Kushiel's Avatar (102 page)

So many dead.

So many living.

Hyacinthe, my one true friend. I had given him back his life, and if it was not the one he’d had, still, it was
his
. And he had Sibeal with him, whom I liked and admired, who understood his dreams. And I … I had friends everywhere, now. Friends and comrades, patrons and lovers.

I had Joscelin, my Perfect Companion, the compass by which I fixed my heart.

No one could ask more.

Nor had I, and yet it had been given. By Kushiel, who had used his Chosen harder than any in recorded memory? By Naamah, whom I had served long and faithfully? By Blessed Elua himself, whose mercy is beyond reckoning? I do not know. Nor does it matter, in the end.

I had Imriel.

Imri, who’d spat in my face upon our meeting, who trusted me beyond reason. Melisande’s son, the scion of my deepest enemy, my darkest desire. Who could have guessed it? Not even Elua’s priests, I think. My proud and wounded boy, his heart as vast as the plains of Jebe-Barkal and twice as fierce. I loved him so much it made me dizzy, and if I’d had to defy Ysandre twice-over for him, I would have done it.

Blessed Elua was kind.

The fête, my fête, continued in the City of Elua.

I touched the bare hollow of my throat, and smiled, remembering.

Love as thou wilt
.

Dramatis Personae

Phèdre’s Household

Anafiel Delaunay de Montrève-mentor of Phèdre (deceased)

Alcuin nó Delaunay-student of Delaunay (deceased)

Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève-Comtesse de Montrève;
anguissette

Joscelin Verreuil-Phèdre’s Consort; Cassiline Brother (Siovale)

Fortun, Remy-chevaliers (deceased)

Ti-Philippe-chevalier

Hugues-attendant

Eugenie-Mistress of the Household

Clory-niece of Eugenie

Purnell Friote-seneschal of Montrève

Richeline Friote-wife of Purnell

Benoit-stable-lad

Members Of The Royal Family: Terre D’Ange

Ysandre de la Courcel-Queen of Terre d’Ange; wed to Drustan mab Necthana

Sidonie de la Courcel-elder daughter of Ysandre

Alais de la Courcel-younger daughter of Ysandre

Barquiel L’Envers-uncle of Ysandre; Duc L’Envers (Namarre)

Alba

Drustan mab Necthana-Cruarch of Alba, wed to Ysandre de la Courcel

Necthana-mother of Drustan

Breidaia, Moiread (deceased), Sibeal-Drustan’s sisters, daughters of Necthana

Three Sisters

Hyacinthe-apprentice to Master of the Straits; Prince of Travellers

Tilian, Gildas-assistants

La Serenissima

Benedicte de la Courcel-great-uncle of Ysandre; Prince of the Blood (deceased)

Melisande Shahrizai de la Courcel-second wife of Benedicte

Imriel de la Courcel-son of Benedicte and Melisande

Severio Stregazza-son of Marie-Celeste de la Courcel and Marco Stregazza; Prince of the Blood

Cesare Stregazza-Doge of La Serenissima

Ricciardo Stregazza-younger son of the Doge

Allegra Stregazza-wife of Ricciardo

Benito Dandi-noble, member of the Immortali

Verreuil

Chevalier Millard-Joscelin’s father

Ges-Joscelin’s mother

Luc-Joscelin’s elder brother

Yvonne-wife of Luc

Mahieu-Joscelin’s younger brother

Marie-Louise-wife of Mahieu

Jehane-Joscelin’s elder sister

Amilcar

Nicola L’Envers y Aragon-cousin of Queen Ysandre

Ramiro Zornín de Aragon-King’s Consul, husband of Nicola

Fernan-Count of Amílcar

Vitor Gaitán-Captain of the Harbor Watch

Mago, Harnapos-Carthaginian slavers

Menekhet

Fadil Chouma-slaver (deceased)

Nesmut-harbor-lad

Raife Laniol, Comte de Penfars-ambassador to Menekhet

Juliet de Penfars-wife of Raife

Ptolemy Dikaios-Pharaoh of Menekhet

Clytemne-wife of Pharaoh

Rekhmire-Treasury clerk

Denise Fleurais-member of Lord Amaury’s delegation

Radi Arumi-Jebean guide

General Hermodorus-enemy of the Pharaoh

Khebbel-Im-Akkad

Sinaddan-Shamabarsin-Lugal of Khebbel-im-Akkad

Valère L’Envers-wife of the Lugal; daughter of Barquiel L’Envers

Tizrav-Persian guide

Renée de Rives-member of Lord Amaury’s delegation

Nicholas Vigny-member of Lord Amaury’s delegation

Nurad-Sin-Akkadian captain

Drujan

The Mahrkagir-“Conqueror of Death,” ruler of Drujan

Gashtaham-chief Skotophagotis

Tahmuras-a warrior

Nariman-Chief Eunuch of the
zenana

Rushad-Persian eunuch

Erich-Skaldi prisoner

Drucilla-Tiberian prisoner

Kaneka-Jebean prisoner

Uru-Azag-Akkadian eunuch

Jolanta-Chowati prisoner

Nazneen-Ephesian prisoner

Jagun-chief of the Kereyit Tatars

Arshaka-Chief Magus

Jebe-Barkal

Wali-river guide

Mek Timmur-caravan master

Zanadakhete-Queen of Meroë

Ras Lijasu-Prince of Meroë

Nathifa-sister of Lijasu

Tifari Amu-guide

Bizan-guide

Nkuku-bearer

Yedo-bearer

Shoanete-Kaneka’s grandmother, storyteller

Saba

Hanoch ben Hadad-captain of the militia

Yevuneh-widow, sister of Hanoch

Bilgah-Elder of the Sanhedrin

Abiram-Elder of the Sanhedrin

Ranit-woman of Saba

Semira-woman of Saba

Morit-woman of Saba, astronomer

Ardath-daughter of Yevuneh

Eshkol ben Avidan-soldier

Others

Evrilac Duré-Captain of the Guard at Pointe des Soeurs

Guillard, Armand-men-at-arms at Pointe des Soeurs

Bérèngere of Namarre-priestess of the Great Temple of Naamah

Eleazar ben Enokh-Yeshuite mystic

Adara-wife of Eleazar

Michel Nevers-priest of Kushiel

Audine Davul-D’Angeline scholar of Jebe-Barkal

Emile-member of Hyacinthe’s former crew; chief among Tsingani in the City

Brother Selbert-chief priest in the Sanctuary of Elua (Siovale)

Liliane-acolyte in the Sanctuary of Elua (Siovale)

Honore, Beryl, Cadmar, Ti-Michel-children in the Sanctuary of Elua (Siovale)

Jacques Ecot-crofter (Siovale)

Agnes-wife of Jacques (Siovale)

Kristof, son of Oszkar-head of a Tsingani kumpania

Cecilie Laveau-Perrin-adept of Cereus House; tutor to Phèdre and Alcuin

Roxanne de Mereliot-Lady of Marsilikos (Eisande)

Thelesis de Mornay-Queen’s Poet

Quintilius Rousse-Royal Admiral