Page 29
“Who is Doroth Zain?” says Lyr, tucking the shirt into his breeches. The clothes are old but the fabric is very soft.
“Who is Doroth Zain?” Mina sounds surprised at the question. “I didn’t think anyone could not know of Doroth Zain. He is the High Word, Zai as Man.”
“The head of Zai? The religion? I’m dressed, by the way. You can turn around.”
Mina turns. She looks at Lyr, assessing him. “You look cute. Master Damon will be pleased.”
Lyr feels his cheeks pinken again. “Do you know him? Master Damon?”
Mina grins as if this is amusing. “Oh no. Not at all. Never met him. He was away at war for years. The last time he was home was for his wedding. He stayed one night. That was when he was given this house, but he had to take Pellex for Selim’s favour. I know about him though. Everyone does.”
“What do you know about him?”
Mina’s pretty big eyes go wide. “Oh, everything. Master Damon was the greatest warrior in the Imperial army. The best fighter Azuria has ever seen. He was only nineteen when he fought so well against the rebels on Pluma-Ferris they called him The One Man Army and he was commended by the Emperor. And five years ago, he was visiting the Rose Palace when it was attacked by the Mortingale Outlaws. He saved Emperor Selim’s life.”
“Oh,” says Lyr. Damon had told him something about that.
Mina nods, hitting her stride and continuing. “And then he became a great General, with the strongest and best battalions under his command. When his twenty years service in the army were over, and he wanted to leave and return to Azuria, Selim begged him to stay until the conquest of Jur-Mattan was done, because without him they would never win the holy war against the last bastion of the Hevelikar. Selim offered him this great house and the Lady Inez as his wife. A bastard having such wealth has never been seen in the empire before now. But Damon earned it by bringing such glory to Azuria. Some people say it is a shame for Azuria that Master Damon is bastard born because he would be the greatest Emperor Azuria has ever known.”
Lyr is intrigued to hear again that there are yet more people in Attar who think Damon ought to be Emperor. “Could that ever happen? Could Damon become Emperor?”
“A bastard cannot be emperor,” says Mina. “Fathering a bastard is a crime against Zai and Damon was born of a sin, but Selim favours Damon greatly. Some say that when Selim dies and his brother Prince Rafus rules, he might wish to change the law and name Damon as his heir.”
“Would he?”
Mina shrugs, “I’m sure I don’t know how Prince Rafus thinks. But people do say so. People say it would be the right thing for the glory of Azuria.”
“It might be fair to guess Rafus isn’t against adultery. The sin that stains Damon was his sin.”
“Exactly.” Mina laughs. “You’d think he might forgive Damon a sin he committed himself. And after all Master Damon has done for him. I still can’t believe you didn’t know who Doroth Zain is. Don’t you follow Zai in Jur-Mattan?”
“No. Most people follow Artemia. Although I think there are many faiths. Lucent and Alios too.”
“Those are all false faiths. Heresy,” says Mina decisively.
“But I’m not from Jur-Mattan, I’m from Klish.”
“Klish?” Mina’s expressive eyes stretch wide. “Oh? Are you in the Cult of Priam?”
Lyr shakes his head. “No. Priams are seen as strange madmen. Even on Klish.”
Mina laughs. “Priams are lunatics. I heard they turn into dogs at full moon. We should get back to the kitchens, come on,” says Mina, taking Lyr by the arm. As they leave the servants’ hall, Mina says, “I met a boy once. He told me the myth of Priam was true. But I never saw him again.”
“Maybe he turned into a dog and never turned back.”
Mina laughs. “Something happened to him for sure. He was sweet on me. I’m not surprised though if he was going around telling anyone he met that the myth of Priam was true.”
“That is a crime here too? To say the myth of Priam is true?”
“Yes. But that’s because it’s not true.” Mina says, leading Lyr back through the maze of corridors.
“A lot of things are crimes in Azuria,” says Lyr.
As they arrive back at the kitchens, Mina says, “Only things that are wrong.”
The stout woman tells Lyr her name is Nalla but he should call her Cook. Cook puts Lyr to work scrubbing pots and fetching water. It is hard work and leaves him with plenty of time to wonder where Damon might be.
When will Lyr see him again?
