Read Online Those Below: The Empty Throne Book 2 by Daniel Polansky - Free Book Online
Authors: Daniel Polansky
Tags: Suspense, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Thrillers & Suspense
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capital and the Roost, covered wagons on well-made roads, a large escort of hoplitai, and Gratian complaining every single moment of it; Eudokia had forced herself to keep silent despite her annoyance, as Jahan was an obedient servant and an errant word on her part would require a swiftly dug grave and all sorts of frantic manoeuvrings.
Which was not to suggest that the notion of arranging some … accident for the senator was one with which she had entirely dispensed. Back in the capital the senator’s follies and foolishness were easily covered up, particularly in so far as his was not a caste known for their discretion. Indeed, by the standards of some of the rest of his august fellowship, he was virtually a monk – he had never tried to make his boy lover third consul, for instance, and his nose had not yet rotted off from the pox. Regardless, here in the Roost they had rather thinner room for error. It was Eudokia’s understanding that Those Above were utterly amoral in terms of sex, had no notion of it as sin, perhaps had no notion of sin at all – but they certainly had a notion of etiquette, and of style, and by the gods, if that fat-titted little sybarite did something to embarrass her in front of the demons, he would find himself not waking up one morning. It was an eventuality that Eudokia had planned out well before accepting this mission to the Roost. Half of his staff were hers, a few drops of something in his drink, a few weeks wearing black, of course they would need to send for another senator, though it would be months and months before he arrived, and in the meantime Eudokia would simply have to muddle through as best as she was able, by default becoming Aeleria’s sole representative within the Roost.
Eudokia closed her mind around the fantasy of homicide. It was a dangerous thing to start thinking too far in that direction – one began to look around and see all sorts of people that the world did not, strictly speaking, require the continued presence of, began to to count them off one after another, how much simpler the machine would run with a few dozen less souls in it.
Gratian caught her looking and waved, wrist fat wobbling. She smiled and nodded in return.
Eudokia turned her attention to one of those few members of the assemblage whose presence was neither indifference nor burden, indeed, one of those few individuals on the breadth of the planet who could claim this happy distinction. Her nephew Leon leaned against the balcony, enraptured by the beauty of the First Rung – or, perhaps by the long-necked woman who stood next to him. The son of a cousin she scarce recollected, whose death had introduced him to her household when he was still a child. She had brought Leon because she had thought it might be good for his education, and because, and this was a truth that Eudokia could only vaguely bring herself to admit, she actually enjoyed his presence, found his combination of quick wit and boyish innocence to be a pleasant seasoning with which to take the day.
‘And what captivating creature have you stolen away this time, dear nephew?’ Eudokia asked.
‘I have the honour to present Calla, Sensechal of the Red Manor,’ Leon said. ‘Calla, this is my aunt, Eudokia Aurelia, Revered Mother.’
‘May the moonlight illuminate your path,’ the girl added.
No, not girl, woman, Eudokia thought after a moment, recognising metal when she saw it. She was young enough, and she had the bright eyes and high bosom of someone on the kinder side of thirty. But one did not rise higher than sensechal to the Prime, not if one had five fingers on one’s hand at least. And also she met Eudokia’s eyes coolly, civilly but without any excess of kindness, and no one who could long bear the gaze of the Revered Mother could justly be called a child.
‘It was my understanding that the women of Aeleria held no titles, and had no role in the workings of the state,’ Calla said.
‘We are a modest lot,’
Which was not to suggest that the notion of arranging some … accident for the senator was one with which she had entirely dispensed. Back in the capital the senator’s follies and foolishness were easily covered up, particularly in so far as his was not a caste known for their discretion. Indeed, by the standards of some of the rest of his august fellowship, he was virtually a monk – he had never tried to make his boy lover third consul, for instance, and his nose had not yet rotted off from the pox. Regardless, here in the Roost they had rather thinner room for error. It was Eudokia’s understanding that Those Above were utterly amoral in terms of sex, had no notion of it as sin, perhaps had no notion of sin at all – but they certainly had a notion of etiquette, and of style, and by the gods, if that fat-titted little sybarite did something to embarrass her in front of the demons, he would find himself not waking up one morning. It was an eventuality that Eudokia had planned out well before accepting this mission to the Roost. Half of his staff were hers, a few drops of something in his drink, a few weeks wearing black, of course they would need to send for another senator, though it would be months and months before he arrived, and in the meantime Eudokia would simply have to muddle through as best as she was able, by default becoming Aeleria’s sole representative within the Roost.
Eudokia closed her mind around the fantasy of homicide. It was a dangerous thing to start thinking too far in that direction – one began to look around and see all sorts of people that the world did not, strictly speaking, require the continued presence of, began to to count them off one after another, how much simpler the machine would run with a few dozen less souls in it.
Gratian caught her looking and waved, wrist fat wobbling. She smiled and nodded in return.
Eudokia turned her attention to one of those few members of the assemblage whose presence was neither indifference nor burden, indeed, one of those few individuals on the breadth of the planet who could claim this happy distinction. Her nephew Leon leaned against the balcony, enraptured by the beauty of the First Rung – or, perhaps by the long-necked woman who stood next to him. The son of a cousin she scarce recollected, whose death had introduced him to her household when he was still a child. She had brought Leon because she had thought it might be good for his education, and because, and this was a truth that Eudokia could only vaguely bring herself to admit, she actually enjoyed his presence, found his combination of quick wit and boyish innocence to be a pleasant seasoning with which to take the day.
‘And what captivating creature have you stolen away this time, dear nephew?’ Eudokia asked.
‘I have the honour to present Calla, Sensechal of the Red Manor,’ Leon said. ‘Calla, this is my aunt, Eudokia Aurelia, Revered Mother.’
‘May the moonlight illuminate your path,’ the girl added.
No, not girl, woman, Eudokia thought after a moment, recognising metal when she saw it. She was young enough, and she had the bright eyes and high bosom of someone on the kinder side of thirty. But one did not rise higher than sensechal to the Prime, not if one had five fingers on one’s hand at least. And also she met Eudokia’s eyes coolly, civilly but without any excess of kindness, and no one who could long bear the gaze of the Revered Mother could justly be called a child.
‘It was my understanding that the women of Aeleria held no titles, and had no role in the workings of the state,’ Calla said.
‘We are a modest lot,’
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