That the Emperor was their sun was metaphorical, a statement of political fiction or theology: that he would burn or blind those who got too close simple fact. [loc. 299]
Another Goddard novella, focussing on Cavalier Conju enazo Argellian an Vilius and his life before he became the Emperor's Groom of the Chamber. The story begins with Conju having survived the catastrophic Fall of Astandalas, and spending the year, or century, afterwards -- the period during which the Emperor was in a magical sleep -- drinking his way through the supplies in the palace, and hanging out with a bunch of disreputable and debauched fellow survivors. (All his actual friends are dead.) Then the Emperor wakes, and Conju sobers up and discovers an ambition: to become one of the inner circle who tend to His Radiancy, a man notoriously particular -- like Conju himself -- about his attire and appearance. And does not care for mindless obedience, or for the prison of etiquette.
Woven through that story is Conju's grief for his lost love Terec; his occasional dalliances; his skills as a perfumier and arbiter of fashion, and and his growing friendship with a quiet fellow at court, who is only later revealed to be the Emperor's new secretary. And it becomes obvious that Conju has quietly manipulated circumstances -- a rumour here, a choice there, a morsel of gossip -- to the benefit of his lord.
This was a delight to read: I love the way that Goddard brings secondary characters to life, and her depiction of the beginnings of friendship between Conju and Kip (and the beginnings of something more rareified between Conju and His Radiancy) is understated. Especially good to see Conju discovering that in fact he does have a sense of humour.
After reading this I dipped into The Hands of the Emperor to see how Conju had matured. But one does not just 'dip into'...
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