Shadow War Part 28

"I do not understand you."

He laid down his knife. "It indicates a favoritism to your home province. The empire, Majesty, consists of many provinces all joined together under Kostimon's banner. That union took a long time to form. It can be broken apart much more easily."

Again, she had the feeling he was warning her, obliquely, and watching to see if she had the intelligence to understand. Her dislike of him grew.

Sien continued, "That is why the protector is generally chosen from among the guardsmen. Politically neutral."

"But if I wanted to make my selection elsewhere, I could."

Sien's brows lifted. "Yes."

"If, perhaps, I wanted to choose a Traulander, I could."

Sudden comprehension leaped in his eyes. "That is unwise, Majesty."

She had surprised him. She liked that. "Is it? Why?"

"Trau has its own brand of mysticism apart from the rest of the empire. The people are clannish. They seldom venture beyond their own borders. They abhor violence. Few, if any, of them are trained in the high weapons skills required for this position."

"But if there should be an exception-"

"You mean the games champion, the one who belongs to his highness."

There it was, out in the open, like a glove of challenge between them. Elandra did not truly intend to select another man's slave for her protector. The idea was absurd, and would cause unnecessary trouble, yet she wanted to see how far she could push the matter.

"I have heard this man has incredible fighting skills."

"Have you seen him fight?"

She lowered her gaze modestly. "I am sure you realize, Lord Sien, that I have not been permitted to attend the games."

"Of course. Naturally his reputation as a swordsman is formidable. But he is only a-"

"Is it not true that he defeated a Madrun savage in combat this week?" she asked.

"I-yes."

"Is it not true that he is said to fight like a trained member of the Imperial Guard?"

"Yes."

She shrugged as if to say, Why not?

Lord Sien frowned at her. "The man is a slave, a gladiator, a ruffian. He could not be trusted in the palace. Certainly he could not be trusted with the life of the empress sovereign."

She thought of Caelan, with his intense blue eyes. She thought of his steely fingers closed about her throat. She thought of his rudeness, his impatience, his stubbornness. No, he was not suitable at all.

"Still," she persisted, enjoying her game, "he is said to have an unnaturally strong loyalty to his master. Is that his quality, or perhaps it is the prince himself who inspires such dedication in his men."

Sien studied her a moment, then allowed himself a very faint smile. "Interesting," he said softly. "I think the empress will make her choice with great prudence according to precedent. The slave is, after all, a condemned man, and not available for the position, even if Prince Tirhin could be persuaded to sell him."

She was not certain she heard him correctly. "Condemned?" she echoed.

"Yes, Majesty. In the dungeon at this very moment, being tortured for his confession."

She was appalled. Had the fool tried to denounce Tirhin after all? Was this his reward? "Why?" she asked. "Only a day or so ago, he was being praised by everyone. Half my guardsmen won money on him. What has happened?"

"Have you not heard?"

She was suddenly impatient with the slyness in Sien's voice. "Obviously I have not heard."

"Then your informants need better training."

She made an impatient gesture. "What has happened?"

"You saw how unwell the prince looks."

"Yes."

"He was attacked by this slave. Beaten grievously before the attack was stopped by the other servants."

Her mouth opened. She tried to imagine such an event, and remembered again the brutal crushing of her throat by those strong fingers.

"Yes, Majesty," Sien said. "His highness has been much shaken. He trusted this slave, dispensed favors to him, granted him much more freedom than he should have. Only to be turned on viciously, like a mad dog."

Sien was almost smiling as he spoke. Satisfaction radiated from him. She could not understand how he could derive so much pleasure from a horror like this.

"Therefore," the priest continued, leaning toward her, "do not toy with the idea of acquiring the brute. His head will be adorning the spikes over the city gates soon enough. Look among your own loyal guardsmen for your protector, and do not delay. Kostimon has lived a long time thanks in part to the diligence of his Hovet. If you value survival, on the advice of your esteemed mother, you will heed my counsel in this matter."

She bowed her head. "Thank you. Lord Sien, for your trouble and for your wisdom. I shall pay great heed to your advice."

He left her soon afterward, and Elandra stood up to dance with her father. Her head was spinning. She did not know whether to believe Sien or not. Perhaps the Traulander slave was mad. Perhaps he had invented the story of his master's treason, planning this attack all along. Or perhaps none of it was true.

She felt too confused to sort it out.

Lord Albain was not a good dancer. He stumbled through the intricate steps, red-faced and swearing under his breath.

She would have laughed, but she knew he would misunderstand her amus.e.m.e.nt and be hurt by it.

"Father, please," she said at last, out of pity. "Let us step out of the line and watch."

"By Murdeth, I won't!" he replied stubbornly, hopping against the beat of the song. "If my daughter wants to dance, I'll be hanged if I don't see that she gets to."

He was endearing, but so miserable she shook her head. "But I am too tired to dance, Father. Truly. Let us stand aside and talk."

Grumbling and mopping perspiration from his face, he followed her from the dance floor. The music faltered and died, and everyone stopped.

Mortified, Elandra signaled hastily for a chancellor. "Please instruct the musicians to play on," she said. "I am too fatigued to dance and shall retire soon, but the festivities must continue as long as the guests wish. That is my command."

The man bowed deeply. "Yes, Majesty."

He hastened away to confer with the musicians. The tune struck up again, and slowly the couples resumed the reel.

