Soutan laid the slate back down on the floor. A new picture was forming of a different room, inlaid with blue and white quartz in a diamond pattern.
Another shrine? Nehzaym whispered.
Perhaps. Wait and see.
Slowly the room became clear a half round, this time, and just in front of the flat wall stood two slender pillars, one grey, one white. Between them hung what appeared to be a gauzy veil, yet it shimmered and sparked with bluish light. Nehzaym twined her hands round each other. A pale blue thing shaped like a man appeared in the centre of the room. He waved his hands and seemed to be speaking, but she could hear nothing. Suddenly the things face filled the image. Its eyes were mere pools of darker blue; its purple lips mouthed soundless words.
Nehzaym shrieked, a sound that must have frightened the spirit inside the slate. Once again the red light began to flash. The image disappeared.
May the Lord preserve! Nehzaym said. A ghost!
Do you think so? Soutan looked at the panel for a long silent moment. If I had gold and jewels to give, Id heap them all in your lap in return for it. Unfortunately, I dont. His voice dropped. Unfortunate for you, perhaps.
Nehzaym started to speak, but her voice caught and trembled. Soutan rose to his knees and considered her narrow-eyed, his hands hanging loose at his sides, his fists clenched.
Take it, Nehzaym said.
What?
If you want the nasty thing, its yours. I work and pray for the coming of the Fourth Prophet, but this is evil sorcery. I dont want it in my house.
Soutan sat back on his heels and stared at her slack-mouthed.
I suppose I must look superstitious to you, Nehzaym said. I dont care. Take it. Its unclean.
Who am I to turn down such a generous gift? Soutan scooped up the slate.
Take the scarf, too. I dont want it, either. Its touched something unclean.
With a shrug he picked up the length of black cloth and began wrapping up the slate.
May the Lord forgive! Nehzaym said. Ill have to do penance. Necromancy! In my own house, too!
Oh for gods sake! Soutan snapped. It was only an image of a ghost, not the thing itself. Soutan cradled the wrapped slate in the crook of one arm. Ill have to look through the books in Indans library. I wonder just whose ghost that was?
I dont care. You shouldnt either.
Soutan laughed. Ive learned so much from your scholars that its a pity I cant stay in Haz Kazrak. But all the knowledge in the world wont do me any good if Im dead.
If you bring Jezro home, youll have an army of scholars to fetch your impious books.
Oh, stop worrying about impiety! Youre too old to shriek and giggle like a girl.
I what? Thats a rude little remark.
You deserve it. I must say that you Kazraks have the right idea about one thing, the way you train your girls to stay out of sight. But youre an old woman, and its time you learned some sense.
I beg your pardon!
You should, yes. Soutan shrugged one shoulder. Id better get back to Indans townhouse. He wants to leave early.
After she showed Soutan out, Nehzaym told the gatekeeper to loose the lizards for the night. Before she went back to her apartment, she stopped in the warehouse to wind the floor clock with its big brass key. As she stood there, listening to the clocks ticking in the silent room, she suddenly remembered Soutan, talking about wanting the slate and looking at her in that peculiar way. Shed been so upset at the time that shed barely noticed his change of mood. Now, she felt herself turn cold.
He might have murdered her for that slate.
Oh dont be silly! she said aloud. Hes a friend of Jezro Khans. He wouldnt do any such thing.
But yet she was glad, she realized, very glad, that shed seen the last of him.
Beyond the Great Khans city, true-roses rarely bloomed, and the grass grew purple, not green. All the vegetation native to the planet depended for photosynthesis on a pair of complex molecules similar to Old Earth carotenoids, producing colours ranging from orange to magenta and purple to a maroon verging on black. At the Kazraki universities, scholars taught that the plant they called grass should have another name and that the spear trees were no true trees at all, but the ordinary people no longer cared about such things, any more than they cared about their lost homeland, which lay, supposedly, far beyond the western seas.
Not far south of Haz Kazrak, on a pleasant stretch of seacoast, where grass grew green in a few gardens but purple in most other places, stood a rambling sort of town where rich men built summer villas. Fortunately, Councillor Indans lands were somewhat isolated; graceful russet fern trees hid his hillside villa. Behind the orange thorn walls of his compound lay a small garden and a rambling house of some thirty rooms just a little country place, or so Indan called it arranged on three floors. When Warkannan rode up, the gatekeeper swung the doors wide and looked over the party: Warkannan and Arkazo on horseback, and behind them, a small cart driven by a servant from Indans townhouse.
