The Zoya Chronicles Boxed Set

by Kate Sander

  Blushing, he bowed again, then turned quickly and hustled away. Armend followed him through the maze of the laboratory. Different machines and mechanisms pulsed and glowed different colours, some sparked violently and others spun. Since his trip to the dungeons with Intelligence, Armend made sure to pay attention to his surroundings so he could find his own way out of here.

  The boy led him to a small sitting room, with deep leather chairs and a dark wood table. Alchemist Omega rose from one of the chairs unsteadily, leaning on his cane. He walked to Armend and gave a small nod of his head, “Peace!” he said shakily, licking his lips. His skin was peeling in parts of his face and his white wispy hair was thinning quickly. “Come in, come in. What a surprise,” Omega continued.

  Turning to the young boy, he said, “Fetch us wine and then you are excused for the day.” The boy bowed and hurried away.

  “Come in, sit down,” Omega continued. He turned, tremors in his hands, and headed back to the deep leather chairs. He sat down with a sigh. Armend followed and took the chair across from him. The assistant hustled in again and with an awkward bow he placed wine on the table with a couple of glasses then hurried out. Armend noticed Omega’s gaze linger on the boy.

  It felt good to be right.

  “I am sorry to hear about the disappearance of your wife,” Omega said, “You must be devastated.”

  Armend had a quick flash of his hands around her neck and slamming her head into the floor repeatedly. “Yes I am quite worried, but she has always been a free spirit. She left a note saying she has left me for a blacksmith of all things,” Armend wiped a tear from his eye, taking the moment to shut down the memory of the satisfying crack her head had made against the marble and the flow of blood seeping from her skull and ruined face.

  “I suppose I am back on the market,” Armend continued. He leaned forward and poured the wine, allowing one tear to drip on the table.

  Omega nodded sympathetically, “That is the problem with women. They cannot be trusted. You are a fine specimen, I have no doubt you will find a woman to spend your life with. As humans we crave companionship.” He glanced at the door where the Assistant had left earlier.

  “Indeed,” Armend said and took a sip of his wine, “I will have trouble replacing her. She was a flower amongst the weeds. I only hope she has found happiness.”

  “You are a better man than I. I would have sent the entirety of the Sun Gods to track her down and bring her back to me, only for me to leave her. But I am petty and old, and often do not understand these matter of the heart. I am in love with my work and my work alone.”

  Armend nodded, “I wanted to, in the beginning. But she was unhappy, and I didn’t know how to change that,” he looked down and noticed the claw marks she had left on his wrists. He quickly pulled his cloak down to cover them. “Thank you for your sympathy.”

  Omega nodded and tried to sip his wine as well, but the tremors in his hands made it difficult. Wine splashed over the rim of the glass but he seemed not to notice. He replaced the glass on the table and absent-mindedly began to itch. “Peace, though I appreciate the visit, I cannot help but wonder the reasoning. You have never visited me before.”

  Armend listened to the man scratch himself and hid the cringe. That sound grated on his nerves. “I just came to see how you are doing. As my wife has left me, I find myself with more and more free time I need to fill.”

  “I lost another assistant this week,” Omega grumbled, “They keep dying on me. I don’t know why. It starts with the usual, the tremors and the hair loss. Then they lose dexterity and they complain of bugs crawling in their skin. Finally they go mad. Tell me, why have I been able to stay in this lab for over forty years when I started as an Assistant to Omicron, and yet my Assistants die every four years?” He huffed, “Kids these days.”

  “I believe it is a lack of discipline from a young age,” Armend replied, “They grow up soft and live soft lives. This sickness is starting to affect everyone in Solias, and I think it’s because everyone is soft. You don’t see the Sun Gods dying at the age of thirty from going mad.”

  Omega nodded, “Agreed. I don’t know where I will get another Assistant. Not a lot of volunteers and I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  “I may be able to help you with that,” Armend said silkily, looking over his glass at Omega.

