Sovereign

He stopped and carefully tore out the pages he had despoiled. Again his novices regarded his actions with amazement, and again he smiled genially at them. Before leaving he read again Northam's last entry, the one he wrote the day Powl had murdered him.

I pray for guidance and for the souls of all my people; I pray for peace and a future for all my children; I pray for answers and I pray for more questions. I am one man, alone and yet not lonely. I am one man who knows too many secrets. I pray for salvation.

'I pray for salvation,' Powl repeated to himself, and then, for the first time in his life and without hesitation and meaning every single word, he prayed for salvation, and the novices still watching him were further amazed to see tears roll down his cheeks.

When Orkid arrived at Areava's chambers she was with Harnan Beresard and, he was surprised to see, another Amanite, a tall, thin woman of middle years with the saddest face he had ever seen. Then he noticed that Areava, too, looked grief-stricken. Had the queen already heard about the destruction of the Great Army?

'Orkid, I have terrible news,' Areava said.

'I know,' he said. 'I have just come to tell you.'

'I am sorry. It must be dreadful for you.'

Orkid blinked. Of course it was dreadful, but why particularly for him? And who was this Amanite woman? He understood then that Areava was not talking about the Great Army's defeat. Which could only mean…

'My brother,' he said. He turned to the woman. 'Who are you?'

'Lingdar. I am… was… head of King Marin's secretariat.'

'Was?'

'I am sorry, Chancellor Gravespear, but your brother is dead.'

'I see,' he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. His body suddenly felt incredibly heavy. He put a hand on the back of a chair to support himself. 'How?'

'Pila has fallen,' Areava said.

'Fallen?' He did not understand. Fallen to whom?

'The Chetts have taken Aman,' Areava said, and had to stop. She nodded to Lingdar.

'A Chett army invaded the southern deserts, wiping out the Saranah, and then invaded Aman. They were upon us before we realised what was happening. No one believed the Chetts were organised enough to send an army to the east and send another south as well.'

'This army, where is it now?' Orkid asked slowly.

'They are making preparations to winter in Aman. I do not know what they will do in spring.'

'They let you go?'

'They let anyone go who did not want to stay in Pila.'

'Amemun?' he asked, remembering his old friend. 'Did he escape?'

'I am not sure, but I think he fell with the Saranah. He was with them when the invasion took place. He may still be alive, but it seems unlikely to me.'

Areava came to Orkid and put her arms around him. 'The news is almost more than I can bear,' she said, 'but how much more terrible it must be for you. Together we have lost almost everything we care for in this world.'

He tried to speak, but could not. I am chancellor, he told himself, and pushed away the grief that threatened to overwhelm him.

'There is worse news,' he said roughly.

Areava let him go and stepped back. 'What news is that?'

He held out one of the messages sent by Lynan. She took it from him hesitantly and did not read it right away. He watched as her skin went grey. She knew; she could see it in his eyes.

'How many were killed?' she asked.

'I do not know.'

'Lynan will be here soon.'

He heard Harnan's sharp intake of breath.

'Yes, I fear so.'

'I have lost the north and the west,' she said. 'I fear that I have lost the whole Kingdom because of it.'

'I fear that as well.'

She shook her head then straightened, brushed down her clothes as if cleaning away dust and dirt. 'No. I will not accept that. I am queen of Grenda Lear, daughter of Usharna Rosetheme. I will not surrender to this rebel and outlaw.' She turned to Harnan. 'Let the new constable know the situation. What is his name?'

'Arad,' Orkid said. He could feel himself take strength from her. He stood up straight, too, and no longer needed to rest against the chair.

'Yes, Arad. Tell him to prepare the palace for a siege. He must get whatever supplies he can from the city. Get whatever warships are in harbour to set sail immediately. They are to go to Lurisia and Storia to pick up reinforcements. Send urgent messages by pigeon to all the provinces still under my authority; they are to raise new regiments forthwith and train them over winter. Send messages to each of the Twenty Houses; I want every able-bodied noble armed and in the palace to help defend it. Find Olio and tell him to come to me immediately, and his friend the prelate.'

Harnan nodded and left, and she turned back to Orkid.

'I know you want to learn as much as possible about the fall of Pila and your brother's death, but I cannot spare you for long—I need you now as I have never needed you before. For the moment, return to your office with Lingdar; she will tell you what she has told me. I will come to see you later this afternoon.'

'I am always at your service.'

Areava surprised him by smiling then. She patted his hand. 'I know, old bear. I know.'

Dejanus was in a brave mood, fuelled by red wine, defeat and despair. He tramped his way up to the palace. The guards stared at him as he passed through the main gate, not daring to question him. He went straight to Orkid's office. When the secretary saw him he almost fainted. He tried to stop Dejanus, but was carelessly brushed aside. He entered the office, and there he was, the architect of all his ills, sitting behind his desk as if he had not a care in the world.

The chancellor himself.

Orkid stared at him for a long moment, then said almost casually, 'I have a guest.'

For the first time Dejanus noticed the tall woman. She was obviously an Amanite. 'Get rid of her,' he said.

Orkid said to her, 'It's alright. I will talk with you later.'

The woman nodded and left, walking sideways around Dejanus to get through the door.

'I thought you would have had the decency to die with your army,' Orkid said.

'Oh, you would have liked that.'

'You have destroyed us all. Areava is preparing to fight, but we both know she cannot win against Lynan. Not now. He is driven by more than revenge.'

'I have come to kill you,' Dejanus said plainly, and was surprised how easily he said the words.

'For what reason? Not being a fool and a coward like you?'

'Be quiet!' Dejanus growled.

'Why? You are going to kill me, apparently. What else can you threaten me with?'

'I will tell the queen—'

'What? And how will that affect me if I am dead at your hand? You don't scare me, Dejanus. You never have.' He stood up and came around his desk to stand only a hand's breadth from the general. 'You are the weakest, most stupid, most lazy, most terrified man I have ever met.'

Dejanus could do nothing. The insults were like blows inside his skull, and his mind reeled from them. But he could do nothing.

Orkid walked around him to leave his office. 'I am going to see the queen,' he said to his secretary. 'Call Sergeant Arad. General Dejanus is to be arrested.' He walked into the hallway, stopped and came back, tapping his lips with a finger. 'In fact, tell Arad that the general is unwell; the defeat at Lynan's hand has dislodged his mind. He is not to talk to anyone.'

Orkid turned to leave again when Areava herself appeared, her face twisted in fury. 'I have been told Dejanus came here. Where is he?'

Dejanus heard her voice, heard the anger and the hate underneath it. It was not fair. He did not deserve this. He did not deserve to be hated. It was Orkid's fault.

'And he will pay,' Dejanus whispered. His hand seemed to fall of its own accord on the hilt of his dagger. He looked down, slowly lifted his hand, then rested it again, but this time on the hilt of his sword.