Shadow War - Deborah Chester [83]
Caelan said nothing. His jaw was clamped too tightly.
Agel took his silence for assent. “Now. You will answer my questions and give me the assistance I need.”
“If you condemn me,” Caelan said hoarsely, “will you not also condemn yourself, as my kinsman?”
“Treachery and murderous assault are two different things,” Agel said in a calm voice. “I cannot be blamed for the latter. You are well known to be a violent man, of unreliable temper and savage fighting skills. And it is also known that you expected his highness to free you for your successes in the arena. He has not done so. Are these not sufficient provocations for a man of your ilk?”
Caelan frowned, wondering how Agel could be so ruthless. “Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. It was very difficult to get this appointment. Now that I have it, I intend to keep it. How better to impress the emperor than by healing his beloved son of these injuries? Do you think I came to Imperia merely to treat wounded gladiators, favorite slaves, and imperial concubines? No, I came to treat the emperor himself, and I will not let your stupidity keep me from that.”
Understanding dawned on Caelan. “You haven’t been received yet,” he said slowly. “The emperor has not yet permitted you to examine him.”
It was Agel’s turn to stand silent and tight-lipped.
“You are here on a trial basis. You can be dismissed if you fail to please.”
Agel’s chin lifted. “Already I have been called on by the empress. That was a great step forward, at least until you broke in and interrupted the consultation.”
Caelan shook his head. “She wasn’t the empress, you fool. Her Imperial Majesty wouldn’t come to your shabby infirmary in person.”
“But she did.”
“I have been here longer than you,” Caelan said scornfully. “I know palace protocol. The empress would send for you, by messenger and escort.”
“But the guard said she was ... she herself said she was—”
Agel’s confusion made Caelan laugh. “People lie,” he said. “Especially do aristocrats lie to their servants and inferiors.”
A tide of red crept up Agel’s throat into his face.
“She was not the empress,” Caelan said emphatically. “Perhaps she came to you on her Majesty’s behalf, to observe you and your methods, to see how clean you are, to see whether you are suitable. That’s all.”
“But... but still, the empress has expressed interest,” Agel said finally, trying to rally. “It changes little. As regards you, it changes nothing.”
Caelan’s amusement died. He looked at Agel stonily.
“Now, back to the matter at hand,” Agel said, gesturing at the unconscious prince. “Does he know anything about severance? Can he return by himself? Has he had any training?”
“No.”
“Of course. Severance is not practiced here.” Agel compressed his lips and stared at Caelan very hard. “You were on the Forbidden Mountain. You encountered wind spirits—”
“No, shyrieas.”
Agel waited, but when Caelan said nothing further he walked to the far side of the room and motioned for Caelan to follow him. “Am I to wrest every word from you like drawing teeth?” he asked angrily. “Must I threaten you again to elicit your cooperation?”
“No, I think you have threatened me sufficiently,” Caelan said.
“Then answer my questions, that I may do my work.”
It occurred to Caelan that if he was to accuse the prince with any hope of being believed, then Tirhin should be conscious. It was possible that Tirhin might confess or reveal his guilt in some way if questioned. Unconscious and half-dead, he would have the benefit of his father’s sympathy, and only Agel’s lies would be believed.
Sighing, Caelan nodded. “Very well.”
He went back to Tirhin’s bedside with Agel and stood there looking down at the man he had once respected.
“You know what shyrieas are,” Caelan said before Agel could prompt him. “Demons of this land. I cannot describe their appearance. They—they feed on a man’s thoughts, his fears. All that is dark inside you draws them like honey. All your sins, all your evil intentions are food for them. They come at you half seen, like wind spirits. They scream until you go mad, and then