Page 142 of A Drop of Corruption

I assisted in loading the last of the Yarrow treasure onto the litter, and we began our long trek up to the High City. Yet my thoughts lingered on the sound of Ana’s voice just now.

Was that tenor still present? That queer, sepulchral timbre? What did we make here in the deep dark, in service for this strange being?

I thought of the Shroud, and how I’d once imagined it to be a chrysalis, holding some brewing horror within its flesh. As we hastened our steeds up the slopes in the depths of night, I wondered if this hidden threat still remained true, but perhaps I had been looking in the wrong direction entirely.

Chapter 51

We were not more thanthree leagues from the High City when one of the wardens hurried back to our carriage and whispered: “Thauta!Blood! And human blood, at that.”

Ana gestured, and I exited to review the way ahead with Malo. There we found many corpses lying about in the trees or in the road, cut down by sword or shot with arrows. They were all Yarrow men, to my eye, but they had the look of soldiers, clad in armor and well-armed.

“They are Darhi’s men, I imagine,” Ana told us when we reported the scene to her. “Or men suspected of being loyal to the former satrap. I believe Jari Pavitar and his allies have now won out.”

Malo spat into the night. “That purple-faced bastard truly runs the whole of the Yarrow court now?”

“That, or thereabout. The young prince found himself deserted, but Darhi is now slain, and news of his death is known to all. Pavitar rushes in to fill the gap. I suspect this will not be the last corpse we see tonight. Steel yourselves, children—but do not forget our purpose!”

Her words proved true. When we approached the gates and reported to them our purpose—Prificto Kardas, it seemed, had notified them of our arrival—we were led through and saw the bodies of slain Yarrow men hanging from the gates within, as if stuck there by a srika-bird.

“An ugly thing, when the crown changes heads,” said Ana when Itold her of this awful sight. “For it is often paid for only with savagery. But tell me now, Din—have you seen a red rocket in the distance?”

“I’ve seen none, ma’am.”

“Hum. And Malo—you’ve heard no signal from your wardens?”

Malo shook her head. “None yet. So they have not seen the rocket, either.”

“Then Thelenai has not yet succeeded. You’re sure you’ll be able to hear the signal from your wardens once we’re inside, Malo?”

“I could hear that call,” said Malo, insulted, “from half a league away.”

“Good. But I may have to slow my step a little. Let us have hope!”

The Yarrow soldiers escorted our train of carriages toward the king’s hall. We were met at the base of the stairs by several dozen guards; and there, striding at their head, was Jari Pavitar, himself arrayed in a cuirass, a short sword at his side, and his head bare but his brow stained indigo as always. I climbed out to meet him.

“Do you finally bear our treasure,phansi vala?” Pavitar demanded as he approached. “You’ve tarried for too many hours, when it should have been brought back swiftly!”

“We have it, sir,” I told him, bowing. “All royal treasure shall be accounted for.”

Malo helped Ana exit the carriage, and she turned her blindfolded face upon him and grinned. “Specifically, Jari Pavitar,” she said, “we shall do so before the eyes of ourselves, the prince,andPrificto Kardas. I believe Kardas communicated that to you?”

Pavitar stuck his nose in the air. “Do you think us thieves?”

“We suggest nothing,” she said. “But we know the court has been upended recently by treachery. We’d prefer our counting done in the sight of all, to ensure that no other treachery occurs. Is that not a safe choice?”

His glare lingered on us for a moment before he waved a hand. “Fine, then! Bring it in. But know now I’ve little patience for you this night.” He grinned his broken, misshapen smile and gestured at one of the hanging corpses, which twisted in the night breeze. “Darhi and his greedy folk are gone, and our tolerance for the Empire is gonewith them. If we discover Darhi did indeed kill the king, and at your request, the hall may prove a dangerous place for you.”

I listened to the creak of the dead man’s rope. “Noted, sir.”

The soldiers hoisted the trunks of treasure and bore them up the great stairs to the king’s hall. Pavitar watched, pleased, yet his grin vanished when two Yarrow wardens removed the final chest from the litter and bore it inside. “Why does that box stink so?” he demanded.

“Why, it contains the body of the man who did so much harm to you!” said Ana cheerily. “Surely one more corpse will make no difference here, given that you appear to be using them as ornament.”

“But…you wish to bring it inside?” asked Pavitar.

“Indeed! Do you not wish to look upon the face of the man who wounded you?” asked Ana. “Come, follow our dead man with us, Jari! For I shall have many merry tales about him once we are settled.”

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