“Who is that woman? She can’t be—” And then my mouth dropped open as I saw his parlor.
A large bookcase covered the wall I’d entered through, but that hadn’t drawn my attention. No. The Joratese tournament regalia covering the opposite wall had that pleasure. Flags and banners enough to please half a fairground’s worth of screaming, riotous fans.
He hadn’t restricted himself to one team either, although he liked Ferra’s knights, underdogs in so many tournaments. A map of eastern Quur covered the opposite wall. I noticed a pin stuck into Jorat at Barsine Banner’s capital, Mereina. Another at Tiga Pass.
I looked away.
A burning fireplace and comfortable chairs made the room cozy and warm. The black stone walls had been hidden under hardwoods, so this room looked personal and inviting.
“You’re a fan?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice. “You watch the tournaments?”
He chuckled as he sat down next to the fireplace. On the table before him sat a large tray of meats and stews, including a fried roll I hoped contained vegetables. I also saw a silver carafe, wafting steam. Next to the tray someone had placed a Zaibur board without pieces.
“Oh yes,” he said. “I’m a huge fan. Not just of the contests themselves. It’s the basic premise of the tournaments. The greatest question rulers have asked themselves for centuries has been: What does one do with a standing army? Kandor solved the issue by always searching for the next war to fight, but what happens when you run out of lands to conquer?” He waved a hand. “Khorvesh has to contend with the Blight, and I suppose the Manol, but Jorat? Jorat is sandwiched between three other Quuros dominions, with no outside borders save a coastline so storm-ridden no navy would dare attack it. What is Jorat to do with all those raised to believe the flower of adult measure is found on the field of battle?”
Of course, I’d grown up knowing the answer to that question. “We turned it into a sport.”
“You turned it into a sport,” he agreed. “An important sport, an economically vital endeavor, one with which your population is deeply involved. All the heroic valor of the battlefield, but far fewer casualties. Genius.” The duke paused. “At least, until a real threat shows up again. Perhaps not so genius now, when your ‘knights’ don’t know how to cope with a real emergency.”
“Yes, who would have predicted you’d set upon them with sorcerers, demons, and a dragon.” I didn’t bother to hide my scorn.
“Who indeed?” He grinned. “Have you had a chance to eat?” He gestured toward the food. “I’d be honored if you’d share a meal with me.”
“Thank you. I’m famished.”
I sat down and began helping myself to food. He seemed surprised. I realized either he was supposed to eat first as duke or eat first as male. Whatever the rule, he didn’t think I qualified. If I’d known, I’d have insisted on being the first to reach for a plate.
I split the roll with my knife and saw a gelatinous white substance inside. “What is this?” I asked.
“Whale fat,” he answered. “You should try it. It’s delicious.”
I looked down at the tray. “Is there anything here besides meat?”
“The tea doesn’t have meat in it,” he answered. “I’m sorry. No one told me you didn’t eat meat.”
“I do eat meat,” I answered. “Most Joratese do. But it’s not something we eat every day. This would make me sick to my stomach.” I reached for the tea, since at least that was safe.
It wasn’t. A thick head of butter floated on the actual liquid. I didn’t have any moral qualms about drinking it, but I almost gagged at the unexpected taste.
He watched me with pursed lips. “It’s very cold here in Yor,” he explained. “So we eat meat and fat. We used to eat more plants, before the Quuros invaded and destroyed the Spring Caves.”
“You could import vegetables,” I pointed out.
“Yes,” he agreed. “We could.”
“If you refuse to work with the Royal Houses, why did you have so many eating in your great hall yesterday?”
“You didn’t see House D’Aramarin there yesterday, did you? Not a hint of green to be found anywhere. Nor House D’Knofra or D’Kard, House D’Erinwa? They’re quite content with the status quo. But the other houses? They’re more open to change.”
“You’re not concerned they’ll betray you?”
“I know they’ll betray me—if they think I’m going to fail.”
I set down the tea. “Your Grace, why am I still alive?”
He laughed and leaned back in his chair. “You don’t pull punches, do you?”
“I appreciate being alive, but I’d feel better if I understood the motives involved. And I don’t.” I folded my fingers in my lap. “You have been attacking villages and towns across Jorat. Attacking them in a way Duke Xun is ill-equipped to recognize, let alone counter. And what is going to happen in Jorat, when the people realize their duke can’t protect them from a threat recent enough to still give children nightmares? Another Hellmarch. What happens when you come along and do what our duke cannot—save them from this crisis?” I shrugged. “You’re going to have access to all the good farmland you want. It might even be considered a bloodless takeover—if one didn’t know you organized the original attacks. You won’t have to conquer Jorat. We’ll hand you the crown and demand the Quuros High Council put you in charge.”
Kaen looked delighted. “You are a joy, aren’t you?”
I rolled my eyes. “The fact I can see your strategy just makes it all the more perplexing to me why you brought me here. Why not let Relos Var kill me?” I stopped. “Or was keeping me alive all his idea?”
“A little of both. Can you guess why?”
I scowled. “I wouldn’t have asked if I—” I hesitated. “Something to do with my parents. My real parents.”
Thaena had said so, hadn’t she? Relos Var liked striking out at his enemies through their families. For that reason, Relos Var would find me irresistible.
But in theory, I had no living family. At least, I’d thought so before Darzin D’Mon read my grandfather’s letter. Now I faced the possibility that I not only had living parents but Relos Var considered them enemies.
If Thaena was right, then I was bait being used against someone else.
“Yes,” Kaen said. “Not your mother. I’m sure she was a delightful woman. A dancing girl, I think Var said? Something like that. But your father…” He smiled. “A Khorveshan soldier, indeed. But higher ranked than a mere officer. High General Qoran Milligreest, the High Council’s leader, most powerful man in the empire.”
“The emperor—”
“—is a puppet who won a magical free-for-all and takes his orders from the council, which your father commands.”
I didn’t respond. I think I was still in shock. The high general?
“I see the look on your face. Qoran is a fine man. I’ve met him on several occasions. Sadly, he can’t keep his trousers buttoned. His wife deserves so much better.”