The Blinding Knife Read Online Free Page B

even be able to tell, much less balance it out. They’ll remove me.”
    “So…”
    “So I’m going to go to Azûlay to see the Nuqaba,” Gavin said.
    “Well, that’s one way of keeping Ironfist from accompanying you, but why do you want to see her?”
    “Because in addition to their capital having the largest library in the world—where I can study without the entire Spectrum knowing what I’ve looked at within an hour—the Parians also keep oral histories, including many that are secret and some that are doubtless heretical.”
    “What are you looking for?”
    “If I’ve lost control of blue, Corvan, that means blue is out of control.”
    Corvan looked momentarily confused, then aghast. “You can’t be serious. I’ve never read a serious scholar who thought the
bane
were anything other than bogeymen the Chromeria invented to justify the actions of some of the early zealots and the luxors.”
    The bane. Corvan used the old Ptarsu term correctly. The word could be singular or plural. It had probably meant temple or holy place, but Lucidonius’s Parians had believed they were abominations. They’d acquired the word itself as they’d acquired the world.
    “And if they’re wrong?”
    Corvan was quiet for a long time. Then he said, “So you’re going to show up on the Nuqaba’s doorstep and say, ‘As the head of your faith, please show me your heretical texts and tell me the stories which I of all people am most likely to find deserving of death,’ and expect them to do it? I guess it qualifies as a plan. Not a good one, mind you.”
    “I
can
be awfully charming,” Gavin said.
    Corvan smiled, but turned away. “You know,” he said, “what you did yesterday with the sea demon was… astounding. What you did in Garriston was astounding, and not just the building of Brightwater Wall. Gavin, these people will follow you to the ends of the earth. They will spread word of what you’ve done to anyone they meet. If it came down to a fight between you and the Spectrum…”
    “The Spectrum already has more malleable candidates lined up to be the next Prism, Corvan. If I defy them now, I’ll be in as bad of a spot as
Dazen
was seventeen years ago. I won’t put the world through that again. The people can love me, but if all their leaders unite against me, I’ll win nothing except for death for my friends and allies. I’ve done that once.”
    “So, what? You’re just going to leave us? What are you going to do about Kip? He’s a tough kid, but he’s damaged and I think you’re the only thing he’s holding on to. If he finds out you’re not who you say you are, he could shatter. There’s no telling what he’d turn into. Don’t do that to your soul, Gavin. Don’t do that to the world. The last thing the Seven Satrapies need is another young polychrome Guile, mad with rage and grief. And what are
we
supposed to do? Where are we supposed to put all these people?”
    “Corvan, Corvan, Corvan. I’ve got a plan.” Sort of.
    “Somehow, my friend, I was afraid of that.” The crow’s nest swayed hard as the ship caught a rogue wave, and Corvan looked down at the deck far below, swallowing. “I don’t suppose it includes an easy way for me to get down?”

Chapter 6
     
    Ironfist grimaced at the missive in his hand. Usually, that expression, from him, toward Gavin, would be a quick twitch, quickly smoothed away. This time, his face twisted as if he were eating steak smoked in poisonwood. “You’re having me deliver
orders
. To the White,” Ironfist said.
    Gavin had summoned the big bodyguard to his stateroom after trying several rooms to see which suited his purposes best. “Regarding my son. Yes.” As Prism, Gavin didn’t have any authority over the White, but she had to be careful not to offend him. Both of them had to choose their battles with each other. He thought this was one she wouldn’t choose.
    “You want Kip made a Blackguard.” Ironfist kept his voice flat. Hewas the