Page 53 of Queen Demon
Ramad was currently speaking in Old Imperial to the older person. “Chancellor, I cannot show you a written warrant of authority from the Rising World council, because as you very well know, the Well of Thosaren’s message devices do not supply paper documents.”
Flanking Ramad were two Immortal Blessed. The surprise, the cold wash of shock, was that Arnsterath stood with them.
Through Ziede’s pearl came a wave of emotion like an unvoiced snarl.
Arnsterath wore the same body, with light-brown skin, straight nose, and thin lips, her dark hair held in a loose braid. Her clothes were light-colored linen meant for travel, in the same style as the two Immortal Blessed, a knee-length split tunic and close-fitting pants. The Arike coat she wore over it was too big for her, and plain except for the embroidery on the hems, probably borrowed from the cohort post.
With the air of someone who had taken a position and had no intention of budging from it, the Chancellor said, “You arrive out of nowhere, you claim to have the authority of the alliance, at a time when rumors of conspiracies and Benais-arik’s imperial ambitions—” She broke off to stare at Kai. “Who is this?”
Ramad glanced up and froze. Arnsterath’s dark gaze went to Kai and she smiled, a small satisfied upturn of the lips.
Kai said, “I am doing you the courtesy of allowing you one chance at an explanation.” It had been a long time since he had actually trembled with rage, but he was doing it now.
The room was very quiet suddenly. Instinct warning even the mortals that they were in the presence of something dangerous.
Ramad held up his hands, like someone trying to forestall an argument, or a calamity. “Arnsterath has surrendered to the Rising World.”
Kai wasn’t certain what expression his face was making but itmade his jaw hurt. One of the Immortal Blessed put a hand on their sword hilt.
Undeterred, Ramad continued, “From the beginning, then. I went to the cohort post downriver from where you left me, and sent a messenger ahead to Benais-arik. Then I took a detachment back toward the Summer Halls to see if any of the conspirators had survived. On the way we were joined by an ascension raft with these two Immortal Blessed. They had been sent by their Rising World envoy to help with the search for Tahren Stargard and apprehend any Blessed who had been involved in her disappearance. We found Arnsterath on the road and she agreed to submit to our custody.”
In Kai’s head, Ziede’s furious voice said,Of course she shitting did, just like she agreed to submit to all those dead conspirators.
Kai grated out, “And what did you offer her in exchange for her cooperation? The next expositor you catch?”
“She has sworn to take no familiar, even if it means she can no longer use intentions.” Ramad glanced at her, his expression turning grim. “She knew she had no choice.”
Kai didn’t laugh. “She’s always had a choice.”
Arnsterath’s expression betrayed nothing. Some mortals said a demon’s gaze was “soulless,” as if souls lived in the pupil of the eye. Facing Arnsterath, Kai felt less uncharitable toward that superstition.
“I too had a choice,” Ramad countered. “I meant to resign my service, but when my Immortal Blessed companions contacted Benais-arik through the Well of Thosaren on their raft, we were told about this situation…” He gestured back toward the scholars gathered in the room, all watching the conversation with different degrees of confusion and alarm. “And we were ordered here to investigate and provide assistance.” He added more self-consciously, “I decided to wait, to help if possible, before resigning.”
Both Immortal Marshalls were young, which was moreapparent in their lean builds than in their unlined faces. Using the Blessed language, one said, “Apost—Former Marshall Tahren. I am Rafiem and this is Eleni, we are Acolytes Major to Marshall Sodor Targildsun, speaker to—”
“I don’t care,” Tahren replied evenly, in Old Imperial.
“That is Tahren Stargard,” the Chancellor said, as if grasping at the one fact that seemed certain. Rafiem and Eleni had the audacity to look startled, as if they hadn’t expected a mortal scholar to understand, or even pick out Tahren’s name. The Chancellor turned back to Ramad accusingly. “You told me she was missing.”
“Obviously she has been found,” Ramad said, his voice betraying just a hint of irritation. “This is Kaiisteron, Fourth Prince of the underearth, called Witch King, and Sister Ziede Daiyahah, Scourge of the Temple Halls. This is Domtellan, she is Chancellor of Ancartre’s Scholars Archive.”
Her voice cold and calm, Ziede said, “Chancellor, we came here from the house of the Tescai-lin, in answer to your request for assistance. We had come to Belith to meet with you, after hearing about your expedition’s findings. I think you understand our concerns.”
“I do, of course. The Tescai-lin—” Chancellor Domtellan began.
Then Dahin strode in and plopped his bag on the nearest worktable. “We’ve been told that you’ve uncovered artifacts, including one you identified as the badge of a Hierarch’s expositor. Can you tell me where it was found?”
It was done with such calm confidence, one of the Belith picked up a rolled map case and started toward the table.
The Chancellor held up a hand. “I ask you wait.” Her brow furrowed but she was much calmer about all this than Kai. If Ramad had expected to bully his way into taking charge, he had picked the wrong bureaucrat. “Are you a scholar?”
Etem stepped forward from the doorway and said, “Chancellor,this is Lesser Blessed Dahin Stargard, who is an accomplished historian.”
Dahin turned and said in polite formal Belithan, “Yes, I am as Doorkeeper Etem says, and have been working on a theory relating to your expedition’s endeavors. I felt it was past time we combined our efforts.”
The Chancellor was immediately mollified. “Then please continue.” Her sideways glance at Ramad was arch. “All who seek knowledge are welcome here.”
Through a haze of rage, Kai noted Dahin’s ability to behave with perfect courtesy if he thought it would get him what he wanted. He said, “Dahin.”
