Amaranthe wondered if Ravido had truly had a hand in the bombs, or if those had been the work of disaffected Forge lackeys deciding that if their side couldn’t run the Barracks, nobody else would either. If he was dead, it hardly mattered now.
Sicarius had paused, and he watched Amaranthe for a moment before continuing on. “Lord Heroncrest, another plotter against the throne, was also sent into exile, his death being promised should he return to Turgonian shores. In addition to attacking the loyal troops of the ignobly destroyed Fort Urgot, the siege determined that all the soldiers were locked inside the walls when the mystery craft crashed upon the site, destroying the fort and those poor, noble warriors within. The date of their funeral pyre will be announced, along with an awards ceremony to recognize the fallen.”
Amaranthe stared at the frost-lined panes of the ceiling windows. “So. Heroncrest gets the blame for that. I never even met Heroncrest. He was probably the most innocuous of those vying for the throne. No mention of how my squabble with the Forge people caused the craft to crash in the first place, eh?”
“No,” Sicarius said.
“This last year, I’ve come to think it terribly unjust to be blamed for crimes one didn’t commit. I fear it’s also terribly unjust not to be blamed for crimes one did commit.”
“You did not commit a crime; your recklessness merely resulted in deaths.”
“Thank you, I feel so much better now.” Amaranthe searched his eyes for judgment, but, despite his knack for the blunt, did not find any. No, not after he’d been that wizard’s pawn, killing and doing only he knew what else as a slave. He couldn’t be blamed for any of that, but the deaths had been at his hands nonetheless. No, he wouldn’t judge her. He might be the only one who understood fully. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m sure that’ll always be a difficult subject for me to hear about.” She wondered if it’d be hypocritical of her to attend the funeral pyre for those fallen men. Maybe so, but it might be worse for her not to.
“In regard to not being blamed for crimes you committed, Admiral Starcrest says it’s worse to be rewarded and praised when there are as many allies dead at your feet as enemies.”
“Yes, he understands too.” Amaranthe studied those panes a little longer, looking at the fading daylight and the deepening frost. “Sicarius, I don’t know Sespian’s mind on the matter, but… Starcrest is the logical next leader of Turgonia.”
Sicarius nodded once. “I had that in mind when I sent that letter.”
“You did? I thought you mainly wanted his and his wife’s help to deal with the ancient technology.”
“Yes, but he was also the logical choice for a ruler. As a Crest, his blood is good enough for those who care about such matters, and the reputation he gained when he was on active duty assured the adoration of the general populace. If anything, his reputation has grown in the last twenty years. In addition, he was the only person in the empire who could ensure peace amongst other nations. The tie to Kyatt assures they wouldn’t place themselves as enemies, and Nuria would not dare to take up arms against him either. More, he is respected amongst Nurians. Even the Mangdorians, Kendorians, and desert city-states have heard of him.”
“You were thinking of all that when you wrote that letter? I had… no idea you cared as to who ended up on the throne.”
“I did not foresee Sespian winning the position when word of his heritage got out. I thought he would approve of this alternative.”
“All along, I thought I was running things,” Amaranthe said, “and here it turns out you’re the mastermind.”
Sicarius touched his chin. “Here.”
“Pardon?”
“Your gaze of adoration. It’s focused on the window currently.”
She grinned and gazed at him. “I apologize.”
“Accepted.” He rattled the paper. “Do you wish me to continue?”
“Yes.”
“You may be further disturbed.”
Amaranthe’s grin faded. Her team hadn’t been mentioned yet. Would it be mentioned at all? Would that be so bad? She’d longed for a place in the history books once, but she wasn’t sure how history would see her at this point. “Go on,” she said.
“Admiral Starcrest, with family in tow, has not commented on whether his return to the empire will be permanent or not. Many pundits are tossing his name about as a logical leader for the new government that’s being bandied about.” Sicarius lowered the paper to say, “They’re relying heavily on Books’s constitution. Mancrest, Starcrest, and many top officers, professors, and notable non-warrior-caste citizens are being consulted and amendments are being made, but his work will not be forgotten.”
Tears welled in Amaranthe’s eyes. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Sicarius lifted the paper again. “The missing food stores that were a concern have been restored, and Admiral Starcrest admits he made the aqueducts appear to be damaged as a tactic to force the hands of those illegally vying for the throne. In fact, the water supply was never in danger and full service has been returned to the city. Starcrest, injured in the action, is grateful for the support from the city and trusts no further military actions will be required to ensure peace.”
Amaranthe snorted. Sespian had been so worried that they were treading a questionable line, but in comparison to the makarovi and the bombings, Starcrest’s tactics were so insignificant that everyone would doubtlessly forget them. Some historian would praise them for turning the tide in the skirmishes.
“Also,” Sicarius continued reading, “Admiral Starcrest wishes to make known the role Amaranthe Lokdon and a team of wrongfully-accused outlaws, including the assassin Sicarius and the deceased professor Marl ‘Books’ Mugdildor played in saving the city and himself from tragedy. Though they had no hope of reward for themselves, they fought the makarovi toe-to-toe and ultimately came up with the tactic that slew the vile creatures. In addition, they rid the city of much of its criminal element, sending the looting gangs to a similar fate as to the makarovi.”
“The assassin Sicarius,” Amaranthe said. “It sounds strange without the usual adjectives in front of it. Nefarious. Insidious. Cowardly. Does this mean people will stop trying to shoot you?”
“Doubtful. Starcrest wasn’t able to convince the two remaining curmudgeons on the Company of Lords to remove my bounty. He said he’d try again when the new government has taken power. Your bounty has been cleared though.”
“Oh, good.” She ought to feel more jubilant, she supposed. Hadn’t all of this started because she’d wanted to clear her name? She’d always imagined that victory would be more… triumphant. And less bloody. Why, she didn’t know; it wasn’t as if Turgonia had a history of bloodless victories. “What about Maldynado’s bounty? I know that two hundred and fifty ranmyas bothers him terribly.” Though the paucity of the amount had always bothered him more than the fact that it was being offered for his head.
“It remains.” Sicarius opened to the second page and pointed to the continuation of the front-page story. “I won’t read it all to you, but the Marblecrests are all being regarded with suspicion due to Ravido’s choices. The family has been tasked with funding the rebuild of the new government headquarters.”
“It’s not clear that Maldynado was disowned and didn’t have anything to do with the rest of his family’s scheming?”
“He is trying to make it clear. There is resistance.”
“The poor fellow is never going to get his statue,” Amaranthe said.
“He’s lobbying Starcrest now.”
Amaranthe chuckled. “No shame at all.”
“Now that I have read for you, I would request a favor.” Sicarius touched the scissors beside him on the bench.