The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Im aware that hes not truly a child.

Are you aware that hes killed as many people over the years as Nahadoth?

I could not help flinching. Viraine smiled.

He is a child, mind younot in age, but in nature. He acts on impulse. He has a childs creativity a childs cruelty. And he is Nahadoths, blood and soul. Just think about that, Lady. The Nightlord, living embodiment of all that we who serve the Bright fear and despise. Sieh is his firstborn son.

I did think about it. But strangely, the image that came most clearly to mind was Siehs utter contentment when Id put an arm around him that first night. Later I would understand that I had already begun to love Sieh, possibly in that very moment. Some part of me agreed with Viraine: to love such a creature was beyond foolish, edging into suicidal. Yet I did.

Viraine saw me shudder. With perfect solicitousness he came over and touched my shoulder. You arent entirely surrounded by enemies, he said gently, and so discomfited was I that for a moment I actually took comfort from his words. Tvril seems to like you, toothough that isnt surprising, given his history. And you have me, Yeine. I was your mothers friend before she left Sky; I can be yours as well.

If he had not spoken those last words, I might have indeed considered him a friend.

Thank you, Scrivener Viraine, I said. For once, thank the gods, my Darre nature did not assert itself. I tried to sound sincere. Tried not to show my instant dislike and suspicion. Judging by his pleased look, I succeeded.

He left, and I sat silent in his wake for a long time, thinking.

* * *

It would occur to me shortly thereafter that Viraine had warned me off only Sieh, not Nahadoth.

* * *

I needed to know more about my mother.

Viraine had said he was her friend. Everything I knew of my mother said this was a lie. Viraines strange mix of solicitousness and nonchalance, his callous help and false comfortno. My mother had always valued people who were straightforward in their dealings with others. I could not imagine her being friendly toward, much less close to, someone like Viraine.

But I had no idea where to begin learning more about my mother. The obvious source for information was Dekarta, though I had no desire to ask him for the intimate details of my mothers past in front of the entire Salon. A private meeting, though yes. That would suffice.

Not yet, though. Not until I understood better why he had brought me to Sky in the first place.

That left other members of the Central Family, some of whom were more than old enough to have remembered the days when my mother was heir. But Tvrils warning lingered in my mind; any of the Central Family who truly had been friends to my mother were off doing family business, no doubt to keep themselves apart and safe from the viper pit that was life in Sky. No one who remained would speak honestly to me. They were Dekartas peopleor Sciminas, or Relads.

Ah, but there was an idea. Relad.

He had refused my request for a meeting. Protocol dictated that I not try againbut protocol was a guideline, not an absolute, and among family protocol took whatever form its members permitted. Perhaps a man used to dealing with someone like Scimina would value a direct approach. I went in search of Tvril.

I found him in a spacious, neat little office on one of the palaces lower levels. The walls glowed down here, even though it was a bright day outside. This was because the lower levels of the palace were underneath the broadest part of its bulk and cast into perpetual shadow as a result. I could not help noticing that I saw only servants on these levels, most of them wearing the blood sigil that looked like a simple black bar. Distant relatives, I knew now, thanks to Viraines explanations. Six generations or more removed from the Central Family.

Tvril was giving instructions to a group of his staff when I arrived. I stopped just beyond the open door, listening idly but not interrupting or making my presence known, as he told a young woman, No. There wont be another warning. When the signal comes, youll have one chance. If youre still near the shaft when it comes He said nothing more.

The grim silence that fell in the wake of his words was what finally caught my attention. This sounded like more than the usual instructions to clean rooms or deliver food more quickly. I stepped closer to the doorway to listen, and that was when one of Tvrils people spotted me. He must have made some sort of signal to Tvril, because Tvril immediately looked my way. He stared at me for half a breath, then told his people, Thank you; thats all.

I stood aside to let the servants disperse through the doorway, which they did with a brisk efficiency and lack of chatter that I found unsurprising. Tvril had struck me as the type to run a tight ship. When the room was clear, Tvril bowed me inside and shut the door behind us in deference to my rank.