Odalisque (38 page)

‘Well, so do you,’ she reminded.

‘But I’m mad, remember, and rude to everyone…especially Herezah whenever I can find the opportunity. Tariq has all of his faculties intact and he suddenly does not suffer fools gladly.’

‘Are you saying the Valide is a fool?’

Pez gave some semblance of a rueful grin. ‘Far from it, but I sense she’s as baffled as I by his relationship with her son that seems to deepen by the day.’

‘Are you worried about it?’

‘A little, but mainly because I don’t understand it. Boaz despised Tariq as did his father before him but the vizier was a diligent worker so Joreb tolerated him. Boaz is too young in his role to be getting rid of people but I felt once he’d established himself that the vizier would be one of the first casualties of his new reign. Instead…’ His voice trailed off.

‘Instead what, Pez?’

‘Well, if anything, Tariq is carving more power for himself and there’s no doubting that he is cleaving himself to the young Zar…and I feel helpless to prevent it because Boaz is welcoming it. It’s not adding up, Zafira. Something is very wrong about our new Grand Vizier but I can’t put my finger on it.’

‘And you? How does the he regard you?’

‘Tariq? I sense that he’s suspicious of me. He watches me carefully. He thinks I don’t notice but I am aware of his constant attention.’

‘What is he suspicious of?’

‘He can’t know the truth of my sanity, I’m sure of this, but it’s as if he suspects there’s more to me than meets the eye and so he keeps watching for some sign. I watch him too and there’s a smugness to him. It’s as if he does know something that the rest of us don’t.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s hard to pin down. From what I can sense he’s manipulating the Zar. In fact, manipulating everyone, he’s putting them under some sort of spell he’s weaving.’ Pez shrugged. ‘I know that sounds dramatic but I’m getting the feeling that there’s a great deal more to Vizier Tariq than we have previously known.’

‘So he not only looks different but is different,’ Zafira murmured.

‘Yes, and I can’t work it out. His interest in me feels sinister too.’

‘Iridor?’ she posed, her voice a whisper.

Pez shook his head. ‘He wouldn’t even know who he is. Why would he suspect that?’

She shrugged, still kept her voice low. ‘If you have magic, why not others?’ she suggested and then moved on to more logical argument. ‘Perhaps he’s jealous of your relationship with Boaz.’

‘It could be. That would make sense and yet I feel as though I’m in a contest as to when I’ll make my mistake and whether he’ll see it. He is searching for any slip, any small sign that I am not what everyone believes me to be.’

‘That does sound paranoid if you don’t accept that he knows something.’

‘How can stupid Tariq know anything? It doesn’t add up, but then neither does his behaviour over the past year. I need to be more attentive.’

‘Then I understand your curious idea to use the boy.’

Pez moved restlessly to stare out of the window again at the children playing a boisterous game of pigball in the courtyard. ‘How old is he?’

‘Eighteen summers. But his maturity and poise defy his youth.’

‘He’s certainly strapping, looks the part. Are you sure about him?’

‘He’s astounding, Pez,’ Zafira said, touching his shoulder. ‘He can do it but can you do it to him?’

They watched Razeen chasing the ball with the other children. He was so much bigger and stronger than any of the other teenagers. He lifted one youngster off the ground, so he could get a toe to the ball and score the point for his team. The boy in his arms was convulsed with laughter, their dark curls mingling as they put their heads together in the fun of the moment. They were similar in looks.

‘Are they family?’ Pez asked.

‘That’s Razeen’s ten-year-old brother. They were orphaned when the little fellow was newborn. He has all but raised him. I think that’s why he seems so much older.’

Pez watched the pair amid the happy scene and felt the deep pull of fear tugging at his own conscience. Could he put this brave young man into such danger?

He tried to reassure himself with his next words. ‘There are bigger things at stake than individual lives.’

‘Except lose enough individually and you can lose a nation,’ she counselled softly.

‘Don’t preach to me,’ he said, but without any heat.

‘I just need to be sure that you understand the stakes. His life is what you’re gambling with, not yours.’

‘I’m aware of it, priestess, no need to remind me.’ There was a spike of irritation now.

She responded in kind, angry that Pez wasn’t helping to assuage her own guilt. In truth Zafira was angry at herself for agreeing to this madness. ‘He doesn’t want your money, either.’

‘Pardon?’ Pez said, swinging around to face her. This was entirely unexpected. ‘What does he want?’

‘Nothing we can give. He serves Lyana, apparently.’

Pez’s expression had changed swiftly from confusion to incredulity. ‘And you accept this?’

‘He made it clear that she had called upon him and asked this gift of a life from him.’

‘Do you believe him?’

‘I believe in her—that goes without saying. But I believe he’s true, yes. Lyana came to him in a dream when he was very small. She has come to him frequently since, he says, and he knows the name Iridor but not what it signifies.’

Pez now looked deeply troubled. ‘I’d prefer him to accept the money,’ he admitted.

‘I imagine it would ease your conscience. A fair exchange, you could say.’

‘Zafira—’ Pez began and this time there was a tone of angry exasperation.

She interrupted him, equally frustrated. ‘I’m sorry, Pez, but I am fearful for Razeen. What he is prepared to shoulder is frightening. We both know that should our clever plan be discovered he will not be given an easy death.’

The dwarf’s irritation dissipated. His head dropped in resignation. ‘I know it.’

The priestess heard such depth of emotion uttered in those three words that she hurried to soothe her friend’s troubled soul, and hers as well, no doubt. ‘You have equipped him well, Pez. I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that he’s ready.’

‘I hope so.’ He found a sad smile. ‘And how is our other brave warrior?’

‘Angry mostly.’

Pez smiled genuinely for the first time during their meeting. That’s good news.’

She nodded, reflecting his smile. ‘Lazar is not an easy patient and there are times I could wish he and Ana had never met.’

‘And none of this would have happened. No, Zafira. This is Lyana’s work. She is manipulating all of us. Lazar and Ana were meant to meet but I don’t understand why or the purpose of such a brief meeting and one so marked by such pain and suffering on both sides.’

‘The Goddess works in mysterious ways, Pez. Let that be a comfort.’

‘It’s a cold comfort—especially your lies about Lazar—but the main thing is that he survived. Now we have to discover his purpose.’

‘He may have already served it by nearly dying.’

Pez shook his head. ‘No. Lyana has more in store for the former Spur. We just have to be patient.’