Free Beneath the Surface by Lindsay Buroker Page A

that regard. If I’m... to play a role in this new government or if I’m... Well, should I plan to look for a job when this is all over?” He lowered his voice to mumble, “Not that I know what I’m qualified to do.”
    “ You were educated in a great number of areas,” Sicarius said. “There is much for which you could qualify.” Thanks to his insistence on maintaining that emotionless monotone of his, the words sounded sterner than he probably meant them. Amaranthe gave him a frown. Considering he had once confessed to her that he didn’t know what he’d do if he weren’t an assassin, it hardly seemed appropriate for him to act as career counselor.
    “ Then I am fired,” Sespian murmured.
    “ Not necessarily,” Amaranthe said. “Books is still working on a draft of his opus—apparently traveling and enduring enforcer attacks aren’t the best for keeping one’s notes organized and, er, undamaged by fire or explosives. He said he’d consult all of us before starting on a second draft, so for those who care, there’ll be an opportunity for input. But would you actually wish to remain emperor? The position hasn’t treated you well, thus far.”
    “ Yes. No. I don’t know.” Sespian smiled bleakly. “At times, I dreamed of being some humble shepherd up in the mountains, minding nothing more than a flock of sheep or donkeys. Except I don’t even know if it is a flock when it’s donkeys.”
    “ I think it’s a harem,” Amaranthe said.
    Sespian’s eyebrows flew up. “What?”
    “ Donkeys. In a group. The females bond together and—it’s not important.”
    “ See? I lack even common knowledge of the world.”
    “ I’m not sure that knowledge is common. I have Books to thank for the more esoteric trivia in my head.” And in this case, the fact that Maldynado had made a lot of snickering jokes about donkey harems had cemented the tidbit in her mind. Sespian didn’t appear inclined to make jokes; he looked chagrinned at this further proof that he lacked job qualifications.
    “ At other times,” he went on, “I’ve wished for the freedom and the power to enact changes I know the empire needs if it’s to go forward into the modern era. I’m not sure I’m wise enough yet to stand behind those changes, but I never even got a chance. People have been plotting against me since...” Sespian leaned back, letting his head clunk against the wall. “Sorry, this was an invitation for lunch, not whining, wasn’t it? I seem to have forgotten.”
    At least he was opening up. Amaranthe hadn’t been sure he would with Sicarius in the room. “Lunch with chatting, I believe I said. Anyway, Sespian, I don’t know how the tiles will ultimately be laid—just because Books wants to reform the government doesn’t mean we have the sway to make it happen...” Honestly, she’d only been thinking of how to thwart Forge thus far; even her ambitious imagination couldn’t picture a scenario in which a handful of outlaws successfully laid down a new political system. “But I’m sure you would make a fine emperor or president or high chief or whatever we end up needing, especially if you have an older, more experienced confidant you could trust to advise you wisely.”
    Sespian gazed at her thoughtfully, as if assuming she meant herself. Right. As if she’d done anything wise in the last year. She strolled over to Sicarius and started to reach for his hand, but, remembering that Sespian looked on, she switched to gripping the back of his arm and guiding him toward the second stool at the table. Sicarius let himself be guided, though when he sat, it was with the rigidity of one of his daggers.
    “ Relax,” Amaranthe mouthed at him.
    Meanwhile, Sespian’s mouth hung open in a stunned, “Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Just to be clear, are you suggesting that an assassin would be an appropriate adviser to the emperor of the most powerful nation in the world?”
    “ He’s educated, ecumenical, and