27
Smoked Glass
Jin stood at one end of the long stone table in the Mother Queen’s council chamber in the heart of the Great Warren, waiting to hear if he would live or die. Smoothly polished walls of black stone rose to a domed ceiling, at the centre of which hung an orb of the same apparent size and brightness as the full moon. To his left sat the Senior Scrollkeeper, Ser Hiv, half Ser Mar’s age and twice Jin’s size, a grey-furred giant who glared at Jin with smouldering eyes.
“Well, Mother Highness?” Ser Hiv said. “Tell us this Ra lies so I may serve him the punishment he so richly deserves.”
From the far end of the table, Mother Queen Sayb glanced at the Scrollkeeper. “Peace, Ser Hiv.” Small and sleek, with dark-red fur that lightened to white on her face, neck, breasts, and belly,
