ceiling was held up by black pillars rising out of a black marble floor. A gold throne sat under a

canopy at the far end. But the hall was not empty. Standing on the steps to the throne was a

grey-haired woman dressed in a gold silk robe. Three children clung to her skirts. Ramil glanced

at Gordoc, who shrugged, as surprised as him. They expected everyone to have fled by now.

Ramil advanced, sword still drawn. He had learnt from Yelena never to underestimate a lady.

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"That's right, slave scum!" the woman said, clutching her children to her.

"Run me through in cold

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blood!" She wrenched aside her robes, inviting the killing thrust.

Ramil put his sword point on the floor and leant on the hilt.

"I have no intention of doing any such thing, madam. Who are you, pray?"

The woman looked a little confused to have her dramatic gesture rejected but she did not give

an inch.

"I am the First Wife of Fergox Spearthrower. I ask no mercy for me or my children. Kill us now,

rather than subject us to the mockery and disgrace of being prisoners of slaves."

Ramil bowed, now understanding exactly with whom he was dealing.

"Honored to meet you, madam. I have heard about you from your husband."

The woman laughed wildly. "You? You've heard of me from the Emperor? I think not."

"I did, when guest of your husband in Felixholt. He was planning to dispose of you, if I

remember, and replace you in his affections with a younger woman."

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The First Wife spat. "The witch!" She had obviously heard the rumors.

"In your place, I would reserve my anger for the husband, not the unfortunate woman of his

choice. Anyway, I can assure you that he will not be marrying her." Ramil spun his sword on its

tip, wondering what he should do about Fergox's family. The First Wife would make a terrible

hostage if Fergox wanted her

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dead--and Ramil had an inkling that he could not live under the same roof as her for long.

"You claim he was going to get rid of me?" The woman hugged her eldest daughter to her side.

"He wouldn't dare!"

"I'm afraid he would." Ramil sighed. "I wish no harm to come to any innocents caught up in the transfer of power. But neither can I leave you to cause trouble for me." He had a sudden idea--

brilliant if he could negotiate it.

"I would like to offer you the choice to go into exile--you and the other wives."

"Exile? Exile where?" The woman frowned.

"The Blue Crescent Islands. I understand they give shelter to women in their temples and treat

them much better than here."

The woman looked aghast. "You would send me to that island of witchcraft and demon

worship?"

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"Or would you prefer to stay here as a slave captive and await your loving lord to rescue you? He was talking to the royal axeman about your neck last time I saw him."

The First Wife glowered. "It seems I have no choice. I will go into exile, but return triumphant

when you meet your doom."

"Quite so. I'm glad you have seen reason. I suggest you leave as soon as I can arrange passage as I fear you won't like the changes I'm about to make to your domestic arrangements." He bowed,

waving her in the direction of her pavilion.

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With a flounce of her skirts, the First Wife swept out. "What a woman!"

Gordoc sighed appreciatively as he watched her disappear in a swirl of indignant silk.

The interrogation of the Fourth Crown Princess took place in a plain white room near the Silent

Court, the Third Princess on one side of a grille, Tashi on the other. Tashi sensed that her

answers did not satisfy her inquisitor.

Court scribes hovered in the background taking notes. Scrupulously keeping to the truth, Tashi

admitted that Fergox had told her he had paid for her election and bullied her into doubt for a

short while. Korbin seemed less interested when Tashi explained how she had regained her faith

and rediscovered the beauty underlying the rituals.

"1 fear, my sister, your election was tainted from the beginning," the Third Princess announced at the end of the session. "You are blameless in this, but it undermines our system of

government if such things are left to stand."

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"Perhaps," said Tashi, but then she recalled how the Princess before her represented the most powerful family on Rama. "However, all of us were elected through a system open to human

greed and ambition. We have to trust the Goddess's hand is upon the process."

"You are not comparing your case with mine and my sisters', I hope?" Korbin asked primly,

fluffing up her robes like a cat with her fur on end.

"Actually I was. I'm sorry if you find that offensive."

The Third Princess twitched her skirts round as

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she walked out of the room, not deigning to give a response.

Well, that went well, Tashi thought bitterly, tapping her fingers on the table.

The new moon rose over an expectant Rama. The fleet was already far away on its journey to

Gerfal, but the people were more interested in the drama close at hand. Tashi's grandmother,

the matriarch of the family, had come to court to hear the Third Crown Princess's findings. She

had not yet been allowed to see her granddaughter, but had been given a place in the front of

the audience for the hearing. The old lady sat grim-faced. If the rumors were true, then their girl

had failed them all in a spectacular fashion.

When Tashi was led into the Hall of the Floating Lily, her grandmother was the first person she

saw. She had managed to remain calm until this point, but the sight of the matriarch's

disapproving expression made her hot with shame and fear. The awareness that she was

displaying her emotion made Tashi feel even more wretched. Now she understood the function

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of all that white paint.

The three Crown Princesses were already seated. In the space usually occupied by the Throne of

Nature, someone had found her a plain wooden chair. Tashi sat down quickly, wishing she could

make herself invisible.

A bell rang and the Third Princess rose.

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"Taoshira of Kai, I have investigated the matters concerning your fitness to rule and will present my conclusions. Firstly, my sisters join me in regretting the ordeal you endured in Gerfal and

your subsequent incarceration. We are aware that this would test the strength of any of us.

However--"

Tashi flinched at the "however." She guessed that it boded ill for her.

"Two concerns remain. The first is that you publicly doubted the Goddess, undermining the

reputation of our creed before the eyes of the world. This is contrary to your vows of office in

which you promised to defend our faith until death."

Tashi pressed her lips together. So Korbin expected her to die rather than waver a fraction. If so,

then she could have no conception of what Tashi had endured and how death would have even

been welcomed by her. Only Ram had saved her from throwing her life away.

Ram.

I must be strong for Ram, she thought, and raised her chin.

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"The second concern," continued Korbin, "admittedly beyond your control, is that it has emerged that your election was flawed. The Chief Priest on Kai is now under arrest while this

matter is investigated. This fact, coupled with your weakness under trial, suggests that you