“I wanted a little informal chat before we return to this miserable business of the Jubilee. I can’t believe we’ll have to endure another four-and-a-half weeks of it.”
Erland said, “I was somewhat surprised that you ordered it continued, Majesty.”
The old woman smiled. “Nirome’s plotting would be nothing compared to the troubles I’d start if I tried to cancel the festivities, Erland. The Lords and Masters might wish land or power, but the common man of the Empire merely wants his fun. If we tried to take it away from him, we’d have blood in the streets. You’ve the look of a common enough fellow, Ghuda Bulé. Isn’t that true?”
Ghuda, uncomfortable at being this close to such powerful and important people, said, “This is true, Majesty. Most men won’t give you much trouble if they get food to eat, a roof over their head, a good woman now and again, and some fun along the way. Too much bother, otherwise.”
The Empress laughed. “A philosopher. And a serious one.” To the others she said, “Didn’t even notice I was having fun with him.” She sighed. “I think I may have lost the knack of fun.”
Looking at Ghuda, she said, “So then, what is your reward to be for helping save our Empire?”
Now Ghuda looked terribly embarrassed, and Borric said, “He was promised ten thousand golden ecu, by me, Majesty.”
“Done,” she said. “And again that much from our treasury. How would you like to stay on and help run my Inner Legion, Ghuda? I have many openings for officers, and more to come as Toren Sie confesses.”
Ghuda smiled weakly, uncomfortable to be refusing such an offer, but he said, “I am sorry, Your Majesty, but I’m overwhelmed.” He glanced around, then said, “I think twenty thousand ecu would ruin me.”
Borric laughed. “This logic is lost on me, my friend.”
Ghuda shrugged. “I’ve spent a lot of time guarding men with money, and mostly they’re unhappy, either worrying about making more money, or fearful someone else will take what they have. I agreed to the Madman—er, Prince Borric’s promises, because I honestly didn’t think I’d live to see a copper.” He smiled. “I’m pleased to be wrong. No, if you could see your way clear to reward me with a tenth of that amount, I think I’m going to take the money and open an inn, in Jandowae maybe. The weather’s nice there, and there’s not much trouble. I’ll get a couple of pretty serving girls and maybe even marry one of them and have some sons. I’m getting too old for travel and adventure.”
The Empress smiled warmly and said, “I envy you your modest ambitions, warrior. You’ll do well telling your stories around the taproom in the evening. But you have my debt and should you ever need an ear at court, send word and I’ll listen.”
Ghuda inclined his head and said, “Your Majesty.”
“What about you, little man?” she said to Nakor. “What can we do to thank you for your part in this?”
The Isalani wiped foam from his mouth with the back of his sleeve and said, “Could I have a horse? A large black horse maybe? And a fine blue robe to wear when I ride her?”
The Empress laughed and said, “A thousand horses if that is what you want.”
Nakor grinned. “No, just one will do, thank you, Empress. It’s difficult to ride more than one at a time. But one beautiful black horse and a grand blue robe would once again make me Nakor the Blue Rider. That would be a fine thing.”
“Anything else? Gold? A court appointment?”
Reaching into his rucksack, Nakor pulled out a deck of playing cards. Ruffling them, he said, “As long as I have my cards, I don’t need gold. And if I take an appointment at court, I won’t have time to ride my black horse. Thank you, Empress, but no.”
The Empress regarded the two men and said, “The two most refreshingly original characters to walk into the palace in my life and I can’t keep either of you around. Very well,” she said, with a hint of humor. “But if I were Sharana’s age still, I’d find a way to keep you here.”
Everyone laughed at that. The Empress said, “Lord James, I’m sorry to turn the conversation to more serious matters, but we’ve located the body of your companion. Baron Locklear will be made ready to return to Krondor and a guard of honor shall escort him to his father’s estates at Land’s End. The Empire stands ready to make any reparation your King may ask. He was a noble of the Kingdom and our guest; his safety was in our hands and we let him come to harm.”
