His second look had revealed that they were not fierce, although they were much larger than life which had been the main cause of young Menish’s fright. But their eyes were strange. Rubies had been set in Gilish’s eye sockets and jet in Sheagil’s. It gave their faces an odd appearance. It was said that Gilish, when he was alive, could look through the eyes of his statue and see whoever entered his palace.
And now there was only a roughness in the floor where the statues had been. The Vorthenki had smashed them down just as they had cut down Menish’s sister. They had carried them out to the courtyard and pounded them to dust, for they feared they might be magical. Gilish’s ruby eyes had been taken by one of the Vorthenki, but they had brought him such bad luck that he cast them into the sea. Menish never heard what happened to the jet stones of Sheagil’s eyes. He looked at Azkun’s strange eyes and remembered the rubies.
It was hard to say how many flights of stairs and lengths of passageways it took them to reach the apartment Vorish had given them. But the palace was like that. Menish knew some of the halls they passed and he remembered the peacock garden they saw from a balcony they passed along. Beyond the garden rose the tower of Sheagil, the highest part of the palace that no one knew the way to.
The very vastness of the place was somehow contemptuous of mere humanity crawling like ants among its ancient glory. One hall, the Hall of Birds, was covered with swirling lines that twisted and turned into the shapes of birds that seemed to fly over their heads. Another was faced with marble that was polished so smooth that they could see their reflections. The polish extended to the dizzy heights of the ceiling.
When they reached the apartment assigned for their use Menish knew the others were completely lost except possibly Hrangil, but Menish recognised the passage outside. They were quite near the Imperial apartments. Vorish wanted them close by.
The apartment itself was typical of ones he had used on previous visits. There was an open courtyard with a fountain bubbling in its centre. It looked cool and refreshing. Shrubs grew in planters around the fountain and doorways led off beyond them into the rooms where they would eat and sleep.
With many courteous words, too many for Menish’s liking, their escort left them in the care of servants. There were more servants than there were guests here. For the next hour they were bathed, fed and dressed in the flowing robes of the court. They were only too pleased to shed their battle jerkins and travel-worn garments for the soft, clean clothes the Emperor had provided. Tenari allowed herself to be led away with Keashil and Olcish to be attended by women while the men were bathed by men servants. She had grown increasingly animated in the palace and, except for the tears Azkun had seen, seemed quite cheerful. She had nodded and smiled several times to the questions of the women but she did not speak.
When they returned to the courtyard they found a low table surrounded by cushions and laid with golden dishes containing cold game and fruit. Menish was pleased to see it for, as at Deenar, he was very hungry.
They looked an entirely different company now. Dressed in the court robes the Anthorians were changed from drab, unkempt figures (even Drinagish had neglected to comb his hair while he suffered with the sea retch) to gracious lords. Hrangil appeared a little uncomfortable in his blood-red robe with its broad gold border, as if he could not bring himself to approve of such extravagance of colour. Drinagish's hair had been arranged more carefully even than he usually managed himself.
At the table they met Keashil, Tenari and Olcish. Keashil looked years younger than she had an hour ago, although lines of old grief still marked her face. They had painted her eyelids in the Relanese manner and her white hair, brushed and clean now, gave her an air of wisdom rather than haggardness.
Tenari was transformed. Gone was the dirty, wretched flotsam from the Chasm with her old blue robe, her straggly hair and her blank face. Her black hair was combed back from her face and hung nearly to her waist. They had clothed her in white and gold with a silver circlet on her brow. While they were surprised at her change in looks her change in manner was astonishing. She looked at them with recognition, not a blank gaze, and laughed. It was the first time they had heard her voice.
Still laughing she threw herself at Azkun and boldly kissed him on the mouth. As she did so she pulled the golden cord from her waist and wrapped it around Azkun’s. Then she stepped back and said one word.
“Gilish.”
But she would not speak again, nor would she eat any of the food. Menish and the others ate heartily. They tried to coax her into saying more but Azkun knew they would have no success. When she had kissed him he had felt a door open and close. There was still no mind behind her now-dancing eyes.
Not long after they had eaten a servant arrived to summon Menish alone to Vorish. As he had noted earlier, they were not far from Vorish's apartments.
There were guards with halberds at the entrance to the Emperor’s apartments blocking the way, but a gesture from the servant made them open the doors and admit them.
He passed through two more doors that led him into a pillared room with a fountain supported by carved horses. There were rich hangings on the walls; tapestries, Menish knew, which dated from the time of Mishan IV, and an open window on the south wall flooded the room with light.
Vorish sat on cushions at a low table similar to the one that Menish had just eaten at. It was strewn with scrolls of parchment and broken seals. A goblet of wine lay near his elbow and he reached for it as he spoke to two Vorthenki who sat opposite him.
The Emperor was a lean man with a face as sharp as an eagle’s. His mouth was grim, almost cruel. For a Vorthenki he was not tall, but he always seemed taller than he was. His hair was blond like Althak’s but his eyes were as dark as Menish’s. Unlike the garish clothes the two Vorthenki wore he was dressed in a plain white tunic that reached to his feet and he wore no ornament except a jewelled knife on a leather belt.
His eyes searched the faces of his listeners as he spoke to them, weighing, measuring them always. It was said that the Emperor could know how far he could trust a man in a glance, it was also said he trusted no one. Menish knew that both stories were all but true.
As Menish entered the Emperor’s eyes caught him, a flash of delighted recognition and then an imperious gesture to the two Vorthenki to be gone. They rose and bowed to him then scurried out of the room. Menish thought he detected relief on their faces, as if they had not been enjoying their interview. It was amusing to see these two big men dismissed from Vorish’s presence by a mere wave of the hand. The Emperor’s power sprang from many things and one of them was his very presence. He was so, well, royal, and he knew it.
“Menish, Menish,” cried Vorish as he approached him, took his hands and embraced him. “Come, sit here. Make yourself comfortable. You've eaten well enough? Some wine?” A servant stood behind Vorish and he set a goblet of wine before Menish. “How are you? You look tired.”
Menish sank back in his cushions.
“Tired? Yes. You know we travelled by sea.”
“I know. And you bring a man with you that people are pleased to name ‘Kopth’, although some call him ‘Gilish’. His real name is, I believe, Azkun.” He always came straight to the point.
“That is what we named him when he came out of the Chasm of Kelerish.’
“So that part's true? And he was flamed by a dragon?”
Menish nodded.
“And the lightning?”
“You're well informed. I thought we'd told no one about the dragon.”
“A ship left Deenar just before you and arrived here yesterday. One of them remembered a remark made by this Azkun to that effect. I don't think the man who heard it realised what was meant.” That was typical of Vorish. He often found out more than his informants knew from their own words. Menish took a sip of wine and gave him a brief account of Azkun’s doings. Even now he omitted any mention of Thalissa.