Goddess (10 page)

‘Lazar is not well enough to travel into the desert. He’s only just—’ Herezah knew she was clutching at straws but she wasn’t ready to give him up, not when she had come so close to getting what she most desired.

‘Valide,’ Lazar said gently. ‘You have been more than generous and a nurse that holds no equal in my mind. But I am fit enough to do my Zar’s bidding, to fulfil my duty and promise to him. I will return to my home and I shall write a letter to my father, which I would ask you to pass onto him, Highness.’

Herezah curtsied to her son. ‘I shall be in my chamber if you need me, Boaz,’ she said, and fled, not even looking at Lazar for fear of losing her composure.

An awkward pause hung in the air before Boaz spoke. ‘My mother, it seems, has grown fond of looking after you, Lazar.’

The Spur felt himself colour. ‘I, er, appreciate her ministrations but I’m well enough now to return to my own abode. Thank you for your generosity, my Zar.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Has Pez spoken to you of Ana?’

‘Only that he believes she is alive.’

Lazar nodded. ‘With your permission, Majesty, I would like to take Pez with me.’

‘Really?’

Lazar nodded. ‘I think he will be a great help for me in finding Ana quickly.’

‘His magics,’ Boaz said, ‘yes, of course, by all means.’

‘He is staying out of sight at my house but will need to take a few things from his chamber. We will rendezvous at a given point this evening.’

‘How will he reach you?’

Lazar could hardly tell his Zar that Pez would fly, so he lied. ‘I shall make arrangements for his safe despatch to the rendezvous point but I think we need to have excuses in place for him.’ Lazar deliberately found a casual tone. ‘People like the Grand Vizier or the girls in the harem will be confused as to why he’s been sent away so soon after returning home safely.’

Boaz nodded. ‘Yes. I shall think on this. What else do you need?’

‘Nothing, Majesty. I shall have a letter delivered by Ghassal for my father. I hope it helps reassure him that he has no basis to declare war on Percheron.’

‘It is a slim chance, Lazar. He is here with his fleet, eager to sack the city no doubt, which is all the more reason for you to press on with your plans. Ana and my heir must be secured.’

Lazar nodded. ‘Then I shall take my leave, Highness, and return shortly for the final briefing.’

Herezah was fuming, unable to settle. She’d snapped at everyone who ventured near her in the harem and had finally sensibly retired to her own wing, banishing all callers.

Elza appeared not long later, looking understandably nervous.

‘You certainly have a death wish, woman,’ Herezah hurled at the cringing servant.

‘The Grand Vizier has sent a message that he needs to speak with you, Valide. I have told him you are not seeing anyone today but he insists that it’s important.’

Despite her mood, Herezah could not tolerate any matter of importance slipping by her. She banged down the cup she had been drinking from. ‘Very well. Get me dressed.’

Shortly afterwards she had moved beyond the harem to a private salon where she accepted guests. The Grand Vizier was shown in, escorted by one of the mutes.

‘Your own personal guard, Tariq?’

The Grand Vizier bowed, smiling. ‘I’m sure
you’ve heard the news, Valide. I’m just taking precautions. You don’t mind?’

‘Why would I?’

‘Indeed. You look flushed, Valide. Are you well?’

‘If one more person asks me that, I shall have his head cut off,’ she fumed, angrier that her emotions were on such public display than for any other reason. She needed to pull them in now; knew it was not at all like her to be so transparent. But then she’d never held Lazar before, never so much as touched him. Little wonder she was flushed; she could still conjure how it felt to hold his sex, taste his mouth. The memory of Salmeo’s cunning smile haunted her and she wondered again how he would make her pay for his knowledge.

‘Forgive me,’ the Grand Vizier said, offering a short clipped bow. ‘I don’t mean to pry,’ he added.

Those words gave her the answer she searched for. If there was nothing to pry for, then Salmeo had nothing over her. If she was honest about this episode, then Salmeo had no secret, and she had nothing to hide from anyone, not even her son. Would it really matter to Boaz? It’s true that he might well have objected to finding her draped over Lazar or been angry if they’d progressed to the point of lying down together when he’d walked in on them. That might have provoked a strong reaction. But even so, Boaz might well be shocked but not necessarily unhappy that his Spur and his mother were lovers. He might see it as
welcome respite from years of acrimony. Herezah smiled beneath her veil as a tentative plan formulated.

She looked up to see that the Grand Vizier was watching her carefully. ‘Something is wrong, isn’t it, Valide?’

‘Yes, there is. You must forgive my distraction, Grand Vizier. I’m sure it’s meaningless in comparison to what Percheron faces. Please continue,’ she said, amazing even herself at conjuring up contrived tears.

‘Oh, Highness, please. Do tell me, can I help at all?’

She shook her head, looked away. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she sniffed, making a show of composing her emotions. ‘It’s of a personal nature. I’ve been embarrassed this morning and I imagine there will be ramifications.’

‘Embarrassed?’ Tariq said, frowning. ‘By whom?’

