‘Hardly,’ the one-eyed assassin said.
‘You’re working at the palace now?’
‘Yes.’
‘For the queen?’
‘Among others. I take on a few odd jobs for Javelin now and then.’
‘Does the queen know about that?’
‘Of course. All right, Sadi. The queen’s agreed to a two-hour amnesty for you. We’d better hurry. I’m sure you’ll want to be gone from here before those two hours run out. The queen’s fangs start to itch every time she hears your name, so let’s go – unless you’d like to reconsider and start running right now.’
‘No,’ Sadi said. ‘I’ll be right up. I’m bringing Polgara and Belgarion with me, if that’s all right.’
‘That’s up to you,’ Issus said with an indifferent shrug.
The palace was still infested with snakes and with dreamy-eyed eunuchs. A pimply-faced official with broad hips and a grotesqely made-up face met them at the palace door. ‘Well, Sadi,’ he said in a piping soprano voice, ‘I see you’ve returned.’
‘And I see you’ve managed to stay alive, Y’sth,’ Sadi replied coldly. ‘That’s a shame, really.’
Y’sth’s eyes narrowed with undisguised hatred. ‘I’d be a little careful about what I say, Sadi,’ he squeaked. ‘You’re not Chief Eunuch anymore. As a matter of fact, I may soon hold that position myself.’
‘May the heavens defend poor Nyissa then,’ Sadi murmured.
‘You’ve heard of the queen’s command that Sadi be given safe-conduct?’ Issus asked the eunuch.
‘Not from her own lips.’
‘Salmissra doesn’t have lips, Y’sth, and you’ve just heard about it – from me. Now, are you going to get out of our way? Or am I going to have to slit you up the middle?’
Y’sth backed away. ‘You can’t threaten me, Issus.’
‘I wasn’t threatening you. I was just asking a question.’ Then the assassin led the way up the polished stone corridor leading to the throne room.
The room they entered was unchanged and probably unchangeable. Thousands of years of tradition had seen to that. Salmissra, her coils stirring restlessly and her blunt, crowned head weaving sinuously in front of her mirror, occupied the throne.
‘Sadi the eunuch, My Queen,’ Issus announced with a bow. Issus, Garion noted, did not prostrate himself before the throne as did other Nyissans.
‘Ah,’ Salmissra hissed, ‘and the beautiful Polgara and King Belgarion. You’ve fallen in with important people since you left my service, Sadi.’
‘Pure chance, my Queen,’ Sadi lied glibly.
‘What is this vital matter that impelled you to risk your life by coming into my presence again?’
‘Only this, Eternal Salmissra,’ Sadi replied. He set his red leather case on the floor, opened it, and removed a folded parchment. He casually kicked a groveling eunuch in the ribs. ‘Take this to the queen,’ he commanded.
‘You’re not enhancing your popularity here, Sadi,’ Garion cautioned quietly.
‘I’m not running for public office, Garion. I can be as disagreeable as I choose to be.’
Salmissra quickly perused the Accords of Dal Perivor. ‘Interesting,’ she hissed.
‘I’m sure your Majesty can see the opportunities implicit in those accords,’ Sadi said. ‘I felt it was my responsibility to make you aware of them.’
‘Of course I can see what’s involved, Sadi,’ she said. ‘I’m a snake, not a cretin.’
‘Then I’ll bid you goodbye, my Queen. I’ve performed my last duty to you.’
Salmissra’s eyes had gone flat with concentration. ‘Not just yet, my Sadi,’ she said in a whisper that was almost a purr. ‘Come a little closer.’
‘You gave your word, Salmissra,’ he said apprehensively.
‘Oh, do be sensible, Sadi,’ she said. ‘I’m not going to bite you. It was all a ploy, wasn’t it? You had discovered the possibility that these accords might be in the making and you deliberately set out to have yourself disgraced so that you could pursue them. Your negotiations on my behalf were brilliant, I must say. You have done very well, Sadi – even if your actions involved deceiving me. I am well-pleased with you. Would you consent to resume your former position here in the palace?’
‘Consent, my Queen?’ he blurted almost boyishly. ‘I’d be overjoyed. I live but to serve you.’
Salmissra swiveled her head around to regard the prostrated eunuchs. ‘You will all leave me now,’ she commanded them. ‘I want you to go throughout the palace and spread the word that Sadi has been rehabilitated and that I’ve reinstated him. If anyone cares to dispute my decision, send him to me, and I’ll explain it to him.’
They stared at her, and Garion noticed that not a few faces were filled with chagrin.
‘How tiresome,’ Salmissra sighed. ‘They’re too delighted to move. Please drive them out, Issus.’
‘As my Queen desires,’ Issus said, drawing his sword. ‘Did you want them all to survive?’
‘A few of them, Issus – the more nimble ones.’
The throne room was vacated almost immediately.
‘I cannot sufficiently thank your Majesty,’ Sadi said.
‘I’ll think of a way, my Sadi. First of all, we’ll both pretend that the motives I suggested a moment ago were genuine, won’t we?’
‘I understand perfectly, Divine Salmissra.’
‘After all,’ she added, ‘we must protect the dignity of the throne. You will assume your former duties and your former quarters. We’ll think of suitable honors and rewards later.’ She paused. ‘I’ve missed you, my Sadi. I don’t think anyone can ever know how much.’ Her head moved slowly around, and she regarded Polgara. ‘And how did your encounter with Zandramas go, Polgara?’ she asked.
‘Zandramas is no longer with us, Salmissra.’
‘Splendid. I never really liked her. And is the universe restored again?’
‘It is, Salmissra.’
‘I think I’m glad of that. Chaos and disruption are irritating to a snake, you know. We’re partial to calm and to order.’
Garion noticed that a small green snake had slithered out from under Salmissra’s throne to approach Sadi’s red leather case, which lay open and forgotten on the marble floor. The little snake reared up to regard the earthenware bottle. He was purring seductively.