The King's Blood (56 page)

“Thank you, and he can go lower and still buy food.”

“You are a madman,” the Southling called after him. “Madman!”

Inside the shack, an old Southling woman sat on a stool. Her wide black eyes took them in without seeming to see them. Or perhaps it was only that she passed no judgments.

“You’ve come for a map?” she asked.

“I hope we have,” Kit said. “I’m looking for the reliquary of Assian Bey.”

“You and everyone else,” the woman said, amused.

“Do you have a copy of the Silas map?”

To the degree that a Southling’s eyes could narrow, hers did.

“That map doesn’t exist,” she lied.

“It does, and I am the man who is to have it,” he said. In his blood, his body, the tiny things began to stretch and flail. He felt their delight. “Listen to me. Listen to my voice. You need to show me that map.”

“I don’t …”

“I do,” Kit said. “It’s going to be all right.”

The woman scowled, but then she held up a single finger.

“Wait here,” she said. “I have to go look at something.”

Another lie, but perhaps not too far from the truth. If she didn’t have the map herself, she at least might know where it was.

“What’s a Silas map?” Marcus asked.

“It’s the one that the last people to try to reach the reliquary used,” Kit said. “It seems like the best starting place.”

Marcus put a hand on Kit’s shoulder, turning him gently.

“Have you just told me that you don’t know where this place is?”

“I do. It’s on the north shore of Lyoneia,” Kit said. “Probably.”

Marcus closed his eyes.

“You don’t know.”

“I could be more precise, but I think I’d be less accurate,” Kit said. “I believe there’s a word for reliquaries that are easily found and commonly known.”

“Is the word
empty
?”

“All words are empty, until a living will fills them,” Kit said. “But yes. I’d been thinking more of
looted
.”

“You could have told me before.”

“Would it have made a difference?”

“Yes,” Marcus said, and they both knew he was lying.

Dramatis Personae

Persons of interest and import in
The King’s Blood

IN IMPERIAL ANTEA

The Royal Family

King Simeon, Emperor of Antea

Aster, his son and heir

House Palliako

Lehrer Palliako, Viscount of Rivenhalm

Geder Palliako, his son. Also Baron of Ebbingbaugh and Protector of the Prince

House Kalliam

Dawson Kalliam, Baron of Osterling Fells

Clara Kalliam, his wife

Barriath

Vicarian, and

Jorey; their sons

also various servants and slaves, including

Andrash rol Estalan, door slave to House Kalliam

Vincen Coe, huntsman in the service of House Kalliam

Abatha Coe, his cousin

House Skestinin

Lord Skestinin, master of the Imperial Navy

Lady Skestinin, his wife

Sabiha, their somewhat disgraced daughter

her illegitimate son

House Annerin

Elisia Annerin (formerly Kalliam), daughter of Clara and Dawson

Gorman Annerin, son and heir of Lord Annerin and husband of Elisia

Corl, their son

House Daskellin

Canl Daskellin, Baron of Watermarch and Ambassador to Northcoast

Sanna, one of his daughters

Also, various lords and members of the court, including

Lord Ternigan, Lord Marshal to King Simeon

Sodai Carvenallin, his secretary

Sir Curtin Issandrian

Sir Alan Klin

Sir Gospey Allintot

Sir Lauren Essian

Sir Soluz Veren

Sir Sesil Veren

Fallon Broot, Baron of Suderling Heights

Daved Broot, his son

Lord Bannien of Estinford

Count Odderd Mastellin

Estin Cersillian, Earl of Masonhalm

Mirkus Shoat, Earl of Rivencourt

and also Houses Flor, Estinford, Faskellan, Emming, Tilliakin, Mastellin, Mecilli, Caot, and Pyrellin, among others

The Players

Kitap rol Keshmet, called Master Kit, apostate of the spider goddess

Cary

Hornet

Smit

Charlit Soon

Mikel

Sandr

Basrahip, minister of the spider goddess and counselor to Geder Palliako

also some dozen priests

IN BIRANCOUR

The Medean bank in Porte Oliva

Cithrin bel Sarcour, voice of the Medean bank in Porte Oliva

Pyk Usterhall, her notary

Marcus Wester, her guard captain. Also the hero of Gradis and Wodford

Yardem Hane, his second in command

The bank’s guard, including:

Barth

Corisen Mout

Ahariel Akkabrian

Roach

Hart

Enen

Iderrigo Bellind Siden, Prime Governor of Porte Oliva

Qahuar Em, rival to the Medean bank and former lover of Cithrin

Arinn Costallin, his business acquaintance from Herez

Maestro Asanpur, a café owner

Capsen Gostermak, a poet and keeper of doves

Maceo Rinál, a pirate

Dar Cinlama, a hunter of ancient treasures and seeker of lost places

IN NORTHCOAST

King Tracian

The Medean bank in Carse

Komme Medean, head of the Medean bank

Lauro Medean, son of Komme

Chana Medean, daughter of Komme

Paerin Clark, husband of Chana

Magister Nison, voice of the Medean bank in Carse

IN ASTERILHOLD

King Lechan

Sir Darin Ashford, ambassador to Antea

IN SUDDAPAL

Epetchi, a cook

Adasa Orsun, a sea captain

THE DEAD

Feldin Maas, formerly Baron of Ebbingbaugh, killed for treason