Crown in the Stars (39 page)

Seated beside his wife in their main room, Ra-Anan scolded Ormah. “Perek was concerned about your behavior at the tower today. Listen to me, girl: You will not speak of Shoshannah or her lessons to anyone. Do you hear me? Don’t even discuss her with the cook. If I suspect you of gossiping, I’ll have Perek cane you until you can’t walk.”

Ormah shook, her pointed little face turning claylike with fear. “Yes, my lord.”

Ra-Anan waved her out, watching as she bowed and dashed through the doorway to the kitchen.
Can she be trusted?
Ra-Anan frowned until Zeva’ah leaned against him and sighed, clasping his arm.

“Beloved,” she murmured, “I hope Shoshannah won’t ruin all your plans with her foolishness; she’s more like her mother than we first believed.”

“If Shoshannah is too much like her mother, then she will destroy herself,” Ra-Anan said absently. He wished he could have more time to talk with the girl, to persuade her of her potential role in this kingdom. And to crush her frustrating devotion to the Most High and the Ancient Ones. If only his Zeva’ah weren’t such a suspicious, jealous woman, he would personally take control of Shoshannah and her lessons. She must be made to obey.

Eventually, when he declared Shoshannah’s new high status, Shoshannah would be popularly acclaimed. Then Sharah and Kuwsh would be provoked enough to behave foolishly, endangering their already eroding hold upon
the affections of their people. As for Adoniyram… Ra-Anan smiled to himself.
I still control you
.

“Do you still want us to protect this girl, knowing that she worships that Most High?” Rab-Mawg asked. He was watching Adoniyram so closely that the Young Lord wondered how much the head priest suspected.

Swirling the thick beer in the clay cup they had offered him, Adoniyram pretended to think briefly; then he nodded. “She’s important to us for now—don’t you agree? She’s the perfect irritant for our enemies.” He paused. “One favor?”

Rab-Mawg smiled agreement thinly—looking so much like Ra-Anan that Adoniyram almost told him of the resemblance. But knowing how thoroughly the young head priest detested his arrogant mentor, Adoniyram pushed the thought away. It was best not to provoke Rab-Mawg. Not yet.

Clearing his throat, Adoniyram asked, “Can we keep this situation hidden from our Lord Kuwsh and my Lady-Mother? I don’t care to quarrel with them unless we have to.”

“Master Ra-Anan has ordered us to say that the girl’s lessons concern nothing more than trade matters, customs, and polite manners. We are forbidden to mention her intended role. But she will fail us as her mother did. You know she will.”

“Let me deal with her then.” Adoniyram finished his drink, grimacing at the bitter taste it left in his mouth. “Don’t kill her; she can’t help being who she is.”

“She
can
help it,” Rab-Mawg contended. “But she won’t.”

If I succeed, I’m going to pitch you out with the other vultures
, Adoniyram thought, loathing his quarrelsome priest-ally. His whole mouth felt dry from their beer. Grimacing again, he said, “I’m going to send you some better stuff to drink, Master-Priest. It won’t be wine, but it’s certainly better than this—plain water is better. I’m amazed your guts aren’t soured from drinking it.”

Defensively, Rab-Mawg said, “We’ve had to brew our own drinks. Your mother, your uncle, and Lord Kuwsh have stolen so much from us that we’re going to be begging in the streets soon.”

“I’ll send you everything I can.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Of course.” Adoniyram grinned, provoking a genuine—though pained—smile from the unhappy priest.

You have to trust me for a while longer, Rab-Mawg. Then you’ll wish you hadn’t. But by then it will be too late
.

And Shoshannah, he hoped, would behave long enough to ensure her survival. The thought made Adoniyram nervous.
Am I right?
He wondered.
Is there another way?

He felt nothing like a Promised One.

Exhausted, peering through the nighttime darkness, Kaleb watched Adoniyram pace back and forth along the edge of the tower’s plant-garnished terrace.
Why are we still here? He’s finished talking with those priests, and Shoshannah won’t be attending any lessons tonight, though I wish she were …
Not that it mattered; Kal doubted he’d have a chance to steal
another kiss from his unenlightened wife, much less discuss an escape plan.

Most High
, he implored,
I am ready to snatch Shoshannah and my brother and leave this accursed place, if only You would show me how! Why must we stay here? And why isn’t that Young Lord ready to go back to his residence for some sleep?

Unable to restrain himself, Kal approached the young man, scuffing his boots just loudly enough that Adoniyram would be aware of his presence. As he expected, Adoniyram turned toward him, a dark outline against the stars.

