Indrajit continued stepping mindfully around the table with one hand clasping the wrist of his other arm behind his back. Occasionally, he heard a unit of soldiers run up or down the stairs outside the sealed room. Mostly, he heard his own deliberate footsteps.
The sages can’t counteract the storm, and there’s nothing we can do about it … This war is likely coming to its end. A great fortress that has stood for centuries, crumbling under the powers of two Haizzem. Two.
He fell into his own chair and leaned his head back, looking up at the ancient stone ceiling.
Nearly ten long years pushing myself to command these men, to defend Pawelon. Each painstaking step, for thousands of days, and now this.
He remembered the ceremony when Devak promoted him to his position, two years before the war began. Indrajit had been living in this tower ever since. Devak joined him after the war began, and it had taken some time to get used to answering to another man again. But Devak was fair-minded. He allowed his general to set his own strategy and rarely interfered.
All this time. Everything changed when Rao appeared.
The soldiers removed the slab of wood blocking the door. Devak entered with his thundering voice. “What in death’s name is going on? You said you would meet me in my chamber.”
Indrajit rose to his feet and saluted him. “I apologize, my Rajah. Too much has been happening. I briefed our generals and then I remained here when I should have gone to meet you.”
“You didn’t even send word.”
“I humbly apologize. It has been a very difficult day.”
Devak took his customary chair, to Indrajit’s left. “Tell me what’s happening.”
“The storm continues and our eastern wall is slowly crumbling. Have you heard about Rao?”
“No.”
“He freed the king’s daughter and escaped with her. He killed a Pawelon soldier in the prison. Rao is now hiding. I assume he and Aayu have already left the citadel. Aayu is no longer in his cell.”
Devak grabbed the arms of his chair and swung his head around, clenching his jaw. “Impossible.”
“I wish it were a joke. One of my men explained that Rao intends to negotiate with King Vieri. He wants peace, and I am sure that he and Aayu want Narayani back.”
Devak stood and threw his chair far across the room. It smashed against the grey rock. One of its legs broke off.
Soldiers poured into the room.
“Get out of here,” Indrajit said. “Leave us alone and don’t interrupt us again.”
“Do you think he would go to them right away?” Devak asked.
“If he does, we may not be able to stop him. I have already sent Briraji and a team to look for him. He has orders to kill the king’s daughter.”
“We didn’t discuss that.”
“No, my Rajah, we didn’t. Our sages found two Rezzian goddesses were responsible for the storm. I had to act quickly and I gave the order to have her killed right away. But Rao,” Indrajit restrained himself, “interfered.”
Devak lunged around the room, grunting and building up more anger. Light from the candles and shadows danced across his body.
“Rao may also be waiting for the morrow.” Indrajit remained seated and watched his rajah steam. “In fact, that seems more likely. If he goes to them tonight, he’s more likely to be captured. If he can signal to their army from the empty field, he might be able to arrange a neutral meeting to negotiate. He would also have a much better chance to escape during the day in case they do not grant him an audience.”
“Maybe you’re right. Rezzia’s less likely to try their tricks during daylight. Rao and Aayu are likely concealed right now. They won’t be easy to find.”
“If anyone can do it, Briraji can.”
“You think we need to kill the royal daughter to weaken the storm?”
“I do.”
“Fine then,” Devak said.
“We can’t risk her being used as a negotiating piece. That’s also why I killed the Strategos today.”
“You did what?”
“I couldn’t risk him being freed. Perhaps Rao and Aayu are still inside the citadel with the king’s daughter.”
Devak let out a grumbling roar. “Eh, you’re right.”
Indrajit massaged his calf muscles, through his boots. He loosened the strap around his dagger and visualized how he would stab his rajah.
Devak sat down at Indrajit’s right, in Briraji’s chair. “If we don’t find him tonight, I’ll find him myself tomorrow.
… Now that might change everything. “What if the only way to do it is for you to chase him into the valley in front of their army?”
“If I’m killed, Rao will take my place as rajah. If neither of us makes it back, the position will fall to you.”
Indrajit took his hands off his boots and sat upright.
“Why would you do this?”
“What would you do?” Devak asked. “He’s my last son. It’s my duty to protect him.”
“You are more sentimental than I thought, Devak.”
“More than that. He’ll do great things for Pawelon when he’s rajah. If they are going to take one of us, it will be me. I won’t let that dog Vieri take him.”
Indrajit smiled inwardly. Maybe he wouldn’t have to deal with the mess of a dead rajah? Maybe Devak could even be made into a martyr, killed by the Rezzians themselves—whether in truth or at the hands of his own men tomorrow.
