The Empire spread out before Alexia, a massive projection in three dimensions that slowly turned so that each star, each planet, stayed properly aligned. At the center, the cheerful, yellow sun of New Sol, the star around which Terris and Tacitus spun, their tilted orbits crossed, with Terris currently holding the interior position. Two smaller worlds were rendered in soft shadow—rocky planets too close to the sun to be useful, and far outside the cozy orbits of the inner planet turned Atlantis, a huge, frozen world that held a few scattered domes for mining operations, but was otherwise uninhabitable.

Around this central system, the rest of the Empire of the Four Suns orbited. Not rendered to scale, of course—the actual span of these four systems was hundreds of light years, traveling in real space—but with each system projected to relative size.

The Isha system, with another yellow star at the center. This system had over a dozen planets captive, but only two at a distance to be comfortably settled. These were Pax and Maximus, homes of the Dragon and Griffon respectably.

Across from Isha, a tiny, bright blue star marked the Breach system, home of the Wolves. Only three planets here: green Cradle, rocky Bulwark, and a snowball in erratic orbit that no one had bothered with since the initial survey.

Finally, the New system. A big, orange star, with two planets in the habitable zone. Siberiad was on the outer edge, would probably always be a cold world, but the Griffon had taken it on as a project, and the terraforming had just begun. It would be at least a hundred years before anyone could walk on the surface without protection. Longer before anyone wanted to live there. Alexia might or might not be alive to see it, but part of her job over the coming years would be to lay the groundwork for treaties and agreements that would keep the clans from fighting over the new territory.

Smaller, closer in, warmer, was Siberiad’s sister world—Koschei. Alexia’s predecessors hadn’t done the work to make sure when Koschei opened for settlement, there would be a peaceful transition. Now Koschei was Alexia’s problem.

Most of the discussions at this last Shadow Court had been about Koschei. Most of the discussions at the next, and the one after that would also be about Koschei. In the meanwhile, Alexia would do what she could to keep people talking. She would use all the resources at her disposal to keep misunderstandings and competitive greed from sparking into open war.

To that end, she’d called this meeting today with the five ambassadors. Or at least, that was what she’d intended this meeting to be about. The trouble was, Idir and Klara were back in a room together. Now with a larger audience to goad them on.

Kristoph stood behind Alexia, a solid stream of sympathy radiating off him.

The ambassadors were seated around the display table, their various staffs lining the walls. Idir, as ever, had brought too many people. The attendees standing around wearing Griffon crests outnumbered all the other staff’s combined. Klara, as always, just had Zhang Rima standing behind her, glaring menacingly.

The other ambassadors were engaging in the Wolf-Griffon argument with varying mixes of empathy and provocation. Kuniko sat next to Alexia, looking particularly lovely and Swan-like today in a flowing white robe appointed with glittering designs suggestive of feathers. So far, she’d watched the exchange quietly, but her intelligent eyes were taking everything in. Behind her, two secretaries taking notes and one lower ranked ambassador with a tablet ready to pull up any information she should require.

To Kuniko’s right sat Oshiro Tetsuo, the Serpent ambassador. Below his gold and red filigree mask, he wore a bland smile that covered an impatient annoyance Alexia could feel through the nima. Tired of the argument, perhaps, but it wasn’t as though he were helping it to end. Any time Idir paused, Tetsuo would inject a seemingly innocuous question that invariably poked at another of Idir’s sore points to set him off again.

Finally, sprawled between Idir and Klara, her head swiveling back and forth as though she were watching a sporting match, Soon-mi, newly returned from Pax. She had a relaxed air that Alexia envied, utterly unruffled by the fight happening over her. In fact, as Alexia was looking, Soon-mi caught her eye and gave a little shrug of her eyebrows—a clear, can you believe these two?—her insides glittering with amusement.

Alexia had to hold back her own smile in response. Soon-mi had always had a gift for making her laugh.

Kuniko, bless her, had reached the end of her patience. Her rich, cultured voice cut easily over the end of Idir’s current argument. “While the Swan can appreciate the Griffon ambassadors objections, we must remind him that the Wolf have ever had the security of the Empire as their top priority. They have never engaged overmuch in politics. Concerns that they’re trying to spy on the Griffon—on any of us—seem overblown.”

“Thank you,” Klara muttered.

