Raven's Strike (Raven #2)(57)

He knew, because he'd tried it when the Memory first came to him, that the stone would not stay clear at his touch while he was bound to the Memory. If the Septs knew, he would be executed.

It was Avar who said it. "If that ragged child tells anyone about this, it will be all over the palace that the Emperor has a monster who slew assassins for him."

Phoran waited for their judgment.

Toarsen bent down and jerked the mask off one of the dead men. To Phoran's relief, the body was not shrunken and dried the way the Masters' bodies had been.

"First we'll have to dispose of these bodies," Toarsen said. "If anyone sees them, they'll know nothing human killed them."

"I thought Tier's son killed the wizards," said Kissel.

"No," said Phoran. "It was the Memory. Tier lied to save me."

Avar nodded. "If you'll help me, gentlemen. We'll throw them into the pond. They're wearing armor - that'll keep the bodies from floating. By the time someone finds them, any oddities will be explained by the water."

As Toarsen and Avar tossed one over, Gerant and Kissel picked up the next one. After the first several, Phoran helped, too - he tried not to watch as they hit the water below.

"It's a good thing that pond's so big," said Kissel, tipping another one over. "It'll be decades before anyone finds them - if ever."

"No renovation of the fountain," said Toarsen, with mock sadness.

"We'll have to rethink having the castle guard watch over your rooms," said Avar. "Did you notice most of them wear standard-issue boots? I don't see any faces I recognize, but I bet they are all from the castle guard."

"So," said Phoran, when they had finished. "I'm assuming that none of you has decided you need a new emperor."

Gerant patted him on the shoulder. "That law was not meant for this kind of situation. We'll help you."

"It'll be a few days before the gossip starts to spread," said Avar. "And even then, all they'll have is bits and pieces. Those pauper children don't associate with the Septs. It'll come from the servants upward."

"Unless I can get rid of it," said Phoran, "how long it takes won't matter. When the gossip hits, the Septs will demand I show them I'm untouched by sorcery - and I have no reason not to, except, of course, that I can't pass the test."

"The stone can be stolen," said Toarsen.

Phoran shook his head. "What we'll do is this. Gerant, Avar, and I'll go on to my scribe now. Avar might inherit a little earlier than I thought. Kissel and Toarsen, I want you to go to the Emperor's Own and have them make ready to go. Pick out a few of the most trustworthy to ride with me as my personal guard. I'll leave early in the morning. Gerant, if you would, I need you to take the rest of the Pass" - he caught himself - "the Emperor's Own to your home and train them. I won't abandon them here to rot, and I can't stay. I'll see to it that a suitable purse goes to you - "

"Not necessary," he said.

Phoran waved a hand. "I thank you for that, but they are mine, and I'll see to their housing and training." He took a deep breath. "I'm headed out for Redern. Hopefully Tier and his Traveler lady will be there and can help me. If not, I'll send word, and we'll fake my death - since I have no real interest in being beheaded, having lately gained a new aversion to the process."

"You can't leave," said Avar. "Without you to stem the gossip, they'll have you Shadowed and worse before you return, and you'll never live it down."

"I'm closing down the palace," said Phoran. "Kicking out the nobles and their families for six months, while a plethora of workmen redo the entry hall. Renovations." He tipped his head to Toarsen, who'd given him the idea. "They'll have to be gone by tomorrow noon."

"That's ridiculous," said Avar. "There's nothing urgently wrong with the entry hall - they'll all wonder why you didn't give them a month's notice."

Gerant chuckled unexpectedly. "Oh, that's all he'll have to say. They'll think he intends to search their rooms for signs of their guilt - and there's enough guilty or nearly so to cause considerable distress. Not one of them will think it an unlikely thing for the Emperor, who just beheaded thirteen ruling Septs, to do. They'll be far more worried about not leaving anything incriminating than they will be in discovering the Emperor's whereabouts."

Kissel smiled. "He's right."

Phoran gave a quick bow. "If I can't fix this in six months, it'll be too late."

"So you and I'll take some of your guard and my men - " began Avar, but Phoran shook his head.

"You're my heir," he said. "We can't afford to be in the same place. I won't travel with a large group of men, because I won't be the Emperor, I'll be some rich merchant's son. The people left at the palace will know I'm gone, but we won't tell anyone else. You'll stay here and supervise the work - or you can go with Gerant."

Avar opened his mouth to protest, but, in the end, he didn't say anything. Phoran was right.

"I have an objection," said Toarsen.

Phoran raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not certain I know how to find my way back to where you're housing the Emperor's Own from here. Can you give me directions?"