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Zalasta howled, and in that howl there was a lifeti and blackest despair

And then he vanished

Chapter 20

Eely detached as he looked out over the shaovernment Some of the officials appeared to be in shock; others scurried ai Several were clustered at the ne, his diplo turn of events,’ he noted, as if he were speaking of an unexpected su reed, his eyes still lost in thought ‘I think we eon down in the basement functional?’

‘Yes, your Majesty The architect was very thorough’

‘Good’

‘What have you got in rinned at her, his face suddenly almost boyish ‘I ain’t a-tellin’, dorlin’,’ he replied in outrageous imitation of Caalador’s dialect ‘I purely wouldn’t want t’ spoil th’ surprise’

‘Please, Sarabian,’ she said with a weary sigh

‘Jist you watch, yer Queenship I’oing to make me cross, Sarabian’

‘Don’t you love me any more, mother?’ His tone was excited and exhilarated

‘Men!’ she said, rolling her eyes upward

‘Just follow my lead, my friends,’ the Emperor told them ‘Let’s find out hoell I’ve learned my lessons’ He rose to his feet ‘Lord Vanion,’ he called, ‘would you be so good as to return our guests to their seats?’

‘At once, your Majesty,’ Vanion replied Vanion, forewarned of Zalasta’s treachery, was completely in control He barked a few short cohts firmly escorted the distracted officials back to their chairs

‘What was he doing?’ Ehlana demanded of her husband in a tense whisper ‘Why did he try to attack Danae?’

‘He didn’t, love,’ Sparhawk replied, thinking very quickly ‘He was trying to attack Aphrael Didn’t you see her? She was standing right beside Sephrenia’

‘She was?’

‘Of course I thought everyone in the room saw her, but maybe it was only me – and Zalasta Why do you think he ran away so fast? Aphrael was right on the verge of jerking out his heart and eating it before his very eyes’

She shuddered

Eain ‘Let’s coentleather that you were surprised by the revelation of Zalasta’s true position – some of you, anyway I’m disappointed in you, my Lords – most of you for your profound lack of perception, the rest for not realizing that I could see through Zalasta – and you – like panes of glass Some of you are traitors, the rest are merely stupid I have no need ofpleasure to announce that at sunrise this hout Tamuli moved out of their barracks and replaced all imperial authorities with officers from their own ranks With the exception of Matherion, the entire Eessa,’ Sarabian said

‘Yes, Sarabian-Emperor?’

‘Would you be so kind as to eliminate that lone exception? Take your Atans out into the city and take charge of the capital’

‘At once, Sarabian-Eessa Show my subjects my fist’

‘It shall be as you command, Sarabian-Eh to be heard as the towering Atan marched to the door

‘Your Majesty,’ Pondia Subat protested weakly, half rising

The look the Eht now, Subat,’ he said ‘You and I will talk later – extensively I’m sure I’ll find your explanation of how all of this happened under your very nose without even disturbing your decades-long nap absolutely fascinating Now sit down and be quiet’

The Prime Minister sank back into his chair, his eyes very wide

‘All of Tamuli is under martial la,’ the Emperor told his officials ‘Since you’ve failed so e That asps, and soest in office and most convinced of their own neardivinity, cried out in protest

‘Moreover,’ Sarabian cut across their objections, ‘the treason of Zalasta has cast doubt upon the loyalty of each and every one of you If I cannot trust all, I entle you questions tomorrow, and we’ll want complete truth from you We don’t have tile out froly reco The consequences of mendacity or evasion will be very unpleasant’

Ulath took a long honing-steel froe of his axe-blade It e

‘As a demonstration of eht, and to provide you with accoive each of you absolute privacy to review your past lives so that you can answer questions fully toood as to escort our guests down to their quarters in the dungeon?’ Sarabian was i for all he orth

‘At once, your Majesty,’ Vanion replied, clashing his ainst his breastplate in salute

‘Ah, Lord Vanion,’ Ehlana added

‘Yes, uests before you put the themselves the way the Chancellor of the Exchequer did, noe?’

‘Excellent suggestion, your Majesty,’ Sarabian agreed ‘Take all their toys away from them, Lord Vanion We don’t want the’ He paused a uests will be able to concentrate a little better if they have soible about the once to the effect that the prisoners in Elene dungeons wear a kind of uniform’

‘Yes, your Majesty,’ Vanion told hiht face ‘It’s a sleeveless sht red stripe painted down the back, so that they can be identified in case they escape’

‘Do you suppose you uests?’

‘If not, we can improvise, your Majesty’

‘Splendid, Lord Vanion – and take their jewels away from them as well Jewels make people feel important, and I want thes I suppose you’d better feed theeons?’