She faltered as I laughed, her face suddenly bleached white and eyes moistening.
“Forgive me, honoured lady,” I said. “Please continue.”
Velsus rounded on me, face twisted in anger, finger pointed in accusation “Mark well this man’s humour, my lords! See how he delights in his own evil!”
He turned back to Jervia, calming himself with an effort that made me suspect this was not all theatre. “You have seen this man before, have you not?”
“I . . .” She looked down at her clasped hands, white now and shaking. “Yes . . . Yes he came to see Father, the night before the Hope Killer was brought to the city.”
“You witnessed their meeting?”
“I did, my lord. I wasn’t supposed to, but I knew a hidden place in Father’s study where I could hear his meetings. I was worried, you see. The sword had changed him so much, and with the Hope Killer’s return I wondered what he might do. Father told Lord Verniers he intended to return the sword to the Hope Killer. Lord Verniers became very angry, calling Father a traitor, saying he would have the Emperor send guards to arrest him . . . But Father showed him the sword, and he became quiet. Father said with this sword the Hope Killer was sure to prevail in his duel in the Isles, if Lord Verniers voiced no objection to its use he would receive a great reward.”
“I see. And the nature of this reward?”
“Knowledge. The Hope Killer would relate the story of his life and the reasoning of mad King Janus in starting the war.”
“A rich reward indeed, to be cherished by any historian.”
Velsus levelled his gaze on me, his aspect the unwavering focus of a leopard eyeing cornered prey. “You did travel with the Imperial prisoner to the Meldenean Isles, did you not?”
“At the Emperor’s order,” I said.
“Quite so, but also, I recall, at your own request. And during the voyage did the savage keep his end of the bargain? Did he tell you his sorry tale?”
“He related what I believe to be a partially accurate account of his role in the invasion.”
“And you gave him the sword.”
“Governor Aruan gave him the sword. A plain weapon of little distinction, I might add.”
