Blade of the North

by Jones, Heath

  Yet for all that, he is still a skilled politician. I have to wonder - is he only playing with me, manipulating me with his words? I’m struggling to know what to believe. There is some truth in what he is saying. But… what if it is only a drop of truth in an ocean of lies? “How do I know you’re not lying to me now?” I ask.

  He sighs again, this time wearily. “If you aren’t always truthful to yourself, why do you expect others to always be truthful to you?”

  “No games,” I say. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

  “You don’t,” he replies. “You have to weigh up all you know and decide what is true and what is not. The world is more complicated than you can ever know. You have to learn everything about it that you can. Then you must make a decision. Sometimes you’ll be right, sometimes you’ll be wrong. But,” he adds, with a wry smile, “you need to always allow for the possibility that even when you’re right, you might still be wrong.”

  And what does that mean? Storm spoke truly. The emperor’s words are sharp - they have already cut me deeper than any sword.

  As I watch the emperor and ponder on his words, I’m struck by yet another doubt – if I kill Tigranik, who will replace him? Will a new warlord simply take his place? Will they strive for a universal peace, or care only for their own glory? I have never thought beyond this moment, of standing before the emperor, knife in hand, ready to strike him down.

  “The choice, as in all things, is ever yours,” he says. Then, surprisingly, he drops his knives, letting them clatter to the ground.

  I stare in disbelief. Emperor Tigranik is unarmed, defenceless. I could easily kill him now – I know he won’t allow his Peace Bringers to interfere. Instinctively I take a step towards him, raising my knife, then stop. Is this another of his tricks? Or… or what? I don’t know what to do.

  Do I truly want an end to this war and for peace to reign again? If Tigranik speaks truly, then aiding him and keeping him safe would eventually bring that peace into being, but at the cost of countless more lives.

  Or do I merely thirst for vengeance - what I once called justice? I began my journey to save my father, but that is no longer possible. What, I hear Storm’s voice ask, is my purpose?

  Looking around the garden, I see Theolin, rage writ large across her face, imploring me with savage eyes to kill Tigranik. I also see the ring of the emperor’s Peace Bringers, none of whom are interfering or threatening me. They are obeying his command, allowing me my audience with him.

  Finally, I turn to Tigranik, the emperor himself, and ask myself the unspeakable question: is it possible that I could serve the emperor I came to kill?

  Tigranik is watching me, motionless, silent, defenceless.

  What is my purpose?

  I think of the countries now under his control, enjoying his so-called freedom. Then I remember my family, my friends, all the lives lost because of this man. My loss, my grief is so great. Griping my knife tighter, every muscle in my arm begins to shake.

  For all Tigranik’s fine, persuasive words, his silence is proving his most powerful tool. For in his silence he is offering me freedom – the freedom to choose. The choice, as he said, is truly mine.

  Trembling, fearful I will regret what I am about to do, I summon the strength to make my decision. To do what I must to end the war.

  I bow down on my knee.

  “My emperor,” I say.

  About the Author

  Heath lives in Sydney with his beautiful wife and three children.

  Feel free to email him at: h.a.jonesauthor@gmail.com