  Omega ignored the comment.

  “And I am being pushed and bullied into finding a Quicksilver alternative.” Omega continued, the building anger making his tremors worse. “There is no alternative. I am not as smart as Alpha and I will be the first to admit it. If he couldn’t find an alternative, then I won’t. I don’t know what this Queen Anita is getting at. She is too dumb to realize that it can’t be done. She should stay where she belongs, in their bedroom with her ankles behind her ears!” Omega was puffing now from the effort of his rant. He seemed to come to his senses and realize what he was saying, “I… I… I…” he stammered as he paled. Anger melting to terror.

  Armend held one finger up, stopping him from continuing. Omega had just committed treason, and they both knew that Armend could have him hanged. As Omega gasped and licked his lips, Armend sat back, analysing the situation.

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Armend said finally. Relief washed over Omega’s face. Armend continued, “The Queen doesn’t understand what is happening with Quicksilver and the Melanthios. She was from a high family but a common one. I tried to warn Sol XVII against her, but he wouldn’t listen to reason. Unfortunately it is tradition in Solias that the King and Queen must rule in tandem and decisions can only be made if they agree. However, we both know there are ways around this.”

  Omega nodded, “Yes, if the council calls for a vote and one is overruled by two or more votes, a decision can be made without an agreement of the King and Queen. This is rarely the case. No one can get five council members on their side without both the King and Queen.”

  “There will be a vote soon,” Armend said, “I will not tell you on what, but I need you to vote in my favor. Do that and I will provide you with your choice of the boys going into the trials of the Sun Gods. You can come and pick whoever you want and they will be under strict instructions to do whatever it is you want.”

  Omega licked his lips, his eyes shining.

  “And,” Armend continued, “I can promise you that after this vote, you will never have to worry about a Quicksilver shortage or finding an alternative.”

  “How?” Omega said, “How can you promise me no alternative and massive Quicksilver stores? How can you do something the King and Queen cannot? And Peace, though I know you are cunning, even you don’t have the balls to murder the monarch.” His eyes were still shining, his words venomous. No longer weak and shaking, Armend realized he underestimated the old man.

  “No one said murder,” Armend said slowly. “I already have you on treason this afternoon, Omega, don’t push your luck.”

  Omega laughed, “It would be my word against yours on treason. And as much as you think you have the rest of the council eating out of your lap, no one would convict me. Your friends are not as close to you as you think.” He leaned forward, “You have to be careful who you trust,” he whispered.

  Armend wasn’t thrown. He was more impressed. Omega had been playing them all. Armend nodded, “I don’t trust anyone. I’m not that dumb. And I have ways to get the Quicksilver. As I don’t trust you, I won’t tell you how. All you have to think about is the boys. Whoever you want, whenever you want, for however long you want. And remember, we will convince them that they have to do whatever you want.”

  “Again, I ask you how?”

  “We threaten their mothers. Boys will do anything for their mothers.”

  Omega laughed, “This is why I enjoy your company. You are so entertaining. Yes, yes, threatening their mothers would do it. You need more imagination.”

  “Why when the classics work?”

  “I will give you one vote. That’s it. I’m not your p
uppet and I have my own games to play. Your offer still stands with one vote?”

  Armend sat back to think. He had wanted Omega in his pocket for the rest of his plans, and this was his ace in the hole. They both knew that he had nothing else to offer. This next vote would be everything, and Armend knew it. After the next vote he wouldn’t need Omega’s help.

  “Deal,” Armend said, holding out his hand. “The next vote you swing my way and you can have all the boys you want.”

  Omega smiled big and shook his hand. “You better make it good.”

  Armend nodded and smiled back, “You know I will.”

  They were still staring at each other when the Assistant ran in. “I told you to go home!” Omega yelled, in a bigger voice than Armend expected. It almost made Armend jump. The Assistant was spared from answering when Intelligence strode in after him. She was in her traditional red robes and was red faced and puffing. She had clearly been running.

