Shapers of Darkness

Chapter Six

By the time Kayiv awoke the following morning, much of his resolve from the night before had vanished, leaving doubts that threatened to undo all that he had accomplished the previous day. The minister forced himself out of bed and was soon walking across the palace courtyard toward Uriad and his men, intending to speak with the master of arms again. Dusaan had given him permission to build on their growing rapport, and Kayiv was determined to take advantage of the opportunity given to him by the high chancellor.

Upon seeing him, however, Uriad furrowed his brow, striding in Kayiv’s direction, so that they met far enough from the training men to ensure that none could hear them.

“You’ve already spoken with the other ministers and chancellors?” the armsmaster said.

“Well. . well, no. But I-”

“Then what’s happened?”

“Nothing, armsmaster. I merely thought that. . after yesterday. .”

“We’re not friends, Minister. You asked for my help, and I’ve given you my word that when the time comes, I’ll be there beside you. But I have to assume that the invasion is going to begin when the emperor says it will. I have men to train, and I certainly don’t have time to chat idly with you.”

“Of course. I was-”

“Good day, Minister.”

Before Kayiv could say anything more, Uriad had turned away from him and was making his way back to the soldiers. He was certain that Nitara was watching-he could feel her gaze as if it were sunlight on a stifling day. No doubt she was laughing at him, shaking her head at his folly. Any alarm the high chancellor had felt the day before learning of Kayiv’s conversation with the master of arms would be gone soon enough. After standing there alone for several moments, feeling like an idiot, Kayiv returned to his chamber and awaited the midmorning bells. He would attend the daily audience with Dusaan, and then he would contrive to speak with Stavel.

When at last the bells rang, he hurried through the corridors to the high chancellor’s chambers, wondering if Nitara had already told Dusaan about what happened in the courtyard. But when he reached the ministerial chamber, there was only one other minister there, and it wasn’t her. Dusaan nodded to him as he entered, but kept silent as others filed into the chamber. When Nitara arrived, she chose a seat that placed as much distance as possible between herself and Kayiv, just as he had done the day before. Kayiv saw Dusaan staring at her as she sat, but he couldn’t tell what passed between them.

This day’s discussion proved far briefer than most, with Dusaan dismissing them well before the midday bells. Kayiv followed the others out of the chamber, and almost called to Stavel then. But realizing that Nitara was nearby, he said nothing.

Abruptly he found himself wondering if there were others among the Qirsi who might be watching him as well. Surely it was possible that Dusaan had enlisted others in his cause during the past turn. Better to wait and follow the old chancellor until Stavel was back at his chamber. Instead, though, the old man descended one of the tower stairways to the palace courtyard, and then left the palace entirely, making his way toward Curtell City. Kayiv couldn’t have asked for more. Even if Nitara trailed behind him, she’d never get close enough to hear what they said, not without revealing herself.

Kayiv followed the chancellor at a safe enough distance that he was able to make their encounter in the city’s marketplace seem nothing more than a chance meeting. He wandered past the peddler’s cart at which Stavel had stopped to examine some wooden toys, pretending to be surprised to find the man there. With the moment at hand, with his plans about to be given life, Kayiv felt fear claw at his chest and he nearly walked on past. Certainly it seemed from the way the chancellor regarded him that Stavel wished he would.

But he drew upon what little courage he possessed and offered a hearty “Good day, Chancellor,” stopping beside him to look over the peddler’s wares. “I didn’t know that you had children.”

“I don’t,” Stavel said, clearly uncomfortable. “I just came to the marketplace to. . to walk. I’ve always enjoyed looking at such trifles.”

“I can see why,” Kayiv said. He glanced at the vendor. “You do fine work.”

“Actually,” the man said, his voice thickly accented with the brogue of lower Wethyrn, “I merely sell them. They were carved by craftsmen in the south, Caerisse I believe. They’re made from Trescarri oak, a very difficult wood to work. Only four qinde apiece.”

“I see.”

