by Jim Hodgson
But there were thousands of concerns other than his at stake here. Tens of thousands of concerns — also known as his people. For better or worse he’d ended up as their king and he would not fail them.
After impressing upon them the need for secrecy, he ordered three trusted advisors to do some research and then brief him on what a possible union between himself and Elgin might look like. He already knew what they would say: “It’ll never work.” However it was important to him to be the kind of ruler who asked for and accepted counsel on matters of government.
Now they’d sent word that they were ready to give their opinion on the matter. He’d headed off to meet with them and was surprised to find, as he rounded the corner, almost the full team of advisors and nobles.
They stood to greet him, mumbling variations of “Your Majesty.”
Usta nodded in recognition of the greeting and then met the gaze of Ornek Cihan. There was no stated leadership of the group of advisors, but Cihan had been a close friend of Usta’s parents, which made him Usta’s preferred contact.
“As you were, everyone,” Usta said. The men and women took their seats. He wanted to say out loud to Cihan, “What the hell are all these people doing here?” But he needed to control himself. He searched Cihan’s face for an explanation. The man was just smiling parentally. That annoyed Usta.
“Your Majesty, as you have requested, we have completed a thorough inquiry regarding the potential joining of the nations of Dilara and Il—”
Usta, unable to wait a moment longer, cut him off. “What the hell are all these people doing in here?”
“Ah, Your Majesty, you did stipulate that we should be absolutely sure of the results.”
“As I recall, I also impressed upon you,” Usta glared around the room. “Other things.”
Cihan smiled again. “I do apologize, Your Majesty, it’s just that in this particular case I knew that you wanted to be absolutely certain. I also knew that you wanted an answer quickly. I did hear your requirements for secrecy. That’s why I only brought advisors on board who already knew about your, ah, situation.”
“Already knew,” Usta repeated.
“Indeed.”
Usta looked around the room again. There were a lot of smiles, which made him want to throttle their owners. “So all these people know that I ...” he paused, started over. “That I asked you to look into a potential union?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Well, Usta thought, if that was the landscape, he might as well stop denying it. Even if they hadn’t known before, they sure as hell did now. He straightened his coat, inhaled, let the air out. “Very well. Who else knows?”
There was a lot of uncomfortable shifting at this. Cihan winced and scratched at his beard. “Everyone.”
“Everyone,” Usta said, realizing it was the second time he’d echoed Cihan.
Cihan spread his hands. “She’s physically impressive, beautiful, well-spoken. She loves her people and they love her. In short, she’s the most eligible woman in the known world and you’re the most eligible bachelor. It only makes sense that the two of you would find one another interesting.”
“I’m well aware of her manifold qualities,” Usta said quietly.
Now Cihan wore a caring smile. The caring was not lost on Usta.
“Right then,” Usta said. “It seems my humiliation in this matter is to be public, then.” He nodded and stood tall. “Very well. I can take it. Let’s hear what you have to say.”
“We love the idea. We think it would be beneficial for both kingdoms,” Cihan said.
“You what?”
Chapter 4
Usta was surprised, but Cihan explained in detail some of the benefits of a closer Ilbez and Dilara alliance. Dilara had greater stores of, and ability to grow, food. Ilbez had experience fighting the Yetkin and kept them from venturing south far enough to trouble Dilara. They were also experts at raising and training horses, which were in great need in Dilara now that its economy no longer used the extramortal labor force.
So, he had the backing of his advisors. He knew what he had to do next; he had to get the Gerent’s permission to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. He would also need to ask Elgin herself, supposing the Gerent gave his blessing, but he knew from his training as a young man at court that the father must be consulted.
He had to hurry, though. He was lucky in that the Gerent was in Dilara, preparing for an expedition into the Yetkin lands. They’d already said goodbye to one another, but hopefully the Gerent hadn’t quite left the city yet.
Usta hurried down to the docks and found the Gerent aboard his ship.
