short, wiry body.
"Do not go too far!" she called out as Huurit stalked into the steam, bare feet slapping on the tiles.
She lounged for a while longer, eyes closed, until she heard someone entering the bath room.
"Back for more?" she said.
"Hardly, mother."
Luia opened her eyes to see Urikh pacing through the vapour, a thick robe wrapped around him. He pulled off the robe and used it to make a cushion on the bench alongside the bath. He lay down, arms behind his head.
"I will be leaving Geria in ten days," he said. "I trust you can keep the city from destroying itself while I am away."
Servants came forward with towels and a robe as Luia pulled herself from the pool. She stood with arms outstretched while they dried her.
"Why this sudden departure?" she asked.
Urikh sighed and rolled over to his side, head propped up on one hand.
"Something has happened with the Mekhani," he said. "They have been attacking ships between here and Cosuan. I am assembling a fleet and taking the legion to teach them a lesson."
"Surely you have officers for that sort of thing," said Luia. A stool was put before her and she sat down, allowing one of her maids to comb her hair. "There is no need for you to leave."
"Not on the face of it, but I have to be seen to be a leader. You know, I am the only heir of the Blood who has never been a general? That sort of thing can be damaging. No, if I want to ensure the loyalty of the legions, I have to establish myself as a competent commander."
"And how will you do that, my dear? You know nothing about war. You were always bored by your father's stories, never listened to a word of them."
Urikh flopped to his back again, eyes fixed on the mosaic patterns on the ceiling.
"I learnt a thing or two from father when we took Magilnada. Besides, the whole point of going with the legion is to see how it all works, pick up a few things from Harrakil. Father chose him for me, so he must be good at what he does. I need to learn quickly."
There was an intensity in Urikh's expression that Luia knew well. It filled her with a mixture of pride and concern; pride because of his determination, concern that usually it heralded obsession.
"You have to be patient, dear. I know that already you are thinking up plots and schemes to become king. Do not deny it; I know you, I taught you! Do not be so hasty to replace your father. The empire is very fragile at the moment. Let your father establish his rule, and demonstrate your right to be his heir. If you do not, the Crown will be worthless when it passes to you."
"Ullsaard courts danger like a mistress," said Urikh. "I grew up half-expecting to hear of his death, and I have always known I have to be ready to take his place as head of the family. Now that he is king that is truer than ever."
Luia said nothing, uncomfortable with the thought of Ullsaard dying, especially now that he had achieved far more than she had ever hoped he would. The two of them sat in silence for a while until Luia chose to change the subject.
"What about Neerlima and Luissa? Will you take them with you to Cosuan?"
"Why would I?"
Her hair now bound in a long plait, Luia stood, allowing the servants to wrap a dark blue dress around her. She tightened the belt, adjusted the fall of the sleeves and sat at the end of the bench where her son lay. The servants disappeared through the curtain over the door.
"To show them the lands you now govern," said Luia. "Neerlima will be proud, and Luissa is nearly eight years old, it is time she started being seen."
"And by 'being seen' you mean on the market for a future husband? Who will ever meet your standards, mother? You once said that she would only marry a prince; now she is a princess."
"Another first," said Luia with a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean?"
"She is the first girl of the Blood to be born. Always the Blood have sired
"Do not go too far!" she called out as Huurit stalked into the steam, bare feet slapping on the tiles.
She lounged for a while longer, eyes closed, until she heard someone entering the bath room.
"Back for more?" she said.
"Hardly, mother."
Luia opened her eyes to see Urikh pacing through the vapour, a thick robe wrapped around him. He pulled off the robe and used it to make a cushion on the bench alongside the bath. He lay down, arms behind his head.
"I will be leaving Geria in ten days," he said. "I trust you can keep the city from destroying itself while I am away."
Servants came forward with towels and a robe as Luia pulled herself from the pool. She stood with arms outstretched while they dried her.
"Why this sudden departure?" she asked.
Urikh sighed and rolled over to his side, head propped up on one hand.
"Something has happened with the Mekhani," he said. "They have been attacking ships between here and Cosuan. I am assembling a fleet and taking the legion to teach them a lesson."
"Surely you have officers for that sort of thing," said Luia. A stool was put before her and she sat down, allowing one of her maids to comb her hair. "There is no need for you to leave."
"Not on the face of it, but I have to be seen to be a leader. You know, I am the only heir of the Blood who has never been a general? That sort of thing can be damaging. No, if I want to ensure the loyalty of the legions, I have to establish myself as a competent commander."
"And how will you do that, my dear? You know nothing about war. You were always bored by your father's stories, never listened to a word of them."
Urikh flopped to his back again, eyes fixed on the mosaic patterns on the ceiling.
"I learnt a thing or two from father when we took Magilnada. Besides, the whole point of going with the legion is to see how it all works, pick up a few things from Harrakil. Father chose him for me, so he must be good at what he does. I need to learn quickly."
There was an intensity in Urikh's expression that Luia knew well. It filled her with a mixture of pride and concern; pride because of his determination, concern that usually it heralded obsession.
"You have to be patient, dear. I know that already you are thinking up plots and schemes to become king. Do not deny it; I know you, I taught you! Do not be so hasty to replace your father. The empire is very fragile at the moment. Let your father establish his rule, and demonstrate your right to be his heir. If you do not, the Crown will be worthless when it passes to you."
"Ullsaard courts danger like a mistress," said Urikh. "I grew up half-expecting to hear of his death, and I have always known I have to be ready to take his place as head of the family. Now that he is king that is truer than ever."
Luia said nothing, uncomfortable with the thought of Ullsaard dying, especially now that he had achieved far more than she had ever hoped he would. The two of them sat in silence for a while until Luia chose to change the subject.
"What about Neerlima and Luissa? Will you take them with you to Cosuan?"
"Why would I?"
Her hair now bound in a long plait, Luia stood, allowing the servants to wrap a dark blue dress around her. She tightened the belt, adjusted the fall of the sleeves and sat at the end of the bench where her son lay. The servants disappeared through the curtain over the door.
"To show them the lands you now govern," said Luia. "Neerlima will be proud, and Luissa is nearly eight years old, it is time she started being seen."
"And by 'being seen' you mean on the market for a future husband? Who will ever meet your standards, mother? You once said that she would only marry a prince; now she is a princess."
"Another first," said Luia with a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean?"
"She is the first girl of the Blood to be born. Always the Blood have sired
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