Shadow War - Deborah Chester [67]
She saw that he was, and understood his frustration all too well. Here was a man trying to help, and hindered at every turn.
“I am sorry,” he said now, spreading out his hands. “I am a man of action and the sword, not of polished words. I cannot go back to my master’s service, even if he orders me killed for my disobedience. I cannot take back what I have done and said in this room. I can only ask for pardon, and your help.”
His appeal moved her deeply. She believed his sincerity now.
“If you truly want my help, you must be forthright in your answers,” she said. “Speak to me about your master. Is he badly hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Is he dying?”
“He could be. I do not know.” Caelan hesitated. “The shyrieas got to him.”
“Shyrieas?” she echoed amazed and fearful. “In the city?”
“No. Beyond.” He gestured vaguely.
“Ah, on Sidraigh-hal” she said, remembering what he had said earlier. “What were you doing there? Plotting treason against the emperor? Was that how the two of you were caught by the demons which protect the mountain?”
Caelan’s mouth opened.
She went on. “The mountain was active last night. We felt tremors, even here in the city.”
As she spoke, she thought, Yes, even a tremor that broke the ruby throne. Did Beloth plan that? Can the shadow god reach so far now into our world?
Driving such thoughts away, she continued.
“Yes, you were there by your own admission. That is how you got your burns. And you carried his highness back?
All that way? That indicates deep devotion to your master. Why are you now so eager to denounce him?”
He frowned. “I—”
“Are you guilty as his accomplice? Have you also committed treasonous acts? By his order or by your own free will? Have you listened to treasonous talk and not reported it? Today is not the first time surely that Prince Tirhin has acted against his emperor, yet why haven’t you spoken up before now? Why wait? Is it for revenge against your master that you speak now? Why did you not come forward at the first incident? Do you understand that if you speak, you will come under blame?”
His chin lifted. “I am prepared for that.”
“How proudly you say it. Have you realized that if you lay such a charge, you must be questioned? Do you understand that slaves are questioned by torture, and must make confessions in order for their evidence to be admissible in court?”
Her scorn was coming out into her words. How big and foolish he was, standing there with his mouth open. He looked at her as though he could not imagine a woman would know about such matters, much less understand them. He was like an ox, too big and docile to comprehend that he was being led to slaughter. She wished she could tell him that Kostimon knew his son was plotting, but that was privileged information, not for disclosure.
Caelan sighed. “I would not be risking this if I did not believe the emperor should be warned without delay. Will you now keep your promise, Majesty, and tell him?”
“I made no promise.”
He scowled. “You—”
Her hand flashed up to silence him. “I said I would judge your message and then decide whether I could help you. It is quite impossible.”
His shoulders sagged, and despair filled his face. It was as though he was too weary to be angry anymore.
“The emperor grants few audiences,” she found herself explaining out of pity. “Those are set weeks in advance. He will see no one on whim or demand.”
“But for this—”
“No. It is by his will,” she said. “It cannot be changed.”
“But how—”
“There is another way,” she said.
Hope dawned in his face. Eagerly he nodded. “Tell me, and I shall do it.”
“You offered to write your message. Do that, and I will see that it reaches the hands of Lord Sien.”
Everything in his face crashed. He drew back, shaking his head. “No.”
“Why?”
“It is impossible.”
Elandra’s patience crumbled. She had made more