Authors: Peter V. Brett
'North,' Jardir agreed, 'to conquer the green lands and levy their men for Sharak Ka.' There was a gasp from the remaining
Damaji,
but none dared question him.
A moment later the
Sharum
guarding the entrance gasped and hurriedly parted. In through the gap flowed the
Damaji'ting
and Jardir's wives. It was against Evejan law for any man to harm a
dama'ting,
and so his power over the women was limited, but they had their own intrigues in the
dama'ting
pavilion, and it seemed Inevera had proven as adept there as in manipulating the politics of men. Each of his wives wore a black headscarf with a white veil over her
dama'ting
white robe, showing that she was heir to succeed her tribe's
Damaji'ting.
Jardir had no idea how Inevera had done it.
Belina, his Majah wife, separated herself from the others to rush to Aleverak's side. Jardir could recognize any of his wives at a glance, even in their full robes. Qasha could not hide her curves, nor Umshala her height. Belina had a walk that marked her as clearly as her face. The Majah
Damaji'ting
followed after her, seeming more the student than the mistress.
For a moment there was no sign of Inevera, but then he heard the
Sharum
gasp and saw men stiffen in fear. He looked up and saw his First Wife enter the room'but as only he should see her. Her brightly colored scarf and veil were diaphanous, as were the gossamer wisps of material that seemed to float about her like smoke, leaving nothing of her beauty to the imagination. Her night-black hair was netted in gold and oil-scented. Her arms and legs tinkled with jewelry of gem and warded gold. She wore no mark of caste or rank. Only her
hora
pouch, secure at her belt, marked her as more than a wealthy
Damaji's
most favored pillow dancer.
Inevera held all eyes as she glided into the room'both the dumbstruck gapes of the men, and the cold assessment of the
Damaji'ting.
Jardir's face heated as she went to him, and against his will, he felt stirrings best left to the bedchamber. He tried to retain his composure, but she went right up to him, pulling aside her veil to kiss him deeply. She draped her soft body about him as if she were posing for a statue, marking him before all like a bitch marked a corner.
'What in Nie's abyss are you playing at'' he whispered sharply.
'Reminding them that the Shar'Dama Ka is not bound by the laws of men,' Inevera said. 'Take me right on the Skull Throne with all watching, if you wish. None will dare protest.' She slipped a hand between his legs and caressed him softly. Jardir gasped.
'
I
would protest,' he hissed, pushing her out to arm's length. Inevera shrugged, smiling widely and caressing his face.
'All Krasia rejoices in your victory today, husband,' she said loudly for the room to hear.
Jardir knew he should respond in kind, making some bold speech, but such political posturing sickened him still, and he had other concerns.
'Will he live'' Jardir asked, nodding to Aleverak. The
Damaji
had lost great pools of blood, and his arm was a twisted ruin.
Belina shook her head. 'Doubtful, husband,' she said, bowing her head as a proper wife'something his
dama'ting
wives had never done before.
'Save him,' Jardir murmured to Inevera.
'To what end'' Inevera breathed through her veil for his ears alone. 'Aleverak is stubborn and too powerful. Better to remove him.'
'I promised him that when he dies, his heir may challenge Maji for the Majah palace,' Jardir said.
Inevera's eyes bulged. 'You did
what
'!' Everyone glanced her way, but the look was gone in an instant, and her body eased once more. She pulled away and sashayed down the dais steps, the sway of her hips, visible through her diaphanous robe, drawing the gaze of every man in the room. Jardir's honor howled for him to gouge out every eye for feasting on what should be his alone.
Belina and the Majah
Damaji'ting
both bowed deeply and moved from Inevera's path. 'Damajah,' they greeted her in unison.
Aleverak had passed out from the loss of blood by the time Inevera finished examining the wound. She stood and looked to the
Sharum.
'Draw every curtain and close every door,' she commanded, and as several warriors rushed to comply, she had the others encircle her and the injured
Damaji
with their backs to her, holding up and interlocking their shields to bathe her and Aleverak in darkness.
