Anamierres
an excerpt

Anarie peeked out from beneath the table as the shadow of feet passed by. She drew back against the wall, her grin breaking into a full-fledged smile.
"Empress Anarie, please come out."
She craned her neck to see where Kaela was now.
"Please, Empress. Shein requested that the two of you meet." Her voice was coming from the other side of the room.
"He'll have to wait," Anarie mumbled. She tucked her hair behind her ears and slid out from under the table. She looked over to Kaela. "I'd rather take a bath right now." Getting to her feet, she brushed off her layered skirt and unrolled her sleeves.
Kaela's expression was nonchalant, although, Anarie surmised, she was sure to be more than a little irritated. "He said that it was important, your Highness."
"How so?" Anarie grabbed the ragged doll from the tabletop and started into the adjoining room.
Kaela followed behind. "He specified that it concerned the shipment of new soldiers here to the mainship."
The girl halted. She turned to her maid abruptly, her features suddenly serious. "I told him there were to be no more shipments to Anamierres," she said. "We've already had enough casualities."
"Apparently, there was someone that never received that order, your Highness," Kaela said quietly. "Thirteen troops have arrived this afternoon, and Shein is awaiting your word for further instruction."
Anarie looked to the wall-length mirror that stood in the corner, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
"I suppose the bath can wait."