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Sithas smiled and shook his head. "I have not considered it in such
detail yet."
"It should be named for you," Firincalos said exuberantly. Perhaps
'Sithanost, the city of Sithas . "
"No," the prince said firmly. That is not proper. Let it be something
the outsiders will understand. Thon-car, village on the Thon,' something
simple like that. I do not want it named after me."
After freeing himself from the crowd, Sithas mounted the steps and
went out the same door by which his father had left. His sedan chair
awaited him outside. He climbed in and ordered, "to Quinari, at once."
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The slaves hoisted the carrying bars to their broad shoulders and set off at
a trot.
Hermathya was waiting for him. The news had moved quickly
through the palace, and she was brimming with delight at her husband's
triumph.
"You've won them," she crowed, pouring Sithas a cup of cool water.
The clerics look upon you as their champion."
"I said only what I believed," Sithas noted quietly.
"True enough, but they will remember what you did, and they will
support you in the future," she insisted.
Sithas dampened his fingers in the last drops of the water and touched
his face with his fingertips. Why should I need their support?"
Hermathya looked surprised. "Haven't you heard? Lady Nirakina has
suggested to the Speaker that you be appointed as co-ruler, to share the
burden of power with your father."
Sithas was taken aback. "You've been listening from balconies again,"
he said with displeasure.
"I have only your interests in my heart," she said, a trifle coolly.
There was a long silence between them. Not much affection had
grown between the firstborn and his beautiful wife since their marriage,
and Sithas was growing more skeptical of her devotion with each passing
day. Hermathya's ambition was as obvious as the Tower of the Stars and
twice as big.
"I will go and speak with my father," Sithas said at last. Hermathya
moved to join him. "Alone, Lady. I go alone."
Hermathya turned away from him, her face blazing crimson.
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* * * * *
A servant announced the prince, and Sithel gave permission for him
to enter. It was mid-afternoon, and the speaker was immersed in a
steaming hot pool, his head resting on a folded towel. His eyes were
closed.
"Father?"
Sithel opened one eye. "Get in, why don't you? The water is good and
hot.
"No, thank you. Sithas took the direct approach. "Father, what is this
I hear about mother wanting you to appoint me co-ruler?
Sithel raised his head. "You do have your spies, don't you?"
"Only one, and I do not pay her. She works on her own account."
"Hermathya." Sithel smiled when the prince nodded. "She has spirit,
that girl. I daresay if it were possible she d want to be co-ruler, too."
"Yes, and bring the rest of Clan Oakleaf to rule with her. She already
replaces palace servers with her own relatives. Soon we won't be able to
walk the halls without tripping over some Oakleaf cousin or other, Sithas
said.
This is still House Royal," replied his father confidently.
At that, Sithel sat up, roiling the hot mineral water. He reached for a
beaker sitting on the rim of the pool, then shook a handful of brown and
white crystals into the water. The steam was immediately scented with a
rare, spicy musk. "Do you know why your mother asked me to make you
co-ruler?"
"No," Sithas replied.
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"It was part of a compromise, actually. She wants me to call
Kith-Kanan home?"
"Kith! exclaimed Sithas, interrupting his father. That is an excellent
idea!
Sithel held up a hand. "It would cause great dissent among the clerics
and nobles. Kith-Kanan broke some of our most ardent laws. He
threatened the very foundations of the House Royal. My anger with him
has faded, and I could bring him home?if he would properly apologize.
There are many, though, who would oppose my lenience."
"But you are speaker," Sithas argued. What difference do the
grumblings of a few priests make to you?"
Sithel smiled. "I cannot tear apart the nation for love of my son. Your
mother said that to assuage the clerics I should name you co-ruler. Then
they would be assured Kith-Kanan would have no part of the throne after
my death. Sithel gazed long into his eldest son's troubled eyes. "Do you
still want me to dismiss Lady Nirakina's suggestion to make you my
co-ruler?"
Sithas drew a long breath and let it out slowly. He knew that there
was only one path to choose. He turned from the window. "If you seat me
beside you on the throne, the people will say there is no Speaker of the
Stars in Silvanost," he said quietly.
"Explain that."
"They will say great Sithel is old, not strong enough to rule alone.
And they will say Sithas is too young and has not the wisdom to be sole
speaker. Two halves do not a speaker make." He looked down at his
father's strong face. "You are the Speaker of the Stars. Do not relinquish
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one drop of your power or, as from a pinhole in a waterskin, it will all leak
out and you will have nothing."
"Do you know what this decision means?" Sithel demanded.
The prince made a fist and pressed it against his mouth. There were
other words he wanted to say; he wanted to have Kith home and let the
consequences be damned. But Sithas knew he must not let these words
out. The future of Silvanesti was at stake.
"Then I will be Speaker, and will remain sole Speaker until the day
the gods call me to a higher plane," Sithel said after a long silence.
"And . . . Kith-Kanan?"
"I will not call him," Sithel said grimly. "He must return on his own,
as a supplicant begging for forgiveness."
"Will mother be angry with you?" Sithas asked softly.
The speaker sighed and scooped steaming water up in his hands,
letting it trickle down over his closed eyes. "You know your mother," he
said. "She will be hurt for a while, then she will find a cause to which she
can devote herself, something to help her forget her pain."
"Hermathya will be angry." Of this, Sithas had no doubt.
"Don't let her bully you," counseled Sithel, wiping his face with his
hands.
Sithas flushed. "I am your son. No one bullies me."
"I'm glad to hear it. After a pause, Sithel added, "I've just thought of
another reason why you ought not want to be speaker just yet. I'm a
husband, father, and monarch. So far, you re only a husband." A wry
smile quirked his lips. "Have children. That will bring age and hasten
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wisdom."
10
Four Days on the Trail
Kith-Kanan and Anaya paused in their pursuit of Voltorno s band.
The half-human and his followers were headed almost due south, straight
for the seacoast. Kith-Kanan was surprised when Anaya called a
temporary halt. He was ready for anything, from a stealthy approach to a
headlong, pitched battle. True, his feet ached and his hands were covered
with cuts, but the knowledge that this Voltorno held not only Mackeli but
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