.”
“Yes, Father.” Darius sped from the room.
Xerxes looked to Masistes. “Brother, bid our guests good night. You may tell them I am busy seeing justice done for the queen’s crime.”
“It is my honor to carry out your will.” Masistes left, too.
Xerxes turned back to Kasia. “My son is right about Amestris’s response, and not only for whomever I name the next queen. She will know that my anger is kindled largely on your behalf and will blame you for this.”
Kasia pressed her lips together. He read no fear in her eyes, only sorrow.“I am sorry to bring you such trouble.”
“It is no fault of yours.” He tugged her closer so that he could rest his cheek against her hair. “I will have her removed to Persepolis as soon as possible. In the meantime you must exercise the greatest caution.”
“I will. But there is no need to fear, my love. Jehovah has delivered me from her schemes this day, and I feel peace in my spirit that he will continue to protect me.” Her arms slipped around him.
He stroked his hand along the glossy locks that tumbled down her back. “Your God is responsible for your being spared?”
She hummed. “The moment Leda brought in my meal, I felt the most urgent need to pray. I decided to fast and turn my heart toward Jehovah. He saved me.”
“And when I came in? I thought the lot of you slain. Were you praying more?”
“In thanks, and for the larger situation. And for the dog.”
“The . . .” He glanced around the room. Sure enough, one of the guard dogs lay on a fine rug in the corner, its breathing heavy. He assumed it was the unfortunate beast given some of her food. “You bother your God with concern for a dog?”
“I could not stand the thought of it dying in my stead. I think it will recover, though, it only had a bite.”
Xerxes shook his head. “What a strange creature I have fallen in love with.”
She stretched up and bestowed a sweet kiss upon his lips. “You ought to get to your new bride. She will be anxious.”
Was there a more bizarre woman in the world? One more baffling? More perfect? He cradled her head and gazed deep into her eyes. “Given the events still unfolding, it would be fairer to see her first another night. I will send her my apologies and make sure the situation is explained.”
“Xerxes . . .”
He silenced her with a kiss. Then pulled off the torc he had slipped on and held it between them. “I believe this is yours.”
She stared at it. “I cannot. It was a gift to you.”
“And so I ought not to have given it away two weeks ago. I would have apologized for forgetting its source, had she approached me privately. Things have changed. It is yours.” He slid it up her arm, as he had done at the river. Now, as then, desire filled her eyes. Desire that had nothing to do with the silver. “You will come with me, my love, lest treachery visit this room again. I will see with my own eyes that you remain safe until the viper is out of my house.”
Kasia nodded and tucked herself against his side.
Why could the rest of the world not agree with his will so readily?
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