‘Grand Master Eunuch Salmeo. He does like to have his little sticks with which to beat us harem members. I’m afraid he has a large club to hold above my head as of this morning and I’m just confused as how best to handle it. Again, forgive me, Tariq, this is not your problem. You have far more important duties than allowing me to cry on your shoulder.’

The Grand Vizier was at her side in a second.

‘Valide,’ he said softly. ‘Salmeo wields far too much power. He is dangerous. And you are the last person who should be in any way under his thumb.’

‘Oh, but I am, Grand Vizier, and there’s nothing anyone can do.’

‘Share the problem, Highness. I am sure I can help you to find a solution. Nothing you say could shock me,’ he soothed.

‘Are you sure of that?’

‘I’m positive.’

‘Come out onto the balcony. That Elza likes to eavesdrop.’

He followed her eagerly, shaking his head at the mute not to follow. She wrung her hands absently. ‘Oh, can I offer you some refreshment? Forgive my manners. My mind is certainly addled this morning,’ she said, affecting a soft laugh of confusion.

‘No, I need nothing, Valide. Now tell me and let’s sort this out.’

‘It’s a delicate matter, Grand Vizier. I’m not sure how to approach it, other than to be direct.’

‘I appreciate candour, Majesty,’ he replied, clearly keen to put her at her ease.

Herezah hesitated only for a blink. The Grand Vizier leaned forward and she hesitated no more, took a deep breath in mock fear, ensuring that he understood her reluctance. ‘Spur Lazar and I have become lovers. We didn’t mean for it to happen, Tariq, but over these last five moons that I’ve cared for him, something special has developed between us. Today, Salmeo interrupted us at a most delicate moment.’

The Grand Vizier rocked back on his heels, obviously shocked. Herezah saw the disbelief in
his gaze. ‘I know you find it hard to put us two together but—’

‘Hard? Impossible, more like, Majesty. Anyone could be forgiven for believing the two of you detested each other enough that you would happily stick knives into the other’s gut. I understand you have a long-held fascination for the man but it was my belief that you enjoyed punishing him.’

She shrugged, even allowed a coy smile to play on her lips. ‘I know. It’s a shock for me too. But there’s no explaining love, is there, Tariq?’

‘Love?’ There was an audible intake of breath. ‘Are you serious, Majesty?’

She had turned away from him as she spoke but now looked back over her shoulder, a contrite expression on her face that she knew her eyes would reflect. ‘It’s probably wrong and I’ve tried to hide it through that opposition towards the Spur you speak of, but I’ve always felt this way. The fascination you mentioned was always genuine.’ She smiled inwardly to see that the Grand Vizier was, for once, rather lost for words, and waited for him to rediscover his voice.

‘How serious is this affair, Valide? Where do you expect it to go?’

‘Nowhere, Tariq, absolutely nowhere,’ she replied, lacing her tone with resignation. She flounced into a seat. ‘That’s part of the problem. It was never anything that could go anywhere, we both knew it, but it was ours. And in this palace,
Tariq, you of all people should know that shiny, bright moments are few and far between. We kept it to ourselves and we enjoyed it for as long as we could. It was not meant to be shared with anyone else and certainly wasn’t intended to hurt anyone—how could it?’

Tariq shook his head. ‘I don’t see who you can offend.’

‘Exactly! But Lazar is a private man, a mysterious man, as we’ve all discovered,’ she said, dismay now in her voice. ‘To be found like that by the chief eunuch, of all people, has distressed him. It distresses me. Salmeo will find a way to use it against us. To blackmail me, perhaps.’

‘With your son, you mean?’

‘Well, yes,’ she nodded, sorrowfully. ‘I don’t want to hurt Boaz. He loved Joreb.’

‘I don’t think he’d expect you to remain celibate—you’re still so young and…’ he struggled for the right word, couldn’t find it and hurried on, ‘and anyway he has only the highest respect for Lazar.’

‘I know, but it’s the manner in which Salmeo will see to it that Boaz learns this secret. You know how cunning he is.’

‘I do. Hmmm, well, this is a prickly situation, Valide. You’ve quite taken my breath away. I don’t mean to offend you but the Spur always seemed so smitten with Ana. Surely you noticed?’

Herezah felt her temper flare. ‘Noticed? Of course I noticed. I’d have to be as dim as the dwarf
not to notice, Tariq. But that’s it, you see. Because I refused his advances he used Ana against me.’

The Grand Vizier’s mouth opened and shut. Again Herezah waited.

‘I noticed he was very cool towards the Zaradine on our journey,’ he finally said. Herezah nodded. ‘And he chose you over her. He risked his life to save us.’

‘To save
me
, Tariq. Your life is expendable. Do you believe Lazar cared whether you lived or died? It was me he came for, fought for.’

‘You’re right. I never understood why.’

She demurred with a soft sigh. ‘Well, I think you do now. He’s told my son it was about duty and it’s true that he has never come to terms with leaving Ana behind, her being the Zaradine and so close to Boaz’s heart,’ she lied smoothly. ‘Did you know that Boaz is sending him back into the desert to find her?’

‘I did, Valide, and I think it’s important that Percheron have its Zaradine safe, particularly if an heir exists.’