Stavel started to move on, nodding once to the peddler. Kayiv followed.

“Do you come down here often, Chancellor?”

“Only when my duties to the emperor allow.” Stavel didn’t look at the minister, and his tone carried little warmth. “You?” he asked, seemingly as an afterthought.

“Not nearly as often as I would like.”

They walked a short distance in silence before Stavel paused briefly to look at some silver work, mostly women’s jewelry, although there were some blades on the cart as well. Kayiv found himself eyeing a necklace that only a turn or two before he might have considered buying for Nitara. Looking up, the minister realized that Stavel had left him, and he hurried to catch up.

“Is there something I can do for you, Minister?” the chancellor asked as Kayiv joined him at yet another cart. “Because if there’s not, I would rather have this time to myself.”

Again the minister hesitated, afraid of what he was about to do. “As it happens, Chancellor,” he made himself say, “I do have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“I was wondering if you had ever discussed with any of the other chancellors the emperor’s decision to begin the invasion early.”

What little color Stavel had in his face vanished. He stepped away from the vendor’s display, then turned to face the minister again. “Why would I discuss it with anyone?” he asked, his voice low and tight.

“I think you know.”

“The high chancellor’s claim that the recommendation had come from all of us.”

“Precisely.”

“I’ve said nothing of it to anyone. You told me at the time that you had discussed the invasion with the high chancellor in private just after our discussion that day. You told me that this was merely a misunderstanding.”

“Yes, I know I did.” He swallowed. Then, “I lied to you.”

Kayiv had expected the chancellor to respond in anger. Instead, he looked terrified. “I don’t want to hear this,” he said, backing away.

“I believe you should.”

“Why?”

“Because this matter bears on the safety of the empire, indeed, of all the Forelands.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The high chancellor and I spoke that day of a personal matter, one that had nothing to do with the emperor or the invasion. I told you otherwise because at the time I favored the decision to begin the invasion sooner than originally planned. It’s a lie I’ve since come to regret, not necessarily because I think the invasion should be delayed, but because I fear that the emperor is being deceived. If he’s been led to believe that this counsel came from all of us, who knows what else he’s been told.”

Stavel glanced about, then gestured for the minister to follow him. They walked in silence a good distance until they had left the marketplace and stepped onto a narrow byway between a pair of small stone buildings. “You fear that the high chancellor is lying to him?”

“I’m not certain. I think it’s possible. To be honest, Chancellor, I don’t think much of the emperor. I find his lack of wisdom. . disconcerting. If Dusaan does steer him toward certain decisions at times, it’s probably justified. But that’s all the more reason for the high chancellor to consult the rest of us. If the emperor needs guidance, best it should come from all of his Qirsi, rather than just one man.”

“The emperor chose Dusaan as his high chancellor, Minister. Regardless of how we feel about the man, we have to accept that choice and live with it.”

“I know that,” Kayiv said. “And I don’t question the high chancellor’s right to offer counsel to the emperor on his own. But when he claims to speak on behalf of all of us, that’s a different matter. Clearly Dusaan feared that his own recommendation with respect to the invasion wouldn’t be enough to convince the emperor. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered lying about it. He’s using us to mislead the emperor, and I don’t like it.”

“Then tell him so.”

The minister shook his head. “I’m afraid to. I’m but one minister, and I have no desire to stand alone against the high chancellor. I’d soon find myself cast from the palace.”

“So you thought to have me fight this battle for you? I don’t think so.”

“The emperor spoke to you-you’re the one who brought Dusaan’s lie to my attention in the first place.”

“Yes, but still-”

“You’re a chancellor, and you have a good deal of influence with the other chancellors. Were you to inform them of what Dusaan had done, how do you think they would respond?”

“I don’t know.”

But Kayiv could see from the man’s expression that this wasn’t completely true, and he pressed his advantage. “They’d be angry, wouldn’t they? They’d want to confront him, to ask him why he had offered such counsel without first speaking to them.”