Elandra took her father's arm and walked with him toward a shadowy alcove, where they might have a small amount of privacy.

"I have longed to talk to you all day," she said.

He gripped her hand in his large, calloused ones. Now he raised it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "My little Elandra," he said gruffly. "Empress of the land. I am proud, very proud."

"Thank you. Father, about-"

"You must take care, Elandra. Guard yourself well, and do not form alliances within the court too hastily. Consider situations from all sides before you become involved."

"Yes, Father. But-"

"Intrigues are a nasty business. But they can't be avoided, not here. The place is rife with them."

"I have learned."

"Have you? Good. You were always a clever girl. You will show good judgment now."

"Yes, but, Father," she said, gripping his sleeve. "I need to ask your advice-"

He shook his head. "No, child."

"But-"

"No. I am not the man to advise you. I am just an old warmonger. Fighting is all I know about. The ways and wherefores I leave to others."

Exasperation rose in her. If he would just listen for a moment, but then he never had. "I need a jinja jinja," she said hastily before he could cut her off again.

That got his attention. His single eye narrowed at her. "A jinja jinja? Why?"

"There are strange portents," she said wearily. "You've seen the cloud on the horizon."

He sighed. "All have seen it. An era is ending, child. We all know that."

"Yes, and I feel the need for protection, for help."

Albain's craggy face grew fierce. "Albain blood flows in your veins. Have you forgotten that? Are you afraid?"

She wanted to scream at him to drop this pretense that there should be no fear, ever. She wanted to confess that she was was afraid, horribly afraid. She wanted to be held in his arms and rea.s.sured. She wanted to find a place where she could feel safe. afraid, horribly afraid. She wanted to be held in his arms and rea.s.sured. She wanted to find a place where she could feel safe.

But his scorn stiffened her spine. She flung up her head and looked him in the eye. "I have forgotten nothing," she said, making her voice haughty. "But if the emperor walks nowhere without a man at his back, whom am I to have at mine?"

"Ah. I see. But you need a flesh-and-blood protector, girl, not a jinja." jinja."

"I want both."

He considered it, pursing his lips. "You know jinjas jinjas are forbidden here. I have left mine at the city gates, squalling in a cage in the care of my baggage handlers. It is hard to walk about, feeling the magic that shifts through these halls, and have nothing to sound the alarm." are forbidden here. I have left mine at the city gates, squalling in a cage in the care of my baggage handlers. It is hard to walk about, feeling the magic that shifts through these halls, and have nothing to sound the alarm."

"Exactly."

"Would you defy the emperor?"

"Will you defy me?" she retorted.

He grew very still, his gaze arrested. Then slowly he smiled. "Your mother would have spoken to me in just that way, sharp as a spear, cutting to the heart of the matter. I will see what I can do."

She smiled at him in grateful relief. "Thank you."

He held up his forefinger. "There is one problem. You must return to Gialta to claim it."

"But I do not think I can."

"It is the only way. There must be the bonding, or a jinja jinja will not serve well, not the way you require." will not serve well, not the way you require."

"Can there not be a bonding here?"

He shook his head. "It would not work."

Disappointment filled her. Frowning, she hissed a moment through her teeth. "Then the jinja jinja must wait until I can come." must wait until I can come."

"All the more need to select a protector."

She nodded. "Lord Sien recommends I do so quickly. And he says I should not choose a Gialtan."

A slow smile spread across Albain's face. "But I think you do not always listen to this priest, do you?"

An identical smile appeared on her face as she looked up at him. "I listen. I may not heed."

Albain chuckled a moment, then sobered. "Be careful, girl. He makes a bad enemy."

"I know. He advises me to choose among my guardsmen, but they have not proven themselves yet. How can I test the one who will best serve me?"

"You are the daughter of a warrior, and the granddaughter of a warrior," Albain said gravely. "Your mother's house is very fierce. Listen to what sings in your blood, Elandra. Put your trust in your lineage, in the courage and good sense we have bequeathed you. Don't listen to the whispers of men. Listen inside."

She bit her lip and nodded, wishing he could tell her something more tangible. Instinct and guesswork were not always the most rea.s.suring qualities to depend on.

Albain gave her cold hand a squeeze. "By Gault, you have confounded the world already. My girl an empress in her own right. My girl on the throne." He broke out in an unsuppressible chuckle, wheezing a little. "By Gault, I used to think myself poorly favored, with two girls and no sons, but now ... Ha, ha! Show them what you're made of. Show them, Elandra! Let your mother's fire blaze forth. Do what you d.a.m.ned well please, and don't stand aside for any of them."

She wanted to. With all her heart she longed to seize the world with both hands and make it her own. Yet she was so afraid of making a mistake.

It was like standing on the brink of a cliff. If she spread out her hands and believed in herself, she could soar like an eagle. If she clung to herself in doubt and worry, she would plummet like a stone.

"I will tell you this, and then I must go," he said, bending close to her ear. "The best course to confound the intriguers is to hew to your own truth. Do what they least expect and never back down. Remember you have the upper hand. And for the sake of Gault, do not offend the emperor. He has promised me extra lands on my western boundary."

She could have snapped in frustration. What good was his advice when he contradicted himself? Do as she pleased but don't offend the emperor? Still, what had she expected? His advice was better than anything else she'd been told.