Stavel lifted the blade so that its point rested on the high chancellor’s breastbone.
“No doubt he’d like to kill me,” Dusaan said so that the others could hear, all the while keeping a tight hold on Stavel’s mind. “But I control him. He’s helpless to do anything other than what I command.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” Stavel whispered, a tear winding a crooked course down his face.
“Because you turned against me. Because you chose service to the Eandi over loyalty to your own people.”
“What are you going to do to him?” asked Bardyn, another of the old ones who had refused to join him.
“What would you suggest I do with him, Chancellor? He’s been spying on all of us for the emperor. He’s guilty of the worst kind of betrayal.”
“He was only doing what his sovereign asked him to do. Harel feared for his life and his court-with good reason it now seems-and he ordered Stavel to do this. Surely you can’t fault the chancellor for that.”
“So you would have done the same thing?” Gorlan demanded.
Bardyn glared at him briefly before looking away. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”
Stavel’s hand was trembling. Dusaan could feel him fighting to win back control of his mind and body.
“Turn the sword on yourself,” he said.
Another tear slid from Stavel’s eye as he turned the blade and held the tip against his own chest.
The Weaver almost told the man to kill himself then. He intended to. He considered Stavel’s betrayal a crime against the Qirsi people, one for which the old man deserved to die. But looking at the others once more, he saw apprehension on their faces. Even Nitara seemed to be pleading silently for Stavel’s life, her pale eyes wide and brimming with tears. If this woman, who had willingly taken the life of her former lover, couldn’t bear to see the chancellor killed, how would the rest respond?
“You understand that it would be nothing for me to take your life, that you’ve earned such a death with all you’ve done?”
Stavel nodded.
“And you understand as well, that if you dare go to the emperor with any of this, I will kill you, and Bardyn, too.”
His eyes flicked toward his friend, then back to Dusaan’s face, the sword still pressed to his heart. “I understand.”
“Good.” Dusaan took the blade from him and released his hold on the man’s mind. Stavel blinked once, his entire body appearing to sag. “You’re to leave the palace at once, Chancellor. I don’t ever want to see your face again. If I do, your life is forfeit.”
Stavel started to say something, then seemed to think better of it. With one last glance at the others, he left the chamber.
“If any of you still intend to oppose me, you should leave now as well. My patience for traitors runs thin.”
There was a brief silence. Then Bardyn stood, crossed to the door, and pulled it open. Pausing on the threshold, he turned to stare back at Dusaan. “Stavel is right, you know. You’re all quite mad.”
Dusaan raised the sword, so that it pointed directly at Bardyn’s chest. “Not a word to anyone, Chancellor. You’ll find that a Weaver’s reach is not limited by walls, or mountains, or even oceans. Defy me now, and I’ll find you, no matter how far you run.”
The man blanched and pulled the door shut, his footsteps retreating quickly down the corridor.
“Anyone else?” Dusaan asked.
No one moved.
“I’m pleased,” he said. “And I welcome you to the Qirsi movement. Before this day is done the Imperial Palace will be ours, and soon after, all of Braedon. From there, it won’t be long until we’ve conquered all the Eandi courts and created a new land ruled by the Qirsi people and defended by Qirsi magic.”
“How will we take the palace, Weaver?” Nitara asked.
The high chancellor allowed himself a smile. “Leave that to me.”
* * *
Dusaan left his chamber a short time later, instructing the other Qirsi to remain there and await his return. He wouldn’t need them for what he intended to do next, nor did he wish for any aid. Harel was his. He had been anticipating this day for too long to share its pleasures with anyone else.
The guards at Harel’s door stopped him, of course.
“The emperor isn’t expecting you,” one of them said.
“I know that, but it’s rather urgent that I see him.”
The one who had spoken stepped into the imperial chamber, closing the door quietly behind him. After some time he reemerged, eyeing Dusaan with manifest distrust.
“What is it you want?”
“It’s a rather delicate matter, involving the fee accountings. I’d prefer not to say more than that.”
The man frowned, but went back into the chamber. When he returned to the corridor once more, he nodded to the other guard then faced the high chancellor. “You’ll have to remove your weapons.”
“Yes, I know. And I suppose I’ll have to wear that hood again as well.”
“I’m afraid so,” the man said, sounding more insolent than apologetic.
They took his dagger, tied the hood in place, and led him into the chamber. Dusaan sensed four guards in the chamber, two by the throne and two more by the door. Two of Harel’s wives sat in a far corner whispering to one another as a harpist played nearby. Harel was sitting on his throne as Dusaan entered, but he stood immediately and began to pace. The two guards who had accompanied the Weaver into the chamber withdrew, closing the door behind them.
“Well, High Chancellor?” Harel said, his voice tight. “What is it you want?”
“I thought your man explained that, Your Eminence.”
“Yes, yes, the fee accountings. What about them?”
The guards seemed content to remain where they were, no doubt believing that the hood rendered Dusaan powerless to harm the emperor. Within the muslin the Weaver smiled.
“I fear that some of your gold has been misused, Your Eminence.”
Harel stopped pacing. “What? How much?”
“Quite a lot actually. Several thousand qinde, at least.”
“Several thousand! How is this possible?”
“It’s difficult to say, Your Eminence. I found some notes that I had written down some time ago and I realized that the numbers on those notes were not consistent with what I remember being requested by the fleet commanders in the strait.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It would be easier to explain if we had the accountings here with us. Perhaps you can have the master of arms summoned.”
“Yes. Yes, I’ll do that.” Harel approached the guards at the door. “Have the master of arms brought here at once, and make certain that he brings the fee accountings.” Harel hesitated, then turned to Dusaan. “All of them?”
“No, Your Eminence. Only the current one.”
“The current fee accountings,” Harel repeated to the guard, as if the man couldn’t hear.
The soldier left them, and Harel resumed his pacing.
For a long time the emperor merely walked, saying nothing, though Dusaan sensed his impatience mounting. The high chancellor would have liked for Harel’s wives to leave. The harpist, too. He had no desire to harm them, but neither could he have them running through the palace raising the alarm.
“How could this have happened?” Harel finally demanded, sounding like a petulant boy. “Where could the gold have gone if not to the fleet?”
“Your Eminence, it might be best if we discuss this matter in private.”
“What? Oh, yes, of course.” Dusaan heard him snap his fingers. An instant later the music stopped, as did the whispers and soft laughter. “Leave us. I’ll call for you again later.”
The two wives rose and walked quickly from the chamber, followed closely by the harpist.
“Now, Dusaan, can you tell me where this gold might have gone?”
