Arrows of the Sun by Judith Tarr

Author:Judith Tarr [Tarr, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Judith Tarr, fantasy, Avaryan, Epic Fantasy
ISBN: 9781611382839
Publisher: Book View Cafe
Published: 2013-08-06T07:00:00+00:00

30

The messenger caught Estarion as he dressed for the harem. “Majesty, if you please, your lady mother would speak with you.”

He paused. It was late, and Haliya was waiting. He had a new tale to tell her, that he had heard in court, and a song that would make her laugh. He was eager for her already; he had had to call off the servant who would have eased him when he thought of her.

“Tell my mother,” he said to the messenger, “that I’ll see her in the morning. I’ll break my fast with her, if she will.”

The messenger bowed to the floor. “Majesty, she said that it was urgent.”

“And I have urgent business,” said Estarion with a flash of temper. “In the morning. Tell her.”

The messenger was Asanian. He could not argue with his emperor.

When the eunuch was gone, Estarion drew a breath. He should go, he knew that. But he was feeling contrary tonight. He wanted, needed, what Haliya could give. He would only embarrass his mother, or lose his temper, or say something they would both regret.

o0o

He approached the harem with a clear enough conscience. Haliya was not ready for him: the room in which they met was empty. He settled there with the wine and sweets that waited, drinking the wine, toying with the sweets. He had arrayed a whole army of sugared nuts, with banners of dried starfruit and a honeycake general, before the door opened.

It was not Haliya. He half-rose. “Ziana. Is she—”

Ziana made obeisance with grace and composure. “My lord,” she said.

“Is Haliya ill? Has something happened?”

“Oh, no,” said Ziana. “She’s quite well.”

Annoyance made his voice sharp. “And she sent you to keep me busy while she sees to more important matters?”

Ziana raised her eyes to him. He would not call it hurt, what was in them, but he had not pleased her. “Nothing is more important than you, my lord.”

“Then why—” He stopped. At long last his mind had caught up with the rest of him. She was wearing what a woman wore when she came to her lord in the evening. It covered her voluminously, but it was made to come off of a piece.

“My lord,” said Ziana, “we talked about it, Haliya and I. We thought that you might not know. There are courtesies, you see. And prudences. Since the harem is as it is, and women are as they are, their lord cannot afford the luxury of a favorite. Oh,” she said as if he had spoken, “he may have one, of course. But he can’t see her and only her. It isn’t fair to the others.”

Estarion was speechless.

She went on bravely. “So, my lord, we decided that since you likely might not know, and since you have never had a harem before, that we would help you. It’s not strictly proper, mind. You should have had us all in together, and chosen one of us again, but not the same one as before. A truly dutiful lord would do that every night; we don’t expect that, or even want it.

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