The Magician’s Apprentice

me. He was... I think he expected me to try something like that, though perhaps not so soon.” Funny how I was surprised he didn’t seduce me on the night of the wedding, but he’s surprised I’ve only left it for a week. I wonder how long I’m supposed to wait?

Vora was frowning now. “And?”

“I...I did what you suggested.” Stara shook her head. “No reaction.”

“Nothing? Perhaps he was pretending.”

Stara smiled wryly. “I have no reason to doubt. He wasn’t wearing any clothing. And neither was I.”

“Oh.” Vora looked away, her brow creased deeply. “What happened then?”

“He told me he’s never been able to bed a woman, or even wanted to. He was very apologetic about it. I asked him why he married me and he said he’d hoped it would be different with a woman as beautiful as me.”

Vora gave a quiet snort. “That, I suspect, is a lie. What happened next?”

“I told him I was hoping for children. He told me not to worry, that we would find another way. He made me promise not to tell anyone. Then he got me to put my clothes back on and leave.”

The slave’s eyebrows rose. “Interesting.”

Stara frowned. “Do you think Father knew Kachiro couldn’t...?”

“That he’d marry you to a man he knew couldn’t sire children?”

“Or because I can’t kill him while bedding him.”

Vora blinked. “I hadn’t considered that. It wouldn’t do Ashaki Sokara’s reputation any good if his daughter had a habit of killing husbands. But the first reason is possibly more likely. Your father cares a great deal where his wealth and land will go when he dies. I’d assumed he would prefer it to fall into the hands of a man he disliked than the emperor’s – especially since Kachiro’s the same age as Ikaro and unlikely to outlive him by very long, so that everything would soon pass on to your son or daughter. But maybe I am wrong. Maybe this is more complicated than that.” She looked thoughtful.

“Kachiro said we’d find a way to have a child. Is he lying?”

Vora shook her head and smiled. “There are other ways to ‘baste the bird’, as they say.”

Stara grimaced. “Why are all Sachakan sayings so crass?”

The slave shrugged. “It probably started as a slave saying. We’re nothing if not honest about the processes of life.”

“Then...if there are other ways I can become pregnant by Kachiro, then it’s still possible for father’s assets to go to my husband’s descendants.”

“Yes.” Vora rose and began to pace the room. “If your father doesn’t intend you to have a child, then he has to have considered that you may become pregnant by other means. Your father must know he can contest the paternity of any child of yours, and succeed. Either more people know about Kachiro’s inability than he realises, or your father has other evidence. Someone willing to verify it. Or unwilling but powerless to prevent a mind-read.” Vora’s voice trailed off. She stopped pacing and her expression became thoughtful.

Rising, Stara began pacing in Vora’s place. “So, if Father doesn’t mean me to have a child, or plans to contest its legitimacy, then who does he want to have inherit?” She felt her heart skip and looked up at the slave. “He still means to kill Nachira!”

Vora looked up, and her expression became grave. “Ah.”

A wave of frustration and anger rushed through Stara. “I agreed to marry for nothing! He was getting me out of the way.

Argh! This is crazy!” She stopped pacing and turned to face Vora.

“Why doesn’t Father want a grandchild by me to inherit? It’s not like Kachiro can take anything before Ikaro dies.”

Vora shrugged. “Part of it is pride. Inheritance in direct line through male sons is considered the ideal, and your father is nothing if not a traditionalist. He also sees his trade as another son or daughter. He wants to make sure it has a healthy future in the hands of people who will maintain it.”

“And this justifies killing Nachira?”

“Yes.” The slave sighed.

Stara sat down, suddenly filled with helplessness. “I wish we could sneak Nachira out of there and send her somewhere safe.”

“I too,” Vora said sadly. “And I’m no longer in a position to help.” Her eyes narrowed in thought. “Though I might be able to get a warning to Ikaro, if he hasn’t left.”

“Left? Ah, the war in Kyralia.” Stara shook her head. “If Father is so set on having an heir through his son, why would he send Ikaro off to war?”

Vora grimaced. “Pride again. Any ashaki who do not fight will lose respect and status. He has most likely joined the army too.”

“They must be very confident of winning – and surviving.”

Stara frowned. Does Mother know any of this? She can’t know her husband plans to kill her daughter by marriage. She hasn’t even met Nachira, though she must wonder why she has no grandchildren yet. Does she know her son is going to Kyralia to fight? How is a war between Sachaka and Kyralia affecting trade in Elyne? She may not be able to receive dyes from here, but she did have a few arrangements locally. Eventually the war must end and life go back to normal. Then she’ll find out I’m married...

“Is me having a child really going to threaten Father’s trade?” she asked aloud.

Vora blinked as Stara’s question dragged her out of her thoughts. “Well...If Kachiro is gaining a bad reputation that might put people off trading with him or his offspring...so it’s possible. But then if your father knew this he wouldn’t marry you to him. In fact, if the arrangement was so damaging, why didn’t he simply lock you up for the rest of your life?” Stara scowled. “Because I’d have blasted my way out of there.”

“And you’d have been caught and dragged back here. Which would be easy since you have no source slave with which to strengthen yourself.” Vora pursed her lips for a moment. “You know, it would have been far easier for your father to have you killed. He must have enough family feeling to want to avoid that. He’s taken quite a risk marrying you to Kachiro.”

Stara shuddered. “All the more reason to ask: is having a child so great a threat that I should consider not having one?”

Vora began to shake her head, then she stilled and a familiar expression of deep and careful consideration took hold of her features.

“Perhaps. But you’ve told Kachiro you want to have them. He will think it odd if you don’t attempt to.” She grimaced. “Let’s hope he does intend to be the father, by other means, because it could be a little awkward if he suggests you use a lover.”

Stara sighed. “How much worse can this get?” she wondered aloud. Then she winced. “I guess I could be murdered for being infertile.” She sighed and flopped back onto her back. “Why, oh, why did you let me come back to this crazy, crazy country, Mother?”

“You wanted to,” she imagined her mother replying. “You couldn’t wait to return to your father.”

At least the man she was married to was kind and decent. Even if he had a secret or two. Hopefully only the one, she thought. And I guess that’s fair enough, considering how many I have. I don’t even know if Father told him I can use magic. I’m beginning to suspect he didn’t.

For now, until she knew how he was likely to react, or unless she faced a life-threatening situation, she was going to pretend she couldn’t.

CHAPTER 34

The scout’s face had been smeared with ash and grease, and his clothes were dark with dried mud. Dakon had seen this man report many times now, but he still hadn’t picked up his name. He must be good at his job. We always seem to be recruiting new scouts, and old ones keep disappearing...

“A few hundred people used to live in Lonner,” the man told Magician Sabin.

“Any of the villagers alive?”

“Not that I could see. There’s a pile of dead out in a field, but it doesn’t account for all of them.”

“The rest left in time?”