The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - By N. K. Jemisin Page 0,59

she said, and vanished.

I gazed at the spot where she had stood for a long while. I was still staring at it when Sieh returned, setting a platter in front of me.

The servants here dont ask questions, he said. Safer that way. So Tvril didnt know youd been unwell until I showed up and asked for food. Hes tearing a strip out of the servants assigned to you right now.

The platter held a Darren feast. Maash paste and fish rolled in callena leaves, with a side of fire-toasted golden peppers. A shallow boat of serry relish and thin, crisp-curled slices of meat. In my land it wouldve been the heart of a particular species of sloth; this was probably beef. And a true treasure: a whole roasted gran banana. My favorite dessert, though how Tvril had found that out I would never know.

I picked up a leafroll, and my hand trembled with more than hunger.

Dekarta doesnt mean for you to win the contest, Sieh said softly. That isnt why hes brought you here. He intends for you to choose between Relad and Scimina.

I looked sharply at him, and recalled the conversation Id overheard between Relad and Scimina in the solarium. Was this what Scimina had meant? Choose between them?

The Arameri ritual of succession. To become the next head of the family, one of the heirs must transfer the master sigilthe mark Dekarta wearsfrom Dekartas brow to his own. Or her own. The master sigil outranks all the rest; whoever wears it has absolute power over us, the rest of the family, and the world.

The rest of the family? I frowned. They had hinted at this before, when they altered my own sigil. So thats it. What do the blood sigils really do? Allow Dekarta to read our thoughts? Burn out our brains if we refuse to obey?

No, nothing so dramatic. There are some protective spells built in for highbloods, to guard against assassins and the like, but among the family they simply compel loyalty. No one who wears a sigil can act against the interests of the family head. If not for measures like that, Scimina would have found a way to undermine or kill Dekarta long ago.

The leafroll smelled too good. I bit off a piece, making myself chew slowly as I mulled over Siehs words. The fish was strangesome local species, similar to but not the same as the speckled ui usually used. Still good. I was ravenous, but I knew better than to bolt my food after days without.

The Stone of Earth is used in the succession ritual. Someonean Arameri, by Itempass own decreemust wield its power to transfer the master sigil.

An Arameri. Another puzzle piece slipped into place. Anyone in Sky can do this? Everyone, down to the lowliest servant?

Sieh nodded slowly. I noticed he did not blink when he was intent on something. A minor slip.

Any Arameri, however distant from the Central Family. For just one moment, that person becomes one of the Three.

It was obvious in his wording. That person. For one moment.

It would be like striking a match, I imagined, having that much power course through mortal flesh. A bright flare, perhaps a few seconds of steady flame. And then

Then that person dies, I said.

Sieh gave me his unchildlike smile. Yes.

Clever, so clever, my Arameri foremothers. By forcing all relatives however distant to serve here, they had in place a virtual army of people who could be sacrificed to wield the Stone. Even if each used it only for a moment, the Aramerithe highbloods, at least, who would die lastcould still approximate the power of a goddess for a considerable time.

So Dekarta means for me to be that mortal, I said. Why?

The head of this clan must have the strength to kill even loved ones. Sieh shrugged. Its easy to sentence a servant to die, but what about a friend? A husband?

Relad and Scimina barely knew I was alive before Dekarta brought me here. Why did he choose me?

That, only he knows.

I was growing angry again, but this was a frustrated, directionless sort of anger. Id thought the Enefadeh had all the answers. Of course it wouldnt be that easy.

Why in the Maelstrom would you use me, anyhow? I asked, annoyed. Doesnt that put Enefas soul too close to the very people who would destroy it if they could?

Sieh rubbed his nose, abruptly looking abashed. Ah well that was my idea. Its always easier to hide something right under a persons nose, you