Quest for the White Witch (Birthgrave Book 3) by Tanith Lee

Author:Tanith Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 0708880576

7

I entered the Crimson Palace, as it always seemed I did then, in that eternal afternoon. The sun, swimming into the apex of the tall western windows, crucified the rose-red walls and pink marble floors with long nails of pollinated light.

Sorem was with the council and the priests, learning off his actor's lines for the coronation. On the day preceding it, he must enter and abide within the Masrimas Temple, tradition prior to the ceremony. I had seen little of him in any case, since we took the Heavenly City. We had gone hunting once after the wild boar that were tamely bred and let out of cages into the game park for the sole purpose that the nobility might chase them-a dissolute, idiot sport it seemed to me after, though I had not chafed then. Sorem, disliking it as I did, had promised me better hunting in the southern hills, puma and lion and various water beasts in the vales there, when we should have days to spare for it. He had been always promising me things through this month of afternoon, and sending me gifts when he was away with the council, so I could not ungraciously refuse them. I had barely noticed, being with his mother more often than in my apartments to receive them, but now I had begun to ponder if he mistrusted me after all, and tried to keep me loyal by bribes.

Nasmet ran up to me on her gilded feet as I lingered, looking drearily at the sun. She put a flower in my hand, which was Malmiranet's signal to me. Nasmet appeared to have no envy, playing out this liaison which was supposed to be ours, but which led me to her mistress. Usually I was eager enough, and glad to see the girl.

She took in my difference, and said, "She would not have you with her if you have business elsewhere."

"Business with you, maybe," I said, my fear giving everything a perverse flavor. "You'd like that." I put my hands on her waist. I did not want her, yet I would have had her if she had been willing.

But she said, "I would like it a little. But not to displease Malmiranet. 1 love her more than I will ever love any oaf of a man, however handsome he is, or clever in a bed. Besides,"and her eyes altered, "she would kill us both." Her loyalty and her amused spite-mixed as it was with an almost unnatural pride, as if, with Malmiranet's knife in her heart, she would have said, "See, here an Empress's anger"-brought me to my senses. I think I should have been embarrassed if other things had not weighed on me like lead. I asked myself, as I followed Nasmet, if she would recount my cloddish courtship to Malmiranet. I imagine some part of me wished to tear desire and liking out of me, flesh and brain and heart. It would be easier to die without it.

Then the doors were opened, and I saw her, and everything was altered, as I might have reasoned it would be.

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