The Dead God's Due (The Eye of the Lion Saga Book 1) (22 page)

Maranath rose, and Kariana felt
herself flinch inwardly. What would the Meite say?

The old man wobbled on his cane
a moment, then spoke, his voice strong and gravely, at odds with his
age. “Narelki is quite correct. This is basic history. My own
house would not even exist were it not for Tasinal’s Mercy.”

Maralena, grinning, called out,
“I’m not so sure that’s a compelling argument.”
Laughter erupted from the rest of the elders.

“Indeed!” Prandil
added, chuckling. “The lot of them are crotchety old men
waving canes about and provoking scandals. They’re born that
way!”

Maranath took their barbs with
good humor, chuckling. “Aye, and House Idlic has never once
provoked scandal!”

Prandil raised a hand to his
cheek in feigned shock. “Never!”

Maranath aped a scowl and waved
his cane at Prandil. “I’m not so old that I can’t
thrash you for insolence, pup! Now leave an old man to speak without
heckling, if you have it in you.”

Prandil mimed zipping his lips
shut and nodded vigorously.

“All humor aside,”
Maranath continued, “This notion of executing a noble is
simply not legal, and we all know it.”

Kariana shook her head in
vigorous denial.
Don’t screw this up. Play it like she told
you!
“This case is
not
the same. Aswan led an internal rebellion. Aiul has conspired with
foreign nationals. This is not rebellion, it is treason, a much
higher crime, and one for which there
is
no precedent.”

Kariana smiled to see Narelki’s
jaw clench.

Maranath grunted loudly.
“Tasinal was not so foolish as to force his loyal subjects
into such decisions.”

The rest of the elders once
again broke into debate, arguing the merits of the points raised.
Polus, at last, rose to speak with their consensus. “We will
not judge these men without hearing them speak. Bring them before us
and let them account for themselves. Then we will decide if you have
the right of things.”

Kariana nodded. “Very
well. Caelwen, bring in the prisoners.” She would have
preferred carte blanche, but Maralena had told her to expect this.

Caelwen turned and opened one
of the double doors. “Bring them in.”

The Southlander and Aiul,
flanked by four guards, entered the courtroom in chains, still
wearing the bloody clothes in which they had been captured. They
slowly made their way forward, their movement restricted by hobbles.
The Southlander stood at attention before the elders, while Aiul
stood slump shouldered, head bowed in shame. Caelwen quickly ushered
the guards out again, then closed the doors and took up station
behind the prisoners.

Kariana cleared her throat and
spoke. “Here stand before you a Southlander spy and a traitor
who conspired with them to murder me and conquer this city.”
She could feel her nostrils flaring as she spoke.
Yes, very
indignant! That should sell it well.
“What can either of
these wretches possibly tell you that will vindicate them? What can
this foreigner do but bring death upon us if he is released? I tell
you they must die!”

The Southlander’s eyes
grew wide, and he struggled at his bonds. “I deny this court!
Barbarians cannot sit in judgment of civilized men!”

Caelwen gave Sandilianus a cuff
to the ear. “The prisoner will not speak unless spoken to.”

Sandilianus turned and spat at
him. “You promised us justice! You are a cowardly, lying dog!
Elgar take you!”

Caelwen, his face carefully
blank, raised his fist again, but Maranath called out, “Let
him speak.” Caelwen lowered his fist and nodded.

Maranath looked down at the
prisoner, summing him up. “What is your name, Southlander?”

Sandilianus stood to attention
again. “I am Centurion Sandilianus Abu al Khayr, officer in
Prince Philip’s personal retinue, serving under Tribune Brutus
Samir, and loyal servant to Ilaweh.”

“A warrior, you say?”

“Take these chains from
me and I will do more than say it.”

Maranath chuckled and shook his
head. “You have no idea what you’re asking, boy.”
Kariana felt a cold chill run up her spine. The sorcerer was
taunting him! “If you are no spy, and you did not come here
for war, then why come at all?”

“We are explorers,”
Sandilianus answered. “We followed Yazid Valerian, a holy man,
on a quest to find an ancient evil.” He stared pointedly at
Kariana. “But evil found Yazid, instead.”