  “Calm down,” she snapped to Omega. He blushed and muttered something incomprehensible. “We have Treasury. He’s about to confess to the jail break. The King has called an emergency council meeting. Omega, you are go to straight up. Peace, you are to come down to the dungeons and oversee the confession with Justice and me.” When they both stayed where they were and gaped at her, she said “Now boys! We don’t have all day.” She turned and strode out.

  Armend shrugged and stood up. As he left he heard Omega mutter something that sounded like, “Women.”

  16

  Armend

  He hurried into step beside Intelligence. For someone so short she sure walked fast.

  “How did you get Treasury to confess?” Armend asked puffing when he caught up to the striding blonde ahead of him.

  “I haven’t. I said he was about to confess,” she snapped back.

  “You know what I meant,” Armend sighed.

  Intelligence shot him a sidelong glance, “Your boy Sebastian caught him chatting with a trader known to specialize in Melanthios goods. I guess he slipped the merchant some money under the table. When Sebastian confronted him he became angry and tried to hit him.”

  “Well that was a bad move,” Armend muttered.

  “Agreed. Sebastian kicked the shit out of him and dragged him to me. Everyone in the market knows Sebastian is your boy and didn’t get involved.”

  “We have Omega for one vote. We need this confession and to make this count.” They had reached the doors of the dungeons. There was no one around.

  Intelligence ignored him and marched ahead. His anger, always so close to the surface, boiled over.

  No women ignores me.

  He grabbed her arm hard enough to leave bruises and spun her around. With a push, he shoved her forcibly against the wall, knocking the air out of her lungs.

  “I said,” he whispered in her ear, holding her arms against the brick. She stared back at him, eyes burning, “We need to make this count. If you fuck this up I’ll see to it you burn.”

  She shrugged away from him and he let her go. “If you ever touch me again, I will see to it that you can never function enough to fuck anything again,” she said venomously. Turning, she walked towards the door of the dungeon, “The only reason I haven’t already cut your dick off is that I need you to get to my sister. I’m going to chalk this up to stress, and I’m going to forget it. Trust me when I say that’s in your best interest. If you think you’re in charge down here you’re very mistaken.” She opened the door and spat.

  Armend let her go ahead, angry at himself for losing his temper. Catching up to her, he said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have. We’re all on the same side. I’m not your wife or one of those whores you’re used to pushing around. Fucking remember that.”

  He stopped in his tracks. Intelligence knew about his wife. How could he let her get the upper hand? The only other person who knew about that was Sebastian, and Sebastian wouldn’t tell anyone. Intelligence turned to face him slowly, the anger gone, with a crooked smile on her face. They had made it to a hallway somewhere underground in her dungeons. Armend swore at himself, he hadn’t paid any attention to where they were going.

  “You think you’re really smart, hey Peace?” She was whispering, but her words carried. For the second time today, Armend was uneasy. “I know about your wife. I deal with information and intelligence. I can read your mind. I know what you’re planning. Not for sure but I can guess. I knew what you were going to do before you even thought of it because it’s what I would do. I don’t trust you, and you shouldn’t trust me. But I’m in this to the end, because this is the only way I can get what I want.”

  Armend bristled. He had underestimated two people today, and he promised himself that it wouldn’t happen again. Armend nodded slowly, and Intelligence continued, “We have a job to do. I like you Peace, really I do. You fucked up back there by thinking you could ever touch me. I will give you that one pass, but if you ever try to do anything like that again, I will hurt you so bad you will weep for your mother. And while you weep for her, you will confess every single thing that has crossed your mind. I will make a spectacle of you, and everyone will know everything about you and come from far and wide to watch the old man piss himself and cry for his mother. Do we have an understanding?”

  Armend nodded and forced a smile, “I apologize again. I underestimated you, and I think that is a worse slight then me pushing you around. Neither will happen again. I need you to get what I want.”