“Ah, my boy,” the Gerent said, smiling. “I thought I’d seen the last of you until my next trip. What can I do for my former general?”
Usta smiled. “I thought of one more thing I wanted to bring to your attention.”
The Gerent stood from the leather saddlebag he’d been packing. “Is it about my daughter?” he asked, becoming serious.
Usta felt a prickle at his neck, but didn’t give in under the Gerent’s gaze. “It is.”
The Gerent nodded. “It’s about time you gave that a bit of thought. Everyone can see how hard you’ve been working to keep Dilara and Ilbez in good order, but you have to take time for yourself. Take it from me.” He gestured to the adventuring gear.
“Yes, well, I had my advisors look into the financial and political repercussions of any arrangement and they believe it would be a boon to both our economies.”
The Gerent nodded again at this. “Do you know how women get pregnant?”
Usta could feel his eyes blinking. He looked around the ship’s cargo hold to see if anyone else was in earshot. Mercifully, there was no one.
“I thought not,” the Gerent went on. “The people of Dilara are great warriors and great friends, but the things you keep from your young people in the name of propriety I simply do not understand. Now listen, what happens is you start with some kissing, all right? You can’t just leap on her with your thing ready to—”
Usta put his hand up. “I know how women become pregnant. Please stop describing it to me.”
The Gerent tilted his head. “Maybe you know how they do it here, but let me tell you, the way you do it here and the way we do things in Ilbez is very different. I’ve introduced a few things to the women of Dilara that they found to be extremely interesting.”
Usta considered leaping overboard. One of the portholes was open. If he jumped hard he could probably make it out and get away from this conversation forever. Instead, he said, “Yes, I’ve heard that you’re quite popular around town.”
The Gerent was the talk of court. He was an older man but was still well-muscled. He could dance and he made people laugh. Single women of court around his age jockeyed for his attention when he was in town and he encouraged it. A few younger women made themselves available as well, but the Gerent politely rebuffed their advances. He wasn’t interested in anyone under thirty-five.
The Gerent waved Usta’s comment away. “It’s all about being attentive to their needs, you see? If there’s anything that the great Dilara can learn from little old Ilbez, it’s being more attentive to and respectful of women.”
“Duly noted,” Usta said. The Gerent had a point. It only made sense that mothers and fathers should be equal. Why did they pretend it wasn’t so in Dilara? “I will certainly keep that in mind. But, if I may, I wanted to—”
The Gerent wasn’t done talking. “It’s a fine line, you see? You have to be strong for her so she knows she can count on you, but you also have to be emotionally vulnerable enough so she feels like she has an impact on you.”
“But Elgin is a strong woman herself. She doesn’t need me for strength.”
“If she doesn’t need you, then she ain’t gonna pair up with you. But don’t come on too strong. If you try to order her around she’ll cut you from throatlatch to tail.” The Gerent chuckled at this for some reason. “Now listen, I
want you to keep all this in mind. But you also need to realize I am not a young man and I want to see some grandchildren before I go, so don’t you waste any time getting her pregnant. Your gear works well and everything, doesn’t it?”
Usta ignored this. There was a twinkle in the Gerent’s eye that said he was enjoying himself. He said formally, “I would like to have your blessing to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
The Gerent grinned. “All right, I’ll stop kicking you around.” He chuckled again. “Of course you have my blessing, but it ain’t me you need to ask. You need to ask her.”
“I intend to,” Usta said. Just saying this out loud gave him a thrill. He was going to ask Elgin Ormuz to marry him!
The Gerent clapped him on the back and whooped. “Excellent! Excellent. You’d better pack your things. You’re not getting her pregnant from here unless you’re more man than even I think you are.” Then he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
As it happened, Usta had a plan as to exactly when and how to ask Elgin to marry him.
