Chapter Forty-Seven
IMPERIAL JOY
The God-Emperor Tsemkarun Ishät Ashik, 36th Chosen of El, swept into the Empress’s favorite sun-lit chambers.
There was a quiet patter of feet as servants and slaves pressed themselves against the walls and averted their gazes.
Ishiquel clasped her hands together. This must be the special gift from house Faytha – some rare berries from the planet Went. Her husband was quite besotted by the place, and the prospect of possessing more of the exquisite Eyes of Bel Nishani was certainly engaging.
“Do you have them?” she asked.
“Indeed.” From behind his back he presented a finely figured wooden platter edged and filigreed with their House Rune in bright silver. Two unremarkable fruits, dull purplish in color, reposed in its hollow.
Ishiquel stroked this of
