young man told you?”
Walegrin shook his head.
“No, Kama, maybe if Strat’s still alive in there and he says it wasn’t you,
you’d be believed, but no one else’s word will count for enough. You’ll do best
coming in to face your accusers.”
“Under your protection?”
“Under Tempus’s protection.”
Walegrin broke into the conversation: “He’s one of the ones who’ve ordered her
dead!”
“He ordered her captured-the rest is the enthusiasm of his subordinates. He’s
got caught in another skirmish with the demon-and Roxane:-for Niko’s soul. Jihan
barely pulled him out and she is, until the next sea storm at any rate, as
mortal as you or I. Tempus is in no mood for death right now.”
“You’re wrong if you think he’d go lightly with me,” Kama warned in a low voice.
“He acknowledges my existence- nothing more than that. It would be easier for
him if I did die.”
It cost her to admit that to anyone, stranger or lover. Molin knew better than
to deny it. “I’m not interested in making things easier for that man,” he said
in his own low, measured voice. “He will not dare to judge you himself, so he
will be scrupulously honest in seeing that justice is done by someone else.”
Kama tossed her hair behind her shoulders. “Let’s go to him now.”
“Tomorrow,” Molin averred. “He has other obligations tonight.”
Prince Kadakithis took the tray from the Beysib priest. He was gracious, but
firm: no one besides himself was attending Shupansea. It was her wish; it was
his wish; and it was time everyone got used to the idea that he gave orders too.