Maranath waved his hand
impatiently. “Yes, yes, we know the story. She is an imbecile,
that much is established. But what is the ancient evil you speak
of?”

Sandilianus shook his head. “I
can say no more.”

Polus rose and called out, “Not
even to save your life?”

Sandilianus shook his head
again. “I am a warrior. I am already dead.”

Polus glared at Kariana. “This
man is no spy.”

Kariana leapt to her feet in
outrage. “Of course he is! And he must be put to death as one!
He cannot be allowed to communicate our weakness to his people or we
are doomed!”

“We did not hide our
faces or skulk about!” Sandilianus shouted. “Not once we
knew who we were dealing with. We approached your men openly, and we
were attacked and murdered!”

“You lie!” Kariana
cried, pounding her fist on her desk. “You hid yourself under
hoods and cloaks and slipped into this very building to murder
me
!”

Sandilianus jerked at the
chains who bound his hands, as if he might break them and use them
to strangle her. “By then we were at war, a war
you
began with
us
!
There is no dishonor in surprising an open enemy! I deserve ransom,
or at least an honorable death. I am no spy!”

Maranath sighed and turned back
to the other elders. “This Empress is out of control. I
propose we remove her.”

Prandil chuckled. “Oh,
Maranath, always so serious! She has spunk!”

Maranath did not smile. “No,
I think we have made a mistake putting her on the throne.”

“Just so,” Polus
agreed, his face stern and unforgiving. “This has gone beyond
incompetence and well into power madness. What she proposes isn’t
merely idiocy and dishonor, is an outright act of war against a
people who can in all likelihood raze Nihlos if provoked. I stand
with Maranath.”

Kariana was seething. She
couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. She pointed a finger of
accusation at Maranath and shouted, “Bold words from a
criminal, Meite!” If she was wrong, it was going to be a
disaster, but it already was. She had little to lose.

Maranath looked at her with a
raised eyebrow for a moment, then began to laugh softly, his beard
quivering, eyes twinkling in amusement. “Mei. Prandil may have
a point, for once. We underestimate you, don’t we, my dear?”

Kariana turned to Polus. “Is
that not a clear confession in open court? You stand with a
criminal
?”

Polus sneered his disgust at
her, shaking his head sadly. “The children are so weak these
days, and ignorant.” Lucreta squirmed uncomfortably in her
seat as he looked her way for a moment, then turned back to Kariana.
“Meites do not recognize law when it conflicts with their
will. The law exists only to keep fools from dabbling.”

Kariana felt her jaw go slack
as she looked about at the rest of the elders, most of whom were
nodding in agreement. Maralena, pale faced and wide eyed, was
gesturing at her not to go down this path, but it was simply too
late. “Mei! All of you? You’re
all
a part of this?”

“She was far too young to
have been given the crown,” noted Lucreta.

“And too ignorant,”
Polus shot back at her.

Lucreta seemed to shrink a bit
at the accusation, but muttered, “It was how Tasinalt wanted
things.”

Olemus nodded. “Untrained
and weak, as I told you all at the start of it. It was a reckless
decision.”

“Dont talk about me like
I'm not here!” Kariana commanded. This was all spinning out of
control!

“You would have us speak
to you?” asked Ariano, her soft, almost musical voice at odds
with her wizened, shrunken features. “I seem to recall that it
was you who chose to ignore me when last we spoke of meaningful
things. You never answered my question about your brother.”

Mei, will that damned rumor
never die?
“Shut up, crone! You know nothing!”

Ariano smiled, and said,
“Perhaps it is best if we are both silent, for now.”

“An easy thing for you to
say, you wrinkled old whore! You’re not fighting for your
life!”

Polus held up his hand for
order, and again spoke to Kariana. “Nihlos has ever been ruled
by those with the will to do so. Laws are for those who lack
initiative.”

Prandil tittered, then jeered
“It must gall her to know the bitter truth, that her life is a
great, self inflicted delusion.”

Kariana was mildly heartened to
see Caelwen’s cool demeanor slip away as he glared daggers at
his father. For once, she felt some empathy for her guardian.
Corruption everywhere! But unlike Caelwen, she was flexible. She
could play this game. She just needed to learn the rules, form some
strategies.
If they have no law, then neither do
I
.

