demon who stalks my kin…’ His fevered ramble trickled away, and so ravaged was Rhulad’s face that Nisall had to look away, lest she cry out.
‘Highness,’ the Chancellor said in a quiet voice.
Nisall stiffened-this was what Triban Gnol was working towards-all that had come before was for this precise moment.
‘Highness, the demon has been delivered. It is here, Emperor.’
Rhulad seemed to shrink back into himself. He said nothing, though his mouth worked.
‘A challenger,’ Triban Gnol continued. ‘Tarthenal blood, yet purer, Hanradi Khalag claims, than any Tarthenal of this continent. Tomad knew him for what he was the moment the giant warrior took his first step onto Edur bloodwood. Knew him, yet could not face him, for Binadas’s soul is in the Tarthenal’s shadow-along with a thousand other fell victims. They clamour, one and all, for both freedom and vengeance. Highness, the truth must now be clear to you. Your god has delivered him. To you, so that you may slay him, so that you may avenge your brother’s death.’
‘Yes,’ Rhulad whispered. ‘He laughs-oh, how he laughs. Binadas, are you close? Close to me now? Do you yearn for freedom? Well, if I cannot have it, why should you? No, there is no hurry now, is there? You wanted this throne, and now you learn how it feels-just a hint, yes, of all that haunts me.’
‘Highness,’ the Chancellor murmured, ‘are you not eager to avenge Binadas? Tomad-’
Tomad!’ Rhulad jolted on the throne, glared at Triban Gnol-who visibly rocked back. ‘He saw the demon slay Binadas, and now he thinks it will do the same to me! That is the desire for vengeance at work here, you fish- skinned fool! Tomad wants me to die because I killed Binadas! And Trull! I have killed his children! But whose blood burns in my veins? Whose? Where is Hanradi? Oh, I know why he will not be found in the outer room-he goes to Hannan Mosag! They plunge into Darkness and whisper of betrayal-I am past my patience with them!’
Triban Gnol spread his hands. ‘Highness, I had intended to speak to you of this, but at another time-’
‘Of what? Out with it!’
‘A humble inquiry from Invigilator Karos Invictad, Highness. With all respect, I assure you, he asks your will in regard to matters of treason-not among the Letherii, of course, for he has that well in hand-but among the Tiste Edur themselves…’
Nisall’s gasp echoed in the suddenly silent room. She looked across to where Edur guards were stationed, and saw them motionless as statues.
Rhulad looked ready to weep. ‘Treason among the Edur? My Edur? No, this cannot be-has he proof?’
A faint shrug. ‘Highness, I doubt he would have ventured this inquiry had he not inadvertently stumbled on some… sensitive information.’
‘Go away. Get out. Get out!’
Triban Gnol bowed, then backed from the chamber. Perhaps he’d gone too far, yet the seed had been planted. In most fertile soil.
As soon as the outer doors closed, Nisall stepped from the alcove. Rhulad waved her closer.
‘My love,’ he whispered in a child’s voice, ‘what am I to do? The demon-they brought it here.’
‘You cannot be defeated, Emperor.’
And to destroy it, how many times must I die? No, I’m not ready. Binadas was a powerful sorcerer, rival to the Warlock King himself. My brother…’
‘It may be,’ Nisall ventured, ‘that the Chancellor erred in the details of that. It may indeed be that Tomad’s dream was a deceitful sending-there are many gods and spirits out there who see the Crippled God as an enemy.’
‘No more. I am cursed into confusion; I don’t understand any of this. What is happening, Nisall?’
‘Palace ambitions, beloved. The return of the fleets has stirred things up.’
‘My own Edur… plotting treason…’
She reached out and set a hand on his left shoulder. The lightest of touches, momentary, then withdrawn once more. Dare I? ‘Karos Invictad is perhaps the most ambitious of them all. He revels in his reign of terror among the Letherii, and would expand it to include the Tiste Edur. Highness, I am Letherii-I know men like the Invigilator, I know what drives them, what feeds their malign souls. He hungers for control, for his heart quails in fear at all that is outside his control-at chaos itself. In his world, he is assailed on all sides. Highness, Karos Invictad’s ideal world is one surrounded by a sea of corpses, every unknown and unknowable obliterated. And even then, he will find no peace.’