James said, “I think Prince Arutha and the King will both understand.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “We knew coming down here there would be risks. It’s the price we pay for our privileges.”
The Empress regarded him with a penetrating look. “You Islemen are a strange lot. You take very seriously your concept of the obligations of the nobility and the Great Freedom.”
James nodded. “The Great Freedom gives even the most lowborn rights the nobles cannot abridge. Even the King is not above the law.”
“Brrr,” said the Empress with a mock shiver. “That gives me a chill. The idea of not being able to command what I wish is … alien.”
Borric smiled. “We are different. Erland and I, each in his own way, have learned many things by coming here, being among ‘aliens.’ ” Regarding the lovely Princess, whose thin robe hid none of her physical beauty, Borric dryly added, “Though by most any measure, I suspect my brother’s lessons were by far the more pleasant.”
Erland said, “What is to happen now? I mean with you and your son?”
The Empress said, “Awari has always been a strong-headed boy. That’s the reason he is not the man to guide Kesh when I am dead.”
James looked at Sharana. “So the Princess will be named your heir?”
“No,” said the Empress. “As much as I love her, Sharana does not have the temper to govern. Perhaps if I lived another twenty years, she might learn enough, but I doubt I’ll survive half that.” Sharana began to protest that she would, and the Empress waved her off. “Enough. I’m seventy-five years old and I’m tired. You have no idea what tired can be until you’ve had the weight of over five million people on your shoulders every day for forty-seven years. I took the throne when I was younger than your mother, may the gods give her peace. Twenty-eight years when my mother’s weak heart gave out.” There was a bitter note in the air as the Empress paused. “No, it’s no gift I give when I name my heir.” Looking at Borric, Erland, and James, she said, “If I had one of you here, then I would not fear half so much my people’s future.” Pointing at Erland, she said, “If I could, I’d keep you here, boy, and name you my successor and marry you off to Sharana. Now wouldn’t that be a fine mess? How do you think the Gallery of Lords and Masters would react to naming an Islesman Emperor!” She laughed, but Erland’s face showed he didn’t think the subject was comic.
Seeing Erland’s distress, Lakeisha said, “Girl, take him away and talk to him. You’re going to be spending some more weeks together and you need have an understanding. Get along.”
Sharana and Erland rose and departed, and the Empress said, “Sharana can’t marry anyone but a trueblood, or we’d have a revolution here upon the plateau, and Awari would be our next Emperor. We’ll barely have enough support as it is.”
James considered what he knew of the court, then said, “So you’re going to marry her to Diigai?”
The Empress’s eyes went round in obvious pleasure. “Oh, you are such a clever one. I do wish I could keep you here, but I’m sure your King would object.” Looking at Gamina, she added, “With a lady at your side who can read the thoughts of those you negotiate with … what a treasure you would be, my lord James. I must remember to have you banned for life from the Empire. You’re too dangerous to allow inside our borders again.”
James couldn’t tell if she was joking. “Yes,” she continued. “I’m going to marry her to Lord Jaka’s eldest. No trueblood, save Awari and perhaps a handful of his most ardent followers, will object to Diigai being the next to sit upon the Throne of Light. And with his father’s sage counsel, he wi
ll grow to rule wisely.”
Looking off to where Erland and Sharana had disappeared, the Empress said, “All ends well, I think.” To Borric she said, “I know that when you become ruler in the Isles, you’ll have at your side a brother who will always remember this court with some affection. And in Diigai, Kesh will have a ruler who will feel obligation to your house.” Borric inclined his head in acknowledgment. James had told him of Diigai and the lion and Erland’s part in that.
Borric said, “I hope, that as long as I rule in the Isles, Kesh will count us her friendly neighbor to the north.”
Tapping her fingers upon the arm of her sedan chair, Lakeisha said, “I hope that is so. I fear we shall have trouble with our more fractious subjects south of the Girdle. Lesser Kesh wears its yoke poorly.”