“I have plenty of
initiative,” she growled. ”I think when we are done
here, I shall make it my goal to root out these criminals and put
them all to the sword!”

At this, the chamber erupted in
reaction from all save Maklin, who was still busily scratching away
at his pad, oblivious. Maralena again looked as if she might be
close to having a stroke. Sadrina cackled and punched her in the
arm. Olemus rolled his eyes. Prandil, Maranath, and Polus all
laughed out loud, and everyone else snickered softly.

Prandil wiped tears from his
eyes and spoke for them all. “You barely survived this one’s
wrath,” he said, pointing to Aiul. “You think you would
weather Meite assassins?” Prandil shook his head, still
laughing. “I like this empress. She’s amusing. After we
spank her, I say we return her to the throne.”

“Don’t mock me!”
Kariana fumed.

Prandil’s smile vanished
and his eyes grew dark with anger. “I do what I will,
child
,”
he answered, the humor gone from his voice. “You would do well
to remember that.”

Kariana had a sinking feeling
that she had just uncovered another Meite.

Maralena rose to her feet,
almost stumbling. “Mind your tongue, fool, before you bring
ruin on us all!”

Ariano smiled her sickeningly
sweet smile again. “Aye. It is dangerous to antagonize hidden
enemies.”

Kariana could scarcely breathe.
The throbbing in her head felt as if a spike were being driven into
her skull. She was screwed, totally and utterly fucked beyond all
repair. It was freeing, in a way, the realization that she had
absolutely nothing left to lose. “It’s dangerous to back
desperate people into corners, too!”

Maralena’s eyes grew wide
as she looked from Kariana to Caelwen standing at the entrance, then
back again.
She’s worked it out! Good for her! Oh, well,
they’ll all know soon enough.
The matriarch of House
Prosin leapt to her feet and shouted, “Mei! You
fool
!
Don’t!”

Kariana smiled and screamed at
the top of her lungs, “Guards!”

The contingent of armed men
standing outside responded immediately. The courtroom doors were
nearly torn from their hinges as the guards burst into the room,
weapons drawn. Caelwen drew his own weapon, but instead of joining
them, he stood motionless, obviously conflicted. Kariana smirked at
his confusion. It served him right, always being so smug and
cocksure.

Her amusement was short lived,
however. Polus shouted to his son, “Stand down and secure the
prisoners!” She noted with detached amusement that Caelwen’s
duty to his father was likely the only handhold on sanity the poor
wretch had left.

The rest of the Elders barely
flinched as the guards continued to pour in. Only Lucreta gave even
the slightest indication of distress, as she slowly closed her eyes,
unable to watch what was to come. “Have mercy!” she
called out.

Kariana laughed her new laugh,
the really wicked and evil one that came so easy now. She struggled
to commit the scene to memory, so she could accurately describe it
later. What a grand tapestry this glorious victory would make!“
Kill these traitors! Kill them all!”

As one, Maranath, Prandil, and
Ariano rose, fists clenched, eyes wide and aflame with passion and
arcane energies.

“Have mercy!”
Lucreta screamed again.

The room wavered like a mirage
in the burning sun as invisible waves of power erupted from the
three Meites in a widening circle of swirling ether.

“Mercy is for the weak,”
Ariano called out in a sing song voice.

Lucreta lowered her head and
wept.

Ariano opened her mouth wide,
and sound poured fourth, multiple voices in perfect harmony, so
liquid that it could almost be seen as well as felt and heard. It
quickly rose in pitch and volume, bouncing back and forth from the
stone walls, folding upon itself and gathering power with each echo,
until it was the shriek of a hurricane trapped within the confines
of the courtroom.

The huge, stained glass windows
imploded, the sound of their shattering like a thousand cats running
on piano keys. Millions of glass shards rained down in chaos,
jagged, grisly death for all below. With a sudden jolt, the deadly
missiles jerked sideways, organized now into a coherent unit,
gravity no longer their master. Brilliant sunlight reflected in a
dazzling display from the razor edges as they spun and leapt in
unison, a school of shilling fish dancing in the air.