e left wall of the room from which steam emanated. He walked through it and his eyes widened at what he saw. Inside was a bath as

shrugged off the feeling amd walked into the water, inhaling sharply at the heat. He slipped in totally, the water coming up to his chest. The women took soaps and sponges and stepped in. They began to wash his body and he felt his muscles relax, cobwebs forming in his mind. They washed him in silence until one slipped under the water and he felt he

, supressing the anger that rose in him, familiar, warm, like.an old friend. An old, dangerous friend. He jumped down from his horse and started walking, hands clasped behind him. The soldiers shied away from him, their eyes na

ted in the least." He winked and walked forward to accept a long robe from one of his female sl

believe I have some wine from the sand mountains." He said, grinni

." He said, looking into Tuli

why you've come with your Tije and Samza?" He asked, nodding to the woman w

m safe. Father will be displeased should anything happen to him, considering his....a

displeasure, I think you have gained quite a lot of it. I would go to him now if I had the great misfortune of being you." He said and a sma

might be closer than you expect." Tuli said. Idem turned back to look at him, the fire in his eyes showi

raising her eyebrows in silent inquiry. He turned to her an

lack cloak and leaped from his horse into the air, pulling on a vine, sending it bursting forth and he leaped on it and flung himself into the air. The wind and

not want to endure this torture. He clenched his fist and steeled himself against the fear. He walked in, feeling his father's presence wash over him like a wave. He kept walking in darkness until he came into a wide room that was lit with red Flatlight that glowed bright

ther just stepped closer. He was looking at Idem with

softly, his red eyes glowing. Idem knew from experi

ill and my disobedience." He said, just managing to keep his voice from shaking. The emperor nodded and looke

nothing, saw nothing, became nothing and when everything had been taken away, slow, vast pain burned into him. Not the pain of a sword or a whip or a punch. It was the pain of loss, of hopelessness, of powerlessness. A pain that filled his nothingness, a pain that became him. It seemed to him that it took a thousand years for it to be over and when it was done, as al

isobedience. I love you child and though I do not want to hurt you, I must for you must understand." He started to hum a soft tune, slowly rocking Idem like a baby and w