Emissary (33 page)

Bin ushered in a servant bearing a tray. It was delivered in silence before both servants bowed and removed themselves.

‘I feel delighted,’ he continued. ‘She was always going to be my first choice but I’m sure you knew that. There was no surprise, surely?’

‘Only in the timing. It came so suddenly.’

‘Do you refer to the marriage or to the choosing, mother?’

‘Both, if I’m honest. May I pour?’ Her voice was light, almost carefree as if this was purely conversation and of no importance to her life. He knew differently. Boaz nodded, watched her elegant movements as she prepared the porcelain cups of apple infusion, whose soft scent now permeated the chamber. It helped to relax him.

‘Then I’ll be honest,’ he said pointedly but not unkindly, for he needed his mother working for him now and Ana needed his mother’s guidance whether she thought so or not. He took the cup and sipped before placing it before him. All of this gave him time to think on how best to respond. ‘I chose Ana when I did because I was angry. The timing of your shopping trip to the grand bazaar was just too perfect—even for my normally generous tolerance levels.’

‘Oh my darling boy, a mere coincidence. Had I known it would spark such a reaction—’

‘Don’t, mother, please. There is nothing in your life that isn’t pre-planned and carefully thought through. I’m your son. I know you better than anyone in this palace, save your fat eunuch who covers your every movement.’

‘And what does that imply?’ She feigned her hurt with an injured tone.

‘Only that he would never contradict anything you do or say.’

‘That’s his role, son. Grand Master Eunuch and Valide have traditionally worked closely.’

‘And plotted closely, too?’

More innocent posturing. ‘What does this mean, Boaz? I’m really not understanding you. I come to see you, to congratulate you, and you turn on me like an angry dog.’

‘It’s not like you to be quite so dull, mother. It insults me that you think I am gullible enough to believe that you didn’t plan your trip to the market in order to prevent me from seeing Ana. I know you didn’t want our marriage—’ He raised a hand to stop her interrupting. ‘Yes, she is very suitable and you were the person who picked her originally, although perhaps Lazar might have that claim,’ he added and Herezah watched something cloud across her son’s open face. Did he suspect something? ‘But you have despised Ana since you first came to realise that she was not to be cowed by the harem and that she posed a potential threat to your superiority.’

‘I think you’ve got me wrong,’ she said, lifting the cup to her lips to cover the snarl that leapt to them. ‘I’ve always rather admired her.’

‘Possibly, but you’re also jealous of her, mother, although it has baffled me as to why. You are one of the most beautiful women the harem has seen, you have intelligence, elegance, you have status and power. It seems altogether ludicrous that you have single-mindedly made the life of a young orphan so very miserable. You’ve forced her into taking extraordinary risks and on both occasions her life has been threatened. You nearly won today and I was powerless this morning. But I am no longer powerless—the threat of war overrode all rules…even those of the harem. She may still belong to the harem but I have now bestowed upon Ana equal status as yourself. I’m presuming this is what you came to see me about?’ He decided it was time to be direct.

Herezah took a deep breath, knew she had lost the fight but perhaps not the battle. She quickly took a different path as it was obvious she would get no sympathy here. ‘I came only to offer my sincere congratulations to you, Boaz. I don’t care much for Ana—it would be rather pointless of me to deny it—but I do admire her and I think she makes you a fine Zaradine. I just question her motives and indeed Lazar’s.’

This he had not expected. ‘Lazar’s? What in Zarab’s name are you talking about?’

‘It’s just, it gives them the cover they so crave. Legitimises Ana’s ability to leave the harem.’

‘Mother, you’d better quickly explain what you mean.’

She tried not to smile. She had him right where she needed him, enjoyed hearing his uncertainty. Once again she gave an innocent, wide-eyed shrug. ‘Well, is it only me that knows Lazar is in love with Ana?’

‘I’m not sure why you say such a thing.’

Herezah could see he wasn’t as shocked as she’d intended and this was confusing but she pressed on nonetheless. ‘Because it’s true, Boaz. Lazar might have sold Ana into the harem but he began regretting that move from the first few hours of knowing the girl. And he’s never stopped grieving over her loss. You, of course, don’t know any of this, but Lazar did everything he could to win her a special freedom each moon from the harem.’

