The Emperor's Edge

  The air in front of him shimmered, and the bolt bounced off, as if it had hit metal.

  Instead of crying out in pain or being thrown back, Arbitan merely smiled.

  Hollowcrest’s eyes grew round. Amaranthe grimaced; it seemed her suspicions about Arbitan being a wizard were correct. But who had fired the shot? Sicarius?

  “Emperor’s blood,” Maldynado whispered. “How are we supposed to—”

  “Basilard!” Arbitan called. “How progresses the hunt?”

  Amaranthe glanced around. Hollowcrest, too, searched about, brow furrowed. He waved and his men gathered closer about him.

  Soon a reluctant shuffling of footsteps grew audible. Books and Akstyr marched into view, their crossbows and other weapons absent. Behind them came Arbitan’s shaven-headed security man and several more guards. Amaranthe spotted the confiscated weapons in their keeping. Apparently, Arbitan’s men had not found Sicarius. She did not know how much hope to place in that fact. Her plan had failed. What use did he have for her now?

  “Take her.” Arbitan jerked his head at Amaranthe.

  Guards surged around her.

  She tensed, then slumped. Fighting so many would gain her nothing. Except death.

  “As you wish,” Amaranthe said. “May I remind you, my men who stayed behind have orders to begin releasing the counterfeits in the morning if I don’t return. Assassinating the emperor and replacing him with some obedient sycophant will do little good if the empire’s economy is suffocating in a sewer. Killing me would be a mistake.”

  “Don’t worry, girl,” Arbitan said. “You’ll tell me everything you know before I kill you, certainly enough for me to take over control of your little ploy.”

  She noted the words take over instead of stop.

  “Boss?” Body tense, Maldynado stood with his knuckles white on the hilt of his sword as the men approached.

  “Do nothing,” Amaranthe said.

  Arbitan flicked a finger at her, and guards grabbed her. Invasive hands searched for and removed weapons. The guards tied her wrists. The rope bit into her skin, cold and abrasive. She stared at the knots, trying not to see her bindings as the shackles of failure, trying not to feel as if the last two weeks had been for nothing.

  Toying with a bit of rope, Arbitan considered Hollowcrest through slitted eyes, as if thinking of taking him prisoner as well. Perhaps Arbitan regarded the odds too even, for he merely said, “I’d get out of the city before the emperor’s birthday, Hollow. We’ve already made arrangements for his capture. You’ll just be in the way after the boy’s death. And I’m sure you know what happens to people who get in the way.”

  “Dungeons and death warrants,” Amaranthe growled.

  Hollowcrest, Arbitan, and Larocka started arguing, but the guards dragged Amaranthe away before she could hear anything vital. So glad I could set up a meeting for them….

  Chapter 19

  Outside the Imperial Barracks, Sespian stood before the steps, shivering beneath his parka. To his left stood Lieutenant Dunn, to his right General Lakecrest. With the hour past midnight, night lay thick about the courtyard, and the gas lights lining the walkways did nothing to warm the air. Sespian did not want to appear restless or nervous, so he did not pace or stamp his feet. He merely balled his fists inside his gloves to keep his fingers from going numb.

  “I got the signal,” Dunn said. “Hollowcrest should be arriving shortly. He left a couple hours ago and took fifteen loyal men with him. I have someone following, but I’m not sure yet where he went.”

  Arrows of anxiety pierced Sespian’s stomach, but he simply said, “Very well.”

  The gate to the courtyard rattled ope