“I fear Dusaan as much as you do. He has the power to banish any one of us from the palace, minister and chancellor alike. It’s true that I’ve been here longer than the rest of you, but that won’t save me if I anger the high chancellor.”

“That’s why you should speak of this with the others. If you speak for all of the chancellors, he can’t do anything to you, not without Harel’s approval. And I doubt very much that he’ll wish to raise this matter with the emperor.”

The chancellor stared at him for several moments, as if attempting to divine his thoughts.

“Why are you doing this, Minister?”

“I’ve already told you. I don’t like the idea of the emperor being deceived this way.”

“I think there’s more to it than that.”

Kayiv looked away. “You’re wrong.”

“Am I? You and I have never seen eye-to-eye on any matter of importance, and you’ve just said yourself that you question Harel’s wisdom, that you don’t worry about the high chancellor ‘steering him toward certain decisions.’ Thus I find it hard to believe that you’re suddenly concerned about the veracity of all Dusaan tells our emperor.”

Kayiv had expected that it might come to this, though he had hoped with all his heart that it wouldn’t. Already, he was putting his life at risk. But thus far he had done nothing irrevocable. In the next few moments, however, all that would change. There would be no turning from this path, no escaping the Weaver’s wrath if Dusaan learned of his role in this.

“Believe what you will,” he said, allowing his fear to creep into his voice.

“Very well. Keep your purpose to yourself. But you’ll have no help from me.” Stavel turned and started to walk back toward the palace.

Kayiv let him take three or four steps, then called to him, by name rather than by title. He looked around, as if searching for the emperor’s men, then walked to where the chancellor stood waiting. “I’ll tell you, but you must swear to me that you won’t speak of this with anyone else.”

“You have my word.”

He took a long breath. “I fear that there’s more to the high chancellor’s deception than merely a desire to have his counsel hold sway with the emperor.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come now, Chancellor, surely it’s occurred to you as well.”

“I don’t-” Stavel stopped abruptly, his eyes growing wide. “You think he’s a traitor!”

“I’ve wondered if it’s possible, yes.”

“Simply because he lied to the emperor about the invasion?”

“As I told you, I fear that he’s lied to the emperor on other occasions as well.”

“Do you know this for certain?”

“No. But think about it, Chancellor. Why would he lie at all?”

“Perhaps it was done in error.”

“I’d considered that, but have you ever known the high chancellor to make any other errors of this sort or this magnitude?”

Stavel frowned. “No, I don’t suppose I have.”

“Neither have I.”

“But still-”

“The timing of this invasion is crucial to its success, and the master of arms was quite disturbed by the emperor’s decision. He told me as much himself.”

“You’ve spoken of this with the master of arms?”

“Yes. And he’s concerned about it as well. We all should be. What if the high chancellor made this recommendation knowing that it would doom the invasion to failure?”

“Qirsar save us all!”

“You see now why it’s so important that we address this matter as quickly as possible. It may be that I was right when I told you that this was nothing more than a misunderstanding. Certainly I hope so. But if there’s more to it than that, we need to know, and we need to warn the emperor.”

“Then we shouldn’t confront Dusaan at all. We should go straight to Harel.”

Kayiv had to keep himself from looking pleased. “Do you really think so?”

“Of course. If the high chancellor is a traitor, and we raise this with him, he’ll find some way to continue his deception. By going directly to the emperor, we deny him that opportunity.”

“And if he’s not a traitor, if this is all just the result of an honest error?”

“Then we will have disturbed the emperor and angered the high chancellor for no reason. But under the circumstances, that seems a small price to pay.”

Kayiv nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose you’re right. So you’ll speak of this with the other chancellors.”

“Yes. And I think you should say something to the ministers. It would be best if we all went to the emperor, lest we seem to be dividing into factions.”

This the minister hadn’t anticipated, though he realized immediately that he should have. There were only five ministers among the emperor’s many Qirsi, and of course one of them-Nitara-was allied with Dusaan. If he approached the emperor with Stavel, speaking for the other ministers, the high chancellor would learn of his betrayal. Indeed, he would probably hear of it from Nitara long before word of this reached Harel.

