Retribution

Dinner

The room was not especially opulent. Not in the same way that the royal residence of Optryx in Tryum was. Or even any of the sumptuous rooms of the Queen of Dalta for that matter. But it was a very honest room, and I liked it all the more because of the fact, for it allowed me to see beyond the pomp of Queen Dokuz Sorghatan.

Here we could simply see a mother and her daughter, surrounded by good company, talking about the finer things in life. Or at least, that was the impression that the queen intended for me to take with me in my reports to the Sun Chamber. Humble and honest. Not, in fact, the secret dictator I suspected her of being.

‘Do not judge me too harshly.’ She smiled as if she possessed some mystical way of probing my thoughts.

‘On the contrary,’ I replied. ‘I’m enjoying the evening immensely.’

The room was square, perhaps fifty paces wide, with hunting equipment lining the wood-panelled walls. Roasted meats along with thick slices of late-season fruits were distributed among the guests on simple silver trays. There were about twenty people in all invited to this private dinner, and they ate heartily. We were sitting on cushions, arranged so that we looked up at the queen, who reclined on a couch with one of her eunuchs seated to her right. She was wearing far less make-up than when I saw her before, revealing her to be in her late forties. She wore a dark-blue high-collar dress, with subtle gemstone detailing. To her left, her daughter Nambu was dressed similarly.

Leana had worn her smart outfit, a fine fitted black tunic and black britches, while I was happy to give an airing to my finest green cloak and crimson shirt. My brooch was always on display. Sulma Tan was sadly not present; apparently too busy working to join us.

This mellow, warm and sensuous atmosphere was a fine experience indeed. Philosophers, artists, poets, astronomers and physicians were among the guests, and they talked about their own lives and work. The wonders they discussed were fascinating: here was modern thinking, such a display of new theories; at times it was a little overwhelming. The philosophers descended into rhetorical problems, but it was the astronomers who engaged my mind the most — the way they talked about the night sky reinforced my belief that the stars, perhaps forty or fifty miles away from us if we could get to them, were not the domain of the gods, but something to be studied, to provide us with information about the movement of our own land and of the circles of the sun and moon.

This was radical theory indeed, as priests in Detrata — priests of Trymus in particular — would have the stars remain the business of gods and spirits. It was traditionally the domain of priests to read the stars, to discern their movement and understand their purpose in the world. At that point I noted there were in fact no priests or priestesses present. And only three soldiers were here, pacing quietly in the darkness around the edges of the room. I don’t know why I expected there to be more. Perhaps they waited outside the doors. Perhaps they thought philosophers were no threat.

The queen later gestured for us to move forward to sit before her, so we shuffled into her immediate company. It was a position that reminded me of the relationship between a teacher and a young pupil.

‘Please tell me how your investigation is going, Officer Drakenfeld,’ she said matter-of-factly.

In a low voice — little more than a whisper, for I did not want too many people to hear my thoughts — I revealed my findings so far. I was careful not to divulge anything about the ring we had found in the bishop’s room, nor of the body parts that had, supposedly, been moving of their own accord. Eventually I revealed that an arrow had been fired at us.

The queen’s eyes widened at the statement. ‘Astran’s mercy. This is most extraordinary, and quite unbecoming of this prefecture.’

‘It was probably a military arrow,’ Leana said.

A murmur spread through our group. I knew the others had been listening in.

‘You’re quite certain of this?’ the queen’s eunuch replied, a remarkably engaging yet feminine timbre to his voice. The queen looked at him softly, as if a pet had done something charming. Only then did I get a thorough look at him and his striking blue eyes, slender face and tied-back long hair. He wore a red silk robe with beautiful silver ornamentation around his neck. It was interesting to see his confidence in speaking like this before the queen — almost interrupting a conversation — and yet she accepted it perfectly.