“If I may suggest,” said James, “remove the yoke, Majesty. Or at least lift it a little. There are many able men who would serve you with their life’s blood if need be, but because they are not trueblood they are denied the highest ranks in court. There was never a more vigorous servant and brilliant mind in Kesh’s employ than your late Ambassador Abdur, Lord Hazara-Khan, and the man who has been our guide lately, Lord Abu Harez, seems cut much from the same cloth. To limit such a man from serving you because of his ancestry … seems a terrible waste.”
The Empress said, “It may be you’re right. But there are limits, my lord. Old ways die hard and there are men in my service, blood kin, who would die rather than see such changes. And our position is not, at this moment, what I would call the best. I have no idea how much my son was in league with Nirome, but if he truly was ignorant of what Nirome was apparently doing on his behalf, it was because he chose to be blind, deaf, and mute.
“No, revolutionary changes cannot be considered.”
James said, “Be warned, then. I fear that revolution is the only alternative.”
The Empress was silent for a long time, then at last said, “I will think on this. I’m not dead yet. There might still be time.”
All fell silent around the table; each hoped that would be the case.
Erland held the girl’s hand tightly as he said, “What does your grandmother mean, ‘need have an understanding’?”
Sharana said, “She knows how much I enjoy having you in bed with me. But I need to spend less time with you in public.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to wed Lord Jaka’s son, Diigai. Grandmother’s decided that. The rebellious lords will get their male ruler and the trueblood will get their trueblood Emperor. He’s a cousin, you know, so it’s still in the family.”
Erland looked away for a moment. “I knew it was impossible for us to remain together … yet somehow …”
“What?”
“I love you, Sharana. I shall always love you.”
The girl pulled Erland around and kissed him passionately. “I am very fond of you, Erland. It will be good to know you are so close to the Throne of the Isles when I sit at the Emperor’s side.”
Erland felt disappointed his statement hadn’t provoked a more enthusiastic response. “I said I love you.”
“Yes,” said Sharana, with wide eyes fixed upon him. “I heard you.”
“Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Of course it does. It’s very nice. I just said so. What else did you have in mind?”
“Nice?” Erland turned around from her for a moment, feeling icy pains in his stomach. “Nothing, I guess.”
She pulled him back around and said, “Stop this. You’re being very strange. You said you love me. I said I’m fond of you. That’s all very nice. You act as if something is wrong between us.”
Erland laughed and said, “Nothing is wrong. Just the woman I love is going to marry another man.”
Sharana said, “You say ‘woman I love’ as if you will not love anyone else again.”
“That’s the way I feel.”
“That’s a silly way to feel, Erland.” The girl took his hand and put it upon her breast. “Feel my heart. Can you feel the beat?”
He nodded, feeling heat rise in his body at the softness of her under his hand. “I have much room in there for many people. I love my grandmother, and my mother and father when they lived. I even love my uncle Awari, though he is a strange man at times. I’ve loved other boys before you and I will love others after as well. Loving one takes nothing away from the others. Can you see?”
Erland shook his head. “I guess our ways are too different. You’re going to marry another, yet you talk of other loves.”
“Why not? I’ll be Empress and will love anyone I find worthy. It will be the same with Diigai. Many trueblood women will want to sleep with him. To have an Emperor’s child is a very special thing.”
Erland laughed. “I guess I just don’t understand you. Anyway, I won’t cause any difficulty with you and Diigai.”
She looked puzzled. “Difficulty? I don’t know what you mean. I shall have to spend a few nights with him, so he gets used to the idea of being husband to the Empress’s granddaughter. And if he is to be named heir I must spend most of my public time with him. But I will have most of my nights for you while you’re with us. If you still wish to come to me.”
Erland felt more conflict than he could remember ever having. Then he laughed and said, “I don’t know. But I think I would have trouble staying away.”
Moving sensuously under his hand, she rubbed against him and gripped him tightly to her. “I thought you might.” She kissed him and said, “Tell me, are you and your brother very much alike?”