“The ministers don’t have much influence with the emperor, Chancellor. I’m not certain that there would be much point in involving them.”

Stavel smiled. “I understand that you’re afraid, Minister. So am I. But we’ll do this together. It will be safer for all concerned.”

He was desperate now. “What if there are traitors among the ministers?”

Stavel narrowed his eyes. “Do you have reason to believe that others in the court are traitors?”

He almost told him. It was a measure of how frightened he was of Dusaan that he even considered it. And it was a measure of how much he still cared for Nitara that he answered as he did.

“No, I don’t.”

“Then it’s a risk we’ll have to take, Minister. You should also speak with the master of arms again. We’d be in a far stronger position if he was with us.”

Kayiv nodded. “I believe he will be.” There was nothing more for him to say. A few moments later he and the chancellor parted company, Stavel continuing his walk through the marketplace while the minister returned to the palace, glancing about all the way, expecting at any moment to see Nitara, or worse, Dusaan.

By nightfall of that same day, there was talk in the court of a mysterious discussion taking place among the chancellors. Already Stavel had honored their agreement, and Kayiv had little choice but to call together the ministers as well.

They met the following morning in Kayiv’s chamber. It was early, too early judging from the weary faces of his fellow ministers, but Kayiv had wanted to speak with them well before the ringing of the midmorning bells.

“What’s this about, Kayiv?” asked Gorlan, the oldest of their group and the one who had served longest in the palace.

“We’ll wait a few moments more,” he answered, eyeing the door. One was still missing. Nitara, naturally.

“Is this about the chancellors?”

“Not about them, no. But we’ll be discussing the same thing they did.”

Gorlan nodded, as did the other two, Rov and B’Serre.

A few moments later, at last, someone knocked at the door, and at Kayiv’s call to enter, Nitara let herself into the chamber. Her hair was braided and her eyes seemed to glow like torches. She sat as far from him as she possibly could, perching on the sill of his window like some pale dove.

“We’re all here now,” B’Serre said. “Tell us what’s going on.”

Kayiv nodded, his eyes flicking toward Nitara. He wasn’t exactly sure how she would respond to all of this.

“Nearly a turn ago, Chancellor Stavel came to me, having just spoken briefly with the emperor. It seems the emperor was under the impression that the suggestion to move up his invasion of Eibithar had come from all his Qirsi.”

“But we never discussed it.”

“Hence Stavel’s concern.”

“You say this happened a turn ago?” Gorlan asked.

“Yes.”

“And we’re just hearing of it now?”

“That was my doing. I thought the decision a wise one, and though it seemed clear to me that the high chancellor had taken some liberty in presenting this counsel to the emperor, I saw no harm in it. Since I had spoken with the high chancellor about another matter just after that day’s discussion, I told Stavel that he and I had talked of the invasion and that the emperor must have misunderstood and assumed that all his Qirsi were privy to our conversation.” He shrugged. “Stavel accepted this and I assumed that the matter was closed.

“Yesterday, however, Stavel and I spoke of it again, for the first time since that day a turn ago. It seems that he hasn’t forgotten the high chancellor’s transgression.”

“Nor should he have,” Gorlan said, his voice hard. “If the high chancellor wishes to give advice to the emperor, he should do so. But he has no right to speak for us without soliciting our opinions first. And frankly, Minister, I’m disappointed in you. I would have thought that you’d feel as I do about this, and that you would have come to us far sooner.”

Kayiv did his best to look contrite, though inwardly he was pleased. When Nitara related to Dusaan what had been said here, she would surely include Gorlan’s rebuke. “You’re right,” he said. “I should have. I apologize to all of you.”

“What does Stavel want to do about this?” Nitara asked.

Kayiv looked at her, their eyes meeting for the briefest of moments before he had to look away again.

“Is he content to raise the matter with the high chancellor and ask that in the future we be consulted before he takes his suggestions to the emperor? Or does he intend to do more than that?”

