Arko Hark-Wadi is the new Ray of the Sun. He held the seat she desired. Arko Hark-Wadi, her former husband. No, he was her husband still, for they had never said the words that unbound one from the other. She had simply left. Arko had never remarried; he had been loyal to her in name, but never in practice. Especially not during the marriage.
So that had been Suten’s final move, to name a successor before Saad or Sarra could move against him. The old man was too nimble by half. Where was he now? Suten had a vineyard in the Denna hills. She could imagine him underneath the vines, sipping the latest vintage.
Arko Hark-Wadi. Did it have to be you? The news made her bitter. To think that she now answered to her husband, that he held sway over the priesthood and all of the empire. It was galling. She had come here to confront Suten, but he was gone and now her husband sat in his chair. Solus is changed, but not for the better. This news colored everything. It made the buildings frown at her, and every archway looked like a grimace.
Sarra guided her horse down the long ramps that led deep into the Waset—down the wide streets, past temples fitted among spindly obelisks, alabaster coffers, and crumbling statues—till she caught sight of her temple.
A priest greeted Sarra at the steps, his eyes darting.
Sarra dismounted, handed the animal to a groom, and strode up the stairs. Picking her way between the lotus-topped pillars of the columned hall Sarra saw what had unnerved the young man—what she had expected to see since she rode into the city. Soldiers. A group of armed men brandished spears in the hall. Saad had told her not to return until the last day of the year, when her duty bade her to do so. But she was back in Solus and not even a month had passed since their quarrel. Saad was letting her know that he was watching, that her return was noted. Sarra had expected as much.
“Out,” she said, “out of my temple. Go!”
“Will do, Mother,” said the man. “We were just keeping an eye on all your pretty statues.”
“I’m sure you were, now leave,” she said, walking toward him, heading straight into his path without pause. The man stepped back and the other soldiers parted, clearing a path like contrite children caught playing dice. Then—behind her back, laughter. She kept going, ignoring their taunts.
She passed through bronze doors into the sanctuary, catching the first notes of Ott’s voice. He had ridden ahead of her, on the Harkan’s fastest horse, to prepare the Ata’Sol. Now her clever friend was pacing at the birthing pool, mumbling, the golden statues of the Soleri towering above him, his weak arm hidden beneath his robe, a soldier shadowing him, aping his awkward movements. Behind half-open doors her priests were standing back, whispering to one another, not daring to interfere. The soldiers were trespassing on sacred ground and her priests were unsure of how to react. Custom dictated that when the toe of Re, first of the Soleri, touched the desert floor, a spring bubbled forth from the sand, and the first amaranth plant sprung from the pool.
That pool was located at the temple’s center, in the heart of the sanctuary, where currently one of Saad’s soldiers stood with legs spread, relieving himself in the water.
“I saw your pool looking empty,” the solider said, “so I thought I would help fill it up, Mother.”
Sarra paid him no notice. She inserted herself between Ott and the soldier who was mocking him, the sound of piss hitting water reverberating throughout the sanctuary. “Out,” she ordered. “Out of my temple!” she said. “Both of you! Now! Your weapons and your boorish humor can find the door. Leave us—stuff your cock in you breeches and go!”
Or what? she thought. What can I do against these men? It was Saad’s duty to guard the priesthood and the temple. He was the Sword of Mithra, but now he’d turned that very blade against the people he was sworn to protect.
“Saad sends his regards, Mother,” said the soldier standing in front of her.
“Give him mine.” She drew herself up to her full height, her eyes flashing.
“We will, Mother,” said the soldier at the pool. “And we’ll leave you in peace. I only needed a bit of relief and now I’ve had it,” he said, shaking himself dry. The two of them laughed as they went out of the inner sanctum, the air behind them smelling like piss.
Sarra went to Ott but refrained from putting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s all right. They’re gone.”
His fingers twitched, but he nodded that he understood.
“Are you okay?”
He shook his head, no.
“When did they arrive?” she asked. She knew this would happen when she returned to Solus, but she had not expected Saad to act so quickly. Slow, she was too slow. She had to move—faster. Especially with her newly acquired knowledge.
“Not long before you, they forced the doors, snapped the bolt, and let themselves in.…”
Sarra came up alongside him and stood by his shoulder. This was the way Ott liked to speak with her: standing side by side, so he would not have to look in her eyes. She saw Ott relax when her shoulder came alongside his, and Sarra felt a new wave of affection for him.
“Mother, I have news. The new Ray of the Sun is—”
“Harkan.” She nodded. “Yes, I know,” Sarra said, brushing perspiration from her brow. Exhausted from the long ride, she needed cool amber, a rest, and a bath, but those things would have to wait.
“His presence will make matters difficult. I had expected to deal with Suten and not my former husband.” She paced. “The new Ray has much to hide.”
Ott tapped. “He hides nothing from us, Mother. We know his secret. We know that Tolemy is a fabrication, that the Ray is the mouthpiece of a man who does not exist. With this knowledge, we can control him—we can own him,” he said, his voice still shaking a bit.
She turned. “I don’t want to own him, I want to ruin him.” She smiled, as she knew how she would do it. Yes, she would demand an audience with Arko. But not yet. Not until I have prepared. She wrapped her robe a little tighter around her shoulders.
“You will reveal him then? Expose the lie of the Soleri and expose him to all of Solus as a fraud?” asked Ott.
Sarra shook her head. “If we revealed the Ray’s secret, Saad would declare Arko a traitor and a liar and the matter would be quickly resolved in Saad’s favor. Saad would take Arko’s life and the Amber Throne. Fear of the emperor is the only thing that keeps Saad in line right now. No, I have something more subtle in mind.”
“Before you settle on a plan, you should know that we lost two priests this morning. Taken by the Protector, most likely, incarcerated for some minor crime they did not commit.”
“Who?”
“A boy and a girl, from Rachis. I knew them. We played Coin every now and then. They were simple lectors—they knew none of our secrets. Still, the act itself is telling. Should I send an offering of grain and ask for their release?”
“No. Do nothing.” She brushed a hand through her hair. “Friends of yours?”