Dekarta said something, and Zhakkarn lifted a hand and conjured a gleaming silver pike. Pointing this at the man, she took three steps forward. The pikes tip hovered, rock-steady despite the wind, a few inches from the mans back.
The man took a step forward, then looked back. Wind whipped his hair in a wispy cloud about his head; he looked Amn, or of some sister race. I recognized his manner, though, and his wild, defiant eyes. A heretic, flouter of the Bright. Once there had been entire armies like him, but now there were only a few left, hiding in isolated pockets and worshipping their fallen gods in secret. This one must have been careless.
You cannot keep them chained forever, the man said. The wind carried his words toward me and away, teasing my ears. The protective magic that kept the air warm and calm within Sky apparently did not operate on the Pier. Not even the Skyfather is infallible!
Dekarta said nothing to this, though he leaned forward and murmured something to Zhakkarn. The man on the Pier stiffened. No! You cant! You cant! He turned and tried to move past Zhakkarn and the jutting pike, his eyes fixed on Dekarta.
Zhakkarn merely moved the pikes tip, and the man impaled himself.
I cried out, putting my hands to my mouth. The palace entrance amplified the sound; Dekarta and Viraine both glanced back at me. But then came a sound that dwarfed my cry, as the man began to scream.
It went through me like Zhakkarns pike. Hunched around the pike and clutching its shaft, the mans body shivered even harder than before. Belatedly I realized that some other force besides his cry shook him, as his chest began to glow red-hot around the pikes tip. Smoke rose from his sleeves, his collar, his mouth and nose. His eyes were the worst of it, because he was aware. He knew what was happening to him, knew it and despaired, and that, too, was part of his suffering.
I fled. Skyfather help me, but I could not bear it; I ran back into the palace and ducked around a corner. Even that did not help, for I could still hear him screaming, screaming, screaming as he burned from the inside out, on and on until I thought I would go mad and hear nothing more for the rest of my life.
Thank all the gods, even Nahadoth, that it eventually ended.
I dont know how long I crouched there with my hands over my ears. After a time I became aware that I was no longer alone, and I lifted my head. Dekarta, leaning heavily on a dark polished cane whose wood might have come from Darrs forests, stood watching me, Viraine beside him. The other courtiers had dispersed down the corridor. Zhakkarn was nowhere to be seen.
Well, said Dekarta, his voice thick with derision, we see the truth of it now. It is her fathers cowardice that flows strongest in her, not Arameri courage.
That replaced my shock with fury. I leapt up from my crouch.
The Darre were famous warriors once, said Viraine, before I could speak and damn myself. Unlike Dekarta, his expression was neutral. But centuries under the Skyfathers peaceful rule have civilized even the most savage races, my lord, and we cannot blame her for that. I doubt she has ever seen a man killed.
The members of this family must be stronger, said Dekarta. It is the price we pay for our power. We cannot be like the darkling races, who gave up their gods to save their necks. We must be like that man, misguided though he was. He pointed back toward the Pier, or wherever the dead heretics corpse was now. Like Shahar. We must be willing to dieand killfor our Lord Itempas. He smiled; my skin crawled. Perhaps I should have you deal with the next one, Granddaughter.
I was too upset, too angry, to even try to control the hatred in my face. What strength does it take to kill an unarmed man? To order someone else to kill him? And like that I shook my head. The scream still rang in my ears. That was cruelty, not justice!
Was it? To my surprise, Dekarta actually looked thoughtful. This world belongs to the Skyfather. That is indisputable. That man was caught distributing forbidden books, books which denied this reality. And every one of those books readersevery good citizen who saw this blasphemy and failed to denounce ithas now joined in his delusion. They are all criminals in our midst, intent on stealing not gold, not even lives, but hearts. Minds. Sanity and peace. Dekarta sighed. True justice would be to wipe out that entire nation; cauterize the taint before it spreads. Instead, Ive merely ordered the deaths of everyone in his faction, and their spouses and children. Only those who are beyond redemption.
I stared at Dekarta, too horrified for words. Now I knew why the man had turned back to impale himself. Now I knew where Zhakkarn had gone.
Lord Dekarta did give him a choice, Viraine added. Jumping would have been the easier death. The winds usually spin them into the palaces support column, so nothing hits the ground. Its quick.
You I wanted to put my hands over my ears again. You call yourselves servants of Itempas? Youre rabid beasts. Demons!