Kushiel's Justice - Jacqueline Carey [294]
On the fifth day, Micah ben Ximon came for us.
"He will see you," he said briefly. "All of you. I would counsel you not to lie. I have not spoken of what happened at the border, as you were not involved. Otherwise, I have told him the entire truth insofar as I know it.”
"Are you in disfavor?" I asked.
His face was hard and set. "Not in any way his lordship can afford to show after the victory I won for him. But he is not pleased.”
Unlike our previous encounter, this was a formal audience. It took place in the throne room, a vast, vaulted space with checkered marble floors that gleamed in the wintry light pouring through the narrow windows. Tadeuz Vral was seated in his throne, and beside him stood Rebbe Avraham. The Rebbe looked grave and thoughtful. The Grand Prince looked grim. He was clad in heavy brocade robes trimmed with ermine, and atop his head he wore a conical gold crown studded with gems, also trimmed with fur. His expression didn't change much as we approached, except that his eyes widened at the sight of Phèdre.
"So," he said to me. "You are back.”
"Yes, my lord," I said. "To plead clemency.”
Tadeuz Vral gave a sharp bark of laughter. "You accepted my friendship and my coin, and lied to my face! 'Behold,'" he quoted. " 'He travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.' Is it not so written?" he demanded, turning to the Rebbe.
"It is," Rebbe Avraham said quietly.
"You see?" Prince Tadeuz said to me. "'God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day' You have slain three men under the mantle of my rulership. Why should I grant you clemency?”
I glanced at the others with me; at Urist, who had gauged my merits and found me worthy of loyalty, who had come to love Dorelei as a daughter, though he'd never said so in as many words. At Maslin, who had come in anger and envy, only to begin learning how to love. At Ti-Philippe and Hugues, stalwart, insistent, and loyal to the marrow. At Joscelin and Phèdre, the bedrock on which my existence rested. There were faint worry-lines etched between Phèdre's brows, but she held her tongue, trusting me to answer for myself. My heart ached with fondness.
"As this is your kingdom, I must answer to you, my lord," I said to Tadeuz Vral. "But I am Elua's child. I will not answer to your God.”
His face flushed. "Well, it is against my law to slay a pilgrim!”
"Nor was he," I said steadily. "Not at the end.”
"And yet you hunted him believing it to be so," Tadeuz Vral said. "Would it have mattered if it were true?”
There were a great many things I might have said.
In the end, I spoke only the truth. "I don't know.”
"An honest answer." The Grand Prince seemed somewhat mollified. He propped his chin on one hand and contemplated us. "You are a small problem, but a vexing one. Micah tells me that the truth is more dangerous than the lie; that you are persons of some import, and perhaps I would be better served by discretion than righteousness." He paused. "I find it hard to believe that persons of true significance and power would travel in such a manner, but Micah has lived beyond Vralia's borders, while I know nothing else. And I do not wish to make an enemy of Terre d'Ange and Alba.”
"Nor do we wish it," I said.
"What is your counsel?" he asked Rebbe Avraham.
"It is as I told you. I have spoken with the young man," the Rebbe said. "He did but defend himself against the Tarkovans and I have absolved him of that crime. As for Berlik, I believe he speaks the truth. No one could have