***
Mouhra’ Lah sat on the soft cushions of her cell. For all the rich appointments of the tower room, there was nothing in it she could use to aid her in escaping. She’d looked futilely many times. No writing materials were allowed, and the glass covered windows were too thick for her to break and call for help. That wouldn’t have done any good anyway because she was high enough up no one would be able to hear, much less understand, anything she could shout.
Tranthra’ Joh seemed to be having his way. And when her sister got here, for now Mouhra’ Lah was beginning to believe he actually had found Dierni’ Lah, she would be even more powerless. She knew Dierni would never be able to stand by and watch as they tortured her.
Mouhra knew Dierni should be able to withstand anything for the good of her city, but that. That was just too much. Her sister was too young, just 15 cycles. At that age, she’d have done anything to prevent harm to any member of her family no matter what!
And then there were the new guards.
In just the last day her normal guard had been changed to one of the Pontu’ Gi, a Protector. Then she had noticed they were walking in patrols around the streets.
It dawned on her what Tranthra’ Joh was doing. He was using the prophecies of the Protectors to further deceive her people.
And it probably is working, Mouhra thought. Legends are powerful things. Especially live ones. It may get to a point where the people look to Tranthra’ Joh enough that he won’t need me . . . or Dierni.
Mouhra knew what that meant. She also knew that if she went along with Tranthra’ Joh, it would only be a matter of time before she had a mysterious accident anyway. Just like her mother.
The only thing that kept her from doing anything desperate right now was the thought of Dierni in the hands of Saballa. She had no illusions that Saballa wouldn’t hesitate to use torture. Indeed, he’d probably relish it.
Plan after plan had come through her mind. Nothing seemed to have any chance of success. Even if she agreed to Tranthra’ Joh’s ‘proposal,’ she was sure Dierni would never be free. How else could Tranthra be sure she continued to cooperate . . . at least until he’s finished with me.
All Dierni would ever be is a tool. At least she’d be alive!
If she had the heart, she’d just continue to refuse. It would be excruciating to be tortured, probably killed, but then she wouldn’t have to worry about it any more. She wouldn’t have the burden. By then, Tranthra’ could concoct some story and claim the throne anyway. After all, didn’t he have the Pontu’ Gi behind him?
Mouhra had no doubt that is what Tranthra’ Joh was working towards anyway.
There had to be another way; a way that wouldn’t cause harm to Dierni. She knew she wouldn’t be able to stand seeing her baby sister be hurt. She would sooner die herself. And she’d thought of that, but rejected it. Even if she were took her own life, it would still leave her sister in the hands of Tranthra’ Joh and Saballa. There would be no one to protect her.
That left the final, most desperate plan. She could agree to the wedding, then somehow, either just before or after the wedding kill Tranthra’ Joh. That was the only way. But she also had to find a way to get rid of Saballa at the same time. No doubt Saballa would continue the scheme even if Tranthra’ Joh were dead.
Indeed, he might see it as an opportunity for himself. It could be something he’s planning anyway.
Saballa is much more subtle than Tranthra’ Joh. That’s what was so surprising about this whole mess. It seemed too intricate a plan for anything Tranthra’ Joh would do. He was never known for subtlety. Instead he was a war leader known for his charging into any situation no matter how foolhardy.
Was it Saballa’s plan from the beginning? There had to be someone behind it, orchestrating it.
The fact remained. She had only the thin thread of being able, somehow, to kill Tranthra and Saballa.
But how?
She hadn’t an inkling.