She wandered through the empty suite, letting her fingers drift across Volrath's strange artwork. She hadn't touched them before, and she discovered some of the statues had latent flow-stone responses to being touched. Though they looked like stone, when caressed the statues became soft as velvet, supple as leather, and warm to the touch. What a strange person the evin-car must have been, wasting his intimacy on inanimate, though responsive, objects.
In Volrath's bedroom, she paused by the mirror. Her hair was disheveled, her face flushed, and her lips bruised. These were superficial things. Belbe stood closer to the mirror. She traced the line of her face and throat as she had on Volrath's statues. Her skin was cool to the touch, and it didn't change texture as her fingertip passed over it. Why was that? Was she less responsive than flowstone? No one would have said so two hours ago. Now that her passion was spent, was she the same as she was before?
Ertai rolled over, empty arms seeking Belbe. Not finding her, he opened his eyes. Across the chamber, in the shadowed recesses of the ceiling, he saw what looked like a suit of black armor hanging by its feet from the ceiling. The armor moved.
Ertai bolted from the chaise.
"Who is it?" he demanded. He raised his hand. "Come down, or I'll knock you down!"
Lilting laughter was his answer. The intruder dropped from the ceiling, somersaulted, and landed on his feet.
"Crovax!"
"Congratulations, Boy," Crovax said. "Met the emissary on equal terms, have you?"
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough. Who would've thought the overlords would send us such a spirited representative?" He sauntered over and picked up a piece of Belbe's discarded clothing. Ertai snatched it from his hand.
Crovax laughed. "Now you're going to defend her, as any rustic swain would."
"You're a filthy animal," Ertai said. He was terrified to be found like this by Crovax, his fear compounded by not knowing what Crovax would do to him or Belbe.
"And you're a stupid boy, today's performance not withstanding." Crovax sat down on the same chaise where Ertai and Belbe had made love. "It's a good trick, though, I'll give you that. Seducing the emissary is bound to be good for your candidacy."
"That's not what happened!"
Crovax's dark eyes shone. "Are you going to tell me it's love?"
"I-I don't know."
There was a sharp intake of breath. Both men saw Belbe standing in the doorway. Ertai snatched up the first available garment-his doublet-and hurriedly draped it around her.
"The proper answer was 'yes,'" Crovax said, stretching.
"Shut up!" Ertai said.
Crovax stood, hands falling slowly to his sides. "You're welcome to try and make me, Boy."
"What passed between us was not about human love," Belbe said archly. "I had some curiosity about the practice of copulation, and Ertai was obliging me."
"So I saw. If all you wanted was experience, you could have done better," Crovax said. "I'm always available for Your Excellency's enlightenment."
Ertai started forward, but Belbe stopped him.
"Don't," she said. "He's trying to provoke you. I've seen it before."
Crovax shrugged and sat down again. "Better listen to her, Boy. I can kill you any time I want." He flung out his hand suddenly. Ertai flinched, affording Crovax a hearty laugh. "You're not a total fool. You're smart enough to be afraid of me."
"What do you want, Crovax?" said Belbe.
"I came to tell Your Excellency that order has been restored in the Stronghold cities," he said. "When the army returned, I posted soldiers in every square, tavern, inn, and gathering place in the crater. There'll be no more trouble."
"Good. You may go."
"One thing, Excellency. Since Master Ertai has 'obliged' you, don't you think it prejudices you in the matter of his candidacy?"
"I will choose the new evincar based on total ability, not by military or magical skill-or biological prowess."
Crovax chuckled and made to leave. He'd gone a few steps when Belbe, moving with blinding speed, rushed up behind him. She uttered a short, sharp cry. Crovax whirled, but his fists met only air. Belbe lashed out with her bare foot. It caught him under the right breast and he flew backwards, his cuirass deeply dented from the blow.
"Belbe, don't!" Ertai shouted.
Crovax sprang to his feet, and the flowstone furniture between them coalesced into a solid wall seven feet high and four inches thick. Belbe could not stop her rush in time to avoid slamming into the barrier. Crovax grinned, and the wall slammed Belbe twice more. He was about to smash her against the wall of the Citadel when she leaped over the ponderous bludgeon and landed a kick squarely on Crovax's forehead. Down he went, but the floor boosted him back to his feet. Crovax had a sword, but he didn't draw it. Instead he willed the floor to hold Belbe by the ankles-but he was too slow. She leaped to a nearby pillar made of natural iron-outside Crovax's influence-and clung there by her fingertips and toes, panting.
Crovax shucked off his breastplate, wincing from the blows he'd taken.
"You've made your point, Excellency," he said. "I shouldn't try to bully you. But in the interests of-shall we say, efficiency?-will you set a date at which time you will name the new Evincar of Rath?"
Belbe remained on the pillar, her hair awry, looking like one of Volrath's exotic statues. She drew a deep breath, swallowed, and said, "I will set a date."
"When?"
She glanced at a timepiece on the wall. The Phyrexian numerals dissolved into simplified Rathi ones.
"Two days from now. At midday exactly."
Crovax slung his dented armor over one shoulder and bowed slightly. "I await Your Excellency's wise decision."
When he was gone, Belbe dropped to the floor. Ertai hurried to her, thinking to comfort her. He found her shaking from head to foot.
"It's all right," he said. "He won't hurt you. He dares not, at least until you choose the next evincar."
Belbe wasn't shaking from fear. "That was wonderful!" she declared. "I want to demolish him with my bare hands!"
Ertai dropped his comforting arms. Without another word, he retrieved his discarded clothes and hurriedly dressed. Belbe was so overcome with excitement she didn't even notice him until, half-dressed, he started to leave.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To the library," he replied coldly. "I've a lot of reading to do. My final examination is in two days, is it not?"
He slammed the ornate flowstone door behind him.
Sergeant Nasser, bathed and attired in a fresh uniform, waited on Crovax's pleasure in the evincar's council room.
"I have my account of the army's march back to the Stronghold, my lord," Nasser said, holding up a slim scroll. When Crovax did not reply, he laid it on the star-shaped table before him.
"Where is Greven il-Vec?" asked Crovax.
"Called away to the airship. Something about an intruder on the east plain."
"I see. Let him chase as many wanderers as he likes. In two days, the overlords' emissary will convene a special assembly. Her purpose is to name the new Evincar of Rath."
"The choice is clear, my lord."
"So you say, but our esteemed emissary is under all sorts of pressures and influences. In such circumstances, she may not make the correct decision. We can't let that happen."
"No, my lord."
"Tomorrow, I want the Corps of Sergeants to return to the Citadel-all of them. Every man is to bring his sword, shield, helmet, and dagger."
"The palace guards won't allow armed troops inside," Nasser protested.
"Then smuggle the arms in! Use your imagination." Crovax glowered. "The ceremony will be at midday two days from now. At midday less two hours I want the Corps of Sergeants to gather in the evincar's antechamber. Arrive in twos and threes-don't come in a body. Be fully armed."