He stepped back from her, then laughed aloud. “In most ways. But there are some things we just will not share!”
Sharana pouted. “Pity. It could have provided some interesting possibilities.”
At the city gates of Kesh the mounted escorts were ready. Borric, Erland, and their party rode down the last boulevard to the edge of the town. Up high on a nearby wall, the metal cage that had held Nirome swung empty, a grim reminder of the fate of traitors. The former trueblood noble had hung there for almost two days, enduring the taunts and prodding of anyone who passed by and chose to stop and add to his torment. And there were many who relished the idea of seeing a trueblood noble brought low.
Nearly a thousand people had lined the streets as he had been taken from the cage, forced to eat salted bread and drink vinegar mixed with water, then was whipped like a beast out to the marshes on the edge of the great Overn Deep. There he was mutilated and cast to the crocodiles, while hundreds of citizens cheered. Erland and Borric had declined the invitation to watch the spectacle. Prince Awari had watched, and no one was certain if it was to witness justice or to hear if Nirome would implicate more of Awari’s followers. There was a strong feeling that somehow the stout noble had died still holding secrets within.
At the gate, the newly named Prince Diigai waited in his chariot, with Sharana at his side. She now wore the short kilt and golden torque of her rank, and waited formally next to her future husband. Behind, ranks of Keshian nobles waited to bid farewell to their royal guests.
Lord Jaka came forward and reined in his chariot next to his son’s. Erland halted and said, “Good day, my lords. Prince and Princess.”
Sharana smiled warmly at Erland. “Good day, Your Highness.”
Borric said, “We are pleased you felt moved to come see us upon our way.”
Diigai said, “Your Highness, we are much in your debt. If we can ever repay you, you have but to ask.”
Borric bowed. “You are gracious, Highness. We hope the friendship we have begun here shall endure.”
Sharana said, “I shall miss you, Erland.”
Feeling himself coloring a little, he replied, “I shall miss you as well, Princess.”
Then Sharana said, “And while we have known each other only briefly, I shall miss you as well, Borric.”
Erland’s eyes narrowed as he turned to look at his brother. “What—”
Borric said, “Good-bye, dear f
riends,” and spurred his horse forward. Instantly the dozen Krondorian Palace Guards moved out and Erland was left sitting behind.
“Wait a minute!” shouted Erland, spurring his horse on after his brother’s. “I want to talk to you!”
As the company moved out, James turned and found Nakor moving up to ride beside him. The little man was dressed in a bright blue robe and sat upon a magnificent black mare. He was examining a device of some sort. “What is that?” asked James.
“This is a nice thing I took from Lord Nirome’s room when no one was around,” he said unabashedly. “It lets you listen to people.”
James threw a glance back at his wife and said, You were right all along. We were being watched by a device.
Nakor put it in his ever-present rucksack. “It may come in handy.”
As they left the city gate and entered the road to Khattars, Nakor turned his horse in the same direction as the Islemen. James said, “Nakor, you’re coming with us?”
The little man smiled. “For a while. I fear things will become dull in Kesh when Borric and his brother leave. Already Ghuda is bound for Jandowae and the inn he will build. It is lonely when you don’t know people.”
James nodded at that. “What about Stardock? Have you thought of going there?”
“Bah! An island of magicians? Who could have fun there?”
“Perhaps they need someone to teach them fun?”
“Maybe. But I think that someone is someone other than Nakor the Blue Rider.”
James laughed. “Why don’t you come with us until Stardock, spend a little time there, and decide later?”
“Maybe. But I don’t think I’m going to like it.”
James thought for a while, and became certain of something. “Do you know of Pug the Magician?”
“Pug is famous. He is a very powerful magician. He works arts like none since Macros the Black. I am a very poor man who knows some simple tricks. See, I would not like it there.”
James smiled. “He said something. He said that if I ever needed to speak for him, on his behalf, then I should say this thing.”
Prince of the Blood Page 40
