Masters of Deception

by J C Kang

  Epilogue:

  Friends and Enemies

  Haros Bovyanthas didn’t believe he was born to a virgin, nor that he was destined to end the Bovyan Curse. What mattered was that enough of his peers did believe that.

  He was surrounded by them now. Consuls, Keepers, and Prospecti dressed in formal black togas with gold borders all chanted as he knelt in the central hall of the Shrine of Geros in Telesite. For the last time, his own right eye tracked five Keepers as they approached. Each bore a black velvet cushion in outstretched hands, on which was placed an heirloom of the Bovyan race.

  At Haros’ side, the Chief Keeper extended his hand and plucked a ceremonial dagger from one of the cushions. The ancient blade had belonged to their progenitor, Geros, the mortal son of the sun god, Solaris.

  Haros took a deep breath. Was it worth losing an eye to become First Consul? He already controlled the Directori and was ruler in fact, if not in name.

  Yes.

  All his plans were already secretly in motion, carried out by his Nightblades and other units loyal to him, but his peers would only accept the sacrilegious nature of his tactics if he were First Consul.

  The tip of the blade touched his right eyeball, which exploded in a flash of searing pain. Squeezing his good eye shut, he gritted his teeth. Unlike many of his predecessors, he didn’t so much as grunt.

  He opened his left eye and blinked away the tears. Though he couldn’t see anything to his right, he knew the Chief Keeper was taking up the Eye of Geros.

  Through the pain, Haros’ heart pounded. The Eye contained a spark of Solaris’ divinity. From the memoirs of previous First Consuls, he’d learned that it helped them perceive combat, and that one of Solaris’ angels spoke through it.

  Given the separation of powers between the Directori and the Keepers of the Shrine, no previous First Consul understood the angel’s Divine language; but as a former acolyte of the Shrine, Haros would. He turned his head to see the cushion bearing the Last Testament of Geros. Written in the language which no one could speak and only a few could read, it held the First Geros’ vision for peace and prosperity.

  The Chief Keeper seized his chin. “Open your eye.”

  Was it closed? It was hard to tell through the pain and the lack of sight. Haros did the best he could to open it. The glass pressed into his eye socket. Pain lanced through his head, reaching deep into his brain like a weed’s roots.

  He fought to maintain consciousness, unwilling to faint like all the previous First Consuls.

  It was hopeless. The pain was too intense. His last thoughts, before he passed out, were of the Orc King’s promised meeting with the Madurans and Levastyans in Arkos.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Light from the Blue Moon spilled in through the window at the end of the hall as Myra walked by the mating rooms. The moans and giggles emanating from within were nothing like the horrors she’d heard in lands the Teleri Empire had recently conquered. She shuddered at those memories, and hurried down the corridor toward the bedrooms.

  She peeked into a few open doors, where erstwhile prostitutes laughed and chatted with each other. Many looked forward to the boys they would be having, the first expected in the next four months. The lively atmosphere was nothing like the misery endemic to the mating compounds that the Teleri set up in the cities and kingdoms they brought to heel. Using prostitutes to start breeding a local army here had been a stroke of genius.

  She sighed. Soon, she would have to return to the front lines, and care for hundreds of girls who had no choice in the matter. Like her mother.

  At the end of the hall, she fished out her key and unlocked her door. A light breeze greeted her, and she walked to her desk. She unshuttered her desk lamp, musing for a moment about how the Aksumi Mystics infused and exported thousands of the light baubles. Demon magic, the Bovyans claimed, though the Consul Haros had taken a more pragmatic view. If his plans worked, he’d breed and train a whole army of Bovyan Mystics.

  She plopped down on her chair, but then froze. Her window…

  “I oiled it for you,” the half-elf’s voice said from behind.

  Myra spun to the source, only to find no one there.

  The voice came from her lamp. “You are observant, to have noticed the window was a little more open than you left it.”

  “Show yourself,” Myra said.

  The half-elf crawled out from under the desk.

  Myra gasped. How could she have not seen the interloper, right by her feet? “What do you want? Are you here to kill me?”

  The half-elf shook her head. “Why would I do that?”

