27 - Keep Your Mouth Shut

The vizier admitted Emir-al Raghnall to His Radiance’s private office and closed the door softly behind him.  Diryish raised his eyes to the young man, standing with his uniform perfect, his hands clenched together at the small of his back, eyes locked on some point on the wall above and behind the desk.  “Emir-al, as you were.  You requested an audience?  Is there a problem with my beloved and beautiful zardukar?”

“No problem, Your Radiance.”  His ‘as you were’ was about as casual as a war-bird slash.  Ah, me.  Virtuous young men.  Or almost virtuous.  Once, a hundred years ago, I would have slaughtered him where he stood for stealing Mariush’s attention from me.  As if her love were somehow lessened or diminished.

“But it is about my zardukar,” he said, gently.  “You are her Emir-al of Myrmidons and you would not be speaking to me if it did not concern her."  He steepled his fingers in front of his veil.  "You served with distinction when we took the salt marshes, and before that graduated from Homing Point.  Your ability running your myrmidons is exemplary and you took personal injury last year, saving Mariush from that freak accident.”   

The war-bird should never have been able to break its beak hinges, much less tear its hood.  It leapt the barriers and slaughtered its way through the crowd. Diryish paused.  That was one of the ‘not so freak’ accidents that had threatened him and his family. Dukir's people were investigating.

“I am honoured that His Radiance knows my record so well.”  The young man actually dropped his eyes to look directly at Diryish.  He looked saddened and a bit defiant.

I should just put you out of your misery, boy, but I will see what metal you are made of.  Whether your salt is good or just toxic.

The Emperor said nothing, laid his hands on the desk and waited quietly, his expression half hidden behind his veil.  The bees in the Great Hive murmured from outside and a flight of leaf-cutters, bright turquoise sparks, soared in and deposited their burdens in individual glasses ranged along the edge of Diryish’s desk before swirling around Shiadan’s head and out the window.

“I have a...” he swallowed, suddenly in a sweat, all along his sarband and obvious as the motion of his veil changed, clinging to the skin underneath.  “... a confession to make.”

“Go on.”

“I... Her Resplendences’ zardukar... I... she... I...” He seized hold of himself.  “I must report to you, Sire, that I have failed in my duty.”

“Failed in your duty?  Is Mariush injured?” 

He went down on one knee and made the greater salaam, left his head bent.  “I can no longer protect her from myself, Oh Radiance.”

Diryish’s mouth twitched.  He raised one hand to his veil. Oh, Home Star.  Light and Dark above, was I ever that... dramatic?  He let his air out in a sigh rather than a snort.  I was.  Perhaps everyone is.  “You are being obscure, Emir-al.  I prefer forthrightness in my myrmidons.  How is she in danger from you?”  Then he had pity on the lad, cutting through all the prevarications he might come up with.  “Have you made love to her?”

His head jerked up in shock.  “Yes.” He closed his eyes.  “Radiance... she wishes to give you a Siwion.”

“Before I die, yes.”  The arrogance of youth, thinking I need help that way.  He actually chuckled.

“She... asked me, Radiance... I... have been attracted to her for months and I said... I... agreed... but only if I confessed to you.”

“So complicated.  Did either of you ever think I might be offended by the implication I couldn’t engender my own Siwion?”  He waved him silent.  “It’s not a matter of sex any longer, Shiadan Raghnall.  It’s a matter of Empire.  I understand what you are doing.  I understand your impulse and I appreciate the honour you show her and you show me.”

“If she is pregnant...”  How many times do the children think it takes?  Sometimes it can take more than a year for sex to lead to progeny!  Especially in Lainz. You think you cuckold me with my own child.  “I am going to be in the position of protecting her, and the child from the worst pack of rapacious hive lords that Lainz has ever had the misfortune to aquire.  I believe we were better off when mandery and clinery flourished in the Empire.  It gave these idiots something meaningful to do!”

Diryish got up, carefully, physically slow but his words flowed much faster.  “This year.  This year we finally have a source of paper for a public press.  This year.  This year we acquired the materials necessary for the flood of ink required for that!”

Shiadan shook his head, confused, what had this to do with his revelation? His confession?

The Emperor sighed, wheeled around.  “Shiadan.  Be discrete.  There will be rumours spread about Mariush’s ‘infidelity’ and I will find a suitably awful post to send you off to, as if I suspected you.  Until then... until your love affair will be useful to me, be discrete.”

There was silence in the office except for another flight of bees.  This time they circled the Emir-al not just the once but several times, landing on his sarband and his clothing.  He didn’t flinch as one stung his hand.  “Radiance... I’m sorry; and I am not sorry.  Mariush is more beautiful than I dreamed and I... I’m sorry I don’t understand what a... a... press has to do with us.”

Diryish smiled.  “It is complex.  I have so many things that depend on my life, my plans... my health, and now you two youngsters present me... or will present me... with the most vulnerable sort of Heir.  I have an unknown assassin lurking in the sand, Raghnall.”

That brought him to his feet.  “An assassin?” His hand clutched for the sword that wasn’t in its usual spot on his belt as if he would immediately rush out to slaughter any danger to his Mariush.

“Good.  You, young man, are going to have to be one of the firmest lines of defense Mariush has.  I will defend her as best I can and when I cannot defend her any longer, you had better be there.  You.  You will defend each other and the child after I am gone."

Shiadan nodded firmly, a warrior's move.  If anything it tightened his resolve.  "Right now... know that there will be rumours, lies and untruths designed to keep her and you and the child all safe.  Emir-al.  Have your love affair with her.  Keep it quiet and keep your mouth shut no matter what anyone says.”

“I obey, Radiance!”

He was expecting me to punish him.  Light and Dark may I be more generous than that.  May I have learned better over my life.  “Emir-al.  I also forgive you.  Keep your mouth shut about that too.  Dismiss.”