Talamir tripped the latch, opened the door, and assumed a warrior position, anticipating a fight. Instead, he faced three men dressed in the kingdom's colors: black and silver. These were not standard guards; they wore no visible armor, nor the kingdom tabards. Dressed in close-fitting black, they stood with faces swathed in a silver gauze that identified them as the king's elite protectors. No one ever saw their features, at least not while in Tae's employ, yet the covering did not seem to hamper them in any way.
The tallest of the three stepped forward, a sinewy giant lost in the folds of his all-concealing robe. "Talamir Edmin's son?"
Talamir gave a barely perceptible nod. His mind and heart raced, trying to anticipate King Tae Kahn's intentions.
"The king wants you in his court. Come with us, and leave the sword."
Talamir would sooner leave his eyeballs. "No."
All three men paused, facing Talamir. Apparently, they studied him through the gauze. Finally, the tallest spoke again. "You won't come?"
"Oh, I'll come." Talamir knew that to refuse would guarantee his execution. "But the sword goes with me."
"It stays." The same man continued to speak.
No good could come of arguing the point. Talamir stood his ground and made no move to remove the weapon. Anyone who reached for it would lose his hand.
Wisely, not one of the three made any motion to disarm him. The smallest of the trio, a man of average height and bulk, finally spoke. "You are a warrior of honor?" he asked.
"I am." Talamir raised his chin. Many around the world considered the Renshai demons, but few deserved the insult. Renshai had a distinct code of honor that relied on personal speed and skill.
"Then you will not bare steel in the presence of the king."
It was as much statement as question, yet Talamir knew he would have to answer. "Very well." He had no intention of killing Subikahn's father, yet his honor did not forbid him from pulling the weapon in defense of self and loved ones, with or without the promise.
"Come with us, please." The same man gestured to Talamir, and the Renshai went to him. He had a sophistication about him that the others did not share. Accustomed to judging others by physical form and movement, Talamir found their swathing disconcerting. Nevertheless, he guessed that the smallest of the group was the leader, though he had not originally spoken. He had an aura of charisma about him that came through in motion, in speech timbre and pattern, in the way he carried himself beneath the robes and mask.
Talamir walked with this man, the one he labeled the Shadow Leader. The others fell into step around them, the tall man in the back and his companion leading the way. Talamir studied the man in front of him, the only one who had not spoken. Though not impressive in height, he carried himself like a warrior, either stout, massively muscled, or both. He had a waddle to his walk, but he carried his head high and unconcerned. Either it never occurred to him that the Renshai might attack from behind or, more likely, he believed he could handle any threat. Talamir doubted it was all foolish bravado.
The walk continued in silence until they stood several strides outside the courtroom. At that moment, the man beside Talamir whispered, "Pay attention if you want to survive."
Talamir had no idea whether or not to trust this stranger, but he saw no reason not to listen. He knew homosexuality was a crime in the Eastlands, but to punish Talamir, Tae would have to reveal his partner. It seemed unlikely the king would allow Subikahn to undergo life-threatening punishment. He nodded once to indicate he had heard.
The squat man in the lead opened the courtroom door on an enormous, empty room. Benches lined the middle in two rows, and a massive chandelier hung over them, the candles currently unlit. A string of torches along the wall flickered, bathing the walls but leaving the central areas mostly shadowed. No one sat upon the dais at the front.
Talamir stood between the lighter two men as the squat one closed the doors behind them. He chose to remain there, arms folded across his chest, massive broadsword outlined against the thin black linen of his costume.
Though it felt long in the self-imposed silence, the wait was only a few moments. Tae appeared through a curtain behind the dais. He did not sit upon the throne but stepped down to the level of Talamir and the guards, walking within speaking range though still a finely-measured distance from a sudden lunge and sword stroke. Even more wary than usual, Talamir could not help but notice that Tae chose the perfect position for foiling a Renshai. Either he had gotten spectacularly lucky, or he had learned much from traveling with Kevral. Not that it mattered. It only meant an extra step, an extra lightning instant, for Talamir to kill the king should such action become necessary.
Talamir shook the thought from his mind. He had promised not to bare steel in Tae's presence, and he had no intention of doing so unless cornered. Even then, he would not murder Subikahn's father, a man his lover adored and respected.
Tae did not bother with preamble. He glared at the Renshai with a hostility Talamir had never seen from the playful king before. "Your job was to teach Subikahn Renshai maneuvers, not how to become a bonta. He used the Eastern vulgarity for a man who sleeps with other men."
Talamir gritted his teeth but refused to take offense. He could not afford to lose his composure. "The prince is a competent Renshai, Your Majesty. He will pass his tests of manhood when we get home."
"Home?" Tae's brows shot up. "The prince's 'home' is here. In Stalmize."
Talamir flinched. "I-I meant no insult, Sire.When I said "home," I meant my home." He glanced into Tae's eyes and read a deep, primal anger. His own hand slunk inexorably toward his hilt despite his best efforts to keep it still. Renshai fought with blades, not words.
"Talamir Edminsson, you are charged with raping the crown prince of Stalmize."
Shocked, Talamir took a physical step backward. His mouth fell open, but no words emerged. He pictured Subikahn, an olive blur of movement, his fine black hair a rich indigo in the sunlight. By looks, only a hint of blue in his eyes betrayed the Northern side of his heritage, but his quickness and agility would reveal him to any Renshai in an instant. Warmth suffused Talamir at an image he found strikingly handsome, and he forced himself to speak. "I didn't rape anyone, Sire. Subikahn is a willing lover."
"How dare you." Tae fairly hissed. "He's a child; you're a grown man of… of… How old are you, Talamir?"
At the moment, Talamir could scarcely remember. "I'm… twenty-seven, Sire. And Kahn is nearly also a man, by Renshai standards. He only needs to complete-"
Tae exploded. "His name is Prince Subikahn to you!"
"Prince Subikahn," Talamir corrected. "Yes, Sire. Prince Subikahn only needs to-"
Tae gave no ground. "Shortening an Easterner's name is grave insult."
"I'm sorry, Sire. I didn't know." Talamir added before thinking, "You go by Tae, not Tae Kahn, Your Majesty. And Prince Subikahn often calls me Tal or Tally."
"I go by 'Your Majesty,' " Tae reminded through gritted teeth. "And you, Tal…" He pronounced the nickname with a tone that made it sound oddly filthy, grotesquely evil. "… are not an Easterner."
"Well, yes, Sire. I mean, no, Sire, I'm not, but…"
"The name I choose for myself is none of your business."
"Yes, Sire." Talamir wished he had never broached the subject. It did not matter, and it only seemed to further enrage the king. "Of course not." As he understood it from Subikahn, Weile and Tae used "Kahn" as a separate surname that served the same purpose as Talamir's own "Edminsson." As a Renshai, the prince went by Subikahn Taesson, so they had incorporated the "Kahn" directly into his given name.