of step. Only maidens and single men dedicated to a lifelong silent worship of the Goddess were
allowed there. It was the most sacred place in the temple complex within the palace walls. To
send her there without being one of the devotees was to isolate her completely.
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"But why treat our sister with such harshness?" objected Safilen, anger flashing in her eyes.
"What has she done to be kept imprisoned? For that is what you are proposing, is it not?"
"I do not know what she has done. It is the purpose of the inquiry to find out. I am merely
thinking of the security of the Islands," the Third Princess said calmly.
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"I think my honored sister doubts my loyalty," Tashi said in a weary tone.
"She is wondering if Fergox has made me into his creature. I will submit to the inquiry. I ask
nothing for myself now that my mission to aid Gerfal is accomplished."
"Then lead our sister to the Enclosure and see she is suitably accommodated," Marisa instructed Korbin. "We will hear the results of your investigation at the New Moon."
The meeting broke up. Numbly, Tashi followed the dark robes of the Third Princess along the
corridors. She could hear the bustle of messengers running through the courtyards, the murmur
of people spreading the news about the decision to send the fleet and the disgrace of the
youngest princess. It was a bitter homecoming. Palace servants peered at her from behind
doors, speculating as to what taint she brought with her: loss of faith, deceit, treason? Tashi
knew in her heart of hearts that she no longer belonged here. She had grown too rebellious for
her role in the state administration. They might judge her guilty and cast her out, but even if she
regained her position, she would only break the system of government like an
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ill-fitting cog in a machine. Perhaps the Third Princess sensed this and knew the real danger.
Korbin stopped at the door leading into the Silent Courtyard.
"Please do not mistake me, Taoshira," the Princess said stiffly. "I am driven by no personal animosity towards you and think only of our nation."
"I understand." Tashi bowed.
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"I will attend on you tomorrow to begin our inquiry. Use the time to pray and reflect on your
errors if you have committed any."
"Many. All the time," Tashi admitted with a slight smile. "But then don't we all?"
She stepped through the gateway, not looking back.
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Chapter 17
In the slave market shed, Melletin spread a map of Tigral out on a table.
"We're here," he said pointing to the port district. "When the troops attack they are likely to try to surround us and wear us down with crossbows and archers posted on these vantage points."
He indicated the tall houses up the hill with roofs overlooking the square.
Ramil sat cross-legged on a crate, his commanders around him.
"Well, we've known all along we can't stay here. If I were them, I'd also attack from the sea,
opening up a fourth front. We'll be squeezed to death if we try to defend this place. What would
be the most defensible spot in Tigral?"
"That'd be the palace--it's got walls all the way around it," said a local man.
"Then I suggest we move headquarters to more comfortable
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accommodations," Ramil said with a grin.
"But, brother," said one of the Brigardians, "we can't just go marching up there and knock on the door!"
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"Oh, I wasn't thinking of knocking. Remember, my friends, Fergox has sent his army to the
border; the garrison here will be at its lowest for years. The city authorities will be demanding
their assistance to crush us rebellious slaves. What I had in mind was something to force their
hand and empty the palace of the fighting men. If we could bait them to attack us at the market,
we could take advantage of their distraction and some of us can use it to enter the palace."
Melletin rubbed his chin. "But that would be suicidal for those left down in the market. Why not
divide our forces and start lots of minor disturbances all over the lower city? Let's get the
authorities chasing their tails. We can then, on an agreed signal, melt away and all make our
way to the palace."
"I like it." Ramil rubbed his hands together. "Now I know why my father has counsellors--to do the thinking for him."
"I'm thinking like a bandit, Prince, not a counsellor," Melletin explained.
"But the success of this particular bit of banditry would depend on the discipline of our troops,"
Ramil pointed out. "It would be a disaster if they disappeared and never showed up again. I
don't fancy trying to hold the palace on my own."
"Some of them will desert," said a commander from among the galley slaves,
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"but the majority will stay with us--at least as long as they think you offer them a better future."
Future? Ramil hadn't been thinking that far ahead,
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but the men needed to know he would see this through to the end. It was his duty to do so. He
couldn't expect them to risk their lives as he did in the hopes of helping a distant Gerfal.
"You can tell them that if, with their aid and if God wills, we win the city, there will be no slavery, but neither will there be a bloody revenge. I'm not here to reverse matters so that slaves
become masters and masters slaves. I'm here to rewrite the rules completely."
The galley man displayed the sores on his ankles where his chains had eaten into his flesh. "No
man should be a slave. I hope, young Prince, you live to bring in your new order."
"So do I, my friend, so do I."
Preparations were set in motion to split Ramil's army into divisions charged with causing trouble
in the different quarters of the city. Melletin and his Brigardians volunteered to take on the
toughest assignment, the fort down at the harbor. Yelena and her volunteers chose the food
markets. Gordoc said he would stay with Ramil and a party of a hundred hand-picked men who
were going straight for the palace.
"We move out at first light," said Ramil, "so everyone get some rest."
"What about our guests?" asked Yelena, gesturing to the caged merchants.
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"If we're abandoning this position, what shall we do with them?"
"Kill them," suggested a man from Kandar running his thumb down the edge of his knife.
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"Now, now," said Yelena, batting him playfully on the arm, "none of that.
After all, I've got quite fond of my pet master and wouldn't like to see him hurt."
"And neither do we want to start the day with revenge killings," Ramil added.
"If they are guilty of crimes against you, they should be given a trial, but unfortunately there's no time. No, I think the best thing to do is to leave them here. They have served their purpose.
Once we move, either we'll be strong enough to defend ourselves or we will have failed and
they become
irrelevant. Besides, I imagine we will have plenty of new hostages to handle if we get as far as
the palace."
This comment met with a general murmur of assent.
The meeting was on the point of breaking up when Jules, one of Yelena's troops, entered the
shed at a run.
"Prince, there's a man here who wants to speak to you," she announced breathlessly.