“Well, I’m afraid there’s more to it than just the chancellor’s pique. He fears that Dusaan has done this on other occasions, and he’s begun to question if the high chancellor’s behavior might be rooted in more than just arrogance.”

“Meaning what?” Rov asked.

But glancing at Nitara once more, Kayiv saw that she already understood. Her cheeks had flushed, and she was shaking her head slowly, as if warning him not to answer.

“Meaning that he believes the high chancellor might be a traitor.”

“Demons and fire!”

“I believe the chancellor has allowed his fears to overmaster his judgment,” B’Serre said.

Nitara nodded, glaring at Kayiv. “I agree.”

Kayiv remained silent, as did Gorlan, who didn’t appear at all surprised by what had been said. Kayiv couldn’t be certain, but he sensed that, like Stavel, the minister had his own doubts about the high chancellor’s loyalty.

“So Stavel wishes to speak with the emperor,” Nitara said.

“I believe he does. I also think he wants all of us to accompany him, so that he isn’t forced to voice his suspicions alone.” He considered mentioning the master of arms, but quickly thought better of it. Best not to reveal all to Nitara just yet.

“I won’t do it!” she said. “The high chancellor is no traitor, and I won’t be party to any attempt to brand him as such.”

“I feel the same way,” B’Serre said. “If we had proof that he had betrayed the empire in some way, that would be one thing, but all he’s done is claim falsely to speak for the rest of us.”

“ ‘All he’s done’?” Gorlan repeated. “Surely you don’t condone it.”

“No, I don’t, and if Stavel wants to bring this up with the high chancellor, I’ll be more than happy to support him. But this is hardly grounds for calling the man a traitor.”

“Is that how you feel as well, Rov?”

The man stared at his hands, a troubled look in his bright yellow eyes. But after some time he nodded. “I guess it is. I don’t like that he lied to the emperor, especially about this. But I’m not ready to accuse him of treason.”

Kayiv nodded. “Gorlan?”

“It seems I’m more disturbed by this than are the rest of you, but I won’t stand alone against the high chancellor, particularly if it means questioning his loyalty.”

“All right,” Kayiv said, masking his disappointment, “I’ll tell Stavel that we’re not willing to go to the emperor with this.”

“I do think we should speak with the emperor,” Gorlan said quickly. “He should know that we didn’t all agree with Dusaan’s counsel regarding the timing of the invasion.”

“It’s not our place to go directly to the emperor,” Nitara said, sounding slightly desperate. “We should speak of this with the high chancellor himself, and tell him that in the future we would prefer that he come to us before making such recommendations on our behalf.”

Gorlan shook his head. “That’s not good enough. What if the high chancellor has misrepresented us before? What’s to stop him from ignoring our protests and doing it again?” He looked around the chamber, as if seeking support from the rest. “Don’t you think that we ought to inform the emperor of what Dusaan has done?”

Kayiv was more than happy to let Gorlan argue the point for him, and he remained silent.

For quite some time all of them did.

At last, Rov gave a reluctant nod. “He should probably know. I don’t relish the notion of going to the emperor without Dusaan’s knowledge, but in this case it might be justified.”

Gorlan turned to B’Serre, an expectant look on his lean face.

“I don’t feel right about this,” she said.

“So you’re willing to let him claim that he speaks for all of us, even when it’s not true.”

“I didn’t say that. But I won’t lie to you: I have no desire to anger the high chancellor. I like living in this palace and serving the emperor, and I’m not willing to risk being banished from here just because my pride’s been bruised.”

“Maybe we should wait to see what the chancellors have decided to do. With all of us going to the emperor, there’s less risk of any one of us incurring the high chancellor’s wrath.” Rov glanced at Kayiv. “Except for you and Stavel, of course.”

Kayiv gave a wan smile, his stomach feeling cold and hollow.

“I’ll agree to that,” B’Serre said.

Gorlan nodded. “So will I.”