Years ago, Bilal Sakir had sent a delegation of extramortal workers to the mountains that divided Ilbez from Dilara with orders to build a tunnel, which was now almost finished. It might mean waiting a few weeks or months to actually have his chance to ask Elgin to marry him, but Usta thought it would be worth it for the symbolism of the two nations joining.
He decided to pay a visit to Yonca and Wagast. They’d be able to guess more accurately when the tunnel might be completed.
The door to the tower Yonca and Wagast had built was opened by Yonca’s favorite spider, Eustace. Usta was making every effort to rid himself of the fear and revulsion he felt whenever he looked at one of Yonca’s spiders, but it wasn’t easy. At least Eustace was only the size of a large dog. Some were the size of a house with clicking fangs and mouth parts like sickle blades. Usta suppressed a shudder.
The spider opened the door and just sat there making clicking noises.
“Could you tell Yonca and Wagast I’m here, please?” Usta asked.
The spider clicked.
Behold the great king, Usta thought. As he is ignored by an upturned cook pot with legs.
“We’re back here,” a voice called.
Chapter 5
Usta found Wagast and Yonca lounging on a veranda that overlooked the city and the river beyond. It was shaded and cool.
Wagast was sipping tea. “My liege,” he said.
Yonca stood and smiled.
Wagast placed his cup back in its saucer and made to stand, but Usta waved him back down. Wagast was slowing down. He’d always seemed to be a thousand years old, but he’d been agile as anyone. Now it usually took him a few moments to get to his feet. He was mentally as sharp as ever, but it seemed to Usta as if the physical injuries the old man had sustained in his flight from the evil wizard Cezmi had never fully healed. Usta made a mental note to speak to Ozel about it.
“How’s Dilara’s most powerful couple?” Usta asked.
“We’re old,” Wagast said. “But otherwise good.”
“Pleased to see you, Your Majesty,” Yonca said. “May I behave as if I already know why you’re here, or should we go through the usual Dilaran pleasantries?”
It had taken Usta some time to get used to this. Yonca’s spider spy network was terribly effective at delivering information from around town, though it got somewhat less certain at distances of more than a few miles. It had been crucial in derailing a few plots over the last few years. Truth be told, the spiders had saved Usta’s life from assassination at least once. He owed her a debt of gratitude for that. It was still unnerving that he could never visit her without Yonca already knowing why he’d come, but if that was the price for her help, well, needs must.
“The kingdom thrives, thanks to you, madam,” he said with a little bow.
She looked nonplussed at this, but the twinkle in her eye said otherwise. “In that case let me extend my congratulations.”
“Congratulations?” Wagast asked.
“He’s going to marry Elgin Ormuz,” Yonca said. The words shot a bolt of excitement through Usta’s core.
“He is?”
Yonca sighed. “We talked about this. Several times.”
“Oh,” Wagast said. He flashed a sheepish look at Usta. “Well, anyway, I’m pleased for you both. She’s a strong woman, Alper. The two of you will lead us well.”
Yonca nodded. “Don’t fuck it up.”
“Yonca!”
Yonca waved at Wagast. “For what it’s worth, I agree with your advisors that it’s a good move for both countries. Her advisors are telling her the same thing.”
Usta asked, “Her advisors know about this too?”
Yonca went on, “I’m glad this is out in the open at last.”
“Is there anyone in the known world who does not already know that I would like Elgin to be my bride?”
Wagast and Yonca looked at one another.
“Er,” Wagast began.
“Some of the hill people probably don’t know,” Yonca offered.
Wagast nodded and gestured that he agreed. “The Yetkin might not know. And some rare beasts of the mountains. Fish of the deep sea.”
Usta closed his eyes, took a breath, reopened them. Wizards and their humor. “Right. Well. Be that as it may, I was thinking I’d ask for Elgin’s hand at the tunnel opening ceremony. I came to find out if you have any idea when the crews might complete the work.”
“From what I hear, they are close,” Yonca said. “But there are some troubling rumblings.”
“Rumblings? Among whom?”
