The Godspeaker Trilogy (155 page)

I am failing. Ethrea will be destroyed. Why won't they listen? Why won't they believe—

And then she heard raised voices beyond the parlour's closed door. Someone was challenging the guards on duty in the foyer. Groaning, she pushed out of the chair to discover who was responsible for this latest disturbance.

“Dexterity?” she said, standing in the open doorway. “What's this?”

The senior guard, Bowman, spun round. “Your Majesty! Forgive me, I tried not to disturb you but—”

She raised her hand. “It's all right, Bowman. Mister Jones is a friend, and welcome. But don't disturb me hereafter, is that clear?” She stepped back. “Come in, Dexterity. I can spare you five minutes.”

“Thank you, Majesty,” Dexterity said. “I'll not need longer, I hope.”

“You hope?” she said, shutting the door much harder than was necessary. “Do you presume on our friendship, Mister Jones?”

Dexterity pushed his hands into his baggy jacket pockets. He looked as rumpled and unkempt as ever, and unhappy too. “Not without good cause.”

“Dexterity…” After all they'd been through, there was little point in trying to keep up appearances. She slumped into her chair again. “What is it? Has Hettie sent you another vision?”

“No. This is about Zandakar.”

Oh. Of course. “He told you? About—”

“Yes, and it's dreadful, but that's not why I'm here.”

Though her bones were aching, she sat a little straighter. Temper was stirring. “Really?”

If Dexterity was chastened by the ice in her voice, he didn't show it. “Yes. Really,” he replied. “I want you to let Zandakar free of this castle.”

She blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“It's not right, the way he's living here,” he said, his cheeks touched with colour. “Locked up in his chamber, trammelled about with soldiers. After all he's done for you, Rhian, how can you repay him by keeping him a prisoner? Can't you see he's miserable? Like – like an eagle crammed in a cage. It's not right, I tell you. Rhian, it's cruel .”

The accusation stole her breath. She was on her feet before she realised it, fists clenched, heart pounding. “Mister Jones, you do presume! How dare you—”

“How can I not dare?” he retorted. “Who else is there to speak for him? Aside from me he's friendless in the world. If I don't champion him, nobody will!”

“That's not true, he's not friendless!” she snapped. “ I am his friend.”

Dexterity jutted his beard at her. “Then you've a ragged way of showing it, Majesty ! Rollin's mercy, he's sworn to shed his blood for you. For you and for Ethrea, and he's a stranger here. All that moves him is the desire to save lives.”

Oh, he was unfair. He was monstrous unfair. “The saving of lives is all I desire, Dexterity. And one of the lives I want to save is his . Are you mad, to think I can leave him to wander freely about Kingseat? Looking as he does? With the skills he possesses?”

“What are you afraid of?” said Dexterity. “That he'll come to harm, or run away to sea?”

“Both, if you want the truth!” she replied, goaded. “And I'd be a poor queen if I didn't consider either possibility. He might be all that can save us from Mijak, you know that as well as I!”

“Oh, Rhian !” Dexterity stamped to the window, and back again. “Run away? Leave you? He'd sooner cut out his own heart!”

Silence as they stared at each other. When she found her voice, it was thinned to a whisper. “I don't know what you mean.”

He snorted. “Oh yes you do, but it's neither here nor there. I've not come to talk of that, I've come to talk of giving Zandakar his freedom. Rhian, you can't ask a man to die for you, and treat him like a slave.”

She stepped back. “A slave ? Dexterity Jones—”

“A slave's what I said and a slave's what I meant,” he said, caring nothing for protocol. “If you can't trust him to stay by your side unchained, what makes you think you can trust him with Ethrea?”

“That's not – I don't – how dare you come here and—”

“Majesty?” said a shocked voice. “Majesty, is aught amiss?”

She turned to see Dinsy, as rumpled as Dexterity, her plump cheeks flushed with sleep, standing in the parlour's other doorway.

“Oh, Majesty,” said Dinsy. “Forgive me! I – I – fell to dozing and didn't realise you and His Majesty were returned from chapel.”

Fell to dozing? Oh, poor Dinsy. She looks as tired as I feel. It's no good, I must send for noble ladies to help her. She can't continue to maid me on her own . Ignoring Dexterity, she went to the girl. “Don't cry, Dinsy, it's all right. I'm not angry. And no, there's nothing wrong. Mister Jones and I were merely – disagreeing.”

