Across from me stood Scimina, gowned in shining green satin. The flecks of blood that had sprayed across her dress looked like tiny ruby jewels. (There were flecks on her face as well, but those just looked like blood.) In her hands was something that I did not at first realize was a weapona long, silver wand, ornately decorated, perhaps three feet in length. But at the tip was a short double-edged blade, thin as a surgeons scalpel, made of glass. Too short and strangely weighted to be a spear, more like an elaborate fountain pen. Some Amn weapon?

Scimina smirked at my drawn blade, but instead of raising her own weapon, she turned away and resumed pacing around the circle that the crowd had formed, with the old man at its center. How like a barbarian. You cant use a knife against me, Cousin; it would shatter. Our blood sigils prevent all life-threatening attacks. Honestly, youre so ignorant. What are we going to do with you?

I stayed in my crouch and kept hold of my knife anyway, pivoting to keep her in sight as she walked. As I did so, I saw faces among the crowd that I recognized. Some of the servants whod been at the Fire Day party. A couple of Dekartas courtiers. Tvril, white-lipped and stiff; his eyes fixed on me in something that might have been warning. Viraine, standing forward from the rest of the crowd; he had folded his arms and stood gazing into the middle distance, looking bored.

Zhakkarn and Kurue. Why were they there? They were watching me, too. Zhakkarns expression was hard and cold; I had never seen her show anger so clearly before. Kurue was furious, too, her nostrils flared and hands tight at her sides. The look in her eyes would have flayed me if it could. But Scimina was already flaying someone, so I focused on the greater threat for the moment.

Sit up! Scimina barked, and the old man jerked upright as if on strings. I could see now that there were fewer cuts on his torso, though as I watched Scimina walked past him and flicked the wand, and another long, deep slice opened on the old mans abdomen. He cried out again, his voice hoarse, and opened eyes hed shut in reaction to the pain. That was when I caught my breath, because the old mans eyes were green and sharpfold and then I realized how the shape of his face would be familiar if he were sixty years younger and dearest gods, dearest Skyfather, it was Sieh.

Ah, Scimina said, interpreting my gasp. That does save time. You were right, Tvril; she is sweet on him. Did you send one of your people to fetch her? Tell the fool to be quicker next time.

I glared at Tvril, who clearly had not sent for me. His face was paler than usual, but that strange warning was still in his eyes. I almost frowned in confusion, but I could feel Sciminas gaze like a vulture, hovering over my facial expressions and ready to savage the emotions they revealed.

So I schooled myself to calmness, as my mother had taught me. I rose from my fighting crouch, though I only lowered my knife to my side and did not sheathe it. Scimina probably would not know, but among Darre, this was disrespecta sign that I did not trust her to behave like a woman.

Im here now, I said to her. State your purpose.

Scimina uttered a short, sharp laugh, never ceasing her pacing. State my purpose. She sounds so martial, doesnt she? She looked around the crowd; no one answered her. So strong. Tiny, ill-bred, pathetic little thing that she iswhat do you THINK my purpose is, you fool? She shouted this last at me, her fists clenched at her sides, the odd wand-weapon quivering. Her hair, up in an elaborate coif that was still lovely, was coming undone. She looked exquisitely demented.

I think you want to be Dekartas heir, I said softly, and the gods help all the world if you succeed.

Quick as wind, Scimina went from a screaming madwoman to smiling charm. True. And I meant to begin with your land, stomping it ever so thoroughly out of existence. In fact I should have begun doing so already, if not for the fact that the alliance I so carefully put together in that region is now falling apart. She resumed pacing, glancing back at me over her shoulder, turning the wand delicately in her hands. I thought at first the problem might be that old High North woman youve been meeting at the Salon. But I looked into that; shes only given you information, and most of it useless. So youve done something else. Would you care to explain?

My blood went cold. What had Scimina done to Ras Onchi? Then I looked at Sieh, who had recovered himself somewhat, though he still looked weak and dazed from pain. He was not healing, which made no sense. I had stabbed Nahadoth in the heart and it had been barely a nuisance. Yet it had taken time for him to heal, I recalled with a sudden chill. Perhaps, if left alone for a while, Sieh would recover as well. Unless Itempas had trapped the Enefadeh in human form to suffer all the horrors of mortality. They were eternal, powerfulbut not invulnerable. Did the horrors of mortality include death? Sweat stung the cuts on my hands. There were things I was not prepared to endure.