Kirin made his voice as gentle as he could. ‘Come on, Mrs Felt, let me show off what a beautiful wife I’ve caught on my travels.’
‘After you, Master Felt,’ she said, nodding.
Kirin led the way towards the great palace gates, slowing his horse as the guards stepped out. He recognised three of them.
‘You’re back,’ said a young man whose name, Kirin recalled, was Jert. ‘People have been worried about you.’
‘Worried?’ Kirin frowned. ‘Why? Surely Master Freath told everyone I was on a sabbatical?’
‘Erm, well, we’ve had bad news from the north,’ Jert said, pointing him through the gates.
Kirin’s anxiety deepened. ‘What kind of bad news?’ he asked as he got off his horse to lead it through.
The young man shook his head. ‘We’re not sure what it means — not much detail filters down to us. But the news this morning is that General Stracker is headed back to Brighthelmstone today… alone. He should be here shortly. The runner came by almost exactly on the last bell.’
‘Alone? Without whom?’ Kirin asked, shaking his head, confused as another familiar soldier joined them, an older man. ‘Hello, Kain.’
‘Master Kirin. Good to see you back safe and sound.’
Kirin found a grin. ‘I’ve been a little busy finding myself a wife,’ he said, gesturing to Lily as he handed over his reins to a young stableboy.
His two companions laughed and Kirin snuck a glance at Lily. She was smiling, but he could tell she was uncomfortable with the men’s attention. Clearing his throat, he said hastily, ‘I suppose I should have sent word but I presumed Freath would advise all who needed to know. Anyway, who did you expect should be accompanying the general?’
‘The emperor, Master Kirin,’ Jert replied. ‘Loethar went north in search of his brother after their mother died.’
Kirin paused, privately delighted at this news. ‘Gar’s breath!’ he forced out, making sure he sounded shocked and appropriately sorrowful. ‘She seemed in good health when I left.’
‘She was,’ the older man said, an edge of sarcasm in his voice. ‘And while nothing’s being said, we all think that’s why the empress has been banished.’
‘Banished?’ Kirin repeated, definitely surprised by this news and even more delighted. ‘Why?’
Kain winked. ‘It’s not for me to say. Let’s just agree that the emperor didn’t trust her story that his mother died of natural causes.’ He tapped his nose as though they were speaking in confidence.
Kirin felt his mouth drop open. Finally he said, ‘I’ve only been gone a short while. Any more death or drama to speak of?’ He said it lightly, as a means of extricating himself and Lily, expecting the guards would shake their heads and he could move on, but the soldier called Kain grew serious.
‘It sounds like you haven’t heard about Master Freath?’
Kirin felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. ‘Freath? No. What’s wrong with him? I was at his side just a few days ago.’
Kain nodded. ‘Yes, I thought so. I presume that’s why the general is keen to speak to you.’
‘What? Why?’
Kain shrugged. ‘To ask you who might have killed Freath.’
‘Killed … pardon?’ Kirin took a breath. ‘Freath is dead?’ he murmured, the final word catching in his throat.
‘Already buried, I believe.’
‘But why… who?… ‘ Kirin trailed off, feeling sick and frightened. ‘And the general thinks I had something to do with it?’ he continued, his throat feeling as though it were closing.
The man nodded. ‘Well, I think the emperor and our general believe that you might have some information that could help,’ he said carefully.
Kirin couldn’t speak for a few moments. Finally he stuttered, ‘Forgive me, this news is a shock.’
‘I know you and he were close. Anyway, I shall let General Stracker know you are returned. He will want to speak with you immediately.’
‘Excuse me, Kain. I… I need to… ‘ He didn’t finish his sentence. Grabbing Lily’s arm, he urged her away from theguards. ‘We have to get away from here,’ he growled beneath his breath.
‘What?’
‘Don’t react. Just walk. Smile at me. I said smile.’ She found one. ‘Good, well done. Now put your hand against my chest as though you’re concerned for me.’
She did as she was asked. ‘Believe me, I am concerned for you. What happens now?’
He turned to her and swallowed. ‘Freath’s dead. I don’t know what to do. He was our protection.’
Lily looked ahead, and he could tell her head was swimming with the same anxieties as his own.
‘We’re going to get some money and then we’re gone. All right?’
She nodded, looking frightened. ‘Are we in immediate danger here?’
‘Yes, we could be.’
‘Oh, Kirin —’
‘You have to trust me now. I won’t let anything happen to you, Lily.’
She didn’t look convinced. ‘You said I was a liability from the moment I opened my mouth and claimed to be your wife.’
‘None of this is your fault. And you are my wife, don’t forget that.’
She nodded, none of the fear leaving her expression.
‘I need you to force yourself to be calm and to just pretend. We will get through this.’
People nodded and smiled at them, some even stopped to pass a few words with Kirin, and Lily felt herself in a whirl of activity and congratulations as her husband put aside his fears and feigned precisely the right blend of charm and sorrow. Yes, he’d just received the terrible news of Freath, yes, they’d only just arrived back into the capital to hear the dire revelation, wasn’t itdreadful about Dara Negev — whoever she is, Lily thought — and this was his new wife. She found herself being admired, eyed up and down, even hugged by a very jolly woman, and all the time Kirin was dragging her gently forwards. They walked down corridors, up two flights of stairs, across landings, and then up another spiralling staircase. The palace became quieter and quieter until Kirin stood before a door. From around his neck he pulled a thong. And the key that hung from it opened the door, the timber creaking as he pushed it open.
‘Here we are,’ he said, throwing her a sad glance. ‘Welcome to my home of the last ten anni.’
The general threw the reins of his horse at the approaching stableman, barely acknowledging the soldiers around him who stood straighter and touched a hand to one cheek in a sign of recognition of the tribes.
Stracker’s tatua was drawn back by a snarl. How had Loethar got away? He’d ridden ahead of his henchmen, too disgusted to travel with them or even look at them right now. Fires of Aludane! The man had too many lives! Now he had no ally, only enemies.
Stracker strode through the halls and corridors of Brighthelmstone, startling palace workers, making for the wing reserved strictly for the emperor. His towering, threatening presence brooked no argument and he was permitted to barge into his brother’s chambers unchallenged. Once in Loethar’s salon, he slammed the door shut, yelling that he was to be left undisturbed unless information was forthcoming. Then, standing by one of the tall windows where he had so often seen his brother position