Part 31 (1/2)
The Quorum Stones flared with frosted radiance where the faces of the sayfs of the Hundred Families hung in monochrome. Their images stuttered in the striated quartz. Femensetri's Sq had worked fast to get the message out to sympathetic ears. Even so, there were many faces Mari recognized as among her father's allies.
Nazarafine stood in the center of the amphitheater, beside Femensetri. Rosha was perched on the edge of a bench beside a wide-eyed Vahineh, who chewed upon already bloodied fingertips. From what Mari could tell, Vahineh still struggled with her Awakening. It seemed, from the rapid changes in her expression and posture, as if all her Ancestors vied for a moment in her mind. Many rahns, particularly those who had been Awakened without the proper training, died from the experience. Or went insane. No wonder the enormity of it had caused her to act so rashly in murdering Yashamin. Mari doubted Vahineh had even known what she was doing at the time, possessed by the rage of her father's spirit.
Na.r.s.eh sat spear-straight in her gray-green armor of crablike plates, her austere face devoid of expression. Ziaire stood near her, as did a number of those sayfs of the Hundred Families who had come to Amnon to depose Far-ad-din. Even without those who had been invited to the Parje-Sin revel, many of those who attended this small session of the Teshri had either been bought by her father or were voters of opportunity.
”We've answered your summons, Speaker,” the brittle echo of Hadi said in its crystal lens, one of the sayfs of Erebus Prefecture. ”What's so urgent you needed to speak with us on such short notice?”
”Thank you for your indulgence.” The Speaker bowed to her peers. ”I've called this emergency session of the Teshri to vote on two separate writs of deposition, both against Asrahn-Elect Erebus fa Corajidin-”
”Preposterous!” Hadi snapped. ”What nonsense is this?”
”Let her speak, Hadi,” came the gla.s.sy echo of Iraj from Sela.s.sin Prefecture, a supporter of the late Vashne. ”Nazarafine is the Speaker for the People, as well as a rahn. Show some respect.”
”Why do you suggest we depose the Asrahn-Elect, Speaker?” Bijan of Nasarat Prefecture asked over the cracking-ice din of the other members of parliament. ”This is a serious action you propose. I hope you can satisfy the burden of proof.”
Ziaire stepped forward, hands open. ”We have eyewitness accounts from Vashne's heir-”
”Such testimony is inadmissible in any Arbiter's Tribunal,” Hadi gloated. ”The pa.s.sage of memory from rahn to rahn through Awakening is not always perfect, especially when the event has been traumatic.”
”There's also the eyewitness testimony of Knight-Colonel Ekko of the Nasarat Lion Guard,” Rosha snapped. ”Now, Hadi, if you and anybody else who's been bought by Corajidin would be silent, the Speaker can finish what she has to say.”
Mari grimaced as Hadi and quite a few others protested. Their images juddered in crystal pillars. Rosha would not win any friends with her att.i.tude. Like Vahineh, she must be struggling with the turmoil of her own Awakening.
”I'm satisfied as to the legitimacy of the evidence,” Nazarafine said firmly. ”Enough to risk calling you all together. There are a number of charges we'll lodge, though the most serious are treason, conspiracy to commit treason, and regicide. Copies of these records have been sent to Arbiter Marshal Kiraj of the Family Masadhe, for his action.”
Kiraj's regal, spectral image nodded politely.
”Ludicrous!” Hadi snapped. Kiraj's expression remained fixed.
”There's nothing ludicrous about it.” Femensetri faced the ghostly image of Hadi where it floated in scratched gla.s.s clouds, streaked through with frosted light like a winter's sun. ”The Asrahn-Elect hasn't acted in the best interests of Shran.”
”Through his direct actions,” Nazarafine said, her voice flat with suppressed anger, ”without the sanction of the Justice Marshal, Corajidin caused the death of our head of state, Vashne's wife, and second son. He also abducted Rahn-Ariskander and Pah-Daniush-”
”Then let the witnesses to these crimes speak!” Hadi demanded.
Mari gestured to Rosha from where she hovered at the edge of the chamber floor. Rosha came over as quietly as she could in her armor. ”What is it?” she whispered.
”There are troop movements in the city. So far as we can tell, the Erebus army remains encamped outside the city. Four companies of Iphyri, as well as the Anlki and some nahdi are headed here, no doubt under the command of my brother. How long until we have a decision here?”
”This may take longer than expected.” Rosha looked back over her shoulder to where Nazarafine paced the Tyr-Jahavn floor, reciting her allegations against Corajidin. ”Honestly, I doubt we've either the time or the numbers to carry the day.”
”I can testify as to what my father-”
”Nazarafine won't have it.” Rosha grimaced, clearly uneasy. ”She doesn't want you involved, Ancestors only know why.”
