[i]Usurped her throne.[/i] Fragments came back to him, before Gavin had injected him, when Akuma had mentioned the empress. The empress of Amria. He really hadn't held anything to it. Akuma said many things to worm under the skin like a parasite and infect the blood. 
But Kire now mentioned throne. [i]Her[/i] throne, to be exact. And Ysaryn called her Chieftess. 

Kire offered to help, and Ruli tore his gaze from his drawing and gazed blankly at her. As if he had no interest in sharing this with her, in allowing her hands to be involved. But he shrugged instead. [i]Do what you want,[/i] his shrug said.
Then, "Find a good place for a pantry."

Ruli went on working, casting glances at her she as hunted for a place that would be decent enough to store food, where they could build out of the winds way, and away from the western heat.

"So you [i]are[/i] an empress, then." Ruli observed, at last.