‘It is a very strong possibility,’ I continued, more loudly now as it seemed logical to have it well known that the queen wished us protected. ‘We suspect that someone in the army — an archer, or some other warrior perhaps — may be keen to stop us doing our job. Are your soldiers under good discipline? I hope they do not bear some sort of grudge against us.’ The soldiers pacing the edge of the room paused momentarily, but it was too dark to see if they were angry with my words.

‘I will see to it that my senior officers are questioned thoroughly about the matter,’ the queen said firmly.

‘I’d like that,’ I replied. ‘This matter is serious enough as it is without there being an awkward new dimension.’

‘Accusations about army discipline. .’ the eunuch muttered, almost smiling — it was difficult to tell. ‘They won’t appreciate talk of that kind. They’re a sensitive lot.’

‘These are troubling issues,’ I added. ‘Enough to warrant airing them.’

‘Yes indeed,’ she snapped, a sudden sparkle in her eye. ‘This is terrifying news. Two men of good standing have been killed, one of whom was a very dear friend of mine, and it is of absolute importance that the killer be brought to justice. Why, such barbarism could spread through society. Anyone in this room,’ she gestured to the seated crowd, speaking loudly, ‘any of you could be next. Safety to us all is of great importance.’

In the sudden silence the eunuch leaned forward and picked an olive from a tray. ‘You sound like you’ve one of your plans, my lady.’

‘As it happens, Brell, I have.’ She took on an altogether more haughty demeanour. ‘The army has come in larger numbers to the city. It is no secret. It’s also no secret that many of these soldiers are scheduled to move to the borders.’

‘The borders?’ I asked.

‘Sadly, yes. The border with Detrata, if you must know, in the mountains. We hear all sorts of worrying news. Their king is dead. There is talk of war. . In fact, you were there recently, were you not? What do you have to say about it?’

‘The country is simply finding its feet after the loss of its king, is all,’ I said, not entirely believing it myself.

I had left the country knowing full well what might happen. Without a king, or indeed any temporary leader, there would be many plays for power. Before his death, the king, it appeared, had been holding back warmongers in that ancient and proud nation. A nation that would happily reclaim its old imperial ways.

‘That may be the case,’ the queen replied, ‘but it is of concern to other nations. When we do not work together we work against each other. And when we work against each other it leads, naturally, to a loss of life. But it is not merely us who are militarizing the borders. I understand encampments are being placed in Maristan as well as Theran. We are no different. We have interests to protect. But despite the fact that many of our warriors are moving to the border, the recent murders have led me to keep many of them here in the city. I have little choice. They will be patrolling the perimeter of the prefecture, as well as within it. I will ensure the safety of my people.’

Leana gave me a sarcastic look. She was probably thinking how curious it was that the queen did not deem the people outside of this prefecture as her people as well, but now was not the right moment to highlight the issue.

‘I want to talk to the officer and his assistant alone,’ the queen announced.

Without hesitation, as if used to such behaviour, everyone else in the room rose to their feet and shuffled out of the door at the far end. Only her daughter and the eunuch remained.

She waited until the room had emptied.

‘I am not stupid,’ she continued, ‘I know what you’re thinking — that moving soldiers into the area will protect no one.’

‘We are dealing with a clever individual,’ I explained. ‘One who moves within the shadows. . In fact, since the murders have occurred here, whoever is doing this is likely to live within the prefecture.’

‘That may be so,’ the queen said knowingly. ‘But bringing in soldiers will offer reassurance to the people of the prefecture. However. .’ — her gaze settled on Leana — ‘you are Atrewen.’

Leana nodded coolly.

‘I have heard of you. My agents speak of the powerful woman carved from jet. They report that you are a fine warrior and that you rode in the stadium, with some success. And that you were the one who stopped King Licintius from fleeing in his final moments.’

Leana was nonplussed by the praise, though she was probably uncomfortable with the direction it was taking. I was simply impressed at the speed and accuracy of the queen’s informants.

The queen added, ‘And, Officer Drakenfeld. One might assume that an officer of the Sun Chamber, when choosing his own protection, chooses wisely?’

