Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [313]
‘An unfortunate fire broke out at the castle, started by the ex-queen’s supporters, many of whom lost their lives in the blaze they had themselves caused.’
As SartoriIrvrash and the king left the chamber, a storm of noise broke out.
‘Give them the wedding,’ said SartoriIrvrash. ‘They’ll forget their anger as they coo over the prettiness of the child bride. Give them the wedding as soon as possible, Your Majesty. Make the fools forget one swindle with another.’
He looked away to hide his revulsion for his own role.
Tension hung over all who lived in the castle of Matrassyl, except for the phagors, whose nervous systems were immune to expectation. But even the phagors were uneasy, for the stench of burning still clung to everything.
Scowling, the king retired to his suite. A section of the First Phagorian stood duty outside his door, and Yuli remained with them while JandolAnganol prayed in his private chapel with his Royal Vicar. After prostrating himself in prayer, he had himself scourged.
While being bathed by his female servants, he summoned his chancellor back to him. SartoriIrvrash appeared after a third summons, clad in an ink-stained flowered charfrul and rush slippers. The old man looked aggrieved, and stood before the king without speaking, smoothing his beard.
‘You’re vexed?’ JandolAnganol addressed him from the pool. The runt sat a short distance away, its mouth open.
‘I’m an old man, Your Majesty, and have endured deep botheration this day. I was resting.’
‘Writing your damned history, more likely.’
‘Resting and grieving for the murdered sixty-one, if truth be told.’
The king struck the water with the flat of his hand. ‘You’re an atheist. You have no conscience to appease. You don’t have to be scourged. Leave that to me.’
SartoriIrvrash showed a tooth in a display of circumspection.
‘How can I serve your majesty now?’
JandolAnganol stood up, and the women swathed him in towels. He stepped from the bath.
‘You have done enough in the way of service.’ He gave SartoriIrvrash one of his darkly brilliant looks. ‘It’s time I put you out to pasture, like the old hoxneys of which you are so fond. I’ll find someone more to my way of thought to advise me.’
The women huddled by the earthenware pitchers which had brought the royal bathwater, and listened complacently to the drama.
‘There are many here who will pretend to think as you wish them to think, Your Majesty. If you care to put trust in such, that is your decision. Perhaps you will say how I have failed to please. Have I not supported all your schemes?’
The king flung away his towels, and paced naked and dangerous about the room. His gaze was as hasty as his walk. Yuli whined in sympathy.
‘Look at the trouble about my ears. Bankrupt. No queen. Unpopular. Mistrusted. Challenged in the scritina. Don’t tell me I’ll be a favourite of the mob when I wed that chit from Oldorando. You advised me to do this, and I have had sufficient of your advice.’
SartoriIrvrash had backed against one wall, where he was fairly safe from the king’s pacing. He wrung his hands in distress.
‘If I may speak … I have faithfully served you and your father before you. I have lied for you. I lied today. I have implicated myself in this gruesome Myrdolators’ crime for your sake. Unlike other chancellors you might elect, I have no political ambitions – You are good enough to splash me, your majesty!’
‘Crime! Your sovereign is a criminal, is he? How else was I to put down a revolt?’
‘I have advised you with your good in mind, rather than my advancement, sire. Never less than in this sorry matter of the divorcement. You will recall that I told you you would never find another woman like the queen and—’
The king seized a towel and wrapped it about his narrow waist. A puddle formed round his feet. ‘You told me that my first duty lay with my country. So I made the sacrifice, made it at your suggestion—’
‘No, Your Majesty, no, I distinctly—’ He waved his hands distractedly.
‘“I dizztingtly,”’ said Yuli, picking up a new word.
‘You merely want a scapegoat on which to vent your