Through Gamina, James’s thought came to the twins. Harsh justice, but how else can she prevail and keep this Empire together?
Borric said nothing, but Erland replied, I will never envy her the burden.
A commotion from the entrance to the hall presaged the arrival of more soldiers. From the door came a cry, “Mother!” Prince Awari entered, with a dozen officers of the army at his back, including Lords Ravi and Jaka. Coming to stand before the throne, he bowed, then said, “What is this terrible news about Sojiana?”
The Empress studied her son’s face a moment, then said, “We are about to determine just that. Stay and be quiet a while. This concerns your future, as well.”
To the court, the Empress said, “We have been informed by our inquisitor that confessions have been made, in part, and we have some mysteries as well to unravel.”
She leaned forward. “General Beruck.”
The still-defiant soldier glared at the Empress but said nothing.
“Your ambitions in this remain unclear, for it has been claimed you worked on behalf of my son.” At that, Prince Awari’s face drained of color, and he began to say something, but a narrow glance from his mother kept him silent. “It has also been suggested you may have worked toward your own ends, to force a marriage with my granddaughter as means to claim the throne for yourself. Do you care to shed light on these conflicting accusations?”
Despite his injuries and being barely able to stand upright, the General managed a croaking laugh. “To what ends?”
The Empress sighed. “You’re a hound, Beruck. You were once a good dog for the Empire, before jealousy or envy or ambition switched your allegiance. You’re right; it doesn’t matter if you served yourself or my son in some misguided dream of a stronger Empire. The fact is, either way you broke oath.” She seemed to truly regret her next words. “But oath breaker you are, and you must die.” To the guards who held him she said, “Take him hence to the execution yard and remove his head from his shoulders. Place it upon a stake at the main gate of the city, and place below it a sign, proclaiming ‘Behold the head of a traitor!’ ”
The guards quickly removed the General.
The Empress glanced at the barely conscious Toren Sie, then at Lord Nirome. Finally she asked, “Nephew, what have you to say?”
The stout courtier said, “Mother To Us All—”
“Please,” interrupted the Empress, “I despise that title most.” Her gaze lingered a moment on the door where the General had been removed, then her gaze drifted to the heavens for a moment. “Especially now.”
Gamina said to James, Erland, and Borric, She’s thinking of her daughter.
Through puffy lips caked with dried blood, Nirome still managed to sound vigorous. “Most Majestic Ruler, have mercy. I did but what I thought was best for the Empire, which was to bring your son to primacy. But it was never my wish to see anyone harmed. The attempts upon Prince Borric were but a ruse, to keep the Islemen from reaching the city. We only wished to keep Sojiana’s followers’ attention to the north—which is why we falsified the reports of the Isles’ gathering to invade. But the murder of your daughter was none of my doing! It was Awari who sought to remove his rival.”
Prince Awari could not contain his outrage. “You lying dog!”
“Enough,” said the Empress quietly, and that simple word stopped her son.
He looked at his mother and seemed on the verge of saying something else, then relented and bowed. “I beg the forgiveness of She Who Is Kesh.”
With bitterness, the Empress said, “As will many before this day is done, I fear.”
To Nirome she said, “We have accusations and claims, yet the truth remains unclear. Nephew, you are either the biggest fool to have claims upon our blood or the most gifted liar in the Empire’s history. Which is it?”
“On my family’s blood, Majesty, it is as I claimed.”
The Empress looked at Prince Erland. “Your Highness, I believe you have an opinion on this?”
Erland bowed. “Majesty, our missing friend Baron Locklear has been accused of having murdered your daughter. For those of us who know him, this is impossible. But even if some madness or evil sorcery forced him to such a deed, he could not have been the man who slew your daughter.”
“Why?” asked the Empress.
“Baron Locklear’s not the kind of man who would harm a woman, even if he had cause, save to defend himself. But look, even if something …” Erland fumbled for words. “Even if something caused him to act … unlike himself … he wouldn’t have broken Sojiana’s neck. He’s a master with the blade, and he’d have used his sword or dagger. He’s a skilled fighting man but lacks the brute strength to break the neck of someone who’s resisting. The Princess was not a petite woman. And if she’s like her daughter, there’s strength under that soft skin.”
