'This might sting, she warned, and began to rub the salve on
Edeard had to clamp his mouth hard shut to prevent the howl from leaving his throat. 'Lady! His fingers clawed the top of the mattress.
'I've finished, she said some interminable time later. 'That should start soothing the damage soon.
'I think it already has. That or you've burned the nerves away. His thighs were definitely easing.
'Don't be so mean, Salrana said smartly, and gave him a brief kiss. She pulled a furniture sheet over him. 'You rest now, I'm going to see if I can find some clothes.
'Keep a look out, he said. 'I need to know if anyone comes.
'Don't worry, she said. 'Nobody knows we're here. Nobody knows we can be here.
Edeard started to eat another plum. He was asleep before he finished.
Dreams claimed him. Not his usual bizarre visions of life elsewhere. These were his own. Mostly of Kristabel. Kristabel surrounded by flames. Men with rapid-fire guns circling round her, the roar of their weapons shattering his skull. Kristabel flying. Falling: her nightdress fluttering around her. The very same white nightdress she'd worn on the day they met. Falling down the central stairs in the ziggurat. The same stairs he'd started to reshape. Stairs that were now easy for the invaders to mount. Little Mirnatha screaming in terror as the ziggurat was consumed by the flame and bullets of the rapid-fire guns, clinging to her sister. Both of them falling from the tenth floor. A hand pushing them over the rail. Both screaming all the way to the floor. The hand was his own.
He cried out in torment. The sensation of something wrong was like a tidal wave of fear, threatening to send him plunging down into the infinite black of the abyss beneath the world. A pitiful broken thing on his way to Honious. Left behind by the Skylords. Left behind by Kristabel. Dinlay, Boyd, Macsen, Kanseen; all of them peered down from the rim. One by one they turned away.
'No, he begged, pleaded, wept. 'No, come back.
But they wouldn't because something was wrong.
He woke violently, back jerking off the bed as he clawed his way out of the abyss. Shaking with fear. It was still dark all around. Silent. He fought for breath against panic so strong it was throttling him. 'What! he demanded, and sent his farsight stabbing out.
The souls of Dinlay, Kristabel and his parents were clumped together by the end of the bed. Kristabel's arms were held out to him, radiating tangible concern.
'What? he repeated as his breathing became less frantic.
'Edeard, we've tried to wake you, Dinlay said. 'We tried hard. But you were so tired.
'I'm awake. When he squinted through the half-open door on to the veranda, he could see nebula-light washing the white-painted rails outside with familiar pastels. It must have been close to midnight.
'Salrana, Kristabel told him brokenly. 'She betrayed you.
'What? he blurted in confusion. 'What?
'I'm sorry, Dinlay said. 'She has an exceptionally strong longtalk. She called Owain just after sunset. She told him where you were.
'Salrana? What do you mean?
'We couldn't stop her, Kristabel said. 'We are helpless against the living.
'No no, Edeard said. His farsight sensed Salrana walking across the hallway.
'Edeard? she said in a light voice. 'Are you all right? I thought you were still sleeping.
'She called Owain, Kristabel insisted. 'His men are already here. They're coming up the mountain.
'They can't be. That's not—
'Who are you talking to? Salrana asked, she was standing in the room, giving him a curious look.
'My wife, he said levelly.
Salrana's face remained impassive. The start of surprise in her mind was minute, and well shielded. But like Edeard, she was no Makkathran native. 'You know I can see souls, he said. 'I even gifted the Pythia that particular vision. Here, he said, and opened his mind so she could receive his farsight.
Salrana gasped as she found herself surrounded by four souls. 'I…
Edeard slid off the bed. 'They told me you betrayed me, he said in a flat voice as he approached her. 'They told me you called Owain himself. I said they were wrong. Are they?
Salrana took a step backwards. 'Edeard—
Edeard sent his farsight out from the pavilion, ranging across the side of the volcanic mountain. Using the gift dear Finitan had bestowed him to uncover concealment he exposed over twenty men approaching the wooden building, each carrying a rapid-fire weapon. Out in the darkness behind them, more teams were gathering. Then Edeard viewed the base of the mountain. Two entire militia regiments were down there, deploying around the bottom of the slope, encircling the mountain.
'Dear Lady, he murmured in astonishment. 'You really did. He stared at her, trying to understand. 'Salrana, you called them! A note of hysteria had crept in from somewhere.
For a moment her composure held. Then she simply glared at him. 'Yes, I called Owain.
This can't be happening. This is Salrana. My Salrana. The two of us together against the world.
'Why? he pleaded. 'Why did you do this? Because of Kristabel?
Salrana gave Kristabel's soul a contemptuous glance. 'Jealous of that? Me? Hardly. I'm just as beautiful. Probably better in bed, too. Your loss.
'But… us.
'Oh you stupid country peasant. Haven't you learned anything since we arrived here? Did you really think a thirteen-year-old's crush lasts for life? That I'd be loyal to you for ever?
'You can't believe in Owain's One Nation?
'Why can't I? Because it doesn't fit our wretched backward provincial upbringing? This is how the world works, Edeard. Can't you see that? The Grand Families already have wealth and power, and with Owain's leadership it will grow even stronger. I can be a part of that. I can make myself part of that. Did you think you were the only one with ambition?
'This is not you, he said through growing anguish. 'These are not Salrana's words. Not your thoughts.
'You are so weak. Even now you could claim the city for yourself. You have the power, the strength to make this world your own. Why don't you?
'No one person can rule a world.
She gave a disgusted snort of contempt. 'Humility, the refuge of the weak.
'The Lady teaches decency.
'And what has her church ever achieved except for instilling a decent sense of obedience in the lower orders?
'Now I know that's not you. Who did this to you? Who changed you?
'I changed myself. I finally understood the world and set out to make something of myself in it. After all, you found your Grand Family bitch. She waved dismissively at Kristabel's soul. 'A good way in to the Upper Council for someone so spineless. Why shouldn't I have some of the same? I've been screwing people who can help me; the ones who hate you are easy to take advantage of. And greatest among those is Owain himself. Did you know he has eight mistresses, but I'm the one he turns to now. He likes it. He likes having me, the Waterwalker's childhood friend. I saw how resolute and determined he is; so much more than you. He's smarter, too. You have your virtue, he has ambition and fire and power and wealth, and, above all, vision. He will be an emperor, uniting the whole world as One Nation. I will have a big part of that, I will be Pythia, he promised me that. Our children will be born to positions of privilege and power.
It was as if his nerves had died. Edeard stared at the crazy girl smiling defiantly in front of him, feeling absolutely nothing. 'No, he said. A lone tear trickled out of his eye. 'You cannot build a world on a foundation of violence and fear. He will destroy Querencia just as he has destroyed you.
'I am not destroyed, I have never been more alive.
Edeard's farsight observed the armed men reach the pavilion's front door. He wasn't the slightest surprised to see their leader was Arminal. 'You would see me dead? he asked faintly.