Melanie Rawn - The Diviner

Table of Contents

DAW Books Presents

the Finest in Fantasy by

Exiles
THE RUINS OF AMBRAI
THE MAGEBORN TRAITOR

Dragon Prince
DRAGON PRINCE
THE STAR SCROLL
SUNRUNNERS FIRE

Dragon Star
STRONGHOLD
THE DRAGON TOKEN
SKYBOWL

The Golden Key Universe
THE GOLDEN KEY
(with Jennifer Roberson and Kate Elliott)
THE DIVINER

This novel is a prequel to The Golden Key. Although it helps to have read that one before reading this one, its not necessary; I hope that I wrote The Diviner in such a way that it makes sense all by itself. If it doesnt, I have every confidence that youll let me know.

The city of Dayira Azreyq breathed softly that night. No one wished to be caught inhaling a particle of the Sheyqas air more than was strictly required for survival. Within the shops and houses served by the great reservoir that gave the city its nameCircle of Bluelovers muffled their sighs, fretful babies were swiftly hushed by nervous fathers, murmurs became whispers as shadows deepened. Those few persons out on the streets walked furtively and said nothing. Those brave enough to speak aloud did so only in their own homes, with faces lowered and eyes downcast. Do not notice me, I am of no importance, I do not existand one more night of reprieve was begun.

But the city was not entirely quiet, at least not in the precincts of the palace. The Sheyqa was in a mood for celebrating, and her guests acceded to the royal requirement for music and laughter and merriment of all kinds.

Preparations had begun early that morning. In the banqueting hall, with its splendid domed-and-tiled ceiling, white draperies were taken from red silken couches, and massive trays of beaten gold were set on tripods. In the east wing, with its floor-to-ceiling windows shuttered against the scorching sun, musicians tuned their instruments, and dancers were instructed regarding the Sheyqas preferences for the evening. In the kitchen, with its vast hearths and staggering array of copper pots, cooks sweated and swore, cajoling the roasts to cook and the breads to rise. In the cellar, with its low stone archways and maze of shelves and cabinets, stewards selected the wines, and servants polished the priceless blue glassware seized more than a century ago from barbarian invaders by the armies of Rimmal Madar. If anyone remembered that those armies had been under the personal command not of Sheyqa Ammara Izzad, the present rulers great-grandmother, but of an alMaaliq, no one mentioned it. Ever.

By sundown the guests had arrived, and the palace echoed with laughter and music. For all that the city breathed softly, carefully, the Sheyqa was in an excellent mood. Her guestsevery adult male of the al-Maaliq linewere enjoying themselves. She was enjoying their delusions. She smiled when yet another toast was proclaimed to the power of her eldest sons loins. Today Acuyib had shown him to be doubly blessed: his sixth wife, Ammineh, and his seventeenth concubine (whose name the Sheyqa could never quite remember) had each given birth, bringing the total number of her children and grandchildren to fifty, her own exact age.

Her smile didnt waver as one of the al-Maaliq raised his wine cup high in salute to his own daughter, Ammineh, mother of the fiftieth. Sheyqa Nizzira joined in the toast and beamed at the girls father as if genuinely celebrating the triumph. After a swallow of sharp dry wineshe loathed this too-strong varietal, but serving it was necessary tonightshe soothed the bitterness from her mouth with a confection of chopped dates, honey, and candied rose petals. She sucked stickiness from her fingers, delicately dipping them in a bowl of scented water before reaching again for the sweets.

Manners. Elegance. Refinement. These her father had drilled into her from babyhood. Make as much war as you wish, Nizzira my daughteryou will be Sheyqa, and it is your right and your duty. But recall that the warrior who is also cultivated and civilized gains not only the respect but the regard of her people. Hed been a wise man, her father, never doubting that his only child would emerge victorious in the exquisitely brutal struggle for the Moonrise Throne. Sheyqa Nizzira missed him terribly, and in his memory took every opportunity to show that she was not only a mighty ruler but polished in her person.

But her father had been wrong about one thing. The objective of a warrior was to gain not respect but fear. This she had done and would continue to do so long as the northern borders of Rimmal Madar were beset by barbarian tribeswith whom the al-Maaliq were conspiring. They would deny it if confronted, but Nizzira knew their protestations would be lies. Had she been in their positionformerly powerful, loathing her, and taxed so heavily that they had not the wherewithal to make war unless allied to othersshe would have collaborated with the Dread and Mighty Chaydann Il-Mamnouaa Himself.

As Nizzira rinsed her fingers yet again, from the corner of her eye she caught an al-Maaliq curling his lip. This was one of Amminehs brothers, who doubtless had heard her incessant complaints in excruciating detail. The whole family maddened the Sheyqa beyond endurance. Even their name was an arrogance, as if the head of their familya doddering old imbecile currently lolling on plump cushions and using a dancers transparent silk scarf as a bibcould still call himself king. The al-Maaliq had anciently held a large portion of Rimmal Madar. Ammineh, Nizziras eldest sons sixth wife, not a mere concubineand she cursed the boy for agreeing to a wedding when a bedding was all he was afterprated endlessly about her ancestry, constantly reminding everyone that her forefathers had been kings back in the days when the title had meant something, when the natural order of women owning and ruling land had been for a shameful time overset by the influence of the western barbarians. To Acuyibs Glory, that situation had been righted. Men worked, soldiered, farmed, sailed the ships, commanded the caravans, and crafted the goods for which Rimmal Madar was justly famousbut womens wisdom and womens logic determined the manner in which such things were done. Women controlled the wealth of the family. And one woman presided over all.