Boaz blinked, always did when he was caught in a situation of deceit, and hoped his mother missed it. She must never know he was also witness to the Choosing Room. ‘I had heard some rumour to that effect.’

Again she was surprised, had hoped for a stronger reaction. ‘I see. Does this not trouble you, then?’

‘Why should it?’

‘That he would die for her doesn’t surprise you?’

‘He had no plans to die for her, as I understand it. Like me, he railed against a rule that could impose such a harsh sentence on a young woman. I was unable to do much but commute the sentence to a lesser penalty. He was far braver. He simply did the sort of thing my father admired him so much for, and why I feel the same way about our Spur. His poisoning was something entirely different. But to answer your question, no, I am not surprised that he would take a whipping for her. If I could have, I think I would too.’

This did unsettle Herezah. ‘Oh, Boaz, please. She’s a slave.’

‘So are you.’

The accusation stung viciously and she wasn’t quick enough to stifle her gasp but she kept her silence as they stared across porcelain cups, taking each other’s measure.

Boaz continued more softly; he hadn’t wanted this to turn into a confrontation. ‘She’s my wife. She is Zaradine and Absolute Favourite. Please don’t overlook that, mother, whilst you’re away.’

Her voice remained quiet but the tone was all granite. ‘Boaz, may I remind you that in the harem she is still answerable to the rules set by its internal hierarchy.’

‘Yes, I have no intention—not at this stage anyway—of changing that balance…’ and he enjoyed watching his mother blanch at his qualification. ‘But for the time being, Ana is out of the harem and travelling as diplomatic envoy for
the Zar. In this regard she has exceedingly high importance and her status is equal to yours. You will not exert your formidable talent at derailing her when I need Ana using all of her emotion and eloquence in bargaining a peace for us.’

‘And Lazar?’ Even to her ears her words sounded more like a demand.

‘What about Lazar?’ he roared, his patience spent.

It was the first time ever in Boaz’s life that she had witnessed him shout at anyone or about anything. He had always been such an intense, almost grave child, serious about his status as potential heir; the only time she saw him truly relax and let go with laughter or immature behaviour was around the dwarf. But even those times had changed, and emotional outbursts were not part of Boaz’s nature, no matter how entertained he was.

‘Well,’ she was unsure of her ground suddenly, stammered slightly. ‘How do I handle that side of things?’

He regarded her with the expression of one in disbelief and no little disdain. ‘Do you really think Lazar is going to be handled—as you put it—by anyone? You’re in his domain, mother. He knows the desert better than most—he survived crossing it from west to east, as you might recall. He will not be looking to be advised by you or indeed by anyone. When this caravan leaves, there is only one person in charge…and it’s not you. Spur Lazar will make all the decisions.’

She masked her exasperation. ‘But you understand my meaning, son, I’m sure.’

‘Are you asking me whether I give my authority for you to spy on Lazar and Ana? Are you asking whether I concede that I would be interested to find out if you can catch them at an indiscretion?’

‘I’m asking you to take me seriously when I say that Lazar’s interest in Ana is not all avuncular, as everyone seems to think!’ She had not raised her voice but there was a fresh crispness to it. No longer was she the adoring lioness but speaking to a cub who still needed reminding that she was his mother and was due respect.

‘I shall say this once only. I trust Ana to be true. I trust Lazar with my life, her life, your life, and the lives of all Percherese. Does that make it clear enough to you?’

Her resolve snapped. ‘I will not be spoken to like this, Boaz.’

‘Someone has to, mother, and I’m the only person of any real authority over you around here. You may control the harem through your clever ways, but contrary to your personal opinion, you do not control me. You haven’t controlled me from the moment you kissed the emerald ring that graces my finger and hailed me as the Zar of Percheron. I know this must come as a shock, but you might as well get used to it now. You are being sent to Galinsea at my discretion as escort to my wife. That is all I ask you to do…guide her if she
requires guidance, support her if she requires support, help choose her clothes if that’s what’s needed, but don’t upset her by your cunning strategies. She is our only hope for peace—I cannot stress this enough. I trust you understand the delicate position we find ourselves in?’

She detested the condescension in his tone, particularly as he knew how well informed she kept herself on national security and palace politics—but she could scarcely credit her own audacity when she risked another jab. ‘You say you trust Lazar. What do I do when he tries to steal private time with your precious wife? Who knows what he has in mind.’

