Realm of Light - Deborah Chester [3]
“Ela,” the emperor said harshly, “why do you come to me like this, without your attendants, without your guard? Where is your protector?”
“Where is yours?” she retorted.
Her defiance reddened his face again. “Hovet died in battle, saving my life,” the emperor replied, his tone a rebuke.
“Rander is also dead,” she told him. “My life I owe to him and to another guardsman who saw me safely across the compound.”
“No one could get across,” General Paz said. “We saw it overrun. And her part of the palace was on fire. I tell your Majesty that this miraculous arrival of the empress now is part of some devious trick. Do not trust her-—”
“Take care, Paz,” Kostimon snapped. “You are accusing your empress of infamy. Without proof, you will see your tongue cut out if you continue.”
Suddenly pale, the general shut his mouth and frowned.
Despite Kostimon’s rebuke, Elandra knew the general would go on dripping poison into the emperor’s ear at every opportunity. He was anxious to conceal his own duplicity and incompetence by accusing her. That he should even be allowed to utter his slander infuriated her; by now his head should have been struck from his shoulders. But Kostimon remained lenient with him. That in itself was a warning to her that she must do something to thwart Paz’s deviltry once and for all.
Lifting her chin, she said, “I will submit to truth-light, if the general will do the same.”
Consternation flashed across all the men’s faces.
“Ela!” the emperor said in exasperation. “Would you act like a peasant on top of all our problems? You stand here in rags, your hair looking like—like I know not what—and announce you will submit to examination? Are you guilty, that you should abase yourself this way?”
“No, I am innocent,” she replied defiantly. “And I am impatient with this hypocrisy. Why not throw the truth-light over me?
If this coward is allowed to denounce me, why can I not prove my innocence and loyalty?”
“An empress does not need to prove her—”
“Yes, yes, so says the law, but you listen to him, Kostimon!” she said in fresh anger. “You listen! Is there humiliation to exceed that? I will endure the examination.” She swung around and pointed at the general. “Will he?”
Paz glared at her. “Am I not of high rank?” he retorted. “Why should I submit when—”
“Silence!” the emperor shouted. “Vysal, pass the word for Lord Sien to attend me immediately.”
Vysal saluted and hurried away.
The general glared at Elandra, then sniffed in disdain. He focused his gaze on the far wall, where ancient gruesome faces were carved in the stone like silent watchers.
She started to say that Lord Sien would not be available, but something in Kostimon’s expression silenced her.
The emperor turned away from Elandra and began to pace back and forth among the stacks of boxes and bundles. She glimpsed money bags and jewelry cases of exquisite woods. Clothes chests with travel straps stood nearby. Even though everything had been hastily assembled and was far from representing Kostimon’s usual amount of baggage when he traveled, there was far too much for someone fleeing into exile. She saw no pack animals, no servants. Who was to carry it all?
She counted the milling men and horses and realized there were not even enough mounts for everyone. Who, then, was to be left behind?
Elandra stood there, tired and dirty, and began to understand that she was now a refugee. Her home was burning. She had no servants, no clothing save what was on her back, no goods, no money or jewels, no property.
All of it suddenly overwhelmed her. She saw again faithful Rander Malk, so anxious to please in his new post as her protector, dying almost at her feet as the shadow demon strangled him. She felt again the heat of the flames and smelled the thick smoke filling her bedchamber. Her ears rang with the war cries of the Madruns as Caelan fought them down the stairs. She remembered the hideous touch ofthe shadow’s fingers upon her throat, the metallic taste of blood on her tongue where she bit herself in her struggles.
Her lips trembled,