Elymas did the only thing he could. He changed the subject. “Then, I am innocent of his death.”

         “Innocent?” Rizla lifted one perfectly arched brow. “Explain innocence to me.” He began to sweat beads. “Nothing? You don’t know what it means.”

         “Very well, taunt me. But how was I to know the King’s death would offend the Curse-Blessed. I’ve never had contact with him or the Tu’el!”

         “No contact?” Her laughter was most unpleasant. She used a gossamer sleeve to dab her eyes. “Surely you don’t believe you’ve acted alone all these years? Without each step being approved by the Dark, you’d have been found out after the death of the first earth child!”

         Elymas, free of the vise, was still finding it hard to breathe.

         “Those men in ridiculous flapping robes? The Lud Sellum? Whatever it is you keep hidden in that room of yours?” She paused to watch him wince. “You’ve done nothing on your own. You’ve long been a slave to the Dark. Only now does the Curse -Blessed see fit to acknowledge you as such.”

         She continued, “Fulcruchen is no matter, he was too smart, but the attempted murder of a High King was the act of a fool. From now on, you’ll be treated as one.”

         Elymas found himself nodding yes.

         “Needless death results in chaos. The confusion obscures what we seek to find.” She narrowed her eyes. “The King is alive and will remain so, as well as this particular earth child. He is young enough to be molded to our purposes. He is nearby. I can sense a mother’s concern and a secret that must be kept.” She prowled before the dais like a hungry cat. “Is there anyone out of the ordinary?”

         A spilt second of hesitation yet it was enough. Elymas failed to keep the image of the redheaded youth from his mind.

         “I warn you—”

         “There is one who beat me at rulla,” he blurted. “A russet haired youth from this year’s crop of apprentices. But he is not a babe and has no limp.”

         Rizla stopped pacing. “He beat you at rulla? But your dice are weighted!”

The Earth Skyll’s flush was layers deep. “It’s true that no one has ever out-rolled me. It shouldn’t have happened.” 

“What did the boy roll?”

“An eleven, a four . . . and a twenty-eight.”

         “What were yours?”

         “Eight, two and sixteen, but the game means nothing. As you know, it’s all chance.”

         “Let me tell you what those rolls mean.”  Rizla spat out the words. “With each cast of the dice, you projected into the Deep. This apprentice trumped you at the beginning, covered you in the middle and a twenty-eight? You can’t reach him in the highest realm!”

         “I tell you he is a nobody!” 

         “He is somebody  we must deal with. Perhaps the Tu’el will find a use. I will see him tomorrow. Do not fail to deliver this boy.”

         “Of course.” Elymas nodded.

         “When we walk out of this room, you’ll walk as my servant, my lowly servant. As time passes, I’ll be in different guises but you’ll always recognize me.” She touched him on the right shoulder. Elymas staggered as though he been bit by a gar. ‘You’ll always obey my commands and tell me the truth, no matter the cost.”

         Elymas nodded.

         “Again, the Whitehair sent by the Gibbor. Is he alive?”

         “Yes. The Red Robes were rough, but he lives.”

         “As of this moment, the Red Robes are no more. Is that understood?”

         It took all of him to stop the groan from escaping. She was destroying his world and he could only nod.

         “As for the Whitehair, not only do I want him kept alive, I want him returned to full health. The Gibbor mustn’t be offended at this juncture. Doubtless, he will mend slowly, but this will give you time to make proper appeasement.” She tapped her pointer finger against her cheek. Her nails were long, hands perfectly kept. He saw the large jasper ring on her little finger, same as the boy he’d tried to buy from Dr. Sugallus, only he was Suga now.

         “Let us repair to your secret chamber. I want to see all; there are things hidden from the Precious Orb.”

         Elymas wanted to asked about the orb, but couldn’t speak. He followed her across the stones, not too steadily but at least he didn’t embarrass himself. He walked behind the sultry woman to his most private chamber. Elymas had never been silenced by a woman before and he’d certainly never been led.