“Moderately.”
“They are actually rather good compared to some of the places I have seen. Many troops are billeted in roofless houses. No one is exactly comfortable.”
“I think I might enjoy sleeping under the stars.”
“Given the fact that our two nations are at war, a certain lack of hospitality is, sadly, only to be expected.” His manner made it clear that there was no personal animus because of the war. Like most Terrarchs of the old families, he was capable of separating the two. An accomplished deceiver herself, Tamara appreciated the skill with which he carried the pose. She smiled warmly back, a young Terrarch woman fooled by his courtly ease and slightly upset by her treatment, complaining to a sympathetic listener.
“Is that what you would call it?”
“I am sure if Lady Asea were to fall into Sardean hands, her welcome would be no warmer.”
“You are correct.”
“Thank you. Regrettably there are questions I must ask you as well.”
“I suspected that there might be.”
“You have come from the East and you are a schismatic.”
“I have known priests in the East who would say the same of you.”
“And you would agree with them, of course?” There was no threat in his tone. He was merely a kindly priest leading an errant pupil along so that he could correct her errors later. Or so his manner implied.
“I have never taken any position on the matter. I always suspected the breaking of the church was more of a political matter than a spiritual one.”
Joran smiled warmly. Tamara felt the need to be on guard. “Though as a voice of the faith I should not, I agree with you on that.”
“If you will forgive me for saying so, you seem very mild-mannered for an Inquisitor.”
“A certain honesty is needed for my duties. You and I are not humans, Lady Tamara. We do not need such strict spiritual guidance as they do.” The smile vanished as quickly as it came. “Why did you come here?”
“I made enemies in Sardea.”
“Riding on a dragon will do that for you.”
“I made them before then.”
“There are those on this side of the border who would frown on such an act of lesse majesty.”
“I am sure there are but given a choice between public disapproval and losing my life, I will risk the former.”
“You might be risking the latter as well.”
“Then let me rephrase things. I would prefer death deferred to death immediate.”
“That is understandable. Why did you ask to see the Lady Asea, and not General Azaar upon your arrival?”
“I have met Lady Asea before.”
“You regard her as a friend?”
“No.”
“As an enemy you respect.”
“That might be closer to the truth.”
“Did you come here to kill her?”
“No.”
“You have tried to have her killed in the past.” There was a subtle shift in Joran’s manner. He became less ingratiating and more menacing.
“What makes you think that?”
“Your activities as an agent of the Sardean crown are not unknown to us?”
“By us do you mean the Temple or the Talorean government?”
“I stand before you as a representative of both.”
Tamara considered what else Joran might know. There had been a time not so long ago when the knowledge that the Talorean secret service had been aware of her movements would have caused her the greatest concern but at the moment she had other things to worry about. She decided to test what he knew.
“I was not aware I had performed any activities as an agent of the Sardean government.”
“You have suffered a blow to the head recently, perhaps. I understand that can lead to selective amnesia.”
She met his cold smile with a warm one of her own. “Perhaps if you gave me some examples, they might refresh my memory.”
“You offered the half-breed Rik considerable rewards to kill Asea.” Tamara kept her face blank. How had he learned this? Had Rik told him that?
“You would take the word of a half-breed guttersnipe over mine.”
“He merely confirmed the information when I asked him to, but it was only confirmation. We already knew.”
“Who told you that?”
“I am not at liberty to divulge the source of that information.” Was he lying, Tamara wondered. She thought about who had known of her mission to Morven. Her father and Ilmarec were the only two of whom she was certain. Perhaps others in the Brotherhood had known. Had the Brotherhood been penetrated or was someone within it feeding information to the Inquisition for their own purposes.
“You were also present in Halim when Queen Kathea was killed. As indeed was your father. You at least survived. He did not.”
Tamara was surprised by how raw the mention of Malkior’s death made her nerves feel.
“He killed Kathea you know, your father. There are a number of people in this country who would be very happy to get their hands on his daughter. The Kharadreans have always been fond of revenge. Some would say it’s a national fault.”
“It would appear that a number of people have reason to want me dead,” said Tamara. “Those who think I committed an offence against the Royal dignity, half the population of Kharadrea…”
“Oh I would say more than half. You were an associate of the late Lord Jaderac. There are some who claim his necromantic rituals were responsible for the undead plague.”
“More than half of the population of Kharadrea, the Lady Asea. Have I missed anybody out?”
“There are always your putative enemies back in Sardea but I think you have mentioned enough to be going on with. What surprises me is that the Lady Asea has not asked for your life. She knows you planned to kill her.”
“I suspect she finds the idea of my premature death wasteful. She wants to let you pick my brains first and then use me against Sardea. After I have served her purpose I will go to greet my ancestors.”
“How does she intend to use you?”
“Ask her, I am sure she will tell you.”
“Indulge me. Speculate.”
“I am my father’s daughter. I am distantly kin to the Empress Arachne through my mother. I stand to inherit some rather large estates in Sardea.”
“You are a sorceress. You have been behind several assassinations, the cause of several duels between some rather foolish young nobles. You are neither as naive nor as foolish as you pretend, Lady Tamara. Please don’t assume I am either.”
How much does he really know, Tamara wondered? How much of this is just fishing. Asea knew everything- about the Shadowblood, about her father’s allegiance to the Princes of Shadow. Could he know as well? Had Asea told him? No. That made no sense. Still, the Inquisition had a vast network of informants and many centuries of practise at sifting through their information. Had her father and the Brotherhood underestimated them? Joran changed tack, swiftly changing the subject before she had time to think things through.
“Lady Asea tells me you think the servants of the Princes of Shadow are among us. Why do you think that?”
“Because I have seen the darkest sorcery being practised within the Palace, by the Prime Minister Xephan and his companions.”
“You are willing to swear to that? Under oath.”
Tamara thought she saw where this was going. Her claims would be made public and used to justify the Talorean cause. Their march East would become a crusade against the forces of darkness. And why not? That was what it was.
“There are other things I could swear to as well. Armies of the Dead march with the Sardeans. I saw them from the saddle of my dragon. You will encounter them soon.”
“Good,” said Joran. “Very good. Keep this up and you may ride on dragonback again.”
She stared at him. He appeared to be hinting that he could put her on the Sardean throne. If that was really the case, she was certain it was as much for his own good as hers. No, she thought. It was entirely because he thought it would be to his own advantage. Her wellbeing was of no concern to people like Joran and Asea. Considering the fate of Kathea, it might prove to be a very unhealthy position to be in.