Season of Passage, The (39 page)

Kratine led her to where she had been standing before. 'It is a hard universe,' he said. 'Survival is earned at a price. We of Asure know this. We are

much older than the Sastra, and have greater experience and wisdom in these matters. I sympathize with your sorrow. Why not return him to

Chaneen and let her mend his injuries with the power of her touch? You could stay in his place, as payment for the sins committed against Asure.'

Janier shook her head, trying not to look at her husband. 'Chaneen can't bring back the dead.'

'A pity. But perhaps he could stil go as my messenger. I could record the conditions of my truce on a scrol , and attach it to his body, and

return him to your Garden. At least then he would have a decent burial. Come, I have asked you before. Should I send you or him as my emissary?'

The thought of leaving Tier's body with Kratine was repulsive to Janier. Yet she knew she had to escape. She had to return to Chaneen and tel her

of this atrocity. Perhaps then her sister would summon al her powers and lay waste to Asure.

I wil present your wishes to my Queen,' she said.

'Excel ent. You are a spirited young woman. You can present my position forceful y. You wil do that, won't you? This is important to me, that you are

sincere, that you have an open heart. You have opened your heart to me, haven't you?'

Janier nodded, giving any answer that would lead to freedom. I wil explain everything to my sister that you have said.'

'You are a good child.' Kratine stepped behind her once more and

began to loosen the metal cords that bound her wrists. 'Now I wil set

you free and you can be on your way. Yes, soon you wil be home, and

walking in your fair Garden. Oh! What is this? A ring. Is this

Chaneen's ring?'

'Yes, 'Janier said.

'How is it that you are wearing your sister's ring?'

'She gave it to me before I went into battle.'

'Why?'

I don't know why.'

'How touching,' Kratine said, finishing with her cords. Blood flowed back into her hands and she was able to move her fingers. 'How beautiful. But

you understand, of course, that you must remove it now. Now that you are mine.'

I don't understand,' she stuttered. Standing before her tormentor, the ring seemed the only link she had left to her sister. She desperately wanted to

hold on to it. Kratine slid his big head around the side of her cheek.

'What did you say?' he asked quietly.

'I prefer to keep the ring.' She shrugged. 'It is only a smal thing.'

'A smal thing,' he repeated, with satisfaction in his voice. 'That is true. But you are my emissary now, and it is the smal things that matter the most

to me. You did agree to represent me, am I correct?'

'Yes.'

'Then remove the ring. Throw it in the mud. Be rid of this smal thing.'

Janier shook her head faintly. Kratine moved his ear close to her mouth.

I didn't quite hear that,' he said. When she didn't respond, he took her chin and forced her to look in his eyes. They shone like flat black mirrors, and

in them it seemed she saw her own soul; she saw it as empty as his eyes. 'Tel me again,' he said.

'Chaneen gave the ring to me,' she whispered.

'So?'

'She is my Queen, my sister.'

'Then you think to deceive me!' He shoved her to the floor where she struck her head for the second time. Once more the crowd jeered. Blood

trickled from her head onto her gown. Kratine stepped forward and towered over her. He was furious. 'You try to trick me. You have not opened your

heart.' Janier trembled. 'No.'

The crowd began to applaud. Kratine spoke harshly. 'Your lover was like you in the beginning. He thought he could take advantage of me. He had to

be taught the error of his ways. In the end, after much torture, he learned. Do I need to repeat the lessons for you, Janier?'

She moaned. 'No.'

He knelt by her side and his cruel manner vanished as quickly as it had come. 'Are you afraid ? You can tel me if you are. I wil understand.'

'Yes, 'Janier said.

'You want to go home, don't you?'

'Yes.'

'As my emissary?'

'Yes.'

He stroked her hair and now his touch was gentle. I can be merciful. But surely you realize I have to choose an emissary I can trust?'

'Yes.'

'Can I trust you?'

'Yes.'

'Do you want me to send you instead of your husband?'

She coughed. It was hard to breath in Asure. I don't know what you mean.'

'Do you want me to send you?'

'Yes.'

