“He laughed at the Matriarch, Saffi! He called her stupid and talked of doing horrible things to her. The worst part came near the end. Verner said if the Matriarch did not have the babe soon, he would open her belly himself and rip it out of her! He said the empress had grown impatient and that if he didn’t produce the child soon, she would recall him to Amudai. They were so drunk at the end that I got dressed and snuck out to look for you.”
Saffi groaned, rocking to and fro. “What are we going to do? We have to get her out of the palace before the babe comes.”
“Where were you last night? We could have gone to her straight away, but I couldn’t find you.”
Saffi looked guiltily away.
Ishani knew then where her sister had been. She had been in another’s bed. Most likely Vasyl’s again. Vasyl served as Verner’s body slave.
“Oh Saffi, how could you? Verner caught me getting ready to go to the palace. If he hadn’t been so stupid drunk he would have realised.”
“I’m sorry.”
“He might have killed us both!”
“Keep your voice down,” Saffi hissed. “He still might.”
Ishani glanced worriedly at the door.
“We have to pretend nothing has happened. We can’t go yet, he’ll notice we’re gone. We have to wait until dark.”
“But—”
“No,” Saffi said emphatically. “The Matriarch must be warned. If we die, who will tell her?”
Ishani nodded reluctantly. “Tonight then.”
Ishani and her sister chose to wait until Verner sat down to eat, before trying to escape. Unless he had guests, he invariably ate alone, not requiring their services until he retired. That time was candlemarks away, but Ishani had decided not to take chances. Saffi would have talked her out of it if she had known, so Ishani didn’t tell her about the drug she slipped into Verner’s wines. It didn’t matter which one he chose to drink. She had taken no chances and drugged them all. She secretly hoped he might get drunk again, and die from overdose. She wished she had poison, and not simply a sleeping draft to make certain he would.
Ishani waited until sure Verner had drunk at least one glass of wine, before collecting Saffi where she waited in her room. With luck, he wouldn’t know they had left until well into the following morning… or never if he died. Please the God it would be never.
“Ready?” Ishani whispered.
“Are you sure about this?” Saffi asked, indicating the sheer and near transparent silks they wore.
Ishani had decided they should dress in their best and most seductive clothes, reasoning that if soldiers should stop them, they could use any distraction to their advantage.
“No one will stop us, Saffi. We are a powerful man’s pleasure slaves. Anyone seeing us will know it and let us go about our master’s business.”
“I hope so.”
“It will work,” Ishani said, leading the way. She hoped she wasn’t lying.
Pura’s streets were already dark as they made their way toward the palace gates. They walked arm in arm, keeping to the middle of the lanes they followed where the light of the moon lit their way. The city was already snuggling down for the night. The earlier crowds had thinned to nothing. The only people they met were a couple of slaves hurrying upon their master’s business, and a Tamorin patrol jogging in time through empty lanes. The soldiers grinned when they saw Ishani and her sister, but their discipline held them. They did not stop, and the sound of their boots pounding cobbles faded into the nighttime sounds of the city.
They continued on.
Ishani noticed the sound of footsteps behind her at the same moment as her sister. Saffi gripped her arm tighter to prevent Ishani voicing her discovery. Instead they increased their pace, hoping the sound belonged to an innocent pedestrian sampling the air on such a fine night.
No such luck, Ishani thought, as the steps behind them sped to keep up. She glanced back over her shoulder, saw a figure wearing a black cuirass appear out of the shadows, and started running—dragging Saffi with her—before she realised she had done so. He was close! How had he come so close before they heard him? It didn’t matter. The only thing that did was getting away and warning the Matriarch.
Ishani ran faster than she ever had, but Saffi was even quicker. It wasn’t long before Saffi was the one tugging Ishani along. They ducked into alleys and cross streets in an attempt to confuse their pursuer, and didn’t realise at first that they could no longer hear him behind them.
“Wait,” Ishani gasped, slowing to a walk. “Wait, Saffi. He’s gone... I think we lost him in the alleys.”
“You think?” Saffi panted.
