A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos)

The sun rose cold and grim above Mount Ipyeda. Each day, more smoke was darkening the sky.

‘So you have all but declared war on the Kuposa,’ the Grand Empress said. ‘Well, granddaughter, I suppose that was one way to handle them. I expect the River Lord – the regent – will retaliate.’

She sat with Dumai and Unora in her quarters, just as they had all sat on the night Dumai learned who she was. Two years later, they were almost back to where they had begun.

‘He has what he wants. A meek child on the throne, and the regency. There is no reason for him to attack me,’ Dumai said. ‘The River Lord may be concerned with his own power, but even he must see now that the wyrms and the sickness are more important. I have seen the destruction they have already wreaked in the rest of the East. Even in the North.’

‘Perhaps. Or perhaps he will now see you as the only real threat to his dominion. After all, a Noziken has never defied him so openly, nor established a rival court.’ The Grand Empress gazed towards the window. ‘Unora, what do you say to all this?’

‘I am no child of the rainbow, Manai.’

‘You bore one, and she will need you. Dumai has no knowledge of the provinces. You do,’ the Grand Empress said. ‘You know how to survive in times of scarcity. That will be useful.’

Dumai said, ‘I have your blessing, then?’

‘My son wanted a shadow court. A rival court is . . . less subtle, perhaps, but this is no time for subtlety, and we are the rightful monarchs. We do not need to stoop to smiles and puppetry.’ The Grand Empress looked at Unora. ‘Prepare to leave. Help your daughter.’

Unora nodded and left, her face set in determination. Dumai knew her mother was angry with her for absconding to the North, but she also knew she was already forgiven.

Her grandmother set a taper to the woodfall.

‘Osipa used to light this. I keep forgetting to do it myself,’ she said, with a thin smile. ‘She became my handmaiden when I was six, still the disregarded princess. Without her, I am having to learn new ways to live. I imagine you have these moments, too, when you trip on the spaces Kanifa filled.’

Dumai nodded. Being in the temple without him already hurt almost too much to bear.

The Grand Empress returned to her stool. ‘Tell me your dreams, as you once did.’

Once, the dreams had been all that unsettled her. Dumai wished she could go back.

‘For almost two years, I have dreamed of a voice, and a figure, standing by a stream,’ she said. ‘I have thought of her as many things: a reflection of myself, a sister and a friend. I have spoken to her, and confided in her. She helped me. And yet she betrayed me.’

As she told her grandmother everything, the Grand Empress seemed to grow more and more troubled.

‘A shared dream,’ she said, when Dumai was finished. ‘Yes, child, I have heard of this. A thread between spirits, like dust between stars. Queen Nirai wrote of it. It is a rare and sacred thing . . . but even the sacred can be profaned. I cannot say who this woman is, but clearly we are not the only people in the world the gods have touched.’ She shook her head. ‘I sometimes wonder if Kwiriki even knows who sits upon his throne. All he wanted was for Seiiki to be strong, regardless of who ruled. Perhaps it matters less than we have all believed.’

Dumai watched her. ‘Are you giving up hope that we can survive this?’

‘Only questioning the price of survival. If the House of Noziken is ever to recover, you would have to bear an heir, Dumai. I sense your path does not lead you to motherhood. Should I – your grandmother – force you to go against your nature, all for the sake of preserving a name?’

‘But we are the link to the gods. If the House of Noziken falls—’

‘Snow Maiden herself had no special gift. The gods would choose again.’ The Grand Empress sighed. ‘Let us wait for this comet to pass. Then we will see what Seiiki decides. I will remain here, to pray for you, while your mother helps you establish your court.’

‘You may not be safe so close to the city.’

‘An old woman is no threat to the River Lord. Besides,’ she said, with a touch of satisfaction, ‘the gods linger close to the mountain. I do not think they will let me come to harm.’ She took Dumai by the chin. ‘Fly now, my brave granddaughter. Be who you were called to be.’