A murmuring filled the chamber. The Janizaries pressed forward. Kieron drew his sword and leaped to the dais beside Ivane. She did not shrink back from him.
"Touch her, and Ivane dies!" shouted Kieron, his point at Ivane's naked breast. The murmuring subsided and the Janizaries pulled up short.
"Now, you are all going to listen to me!" shouted Kieron from the dais. "This woman under my blade is a murderess and plotter, and I can prove it!"
Ivane's face was strained and white. Not from fear of his sword, Kieron knew.
"In the Palace dungeons you will likely find Landor ..." Kieron continued. "He will be there because he knew of Ivane's plottings and talked too much when he had a dagger at his throat. He will confirm what I say!
"This woman plotted to usurp the Imperium as long as five years ago! It may have been longer...." He turned to Ivane. "How long does it take to incubate an android, Ivane? A year? Two? And then to train him, school him so that every move he makes is intended to further your aims? How long does all that take?"
Ivane uttered a scream of terror now. "Freka! Call Freka!"
Kieron dropped his sword point and stepped away from Ivane as though she were contaminated. There was little danger from her now—but there was still another.
Freka appeared at the edge of the dais, his tall form towering above the courtiers. "You called for me, Imperial Ivane?"
Ivane stared at Kieron with hate-filled eyes. "You have failed me! Kill him now!"