“Listen.”
They strained to hear anything behind them. Ishani held her breath... and released it in a whoosh of mingled relief and asphyxiation. She gasped, holding her side where a stitch made her want to curl up and rest.
“He’s gone. Thank the God we lost him.”
Saffi nodded and leaned her back against the wall. “So are we. Lost I mean.”
“No, it’s all right. I remember the turns we took. Come on, its not far now. Just up ahead.” They continued on, and the palace plaza came into sight at the end of the street. Ishani breathed a silent prayer of thanks to the God for their safe deliverance. “There, I told you—”
Saffi clutched her arm as a Tamorin soldier stepped out of the darkness. There was an alley just there. He must have circled around and waited for them. Ishani pulled her sister back as he approached. Before they could say anything, another figure detached itself from the shadows and grappled with the Tamorin.
“Get to the palace,” the newcomer grunted, as he fought. “Go!”
Saffi made to run past, but Ishani held her back. “It’s Force Leader Tymek. We have to help him.”
“How?”
Before Ishani could think up an answer, Tymek swung his enemy around by one arm and slammed him face first into a wall. The clatter of metal armour against stone was very loud, and Ishani looked fearfully around, hoping no one would call the city patrol to investigate. Tymek rammed the Tamorin’s face into the wall repeatedly, until he stopped struggling, and then let him fall. He finished him off by expertly slitting his throat.
Saffi shook as Tymek glared at them for not obeying his order, but Ishani was not afraid. Her thoughts raced as she realised he was the perfect man to get them into the palace.
“We need to see the Matriarch. Will you help us?”
“Now you want to go to the palace, do you? Why not go when I told you to?”
Saffi shook her head, unable to answer.
Ishani lifted her chin defiantly. “You needed help.” Tymek snorted, but Ishani thought she detected a glimmer of respect in his eyes. Lust was there too of course. It always was when men looked at her, but from Tymek it caused a thrill of delight to shiver down her spine. “It’s done now. We should go before the patrol finds him. They passed this way not long ago.”
“I know,” Tymek said, cleaning his blade and sheathing it. “Come, we should go.”
“That’s what I just said!”
Tymek grinned, a flash of white teeth the only aspect of his features visible as they ran through the shadows of the plaza toward the palace gates.
* * *
“Out of the question!” Nekane whispered vehemently. “She is exhausted.”
Talitha looked tiredly toward the door. “Who is it, Nekane?”
“No one of importance, Matriarch. You should rest now.”
Talitha nodded and closed her eyes gratefully. She smiled at Wanikiya cooing over Armina from the other side of the room. She would make a fine nanny. Who better than a healer to watch over and safeguard the next Matriarch?
“No I said!”
Talitha sat up. “What is it? I can’t sleep with you arguing in the corner.”
Nekane’s eyes darkened and he bowed his head at her rebuke. “I am sorry, Matriarch. Tymek is here. He insists upon seeing you.”
“Bring h
im in then.”
“But… yes, Matriarch.”
Nekane opened the door, and Tymek marched in followed by a pair of pleasure slaves. Talitha’s eyebrows climbed at this, but then she recognised Ishani, and the other must be the sister. Saffi. Before Talitha could say a word, Ishani screeched like a harridan and flew across the room at Armina.
“My baby!” Talitha screamed.
Chaos erupted as Talitha leapt out of bed to defend Armina, or rather, she tried to. She became entangled in the sheets and tumbled ungracefully to the floor. Nekane jumped forward to catch her, and tripped, landing beside her. Tymek roared at the guards in the room, but to Talitha’s shock, he did not order them to attack the slave but to stand fast! Before Talitha could scramble to her feet, she heard a shriek of anger and a thump as two bodies fell, throttling each other.
Talitha finally untangled herself and ran to the crib where Armina still slept peacefully. She snatched up her child, and ran back to put the bed between her and the fighting women. She didn’t understand any of this. Armina opened her eyes and began seeking a nipple. When she found her way blocked by Talitha’s robe, she howled, turning red with her frustration.