Dinsy sniffed. “You were shouting, Majesty. It's a wonder the guards haven't broke in.”

“I told them not to,” she said. “Go back inside. I'll join you in a moment.”

With a last glowering look at Dexterity, Dinsy obeyed.

“You know I'm right, Rhian,” Dexterity said as soon as they were alone again. “I can see it in your face.”

Drat her face. “Dexterity, it's complicated.”

He stared, his eyes narrowed. “You're the queen, Rhian. It's only as complicated as you choose to make it.”

“As I choose? Oh, Dexterity!” She folded her arms. “Yourself aside, my councillors don't trust him. Neither does Emperor Han. And if I let him go roaming about Kingseat I have no doubt he'd end up kidnapped by Gutten or Voolksyn or one of the others! I keep him close here for protection, can't you see that?”

“So close he's suffocating,” said Dexterity. “Let him come home with me, just for a day or two. There's that much time you can spare him, isn't there?”

Well, yes. She did have a few days, especially now the ambassadors were playing their stupid games.

“Rhian,” said Dexterity. Not angry now, but more serious than ever she'd seen him. “This news of Mijak. The human blood being spilled. It's crushed him. He needs some time, to ease his pain. He needs fresh air and sunshine and a change of scenery. I'll keep him safe at my cottage, you know I will.”

Curious, she considered him. “I never realised you were so fond of him.”

Dexterity shrugged. “Am I fond, or do I feel responsible? Could be it's a bit of both. It doesn't matter. Can he come home with me? Please?”

If she said yes, Alasdair would shout at her. Helfred would likely scold. So would the dukes, if they were here.

But Dexterity's right. I am the queen. And I owe Zandakar so much more than my life. If he needs this small favour, how can I not grant it?

“Very well,” she sighed. “I'll grant you three days. I expect Edward and Rudi home from inspecting Ethrea's garrisons in that time. Once they've returned we must look at building our army, and Zandakar is central to that.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” said Dexterity, widely smiling. “Three days and not a clock-tick longer, you have my word.”

“I don't want him out of your sight, Dexterity. And he's not to travel beyond the home districts,” she added. “You're to tell no-one who he is. If they ask, he's a servant.”

He was nodding vigorously. “Yes, yes. Of course. Thank you , Your Majesty. You're doing the right thing.”

“Let's hope so,” she replied. “Now we'd best give him the good news.”

H
an wandered the paths through the main garden of Ambassador Lai's residence, listening to the windchimes singing. Breathing in the scents of his empire. Every flower around him came from somewhere in Tzhung-tzhungchai: the mountains of Tzinto, the marshes of Yeuhy, the spreading plains of Golontan. Every province represented, not a district forgotten. The sand beneath his bare feet was brought here from Tzhung's beaches and rivers, ochre and salt-white, eggshell blue and obsidian black, swept and swirled to honour the wind. If he closed his eyes, he might believe he was at home.

If I close my eyes, I will fall to sleep on my feet.

He'd spent the night in the witch-garden with Sun-dao and his witch-men, helping them keep the trade winds at bay. Now his bones were hollow. The early morning light stabbed pain through his head. He was hungry, thirsty, he needed to rest. But instead he prowled this garden, breathing memories and wrestling with thoughts he did not wish to share.

Beyond the high walls of the residence, Kingseat township and its harbour were stirring to life. The restless wind chimes drowned the sounds of voices, horses, carts and barrows and the ivy-covered stonework hid Kingseat from his sight, but with his witch-senses he could feel them.

All these innocent souls, whom Rhian can't protect.

A second letter had come from the castle late last night, informing his ambassador that the urgent meeting of trading nations she had requested was now postponed. Of course Lai had brought it to him at once, daring to sound the chimes at the witch-garden's gate, daring to disturb his emperor at work.

Han had not chastised him, for the letter was important, the meaning behind it clear and unwelcome: the other ambassadors had refused Rhian's summons. They resisted her authority. She could not bend them to her will.

And so was he presented with a dilemma. The wind had blown him here to seek Ethrea's help…or so he'd thought. But Ethrea could not help, for Rhian was helpless in the face of the other ambassadors' intransigence and ruthless self-interest.

I think we are the only hope to defeat brutal Mijak. I think there is room for but one empire in the world – and it will be the empire of the Tzhung.

The salt breeze blew, the wind chimes sang softly, melody and descant, harmony and counterpoint. Every note contained a truth. Han stood in the sunshine and let the truth blow through him, opened himself to the wisdom of the wind.

