The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - By N. K. Jemisin Page 0,26
few moments, rarely reacts well.
And yet Scimina can command you through this madness?
He nodded. Itempass compulsion overrides all. He paused then, and his eyes abruptly became very clear to mecold and hard, black as the sky. If you dont want me here, command me to leave.
* * *
Consider: An immensely powerful being is yours to command. He must obey your every whim. Wouldnt the temptation to diminish him, to humble him and make yourself feel powerful by doing so, be almost irresistible?
I think it would be.
Yes, it definitely would be.
* * *
I would rather know why youve come in the first place, I said. But I wont force you to explain.
Why not? There was something dangerous in his voice. Why was he angry? Because I had power over him and chose not to use it? Was he worried that I would?
The answer to his question came to my mind at once: because it would be wrong. I hesitated to say that, however. The answer wasnt even correcthe had entered my room unbidden, a breach of manners in any land. If he had been human, I wouldnt have hesitated to order him out.
No; not human. If he had been free.
But he was not free. Viraine had explained further the evening before, during the painting of my sigil. My commands to the Enefadeh had to be simple and precise. I was to avoid metaphors or colloquialisms, and above all think about whatever I told them to do, lest I trigger unintended consequences. If I said something like, Nahadoth, get out, he would be free to leave not only my room, but the palace entire. Skyfather knew what hed get up to then, and only Dekarta could summon him back. Or if I said, Nahadoth, be silent, he would be rendered mute until I or some other fullblooded Arameri rescinded the order.
And if I were ever so careless as to say, Nahadoth, do as you please, he would kill me. Because killing Arameri pleased him. It had happened before, many times over the centuries, according to Viraine. (A service, he called it, as stupider Arameri were usually eliminated before they could breed or embarrass the family further.)
I wont command you because Im considering the alliance proposed by your Lady Kurue, I said at last. An alliance should be based on mutual respect.
Respect is irrelevant, he said. I am your slave.
I could not help wincing at the word. Im a captive here, too.
A captive whose every command I must obey. Forgive me if I feel little sympathy.
I did not like the guilt his words triggered in me. Perhaps that was why my temper slipped, before I could think to rein it in. You are a god, I snapped. Youre a deadly beast on a leash who has already turned on me once. I may have power over you, but I would be a fool to think that makes me safe. Far wiser to offer you courtesy, ask for what I want, and hope for your cooperation in return.
Ask. And then command.
Ask, and if you say no, accept that answer. That, too, is part of respect.
He fell silent for a long while. In that silence I replayed my words in my head, praying I had left him no opening to exploit.
You cannot sleep, he said.
I blinked in confusion, then realized it was a question. No. The bed the light.
Nahadoth nodded. Abruptly the walls went dim, their light fading until shadows shrouded the room, and the only illumination came from the moon and stars and the lights of the city. The Nightlord was a darker shadow etched against the windows. He had put out the unlight of his face as well.
You have offered me courtesy, he said. I offer cooperation in return.
I could not help swallowing, remembering my dream of the black star. If it was trueit had felt true, but who could say with dreams?then Nahadoth was more than capable of destroying the world, even diminished as he was. Yet it was his simple gesture of putting out the lights that filled me with awe. Tired as I was, I suppose that mattered more to me than the whole of the world.
Thank you, I managed at last. And There was no subtle way to say it. Will you leave now? Please?
He was a silhouette. All that happens in darkness, I see, he said. Every whisper, every sigh, I hear. Even if I leave, some part of me will remain. That cannot be helped.