  Myra shrugged. “If you wanted to, I guess I would already be dead. So what do you want?”

  “Where is the Nightblade, Phobos?”

  “I heard he was headed to Arkos on one of the Pirate Queen’s ships.”

  The half-elf sucked on her lower lip. It was a cute gesture, though probably hiding malevolent thought processes. “What about the Nightblade I killed?”

  Myra frowned. She’d tried to get the half-elf out of the compound without any bloodshed. “His body was sent out to sea, along with the others you killed, as is the Bovyan tradition.”

  The half-elf made a face, akin to sucking a lemon. “How barbaric.”

  “All Bovyan combat dead are sent down rivers or out to sea. All water leads to the sun, they say.”

  The half-elf shook her head. “He was Cathayi, and that’s not our tradition.”

  “He was a Bovyan. All Bovyans take on the features of their mother. That’s why some have fair skin, and others are bronze.” Never before had Myra seen a Bovyan of Aksumi descent, but that would change in the near future.

  The half-elf slid the window open and started out. She paused for a moment. “Thanks again for helping me this afternoon. It’s reassuring to know not all in the Teleri Empire are evil.”

  Evil was relative. Not to mention… “Some of the Bovyans aren’t bad, either.”

  “Farewell.” The half-elf disappeared.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Jie took several deep breaths and smoothed out her filthy pink dress as she looked up the broad marble steps to the Regent. Her visit to the Teleri compound had been fruitful, even if she hadn’t recovered De Lucca’s second knife, nor found any sign of Nightblade Phobos. A visit to his antique shop revealed only records of his people’s plunder. Still, she’d learned where he was headed, and also that the Nightblade she’d killed was indeed a Bovyan, and not Cathayi.

  Her mission now took her—coincidentally, or perhaps not—in the same direction as Brehane and Sameer, and she had a means of getting them all a little closer to Arkos.

  Feigning her best damsel in distress, she staggered up to the landing and paused at a vaulting column.

  The two guards, dressed in the blue-and-gold livery of the Regent, side-stepped to block the double glass doors—themselves a marvel.

  “You are not welcome here,” one said.

  Wrist on her forehead, Jie collapsed. The marble felt cold through the dress. “I’m a translator for the Tarkothi. Please alert Prince Aryn.”

  The guards exchanged glances. Nodding, one hurried inside. Jie pushed herself up onto an elbow, gasping. If there was a place to put on an act, the luxurious landing, framed by columns above the road and the many passersby, was perfect.

  A Tarkothi marine appeared in the door with the inn guard. His eyes widened. He exchanged words with the guard, then rushed back in.

  The guard came out and beckoned. “You may come in, Miss Jyeh.”

  As always, her acting skills merited some kind of drama award. She wobbled to her feet and staggered through the doors that the guards held open.

  One guided her across the plush red carpet through the spacious foyer to three leather couches, arranged around a low wooden table. She wilted into one, and through half-lidded eyes watched the servants as they scurried every which way.

  Aryn appeared at the top of a mezzanine and froze, wide eyes on her. He pattered
down the grand stairway, expression at once concerned and relieved. “Jyeh, are you all right?” He loped across the foyer and knelt in front of her. He took her hands in his.

  She gave him a tentative nod.

  “What happened?” His eyes roved over her, not so much with their typical lust, but more with worry. “I didn’t know what to think when we lost you yesterday.”

  “The crime families,” she said, letting his imagination fill in the blanks so she wouldn’t have to lie.

  “Oh...” His pretty lips formed a local letter O. “They didn’t…?”

  She shook her head. “Some new friends protected me. By the time the Mafia were ready to do awful things to me, fighting broke out between them and the watch.”

  He nodded. “My men helped maintain order. How did you escape?”

  “Those friends,” she said. “A Mystic, a Paladin, and Signore Cassius Larusso.”

  “Cassius Larusso, the famous Diviner.” He whistled.

  An unfeigned shudder rattled through her. Back home, whistling at night attracted ghosts; but maybe evil spirits in these lands didn’t care. She smiled. “I wish I could do something to repay them.”

  Aryn’s forehead crinkled. “I can pay them a handsome reward.”