Ive brought the councillor a present, Warkannan said. A carved chest from the north.
Since wood hard enough to be carved meant true-oak, an expensive rarity, Indans servants saw nothing suspicious about the way Warkannan hovered over the well-wrapped chest and insisted that he and Arkazo carry it themselves. All smiles, Indan greeted them and suggested they take the chest directly upstairs. Soutan helped them haul the six-foot-long and surprisingly heavy bundle up to a third-floor storage room.
The sorcerer watched as Warkannan and Arkazo unwrapped the rags and untied the rope holding the chest closed. It was indeed a beautiful piece of true-wood, sporting an intricate geometrical pattern, but someone had spoiled it by drilling a pair of holes in one narrow end. When Warkannan opened the lid, he found his prisoner nicely alive, still bleary from the drugs, but unsmothered.
Hazro! Indan whispered. I would have never suspected him. One of the Mustavas unthinkable!
He bragged to someone, saying he was more important than he looked, the usual crap. Somehow it got back to the Chosen. We need to know how and who.
Lies, Hazro mumbled.
Warkannan and Arkazo pulled him out of the chest. When he tried to stand, he sagged and nearly fell. When Warkannan shoved him back against the wall, he whimpered and glanced around with half-closed eyes.
I tried to reason with him, Warkannan said. Hazro, come on! One last chance. Tell us the truth. Thats all Im asking you. Just tell us the truth.
Nothing to tell. Hazro tried to stand straight and defiant, but he nearly fell. You how dare you your family started out as a bunch of blacksmiths.
Warkannan glanced at the councillor. This is what Ive been up against. He wont tell me a thing.
May the Lord forgive us all! Indan said. By the way, Ive figured out a way to blame the Chosen for his death. Weve got to keep his father on our side.
Hazro whimpered and let tears run.
Hes still drugged, Warkannan said. Ill question him later.
Good. But Indan looked queasy with anticipation. This room has thick walls, and no one will hear a thing.
Hes still drugged, Warkannan said. Ill question him later.
Good. But Indan looked queasy with anticipation. This room has thick walls, and no one will hear a thing.
That night they dined in a room with a splendid view of the ocean. Servants brought fresh seabuh, a spikey, six-armed creature in a purple carapace, a mixed vegetable salad, and ammonites dressed with sheep butter. As they ate, Warkannan told them what Lubahva had learned.
The Chosen suspect Soutan of being up to no good, but theyre not sure what. Warkannan nodded at the self-proclaimed sorcerer, who was stuffing his mouth with as much ammonite as it could hold. Theyre making inquiries all over the city.
Soutan shuddered and wiped his mouth on a napkin.
Lets assume the worst, Indan said. If theyre making inquiries here, they must have sent a man east.
Probably so, Warkannan said. But its going to be damned hard for him to make his way east alone.
Who says hell go alone? Arkazo asked.
The Chosen always do, Warkannan said.
Not that this makes life easier for their enemies. Indan glanced away slack-mouthed. For us, that is.
Oh yes. Warkannan leaned back in his chair and considered him. If the Chosen find out that the khans still alive, we have no cause, gentlemen. Theyll find a way to kill him no matter where he is. So wed better make sure this spy doesnt find him. Im going after him.
You cant do that, Indan said. Your leave from the Guards almost up.
I sent in my letter of resignation before we left the city. Ive put in my twenty years, and I told them that this investment venture looked too good to pass up.
For a long moment Indan studied Warkannans face; then he sighed. Thats quite a sacrifice, Indan said. The cavalry means everything to you.
The cavalry I joined did. In the past few years Warkannan shrugged. Gemets paranoia is going to poison the whole khanate, sooner or later.
Unless we supply the antidote? Indan smiled, a wry twist of his mouth.
Just that. Its a tall order, but if God wills, well succeed. If He doesnt, well, then, who am I to argue?
