Death and the Emperor

Book 1 Chapter XIV: Consequences

Goodness. I suppose I'll be taking orders from Dinah next. -- Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Some might say that it was impossible to injure Death, and thus she had nothing to fear from Ranoryin's threat. Death would disagree. She could not be killed, it was true, but she could certainly be injured, and the prospect of being stabbed repeatedly for the next thousand years or so was not at all an appealing one. And so, though she wanted to stay with her latest husband for a while longer, she returned to the Land of the Dead as soon as he was safely back in his room.

As had become worryingly routine over the last years, Ranoryin was waiting for her.

"I cannot believe you," the former Empress said, as if merely thinking aloud. "Tell me, do you have a brain at all, or do you think with your lusts?"

"Excuse me?"

"I warned you, repeatedly, not to lay a finger on Kilan."

"Without his consent," Death said quickly, "and he consented. In fact, he instigated everything."

"Really." The tone in which this was spoken bore a striking resemblance to the tone a parent would use when faced with a child who insisted they didn't know what had happened to the cookies, despite the crumbs on their clothes.

"Ask him yourself if you don't believe me."

Ranoryin scoffed. "I've no doubt he thinks he instigated it. He wouldn't have been so... clingy with you if he thought you had forced him into anything. But you're Death, the ultimate seductress."

Death's eyebrows shot up. "I can't tell if that's a compliment or not."

"It isn't," Ranoryin assured her. "As I was saying, you of all people would be able to convince him it was his idea even if it wasn't."

Well, that was just insulting.

"Why would I bother to do that? There would be nothing more disgusting than tricking someone into sleeping with me, especially when he wants to sleep with me, no matter how much he tries to deny it. No, what happened was entirely his decision. I was just a willing participant."

The former Empress's glare intensified until Death was almost surprised it didn't burn her to a cinder.

"Listen to me, you... you..." Ranoryin paused, searching for a word that gave adequate vent to her feelings, "you... despicable creep! How many times do I have to tell you to keep your filthy hands off my family?"

"You're a mortal. I'm Death. Why should I listen to anything you say?"

"That," she said grimly, "is why I don't trust you anywhere near Kilan. You won't listen to me. How do I know you'll listen to him?"

"I like him," Death protested.

"No, you don't. If you did, you would think of what's best for him, instead of what you want."

It was rare for Death to be at a loss for words, but the Caranilnavs -- no matter which Caranilnav it was -- managed it frequently. Rather than search for an answer she knew she wouldn't find, she changed the subject.

"Well, I'll be going now."

"Going where?" Ranoryin asked in a menacing tone.

"To witness Kilan's speech." Death smiled. It didn't reach her eyes. "Today marks the beginning of the end for the old Carann Empire. Do you really expect me to miss it?"

She was gone before Ranoryin could reply, but she still heard the former Empress's screamed "DAMN YOU!"

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