The Empress nodded. “Sojiana was stronger than she looked. All the women on my side of the family are like that. We look soft, but we’re not.” She was quiet for a moment, then said, “But if Locklear didn’t kill her, who did?”
Erland said, “Those two answers are the same, I fear. And if I’m correct about what has happened, then Locklear is in danger … if he isn’t already dead.” He looked around the room, then said, “The man who stilled the heart of the Princess Sojiana had the hands of an ironmonger or smith. Someone powerful enough to break walnuts with his bare hands.” From the reaction of the gallery, it was clear that Erland wasn’t the only one to have seen the portly man crush a walnut with his bare hands.
Nirome’s voice was defiant. “This proves nothing!”
A guard Captain in the armor of the Household Guards hurried into the room and whispered into the ear of the Master of Ceremonies. He, in turn, made a gesture requesting permission to approach the Empress. She gave permission and he hurried up the dais.
When he was finished passing on the Captain’s report, the Empress sat back. “Well, then, there you have it. We have reports now that two companies of the Legionaries are still barricaded in one wing of the palace, in open defiance of orders to put down their arms, and throughout the city armed companies of men are moving.
“Now,” she said, rising from her throne, “we are faced with continued rebellion in our own city! The Imperial Seal of Peace is upon the city, and the man who draws sword first, or whose retainer draws sword first, that man be he baseborn or most noble lord, is under death sentence. Do I make myself clear?” The last was directed at Lord Ravi and General Aber Bukar, who stood motionless.
The Empress sat again and said, “Again I am faced with betrayal and disloyalty, but have no means of discerning the truth.” Finally, as if giving in to the inevitable, she said, “Perhaps the truth will never be fully revealed.” She looked at her son as she spoke.
Prince Awari went livid at that point and had his hand on his sword hilt before Lord Jaka put a restraining hand upon him.
Nakor stepped away from James’s party and said, “Empress, may I speak?”
Lakeisha said, “For the return of the falcon alone you have my ear, Isalani. For those other services you’ve done, you’ve earned more. What have you to say?”
“The why of things is often unimportant. The thing itself is important. This fat lord betrayed a trust, and if you must know why, I can help.”
“How?”
Grinning, Nakor said to Ghuda, “Bring the fat lord out here, before the dais.” As the mercenary did so, Nakor put his rucksack on the ground and began rummaging in it. After a moment of searching, he said, “Ah!” and pulled something out.
All near to him reflexively stepped back, for in his hands he held a cobra of stunning beauty and impossible proportions. The snake was easily six feet in length and as thick as a man’s forearm. The back scales were the gold of beaten metal, and the inside of the hood and throat were the green of the darkest and most vivid emerald. Eyes like fire opals, blue-black with red flame dancing in them regarded the crowd, which muttered with astonishment. A
bloodred tongue flicked in and out of its mouth. Then it opened its mouth with a loud and ominous hiss, revealing two terrible-looking fangs of ivory. It writhed and hissed again as Nakor set it down on the floor in front of Nirome. The courtier shrank back against the steps of the dais as Nakor said, “This is the Truth Snake of Sha-shu. To lie before him is to embrace death.” With a cheery note to Nirome, he added, “It’s very painful.”
The serpent slithered to Nirome’s feet, then raised itself up, so that it appeared to look the stout trueblood lord in the eyes. The broad hood flared out and silver sparkles danced on its golden back.
Nakor said, “The snake will not strike so long as you speak truth. One falsehood and you die. There is no warning. It is infallible.”
Nirome could barely move, he was so mesmerized by the swaying serpent that rose up before him. Then when it was but a foot away, he said, “Painful or not, this death will come faster than what she has in store for me, I am certain.”