“Guards!” Talitha screamed at the top of her voice. “Seize them!” Her guards ran forward and more poured through the door from the outer room, but they were uncertain who to call enemy. “Seize everyone! Tymek too. Everyone!”
Only the dead would fail to obey the Matriarch in full vent of her fury, and perhaps not even they would do so more than once. The guards pounced on everyone, dragging them away from each other and forcing arms into painful arm locks behind their backs. Nekane howled in pain, but Tymek barely noticed his discomfit. He could have broken free easily enough, Talitha knew. He led her guard because he was the best man she had. He did not struggle. His eyes were calm and fixed approvingly on the Matriarch, current and future.
A guard hauled Ishani roughly away from Wanikiya, who despite her age had held her own in the fight. Though puffing from the exertion, she had enough breath to protest when a guard restrained her from going to Talitha’s side. Ishani spat hot words at the guard and Wanikiya. Kicking angrily, she glared hatefully at the healer promising retribution.
Armina continued howling, and Talitha finally had time to deal with her. She pulled her robe aside and offered a nipple. The noise cut off immediately, replaced by contended sucking.
Talitha glared around at the mess. Her room was a shambles and full of men in armour holding struggling prisoners. Ishani’s clothes, barely there to begin with, were disarrayed, and every man’s eyes were drawn to her curves. Talitha’s sense of humour finally gained ascendancy over her anger, and she saw the funny side of what had happened. Of course, Armina was safe and that made all the difference. It could so easily have been different. Her anger surged again and replaced all notion of anything at all funny in this situation.
“Release my chamberlain and the Force Leader. Hold the others.”
Nekane, wincing and working his arm free of pain, stepped clear of the guard who had held him. Tymek took his accustomed place near Talitha.
“I want answers, Force Leader, and I want them now.”
Tymek nodded. “The messenger is dead, Matriarch, as you ordered.”
“Good, but that is not what I meant.”
“No, Matriarch, but it has bearing. I found the messenger on his way to meet with the spy, Verner. As I prepared to make my attack, Ishani and her sister left the house on their way to meet with you. The messenger saw this, and as they were obviously going somewhere they shouldn’t be so late, he chose to follow.”
Ishani squawked in protest. “We were careful!” She blushed at Talitha’s sudden attention. “Forgive me, Matriarch.”
“Forgiven.”
Tymek continued his report. “I followed the messenger until it became certain he meant them harm, Matriarch. They led him a brave chase through the city, but by that time it became obvious they intended to reach the palace and you. He circled around and waited for them to approach the plaza. I killed him there.”
Talitha nodded. “A very concise report, Force Leader, but it does not answer any of my questions about what happened here. I am not accustomed to brawling in my bedchamber. It is not a tavern.”
“No Matriarch, of course it is not. I do not know why Ishani attacked your healer, but she would not do so without good reason.”
Talitha’s eyebrows climbed. “Indeed, would she not?”
Tymek vouching for a slave’s good intentions? That was a first in a day of firsts. She turned to regard Saffi, who had remained timidly silent. Ishani had always been the one to come to the palace and report, so it was to her that Talitha looked to for answers.
“Speak.”
“Oh, Matriarch, I don’t know where to begin. So much has happened.”
“Tell me all, and allow me to judge its merit.”
Ishani nodded. “I learned much yesterday, Matriarch, but could not come until tonight. I drugged the merchant so that Saffi and I could escape the house unseen. We dare not go back.”
“Drugged him? I specifically ordered you not to draw attention to yourselves.”
“I know, but we had no choice! Please, you must not let news of the babe leave the palace.”
Talitha frowned. “It is too late. I’m sure the entire city will know by morning. Everyone in the palace already knows, I am sure.”
Ishani slumped, and shook her head. “He will come here when he wakes. He will take your baby from you.”
“No one will take Armina from me,” Talitha said, her voice like ice. “No one would dare.”
“Verner will dare, Matriarch. He said if you did not have the babe soon, he would…” Ishani swallowed. “He said he would open your belly and rip her out himself. His empress has ordered it. He is terrified of her. He will not disobey.”
