The chancellor took an upholstered chair by the fire and gestured to the other. ‘Clearly, the encounter at the Crag was not a complete success.’
‘No,’ said Rix. ‘But Tali hurt him.’ He told the story briefly, omitting any details that could harm her.
The chancellor listened without comment, then said, ‘Why have you come here?’
Rix stared into the flames, but found no assistance there. When he looked up, the chancellor was studying him, impassively. Rix looked down again. ‘I’ve overheard a plot. To get rid of you.’
‘Don’t mumble, boy!’ The chancellor leaned forwards, his face unreadable. ‘When did you hear this?’
Rix had never found it easy to lie, except to his mother. ‘Two days ago.’
‘Before you stole my horses and galloped to Precipitous Crag.’
He shivered. Minds were open books to the chancellor. What did he know? Was this a test?
‘Yes.’
‘How long before?’
The noose was tightening. If he lied and said days or weeks, it would make him an accessory. ‘Less than a day.’
‘I know you’re a brave man, and I’m told you’re an honourable one,’ said the chancellor. ‘Since you’re only telling me about the treason now, the plotter must be friend or family.’
Rix could not speak; he could hardly breathe.
‘And the name?’ said the chancellor.
‘I — can’t say,’ Rix said in a strangled voice.
‘Allow me to assist you. My spies watch your windows and one of your door guards is my man. On the day before you left, you did not go out of your tower, and no one entered save myself, Lady Ricinus, Tobry Lagger, Tali vi Torgrist, and servants. You would not keep silent for a servant, and I know it wasn’t Tali.’ He leaned back and his hard little eyes met Rix’s. ‘I hope it was Lagger. I’ve always despised the man.’
Out in the city, every steam whistle went off at once. Rix sprang up. ‘What’s that? Are we attacked?’ The whistles died as though they had run out of steam.
‘Sit down,’ said the chancellor.
As Rix sat, a drop of sweat ran down his nose. The chancellor would order Tobry’s execution without a qualm. But if Rix denied it was Tobry, it was the same as betraying his mother.
‘If you don’t deny it,’ said the chancellor, ‘your silence affirms his guilt and he dies a traitor’s death.’ He reached for the bell pull to his left.
A black-haired servant girl came in, carrying something heavy on a large silver tray covered by a silk cloth. She set it down on a low table between Rix and the chancellor. The chancellor nodded, she lifted the cloth and withdrew.
Rix jumped, sending his chair backwards. A small white dog, contorted by the agony of its death, lay on the tray. Blood had leaked from its mouth and bowel. The chancellor leaned forwards, stroking the small head, then looked up.
‘Ricin,’ he said. ‘The deadliest poison in Hightspall, the most agonising death, and there is no antidote.’
‘How did it happen?’
‘I thought myself well protected. I had employed every protection at my disposal, yet still the assassin got through. The poison was meant for me.’
‘It wasn’t Tobry,’ Rix gasped.
‘But he knows about the plot? You’re his best friend. You tell him everything.’
‘He knows nothing. I dared not tell him.’
The chancellor leaned forwards again, eyes impaling Rix. He felt like a worm with a hook through its guts.
‘If Lagger is innocent, only one person can be guilty.’
Rix kept silent, clinging to the pathetic illusion that not naming his mother lessened the betrayal.
‘That poison is both a trademark and a challenge,’ said the chancellor.
‘I–I don’t understand.’
‘Ricin comes from the castor oil plant, also called
Rix stared at the dead dog, afraid to speak.
‘Name the name,’ said the chancellor inexorably.
‘I — can’t betray my own!’
‘If you don’t, you’re betraying your country at a time of war. That won’t just bring you down, it will topple your house.’
‘My house?’ Rix whispered.
‘Your country comes before your house —
‘If you know who made the threat, why do I have to say it.’
‘Traitors must be named.
‘I’m sure she didn’t mean it,’ said Rix. ‘She retracted it at once.’
‘Then where’s the difficulty?’
‘Naming her is her death sentence.’
‘Such a cunning, ruthless and well-connected woman is far more use to me alive than dead — especially if her life,
Waves of relief coursed over Rix. The chancellor was right. Lady Ricinus could help him in all kinds of ways. He met the chancellor’s eyes.
‘Name the plotter,’ said the chancellor.
The hook twisted in Rix’s guts. He tried to speak, but could not; tried again.
‘It was Mother,’ he gasped, staring at the black tiles. ‘Lady Ricinus made the threat.’
CHAPTER 87
Sickness churned in Rix’s belly. He had broken the greatest taboo of the noble houses. He had betrayed his mother and was utterly dishonoured.
The chancellor bared his teeth. He had all he needed to bring Lady Ricinus down. ‘So House Ricinus falls, brought down from within.’
It was like a blow to the groin, as agonising as it was unexpected.
‘But … but …’ Rix felt like a stupid schoolboy, crushed by a master and a rule he could not understand. ‘You gave me no choice — you said, “My country first,
‘That was a test, and you failed it.’
‘A
‘You’re brave, strong and a born leader. Had your other qualities matched those, you would have been a great asset to me in the fight-back. But you’re a bitter disappointment, Rixium. You failed in the most vital quality of all — loyalty.’
‘Loyalty,’ Rix said numbly.
‘I lied to test you. A chancellor must put his country first. However the first duty of the heir to a noble house is always to protect his house.’
‘I
‘By condemning your own mother? If you could not even show
The chancellor pulled the bell and said to the two guards who came at once, ‘Escort him from my palace.’
Rix stumbled across the snow-covered grounds towards a side gate to Palace Ricinus, his head reeling. He was lower than the street scum down at the docks, where life was bought and sold for a length of copper wire or a worn pair of shoes. And what if the chancellor tried Lady Ricinus for high treason, and called Rix as the chief witness against her? Shame burned him like mage-fire.