  “You need to reach them soon. They are headed to Arkos.”

  His expression brightened. “I can offer them passage as far as Elbahia. That’s halfway there.”

  Hook. Line. Sinker.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Sameer hobbled up the gang plank to the Indomitable, his countless wounds burning under their bandages. In the absence of a true Levastyan Akolyte, he’d had to rely on Jie for treatment. Thank the Thousand Gods her hands proved just as good at stitching as they did at picking pockets; and the local healer’s salves were now working to make the pain tolerable.

  Less tolerable was how Sohini had joined the Golden Scorpions, thereby sacrificing her ideals for him. He would’ve rather died than have her become what she hated the most. The Paladin way had failed both of them.

  Now, without any masters to guide him, he decided to continue on the mission Elder Gitika had been given. If Sohini was headed to Arkos, so was he.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  With her wound washed and stitched by Jie the previous day, Brehane now convalesced in their shared cabin aboard the Indomitable. From the way Prince Aryn always gazed at the half-elf, it was doubtful Jie would be spending her nights there. She had the foreign prince wrapped around her finger, using the bat of an eyelash here, a pout of her lips there—the same kind of flirtatious body language one would expect from a man in Aksumi tribal lands.

  The relations between men and women were so backward—whether they be from Cathay, the Estomar, the Bovyans, or Tarkothi—that perhaps it was Aksumi culture that was unnatural. Melas and Dawit had thought so.

  Were their native customs so onerous that it pushed them both to treason? Brehane thought back to all the young women at the South Seas brothel, crying among themselves over their treatment at the hands of the men. Perhaps the Aksumi way was just as bad, only with the roles reversed; and yet, Melas and Dawit didn’t even take that into account when they kidnapped and forced themselves on Makeda.

  All that didn’t matter. Brehane’s only way to regain the Biomancer clan honor was to bring Melas back. The fact that he had taken her necklace was added incentive.

  She withdrew Kirala’s Dragonstones book and flipped through it. In addition to Makeda’s Tear and Aralas’ Heart, it now showed Tatiana’s Eye atop the local pyramid, and…her brows furrowed. Unlike the other entries, De Lucca’s orb wasn’t named. It was simply referred to as a capstone, and, as they’d experienced, it blocked magic of all sorts…except this book. Maybe—

  Cassius’ voice carried from the deck. He had true Divining power, and his seed would strengthen her own magic. Wincing as she rose, she went to the door. Once she was better, she’d get him into bed…but play by his rules and expectations. All she had to do was learn how Jie did it.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Cassius stood on the deck of the Indomitable, watching Tokahia as it disappeared in the distance. The Gods’ Whispers grew quieter the farther away they sailed from the pyramid’s blinking eye. To think, the Gods’ Whispers would’ve quieted altogether had De Lucca succeeded in replacing the Eye with whatever that strange crystal was.

  So far, no one could answer that question, and De Lucca’s lead box which held it remained locked away in the cellar of his villa.

  Brehane now came up beside him, wincing at the pain. Jie had cleaned, cauterized, and stitched the wound De Lucca had dealt her, and the Tarkothi ship doctor had applied an herbal poultice and given her some foul drink to prevent infection. Despite Makeda’s betrayal, Brehane still wanted to rescue her.

  Cassius suspected she was more concerned about her necklace.

  The Mystics had already embarked on one of the Pirate Queen’s ships. Though he’d credited the Gods’ Whispers, Cassius knew because her agents had informed him. They’d also told him that Prince Dhananad had taken the same ship, with Anish and Sohini as guards.

  It didn’t take any Divining to know Sameer would insist on joining the chase to Arkos.

  Cassius looked from the Paladin, back to Brehane. He didn’t know how to describe his feelings for her. Love? He wouldn’t know what that felt like. Opportunity? For another chance at wild sex? Or a million drakas?

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Thank you for reading Masters of Deception. Jie’s adventure with the annoying princess and clueless spy back home is detailed in Songs of Insurrection, Book 1 of The Dragon Songs Saga. Her next adventure takes place in Crown of the Sundered Empire, Book 1 of Heirs to the Sundered Empire, to be released early 2019.

