Five Hundred Years After (Khaavren Romances, #2)

I've read this one twice now, separated by enough distance that I had forgotten all the intricate details that are what made this truly a fantastic read.

Of course we have our crew back from Phoenix Guards - Khaavren, Aerich, Tazendra and Pel, all having spent the last 500+ years advancing in their careers. Emperor Tortalik has been less than stellar at governing the empire and evidence of this is that his own coffers are running dry. There is much intrigue due to the way the Emperor has to depend on a stipend from the various houses and there is a reckoning coming where they all will meet to decide how much they will pay. Of course, each house feels they shouldn't have to pay. Meanwhile, several members of the leadership team under Tortalik are assassinated, including Khaavren's Captain of the Guard (with several attempts on Khaavren himself). The finance minister is one of those, leaving in complete disarray the Imperial budget. At the same time, Adron's daughter makes her first appearance at court, turning heads from the Imperial Consort and generally stirring things up.

That's about as far as I'll go, but needless to say, if you've read any of the books set in Dragaeria, you'll know how it ends. But just exactly how it comes to pass and ends up that way are what makes this history interesting and worthwhile.