They all looked at Nitara.

“I still think this is a bad idea, but it seems I’m the only one. The rest of you should do what you believe is best.”

“Then it’s decided,” Kayiv said. “I’ll speak with Stavel, and I’ll let all of you know what the chancellors have chosen to do. In the meantime, I think we should keep what’s been said here to ourselves.” He knew better than to think that Nitara would conceal any of this from Dusaan, but the others would expect him to say something to this effect. All of them nodded their agreement, even Nitara.

A moment later the others stood and crossed to the door. Kayiv had expected that Nitara would hurry from the chamber so that she could speak immediately with the high chancellor. But she surprised him, lingering near the window until the others had gone.

“Are you mad?” she demanded, once they were alone and Kayiv had closed the door.

“What do you mean?”

“You know full well what I mean. First the master of arms, and now this. No one is going to believe that all this was Stavel’s doing, Dusaan least of all.”

“But it was. The emperor spoke with Stavel, and then Stavel brought it to my attention. This all started with him.”

“And how hard did you have to push him before he agreed to speak with the other chancellors?”

He looked away, his pulse racing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is this still about us, Kayiv? Are you still so jealous of the high chancellor that you feel you have to strike back at him? Or is there more to it than that?”

“I told you, this was Stavel’s doing, not mine, and it has nothing to do with us. Stavel came to me. What was I supposed to do? Tell him that it wasn’t worth our concern, like you’re trying to do? Don’t you realize how ridiculous that sounds? The high chancellor lied to the emperor.”

“Don’t you think he does that everyday? Don’t you think that he has to? Think of who he is, and what it is he hopes to accomplish. Of course he lies. You’d have to be a fool to think otherwise.”

“This lie was different. I know you think he’s brilliant and perfect, but in this instance he was careless and he got caught. That’s his fault, not mine. And if you’re smart, you won’t defend him too strongly. Because if he’s revealed as a traitor, you will be as well.”

“And you think you won’t?”

He shrugged. “I’m not certain that I care anymore.”

She stared at him a moment longer with obvious distaste. Then she stepped past him to the door. “You are mad.”

“If you care for me at all anymore, you’ll say nothing about this to the high chancellor until we’ve spoken with Harel.”

She paused briefly, though she offered no response. After a moment she pulled the door open and left him.

There seemed nothing unusual about the day’s discussion in the high chancellor’s chamber. Dusaan gave no indication that he knew the chancellors and ministers had met, although Kayiv found it difficult to believe that he hadn’t heard of the gatherings. Once again he ended their audience early, but since he had done so the day before, Kayiv could hardly read anything into this. Kayiv also noticed that Dusaan never once looked his way, nor did the high chancellor so much as glance at Stavel. And as Kayiv left Dusaan’s chamber, he saw as well that Nitara lingered by the doorway, as if intending to speak with the high chancellor when the rest of the Qirsi had gone.

The minister left the palace, then doubled back through another entrance and made his way to Stavel’s chamber, taking care not to be seen.

Almost as soon as he knocked on the chancellor’s door, Stavel pulled it open and ushered him into the chamber. He looked panicked, his eyes wide with a wild, frightened expression, and his face grey save for two bright red spots high on his cheeks.

“He knows!” the chancellor whispered, the moment he had closed the door again. “Dusaan knows!”

Kayiv gave a small shudder, but he kept his voice calm as he asked, “How can you be so sure?”

“Didn’t you see him just now? Didn’t you notice how he was treating me?”

“He didn’t even look at you.”

“Exactly! We can’t go through with this!”

“If that’s how you feel-”

“How I feel? Aren’t you afraid of him?”

Of course he was. Kayiv knew Dusaan was far more than an arrogant chancellor or even a simple traitor. He would have been a fool not to be afraid. And yet in that moment he found that he felt strangely calm, as if he thought himself somehow immune to the high chancellor’s power.

“What did the chancellors say when you spoke to them yesterday?” he asked, ignoring Stave’s question.