Outside the sunset was darkening into twilight. A servant slipped in and began lighting the oil in silver lamps. While he waited for the man to leave, Warkannan looked round the table at his allies, at the luxurious room, at all the comforts of life that he might never see again. As the lamp flames grew, they sparkled on silver, on crystal, on the enormous ruby at the centre of Soutans headband. The fitful light seemed to be illuminating not just the room but the moment, a point of history upon which the destiny of the khanate would turn. The servant bowed and left the room.
Warkannan, Indan hissed. If the Chosen find any evidence at all to back up their suspicions, leaving the Guard will brand you as a traitor. Youll never be able to ride back to Kazrajistan.
Oh yes I will. At the head of an army. Warkannan turned to Soutan. Its time Jezros letter got an answer.
Soutan considered him with a thin smile. His puzzling old mans eyes were unreadable in the shadows.
I always intended to take someone back to Jezro, Soutan said at last. And youll never make it across the Rift alone, so Id better go with you.
Someday youll be the vizier of a Great Khan in return for all this.
If your God allows. But theres nothing left for an exile but one gamble after another, is there? We might as well deal the cards. Soutan took a slice of pickled blakbuh from a silver tray and nibbled on it. The omens say the time is ripe for a change in the Great Khans fortunes, and its not a good one. A malefic current is forming a vortex around his personal symbols a time of budding danger for him.
Arkazo laughed. Then lets help the malefic along.
Soutan favoured him with a look of contempt. That, my dear child, is my point and not an occasion for bad jokes.
Indan leaned forward before Arkazo could reply. And what about your nephew, Captain? Youd better send him back to his fathers estate before you leave.
No! Arkazo slammed his hand down on the table and made the oil dance dangerously in the lamps. All my life Ive been shut up, either on Fathers lousy estate or at university. Now Ive finally got a chance at some excitement.
My dear young fellow, Indan began.
Warkannan raised a hand and interrupted him. Hell have to come with me, Councillor. Hes been staying in my bungalow. If the Chosen decide we dont pass muster, hes the first one theyll arrest.
Arkazo laughed with a toss of his head.
Listen, Kaz, Warkannan said. This isnt any joke. Its going to be dangerous, and your mothers going to curse my very name for this.
Not once shes got the favour of the new Great Khans wife. Mamas always been the practical sort. Arkazo turned abruptly sour. Why else would she have married my father?
This is no place to bring that up. Warkannan took the silver flagon and poured them both more rose-scented water Indan kept a pious table. I wish to God Id kept you out of this.
You tried. It didnt work.
Its too late now, anyway. The dice are thrown, and if it werent for you, Id be glad of it. Im sick to my gut of all this creeping round and worrying about spies.
Spies, indeed, Indan said. Which reminds me
Just so. Wed better get this over with.
Everyone pushed their chairs back and stood, suddenly grim, suddenly quiet, even Arkazo.
Warkannan fetched a bucket of hot coals from the kitchen he told the cook that he wanted to take the chill off his room then followed the others up to the attic. As stiff as a rolled-up rug, Hazro lay on the floor. When Warkannan set the bucket of coals down, he whimpered and twisted in his ropes. Warkannan knelt beside him and pulled him up to a sitting position, propping him against the wall. Hazros dark eyes flicked this way and that.
Arkazo? Warkannan said. You can leave. You dont have to watch this.
What are you going to do to him? Arkazo was staring at Hazro.
You dont need to know that.
But I
Warkannan got up and took one long stride to come face to face with his nephew. His own disgust with what he would have to do in this room turned to cold rage. Get out of here, he snapped. Now.
Yes sir. Arkazo stepped back sharply. Im on my way.
Warkannan waited to ensure that Arkazo was following his orders; then he closed the door and locked it. Indan stuffed a threadbare bit of carpet into the crack at the bottom of the door. When Warkannan knelt down next to him, Hazro moaned under his breath, then steadied himself, forcing defiance into a tight tremulous smile. Warkannan drew his dagger and looked at him over the blade.
Listen, boy. This is your last chance. You wouldnt be refusing to tell me unless you had something to hide.
Hazro said nothing.
Why? Indan stepped forward. Why wont you tell us?
Theres nothing to tell, Hazro said.
Yes, there is, Warkannan said. Youve been giving information to someone. Who?