In the darkened room, Jardir could see the faint glow of
alagai hora
pulsing through the living wall, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of Inevera's chanted prayers. The glow throbbed for several minutes as the men in the room stood in awe.
Inevera gave a command, and the circle of
dal'Sharum
broke. Warriors rushed to open curtains, restoring light to the room, and there, lying calm next to Inevera, was Damaji Aleverak. Stripped to the waist, his flesh had lost its gray pallor, and he breathed comfortably. Gone were any signs of his wound, the bone or bleeding or even a scar. There was only smooth flesh across his shoulder.
Smooth flesh where there should have been an arm. The limb was nowhere to be seen.
'Everam has accepted Damaji Aleverak's arm as a token of his submission,' Inevera announced loudly. 'Aleverak is forgiven for doubting the Deliverer, and if he walks Everam's true path from now on, he will rejoin his lost limb in Heaven.'
She went back to Jardir, draping herself over him once more. 'My husband must cool his blood after such a victory as today's,' she said loudly, addressing the entire room. 'Leave us, that I may tend him in private, as only a wife can.'
There was a shocked murmuring among the men at this. It was unheard of for a woman, even a
Damaji'ting,
to give such orders to
Damaji.
They looked to Jardir, but when he did not contradict her, they had no choice but to comply.
'Are you an idiot'' Inevera snapped, when they were alone. 'Putting your control of the Majah'not to mention your son'at risk, and for what''
Jardir noted how she put Maji second. 'I do not expect you to understand why it had to be done.'
'Oh'' Inevera asked, her tone venomous. 'Is your
Jiwah Ka
such a fool, then' Why should she be unable to understand the wisdom here''
'Because it is a matter of honor!' Jardir snapped. 'And you have shown you do not waste a moment's thought on such foolish things.'
Inevera glared at him for a moment, and then turned away, her
dama'ting
serenity back in place. 'It is no matter. Aleverak's heirs can be dealt with in time.'
'You will not interfere in this,' Jardir said. 'Maji will just have to prove the stronger.'
'And if he fails'' Inevera asked.
'Then Everam does not wish him to lead the Majah,' Jardir said.
Inevera looked ready to respond, but only shook her head. 'It isn't a total loss. Word of your crippling Aleverak but allowing him to live and serve you still will only add to your legend.'
'You sound like Abban,' Jardir muttered.
'Eh'' she asked, though he knew she heard full well.
'Enough,' he said. 'It is done and there is nothing for it. Now put on a decent robe and veil before you put impure thoughts into the minds of my men.'
'Bold as ever,' Inevera said, but she smiled behind her translucent veil, seeming more amused than irritated. 'The Evejah commands women to wear veils so no man covet what is not his, but you are the Deliverer. Who would dare covet your woman' I have nothing to fear if I walk naked through the streets.'
'Nothing to fear, perhaps, but what advantage comes with the baring of your sex like a whore for any man to see'' Jardir asked.
Inevera's eyebrows tightened, though her face remained serene. 'I bare my face that none might mistake me. I bare my body that your power might be increased, for having such manly lusts that even the leader of the
Damaji'ting
must be prepared to service you instantly.'
'Another deception,' Jardir said wearily, sitting upon the throne.
'Not at all,' Inevera purred, sliding into his lap. 'I am fully prepared to stand responsible for the lusts of Shar'Dama Ka.'
'You make it sound a task,' Jardir said. 'A tedious price of power.'
'Not so tedious,' Inevera said, tracing a finger down his chest. She undid the fastenings of his pantaloons and moved to mount him.
Jardir could not deny the lust her beauty roused in him, but he felt, too, the Skull Throne under him, and he looked up as Inevera sheathed herself upon him, much as she had ridden the Andrah. Killing the man had done nothing to excise the image from his mind. It haunted him like a spirit denied passage to the next life.
Did Inevera truly feel passion at his touch, or were her moans and gyrations just another mask, like the opaque veil she had cast aside' Jardir honestly did not know.