Talitha’s knees weakened and she sat hard upon the bed. Why would Empress Marzina order something like that? What possible gain could there be for Tamorin? Talitha shook her head when she realised how short-sighted her thoughts were. If she were to die, no mater how that be accomplished, Armina would succeed her as Matriarch. Marzina could mould Armina into whatever wished—a puppet ruler of Japura most likely. Talitha looked down at her beautiful daughter and shook her head in denial. No, it could not be true. Must not be true. No.
“No. It’s a lie.”
“It is no lie, Matriarch. I swear it upon my life and the God.”
“Marzina could not hope to rule Japura!” Nekane cried desperately. “The princes would not stand for it… the commoners would rebel against it!”
Talitha’s thoughts whirled in chaos. She tried to think. Tried to work her way through the puzzle and see a way out the other side of this disaster. Shock at the news and exhaustion from the birth befuddled her mind, and she struggled to think the implications through. Teirnon had rid her of Methrym, and if the messenger’s reports did not lie, he had continued into Tanjung. That meant… what did it mean? It meant…
I don’t know! Oh Ranen, help me! What should I do?
Teirnon had killed Methrym, he was killing Tanjuners; he was riding into Tanjung right this moment. That meant Teirnon was following orders… did it not? Maybe, but whose orders did he follow? Why had Marzina so readily agreed to aid her against Tanjung, and why hadn’t she bargained for something in return? Perhaps Japura itself was her price, one she would take by force. No! There must be a way to out, there must be!
“There is more, Matriarch. And worse,” Ishani said.
“Worse?” Talitha said faintly. “How can there be worse?”
“Verner ordered Strike Leader Wakiza killed. He covered it by making the attack look like a Tanjuner raiding party had stumbled upon him on the road.”
Tymek swore.
“God!” Nekane gasped. “It could be true. Remember, Matriarch, how we puzzled over how Methrym’s men could be in two places at once? It was always strange how easily those men disappeared after
the attack.”
Talitha nodded numbly. Armina yawned and closed her eyes to sleep. Talitha watched her daughter breathe evenly, struggling with conflicting desires. She wanted to run away; far away where no one could hurt her baby, but Japura needed her. She had brought this ruin upon her people by asking Marzina for aid. Instead of suing for peace with Tanjung as Matriarchs had done before her, she had let her heart rule her decisions. She had to find a way out.
“Jarek…” Ishani said hesitantly and Talitha’s head snapped up at the name. “Matriarch I am sorry but Jarek…”
“What about him?” Talitha asked, her eyes flinty and dangerous.
“P-p-poisoned. Not ill, but poisoned.”
Talitha shook her head wordlessly.
“Lies!” Wanikiya spat. “She lies!”
Ishani straightened as far as the guard at her back would allow. “My life is the Matriarch’s, as is my sister’s life. I do not lie. I heard it from Verner’s own lips.”
“Then Verner is lying!” Wanikiya hissed, her eyes pleading with Talitha. “You know I would never do such a thing.”
Talitha nodded numbly, but a worm of doubt began eating into her certainty. She banished it by remembering all the years Wanikiya had served her. Wani would never harm a living soul. She was a healer before she was anything else. Wani had nearly refused to reside at the palace when Jarek fell ill because she feared the common people would stop asking for her help.
Talitha nodded again. Wani was beyond suspicion. “If not you, then it must be Hetha. Where is she?”
“Hetha would not do this, Matriarch! Please, this is a mistake. Jarek is not poisoned.”
“Liar!” Ishani spat. “Don’t trust her, Matriarch!”
Talitha stood, suddenly determined to learn the right of this. She moved toward the door. “Bring them!”
She stormed through the palace, with Tymek and his guards hurrying to keep pace. Armina slept through it all, content to be near her mother. Tymek gained a few paces and slammed open the door to Jarek’s rooms, and Talitha swept inside.
“Seize her!” Talitha ordered, and Tymek pinned Hetha against the wall.
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