Free Temple of the Traveler: Empress of Dreams by Scott Rhine

born,” she said with a wicked grin. “Would you like me to take care of your problem? I’m well-versed in several techniques.”
    He shook his head rapidly. “I seem to get those offers a lot lately.”
    “From everyone but the one woman you want it from?”
    “Something like that,” he muttered.
    “You should tell her.”
    “She loves another; she’s a kind friend,” he said, combing his hair back into place in a mirror. Why did they have a mirror beside the mats?
    “You’re an extraordinary ruler, sire.”
    “I hope to earn that praise by my actions, not my inaction.”
    “If you ever need to know anything about the aristocrats, I’ve seen all the dirty laundry.”
    “Thank you,” he said offhandedly. After a pause, he asked, “What can you tell me about the courts? They wouldn’t let me watch proceedings, saying it would be too distracting.”
    “It’s bloated; too many judges that do too little. They’ve made the posts hereditary.”
    “The deuce you say!”
    “A third of them are blatantly incompetent.”
    “How do I get rid of the bad ones?”
    “ You can’t,” the only surviving wife said. “Change has to come from within their college. Any action from you will be rejected.”
    “Could I appoint a panel of good judges to review the decisions of others?”
    “Hmm . . . I would start by making it less personal. Empower the panel to look into reducing expenses. That will give them an excuse to censure the truly horrible ones taking bribes.”
    “You’re amazing,” the emperor said. Switching gears, he asked, “About Anna—”
    “I’ll warn her about the heat that comes over his highness and what could follow.”
    “I shall retain your valuable services and the dome until I find another solution for my difficulty.” The emperor waved around the elaborately decorated room. “You’ve done marvelously well here with very little money.”
    Violet bowed. “I earn money by instructing ladies of the court in the arts. It’s more than the purely physical acts people imagine. The house of love is one of welcome and comfort.”
    “Ah . . .”
    “Are you certain you don’t want a demonstration?”
    “Thank you, but you put me in mind too much of a mother.”
    She smiled. “Would you like a list of my more talented pupils?”
    He shuddered. “Woman, you don’t want me to sleep at all, do you?”
    Violet rose and gestured to a cloth and rope hammock in the corner. “Behold, the second secret of the dome. The fabric is changed after every use, and it has never been touched by another. Ideal for royal napping.” She knew about his object-reading ability.
    The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Half an hour and you’ll wake me?”
    “And no one will know, sire. In exchange for my services, I would beg you to speak of the contents of the dome to no one. The secrecy is half the allure.”
    As he tested the hammock, Pagaose agreed to her terms.
    When he emerged, refreshed and smiling, half the men in the household were standing outside. He exclaimed, “A wonderful place. We shall maintain it just as it is.”
    Niftkin whispered, “What do they have in there that’s so different? What made you shout like that?”
    “When you’re emperor, maybe you can find out.”

Chapter 8 – Justice
     
    Moonday morning, a group of retired soldiers joined the guards’ workout. Duwara, their spokesman, was gaunt and had a white, flowing beard. As he bowed at his introduction, the newcomer whispered to the emperor, “Lord Conifer says as far as he’s concerned, you’re emperor today. He doesn’t understand why they’re dragging their heels. You have six fingers, for gods’ sakes. You passed their examinations in every regard, but until they get their ships or money, you get no vote. He is also aware of a faction that wishes you gone before the next test.”
    “And he wants you to protect me?” asked Pagaose.
    “He wishes to avoid the embarrassment such an attempt would cause the