Kratine helped her to her feet. 'At last I sense sincerity in your words,' he said. 'It is good. Now I know you don't mind abandoning your husband.

Now there can be no doubt.' He smiled. 'Since the choice has been made, there's no need to keep him hanging around.' Kratine gestured with his

hand to his aides. 'Lower our brave warrior into his bath. Excel ent.'

Janier averted her eyes. Yet suddenly there was an agonizing scream, and her head snapped up. Tier was writhing on the sinking metal chains as

his feet turned to black stumps on the surface of the boiling pool.

'Stop!' she screamed. She appealed to Kratine. 'Stop it! Please!'

He regarded her with puzzlement. 'What do you want?'

Tier's face twisted into a mask of agony. Blood dripped from his cindered feet into the lava. Faint red clouds of steam spurted over what was left of

his calves. The audience cheered loudly as his cries rent the chamber.

'You can't do this!' Janier cried.

Kratine spoke calmly. 'But isn't this what you wanted? To go in his place as my emissary?'

'But you said he was dead!'

I don't recal making such a statement. He's a strong warrior. A little torture wasn't going to kil him. To be honest, Janier, you surprised me when you

assumed he was dead. You are ful of surprises. I have always found that an attractive quality in a female.'

'You misled me! Let him go!'

Kratine raised an eyebrow as he studied the situation. 'If I let him go, he'l fal rather quickly into his bath. That's what I think, at least. However, I am

always ready to oblige a beautiful woman.'

'You're terrible!' Janier cried. 'You're evil!'

Suddenly her condemnations were choked off in her throat. Kratine had grabbed her neck, and he was strong, far stronger than she was. He

pressed his face close to hers, and his breath was like the fumes that spouted from the lava, only it was cold.

'Once more you accuse me, Princess!' he said. 'It was your own cowardice that put your lover in the mud.'

I didn't know he was alive!'

'You thought he might be dead, but you could not be certain. You thought only of yourself. You were wil ing to sacrifice him to save yourself. Isn't that

so? Admit it. Admit your sin!'

She pleaded. 'I didn't know.'

He gestured to Tier, stil screaming as more and more of his body was lowered into the hissing mud. 'You can be sure he is alive now. Look! He

cal s for you to save him. And I wil release him, if you agree to take his place. Who is it to be, Janier? You or him?'

Janier hesitated. Tier was badly hurt. She doubted he could survive long enough to be brought before Chaneen. Kratine would release him, and he

would only die later on. It would be a waste. Plus she couldn't be lowered into that boiling mud. She didn't want to go in there.

In the end Janier could not answer his question, and so revealed her decision. Kratine chuckled to himself as he spoke to his aides. 'Put the brave

warrior in his grave, and be quick. He is to be admired.'

Tier shouted forth a final burst of torment, and then there was silence as he disappeared beneath the surface of the lava. The audience settled back

into their seats. Kratine squeezed Janier's arm affectionately.

'You have passed a severe test, Princess,' he said. 'We grow closer at every turn. I know you are destined to be my emissary.' He put his hand on

her back and spoke kindly. 'Is there anything I can do for you?'

The chains that had bound Tier swung empty above the pit. I want to go home,' she whispered.

'Of course. You'l be there soon. Just as soon as you take off Chaneen's ring.'

Janier removed the ring from her finger, no longer able to resist. 'Can I go now?' she asked pitiful y.

'Throw the ring into the mud,' Kratine said.

She intended to obey the order. But as she turned toward the lava, the ring slipped from her hands and landed on the black rock at her feet. She

stooped to retrieve it, but Kratine stopped her.

'You don't need to touch it again,' he said. 'You're doing wel .' Kratine paced in a circle around her. 'Tel me that you renounce your people.'

Why?'

'Say it.'

I renounce my people.'

Kratine smiled. His teeth were white and sharp. 'Excel ent. Now say: "I forsake Rankar's protection."' Janier remained silent.

Kratine pointed at the lava. 'Have you not learned from your husband's example?'

She had to escape, she told herself. It was al that mattered. I forsake Rankar's protection,' she whispered.

'I forsake Chaneen's protection.' Janier could not speak.

