David Coe - Shapers of Darkness

“That was my doing. I thought the decision a wise one, and though it seemed clear to me that the high chancellor had taken some liberty in presenting this counsel to the emperor, I saw no harm in it. Since I had spoken with the high chancellor about another matter just after that day’s discussion, I told Stavel that he and I had talked of the invasion and that the emperor must have misunderstood and assumed that all his Qirsi were privy to our conversation.” He shrugged. “Stavel accepted this and I assumed that the matter was closed.

“Yesterday, however, Stavel and I spoke of it again, for the first time since that day a turn ago. It seems that he hasn’t forgotten the high chancellor’s transgression.”

“Nor should he have,” Gorlan said, his voice hard. “If the high chancellor wishes to give advice to the emperor, he should do so. But he has no right to speak for us without soliciting our opinions first. And frankly, Minister, I’m disappointed in you. I would have thought that you’d feel as I do about this, and that you would have come to us far sooner.”

Kayiv did his best to look contrite, though inwardly he was pleased. When Nitara related to Dusaan what had been said here, she would surely include Gorlan’s rebuke. “You’re right,” he said. “I should have. I apologize to all of you.”

“What does Stavel want to do about this?” Nitara asked.

Kayiv looked at her, their eyes meeting for the briefest of moments before he had to look away again.

“Is he content to raise the matter with the high chancellor and ask that in the future we be consulted before he takes his suggestions to the emperor? Or does he intend to do more than that?”

“Well, I’m afraid there’s more to it than just the chancellor’s pique. He fears that Dusaan has done this on other occasions, and he’s begun to question if the high chancellor’s behavior might be rooted in more than just arrogance.”

“Meaning what?” Rov asked.

But glancing at Nitara once more, Kayiv saw that she already understood. Her cheeks had flushed, and she was shaking her head slowly, as if warning him not to answer.

“Meaning that he believes the high chancellor might be a traitor.”

“Demons and fire!”

“I believe the chancellor has allowed his fears to overmaster his judgment,” B’Serre said.

Nitara nodded, glaring at Kayiv. “I agree.”

Kayiv remained silent, as did Gorlan, who didn’t appear at all surprised by what had been said. Kayiv couldn’t be certain, but he sensed that, like Stavel, the minister had his own doubts about the high chancellor’s loyalty.

“So Stavel wishes to speak with the emperor,” Nitara said.

“I believe he does. I also think he wants all of us to accompany him, so that he isn’t forced to voice his suspicions alone.” He considered mentioning the master of arms, but quickly thought better of it. Best not to reveal all to Nitara just yet.

“I won’t do it!” she said. “The high chancellor is no traitor, and I won’t be party to any attempt to brand him as such.”

“I feel the same way,” B’Serre said. “If we had proof that he had betrayed the empire in some way, that would be one thing, but all he’s done is claim falsely to speak for the rest of us.”

“ ‘All he’s done’?” Gorlan repeated. “Surely you don’t condone it.”

“No, I don’t, and if Stavel wants to bring this up with the high chancellor, I’ll be more than happy to support him. But this is hardly grounds for calling the man a traitor.”

“Is that how you feel as well, Rov?”

The man stared at his hands, a troubled look in his bright yellow eyes. But after some time he nodded. “I guess it is. I don’t like that he lied to the emperor, especially about this. But I’m not ready to accuse him of treason.”

Kayiv nodded. “Gorlan?”

“It seems I’m more disturbed by this than are the rest of you, but I won’t stand alone against the high chancellor, particularly if it means questioning his loyalty.”

“All right,” Kayiv said, masking his disappointment, “I’ll tell Stavel that we’re not willing to go to the emperor with this.”

“I do think we should speak with the emperor,” Gorlan said quickly. “He should know that we didn’t all agree with Dusaan’s counsel regarding the timing of the invasion.”

“It’s not our place to go directly to the emperor,” Nitara said, sounding slightly desperate. “We should speak of this with the high chancellor himself, and tell him that in the future we would prefer that he come to us before making such recommendations on our behalf.”

Gorlan shook his head. “That’s not good enough. What if the high chancellor has misrepresented us before? What’s to stop him from ignoring our protests and doing it again?” He looked around the chamber, as if seeking support from the rest. “Don’t you think that we ought to inform the emperor of what Dusaan has done?”

Kayiv was more than happy to let Gorlan argue the point for him, and he remained silent.

For quite some time all of them did.

At last, Rov gave a reluctant nod. “He should probably know. I don’t relish the notion of going to the emperor without Dusaan’s knowledge, but in this case it might be justified.”

Gorlan turned to B’Serre, an expectant look on his lean face.

“I don’t feel right about this,” she said.

“So you’re willing to let him claim that he speaks for all of us, even when it’s not true.”

“I didn’t say that. But I won’t lie to you: I have no desire to anger the high chancellor. I like living in this palace and serving the emperor, and I’m not willing to risk being banished from here just because my pride’s been bruised.”

“Maybe we should wait to see what the chancellors have decided to do. With all of us going to the emperor, there’s less risk of any one of us incurring the high chancellor’s wrath.” Rov glanced at Kayiv. “Except for you and Stavel, of course.”

Kayiv gave a wan smile, his stomach feeling cold and hollow.

“I’ll agree to that,” B’Serre said.

Gorlan nodded. “So will I.”

They all looked at Nitara.

“I still think this is a bad idea, but it seems I’m the only one. The rest of you should do what you believe is best.”

“Then it’s decided,” Kayiv said. “I’ll speak with Stavel, and I’ll let all of you know what the chancellors have chosen to do. In the meantime, I think we should keep what’s been said here to ourselves.” He knew better than to think that Nitara would conceal any of this from Dusaan, but the others would expect him to say something to this effect. All of them nodded their agreement, even Nitara.

A moment later the others stood and crossed to the door. Kayiv had expected that Nitara would hurry from the chamber so that she could speak immediately with the high chancellor. But she surprised him, lingering near the window until the others had gone.

“Are you mad?” she demanded, once they were alone and Kayiv had closed the door.

“What do you mean?”

“You know full well what I mean. First the master of arms, and now this. No one is going to believe that all this was Stavel’s doing, Dusaan least of all.”

“But it was. The emperor spoke with Stavel, and then Stavel brought it to my attention. This all started with him.”

“And how hard did you have to push him before he agreed to speak with the other chancellors?”

He looked away, his pulse racing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is this still about us, Kayiv? Are you still so jealous of the high chancellor that you feel you have to strike back at him? Or is there more to it than that?”

“I told you, this was Stavel’s doing, not mine, and it has nothing to do with us. Stavel came to me. What was I supposed to do? Tell him that it wasn’t worth our concern, like you’re trying to do? Don’t you realize how ridiculous that sounds? The high chancellor lied to the emperor.”