“They don’t believe he’s a traitor, and while they were angered by what he told Harel, they aren’t willing to confront him or, for that matter, to speak with the emperor.” He took a long breath and it seemed to steady him some. “And the ministers?”

Kayiv smiled thinly. “They chose not to take any action until they knew what the chancellors intended to do. It seems it’s up to the two of us.”

“I’ve already told you, I won’t go through with this. The man is no traitor, and after considering the matter for another day, I don’t believe his transgression warrants taking any action at all.”

It shouldn’t have surprised him. Dusaan was a formidable figure in the palace. All of Harel’s Qirsi knew that they could be banished from the emperor’s court in an instant if the high chancellor but wished it. Kayiv should have known from the start that, dependent as he was on the courage of his fellow Qirsi, he couldn’t prevail. Still he couldn’t help but feel angry, as if all the others had betrayed him.

“Very well, Chancellor,” he said, reaching for the door handle. “We won’t speak of this again.”

“One of the other chancellors tells me that you arranged all this because Dusaan stole Nitara from you.”

He spun around to face the man. “That’s not true!” But he felt his face burning with shame.

“You wanted to get back at him, and you used me to do it.”

“Dusaan lied to us! That’s why I did it!”

“I’m not certain I believe you.”

Kayiv shook his head. Dusaan had defeated him, and with ease. His ties to the master of arms might keep him alive for a time, but eventually the high chancellor would find a way to kill him. In the meantime Dusaan would make him an outcast within the court. He knew that he’d probably be best off leaving now to avoid the humiliation, and to put himself as far from danger as possible. “It doesn’t matter,” he muttered. “Just out of curiosity, who told you this?”

“Why would you want to know that?”

Because that person may well be a traitor, too. “Never mind.”

He left the chancellor’s chamber and walked back to his own. Pushing the door open, he saw a small piece of parchment resting on his bed. His heart abruptly pounding, he took a tentative step forward, then another. Half expecting to see some threatening missive penned in the high chancellor’s hand, Kayiv was relieved to see that the note came not from Dusaan, but from Nitara. Almost instantly, however, he felt himself growing suspicious. No doubt she had told the high chancellor of their discussion earlier in the day and all that Kayiv had said against him. It seemed equally clear that she would play a role in meting out whatever punishment Dusaan had decided upon for Kayiv’s betrayal. He briefly considered fleeing the palace immediately; that would have been the wisest course.

But the thought of never seeing her again was too much for him to bear. “Come to my chamber at once,” the message read. Very well. This would be the last thing he did for her.

He started toward the door, paused long enough to strap a dagger to his belt, then left his chamber and walked down the corridor to Nitara’s door.

“Come in,” she replied when he knocked.

He let himself into her chamber, his breath catching at the faint scent of her perfume. She was sitting on her bed, and seeing him, she stood. She looked pale and frightened, much as Stavel had a few moments before, though it had the effect of making her appear even more lovely than usual.

“Thank you for coming,” she said.

“You told him everything, didn’t you?”

“I had no choice.”

He gave a harsh laugh. “Of course.”

“I swear it’s true, Kayiv. I wasn’t going to tell him, but he asked me to remain behind, and when we were alone he demanded that I tell him what had been said at our meeting.” She took a step toward him, then seemed to hesitate. After a moment, she looked away. “I’m afraid for you. I think you should leave Curtell.”

His throat tightened, and he feared that he might retch. “Why?” he managed. “What did he say?”

“It was nothing he said. I think he believes I still have feelings for you. He asked his questions, then sent me away. But he was behaving strangely. I think he intends to kill you.”

Kayiv nodded. No surprise there. “What about Stavel?”

“I don’t think he’ll hurt him. He thinks Stavel an old fool. But you turned on him. You joined his movement, and then betrayed him. He’ll want blood for that.”

Again, he was surprised by how calm he felt. True, he had already realized that he would have to leave the palace, but the thought of doing so seemed to have no effect on him.

