Page 151 of A Drop of Corruption

“Kol?” she said.

I took out my engraver’s bonds and said, “Commander-Prificto Kulaq Thelenai of the Imperial Apothetikal Iyalet, I am now placing you under bonds for the imperial crimes of extreme disregard of duty, negligence for the lives of imperial servants, and the hindrance of an Iudex investigation. You shall henceforth be detained and placed within confines until you are submitted before the authorities of the Imperial Taxiarkhe. I warn you now that all actions and speech shall be submitted as testimony, and suggest you consider how you respond.”

Another sad smile, and she nodded. “Yes. Yes, of course.” She extended her wrists to me, and I placed my bonds upon her, and I led her away into the night.

—

When it was over—when she’d been formally charged, and transferred to confines, and locked away in the Apoth holding cells—I exited to find Ana’s carriage waiting outside for me. The pilot had climbed down from her perch and looked quite alarmed.

“She told me to follow you, sir,” said the pilot. “Though she is quite unwell…”

I dashed to the door of the carriage and threw it open. Ana lay upon the wooden seat, her head at an angle, her breath rattling.

“Is it done?” she gasped. “Did you do it?”

I moved to lift her up. “Ma’am! Ma’am, I…”

Her white hand flashed out and gripped my wrist with shocking strength. “Is itfinished,Din?”

“I…It is. Thelenai is in confines. She turned herself in.”

Ana nodded weakly, murmured, “Good,” and slumped back against her seat. “All justice duly done, be the culprits Yarrow or imperial. Good job, boy…Now. The medikkers, please?”

Her eyes closed, and I shouted to the carriage pilot to take us away.

Chapter 54

The medikkers swept Ana toa cradle where they began to examine her, all their augmented eyes and noses and ears poring over her like beetles seeking a bruise upon a gourd. Ana whispered to them as they worked, and though I could not hear her words, the medikkers seemed quite surprised, consulted their various tomes, then approached me.

“She asks us to put her in anuyumak,sir,” said the medikker. “A profound sleep. One that could last for days.”

“She said she neededrest,” I said, shocked. “That seems much too far.”

“It is her orders. And it is a possible solution for her issues, but it is a very rare balm, one only done when the brain has suffered immense trauma. Has this happened to her?”

“Not that I saw.”

“Then perhaps you can convince her otherwise.”

I approached Ana, who lay on her side like a child—the position reminded me strongly of Pyktis’s false body in the box—her spindly ribs rising and falling with each rattling breath.

“Ma’am,” I said hesitantly, “they say—”

“Don’t bother trying to persuade me, child,” she said, her voice soft yet surprisingly strong. “This is not my first experience with such exhaustion. Five days of sleep should do it.”

“You wish to sleep forfive days?”

“I do! For you have things under control, do you not? You remember all I said and did. You may speak for me as things…settle.”

“It may be a very violent settling, ma’am.”

“Then you should be aptly placed. For though your wits are merely sufficient, you are wicked with a sword! I shall trust you as I rest.”

I watched as she took another deep, labored breath. “Are you in pain, ma’am?”

“Pain? Feh? That is but nerves reporting discomfort, and can be ignored.” She raised her blindfolded head and whispered, “But…do you know what hurts worst, Din?”

“What, ma’am?”