“If I am not, who is?”
Rik felt compelled to mention the other question that was praying on his mind. “I am surprised she agreed to the chains so easily.”
“So am I, Rik. I am starting to wonder what Tamara may have up her sleeve.”
“What has happened to your prisoner?” asked Inquisitor Joran.
“I have her under lock and key.”
Rik did not like the interest the High Inquisitor was showing in Tamara. He seemed far too eager to get his hands on her. Of course, it was possible he was simply curious. The whole army was since Tamara had made her spectacular arrival on dragonback. Rumours abounded, that she was a royal Princess come to aid them, that she was a sorceress who knew something about the plague, that she was an Emissary of the Dragon Angel sent to tell them about the righteousness of their cause. Soldiers were worse than old women for gossiping and just as capable of spinning a story out of events they had witnessed.
“I would like to talk to her,” said Joran. At least he was being polite to Asea. He was not making demands, not asking that the prisoner be given over to him and his people for questioning. He seemed more subdued now that they were on the march. He most likely realised that Asea was more valuable to the army than he was and that her half-brother was in command. He was certainly capable of being diplomatic when he wanted to be.
“Of course,” Asea responded. “As soon as I have made sure that she is no threat to us.”
“In what way could she be a threat?”
“There could be some spell embedded in her body, of pestilence, or contagion or death. Or perhaps a curse.”
“The Lady Tamara is a high noble of Sardea. Surely no one would think of using her in such a fashion.”
Asea looked at the Inquisitor coldly. “Terrible sorcery is being used to cause this plague of walking dead.”
“But you have already been exposed to her.”
“All the more reason that no one else is until I have ascertained whether she is spellbound or not.”
“I am willing to risk myself. The Light protects its own.”
“I am unwilling to put you at risk. If anything should happen to me, you will be needed more than ever. Rest assured I will tell you everything I find out, and let you know as soon as I am certain it is safe.”
“How long will that take?”
“You will know by this evening. I do not think that is too long to wait in a case like this.”
Anger flickered across the Inquisitor’s face. He was not pleased but he did not seem prepared to push things at this moment so he bowed courteously and said. “Very well,” he said. “I shall return in at the sixth bell.”
Tamara lay in the cellar of the abandoned farmhouse to which she had been transferred, staring at the ceiling, considering what had occurred. The place was damp and the air smelled of mould. The weight of the truesilver fetters lay heavy on her and she found it oddly disturbing that she could not invoke her powers. It made her feel terribly vulnerable.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Asea entered the room. Karim was with her and Rik. They were all armed and looked ready for violence. Tamara could not help herself. “It’s flattering to know that you have such high regard for how dangerous I am,” she said.
“Flattering or not, it is the case — although in those chains your fangs are well and truly drawn.” There was an utter glacial certainty in Asea’s voice. She looked totally confident.
“Are you sure?” Tamara asked. She could not help herself. There was something about Asea’s manner that got on her nerves. She was tempted to spring at her. She knew many ways of killing with her bare hands. She wanted to wipe that smug look from Asea’s face. If the price was her life…
She pushed the madness to one side. Such an attack was the option of last resort and would most likely fail. Karim knew as much as she did about unarmed killing and was prepared for any attack. The signs were written all over him.
And then there was Rik, an unknown quantity if ever there was one. He was loyal to Asea and he had killed her father, as dangerous a Terrarch as ever lived.
The realisation struck her that all her reservations masked a much deeper truth, one that explained her instinctive reaction. She was afraid of Asea, and she had not encountered many things that frightened her in this life. Of all the people in this world, Asea must know what she was capable of, and yet she stood in front of her unafraid. If Tamara had not loathed her, she would have admired her, and she was self aware enough to know that was just one more component of her fear.
Whatever she might claim Asea did not fear her, even knowing things about her that would have terrified other Terrarchs. Well, Tamara had faced overconfident foes in the past. As with Rik, people tended to underestimate her. Unlike with Rik, that was usually because she willed it.
“You will soon have another visitor, a Terrarch named Joran,” said Asea.
“The High Inquisitor?”
“In person.”
“What does he want?”
“To question you.”
“What shall I tell him?”
“The truth insofar as it does not compromise you. Tell him what you know.”
“That I attempted to assassinate Xephan- he might wonder how I escaped.”
“You do not need to tell him you made the attempt in person.”
“Then how will I convince him about the possession.”
“You have heard rumours, talked with people who have seen strange things. Dark sorcery is taking place in Askander. Tell him that.”
“He will suspect me of lying.”
“Of course he will. He is an Inquisitor. But better that he suspects you of untruths about your sources than of being what you are.”
“He might decide to put me to the question.”
“You are my guest. That means you are under my protection.”
“And you are under Lord Azaar’s protection.”
“Your grasp of the situation is admirably quick.”
Tamara considered what she would have to say. It would be easiest to appear somewhat stupider than she was, and more vicious and ambitious. She had encountered plenty of Terrarch women who were and had perfected blending in among them. On the other hand, she had flown away on a dragon which bespoke a certain amount of daring.
Of course, she was distant kin to the Empress. She could claim that Arachne was corrupt and she intended to replace her. That would excuse her taking on the royal privileges at least in the eyes of a monumentally ambitious Terrarch. That would make her seem sufficiently self-justifying. Tamara wondered whether the idea had been lounging around at the back of her mind waiting for an opportunity to present itself. That was fine though, playing a role was always more convincing when there was something of yourself in it.
“What if he asks me about these chains?" She could not resist aiming that small barb.
Asea’s smile was alarming. “Tell him the truth. That I do not trust you and I suspect you of being a sorceress.”
“Isn’t that against the law to bind a fellow Terrarch without Royal permission?”
“So is riding a dragon if you are not the Empress. But we are at war. A lot can be forgiven under those circumstances.”
“This might come back to haunt you in the future,” said Tamara. It was the only small consolation she could find in the situation.
“It won’t be the first time,” said Asea, “and I doubt that it will be the last. Come now, let us meet the Inquisitor. He is very keen to meet you.”
“Lady Tamara,” said Inquisitor Joran. “I trust you are well?”
Joran did not fit Tamara’s preconceptions of what a High Inquisitor should be like. He was affable, relaxed and charming. He wore no ceremonial robes or military uniform. He could have been any high noble who had attached himself to the army as spectator.
“As well as can be expected under the circumstances.”
Joran studied their surroundings and wrinkled his nose fastidiously. “I suspect you are used to better accommodations than this.”