forward.
'Let me take some of those. Couldn't you have asked for some help?'
'I didn't want any.'
Together they wrestled everything to the floor, then stood not looking at each other.
'Isn't this place enormous?' said Carnelian, trying to make conversation.
Too big,' his brother muttered.
Carnelian nodded. There'd be room enough in just these apartments for much of the household.'
That was a mistake. Thoughts of the Hold soaked them both with misery.
Carnelian punched his brother's arm. 'Come on, I want to wash.' Tain started rummaging amongst the stuff on the floor. 'What're you doing?'
'Finding the pads.'
There's no need for those,' said Carnelian and began throwing off his clothes. Tain came to help. 'I'll undress myself. The way you smell you'd better strip as well.'
Tain looked puzzled but did as he was told.
Carnelian's painted skin was mouldering like old whitewash. He pulled the Little Mother amulet over his head, coiled the strap and put her down carefully. He went off to the chamber he had seen earlier with its channel of water, Tain following with awkward steps.
With some experimenting and many accidents, Carnelian found out how to operate the various little bronze sluices. Soon he had created a number of crisscrossing waterfalls. Tain gaped. Carnelian crept behind him and shoved him in. Soon they were splashing round, screaming with the cold, letting the water spin rivulets through their hair. They gave themselves over to the delight. Both played with the sluices, pushing each other into any new deluge that erupted from above. They marvelled at the way the runnels in the floor kept the surface underfoot free from puddling. Tain rubbed the paint from Carnelian's skin. When they were both shivering clean, he ran out and found towels. While he waited, Carnelian turned all the water flow back into the channel running along the wall. Tain came up to dry him. Carnelian squeezed his hand when it came near and made Tain smile. It was good to see that.
Carnelian asked him to shave his head.
'Like the Master?'
'Like the Master.'
'But what if I cut you?'
'Well then, do it carefully.'
So Carnelian knelt at his feet while Tain first cut his hair almost to the roots with a knife and then scraped his scalp with a copper razor. Carnelian watched his brother working, his tongue held between his teeth. 'How are our people?'
Tain stopped, brushed a lock of black hair onto the floor, then gave him a sidelong glance. They're afraid.'
'Of what?'
'What's going to happen. And…'
Carnelian waited, looking down and playing with the hair that lay everywhere on the floor. He wanted to make it easy for Tain to say anything he wanted.
The killings… the killings on the boat. Everyone's rattled.'
'You as well?'
'What do you think?'
Carnelian relived the horror in his mind. The boy saw him pale and began nibbling the edge of his hand. 'It was my fault, Tain.'
'Maybe so. But there's other stuff. On the ship the lads heard things, sounds coming from the other cabins.'
'What sort of sounds?'
Tain's face creased up. 'Punishment sounds… other things… they're… we're afraid of the other Masters. And the Master, our Master, he's been behaving very strangely. The lads have even grown a little afraid of him.'
Carnelian felt a twinge of anger that they should dare judge his father. 'What can I do?'
'Keep an eye on them. You know they only live to serve you and the Master?'
The pleading in Tain's eyes melted Carnelian's anger. 'I know they do. Tell them that I'll do all I can.'
Tain beamed. ‘I told them you would, Carnie.' He made to kiss his hand, but Carnelian grabbed him instead and gave him a hug. They let go of each other.
'Now get on with my head.'
Together, they had stood on the balcony watching the sparks light up in the black valley all the way up the road. 'Like a river of stars,' said Tain in wonder. He turned to Carnelian who stood like an ivory carving beside him. 'Did you see the Master of this place, Carnie?' 'Yes.'
'Does he have a legion?' 'I'm not sure. Perhaps…'
Tain's eyes opened very wide. He reached out to touch Carnelian's arm. 'Do you think there're dragons here?'
Carnelian shrugged. T don't know.' It made him wonder himself.
Tain went inside and drew back the feathered blankets to sprinkle perfume on the linen sheets. Then he took a blanket and began to make himself a bed with it on the floor. Carnelian told him he could sleep with him in the bed. The floor's of stone. You'll have frozen to death by the morning and then what use will you be?'
In the darkness Carnelian nesded into his brother's warm back. He could feel the bumps down his spine. They had not slept in the same bed since they were infants.
'Do you think we'll see dragons?' whispered Tain. 'I'm sure we will,' Carnelian replied. 'Now go to sleep.'
RANGA SHOES
The Chosen shall not set foot on earth, nor stone, nor any other ground outside Osrakum that has not first been purified in the manner prescribed.
'Carnie. Carnie.'
Carnelian woke and had no idea where he was. The Master has sent for you.'
It was Tain with an intense dark gaze. Carnelian sat up and swung his feet onto the floor. He rubbed his face, knuckled his gummy eyes, then stood up shakily. He lifted his arms out to the sides and screwed up his face in anticipation of the cold touch of the pad.
Tain pushed Carnelian's arms down gently. 'I was told not to clean you.'
'Sorry?'
'You are to go as you are.'
Carnelian stared at his brother, confused.
Tain chuckled. 'Well, not exactly as you are. You're to wear this.' His chin nudged a black garment draped between his outstretched arms.
Carnelian bent forward to allow Tain to feed it over his arms and head. Tain stroked it smooth then did up its spine of hooks. Carnelian yawned. He ran his palms down over the crusty brocades. 'What sort of robe is this?'
Tain shrugged. Annoyance pushed its way through Carnelian's sleepiness. He lifted up some of the black cloth, peered at it, traced its patterns of glassy beads with a finger. He felt he should be able to read them. He could not. He shook his head and let the cloth drop.
Tain led him out from his chambers. Carnelian felt unwashed, naked without his paint as he walked out into the great hall where the blue canopies were billowing. Doors were open, leading off in a long succession to the
