Chapter Ten
The Empress Shirah had died, along with the child she had been carrying. She had already borne two healthy sons without any trouble, and her pregnancy had been progressing normally, despite her advanced age. She had only been a few weeks away from giving birth.
The imperial physicians claimed she had died of child-bearing complications, but the nobles knew differently. They circled like sharks, smelling fresh blood on the water. The imperial house had been weakened, but who was responsible?
For once, Admon took me to court to witness the funeral and observe what I could. All the nobles were in attendance. Those of the highest rank mingled nearest to the bier where the empress’s body lay, still distended by a child that would never be born. She was richly dressed, and her mot
