‘The power of Illyr was ended, then and forever, for weeds now grow in her fields and nothing lives where Amrath’s towers once stood. Amrath does not even have a grave, for no man dared to venture near to bury Him, but His body rotted away where it lay, and His bones were scattered by the birds.
‘But Amrath had a wife, Eltheia of Ith, heir to the Godkings of Caltath and Immier. The most beautiful woman in the world, she was. Her hair was the colour of summer evenings, and her smile was like the sun at dawn. And she had borne Amrath a son, Altrersys, still no more than a boy. And these two Serelethe took away from Illyr in a ship with sails of diamonds, and brought safely across the sea until they came to an island rich in timber and fruits and grains and herds. The people of the island were shepherds and wanderers, wild and simple, and when they saw Eltheia they were so overcome by her beauty and her brilliance that they made her their queen, and built for her the fortress of Malth Elelane, the Tower of Joy and Despair. And her son Altrersys was king after her.
‘And he was the first of the Altrersyr, the heirs of Amrath, the World Conqueror, the Dragon Kin, the Demon Born.’
Tobias bowed his head dramatically, opened his eyes. Rate pounded the table. Alxine blinked.
‘I’ve heard the stories,’ said Alxine. ‘I just didn’t think they were quite so … true.’
‘They’re true all right,’ said Tobias. ‘The ruins of Ethalden stand proud in the sun, their stones rent and burnt by dragon fire, in the plain of Illyr where no grass grows. I’ve been there, I’ve seen it. Seen a dragon, too. And seen Marith kill it.’
‘And his family are … proud of all that?’
‘Extremely proud. Try very hard to live up to it, too. Hence our boy in the next room there.’ There was a low sound of sobbing through the wall as he spoke, like a fretful child.
‘But it’s … it’s horrible,’ said Alxine weakly.
‘Says the professional soldier and hired killer,’ said Rate.
‘I haven’t even touched on his mother’s family,’ said Tobias with a grin. ‘Some of the stories about them, they make Amrath look like Aralbarneth the Good. Kept things in the family more, though, that lot. Never really went in for world conquest when they could be at home torturing each other.’
‘Marith Altrersyr,’ said Alxine. ‘Prince Marith. King Marith … Got a nice ring to it, that, don’t you think? Kind of nice in the mouth.’
‘Nice in the mouth, eh?’ said Rate. ‘Just his name, you mean, yeah?’
Alxine glared at him. ‘Prince Marith … What do you think he did, then? To that lady?’
‘Abandoned her,’ said Tobias.
‘Raped her,’ said Rate.
They were silent for a while.
‘So what do we do now, then?’ said Alxine.
Gods, why did they keep asking him that? Tobias said sharply, ‘We do what we’re doing. What we’re hired to bloody do. Who Marith is or isn’t and what he has or hasn’t done has got nothing to do with anything. After the job’s over, then maybe we see. Prince Marith Altrersyr must be worth quite a bit, to the right people.’
‘Bit weird, though, isn’t it?’ said Alxine thoughtfully. ‘Now we know and all …’
‘Bit weird ’cause you fancy him, you mean,’ said Rate.
Alxine shuddered. ‘Kind of puts you off a bit, things that have been going on recently. Not sure I really feel like fucking someone who’s part god and part suicidal drunk, you know?’
PART TWO
THE BLADE
Chapter Twenty-Four
This morning, Demmy drew the red lot.
I had not even thought of it, after Ausa. She is alive, still, Helase says. Likely to heal, even, in as much as such wounds will heal. She bows her head and whispers dimly that it was her fault, that she was deserving of punishment, that she is blessed by Great Tanis Himself to have survived. She does not reproach me, she says.
But Demmy has drawn the red lot, and I will die in my turn. Ausa must be glad of it, deep down in her soul. I would be.
I went out into the garden, after I had been told. The children were playing there, running among the trees, chasing each other, shouting. Little fat Sissly skipping on sturdy short legs, fallen leaves caught in her curls. Corbele, much older than the rest and already in full training as a priestess, but wild and free and happiest in the company of little ones. Galana, shy and frightened and following her. Demmy the leader, making them run, setting the rules of the game. She does not know, yet, what any of this means.
I sat on the grass and watched them. The children shouted and ran and I felt … contented. At peace. As though some great labour has finished, and now I can rest a while. She is a pretty thing, of course, and clever, and sweet-natured. Beautiful slender hands. She will do well.
Helase came to me looking worried. Her eyes were swollen with tears. The last few days have been hard for her, for Ausa was her friend. I told her not to fear. She began to cry and I stopped her. I am still alive, I said. I will be alive for ten years yet. Unlike most who live, I can say the time of my death to the moment. For ten years I am safe. Doesn’t that mean I am free of something? We watched the children play for a while in the sun.
There is a great rite, the dedication of the High Priestess-thatwill-be. It must be done immediately when the lot is drawn, so we must always be ready for whenever a child reaches the right age. It can come any day, or not for a hundred years. All the Temple was bustle and excitement, the news breaking out into the streets: there is a new High Priestess chosen! The red lot is drawn! The red lot is drawn! The people rejoice, for it means my succession is assured. A terrible thing it would be, if I were to grow old and die before another came to replace me, for there would be no sacrifice, perhaps no living and no dying in all the Sekemleth Empire, perhaps even in all the world. And so Demmy and I knelt side by side before the High Altar to be blessed, she looking so absurdly small beside me, grave and confused in a little golden dress too short at her legs. I thought, watching her, that I could remember my own dedication.