replace her. That would excuse her taking on the royal privileges at least in the eyes of a monumentally ambitious Terrarch. That would make her seem sufficiently self-justifying. Tamara wondered whether the idea had been lounging around at the back of her mind waiting for an opportunity to present itself. That was fine though, playing a role was always more convincing when there was something of yourself in it.
“What if he asks me about these chains?' She could not resist aiming that small barb.
Asea’s smile was alarming. “Tell him the truth. That I do not trust you and I suspect you of being a sorceress.”
“Isn’t that against the law to bind a fellow Terrarch without Royal permission?”
“So is riding a dragon if you are not the Empress. But we are at war. A lot can be forgiven under those circumstances.”
“This might come back to haunt you in the future,” said Tamara. It was the only small consolation she could find in the situation.
“It won’t be the first time,” said Asea, “and I doubt that it will be the last. Come now, let us meet the Inquisitor. He is very keen to meet you.”
“Lady Tamara,” said Inquisitor Joran. “I trust you are well?”
Joran did not fit Tamara’s preconceptions of what a High Inquisitor should be like. He was affable, relaxed and charming. He wore no ceremonial robes or military uniform. He could have been any high noble who had attached himself to the army as spectator.
“As well as can be expected under the circumstances.”
Joran studied their surroundings and wrinkled his nose fastidiously. “I suspect you are used to better accommodations than this.”
“Moderately.”
“They are actually rather good compared to some of the places I have seen. Many troops are billeted in roofless houses. No one is exactly comfortable.”
“I think I might enjoy sleeping under the stars.”
“Given the fact that our two nations are at war, a certain lack of hospitality is, sadly, only to be expected.” His manner made it clear that there was no personal animus because of the war. Like most Terrarchs of the old families, he was capable of separating the two. An accomplished deceiver herself, Tamara appreciated the skill with which he carried the pose. She smiled warmly back, a young Terrarch woman fooled by his courtly ease and slightly upset by her treatment, complaining to a sympathetic listener.
“Is that what you would call it?”
“I am sure if Lady Asea were to fall into Sardean hands, her welcome would be no warmer.”
“You are correct.”
“Thank you. Regrettably there are questions I must ask you as well.”
“I suspected that there might be.”
“You have come from the East and you are a schismatic.”
“I have known priests in the East who would say the same of you.”
“And you would agree with them, of course?” There was no threat in his tone. He was merely a kindly priest leading an errant pupil along so that he could correct her errors later. Or so his manner implied.
“I have never taken any position on the matter. I always suspected the breaking of the church was more of a political matter than a spiritual one.”
Joran smiled warmly. Tamara felt the need to be on guard. “Though as a voice of the faith I should not, I agree with you on that.”
“If you will forgive me for saying so, you seem very mild-mannered for an Inquisitor.”
“A certain honesty is needed for my duties. You and I are not humans, Lady Tamara. We do not need such strict spiritual guidance as they do.” The smile vanished as quickly as it came. “Why did you come here?”
“I made enemies in Sardea.”
“Riding on a dragon will do that for you.”
“I made them before then.”
“There are those on this side of the border who would frown on such an act of lesse majesty.”
“I am sure there are but given a choice between public disapproval and losing my life, I will risk the former.”
“You might be risking the latter as well.”
“Then let me rephrase things. I would prefer death deferred to death immediate.”
“That is understandable. Why did you ask to see the Lady Asea, and not General Azaar upon your arrival?”
“I have met Lady Asea before.”
“You regard her as a friend?”
“No.”
“As an enemy you respect.”
“That might be closer to the truth.”
“Did you come here to kill her?”
“No.”
“You have tried to have her killed in the past.” There was a subtle shift in Joran’s manner. He became less ingratiating and more menacing.
“What makes you think that?”
“Your activities as an agent of the Sardean crown are not unknown to us?”
“By us do you mean the Temple or the Talorean government?”
“I stand before you as a representative of both.”
Tamara considered what else Joran might know. There had been a time not so long ago when the knowledge that the Talorean secret service had been aware of her movements would have caused her the greatest concern but at the moment she had other things to worry about. She decided to test what he knew.
“I was not aware I had performed any activities as an agent of the Sardean government.”
“You have suffered a blow to the head recently, perhaps. I understand that can lead to selective amnesia.”
She met his cold smile with a warm one of her own. “Perhaps if you gave me some examples, they might refresh my memory.”
“You offered the half-breed Rik considerable rewards to kill Asea.” Tamara kept her face blank. How had he learned this? Had Rik told him that?
“You would take the word of a half-breed guttersnipe over mine.”
“He merely confirmed the information when I asked him to, but it was only confirmation. We already knew.”
“Who told you that?”
“I am not at liberty to divulge the source of that information.” Was he lying, Tamara wondered. She thought about who had known of her mission to Morven. Her father and Ilmarec were the only two of whom she was certain. Perhaps others in the Brotherhood had known. Had the Brotherhood been penetrated or was someone within it feeding information to the Inquisition for their own purposes.
“You were also present in Halim when Queen Kathea was killed. As indeed was your father. You at least survived. He did not.”
Tamara was surprised by how raw the mention of Malkior’s death made her nerves feel.
“He killed Kathea you know, your father. There are a number of people in this country who would be very happy to get their hands on his daughter. The Kharadreans have always been fond of revenge. Some would say it’s a national fault.”
“It would appear that a number of people have reason to want me dead,” said Tamara. “Those who think I committed an offence against the Royal dignity, half the population of Kharadrea…”
“Oh I would say more than half. You were an associate of the late Lord Jaderac. There are some who claim his necromantic rituals were responsible for the undead plague.”
“More than half of the population of Kharadrea, the Lady Asea. Have I missed anybody out?”