Nakor shrugged. “Perhaps, but time is a funny thing when you’re lying in agony. I have heard that this creature can make minutes seem like days. Still, the choice is yours.” Then he approached the noble and said, “Tell the truth. You’re to die anyway. Lims-Kragma may place you a tiny bit higher on the Wheel of Life when it comes around again if you make amends.”
Nirome glared at Nakor. Nakor shrugged. “It was just a suggestion.”
The cobra moved, swaying back and forth in rhythmic fashion, from left to right, then back to the left. Nirome stared at it, and the cobra flared its hood, hissing loudly and drawing back as if to strike.
On and on it held the nobleman’s gaze, and after a few minutes, everyone could see Nirome’s eyes grow hooded, as if becoming entranced by the serpent. Finally Nirome said, “Enough.” His voice was exhausted, and the strength seemed to be flowing out of him. “I planned this from the beginning.”
Several members of the Gallery spoke in hushed whispers. The Empress said, “What was Awari’s part in this?”
His expression turned to bitter amusement as Nirome turned to face his Empress. “Awari is a strutting peacock and a fool. He thought I was but seeking to bolster his claim. I was going to place blame upon Awari for Sojiana’s death, or at least cast enough suspicion that no one would accept him as heir to the throne.”
“So,” said the Empress sitting back in her throne, “you would put Sharana in my place. But why?”
Nirome said, “Because Ravi and his allies would never accept another Empress. The southern nations are ready to rebel once more and with the Brothers of the Horse holding the pass through the Girdle of Kesh, Lesser Kesh would be lost for all times. And Lord Jaka and the other truebloods would never accept a nontrueblood consort. So there was only one solution.”
Lakeisha was silent a moment, then she nodded. “Obviously. Marry Sharana to one who is heir. Make her husband Emperor upon my death.” She sighed. “And who better but the Great Conciliator, Lord Nirome? The only member of the Gallery without enemies? The one man able to speak to trueblood and nontrueblood alike?”
The Empress covered her face with her hands, and for a moment it appeared as if she might be weeping. When she at last removed her hands, her eyes were indeed red-rimmed, but no sign of tears could be seen. “How have we come to this, that our best minds plot for their own aggrandizement, and not for the well-being of the Empire.” She sighed loudly and said, “My lord Ravi, would this plan have worked?”
The Master of the Brothers of the Horse bowed. “Mistress, I fear the traitor was correct. Until this evening, we believed the Prince, your son, to have been the one responsible for Sojiana’s death. We would not have accepted Sharana as our mistress, but we would not have allowed one who has spilled royal blood to command us. Nirome would have been the logical compromise.”
The Empress seemed to lose her strength, so far back into the throne did she slump. “Ai-eee!” she half screamed. “All is tumbling toward the pit! All trembles on the brink of chaos, but for the kind fortune that sent these two boys to our court.”
Erland said, “Majesty, if I may ask a boon?”
Lakeisha said, “You have been as wronged as any here, it seems, Prince Erland. What is your wish?”
“A question of Nirome.” To the trembling lord he said, “Locklear has been branded with the murder of Sojiana. I told you that only a man with powerful arms and hands could have broken her neck in such a fashion. Did you kill her and cast the blame upon my friend?”
Nirome gazed at the hovering serpent and barely whispered, “Yes.”
James said, “Where is Locklear?”
Nirome said, “He is dead. His body is hidden in a grain room in the lower levels. Beruck killed him and I killed Sojiana.”
Gamina’s eyes began to brim with tears and James and the twins all looked stricken at the news. They had known against all hope that Locklear was most likely murdered, but until they had actually heard the news they had held out hope. Borric was the first to speak. “Majesty, I know that Kesh had no part in the death of one of our Ambassadors. The Kingdom of the Isles will demand no reparation.” He spoke calmly, but everyone close to him could see the tears that were gathering in his eyes.
Rising, the Empress turned to look at the assembled Gallery. “Hear my judgment!” Pointing at Nirome, she said, “This man, by his own words, has condemned himself.” Turning to stare at the traitor, she said, “Nirome, lord no longer, by your own words you have confessed your evil and for this you shall die.”