‘Perhaps he should face me in the arena,’ Rhulad said, with a sudden vicious smile. ‘Face to face with a child of chaos, yes? But no, I need him to hunt down his Letherii. The traitors.’
‘And shall this Letherii be granted domination over Tiste Edur as well?’
‘Treason is colourless,’ Rhulad said, shifting uneasily on the throne once more. ‘It flows unseen no matter the hue of blood. I have not decided on that. I need to think, to understand. Perhaps I should summon the Chancellor once again.’
‘Highness, you once appointed an Edur to oversee the Patriotists. Do you recall?’
‘Of course I do. Do you think me an idiot, woman?’
‘Perhaps Bruthen Trana-’
‘Yes, that’s him. Not once has he reported to me. Has he done as I commanded? How do I even know?’
‘Summon him, then, Highness.’
‘Why does he hide from me? Unless he conspires with the other traitors.’
‘Highness, I know for a truth that he seeks an audience with you almost daily.’
‘You?’ Rhulad glanced over at her, eyes narrowing. ‘How?’
‘Bruthen Trana sought me out, beseeching me to speak to you on his behalf. The Chancellor denies him an audience with you-’
Triban Gnol cannot deny such things! He is a Letherii! Where are my Edur? Why do I never see them? And now Tomad has returned, and Hanradi Khalag! None of them will speak to me!’
‘Highness, Tomad waits in the outer chamber-’
‘He knew I would deny him. You are confusing me, whore. I don’t need you-I don’t need anyone! I just need time. To think. That is all. They’re all frightened of me, and with good reason, oh yes. Traitors are always frightened, and when their schemes are discovered, oh how they plead for their lives! Perhaps I should kill everyone-a sea of corpses, then there would be peace. And that is all I want. Peace. Tell me, are the people happy, Nisall?’
She bowed her head. ‘I do not know, Highness.’
‘Are you? Are you happy with me?’
‘I feel naught but love for you, Emperor. My heart is yours.’
‘The same words you spoke to Diskanar, no doubt. And all the other men you’ve bedded. Have your slaves draw a bath-you stink of sweat, woman. Then await me beneath silks.’ He raised his voice. ‘Call the Chancellor! We wish to speak to him immediately! Go, Nisall, your Letherii stink makes me ill.’
As she backed away Rhulad raised his free hand. ‘My dearest, the golden silks-you are like a pearl among those. The sweetest pearl…’
Bruthen Trana waited in the corridor until Tomad Sengar, denied audience with the Emperor, departed the Citizens’ Chamber. Stepping into the elder’s path he bowed and said, ‘I greet you, Tomad Sengar.’
Distracted, the older Tiste Edur frowned at him. ‘Den-Ratha. What do you wish from me?’
‘A word or two, no more than that. I am Bruthen Trana-’
‘One of Rhulad’s sycophants.’
‘Alas, no. I was appointed early in the regime to oversee the Letherii security organization known as the Patriotists. As part of my responsibilities, I was to report to the Emperor in person each week. As of yet, I have not once addressed him. The Chancellor has interposed himself and turns me away each and every time.’
‘My youngest son suckles at Gnol’s tit,’ Tomad Sengar said in a low, bitter voice.
‘It is my belief,’ Bruthen Trana said, ‘that the Emperor himself is not entirely aware of the extent of the barriers the Chancellor and his agents have raised around him, Elder Sengar. Although I have sought to penetrate them, I have failed thus far.’
‘Then why turn to me, Den-Ratha? I am even less able to reach through to my son.’
‘It is the Tiste Edur who are being isolated from their Emperor,’ Bruthen said. ‘Not just you and I. All of