“You say that he still thinks you have feelings for me. Do you?” He regretted the question as soon as it crossed his lips, and he dreaded her answer.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Certainly I don’t want to.”

“But if he believes it, you might be in danger as well.” He faltered, but only for an instant. “Perhaps you should come with me.”

“No. I’ve cast my lot with the movement. I don’t think he wants to hurt me. He may not love me, as I’d hoped he would, but he needs allies in the emperor’s court, and he knows that I’ll serve him faithfully.”

It pained Kayiv to hear her speak so of the high chancellor, but she had been more honest with him than he had any right to expect.

“I understand.”

They stood in silence for several moments, their eyes locked. At last, Kayiv looked away.

“I guess I should go then.”

“All right.”

Still neither of them moved.

“At least come here and hold me for a moment,” she finally said. “After all we’ve shared, that’s the least you can do.”

He smiled and stepped forward, opening his arms to gather her in an embrace. She was smiling as well, her pale eyes holding his. So he didn’t even notice the blade in her hand until it had pierced his flesh. And by then there was nothing he could do to save himself.

He started to cry out, but she covered his mouth with her own, locking her free arm around his neck and pulling him toward her. At the same time, she took a step back, her legs striking the bed so that she fell backward, Kayiv on top of her. The impact drove her dagger deeper into his chest. He grabbed for her throat with both hands, but already he could feel the strength leaving his body, draining away with his blood. How foolish he had been to think that Uriad could protect him, how blind to think that she wouldn’t kill for Dusaan.

“Poor Kayiv,” she whispered in his ear. “So eager to believe that I still cared.”

He tried with all the strength he had left to squeeze the life from her, to take her with him to Bian’s realm. But he could barely feel his hands anymore. He was aware only of the pain in his chest, and the sound of her voice, receding like a moon tide.

“He wanted me to tell you that this is what becomes of traitors, and that while you’re suffering the torments of the Underrealm, we who you betrayed will be creating a glorious future for the Qirsi here on Elined’s earth. Think on that as you face the Deceiver.”

There was so much he wanted to say, so many curses he wished to bring down upon her head. But all he could think to whisper as the last breath crept from his chest was “I loved you so.”

When Nitara was certain that he was dead, she slid out from beneath him and stood, her head spinning slightly with the effort. Her clothes were soaked with his blood, and her hands trembled, but the guards would expect that.

She tore her shirt at the shoulder, partially revealing her breasts. Next, with her clean hand, she pulled the dagger from Kayiv’s belt, cut herself just above the breast, as well as on the shoulder and on the back of her hand. Then she dropped the blade beside the bed. As an afterthought, she also bit down hard on her lip, tasting blood.

Only then did she cross to the door, pull it open, and scream for the palace guards.

Soon her chamber was filled with soldiers. The other ministers and chancellors stood in the corridor, staring in at her with wide eyes and expressions of horror. Even the master of arms came, solemn and silent.

“He tried to force himself on me,” she said again and again, her tears flowing as if genuine.

Of course they believed her. Who could look upon her and question her word?

Eventually the Weaver came, as he had promised he would. He said little, his chiseled face grim. But she knew that he was pleased. He had told her that this was a test, a way for her to prove her devotion to the Qirsi cause. She hoped, though, that it would be even more than that. After this, how could he possibly doubt that she loved him, that she would do anything for him?

After what seemed an eternity, the guards left her chamber, wrapping Kayiv’s body in her bedding and promising to send servants to clean the mess. B’Serre offered to remain with her, but she sent the minister away, saying something about needing rest. Closing the door, she closed her eyes for a moment, weathering another bout of dizziness. She had thought that she wanted to be alone, but she found herself staring at the dried blood on her floor and struggling to rid herself of the one memory she least wanted from this day.

Better he should have called her a whore and railed at her for her treachery. Those would have been the words of a coward, of a traitor, easily endured and soon forgotten.

I loved you so.

She hated what he had become, what his weakness had made her do. But she wondered how she would ever bring herself to forget what he had said with his dying breath.