said. Overruled, the chamberlain quieted.
Elyril went through the motions of thoroughly examining the body. Touching the cold, dry flesh of the corpse aroused her, but she kept her face expressionless. Attuned as she was to the Shadow Weave and Shar, she felt the squirming, dark thing hidden within the corpse.
“I can find nothing,” she said to her aunt. “But that means nothing.”
“Who else knows of this, Minnen?” Mirabeta asked.
Minnen answered. “The messengers I dispatched, but they are all trusted men. The priests of Tyr, by now. No others.”
“Keep it so for now,” Mirabeta ordered. “Do not let the household staff leave the grounds. All are to be questioned under spell by the priests. Including both of you.”
Both reddened, but both nodded.
“Perhaps he did die in his sleep,” Mirabeta said, and Elyril could see in her aunt’s expression that she hoped it was otherwise. “We will know soon enough. A resurrection should be attempted. I will pay for it, of course.”
Elyril could tell from the marked lack of enthusiasm in her aunt’s tone that she begrudged the idea; she made it only to maintain appearances. No doubt she hoped the resurrection would fail, as
they sometimes did. Elyril, of course, knew a resurrection would fail. Rivalen had assured her of as much.
Minnen said, “That is most gracious, Countess. But…”
“Speak, Minnen,” Mirabeta ordered.
Minnen nodded. “I am aware of the contents of Lord Selkirk’s testament, Countess. He specifically forbids any attempt to resurrect him after his death. As you know, he was a faithful follower of Tyr. He regarded his end as his end.”
For a moment, Mirabeta said nothing. She looked at Elyril and Elyril felt certain that her aunt would not be able to contain a smile. But she did, somehow, and returned her gaze to Minnen.
“I understand, Minnen. Thank you. Then I shall pay all costs of the investigation into his death. That is the least I can do for my cousin.”
“Countess, I am certain the High Council would appropriate” “He was my cousin and I will pay,” Mirabeta said, cutting off discussion.
More positioning, Elyril knew. “Of course, Countess,” Minnen said.
Mirabeta turned to Elyril and Elyril saw the pleasure in her aunt’s expression. The wrinkles around the countess’s eyes looked less pronounced than usual.
“I will await the arrival of the priests with Minnen and Saken,” Mirabeta said to Elyril. “Return to our estate. Send out messengers under seal. The High Council is to meet in emergency session as soon as possible. A successor must be chosen.”
Elyril started to go, but turned and said, “May I offer a suggestion, Aunt?”
Mirabeta nodded and Elyril spoke the Nightseer’s wishes. “A ruler is dead. The stability of the state during the transition is paramount. All suspicions must be laid to rest. My cousin cannot be resurrected, true, but would it not be prudent to put questions to his body about the circumstances surrounding his death, and to do so before the High Council?”
“Necromancy,” Minnen murmured.
Saken raised his eyebrows thoughtfully and nodded. “There is
precedent. Four hundred years ago, Overmaster Gelarbis was murdered by a mob. The questioning of his body by priests, in the presence of the members of the High Council, helped locate the murderer.”
Elyril could have hugged the fat house mage, though his words were probably unnecessary. Mirabeta would have seen the political benefit of a magical inquiry before the council. It would publicly exonerate her of any involvement and solidify her guise as a concerned cousin. Her aunt wore false faces almost as well as a Sharran.
“Your idea has merit,” Mirabeta said. “I will think about this. My cousin’s wishes must be considered. Does his testament speak of such matters, Minnen?”
Minnen did not look her in the eye. “It does not, Countess.”
Again, Mirabeta managed not to smile. “Off now, Elyril,” she
Elyril went through the motions of thoroughly examining the body. Touching the cold, dry flesh of the corpse aroused her, but she kept her face expressionless. Attuned as she was to the Shadow Weave and Shar, she felt the squirming, dark thing hidden within the corpse.
“I can find nothing,” she said to her aunt. “But that means nothing.”
“Who else knows of this, Minnen?” Mirabeta asked.
Minnen answered. “The messengers I dispatched, but they are all trusted men. The priests of Tyr, by now. No others.”
“Keep it so for now,” Mirabeta ordered. “Do not let the household staff leave the grounds. All are to be questioned under spell by the priests. Including both of you.”
Both reddened, but both nodded.
“Perhaps he did die in his sleep,” Mirabeta said, and Elyril could see in her aunt’s expression that she hoped it was otherwise. “We will know soon enough. A resurrection should be attempted. I will pay for it, of course.”
Elyril could tell from the marked lack of enthusiasm in her aunt’s tone that she begrudged the idea; she made it only to maintain appearances. No doubt she hoped the resurrection would fail, as
they sometimes did. Elyril, of course, knew a resurrection would fail. Rivalen had assured her of as much.
Minnen said, “That is most gracious, Countess. But…”
“Speak, Minnen,” Mirabeta ordered.
Minnen nodded. “I am aware of the contents of Lord Selkirk’s testament, Countess. He specifically forbids any attempt to resurrect him after his death. As you know, he was a faithful follower of Tyr. He regarded his end as his end.”
For a moment, Mirabeta said nothing. She looked at Elyril and Elyril felt certain that her aunt would not be able to contain a smile. But she did, somehow, and returned her gaze to Minnen.
“I understand, Minnen. Thank you. Then I shall pay all costs of the investigation into his death. That is the least I can do for my cousin.”
“Countess, I am certain the High Council would appropriate” “He was my cousin and I will pay,” Mirabeta said, cutting off discussion.
More positioning, Elyril knew. “Of course, Countess,” Minnen said.
Mirabeta turned to Elyril and Elyril saw the pleasure in her aunt’s expression. The wrinkles around the countess’s eyes looked less pronounced than usual.
“I will await the arrival of the priests with Minnen and Saken,” Mirabeta said to Elyril. “Return to our estate. Send out messengers under seal. The High Council is to meet in emergency session as soon as possible. A successor must be chosen.”
Elyril started to go, but turned and said, “May I offer a suggestion, Aunt?”
Mirabeta nodded and Elyril spoke the Nightseer’s wishes. “A ruler is dead. The stability of the state during the transition is paramount. All suspicions must be laid to rest. My cousin cannot be resurrected, true, but would it not be prudent to put questions to his body about the circumstances surrounding his death, and to do so before the High Council?”
“Necromancy,” Minnen murmured.
Saken raised his eyebrows thoughtfully and nodded. “There is
precedent. Four hundred years ago, Overmaster Gelarbis was murdered by a mob. The questioning of his body by priests, in the presence of the members of the High Council, helped locate the murderer.”
Elyril could have hugged the fat house mage, though his words were probably unnecessary. Mirabeta would have seen the political benefit of a magical inquiry before the council. It would publicly exonerate her of any involvement and solidify her guise as a concerned cousin. Her aunt wore false faces almost as well as a Sharran.
“Your idea has merit,” Mirabeta said. “I will think about this. My cousin’s wishes must be considered. Does his testament speak of such matters, Minnen?”
Minnen did not look her in the eye. “It does not, Countess.”
Again, Mirabeta managed not to smile. “Off now, Elyril,” she
Similar Books