The stout man stiffened and said, “I demand my right to die at my own hands!”
“You shall demand nothing!” spat the Empress. “You are not of the blood from this moment forward. There will be no sweet death as you drift into intoxicated oblivion from a gentle poison, no lightly cut wrists in a hot bath as you drift away into eternal sleep.
“In ancient times a punishment was decreed for those who betrayed their kings and queens. It has not been pronounced in centuries, but it shall be now. Nirome, this is to be your fate: you are to remain in a cell this night, to dwell upon your wrongdoing and your coming death, and at every beating of the quarter hour, a guard shall repeat this sentence aloud to you, so you may have no rest. Then at dawn, you are to be taken to the temple, and there shall the guard read your sentence to the High Priest of Guis-wa, so that the Red-Jawed Hunter will hear that you are not worthy of a place in the Eternal Hunt. Then you shall be taken to the base of the plateau and stripped naked. Then shall a dozen guards of the trueblood whip you and run you through the city. Should you fall, they shall apply hot coals to your buttocks, until you rise and run again. At the gates of the city you will be hung in a cage, and your sentence will be read aloud by guards upon the hour, so that all passing may hear of your crimes. Even the lowest shall be offered sticks of bamboo with which to torment you, so you may feel the wrath of those you betrayed, yet you shall endure and no one shall grant you merciful death. When you are near unto death from exposure, you shall be taken from the cage and revived with water made bitter with vinegar and bread covered with salt. You shall be driven by lash and hot coals to the edge of the Overn Deep, to the marshes where the first Kings of the trueblood hunted. There you shall be made to drink the bitter wine of betrayal and eat the rotten meat of treason. Then shall your manhood be cut from your body. You shall then be bound and thrown into the marsh, where the crocodiles of the Overn shall devour your flesh.
“In every royal decree and record of your time among us, your name shall be stricken so that no one shall ever speak it again. In its place will be written ‘one who betrayed his nation,’ and the name Nirome will be forbidden to children of the trueblood from this day forward. In time, even the gods will not know who you were. And in the black void of the nameless and forgotten will your soul endure eternal confinement, alone.
“This, then, is my decree!”
The Master of Ceremonies called out, “She Who Is Kesh has spoken! Now, let it be done!”
Guards hurried
forward and hesitated as they reached the cobra. Nakor motioned that the snake wouldn’t touch them, and the guards seized the terrified Nirome. “No!” he screamed as they dragged him from the court, and his cries echoed through the halls.
The Empress looked then at Toren Sie, who barely managed to look up as the Empress spoke. “You, my onetime friend, shall name every accomplice in this plot and perhaps I shall be kind to you: a quick death or perhaps even mere banishment. Otherwise, you shall follow your friend in humiliation and pain.”
Lord Toren Sie spoke in a broken whisper. “Your Majesty is merciful. I shall reveal all.”
As he was led away, the Empress motioned to the cobra and said to Nakor. “Do something with that.”
The grinning wizard hurried over and said, “This, Empress?” He reached down and grabbed the cobra around the middle, and when he stood, there was only a long strand of cord in his hands. “This is just a piece of rope.”
He coiled the line and put it back in his rucksack. Erland’s eyes were wide, but Borric said, “It’s only a trick.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
TRIUMPH
THE SERVANT BOWED.
Borric, Erland, and their companions entered a small garden, and the servant bid them sit upon soft cushions surrounding a wondrous table, with all manner of delicacies and a choice of fine wines. A cold pitcher of lager and a warm pitcher of ale were the choices of Ghuda and Nakor respectively; both wore fine robes provided for the occasion by the Empress’s staff.
When the Empress entered, carried in a sedan chair, all began to rise. She gestured for them to remain where they were. “There are so few occasions I can manage a little informality, I relish those times. Sit, sit.” The servants who carried the chair placed it at the head of the low table and removed the long poles that they used to carry it.
Sharana entered a moment later, and came to sit between her grandmother and Erland. She smiled at Borric, who looked her over with open and frank appraisal.
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