Tower & Knife 03 - The Tower Broken (44 page)

Mesema squeezed his hand and looked back towards the others. Azeem, Didryk and Adam sat around the fire, talking. Adam kept his head bowed and his words short.

‘You didn’t ask about the palace.’ Sarmin wrapped his arm around her shoulders. ‘The palace will be rebuilt too, with apartments for the empress close to mine. And there will be no temple of Herzu, and no slaves.’

She said nothing, only listened. He continued, ‘Since we are rebuilding, why not rebuild the very ways of the empire? I can start with the palace, as it belongs to me. The palace will establish the ideal for everyone. In all my years living in the palace its ways have never suited me.’

‘Nor mine,’ she agreed.

‘We shall make it more Windreader.’

Smiling she tugged him away from the fire, further into the dark.

‘Where are you taking me?’

‘On nights like this, the young Windreader women may choose a man to take into the grass with them. And here is grass. And I choose you.’

He followed her until the men’s voices grew faint and the darkness covered their movements. Mesema dropped into the grass and he sat down next to her. Singing drifted from the campfire and he leaned forwards, listening, surprise on his face. ‘Can Azeem sing?’

She caught the distant melody and laughed. ‘You know, I think he can.’

‘And I can hear it.’ Sarmin smiled and put a hand against her cheek. ‘It is a good tune. There is so much more for me to learn: how music works, how to make machines, how to build a dome – and all about you.’

‘You know all about me.’

‘But I don’t.’ He lay back and looked up at the stars. ‘I have never been so far from the palace, and yet I feel that I am home.’

‘You are home. All of this is yours.’ Mesema leaned back on her hands and watched the moon. His fingers curled around her shoulder and she turned back to him.

‘Ours,’ he said. ‘Ours.’

This is for everyone who was there, in the middle of the day or the middle of the night, to offer encouragement: John Anderson, Will Carlson, Teresa Frohock, Lorin Manley, Phil Mazarakis, Keith Rodwell, Vincent Russo, Courtney Schafer, Marie Semensi, Fred Swart, Gillian Swart, Sarah Swart, and many others. Also thanks to all the BookSworn and Night Shade authors who share their wisdom without hesitation. Finally, to everyone who buys books and recommends them to friends: you are the best! Thank you.