  Download the FREE prequel, Prelude to Insurrection, which follows Jie as she uncovers a rebellion.

  Appendices

  Celestial Bodies

  White Moon: Known as Renyue in Cathay, and represents the God of the Seas. Its orbital period is thirty days.

  Iridescent Moon: Known in Cathay as Caiyue, it is the manifestation of the God of Magic. It appeared at the end of the war between elves and orcs. It never moves from its spot in the sky. Its orbital period is one day, and can be used to keep time.

  Blue Moon: Known in Cathay as Guanyin's Eye, it is the manifestation of the Goddess of Fertility. Its phases go from wide open to winking.

  Tivar's Star: A red star, a manifestation of the God of Conquest. During the Year of the Second Sun, it approached the world, causing the Blue Moon to go dim.

  Hunter Kor: A constellation, always in pursuit of the White Stag

  Lycea the Betrayer: A star, avatar of the Goddess of Betrayals

  White Stag: A constellation, always hiding from Hunter Kor

  Fortuna: A constellation of the Goddess of Luck

  Time

  As measured by the phases of the Iridescent Moon:

  Full = Midnight

  1st Waning Gibbons = 1:00 AM

  2nd Waning Gibbons =2:00 AM

  Mid-Waning Gibbons = 3:00 AM

  4th Waning Gibbons = 4:00 AM

  5th Waning Gibbons = 5:00 AM

  Waning Half = 6:00 AM

  1st Waning Crescent = 7:00 AM

  2nd Waning Crescent = 8:00 AM

  Mid-Waning Crescent = 9:00 AM

  4th Waning Crescent = 10:00 AM

  5th Waning Crescent = 11: 00 AM

  New = Noon

  1st Waxing Crescent = 1:00 PM

  2nd Waxing Crescent = 2:00 PM

  Mid-Waxing Crescent = 3:00 PM

  4th Waxing Crescent = 4:00 PM

  5th Waxing Crescent = 5:00 PM

  Waxing Half = 6:00 PM

  1st Waxing Gibbons = 7:00 PM

  2nd Waxing Gibbons =8:00 PM

  Mid-Waxing Gibbons = 9:00 PM

  4th Waxing Gibbons = 10:00 PM

  5th Waxing Gibbons = 11:00 PM

  Human Ethnicities

  Aksumi: Dark-skinned with dark eyes and coarse hair.
On Earth, they would be considered North Africans. They can use Sorcery.

  Ayuri: Bronze-toned skin with dark hair and eyes. On Earth, they would be considered South Asians. They can use Martial Magic.

  Arkothi: Olive-skinned with blond to dark hair and light-colored eyes. On Earth, they would be considered Eastern Mediteraneans. They can use weak Mental Magic.

  Bovyan: The descendants of the Sun God's begotten son, they are cursed to be all male and live only to thirty-three years of age. They are much taller and larger than the average human. Their other physical characteristics are determined by their mother's race. They have no magical ability.

  Cathayi (Hua): Honey-toned skin with dark hair and eyes. High-set cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. On Earth, they would be considered East Asians. They can use Artistic Magic.

  Eldaeri: Olive-skinned with brown hair. With features and small frames, they are shorter in stature than the average human. In a previous age, they fled the orc domination of the continent and mingled with elves. They have no magical ability.

  Estomari: Olive-skinned with varying eye and hair color. They are famous for their fine arts. On Earth, they would be considered Western Mediterraneans. They can use Divining Magic.

  Kanin: Ruddy-skinned with dark hair. On Earth, they would be considered Native Americans. They can use Shamanic Magic.

  Levanthi: Dark-bronze skin and dark hair. On Earth, they would be considered Persians. They can use Divine Magic.

  Nothori: fair-skinned and fair-haired. On Earth, they would be considered Northern Europeans. They can use Empathic Magic.

  Acknowledgements:

  Many thanks to my crit partners JC Nelson, Stacy Lindsay, Kelly Walker, Leanne Yong, and Crystal Trobak for their invaluable input. Thanks to beta readers Sonya Kaspar, Stephanie Ford, Shannon Bryant, and Anne Loshuk.