THE EMPEROR'S LAST CONQUEST.

CHAPTER 4: THE EMPEROR'S MERCY.

Morning came quietly to the eastern palace.

Too quietly.

Seraya stood before the tall arched window of her chamber, watching mist disappear from the gardens below. The pale morning light caught in her dark chestnut hair, turning the edges almost copper.

She had barely slept.

Not because she feared the emperor.

Because she couldn't stop thinking about the sword.

About the strange sensation that had passed through her body when Kael's blade met hers.

And, more importantly, about the blue flame.

*Never let anyone see what happens when your blood awakens.*

Her mother's voice had followed her into sleep.

Seraya turned away from the window.

"Princess?"

She looked toward the doorway.

A young maid stood there, pale-faced.

"What?"

"The emperor requests your presence."

Seraya's brow lifted.

"Requests?"

The maid swallowed.

"His Majesty doesn't usually use that word."

Seraya almost smiled.

"Then perhaps he is learning."

The imperial court was already assembled when Seraya arrived.

She immediately sensed something was wrong.

No one was speaking.

No one was moving.

The enormous throne room was filled with soldiers, councilors, nobles, and servants, yet the silence was suffocating.

Then the doors opened.

"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Kael Draven."

Every person in the room bowed.

Seraya remained standing.

Kael entered wearing a long black coat embroidered subtly with silver at the collar. His dark hair was uncovered, falling slightly over his forehead, and the morning light caught his severe features.

He looked less like a king.

More like a weapon that had learned how to walk.

His silver-gray eyes swept across the room.

Then settled on Seraya.

She noticed the blood on his right hand.

Not much.

Just enough.

Kael walked toward the throne.

"Bring him."

Two guards dragged a man into the center of the court.

The prisoner stumbled forward.

Seraya recognized him.

Lord Varek.

One of Kael's military commanders.

He had been at the western campaign.

Kael sat.

"Tell her."

Varek's face drained of color.

"My emperor—"

"Tell Princess Seraya why you are standing here."

Varek looked at Seraya.

Then lowered his head.

"I betrayed the empire."

Kael's expression didn't change.

"You sold military routes to Valeria."

"I was desperate."

"You were greedy."

Varek began pleading.

Kael listened.

Silently.

Then he looked toward the captain of the guard.

"Remove his tongue."

Seraya's eyes narrowed.

The room went still.

Varek screamed.

"Your Majesty, please!"

Kael didn't blink.

"Do it."

The guards seized the man.

Seraya watched in silence as they dragged him away.

She turned toward Kael.

"Is this how you rule?"

His eyes met hers.

"Yes."

"You don't even give people a chance to explain themselves."

"I gave him one."

"You did?"

Kael leaned back against the throne.

"He explained that he was greedy."

A chilling silence followed.

Seraya stared at him.

There was no remorse in his face.

No hesitation.

No satisfaction either.

That was perhaps what disturbed her most.

He simply believed cruelty was practical.

Kael rose.

"Leave us."

The room emptied almost immediately.

Soon, only the two of them remained.

Seraya folded her arms.

"What do you want?"

Kael walked toward her.

"I heard you defeated three of my guards this morning."

Her eyes narrowed.

"They attacked me."

"They were instructed to test you."

"Then they should have chosen better men."

Something almost resembling amusement touched his eyes.

Almost.

"You continue to surprise me."

"I don't try."

"I know."

He stopped several feet away.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then Kael said,

"Come."

"Where?"

"You wanted to know how I rule."

His gaze hardened.

"Today, you will see."

The western courtyard was filled with soldiers.

Seraya followed Kael onto the raised stone platform.

Below them stood hundreds of men.

Kael addressed them.

"A deserter was captured at dawn."

A soldier was brought forward.

Young.

Terrified.

Seraya's jaw tightened.

Kael looked at him.

"Name."

"Edric, Your Majesty."

"Why did you run?"

The young soldier trembled.

"My mother is dying."

Kael said nothing.

The courtyard became painfully silent.

Then the emperor drew his sword.

Seraya's eyes widened.

But Kael didn't strike the soldier.

Instead, he turned toward the captain.

"Give him twenty horses."

The captain looked confused.

Kael continued.

"And send him home."

The soldier stared at him.

"Your Majesty?"

"You abandoned your post."

The emperor's voice remained cold.

"That crime deserves death."

The soldier's face fell.

"But you will not die for choosing your dying mother."

Kael sheathed his sword.

"Return when she is buried."

The soldier dropped to his knees.

"Thank you!"

Kael turned away.

Seraya watched him.

That wasn't mercy.

Not exactly.

It was something colder.

Something controlled.

Kael had simply decided that one life was worth sparing.

He noticed her expression.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You are staring."

"I was trying to understand you."

"You won't."

He walked past her.

Seraya followed.

"Perhaps I will."

Kael stopped.

Slowly, he turned.

His silver eyes met hers.

"That," he said quietly, "would be a dangerous ambition."

Seraya held his gaze.

"So is trying to understand me."

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then Kael's lips curved faintly.

Not a smile.

Something far more dangerous.

"I know."

He walked away.

Seraya remained where she was.

And for the first time, she wondered if the most frightening thing about Emperor Kael Draven wasn't his cruelty.

Perhaps it was that he knew exactly when **not** to use it.