  Intelligence smiled thinly, “It’s done. We’re almost there. I brought him to 7X, I figured he deserved VIP treatment.” She turned and led Armend through the dungeons.

  She was too dangerous to keep around, but he would have to bide his time. He needed her too much right now.

  They turned the corner and Armend saw the two guards on post beside the door. They didn’t acknowledge him as he entered the room behind Intelligence. It had been over a month since he had been here last with 613, and nothing in the room had changed. The main occupant, however, couldn’t have been more different.

  Treasury was attached to the chair, lying down. Stripped down to his undergarments, Armend could tell he’d pissed himself. The smell permeated the room, deepening the shame. His sniffles and cries echoed as snot dribbled down his nose.

  Justice was standing beside him and looked up when they entered the room, giving him a nod. Justice then went and whispered something in Intelligence’s ear and slipped her a twenty Krit note.

  Justice walked over and said to Armend in his thick accent, “We had a bet on how fast he would crack. She said that she wouldn’t even have to touch him and he would piss himself from fear. I thought he would at least last an hour. I was terribly wrong. This is the first time Intelligence has even entered the room,” he had admiration in his voice as he looked up at her. Armend saw the love in his face, “She doesn’t even have to be in the room to make a grown man piss himself. What a woman!” Justice stepped to the side to watch the show, and Armend followed.

  Intelligence watched them, waiting. When they had stepped to the side she approached Treasury from the head, so he couldn’t see her coming. She had a lit cigarette in one hand and a small knife in the other.

  “Treasury,” she said in her authoritative tone. He jumped and whimpered in the chair, trying to crane his neck to see her. She rolled her eyes and winked at Justice, who smiled back at her. “Why are you here?” She stepped into his vision and rubbed the back of the knife against his forearm slowly. He jumped again and tried to pull his arm away.

  “You… You…. You… brought me here,” he whined.

  “Good. Yes Treasury, we brought you here. Now why did we bring you here?” she moved down to his feet and started rubbing the back of the knife against the soles of his feet. Treasury twitched, trying to get away from the touch.

  “Because,” he said, snot bubbling from his nose. Sebastian had done a number on him and his left eye was swelling shut. “B
ecause Sebastian saw me giving money to the merchant. The Melanthios merchant. But it wasn’t anything I swear,” he babbled, “I owed him money that’s all.”

  Intelligence tsked and drew the blade of the knife across the sole of his right foot, drawing blood. Treasury screamed and writhed again. Intelligence turned and rolled her eyes in disgust at Justice and Armend.

  “Yes, yes. We all know you have a gambling addiction and like to bet on the bare knuckle fights in the market at night. We also know that you have been embezzling tax money for your gambling addiction. That isn’t why you are here.”

  “It… It… It isn’t? Then I don’t know. I swear. That’s all I did. I swear on my mother’s life.”

  Intelligence tsked again and snapped his little toe. He screamed and writhed in the chair, and Intelligence snapped it back into position. She was smart, and would not damage him in a way that would leave a mark that the King and Queen would see.

  “You helped the traitors break that Melanthios prisoner out of here. You led them to the forest and you broke them out.”

  “No!” he yelled, “No I didn’t, I swear I didn’t”

  “I’m tired of this,” she said, and she drew the back of the knife along his leg and to his inner thigh. She stopped, resting the knife on his thigh with the tip pointed at his genitals. She loosened the strap across his forhead, allowing him room to raise his head. He saw where the knife was pointed and his eyes went wide.

  “If you don’t tell me that you broke that bitch out of prison and you did it with two other people, I will make you watch as I cut your pathetic excuse for a penis off. Do we understand?”

  His eyes were huge as he watched the tip of the knife inch closer and closer to his undergarments, “Okay!” He yelled, “I did it. You win. I broke that prisoner out of the dungeons with two others. I led them to the forest. I did it. I did it for money.”

  When Intelligence didn’t move the knife he squirmed even more, “Tell me what else to say. I don’t know what else you want me to say!”