Death and the Emperor

Book 1 Chapter XXIII: The Turning World

"I don't understand you," said Alice. "It's dreadfully confusing!" -- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There

Less than an hour ago, Princess Qihadal had been in prison, awaiting execution. Now, she had been summoned before her father. She knew better than to hope this meant she had been pardoned. She had brought disgrace to her family, or so everyone said. The Iqui would show her no mercy.

She silently recited the Prayer of the Condemned with each step she took. Forgive me, Urshob Father of the Gods whose throne is set above the world. Have mercy, Hirdih God of Justice who sees all, on a miserable sinner. Cleanse me, Vilosh God of Death who purifies souls, and do not cast me to the Everburning Fire. Even as she thought the words over and over again, she knew it was useless. No one heard her. There was no one to hear her. Her prayers were in vain.

Qihadal's brothers and half-brothers were hovering outside the door to her father's throne room. For once, they weren't at each other's throats. They stared at her silently, their eyes filled with disgust, their gazes stabbing her like swords. She wanted to scream and curse at them, to claw out their eyes and tear them limb from limb if that was what it took to make them see their hypocrisy.

How many of them had forced an unwilling woman to share their beds? How many of them had fathered a child in the process? She could say with certainty that at least eight of them had. And yet here they were, glaring at another man's victim, while their own victims had been killed by their families or locked away in convents.

The child in her womb, perhaps sensing her rage, kicked and squirmed. Qihadal ground her teeth. If she hadn't botched brewing that potion, there would no longer be a child and no one would be any the wiser that there ever had been.

When she was led into the throne room, she was surprised to find it empty except for her father and his most trusted adviser. Usually the execution of a woman who had shamed her family was an elaborate spectacle, so there could be no doubt that the family had reclaimed their honour.

"My daughter." Ridanwes-Iqui's voice was gentle. Qihadal suppressed a shudder. Her father was always at his most cruel when he seemed kindest. "You have sinned against the gods, and brought shame on us all."

Oh yes, I have sinned, but the man who raped me hasn't, Qihadal thought viciously.

"The penalty for this sin is death. However, the gods may be merciful under certain circumstances. Urshob, Father of the Gods, gave me a message yesterday. He told me that though you have sinned, it would be a greater sin to execute you, for you may yet be useful to us."

Those words sent a chill down Qihadal's spine. Useful? Useful in what way?

"I requested that the Emperor of Carann return Istogu to us. He has refused, and hides behind the excuse that it is the people of Istogu who have refused. He knows his refusal has offended us, and he hopes to appease us by offering to marry one of my daughters. I have decided you will do."

Oh, Qihadal thought. So that was her father's plan. It was quite a clever one. He would offer the Emperor a "defiled" bride, and when the Emperor discovered the truth, he would be understandably furious. The Iqui would then be offended at the insult to his family's honour. It would almost be a cause for... war.

~~~~

"I'm getting married," Kilan said dully.

"Really?" Varan gave him a surprised look. "You look more like you're going to a funeral. Besides, aren't you already married?"

He laughed. It was a harsh, bitter laugh. "Yes, but the High Council might have some difficulty believing that I'm married to Death. There's still some question over whether or not I'm even legally married to her in the Land of the Living, anyway. The Council wants me to marry one of the Iqui's daughters. The whole thing was arranged before I heard about it."