”Then if I can't help you with the numbers, I can do something about giving you the time you need,” Mari muttered. ”Don't let the Speaker stop until this is decided in our favor, understand? This will all be for naught otherwise, and I fear the future my father will bring if we fail.”
”Femensetri has decided to remain here, just in case. As Scholar Marshal she can't involve herself unless it's to defend the Teshri.”
”I'm hoping that's an unnecessary precaution.”
”As do we all. Yet your father's forces still gather.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.
”How can I lead a nation of conscience, if I am not guided by my own?”-High Palatine Navaar of Oragon, 495th Year of the Shranese Federation Day 325 of the 495th Year of the Shranese Federation ”What do you mean they are not there?” Corajidin felt his pulse throb in his temple. The air in his office was stifling. A drop of perspiration trickled down his brow. Though Wolfram had healed the wound in his s.h.i.+n, Corajidin still felt the deep ache.
”Guita, matriarch of Family Parje-Sin, invited those of the upper castes in Amnon to a revel outside the city.” Wolfram leaned on his charred stave. He took a folded piece of parchment from within the folds of his robe. ”The revel promised a few days of delights hosted at Guita's country villa. Her guests were taken by pleasure-s.h.i.+p from Amnon late yesterday evening.”
”I know that duplicitous cow,” Corajidin snarled. ”She was one of Far-ad-din's half-blooded creatures, as well as an old friend of Vashne.”
”There are no communication devices there. I sent messengers by wind-skiff to recall your allies, though the Parje-Sin estate is hours away even by skiff.”
”Then send somebody else!” Corajidin thundered. He regretted his outburst immediately as pain shot through his head. He opened the top b.u.t.ton of his tunic to cool himself. ”I expect my allies to honor their obligations even after they have spent my gold.”
”There's no point in sending anybody else, and we don't have another wind-skiff to spare.” Wolfram crumpled the invitation in one large-knuckled hand. ”The one we used to escape the Rmarq barely flies, thanks to Indris, and Kasraman has the other. I warned you bought loyalty would last only so long as the s.h.i.+ne on the coins. Your allies are opportunists all.”
Corajidin felt his stomach heave. He leaned over his desk and vomited. It was with some horror he saw blood mixed with the bile. The sour combination of tinny blood and stomach acid in his mouth was disgusting. He made the mistake of inhaling, and the scent of his own juices on the floor made him heave again. Wolfram creaked around the table to help Corajidin to a couch. The old witch's gaze was troubled as he felt Corajidin's brow, looked into his eyes, measured his pulse.
”You're worse than before, my rahn,” Wolfram murmured. ”Your hearts beat far too quickly, and you're burning up. Loath as I am to say this, perhaps we need to retreat and fight another day?”
”No!” Corajidin grunted through the pain. ”There is no tomorrow for me!”
Corajidin doubled over in his chair. His hands spasmed, the fingers curling against his palms. Wolfram took Corajidin's hands and ma.s.saged the muscles until the fingers could straighten.
Belamandris strode through the door, than dashed to where his father lay curled on the couch. ”Father! What is-”
”Why are you here?” Corajidin asked. ”You are supposed to be holding the Tyr-Jahavn.”
”Our enemies have been industrious in our absence,” Belamandris replied. ”The Tyr-Jahavn is occupied. I noted the colors of the Great Houses of Nasarat and Sun, as well as those of the Family Bey. The chambers are well guarded and will be difficult to take.”
”You're the Widowmaker!” Wolfram said incredulously. ”Surely you're not going to be-”
”The Feya.s.sin are also there,” Belamandris said flatly. ”And the Stormbringer. Father, I advise you to make alternate arrangements.”
”I order you to take and hold the Tyr-Jahavn!” Corajidin snarled. His vision blurred, Belamandris's face becoming a smear of sun-bright gold. He reached out to rest his hands on Belamandris's shoulders. His face felt numb, his words slurred, when he spoke. ”Do this for me, my beautiful son. You are the only one I can trust now.”
Belamandris stood, bowed to his father. ”If that's what you desire, then far be it from me to deny you. I suggest you see to your safety until this is resolved.”
”Wait!” Wolfram held up his hand. ”Can your forces take the Tyr-Jahavn? Speak from honesty, rather than pride, if you would.”
”Can I do it? Yes. Is it worth the risk or the cost in lives? I doubt it. I'd prefer to have my Anlki take my father to safety.” Belamandris look was forthright. ”Were we to take the Tyr-Jahavn, what use would it be to Father in his current state? Even with the weight of the Iphyri and the nahdi in our employ, taking the place will be b.l.o.o.d.y work, and not done quickly. Our opponents aren't to be taken lightly.”