Page 78

Xan has doomed the world. Jemel can only hope he realises it. That when the demon rises it is clear to him that liberating his island home and being part of Atticul’s grand court were truly meaningless. He hopes Xan survives long enough to regret what he did.

And Jemel will not even live to see it.

He’s thinking this. Sick in his belly, when his eyes lock with Xan’s, sitting in the rows of dignitaries.

He is with the Azurian Army officers. He is wearing a Mark of Zai with the Generals flash above it. Jemel cannot bear it. He looks away. His head aches. He supposes it will pain him no longer when it is struck from his shoulders.

Up on the balcony the crowd are rowdy and noisy. If rumours are true there is little positive feeling for this new Emperor among the people of Attar. There is certainly something in the air. A crackle of tension. Something is coming.

The Brides finish their hymn and the ceremony begins. Gelen steps on to the stage and welcomes the guests, before intoning some ancient words about the Ascension of kings. These are the same words used by the Hevelikar. Jemel has not seen an ascension before but he has read of them. Most of this ceremony, if Jemel knows it correctly, is unchanged from the one the Hevelikar used for over a thousand years. After his revolution, Sarelik Darek had crowned himself King of Azuria in the same style as the rulers he had overthrown.

When Atticul steps on the stage in robes of green and gold, the dignitaries cheer, but not loudly enough that they drown out the raucous cries from the balcony, many of which are jeering. Jemel hears the word, Bastard, called out more than once.

But Atticul seems not to be concerned by this. He stalks regally to the golden throne, looking exactly like the Emperor he is about to become.

Gelen speaks more of the ancient words and Brides of Zai bring forward anointing oil in a golden dish, sweet water from miracle lake in a silver cup and the Heart of Zai a huge ruby. Once set in the highest tower of the rose palace.

The three treasures of the Emperor. The Choir of Brides begins to sing again as the ceremony continues. The music fades in and out in Jemel’s head like the tides of the sea.

He feels like he is sinking inside his himself. He’ll never discover who killed Pershel now. Someone who didn’t want her to tell anyone what she read on Lyr’s body.

The Books of Alios. If he had only got to read it himself. He would be able to discover what she had learned and perhaps then know who killed her for learning such.

And it would make sense of the writings he has spent years of his life translating.

Is that his greatest regret here, now, so close to his death? That he will not get to read the Books of Alios? He thinks it might be. They contain the answer to so many questions.

he thinks again of the Artemian Eternal Return; that every man dies and is reborn to live his life again. If that is true perhaps he will get the chance next time around to do better at the work of his life.

Before nightfall he will find himself again a squawling babe with a broken mouth. Delivered from the womb of the Immurite, he thinks with a shudder. How can such a horror be the truth?

Atticul said she knew. She knew who he was and she never spoke of it. But his mind cannot bear to rest there.

A raucous sound of jeering and cheering mixed, snaps Jemel from his thoughts. He looks up. Atticul is rising from the golden throne. Emperor Eternal. Azuria Eternal.

He walks forward to the edge of the stage and places his hands on his heart, before dropping into a bow, then calls for the Lady Inez. Two female attendants bring her over to him.

Jemel notices Lukas shift on the bench, and when he looks over he sees that Lukas is staring at Inez. He then seems to nod to the dog she carries, a distinct smile on his face even through his death bridle.

Jemel finds this quite puzzling. He wonders if Lukas knows how serious this situation truly is? How can he not?

Jemel pays little attention to Gelen speaking the matrimony words. Atticul parts Inez’s veil and Jemel sees that her eyes are reddened. But Atticul doesn’t pause, only leans in and kisses her lips, seeming quite triumphant, before leading her across the stage and seating her on the smaller throne beside his golden one.

Then Atticul steps forward and makes a speech about the greatness of his reign. Much of it familiar from Selim’s funeral. About the new age, new glory, the new Book of the Rules and such things. He puffs out his chest. “And now I will begin,” he smiles grimly. “With the blood of traitors. There will be no dissent. Emperor Selim was too soft. I will not be so. I will meet the enemies of the Azurian Empire with blood.” He turns, looking back to the bench where Jemel sits. He pauses. As if deciding which of the three men he wants to die first.

With a smile, he says, “Let us begin with Vindar, the traitorous Chancellor who influenced both my uncle Selim and my grandsire Emperor Erond.”

Jemel can only watch as the broken man that was once Chancellor Vindar is dragged to his feet by a pair of guards and makes his shambling way to the execution block.

He is shoved down into position, kneeling before Atticul.

“Vindar,” Atticul says, gleefully. “You abused the power granted to you by the Rose Court. You were said to have a thousand eyes. You certainly knew many secrets. All of which have now been revealed to me. You were responsible for Emperor Markus’s escape from justice when he was revealed to be a luxorite. You used your terrible cunning to force my father to give you my own fair sister as bride.” Atticul looks over at Umbert, sitting with his mother on the rows of seating at the back of the stage. “Your plan of course was to sire a potential heir with her and take the throne as his regent. That is why you paid that Juran whore to kill my brother Endrew. But you have failed. Not only will I take your head, but when our new fair empress bears me a son, my nephew will be exiled.”

Jemel sees Ferra grasp hold of Umbert. She stands as if about to speak. But she doesn’t have the chance. Atticul swings his sword and takes Vindar’s head in a clean blow.

The crowds gasp, then cheer. Atticul wipes blood from his face with the back of his hand and grins as the body is dragged away.

“And next,” Atticul says, “The Traitor Prince.”