'I see. Then what would you have me do?'
The Jhistal priest on her right cleared his throat, then said, 'A burdensome but essential mission, Pearl, falls upon you. Organization is required, yes? The dispatch of a Hand, which you will find assembled at the Gate. A solitary killing. A drunkard who frequents Coop's Hanged Man Inn. His name: Banaschar. Thereafter, you may return to your quarters to await further instruction.'
Pearl's eyes remained fixed on the Empress, locked with her own, but she gave nothing away, as if daring him to ask what he so longed to:
Does a Claw take his orders from a Jhistal priest of Mael now? A man delivered here in chains not so long ago? But, he knew, her silence gave him his answer. He broke his gaze from her and studied Korbolo Dom. The Napan bastard was wearing the regalia of a High Fist. Seeing the man's smug, contemptuous expression, Pearl's palms itched. Two knives, my favourite ones, slowly slicing that face away – all of it – gods, never mind that – I could bury a blade in his damned throat right now – maybe I'd be fast enough, maybe not. That's the problem.
The hidden Claw in this room will take me down, of course, but maybe they're not anticipating… no, don't be a fool, Pearl. He glanced once more at the Empress and something in her look told him she had comprehended, in full, the desires with which he struggled… and was amused.
Still, he hesitated. Now was the time, he realized, to speak out against this. To seek to convince her that she'd invited two vultures, perched now on each shoulder, and what they hungered for was not the ones who would in a short time be seated before them – no, they wanted the throne they flanked. And they will kill you, Laseen. They will kill you.
'You may now go,' Mallick Rel said in a sibilant voice.
'Empress,' Pearl forced himself to say, 'please, consider well Tavore' s words this night. She is your Adjunct, and nothing has changed that.
No-one can change that-'
'Thank you for the advice, Pearl,' Laseen said.
He opened his mouth to add more, then closed it again. He bowed to his Empress, turned about and strode from the chamber. And so, Pearl, you fling it into Tavore's lap. All of it. You damned coward.
Still, who killed Lostara Yil? Well, Adjunct, such disregard ever comes home to roost.
So be it. Tonight belonged to them. Korbolo Dom he could take another night, at his leisure, and yes indeed, he would do just that. And maybe that grinning lizard of a priest as well. Why not? Topper was missing, probably dead. So, Pearl would act, in the name of the empire. Not in Laseen's name, but in the empire's, and this was one instance – clearer than any other he could think of – where the two loyalties clashed. But, as ever with the Claw, as with you once, long ago, Empress, the choice is obvious. And necessary.
For all the bravado of his thoughts, as he made his way down to the courtyard, another voice whispered over and over, cutting through again and again. One word, burning like acid, one word…
Coward.
Scowling, Pearl descended the levels of the keep. A Hand was waiting, to be given the task of assassinating a drunk ex-priest. And in this, as well, Pearl had waited too long. He could have forced things into the open, reached through to Tayschrenn – that bastard had virtually entombed himself, never mind that nest of hidden helpers. Oh, the Imperial High Mage wanted to be close to things. Just not involved.
Poor Banaschar, a haunted, befuddled scholar who simply wanted to talk to an old friend. But Mallick Rel did not want Tayschrenn disturbed.
Because the Jhistal priest has plans.
Was Laseen truly a fool? There was no possible way she trusted them.
So, what was the value in placing those two men in that chamber? To unbalance Tavore? Unbalance? More like a slap in the face. Is that really necessary, Empress? Never mind Tavore, you cannot just use men like Mallick Rel and Korbolo Dom. They will turn on you, like the vipers they are.
The risk in unleashing false rumours was when they proved too successful, trapping the liar in the lie, and Pearl began to realize something… a possibility. To ruin the name of Coltaine, that of his enemy must be raised. Korbolo Dom, from traitor to hero. Somehow… no, I don't want to know the details. Laseen could not then execute or even imprison a hero, could she? Indeed, she'd have to promote him.
Empress, you have trapped yourself. Now, I cannot believe you are not aware of it…
His steps slowed. He had reached the main floor, was ten paces from the postern door that would take him out along the base of the wall, a path of shadows leading him to the Gate.
What do you seek to tell your Adjunct, then? The extremity of the danger you are in? Do you ask Tavore… for help? Will she, upon walking into that chamber, be in any condition to see and understand your plea? For Hood's sake, Laseen, this could go very, very wrong.
Pearl halted. He could do what was necessary, right now. Walk to the east tower and kick down Tayschrenn's door. And tell the fool what he needed to hear. He couldTwo hooded figures stepped into view before him. Claws. Both bowed, then the one on the left spoke. 'Claw, we are informed that our target is ensconced in the Hanged Man Inn. There is a piss trough in the alley behind it, which he will frequent throughout the night.'
'Yes,' Pearl said, suddenly exhausted. 'That would be ideal.'
The two cowled figures before him waited.
'There is more?' Pearl asked.
'Such matters are for you to command.'
'What matters?'
'Sir, killing undesirables.'
'Yes. Go on.'
'Just that, sir. This target was delivered to us… from elsewhere.
From one who expected unquestioned compliance.'
Pearl's eyes narrowed, then he said, 'This assassination tonight… you would not accede to it without my direct command.'
'We seek… affirmation.'
'Did not the Empress herself confirm the Jhistal's words?'
'Sir, she did not. She… said nothing.'
'Yet she was present.'
'She was.'
Now what am I to make of that? Was she just feeding out enough rope?
Or was she, too, frightened of Tayschrenn and so was pleased to unleash Mallick Rel on Banaschar? Damn! I don't know enough about all of this. No choice, then, for now. 'Very well. The command is given.'
The Claw, Mallick Rel, are not yours. And the Empress has… abstained. No, it seems that, until – or if – Topper returns, the Claw are mine. Convenient as well, Laseen, that you brought six hundred with you…
The two assassins bowed, then departed through the postern door.
Then again, why did it feel as if he was the one being used? And worse, why did it seem that he no longer cared? No, it was well.
Tonight he would not think, simply obey. Tomorrow, well, that was another matter, wasn't it? Tomorrow, then, I will kick through what's left. And decide what needs to be decided. There you have it, Empress.
Tomorrow, the new Clawmaster once more cleans house. And maybe… maybe that is what you ask from me. Or you have asked it already, for it wasn't just the Adjunct for whom you assembled that tribunal, was it? You just gave me command of six hundred assassin-mages, didn't you? What else would they be for?
The truth was, he could not guess the mind of Empress Laseen, and in that he most certainly was not alone.
Nerves slithered awake in his stomach, born of sudden fears he could not comprehend. Six hundred…
Face it, Pearl. The Adjunct did not kill Lostara. You did. You sent her away, and she died. And that's that.
But that changes nothing. It makes no real difference what I do now.
Let them all die.
Pearl turned about and made his way to his rooms. To await more orders. Six hundred killers to unleash… but upon whom?
