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Perhaps this is simply what being Emperor feels like.
His vile traitor brother and the Plumian woman who was with him have been dragged to the dungeons.
They will die. Good. They will die slowly. The Long Day will be nothing compared to what will be done to them.
And Selim is dead at the hands of those traitors. Selim is dead and Atticul is Emperor and he feels good.
As the shrine is cleared by a rapidly assembled army of servants and slaves, Atticul orders that Vindar attend him immediately.
When Vindar walks into the shrine, it is clear he has been informed of what has happened. He bows, “Your Imperial Majesty.”
Atticul says, sounding appropriately solemn, “A terrible act of treachery happened this morn.”
“Yes, Sire. But thanks to your fast thinking, these foul traitors will face the Empire’s Justice.”
“They will indeed. But there are more. I believe my father’s bastards were working together to take the throne of Azuria into their sinful hands. Tobi was here. He escaped through sorcery, but he was part of this.”
“Tobi?” Vindar says. “Tobi Darekul? I do not think so, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Atticul ignores this, saying, “This was a clever and organised campaign by my brothers Lukas and Tobi using the darkest of magicks.” He pauses, “And you know who must be the mind behind that?”
“I do,” Vindar says, seeming to decide to stop questioning Atticul’s words and agree. As he should. “Damon Darekul did well to make the whole of Azuria think him dead, so he could mastermind this treachery.”
“He must be found. And Tobi too.” Atticul says. “Both of them must be brought here to face justice for their parts in this regicide.”
“Tobi is lost to us. All we know is that he has been taken into the Forests of Amber.”
Atticul shakes his head. “No, Tobi must be arrested too. I demand it. He will visit his mother in Ceruleum. Send enforcers to the Bride House.”
Vindar frowns, “Sire, how could you know this?”
Atticul ignores this too. Vindar will learn not to question him. They all will. “We must begin arrangements for my brothers’ executions and my ascension.”
Vindar nods. “Yes, Sire.”
Atticul smiles. “Furthermore, tell your enforcers to inform Doroth Zain he is to remain in Ceruleum. He will be standing down as High Word. Gelen the Green will take his role. He is far better suited. Doroth Zain’s interpretations of the Book of the Rules are eccentric and unreliable.”
Vindar looks slightly amazed. As well he might. He has no idea what he is dealing with. The era of Emperor Selim is over. Things will be different now the Empire has a strong ruler.
“And send some enforcers to Sanglora. The Lady Inez will attend me immediately. She will need to begin preparation to become my Empress.”
38
TOBI
Tobi crawls over to Harok’s body. All around him the Solwen run and scream. But Diazuul is gone.
He throws himself on Harok. He’s crying, and he puts his arms around Harok’s neck. “Please,” he whispers in Artemian. “Please.” A word that in Harok’s bed had once transformed to have its own meaning, now no longer means that. It means only one thing. Please let him live. Please let him have survived Diazuul.
“Esterillika Irgo,” Tobi murmurs. A prayer. Perhaps the only sincere prayer that has ever passed his lips.
And Harok says, very slow and soft, “Suskara.”
Tobi’s heart leaps so hard it might burst free of his body. ”Irgorye,” he returns. “Irgorye, Irgorye.” He is kissing Harok. Kissing his head. His chest. Any part he can reach. And then one of Harok’s big arms wraps around him and pulls Tobi close so their lips meet.
Tobi and Harok travel, riding together on Embox. The negotiations took several days. But Urynwud has reached a kind of peace. Harok remains Irgo. And it seems that few in Urynwud are willing to admit they ever took Lymok’s claims seriously.
There is great unease about the secret Harok kept from them, however. That he ruled as Irgo whilst lying to his people. Whilst claiming that he had slain the demon that was part of him. That he sat the throne of Urynwud with the demon inside his body.