‘Not a moment has gone by where I have regretted the decision to work with Leana.’ I could have spoken of the time we met — when all she had known had been wiped out in a vicious war. I could have divulged information of the many times that Leana, a far better fighter than I could ever dream to be, had saved me, prevented a blade from ending my life. Or the numerous times she had helped ‘persuade’ — perhaps at times without direction — those stubborn individuals who were not forthcoming with information or who liked to make life difficult for us.

But none of this was appropriate because the queen had already made whatever decision she was about to divulge.

‘Very well,’ she said. ‘Then I would like to trust you with the temporary custody of Nambu Sorghatan, princess of Koton, and heir to the throne.’

‘Might I enquire as to why?’ I tried desperately not to sound too incredulous at the request. Nambu merely looked at the ground as if embarrassed by the whole conversation. Even Brell raised an eyebrow.

‘We are on a difficult case right now. .’ I suggested.

The queen waved me closer. ‘This killer. . could be among us. He knows his way around the prefecture and has taken — without anyone seeing — two fine men, one of whom I considered to look after Nambu.’ She gave a brief, sardonic laugh. ‘Our inner world is becoming vile, Officer Drakenfeld. Temples are no longer sacred. It is somewhat difficult for me to know who to trust.’

‘And you can trust us, after so little time in our company?’

‘I have received detailed reports from my agents about who you are and what you have done. You will suffice.’

It was as I had suspected.

‘I even know how well respected you are within the Sun Chamber after your recent success in Detrata,’ she continued. ‘A queen can easily obtain such information. You are no Detratan spy. You have the whole of Vispasia in your heart. Besides, I am a good judge of character.’

I did not quite know what to say or do. Nambu was a girl of perhaps thirteen years, used to life around a palace. A comfortable life, no doubt, and so not exactly the sort of person one could drag around the city hunting murderers.

‘We deal in somewhat macabre matters at times,’ I said. ‘We work around the dead. Sometimes we may even venture into the other prefecture.’

‘I have negotiated this with her. It will be good for her to see a little of life’s harsh realities.’

Leana was gazing at Nambu. And to my surprise Leana said, with utter confidence, ‘We will look after her.’

‘We will?’ I asked.

Leana said more firmly: ‘We will.’

‘Oh that is excellent.’ Queen Dokuz sat back on her couch with a sense of satisfaction. Her work had been done. She delicately ate a sweetmeat from the tray to one side.

Nambu still did not make eye contact with me, and there was a resigned look about her.

‘She may have to dress down somewhat,’ I added. ‘Such fineries are all well and good here, but a little too elegant for asking questions in a dingy tavern.’

‘We will have her outfitted in whatever way you think is suitable,’ the queen said, her mouth full of food.

‘Yes. We’ll need more secure living quarters,’ I continued, thinking it at least an opportunity to profit in some way from this unexpected predicament. ‘We have already received unwanted visitors. For everyone’s safety, this is an important matter that needs to be addressed. The most secure quarters you have available will be necessary.’

‘The matter will be resolved this same evening. We will see that your requirements are met.’

‘How old is Nambu Sorghatan?’ I asked.

Nambu answered herself: ‘I’m thirteen.’

I smiled and nodded my appreciation of her reply. Indeed, she could answer for herself and it was a mistake not to direct the question at her in the first place. But she focused instead on some distant corner of the room.

‘If I may be so bold as to ask this question, my lady, is there any other reason that you think she should be kept away from the standard palace guards?’

‘Other than it is good for the spirits of a growing girl to see something of the world, then no.’

She finished too firmly for my liking.

Leana looked across to the young princess. ‘Nambu, do you know how to hold a sword?’

She called her Nambu. Not ‘princess’, not ‘my lady’. I half expected the queen to berate us for the misdemeanour, but she did not.

The princess looked up, startled. ‘I have never held one, no.’

‘We will fix that soon enough.’

To my astonishment I saw a grin appear upon the young girl’s face.