“Sun-dao,” he said, when he understood what must be done. “Sun-dao, come.”

A moment later Sun-dao stepped out of the twilight and joined him among the sunlit flowers.

“Han.”

Han stared at his brother, stricken. The sunlight was merciless, revealing in full the cost of their battle against Mijak. “ Sun-dao …”

Sun-dao smiled. “Emperor, you must not distress yourself. I am not dying. Not yet.”

Turning away, Han stared at the vibrant pink blossoms on a nearby chynyi tree from Tan-tan province. “You don't amuse me, Sun-dao.”

“Did you summon me for amusement?”

Sweating beneath his black silk tunic, Han turned back. “I summoned you because there is a task. But Sun-dao, I see you now and—”

“What is this task?” said Sun-dao, still smiling. “What does my emperor desire of me?”

“The wind has spoken, Sun-dao,” he sighed. “It says—”

“That Rhian of Ethrea has failed,” said Sun-dao. “I know.”

Of course he knew. He was Sun-dao. “She has failed…but we have not. There is another way to defeat Mijak, Sun-dao.”

“Han…” Sun-dao shook his head. “Do we discuss this again? The blood power of Mijak obscures all vision. I am the greatest witch-man in Tzhung and I cannot see what I must see to do what you want. I could, with great difficulty, witch my way to Icthia, yes, but—”

“And you will,” he said. “But not alone.”

“Not alone?” echoed Sun-dao, after a silent, staring moment. “Han, you cannot come.”

Han sighed again, and tipped his face to the sun. “I know it. And even if I could, what use would I be? I can't see what must be seen, either. But, Sun-dao, you and I don't need to see. In Ethrea there is a man who can see these things for us. Who can show us the way so what must be done, can be done.”

Sun-dao breathed in sharply. “ Zandakar ?”

“It's possible we misheard the wind, Sun-dao. It's possible it blew us here not for Rhian, but for her captive prince of Mijak.”

“You think to trust Zandakar to kill his mother and brother?” said Sun-dao, incredulous. “You'd send him to strike off the twinned heads of Mijak so its body will die?”

Han laughed. “No. How could I? I've seen his heart, Sundao, as you have. Even as he hates what they do, weak love tells him they can still be turned from their slaughter. This prince of Mijak is a great fool.”

“And yet you would trust him?”

Han rested his arm about his brother's weary shoulders. “To guide you to his murdering mother and brother once you reach Icthia, so you can kill them? Yes. I would.”

Sun-dao smoothed his moustaches. “And you would tell him…”

“That the wind has told me he can save them, with our help. He won't refuse. He loves them too much.”

Sun-dao nodded slowly. “This is true.”

Turning, Han pulled Sun-dao to him in a close embrace. “But oh, my brother,” he whispered. “It will be a cruel thing, witching a boat all the way to Icthia. Were you rested and unchallenged it would be cruel enough. You are neither. This battle for the trade winds—”

“Has not defeated me, Han,” said Sun-dao. “You are my emperor, and this is my task. When do I go?”

For a moment he couldn't answer, struck to silence by Sun-dao's simple faith. “Soon,” he said, his voice breaking. “It must be soon. After you've rested.”

Sun-dao nodded. “And the trade winds?”

Han released him and stepped back. Laid a hand against his brother's thin, pain-filled face. “You will not worry,” he said sternly. “I'll fight the trade winds for both of us, Sun-dao.”

“You've done what , Jones?” demanded Ursa, standing aghast in the sunlit kitchen. “Brought Zandakar here ? Rollin's mercy, are you out of your mind?”

Dexterity flapped a hand at his unexpected visitor. “Hush, Ursa! He's awake too, and only in the other room. Do you want to hurt his feelings?”

“I want to hurt you , Jones,” she snapped. “What were you thinking ? Are you going to sleep with your eyes open to make sure he doesn't bolt like a rabbit the first chance he gets?”

“He's not going to bolt. He gave Rhian his word.”

“His word ?” said Ursa, incredulous. “And what's that worth? He's a heathen warrior with blood on his hands! He shouldn't even be out of the castle dungeon.”

“How can you be so harsh? After everything he's done for Rhian, how can you—”

“And after everything you've learned, Jones, after what Hettie showed you, how can you not see him for the danger he is?”

Bewildered, Dexterity retreated to the sink and slumped against it. “I don't understand. You liked him well enough on the road.”