“There is the question of precedent,” Tetsuo countered, his head tilted towards Idir. “Each clan is sovereign over themselves. That’s been true from the beginning of the Empire. Even if the Wolf are threatening to blur that line for a good cause, it’s still a threat.”

Klara rolled her eyes. “That’s even more ridiculous. We’re not trying to take anyone’s rights. And what good are your rights if you get eaten by demons?”

It was the wrong thing to say. Klara might be the best politician the Wolf had, but that didn’t make her particularly good at this. Her temper got the better of her. Especially in situations like this, where she simply couldn’t understand how anyone could disagree with her.

“You see?” Idir’s voice was rising again. “They don’t care about our rights. They’re overstepping their authority!”

“As my esteemed Ambassador Mathisen has said several times already,” Kuniko said in a dry tone. “Perhaps it’s time for a new topic.”

“A new topic?” Now Idir’s anger was directed at her. “Is there something else the Swan would like to discuss? Perhaps illegal arms smuggling on Maximus?”

“Excuse me?” Kuniko responded, but her surprise was feigned.

“The City of Blue Stone and the City in the Clouds. You think the Griffon haven’t noticed the soldiers arriving? The weapons? If Ambassador Dahle is building up a military force on our planet, in violation of the Swan’s charter, Lord Mathisen won’t hesitate to revoke their right to be there.”

“The Griffon are well aware of the rising anti-Imperial sentiment in the bordering provinces. If they will not provide our cities proper protection, then we must be prepared to defend ourselves.”

This complaint was new to Alexia. Neither Roderich nor Kuniko had brought this issue to her attention. Which was fine. It wasn’t her job to babysit anyone. But still, this was how wars began.

“Lord Mathisen won’t sit by and let the Swan build up an invasion force.”

“The Lords Suri will not permit him to—”

Idir spoke over her. “The Lords Suri may not be the friends the Swan think they are.”

Time for Alexia to put a stop to this. “Ambassadors.” One word was enough to quiet the room. “Regarding this issue on Maximus, I will send an Imperial envoy—my grandson Alexander—to survey the situation and make a suggestions for how to move forward.”

“He is a swan,” Idir snapped.

Alexia had had just about enough of him. “He is the Imperial heir,” she responded with cold warning in her voice. “He will be treated as such.”

If anyone could smooth rumpled feathers between the Swan and Griffon, it would be oh-so-charming Alexander.

“As to the other matter that’s now taken up far too much of my time.” Alexia made eye contact with each ambassador, making certain they were listening. “While it is my recommendation that every clan work with the Wolf on this matter, I will not force any leader to submit to an invasion of their sovereign rights. No one is required to accept Wolf escort through darkspace.”

“Your Imperial Majesty—” Klara said in what was clearly the beginning of an objection.

Alexia held up her hand. “That is all. I will hear no more of this argument.”

Alexia could feel the short tempers in the room, couldn’t imagine anything productive was likely to happen from here. She stood up and dismissed them all, rather than waste more time.

As Emperor, Alexia had always believed her job was more to facilitate than command. The clans ruled themselves—or should have. A light touch was all the Empire required to keep turning.

But now, today, Alexia found herself angry—almost infuriated—at Idir and the Wolf and their seeming determination to force her to do something. That they couldn’t just leave her to…when all she wanted was…

That was it. Alexia was so frustrated she couldn’t even finish her own thoughts.

Kuniko lingered as everyone else filed out, coming around to stand next to Alexia and Kristoph.

“This business on Maximus?” Alexia asked her once they three were alone.

Kuniko shook her head. “Should be nothing. We’ve had larger forces on Maximus before without any trouble. The Mathisen are getting twitchy. Jumping at shadows.”

Alexia hadn’t missed Idir’s veiled threat about the Suri, the First family of the Griffon. “Clan infighting. All the issues after Prince Naveen’s abdication…”

“Lord Kuang is currently visiting the Golden City. A performance by one of her family members she wants to see.”

Lord Kuang had often played mediator between the Mathisens and Suris in the past. “You’ll talk to her?”

Kuniko inclined her head in assent.

With that settled, Alexia was keenly aware how much she needed a break from the concerns of the court. How fortunate, then, that she was alone here with Lady Snow’s two co-conspirators--her only co-conspirators. “On a different topic, I believe it may be time for another party. Tell me you have a location to suggest.”

“I do indeed,” Kuniko said. “Shall I being making arrangements?”

“Please.”

Kuniko gave a perfect bow and left to do Alexia’s will.