‘To lie down with her…is that what you mean? Come on, mother, be direct.’

‘What else does any man have on his mind where a beautiful woman is concerned?’

He sighed, none of the condescension gone from his stance. ‘And this just makes me sad and shows me that I must ensure the women of my harem enjoy a wide-ranging education. It’s narrow thoughts like these that could set us back countless years. I want to be a Zar that people remember for his modern thinking and his dedication to change if it’s a good thing for Percheron. If that’s how you see men, then it shows me blatantly how damaging the harem truly is. Perhaps the Goddess was right. A return to the ancient ways of a matriarchal system where women were treated with honour, respect, where their roles as
priestesses were worshipped. Look at what you’ve turned into, mother. Do you really see yourself as being useful only as a vessel for a man?’

‘You couldn’t blame me if I did.’

‘No. But I can assure you that I’m not obsessed with the notion of bedding every girl in the harem, and from what I hear, Lazar’s record of being with women is discreet, to say the least.’

‘And you know this how?’

‘It doesn’t matter, mother. Lazar is not the lascivious sort, or perhaps he would have fallen for the feminine wiles that you so blatantly used on him in the past!’

Herezah had to resist the urge to slap her son now. This really had gone too far! ‘Please don’t speak to me like that, Boaz. I’m due more respect from you.’

‘Mother, respect works both ways—remember how my father taught my brothers and I that?’ She nodded angrily. ‘Well, do more than just pay lip service to your Zar. Respect me! Don’t try and control me, don’t try and anticipate my every move so you can be there first, don’t destroy the small things that glitter in my life.’

‘Like Pez?’ she offered sarcastically.

He stared her down. ‘Like Ana.’

Herezah was not to be completely trampled and had won some of her composure back. ‘You still haven’t answered me, though, Boaz, and I’m the one responsible for your new wife. What about Lazar making an attempt on her?’

‘He won’t.’

‘Because he’s honourable, you mean?’ She sneered at such a sentiment.

‘Yes. Also because I will have spies of my own present.’

She leapt angrily to the bait. ‘Ah, the Grand Vizier. Clever Tariq. How much higher inside you can he crawl, son?’

‘You are quick to assume, mother, and you would be wrong if you followed this assumption too closely. My spies will be watching you too, so behave. I want you to go safely and be returned to me safely. You are my mother, my father’s Absolute Favourite, and even though you might question it right now, I do love you. But you must know your place, mother, and if I feel you trying to attach puppet strings to my back ever again, I will react accordingly. You have been well cautioned. Please heed my warnings about Ana, about Lazar, about your role in this critical event. Now I suspect Grand Master Salmeo would like your involvement in preparations for your departure—you have barely hours.’

It was a dismissal and both of them knew this as surely as they both sensed a shift in their already tenuous relationship. Herezah understood now she was no longer in a position to ever be the important woman in her son’s life, and even though he was a Zar with a choice of forty-two beauties, his love was given to one alone. That was dangerous.

She hated Ana, that much was obvious…but although she dared not even admit it to herself yet…she knew that deep in her heart she hated Boaz even more for his weakness regarding the girl from the foothills.

Pez had little to pack for the journey and couldn’t concentrate anyway, such was his quiet despair over Lazar’s disturbing notion. His old friend was right, that was the painful truth of it. Unless by some miracle the Grand Vizier had not come into any physical contact with Ana, then, impossible though it felt to stomach, Ana was not Lyana. He felt sick at the revelation and had been sitting in a corner of his chambers lost in sorrowful thoughts since he fled from Lazar.

If not Ana, then who? It had to be her! Magic pulsed through her body—he felt it. His mind had turned the question over repeatedly. He had replayed every scrap of information he knew and he returned again and again to Ana. It was where the finger stopped pointing. She and Lyana were joined. And if he continued to believe this, then he had to believe that Maliz had not touched her, for the demon would have known and he would have destroyed her on the spot. He had to find out and be sure and there was no time like the present. He threw the last remaining items he had hurriedly pulled from his dressing room into the fabric bag and left it outside his chamber door as required. Pez made a mental note that he needed to speak with
Razeen before he departed and then, crossing his eyes, he made for the harem, deliberately stumbling and bumping off the hallway walls.