‘So that’s my dilemma, Tariq,’ she said, ignoring his sentiments and bringing their conversation back to her needs rather than Ana’s. ‘I’m frightened.’

‘Well, we can’t have that, Majesty. At this level you should fear no-one but your Zar and his enemies.’

‘What do you suggest, Tariq?’ she asked eagerly, already knowing, already counting on him
suggesting the very solution she had been leading him towards.

‘I think perhaps I should talk with your son. Man to man. He is not very approachable right now and I respect why but I shall find a way to let him know what has occurred. I will even suggest that the Grand Master Eunuch is threatening to use this against you. If the Zar knows and doesn’t overreact—and in fact turns a blind eye—I see no future for Salmeo’s cunning in this regard.’

Herezah’s stomach unclenched. No man was any match for her guile, not even the Grand Vizier. She smiled gratefully. ‘Oh, that’s such an inspired notion, Tariq. You are clever! Thank you. I would be so, so grateful if you would do that for me.’

Instead of smiling graciously as she’d anticipated, the Grand Vizier frowned. ‘How grateful, Highness?’

‘Pardon?’

‘How will you show this gratitude?’

‘Zarab save me! What are you asking, Tariq?’

‘Not what you think, Valide. A simple matter of exchange. I do you one favour, you give me one in return.’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘What is it you want, Tariq?’

‘I want your son gone from the palace.’

‘Gone?’

‘Away from the Galinsean threat.’

‘Oh’ she said, understanding with a frown. ‘He refuses to flee, you know that.’

‘That’s a dangerous situation. Until we have confirmation of an heir, your son is gambling with the Crown of Percheron.’

‘Gambling?’ she asked, surprised by the Grand Vizier’s attitude. ‘I am proud of his courage. He is prepared to die for his realm.’

‘And what good will that do any of us, Valide? If he dies we have no Zar and the fabric of our society is destroyed. As long as Boaz lives, as long as there is a possibility that he can sire more heirs of the royal bloodline, Galinsea will never prevail.’

Herezah was shocked by Tariq’s attitude; she had always assumed him to be a coward. And it surprised her even more that she could appreciate the sense of what the Grand Vizier was promoting. She had expected the exchange of favour to be something of a far more personal nature—riches, land, perhaps even use of her body for his own relief. But certainly not a boon that protected Percheron’s Crown. ‘What do you suggest?’

‘I had made arrangements for us to go upstream into the foothills but he ridiculed that suggestion.’

‘He would see it as cowardly. To be honest I thought you were protecting yourself, but now I realise that’s not your intention, is it?’ When he gravely shook his head, Herezah believed he could have no other agenda. ‘You have spent enough time in the company of my son to know how seriously he takes his position as ruler. On his very deathbed his father impressed upon the boy his role—how he
had been chosen for it because no-one else was better suited to rule than Boaz. He is still so young. His head is filled with idealistic notions of being a grand, wise and much beloved Zar.’

‘I’m approaching this the wrong way—is that what you’re saying, Valide?’

‘Precisely. You need to come up with a plan that plays to his sense of the heroic. Boaz has been such a studious, serious boy all his life. He reveres Lazar, most likely because of the Spur’s devil-may-care attitude. Did you see how the tale of Lazar’s battle with all those attackers fired Boaz’s imagination when he heard it?’

Tariq considered the Valide. She could all but see his mind working, accepting that what she was advising was true. ‘Have you any advice on how we might encourage the Zar to place himself in safety, then? Perhaps even where he may agree to go?’

Herezah paused. Suddenly a new thought occurred to her, a notion that was so neat in the way it dovetailed into her own plans, she nearly hugged herself.

‘Valide? You are smiling,’ Tariq said. ‘Have you an idea?’

‘I do, Grand Vizier. And it’s perfect. I shall suggest to my son—and you will support this suggestion with vigour—that he accompany Lazar on his quest to secure the heir. In all truth, Boaz is safer with Lazar than anyone else. And the Spur would never put him into danger, so I
imagine he will find ways to leave Boaz behind once he knows where Ana is. Boaz has never been out of the palace grounds, save for one or two trips to the bazaar when he was quite young. That’s probably why Ana intrigued him so much; she was so daring. He will relish the opportunity to travel alongside the Spur into the desert and on the hunt for his wife. It has the right balance of the romantic and the heroic to appeal to him.’

‘Valide, that is a masterful plan. I think he might actually go along with that.’

‘Then you keep your promise to me, Grand Vizier, and I shall do the same for you.’

‘Just one more thing.’

‘Yes?’ She had been turning to leave.

‘I intend to go with the Zar.’

‘What? I can’t make that happen.’

‘But you will try.’

‘Why, Tariq? Why would you want to go back into that place?’

‘I am no use here without a word of Galinsean to my name, Valide, and should Lazar leave Boaz behind, the Zar will need someone at his side. I can’t protect him physically with a weapon but I can protect him through wisdom. We will, of course, have to take some of the mute guard.’

Herezah nodded. It was of no consequence to her where the Grand Vizier went and, in fact, this played even more to her advantage. ‘Speak to him today, Tariq, and clear this business of my union with Lazar. Then I will attempt what you ask.’