Chapter 10 #2
“I understand the Grand Vizier personally attended to tonight’s security arrangements.
” Sinan gave Abarsam a mocking half-bow.
“An enchantment to transform the water inside anyone who attacks another with magic into heated vapor, boiling them alive from the inside out.” The young necromancer surveyed the array of swords, muskets, and a few bayonets aimed in his direction with unperturbed calm.
“A fascinating death. I’d be most intrigued to see it. ”
“Stand down.” Jacques snapped the words out, and the Shields of Saint Thaschus lowered their weapons, although they remained arrayed in a circle around Sinan.
Guests jostled behind them for a better look at the necromancer, and the surprised silence gave way to an excited babble of voices. “Why are you here?”
“I believe I’ve already answered that question.
” Sinan walked closer to Meri and Gallmau, his black eyes moving from their faces to the Queen’s.
He pressed his fingertips together in a gesture that mimicked a prayerful stance, although it looked more like a predatory insect about to pounce.
“The Councils of the Living and the Dead in Karakoncolos deny any knowledge of the abduction of the Dauphine of Soissons, Rixende Grimoard, or the assassination of Zhang Jue of the benandanti.”
“You’ve come far to merely claim you had no involvement.
” Queen Xiaolian spoke in measured tones, but Gallmau was close enough to feel the faint tremble in her slight frame.
“I confess I’m not sure how to address you, having never met a necromancer before.
Would you prefer Monsieur Kaya, perhaps?
I understand your father is a member of that family in Iotape. ”
The necromancer’s cover story of being a merchant from the Eastern city wasn’t entirely a lie, then.
Sinan’s eyes narrowed. He had taken the Queen’s mention of his family name as a threat, and it was quite possible Xiaolian meant it as one.
Odart of Dol had hanged several prominent citizens in Iotape after his loss in the Witches’ War, but he had exchanged one living hostage for the safe return of Jacques from Karakoncolos, along with three Noviodunam students accused of necromancy.
Gallmau had always wondered why the Bone Lords would trade a prisoner of war for a merchant.
Now it made sense. Odart had abducted Sinan’s father.
“I could care less what you call me.” Sinan came to a halt a few feet from Meri and Gallmau. “We have no titles in Karakoncolos, no kings or queens, and as for family, all of the Blessed are as one.”
Well, that settled the question of how the Bone Lords ruled themselves. They were short on pomp and fancy titles, and long on radical thinking and scary face paint.
“You state your people had no part in this diabolical plot yet claim kinship with whoever did it,” Queen Xiaolian continued, her voice icy.
“I didn’t threaten war against your city-state without forethought to the consequences.
If you came here to issue threats to me in person, you may do so and take your leave. ”
It was a stinging rebuke, and Sinan paused for a moment before responding. “I also came here to offer my assistance. If one of the Blessed took unprovoked action against your family and the Kingdom of Soissons, then they have gone against the current interests of Karakoncolos.”
Gallmau’s mouth dropped open, and Jacques broke into sarcastic laughter. “You’re offering to come along with the rescue parties, then. I suppose you also plan on being joined in holy matrimony with the princess if you return her after your people orchestrated her abduction?”
“Allow me to clarify.” Sinan let out an exasperated breath at Jacques and turned his attention back to Xiaolian. “Drop your threat to attack my country, and I’ll find whoever kidnapped your daughter and take her back by any means necessary.”
“The Kingdom of Soissons will do what is necessary to protect our citizens and the Grimoard line of succession.” Queen Xiaolian sounded a little less certain now, perhaps as surprised by Sinan’s offer as Gallmau was.
“I have only your word Karakoncolos wasn’t involved, and I must do what’s best for my country. ”
“Was it in your country’s best interest to support the Witches’ War?
” Sinan waved at the crowd around him, now more curious than hostile.
The necromancer was taking a different direction now, and perhaps a more dangerous one.
