The Shadow Games: The Chronicles of Arianthem VI by Samantha Sabian

She moved gracefully up the steps toward the Emperor, leaving a trail of scorched marble, or so it would seem, in her wake.
    The Emperor was stunned, for this was a woman of dark fantasy, whose laughing eyes said they could fulfill every desire but the price would be oh-so-high. His guards, in fact, most of his court, stood gaping.
    Nerthus looked as if she were choking on something. She grew flushed, and when long dark eyelashes flicked in her direction, the choking sound was nearly audible. Bristol looked up at the ceiling, and Dagna found a nearby sculpture suddenly fascinating. Feyden was as expressionless as always, although the corner of his mouth twitched. Maeva raised one fine eyebrow and decided to take the lead.
    “Baroness,” she said, extending her hand, “it is good to see you again.”
    “Thank you, Madame Directorate,” Idonea said, “it is always a pleasure.”
    Kiren stepped forward and gave Idonea a quick hug. “Baroness,” she said a little more formally, stepping back.
    “Hello little one,” Idonea said with evident fondness.
    Now the Emperor was completely bewildered. How in the world did the elven ambassador know one of the wealthiest citizens in the empire? One whom he had not even met? And the association made him more than a little apprehensive, for the two women in front of him, the Baroness of Fireside and the Lady Storr, possessed more wealth combined than was in the imperial coffers.
    Maeva turned to the Emperor, sensing his unease and wishing to contribute to it. “Your Majesty, may I present my dear friend, the Baroness of Fireside.”
    Idonea gave a low curtsy and despite his polished manners, the Emperor’s eyes went to the cleavage that was exposed, as did everyone else’s.
    “It is my pleasure, your Majesty.”
    “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you,” the Emperor said, his senses returning.
    Raine watched the performance with delight. She had debated using Idonea as her substitute because Idonea had created quite a stir while assisting at the Mage’s Academy a short time ago. But Raine reasoned that although Idonea might be recognized from those events, there was no reason why she could not be that woman and the owner of Fireside as well. And Idonea’s full identity was still unknown to most, which was good, for it was far more astonishing to be the protégé of the most powerful wizard in Arianthem and the daughter of a dragon than it was to be the Baroness of Fireside. Raine wondered what the Emperor would think if he realized that Idonea was also in Dagna’s poem, right alongside Feyden.
    Feyden slipped in beside Raine, having made his way to the back of the room as surreptitiously as possible. “That was your solution?”
    “Yes,” Raine said, “and to make it as legitimate as possible, I signed over the deed this morning.”
    “You gave her Fireside?”
    “I did. She is my daughter, in a sense, so everything that is mine is hers, anyway.”
    Dagna also slipped in beside Raine. “You do like to live dangerously.”
    Raine grinned. “This is perfect. Idonea enjoys this sort of thing. She can now toy with the imperial court at will and come and go as she pleases.” Raine sobered a bit and scanned the room; the hovering black specter had disappeared. “Dagna, who was the woman at the Emperor’s side, the one in the dark cloak?”
    Dagna also sobered. “Her name is Malron’a. She is the Emperor’s most trusted advisor.”
    “More trusted than Nerthus?”
    “Yes,” Dagna said, “but no. They advise on completely different matters. Nerthus advises him on foreign affairs, domestic policies. Malron’a is a seer, an oracle of sorts.”
    “Most oracles I have met are charlatans,” Feyden commented.
    “She is not,” Dagna said. “Her words are sometimes obscure, but I have never known them to be false.”
    Dagna’s tone was uncharacteristically wary, as if she were uneasy speaking of Malron’a. And for the buxom, carefree bard who chattered and