Prince of the Blood (54 page)

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.”

T
HE 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.

“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 will grow to rule wisely.”