“Kaleb. What is it?”

“I’m not sure, my lord. But I’m worried by the way you’re pacing. Are you going to throw yourself over the edge here?”

Adoniyram gave a short, bitter laugh. “Not tonight. I hope not ever.” He leaned against the waist-high terrace wall now, apparently brooding.

Kal stood just far enough away to be polite, but near enough to hear the Young Lord if he decided to talk.

After a brief pause, Adoniyram said, “I am doubting some decisions I’ve made, though I’m sure they are the right decisions. Do you ever doubt yourself, Kaleb?”

“Sometimes.” Kaleb laughed, more at himself than anything. “Usually others do my doubting for me.”

More quietly, the Young Lord asked, “Have you ever killed anyone?”

“If I have, they haven’t told me.” Immediately, Kal regretted being flippant. It would not do to have his new master think that he, Kaleb, would kill anyone. Lowering his voice, firm and serious, Kal said, “Actually, I haven’t killed anyone, my lord. And I pray I never do.”

“That’s what I thought.” Adoniyram sounded half disgusted, half amused. “But I am sure that if provoked enough, you could kill someone. Admit it; you would.”

“To defend myself, perhaps,” Kaleb agreed reluctantly.
Or to defend Shoshannah
.

“Or to defend me?” Adoniyram asked, still amused. “Perhaps you ought to think about that—being my guardsman.”

“If you were threatened, of course I’d defend you, my lord. That’s my duty.” Kaleb grinned, hoping to end the conversation. “However, I prefer to think that everyone loves you so much—and fears my stinking reputation so much—that they won’t try anything at all.”

“Oh yes, I’m sure you’re right. Everyone loves me.”

He sounded as if he were jeering at himself. Kal felt a jolt of sympathy for the young man, realizing how very isolated and lonely he was.

Adoniyram turned away from the edge of the terrace and started toward the stairs, motioning for Kaleb to accompany him. “Grab a torch and let’s go; I’ll clear my head with a hunt tomorrow morning.”

Lighting a torch from a nearby smoldering clay brazier, Kaleb frowned.
Who is it you wish to kill?

As they walked down the stairs, Adoniyram said, “By the way, about a month ago I noticed that my mother sent at least five of her guardsmen away. I don’t know where they’ve gone, or why, but I do know they haven’t returned yet. Have you heard anything of them?”

“No, my lord. Is this unusual?”

“Yes. At least it is unusual for my mother. She loves being surrounded by her servants and guardsmen more than she loves her own family—it makes her feel powerful. I wonder what she’s planning.”

“I’ll be listening; I’ll speak to my brother too.”

“Thank you, Kaleb.” He mused aloud, “But I hope my Master-Uncle and his servants don’t know more about my mother’s household than I do. That would be disgraceful.”

“Indeed it would, my lord.” Perturbed by this whole conversation, Kaleb followed Adoniyram down the tower stairs.

In the Lady Sharah’s sumptuously overdecorated residence, Adoniyram bent and kissed his mother’s cheek. She looked bleary this morning, but not unhappy, which was odd. He eyed her suspiciously as she motioned for her serving women to finish combing her hair and fastening her ornaments. She wore a particularly elaborate necklace this morning, a cascade of red stones mounted in gold.

“That’s new, isn’t it, Mother?”

“Yes.” Sharah preened and checked her reflection in an obsidian mirror, smiling. “I traded some gifts to have it made a few weeks ago; I felt like celebrating.”

“Celebrating what?”

“Nothing that concerns you.” She threw him a fierce look. “If you’ve come here to quarrel, then you can leave. I’ll listen to my people and accept their petitions without your help.”

“I haven’t come to quarrel, Mother; don’t worry. I didn’t want you to think I was neglecting you.” Politely, he asked, “Have you heard from those missing guardsmen of yours? It’s not like them to just disappear.”

“They are retrieving some things for me—which is also not your concern.”

“Forgive me.” He should have waited to question her while she was drinking and too tired to consider what she was saying. Now he would simply have to wait until the missing guardsmen returned. Perhaps Kaleb would have better luck talking with his brother when they visited Ra-Anan’s household tonight.

His mother was smiling again. “There
is
something I will tell you. Ra-Anan has sent an appeal out to all the other tribes—in my name—for the return of our Great King’s body. Isn’t that devoted of him?”

“Perfectly.”
And it makes me wonder why you didn’t send out the same request years ago, after his death
.

She hadn’t loved Nimr-Rada, of course, Adoniyram decided.
She’s never loved anyone except herself. Not even me
.