Chapter eight
Zenobya“Hyrklana!” I said. I shouted it savagely. We were back in Vondium and a lot had happened and I was raw, ravaged, contemptuously intolerant of myself. I didn’t want fine young men dying for me, I didn’t want fine young men having to make that kind of awful decision — for me. “I’m going to Hyrklana. But before I do I am going to do one thing — send Sans Fantor and Therfenen in. Bratch!”
Not often do I use that hard word, bratch! It means jump, move, get the lead out. Sometimes, perhaps, I should have used it more.
The messengers bratched.
When the two wise men came in they looked pale. No doubt they had heard that the emperor was in a foul mood. Everyone who could recall what emperors traditionally did when they were in foul moods would tremble. Shoulders and heads
