No. She tore the sheet away and Glokta grimaced, waiting for her face to go pale, waiting for her to stagger back, one hand across her mouth, eyes wide with shock and disgust. I am married to this shit-daubed monstrosity? She only frowned down, for a moment, then took hold of his ruined thigh and pressed her thumbs into it.
He gasped and flailed and tried to twist away but her grip was merciless, two points of agony stabbing right into the midst of his cramping sinews. Ah! You fucking you The wasted muscle went suddenly soft, and he went soft with it, dropping back against the mattress. And now being splattered with my own shit begins to seem just the slightest bit embarrassing.
He lay there for a moment, helpless. I didnt want you to see me like this.
Too late. You married me, remember. Were one body, now.
I think I got the better part of that deal.
I got my life, didnt I?
Hardly the kind of life that most young women hanker for. He watched her, the strip of sunlight wandering back and forth across her darkened face as she moved. I know that Im not what you wanted in a husband.
I always dreamed of a man I could dance with. She looked up and held his eye. But I think, perhaps, that you suit me better. Dreams are for children. We both are grownups.
Still. You see now that not dancing is the least of it. You should not have to do this.
I want to do it. She took a firm grip on his face and twisted it, somewhat painfully, so he was looking straight into hers. I want to do something. I want to be useful. I want someone to need me. Can you understand that?
Glokta swallowed. Yes. Few better. Wheres Barnam?
I told him he could have the mornings off. I told him Id be doing this from now on. Ive told him to move my bed in here, as well.
But
Are you telling me I cant sleep in the same room as my husband? Her hands slid slowly over his withered flesh, gentle, but firm, rubbing at the scarred skin, pressing at the ruined muscles. How long ago? Since a woman looked at me with anything but horror? Since a woman touched me with anything but violence? He lay back, his eyes closed and his mouth open, tears running from his eye and trickling down the sides of his head into the pillow. Almost comfortable. Almost
I dont deserve this, he breathed.
No one gets what they deserve.
Queen Terez looked down her nose at Glokta as he lurched into her sunny salon, without the slightest attempt to hide her utter disgust and contempt. As though she saw a cockroach crawling into her regal presence. But we will see. We know well the path, after all. We have followed it ourselves, and we have dragged so many others after. Pride comes first. Then pain. Humility follows hard upon it. Obedience lies just beyond.
My name is Glokta. I am the new Arch Lector of his Majestys Inquisition.
Ah, the cripple, she sneered. With refreshing directness. And why do you disrupt my afternoon? You will find no criminals here. Only Styrian witches.
Gloktas eyes flickered to the other woman, standing bolt upright near one of the windows. It is a matter we had better discuss alone.
The Countess Shalere has been my friend since birth. There is nothing you can say to me that she cannot hear. The Countess glared at Glokta with a disdain little less piercing than the queens.
Very well. No delicate way to say it. I doubt that delicacy will serve us here in any case. It has come to my attention, your Majesty, that you have not been performing your duties as a wife.
Terez long, thin neck seemed to stretch with indignation. How dare you? That is none of your concern!
I am afraid that it is. Heirs for the king, you see. The future of the state, and so forth.
This is insufferable! The queens face was white with fury. The Jewel of Talins flashes fire indeed. I must eat your repulsive food, I must tolerate your dreadful weather, I must smile at the rambling mutterings of your idiot king! Now I must answer to his grotesque underlings? I am kept prisoner here!
Glokta looked round at the beautiful room. The opulent hangings, the gilt furnishings, the fine paintings. The two beautiful women in their beautiful clothes. He dug one tooth sourly into the underside of his tongue. Believe me. This is not what a prison looks like.
There are many kinds of prison!
I have learned to live with worse, and so have others. You should see what my wife has to put up with.
To share my bed with some disgusting bastard, some scarred son of who knows what, to have some stinking, hairy man pawing at me in the night! The queen gave a shiver of revulsion. It is not to be borne!
Tears shone in her eyes. Her lady-in-waiting rushed forward, dress rustling, and knelt beside her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. Terez reached up, pressed her own hand on top of it. The queens companion stared at Glokta with naked hatred. Get out! Out, cripple, and never come back! You have upset her Majesty!
I have a gift for it, muttered Glokta. One reason why I am so widely hated He trailed off, frowning. He stared at their two hands on Terez shoulder. There was something in that touch. Comforting, soothing, protective. The touch of the committed friend, the trusted confidante, the sisterly companion. But there is more than that. Too familiar. Too warm. Almost like the touch of Ah.
You dont have much use for men, do you?
The two women looked up at him together, then Shalere snatched her hand away from the queens shoulder. I will have your meaning! barked Terez, but her voice was shrill, almost panicked.
I think you know my meaning well enough. And my task is made a great deal easier. Some help here! Two hulking Practicals barged through the doors. And as quickly as that, everything is changed. Amazing, the spice that two big men can add to a conversation. Some kinds of power are only tricks of the mind. I learned that well, in the Emperors prisons, and my new master has only reinforced the lesson.
You would not dare! shrieked Terez, staring at the masked arrivals with wide eyes. You would not dare to touch me!
As luck would have it, I doubt it will be necessary, but we will see. He pointed at the Countess. Seize that woman.
The two black-masked men tramped across the thick carpet. One moved a chair out of his way with exaggerated care.
No! The queen sprang up, grabbing Shaleres hand in hers. No!
Yes, said Glokta.
The two women backed away, clinging to each other, Terez in front, shielding the Countess with her body, teeth bared in a warning snarl as the two great shadows approached. One might almost be touched by their evident care for one another, if one was capable of being touched at all. Take her. But no marks on the queen, if you please.
No! screamed Terez. Ill have your heads for this! My father my father is
On his way back to Talins, and I doubt hell be starting a war over your friend since birth, in any case. You are bought and paid for, and Duke Orso does not strike me as the type to renege on a deal.
The two men and the two women lurched around the far end of the room in an ungainly dance. One of the Practicals seized the Countess by one wrist, dragged her away from the queens clutching hand and forced her down onto her knees, twisting her arms behind her, snapping heavy irons shut on her wrists. Terez shrieked, punched, kicked, clawed at the other, but she might as well have vented her fury on a tree. The huge man barely moved, his eyes every bit as emotionless as the mask below them.