Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...

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As per Brahvnikian tradition, he downed the whole glass in one draught. As he felt color burn out into
his cheeks, the servant filled the glass again.
It's not fair, he thought, glancing up at Shefen-kas for a moment and then down again.It's not fair that
he, whom all the might and stealth of the greatest Empire in the world broke itself against, is
sitting here in front of me disguised as a mortal, looking exactly like a plain medium-sized man
whom I could reach across and strangle with my bare hands …
"I only skimmed the transcript," the Yeoli Imperator said. "There were things there I don't want to know,
and things not there that I do. How long did you work for Irefas?"
I am recounting my career, Matthas thought with a sense of unreality as he spoke,to the one who's
about to cut it and me off . He told no lies, even by omission, seeing no point. When he came to times
the old state had made his life difficult, Shefen-kas seemed, of all things, sympathetic, as if its
incompetence somehow saddened him. Idon't know why , Matthas thought drily.You'd be worm-meat
ten times over if not for it .
"Well," Shefen-kas said when he was done, "you worked for Arko under Kurkas. Would you work for
Arko under me?"
It was like feeling his heart miss a beat, or expecting floor at the bottom of a darkened flight of stairs, to
feel his foot find only air just as he put his weight on it. He stared; Shefen-kas's eyes stared back, no lie
or game in them. "I mean it," he said. "At the same rate of pay you were earning before, but with better
consideration of your requirements, and respect of your opinions, from above."
Matthas took refuge in his cup of Saekrberk, staring down into it, lifting it to his lips. The muscles of his
middle hurt; he realized it was with being so terrified, so long. Now that he was merely stunned
speechless, they'd relaxed.
"Tell me honestly," Shefen-kas urged. "Do I strike you as one who would hinder his own underlings
through incompetence or neglect?"
"No," Matthas said, glad to be asked a question easily answered. "You certainly don't."Gods curse you
forever .
"Perhaps you need time to think on it?"
Words burst out. He couldn't stop them. "I tried— didn't you read that part in the transcript?" He
wanted to swallow his tongue; perhaps he'd given away what hadn't been given away yet. He knew the
words were too familiar as well; he should have started with the proper title and obeisance, it should be a
further degree of inferior-to-superior, he should never speak such a direct question…I'm not used to
talking to Imperators , he inwardly whined.
"You tried to arrange my assassination. Yes, I read that." Matthas stared; Shefen-kas shrugged with his
shoulders. Matthas noticed the white through the stitching of themarya : casts. The only possible reason a
Yeoli wouldn't wave his arms; he'd wondered what hadn't seemed quite right when Shefen-kas spoke.
"A hundred thousand Arkans have tried to kill me. Should I fear or resent one more? I can't blame you;
I'd have done the same. It was your duty."
"But…" Matthas tried to blink away amazement. "How can you… I swore, but they didn't make me