Go screw yourself, Syntara. Or, rather, go on screwing yourself. We have all night, after all.
He recalled that flicker – the meeting of his gaze with hers – and the faint unease in the maid’s once pretty eyes. I imagine you first crowed at my seeming impotence. But now, do you begin to wonder?
I may be base. A drunk. A man standing in the middle of a river of blood. But I won’t fuck a corpse, woman. Take your voyeur games elsewhere.
When next we meet, over fine wine and decent food, we’ll talk of … oh, I don’t know … how about this as a worthy topic? Yes, why not? We’ll speak of desecration. A topic on which, I’m sure, you’ll have plenty to say, High Priestess.
Tell me again, won’t you, of those artful gutters beneath the floors of the temple?
And I might speak to you, perhaps, of sorcery beyond the reach of any god or goddess, beyond the reach of every temple, every church, every priesthood with all its strident rules and lust for the butchery of the blasphemous.
A magic unfettered. Natural worship, if you will.
Of what, you ask?
Why, the same as yours, High Priestess. The worship of power.
This power – and I dare you to take it from my hand.
He drank down another mouthful of wine, sluicing it as was his habit, while beside him – making the bed creak – the maid went on and on, and on.
* * *
Sharenas strode into the tavern. After a moment, she could make out a figure seated at the back, shrouded in gloom. She crossed the chamber, threading between tables where townsfolk were seated, welcoming both the sour heat and the furtive glances. Even the faces of strangers offered a kind of comfort – too long riding alone, camping in wild places, abandoned places. And other nights, as guest in a household, she had felt the pressure of her hosts’ unease, their mistrust. Urusander’s Legion, once elevated so high, honoured and respected by all, had stumbled fast.
The truth, which in better times was happily ignored, was that the sword always cut both ways. Valiant defence, brutal attack, it was all down to the wielder’s stance, the direction chosen. The saved could become the victim in an instant.
Sharenas disliked the notion: that she, too, was dangerous, unpredictable, with the weapon at her belt ever ready to be unsheathed. But the world made its demands, and she too must answer them.
Reaching the table, she met Captain Serap’s eyes, seeing in them a cold, glittering regard. Sharenas sat opposite, her back to the room. ‘Captain. I am sorry for your losses.’
‘We were all there,’ Serap said. ‘Do you remember? Riding out to meet Calat Hustain. You chose Kagamandra’s side for most of that journey, as I recall. Happy enough to flirt with a promised man.’
Sharenas nodded. ‘Whilst you and your sisters giggled and whispered, so pleased with your new ranks. Lieutenants, back then, as I recall. Unblooded officers, crowded under Hunn Raal’s soggy wing.’
Serap studied her with a tilted head, and then smiled wistfully. ‘We were young then. The world seemed fresh. Alive with possibilities.’
‘Oh, he was happy enough to lead us, wasn’t he?’ Sharenas started as someone stepped close – a boy, likely the barkeep’s son, setting down a tankard before her. The youth quickly retreated. ‘Do you still look upon him with admiration, Serap? Cousin Hunn Raal. Murderer, poisoner. He’s gathered every betrayal imaginable into a single knot, hasn’t he?’
Serap shook her head, and then shrugged. ‘It may seem to be clumsy on his part, Sharenas. But it isn’t. Every crime he commits ensures that Urusander remains unstained. My cousin doesn’t hide, does he? He chooses to wear his culpability, and knows that he can bear its terrible weight. It is, in fact, a family trait.’
‘Hmm. I’d wondered about that. The seeming clumsiness, that is. It would be easy to assume the drunkard’s natural carelessness, the sloppiness that comes with dissolution. Even so, Serap – the slaughter of a wedding party?’
Serap waved a hand, and then frowned. ‘Not the Hust? You surprise me. Or perhaps not, as the noble blood in you must howl loudest when the lives of kin are sacrificed. Mundane soldiers, even ones bearing demon-haunted weapons, are beneath notice – well, maybe a mutter or two, if only at the crassness of the deed.’
Sharenas allowed herself a slow smile. ‘I always judged you the sharpest. So, is this how it is, then? You stand with Hunn Raal.’
‘Blood of kin, Sharenas. But you should understand this. In so many ways I still have the eyes of the innocent. I will care for my soldiers. I will, if necessary, give my life for theirs.’
‘Bold words,’ Sharenas replied, nodding. ‘I’m curious. Do you believe Hunn Raal would do the same?’
Something fluttered in Serap’s eyes, and the woman glanced away. ‘Have you reported to the commander?’
‘I have spoken to Urusander, yes.’
‘Does he remain … disinterested?’
A curious question. Sharenas collected up her tankard, drank down a mouthful of the weak ale, and grimaced. ‘You do not come here for this, do you?’
‘Supplies are low. Everyone has to make do.’
‘How would you react, I wonder, if I now told you that Vatha Urusander intends to arrest Hunn Raal, and a good many other captains of the Legion? And that I bear with me the evidence of their many crimes – crimes that can only be answered by the gallows.’
Serap laughed.
Settling back in her chair, Sharenas nodded. ‘And this was a man we once followed, unquestioningly. A man we would give up our lives for. Back when the enemy was foreign. Well, as you say, Serap, we were all young once, and that was long ago.’
‘Best you choose your side, Sharenas, with great care. He is not the man he once was. In many ways,’ she added, ‘we’d do better with Osserc.’
‘He has not returned, then.’
‘No. And no word of where he has gone.’
Sharenas glanced away. ‘I have advised against confronting Hunn Raal. For the moment.’
‘Wise.’
‘Things need cleaning up first.’
Serap’s brows lifted. ‘Oh? And how will you manage that?’
Sharenas rose in one fluid motion, the blade leaving the scabbard with a hiss, and then lashing out across the table, taking Serap by the neck. The keen edge cut through, separating the woman’s head from her shoulders. As the head pitched forward to thump hard on the tabletop, blood shot from the stump of Serap’s neck, like a fountain in a courtyard. But the pulsing torrent was shortlived.
Sharenas stepped around the table and gathered up a corner of Serap’s cloak. She carefully wiped down her blade. Behind her, in the tavern, there was absolute silence.
‘Like this,’ she answered quietly. She studied the head lying on the table, the look of surprise fast fading as all life left the eyes, as the nerves of the face surrendered, slowly sagging. It was, she decided, a rather innocent face.
Sharenas sheathed her sword, and then drained the tankard and set it down beside the head. She drew out a coin and snapped it down, and then swung about and strode from the tavern.
It was a start. She had a long night ahead of her.
Outside once more, shivering in the bitter cold night air, she set out for the Legion camp.
* * *
‘Shit.’ Hunn Raal sat up on the bed. The wine was heavy and acrid in his gut, but the sickness suddenly roaring in his skull had little to do with that.
Beside him, the nameless maid stirred, and said in a slurred voice, ‘What is it?’
He twisted round, reached out and took hold of the young woman’s neck. It felt flimsy in his grip. ‘Look at me, High Priestess. Are you there?’ He then grunted. ‘Yes, I see that you are. Blood has been spilled. Blood of my family. Someone has murdered Serap. Down in the town.’