He stood up, lifting her off him. 'I am in no mood for such games.'
Inevera's eyes widened, but she held her temper. 'This says differently,' she purred, squeezing his stiffened member.
Jardir pushed her away. 'It does not rule me,' he said, redoing the fastenings at his waist.
Inevera gave him the look of a coiled snake, and for a moment he thought she would attack him, but then her
dama'ting
serenity returned. She shrugged as if his refusal was no matter, glided from the dais, hers hips swaying hypnotically as she descended.
Hasik touched his forehead to the marble floor before the dais of the Skull Throne.
'I have brought the
khaffit,
Deliverer,' he said with distaste. When Jardir nodded, the guards opened the door and Abban limped in. When he drew close to the dais, Hasik shoved Abban forward, meaning to drive him to his knees, but Abban was quick with his crutch and somehow managed to keep his feet.
'Kneel before Shar'Dama Ka!' Hasik roared, but Jardir raised a hand to stay him.
'If I am to die, at least allow me to do it on my feet,' Abban said.
Jardir smiled. 'What makes you think I wish to kill you''
'Am I not another loose thread to be clipped'' Abban asked. 'Like the Par'chin before me'' Hasik growled and his grip tightened on his spear as his eyes filled with murderous rage.
'Leave us,' Jardir said, whisking a hand at Hasik and the other guards. As they complied, Jardir descended from the dais to stand before Abban.
'You speak things best left unspoken,' he said quietly.
'He was your friend, Ahmann,' Abban said, ignoring him. 'But then, I suppose I was once, as well.'
'The Par'chin showed you the spear,' Jardir realized suddenly. 'You, a simpering fat
khaffit,
laid eyes on the Spear of Kaji before me!'
'I did,' Abban agreed, 'and I knew it for what it was. But I did not steal it from him, though I could have. A simpering fat
khaffit
I may be, but I am no thief.'
Jardir laughed. 'No thief' Abban, that is
all
you are! You steal relics from the dead and cheat men in the bazaar every day!'
Abban shrugged. 'I see no crime in salvaging what no man claims is his, and haggling is just another form of battle, with no dishonor to the victor. I speak of killing a man'a friend'that you might take what is his.'
Jardir snarled and his arm shot out, taking Abban by the throat. The fat merchant gasped and clutched at Jardir's fingers, but he might as well have tried to bend steel. His knees buckled, putting his full weight on the arm, but still Jardir held him up. Abban's face began to turn purple.
'I will not have my honor questioned by a
khaffit,
' he said. 'My loyalty is to Krasia and Everam before friends, however brave they may be.
'Where are
your
loyalties, Abban'' he asked. 'Do you even have any, beyond protecting your own fat skin'' He released Abban, who fell to the floor, gasping for air.
'What does it matter'' Abban choked out after a moment. 'With the Par'chin dead, Krasia has no use for me.'
'The Par'chin is not the only greenlander in the world,' Jardir said, 'and no Krasian knows of the green lands like Abban the
khaffit.
You are of use to me yet.'
Abban raised an eyebrow. 'Why'' he asked, the fear leaving his voice.
'I don't have to answer your questions,
khaffit,
' Jardir said. 'You will tell me what I wish to know either way.'
'Of course,' Abban said with a nod, 'but it might be easier to simply answer my question than to call your torturers and sift the knowledge from my screams.'
Jardir considered him a moment, then shook his head and chuckled despite himself. 'I had forgotten that you find your courage when there is a scent of profit in the air,' he said, reaching out a hand to pull Abban to his feet.
Abban bowed with a smile. '
Inevera,
my friend. We are all as Everam made us.' For a moment, the years fell away, and they were to each other as they once had been.
'I am going to begin Sharak Sun, the Daylight War,' Jardir said. 'As Kaji before me, I will conquer the green lands and unite them all for Sharak Ka.'
'Ambitious,' Abban said, but there was doubtful condescension in his tone.