The Emperor's Edge (a high fantasy mystery in an era of steam) by Lindsay Buroker

  * * * * *

  Dusk found Amaranthe curled on her side on a park bench beside the lake. Fevered and numb, breathing shallow, she didn’t recognized the black boots at first. Sicarius squatted on his heels beside her head. She had wanted to tell him something. What was it? Shattered pieces of thought flitted through her mind, too elusive a puzzle to fit together. She just remembered they were important.

  “Emperor...Hollow—” She licked cracked lips. Speaking was too hard. She drew a shuddering breath between each word. “Forge...assassin...ation. Can’t...celebration. Tell...someone.”

  Amaranthe panted, fighting to get out more words. The effort devoured her remaining strength. Darkness crept into her vision. She tried to push it back, but it overwhelmed her, and she lost consciousness.