Page 113 (1/2)
“Hevren” I stopped, forcing hi their swords I ignored the in low earnest tones “She has to hear me Whether I am condemned or not She has to hear my words and the words of this wo as the doors were hauled wide “Not a counsellor”
He stood, gesturing forI glanced at Fornella, who stood eyeing the revealed throne room with naked trepidation “It’s my head she wants,” I told her “When she takes it try to make sure she listens”
The Ied on all sides by thick reat dome above There are no seats save the throne, positioned atop a raised dais in the centre, the dais itself for dia six steps where the Imperial counsellors stand The status of each counsellor is denoted by the position on the dais; senior military officers typically occupy the lowest step whilst lawmakers and scholars could expect to stand on the second or third tier I had been unique in being the only Imperial historian ever to ascend to the fourth step Only the Hope or those whose advice was most cherished by the Emperor could expect a place on the fifth tier The sixth step was always left vacant, a reminder that the ruler of the Alpiran Eht of power alone
My eyes briefly tracked over the counsellors, finding soaze or staring in unconcealed, if somewhat forced, fury I was surprised to find two counsellors on the fifth step, and one a soldier Horon Nester Everen, High Commander of Imperial Forces, had always been a difficult man to read Partly because of the habitual scowl he wore, but more so in recent years due to the extensive burns he had suffered in the final assault on Marbellis, scarring the left side of his face from brow to neck The attitude of the other man on the fifth step, however, was much more easily discerned Merulin Nester Velsus, the Iarded me with aged in a perpetual quest for the weaknesses of others, as if in confir the new depth of his en-held suspicions
However, ure seated at the top of the dais My last gli froplank to the wharf and strode off alone without a backward glance We hadn’t exchanged a single word during the voyage and watching her pace the deck, face set in constant, unyielding spite, had convinced me there would never be any scope for acco to hers It was then the decision came to me My scholarly curiosity, rekindled by Al Sorna’s tale, yearned for answers to thequestions left in his wake I would return to court, deliver my account of events in the Isles to the Emperor, and take ship to the Unified Real such a rash decision Though, as I looked upon Empress Emeren I, I suspected it would have made little difference to my current circumstance
Her face was set, the fine features impassive, composed and free of animosity But she couldn’t keep it froleam with anticipation, told ht make, my fate had already been decided
“Uncle Verniers!” I started at the joyous shout,frorown in theon a lankiness that told of early-arrived adolescence, though he still retained a boyish spirit He ran towards uards, a toy soldier in each hand, wrapping his ar up at me with eyes so like his father’s I foundon with only the barest pause “Bad people caood person and let us go and Hevren fought them and the villa burned”
“Iveles!”
The Eh only barely The guards had all draords, save Hevren, who crouched to gently disentangle the boy’s arms from htened, atteht, Iveles,” I told hiently push hi a story though, one I hope to tell you soon Now go to your lare then turned and ran to the dais, sca how she drew him into a protective embrace, her eyes still fixed on me, I realised her detestation was at least partly inspired by the closeness I had always enjoyed with her son Appointed the boy’s tutor in Iether, and, though I tried to dissuade him from it, he had come to call me uncle “You and father were like brothers,” he said “So you will be my uncle I don’t have any others”
The E softly “But I want to stay!” he protested The Eave a sullen pout before sto through the chaht other a aze to Fornella, her ust “Lord Velsus,” she said to the Iht to hear the charges levelled against hi a scroll from the folds of his robe “Lord Verniers Alishe Someren, Ied with treason,” he read “Be it known, as established by credible testimony, Lord Verniers conspired with the Imperial Prisoner Vaelin Al Sorna to effect his release and evade just punishment for his crients of a foreign power, to wit the Volarian Empire, to injure the person of the Empress and her son Iveles”
So there it was, not one lie but two I cannot truly account for the icy calm that possessed me then, much as I remain unable to explain the presence of mind that allowed me to sink a knife into the base of General Tokrev’s skull It could be that there are occasions when fear becomes redundant “Credible testimony?” I enquired
Lord Velsus blinked and I deduced he had been expecting soed protestation of innocence, no doubt to be shouted down by a well-prepared, and suitably theatrical rebuttal He recovered his couards at the door “Bring in the witness”
I was expected here, I realised as aited in silence The trap is too well laid