Sometimes I think of my army as a wave. I never placed my feet in the sea when I had the chance, but now I think of my army as the waters that carry me. And my throne—my throne is the inevitable shore. We have fought Chandra across the empire. In Dwarali. In Alor. He has no gift for keeping allies. He wants people to bow and scrape and beg for his scraps, but why would they, when I have offered them so much more? So his armies crumble, and I stride onward, and bind myself to allies with vows and deals and promises. I have so many debts, Priya. Debts to my men. Debts to you. I never forget my
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