'The little whore's son! he shouted.
Then he looked at the alembic, saw it was quite whole, and realized no harm was done.
He laughed mightily, slapping his thigh in glee. It was almost as if the little bastard knew we were spying on his mother, he chortled.
His three new friends laughed with him.
'Tell me, Majesty, Kalasariz said, wasn't she as beautiful as you've heard?'
Iraj glanced at the alembic again. His mouth suddenly went dry as he recalled the vision of Nerisa floating naked in her bath. He could almost taste her woman's scent rising on the perfumed steam.
'Yes, he said, voice rough.
'Even I was moved, Majesty, Luka said. And I'm a demon and have little appreciate for the female human form.'
'She seemed a dish more fit for a king, Fari said, than a man of such common breeding as Timura.'
Iraj's eyes narrowed. What are you suggesting? he asked.
'Suggesting? Why, nothing, Majesty, Fari said. I was only commenting on the obvious.'
'Lord Timura does claim to be His Majesty's most ardent friend and supporter, Kalasariz said to the others.
'That's certainly true, Luka said. He's told us all that often enough… When it suits his purpose.'
'Perhaps it's time you tested that friendship, Majesty, Kalasariz said.
'See how deep his feelings for you really are.'
Protarus licked dry lips. His fingers rapped against the alembic's stopperthinking, rap, rap, thinking.
Then he noddedhard. His decision was made.
'As I see it, he said, Safar's left me with no other choice.'
'In the past, Safar said to Nerisa, Iraj always listened to what I said. He didn't necessarily take my advice, nor did I always act as he wanted, but there were no hard feelings over it. At least none he showed.'
It was night and the two were curled up on Nerisa's bed, the sleeping Palimak between them. The child had been restless since the incident in the bath the previous day, his sleep plagued with nightmares. At Safar's urging Nerisa had brought the child into their bed and now he was sleeping peacefully, thumb stuck firmly in his mouth.
'We don't have to become man and wife, Safar, Nerisa said. I'll be your concubine, if you like. Or, since I'm a woman of means, you can be mine.'
Safar smiled, but the smile didn't linger long.
'There's much more behind this than our nuptials, he said.
Nerisa nodded. He'd told her about the great lie Protarus was demanding of him, and the conspiracy he suspected was being hatched by Luka, Fari and Kalasariz.
'I was just making a silly jest, she said.
'For some reason, Safar said, he's taken a sharp turn off the road we were both traveling on. And I don't know how to move him back.'
Nerisa shivered. I feel like a devil just perched on my grave, she said. When I was girl on the streets of Walaria I always took that feeling as a warning sign. I don't know how many times I boltedfor no reason other than that shivery feelingthen saw the thief catcher creeping down the alley.'
'Gundara has been howling danger since I left the palace, Safar said. He advises me to flee.'
'Then let's do it, Nerisa said, suddenly fierce. Leave everything behind us and flee immediately. We won't lack for money. I have gold cached all over Esmir.'
'I can't, Safar said.
Nerisa peered at him. Then, I suppose it'd be pretty difficult giving up being Grand Wazier, she said. It's hard to imagine having so much power.'
'That means nothing to me, Nerisa, Safar said. It was never anything I wanted, much less sought. Why, my fondest boyhood dream was to succeed my father some day as the greatest potter in all Kyrania.'
'Then let's go to Kyrania, Nerisa said. You talked about it so much in Walaria that it seemed a paradise to me. We'll go together. I'll be your wife, a simple village woman, with Palimak on my hip and his sister growing in my belly.'
Her eyes glistened. That was always my fondest dream, Safar, she said. So why don't we both make those dreams come true?'
He took her hand and said, I wish I could, but the Fates have decreed otherwise.'
And then he told her the tale of two womenone a vision in Alisarrian's cave, the other a living woman, Methydia, a powerful witch and visionary in her own right.
When he was done he said, Both insisted Iraj and I must travel the same path together. And at the end of that road is the answer I seek. The answer to the riddle of Hadin.'
'Well, I'm no witch, Nerisa said, and I'm certainly no vision in a cave. But it's plain to me Protarus has strayed off that path. You said it yourself. You said he'd taken a sharp turn and you didn't know how to get him back on the same road again.
'Did you ever think that maybe the road has ended? For the two of you, I mean? And you must go on, leaving Protarus behind in whatever madness he makes for himself?'
'Yes, Safar said, almost a whisper. I'd thought of that.'
Then he said, But Iraj isn't mad. He's only king, which is a kind of madness in itself, I suppose. I remember I told him that a long time ago.'
'Still, Nerisa. Then firmer, Still!'
Safar thought a moment, then said, I'll try one more time. We're supposed to meet again tomorrow. I owe him that one last chance.'
'You don't owe him anything, Nerisa said. It's the other way around, Safar. I wish you could see that.'
Safar shrugged. I can't help how I feel.'
He looked down at Palimak, then back at her, brow furrowed with worry.
'What disturbs me most of all, he said, is that both of you are in danger because of me. If Iraj acts badly he'll come after you as well as me.
'I think you should leave first thing in the morning.'
Nerisa, a sensible woman, agreed. She had the responsibility of Palimak after all.
'There's a village at the crossroads about twenty miles outside of Zanzair, she said. I'll have Abubensu get a carriage ready. I can tell him I'm considering an investment in the area, which isn't far from the truth. It looks to be a promising place.'
'I know the village, Safar said. If all goes well I'll send a message for you to return. And if doesn't, I'll meet you there.'
'One of my caravansbound for Caspanwill be crossing the desert in a day or so, Nerisa said. We can go with it.'
Palimak stirred. His eyes came open, a golden glow in the dim light.
Suddenly he screwed up his face and started crying.
Nerisa comforted him. Everything's okay, little one, she cooed. Mother's here.
'She won't let anyone hurt you.'
Outside the mansion, Leiria crouched in the shadows watching the house.
She heard a flutter of sound and her head snapped around to mark it.
It was a raven on the prowl, big wings spread to catch the evening air. The raven circled the mansion grounds, then it turned and flew off toward the palace.
It soared higher and higher until it disappeared in the red glare of the Demon Moon.
Leiria's eyes returned to the house. Deep inside she heard the child cry.