Kratine shook his head. 'What a shame, that you should delay. Time is precious. Now you wil have to say it loudly so that al my lovelies can hear.'

He scraped her trembling lips with a long nail on his right hand. 'The words are such a smal thing.'

'I forsake Chaneen's protection.'

'Louder.'

'I forsake Chaneen's protection!' Janier said.

'Wonderful. Now do you have any questions you would like to ask before you return home?'

'No.'

'Nothing you want to know?' Kratine asked.

'No.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'

'What?' Kratine asked.

'Yes'

'Yes, Master.'

'Yes, Master,' Janier said.

He was close, and her hands were free. Janier realized if she acted quickly, she could probably shove him in the boiling mud. But she did nothing.

Al she could think about was getting away. She felt so afraid.

I myself have a question,' Kratine said slowly. 'Nothing real y important, but a question I'd like you to answer as best you can.' He paused. 'Do you

believe in your Master?'

I don't understand.'

'In me? I seem to recal you insinuating earlier that I had lied to you.'

'I'm sorry.'

I accept your apology. But let me explain why I ask the question. You indicated earlier that your people were noble and good, and that Asurians

were disgusting and evil. Obviously you have such opinions because you are a moral woman. Your morality is what makes you human. Do you

agree?'

She hesitated. 'Yes.'

'Very good. Now answer me this. In front of many witnesses, you renounced your people and forsook Rankar's and Chaneen's protection. Strong

statements, I dare say.' He leaned forward and caressed the nape of her neck. 'But were you lying when you said those things?' Janier shook her

head.

'Your sincerity is very important to me, Janier. Are you being completely honest with me?'

'Yes.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'

What if I told you I think you 're lying to me.'

I'm not.'

I think you are.'

'No, 'Janier said quickly. 'No.'

'Do you hate your King?'

'Yes.'

'Your people?' Kratine asked.

'Yes.'

'Your sister?'

'Yes! Yes!' Janier cried, lying over and over. Kratine had suddenly reached out and grabbed her throat once more, and now his nails tore into her

flesh. Blood flowed from her neck onto the front of her white gown.

'You lie!' he shouted.

'No!'

'You try to deceive me!'

'I swear. No, Kratine!' He threw her to the floor, and she grappled at his feet. 'Don't hurt me. I'l do anything you say.'

Kratine's expression turned sad. 'Such a shame. I honestly believed for a moment there that you had opened your heart tome. Such a waste of

beauty.' He motioned with his right hand to his aides. The chains that had held Tier above the lava swung their way. 'Such a shame,' Kratine

repeated. The wrist clamps dangled in front of her eyes.

'What are you going to do?' Janier gasped.

'Surely you know.' He took the clamps and began to fit them around her wrists. She watched in horror, unable to resist.

'No,' she moaned.

'Yes, Princess.' He tightened the clamps securely. She tried to shake loose but she was too late. Kratine shook his head. 'This is a sad day for al of

us,' he said.

She moved to her knees and tugged at his purple cloak, begging. 'Don't put me in there! I'l be your emissary! I'l do what you want!' Suddenly her

arms were yanked straight in the air. 'No!'

They hoisted her above the pool of lava. Her arms popped at the joints and she kicked wildly, while al the time the audience laughed with pleasure.

The mud bubbled beneath her feet and the heat scorched

her skin. Kratine stepped to the edge of the pit.

'Lower her,' he said.

Fumes poured into her mouth through her gasping breath and poisoned her lungs. She began to go down, into the pit, into the fire. Sparks flared

and splattered her legs. Sweat mixed with blood poured off her forehead, and she knew she was going to die.

Inches above the boiling pool, however, Kratine bid his aides to halt her descent. 'Tel me that you hate the Sastra,' he said, 'and I wil release you.'

'I hale the Sastra, 'Janier whispered.

'Tel me that you hate Rankar. Say it with sincerity. That shouldn't be difficult. Hasn't he already failed you in your time of need?'

Janier began to cough and was unable to speak.

'Lower her further!' Kratine ordered.

Janier's foot touched the lava. The pain was immediate and overwhelming. She could smel her flesh burning. She screamed and screamed,