“No, I mean literal rumblings from the rock.”
“Like an earthquake?”
Yonca tilted her head side to side. “Could be. Could be something else. A human crew would never have attempted what the extramortals are doing. That deep underground there could be all manner of harmful gases. There could be terrible creatures lurking. Or the roof could cave in.”
“Harmful gases are nothing to them,” Wagast observed. “Being buried would be inconvenient to the undead, but probably not too big an issue.”
“Are you telling me that there are monsters under the mountain?” Usta asked.
Wagast shrugged. “There could be anything under there. There could be nothing. The heart of the mountain itself could be alive. There could be small, hideous creatures with terrible attitudes living in a cave and carving a statue.”
Yonca frowned at Wagast, then said to Usta, “He’s being this way because he researched it and didn’t find anything. It hurts his pride to not know something.”
Wagast blew air out his nose at Yonca like an old goat. “She’s not entirely wrong. I am annoyed that I couldn’t find anything, but there is one place yet to look. Guzul the Fierce’s library. I would like to go myself, but I think we should ask Ozel to go instead. I want him to check on Alan anyway.”
“Alan?” Usta asked.
“My other apprentice. At least, he was when all this mess started. Technically he still is, but he’s living in my house up near Bilgehan.” Wagast sighed. “I’ve sent word that he should lock the place up and come continue his training, but he hasn’t arrived yet. So, Yonca looked into it and, well ...” Wagast shook his head. “It’s peculiar.”
“Peculiar how?”
“That’s what we’re going to send Ozel to find out. Alan has some magical training, but not enough to know how to control himself. We’re concerned.”
Yonca said, “And he’s at that point in his life where there are a lot of … urges.”
Usta could identify with urges.
“So,” Wagast said. “We’ll ask Ozel to go check on Alan, and perhaps Ergam will agree to go along too. They should be able to relay what they find out about deep mountain rumblings at Guzul the Fierce’s house in a couple of days. Yonca and I were going to go down to check on Ozel at the shop shortly anyway.”
“Thank you both,” Usta said. “Our kingdom would be
lost without you two.”
“Bah,” Wagast said. “It’s our pleasure.”
Yonca nodded in agreement. “I never thought I would come back to a city like this, but it feels nice to support a good king.”
Usta smiled. “Then I shall have to be a good king.”
“It would be wise,” Yonca said. “But if you should forget, Elgin Ormuz will kick you back on track. Of that I have no doubt.”
Wagast let out a barking laugh.
Usta might have felt insulted, but he nodded instead. Everything was falling into place. He’d marry his great love, and together they would lead their nations to peace and prosperity for many years to come. What a life it would be.
Chapter 6
Torus Gonul paid the boy with a few coins.
The boy gave the coins a wide-eyed look of adoration.
Yes, thought Gonul to himself. They do have that power, don’t they?
But then the boy scowled up at him. “Why do you want to know where the king goes, sir?”
Gonul was ready for this. “Because I love him! So strong, so proud. I’d like to watch him myself, but I can’t move around the way I used to.” He waggled his walking cane. Then he adopted his imitation of the revolting expression he’d seen on people’s faces when speaking of Usta. “Hearing news of him does please me so.”
The boy seemed to accept this. He smiled at his coins again, and then ran back into the street.
Gonul resisted the urge to slam the door. He closed it until it clicked, dropped the bar in place and headed back into the recesses. He pushed one of the cats away with his cane, moved the threadbare rug aside, pulled on the ring to lift the trapdoor, then went down into the chamber beneath his house.
What a treasure this place was. It had taken months to dig it out without disturbing the structure overhead, a feat which might have taken many lifetimes had humans done it. Luckily, he’d gotten the project completed before the disaster, when the rightful undead servants of the good people of Dilara were set free by that idiot now wearing the crown. Hopefully, though, the fool wouldn’t be wearing it much longer. Or, if he was, he’d be wearing it in a tomb somewhere.
