Nights of Villjamur - Mark Charan Newton [23]
“Yes, I didn’t mean to be harsh, but your father has islands and cities to help run. There’s enough bad judgment being made in this city without our ruler drinking as well.”
“I know, I know,” Eir said. Her tone was confident, though her posture suggested it wasn’t natural, that she had something to prove to herself. “Anyway, what happened to you all?”
“Ambush, and massacre. We’re the remaining survivors from … from where we were sent last.”
Eir said, “The firegrain trip? Who were you fighting?”
Brynd couldn’t believe it. “Even you know about it. Is nothing sacred in these halls?”
“I’m sorry,” Eir said. “Fyir, will you be all right?” She lay a hand on him kindly, a gesture that other men might envy.
“Suffice to say,” Fyir squirmed in his chair, “that my soldiering days are over, Jamur Eir.”
“Girls’ talk,” Apium snorted. Then, to Eir, he murmured, “No offense.”
“None taken.”
“He’ll be up and about in no time,” Apium continued. “We’ll strap a decent bit of wood on that leg and he’ll be back on horseback ready for training—”
Brynd gestured Apium to be silent.
There was a disturbance outside.
He hurried over to the window. Shit!
A scene was developing down below in the drizzle.
Emperor Jamur Johynn could be seen retreating to the outer edge of the balcony below, almost as if he was being backed into a corner. In his own mind he had probably reached such a position long ago.
Several guardsmen edged tentatively toward him, uncertain of how to act. A move forward suggested a threat to him. A move back might mean they would be too late.
Brynd fled the room to go and help.
“Stand back,” he shouted, pushing his way through the growing crowd. From this stone platform you could view the whole front section of the city, the spires, the bridges, the sweeping dark hills in the distance, even the sea in the other direction. Only a knee-high granite wall separated you from a vertiginous drop. Servants and administrative staff were here to witness the drama unfolding, and even some councilors had come to watch, too. The Emperor was still positioned as before, but he now faced the sky as if experiencing a purely religious moment. And maybe he was—in these moments you could never tell what was really going on. Brynd knew he had to stop him doing something stupid, had to bring the Emperor back safely into the hall. With the ice age setting in, Johynn would be needed as a national figurehead. People needed his guidance, his support, because in times of crisis you needed someone to reassure you it would be okay, even when it wouldn’t be.
They needed someone to lie to them clearly and loudly.
“My Emperor, what’re you doing?” Brynd called out, icy sleet gusting against his cheeks.
“It’s easier this way,” Johynn said. “As I said before, it’s over.”
His motions were awkward, like those of someone who had been drinking heavily. He regained his footing, shuffled further along the low parapets.
“I have no great words, commander,” Johynn said. “Nothing profound to say, at the end.”
“Please, I think you should step back a bit,” Brynd argued. “Think about what you’re doing.”
“Think is all I damn well do, Commander Lathraea. All I do is think about things. All the time thinking.”
“But the people of Villjamur need you,” Brynd said desperately. “That’s what you said earlier. That they need you!”
“Father!” Eir appeared, running onto the scene.
Whether it was because he lost his footing, or he genuinely intended to step off the edge, Brynd would never know, but just then the Emperor collapsed ungracefully off the wall, a flurry of his robes the last thing to be seen.
Everyone gasped …
Surged forward in disbelief.
Eir had to be held back, launching muffled screams into Brynd’s chest.
A moment later they were greeted by the keening of the banshee.
CHAPTER 5
“I’D LIKE A ROOM–JUST FOR THE NIGHT, PLEASE,” RANDUR SAID.
“A room?”
“Yes, a room. For the night.” He fluttered his long eyelashes at the landlady, pushed a lock of glossy hair back in order to gaze at her more intensely, but she kept on peering down at the register.