had his wax tablet in hand, for writing and making writing public were his sole duties.

"Write this letter and send it to the governors of every province. Say this: 'Claudio, the son of the legate Lucento has—without the consent of either the Council or the sitting Regent—entered the city of Haroon. While there he has fallen under the spell of the lecherous Queen of Haroon. As a witch she has captured him, and as her willing slave, he wishes to conquer the whole of the Empire for her. If he has his way, he will let her rule as a despot in the style of Fharas, with neither the Council nor the governors to keep him in balance.' Send one to Bregantium, one to Sanctum, one to Thénaifrom his life as an Imperial Guard. But leading an army required strategy.

An Imperial Guard pushed his way through the thin red curtains. "My lord Antonio," he whispered, "there is treachery in the palace!"

"What do you mean?" Antonio pushed away from Portia and stood to his feet; she mumbled something incoherent but kept sleeping. The guard's words dispelled any sleepiness Antonio felt.

"I found a vial of poison under one of your girls' pillow," the guard whispered.

"Whom?" Antonio boomed. Such behavior would not be tolerated.

"Anthea Abantes."

## CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:  
Punishment

Anthea Abantes

Anthea could see the coming storm; she could read it in Antonio's eyes. He grabbed her, face red, eyes wide. She melted before him onto the pillows of the false harem. Her missing poison vial should have warned her.