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“And that includes any guards that were on the estate when we arrived?” I asked.

“Add fifty more,” Sagam said. “And all of those were from Lord Pehine.”

“So it seems Lord Pehine didn’t even trust the men General Bemishu left behind, if he sent them immediately out of his estate and left behind a contingent made up entirely of his own men.” I looked at the Bemishu twins. “How loyal are your father’s men?”

“The desert campaign was always the most deadly of any warfront,” Pito said.

“If the men have only been with our father a short time, then their loyalty might shift if Your Imperial Majesty is able to promise safety.” Topi bowed her head, as though safety was something Tallu could guarantee. “But, if they have lasted longer than a few months with our father, the only way to change their loyalty would be through death. A campaign like the Ariphadeus Desert takes everything from men, leaving behind only their loyalty to each other and their devotion to the mission. We also believe that our father told them that in the heart of the desert is something that could bring back lost comrades and give them their heart’s deepest desire. We were never able to fully convert any of his men to us.”

“Do you agree, General Saxu?” I asked.

“Bemishu’s men are notoriously loyal. Any who are not are moved off of his campaign. It benefited the other generals to receive trained soldiers, so I accepted that.” General Saxu frowned, leaning more heavily on his cane. “Perhaps I should not have.”

“It is late to be reconsidering decisions that were made years ago,” Tallu said. “Is there any way to determine which men served Bemishu long enough to have acquired this deep loyalty?”

“The age of the tattoos they bear,” Topi said immediately. “The longer they were with our father, the more they would have earned a complicated tattoo as a rite of passage.”

“It also is unlikely that our father would have left behind men loyal to him. He likely gave Lord Pehine those that he could not trust,” Pito said.

“Make sure,” Tallu said. When the twins hesitated, he raised a single eyebrow and they hurried to bow and leave the room.

“So, we travel into the desert. We have none of the sand crawlers left?” Tallu asked.

I knew from my time in the capital and speaking with Detipo Bechi’s oily husband that sand crawlers were the expensive machines that had been the only way the Imperium had been able to transport soldiers through the Ariphadeus.

“No,” General Saxu said. He turned more fully to face Tallu, bowing low. “In one matter, your new Kennelmaster and I agree. We ask that you stay here with enough men to keep you safe. We will travel into the desert and either defeat Bemishu there or bring him back for you.”

“‘Bring him back for me,’” Tallu said. He twisted his lips, as though the words tasted foul. “Am I some pampered pet to be brought meat already cut the correct size? Or am I your emperor?”

General Saxu twitched, his fingers tightening on the head of his cane. Sagam dropped his hand from his sword, half bowing before he stopped himself. Even Tallu’s Dogs tensed, their heads moving as though the threat was in the room.

“I will go with you. We have three elephants at our disposal; find the best use of them.” Tallu waited, and when none of his men spoke against him, issued his next command. “Have any of the goblins told us how to contact their tribes?”

“Lady Mutali has conveyed that several are close enough they feel comfortable traveling themselves. A few are from the deep desert, but said they would live with the local tribes until their own sent emissaries.” Sagam looked toward the door. “We are expecting more news from her on the rest of the goblins.”

“I intend to make contact with the deep desert tribes. Find enough goblins that can facilitate that.” Tallu glared down at the map.

“We also have Naî,” I suggested. “I could take the goblins ahead of time to their tribes, and the tribes could meet us as we seek out General Bemishu.”

“That would put you in danger,” Sagam pointed out, and I could see his lips tighten as he hesitated and then pulled back from saying more.

“You propose to travel alone into the desert,” Tallu said. “And land a dragon in the middle of someone else’s camp?”

“I would be bringing their own people back to them. Who could turn down such a generous gift?” I raised both eyebrows, knowing that I had already lost the battle. “Husband, you once told me the difficulty with desert warfare was geography. Allow me to solve the problem before we lose more of our men.”

“No, I will not have you leave us with the chance that we might never know your fate if you do not return.” Tallu frowned, his jaw tightening before he seemed to force it open. “Speak with the dragon and some of the goblins. Only if they can guarantee you will not fly straight into a sandstorm or a hail of arrows will I consider such a dangerous plan.”

I would take it as a win. Tallu dismissed everyone else soon after, but I hesitated before following them out. Tallu stood to look out the open window. The room looked out over the shaded garden in the center of the estate.

Four Dogs were arrayed around the room and I exhaled a long breath before approaching him. “Ta—My lord?”

When he looked over, I could see his skin gleaming in the lamplight, golden and beautiful. His lip quirked just slightly when he looked at me.

“If I go now, then we could prepare the tribes, perhaps find out if any of them saw Bemishu or know where he’s going.” I made my words quiet, leaning forward.

“You want to go by yourself,” Tallu judged. “I have already made my decision. Why do you question it?”

“I want you to be safe,” I said. I quieted even further, leaning into his space. “What did it cost you when you claimed that electricity as your own?”