“You put troops and money behind the Noviodunam and their obsession with hunting down and killing every one of us. They failed miserably and took their frustration out on the innocent citizenry of Iotape. Now you have no diplomatic relations with a port city that accounted for forty percent of your exports and imports. Your economy is in shambles, many of your people have been reduced to begging on the streets, and there’s talk in the taverns and gazettes about overthrowing the foreign-born queen who sits on the throne. ”
Gallmau winced. Sinan might be a Bone Lord, but he was telling some uncomfortable truths, and people were listening to him.
“You’ve said enough.” Jacques moved toward Sinan, but Abarsam put a hand onto his chest with a sizzle, like water quenching fire.
Saints, this was turning into a mini Witches’ War of its own.
The necromancer kept talking, his words now more for his fascinated audience than the queen.
“Your heir to the throne, who will rule for no other reason than an accident of birth, has been taken, and what do you and the great Noviodunam do about it?” He pointed around him, at the fountain that once again flowed with golden fire, the array of feast items and drinks, and the well-dressed guests who were hanging on his every word.
“You throw an enormous party and talk about marrying off the young woman if you get her back alive.”
Gallmau hated to admit it, but Sinan had a point about that as well. He took in a deep breath and resolved to jump into this fiasco and face the consequences later.
“Magus Abarsam.” Gallmau often tried to make his all-too-loud voice softer in court, to avoid unwanted attention, but this time he let it ring out loud and clear.
“I think it’s time to continue this conversation in private.
Maybe we shouldn’t ignore any offers of assistance”—Gallmau gestured toward Sinan—“even ones from an unlikely source.”
Jacques opened his mouth, probably to tell Gallmau to shut the hell up, but Abarsam seized upon the suggestion with obvious relief. “A wise proposal, indeed. Madame la Reine, may we continue the conversation with our unexpected guest in the Synod meeting room?”
“I think that would be best.” The Queen placed a hand on Gallmau’s arm, and he turned in surprise to see approval in her eyes.
Jacques stood fuming for a moment, then motioned to the Shields.
They moved to clear a path through the crowd and stood at attention in two lines leading toward a pair of gold doors at the far side of the room.
As Abarsam muttered quick instructions to his son and bodyguard, Gallmau and Meri walked ahead of Queen Xiaolian toward the doors, with her Royal Guard trailing behind her.
Gallmau glanced back and saw a wary Sinan nod as Abarsam made a sweeping gesture for the necromancer to follow him. Jacques extended his arm out to Valentina, but the physician ignored it and walked on her own through the phalanx of guards.
They all ended up in front of the gleaming entrance to the Synod meeting room.
“Madame la Reine, I regret to say that even the sovereign of Soissons is only permitted two guards within the Synod chambers.” Jacques gave both Gallmau and Meri a look of intense irritation.
Gallmau’s suggestion had not sat well with the incensor.
“Although Monsieur de Rohan and Mademoiselle Meritamun came most ably to your defense, there’s no safer place within the Kingdom than behind these doors, even with a necromancer among us. ”
“Of course, Magus Jacques.” Xiaolian gave the incensor a frosty smile, pointedly not using his family name for once, and gestured to her Garde Royale soldiers. “You’re both dismissed. Send a message to the National Assembly about tonight’s events at once.”
The two guards bowed and left.
The Queen held out her arm. “I’m most intrigued to see this famous chamber.”
Gallmau hooked his elbow into hers, feeling like an oversized bear asked to transport a delicate porcelain vase.
Jacques chewed his lower lip, then turned to Sinan. “The last necromancer to enter this room was Letha the Witch, two hundred years ago, right before she was dragged out and burnt at the stake.” He raised his arms, and the doors burst into flames. “After you.”
Sinan studied the fire that roared over the gold doors yet somehow consumed nothing and gave off little heat. He closed his eyes, as if to concentrate, then opened them as shadows rippled along the floor toward the entrance.
The flames sputtered and died.
The entire wall in front of them bucked wildly for a second, and then both doors flew open as if there had been an explosion behind them.
Gallmau felt Xiaolian flinch. Beside him, Meri muttered several curse words in Kushian. Sinan strolled into the chamber without even glancing back at the incensor, and Gallmau gritted his teeth and followed, the Queen on his arm.