“You’ve surprised me, but I respect you for this.” Indrajit stood and adjusted his belt. He adjusted his uniform back over his shoulders. “I will keep you informed if we discover anything else about Rao. Be ready to leave early in the morning, before sunrise.”
Devak stood and stared down at a candle on the table, expressionless, lost in his thoughts.
Indrajit moved a step closer and waited until Devak looked him in the eyes. “My Rajah, if you should make the ultimate sacrifice, I will always remember it, and I will make sure your memory is honored as it should be.”
“Thank you, Indrajit, for all you’ve done for me and for Pawelon.”
Indrajit bowed to him. “My duty is also my desire.”
Chapter 74: Sadhana
AAYU STOOD NEXT TO HIS UNCLE, ready to act if Indrajit meant Rao’s father any harm. He watched his uncle massaging his calf muscles, through his boots. Then Indrajit seemed to be doing something else with his hands. Aayu crouched and tried to see what the general was doing.
His uncle loosened the straps around a concealed dagger.
Unbelievable.
Aayu focused on a thought-form that would knock Indrajit into oblivion.
Rao’s father sat down at Indrajit’s right. “If we don’t find him tonight, I’ll find him myself tomorrow …”
Wait, big man! You and I need to talk first.
“… If I’m killed, Rao will take my place as rajah. If neither of us makes it back, the position will fall to you.”
Indrajit took his hands off his boots and sat up straight.
Heard something you like, did you?
“Why would you do this?”
“What would you do?” Devak asked.
“I don’t know.”
“He’s my last son. It’s my duty to protect him.”
The big guy is growing on me.
Aayu followed Rao’s father when he left the room. They, and the rajah’s guards, climbed the stairs to his quarters at the top of the tower.
Aayu slipped into the room at the same time Devak entered it, and felt relieved to be the only other person with him this time. Earlier, before Devak went to find Indrajit, the rajah met with some of his advisors, discussing the citadel’s stock of food and water, among other mundane subjects.
While Devak stood near the large window watching the rain splash onto the floor, Aayu took a seat by the finely crafted table against the wall. He took in a deep breath and canceled his power. He immediately felt his body pressing into his chair.
“My Rajah, I
bring news from Rao. He sent me to speak to you.”
Devak turned with fierce, focused eyes. “How did you get in—” and then he seemed to realize the answer.
“It’s a long story, my Rajah. Rao asked me to protect you.”
“Why? Where is he?”
“By now, I hope he’s far away from here. He left with the Rezzian woman.”
“Why aren’t you with him?” Devak began walking toward Aayu.
“He practically commanded me to stay here to protect you. Indrajit ordered him killed, along with the woman.”
“How do you know this?” Devak towered over Aayu.
Aayu stayed in his chair. “Sir, I am going to tell you exactly what Rao told me. He wanted me to tell you this—”
“Get to it.”
“Briraji took my uncle’s orders to the prison, where he ordered Rao and the woman to be killed. He said they were going to blame his death on the king’s daughter. Rao convinced the soldiers to let him escape, but he knew they would say he used his powers against them.”
“Where was Briraji when this happened?”
“I’m not sure. Rao didn’t say. But he said it was going to look bad for him. He wanted you to know the truth.”
Devak took one huge step forward and kicked an empty chair five paces.
I’m just the messenger, big man. I’m just the messenger.
“Why did Rao do this?”
“He’s going to try to try to talk to the king and Haizzem, and see if they can—”
“Enough.” Devak turned and walked over to his desk. With his back turned to Aayu, he put his hands on it and leaned forward with his head bent low.
“My Rajah, if I may, I wanted to go with Rao to help him, but he insisted I talk to you and protect you.”
Devak swung around. “Protect me?”
“He’s worried because of what they intend to do to him.”
“I see.” Devak crossed his arms over his chest and looked away.
“I have to tell you something else.” Aayu’s mind froze with fear as Devak stared at him again. “I’ve been with you for some time now. I was there when you met with Indrajit.”
“You’d better explain.”
“This is the first time you’ve been alone. I couldn’t reveal myself and, trust me on this, I believe Indrajit was going to kill you while you met with him.”
Devak’s eyes narrowed. “What in death’s name?”
“He was playing with a dagger he had tucked into his boot. It’s well-concealed. He loosened the straps. He gripped the handle. And then you said you were going to find Rao. I think that’s when he changed his mind.”
Devak turned his back to Aayu and crossed his arms again. “It makes sense. If he was going to do it, he might’ve decided to have me killed tomorrow instead.”
“Or he thinks maybe you’ll get yourself killed.”
Devak let his arms hang and walked back to the table. For the first time, he took a seat. “If anything happens to me tomorrow, Pawelon is going to need a leader. It might as well be Indrajit.”
Even though he wants you dead?
“I’ll deal with him later,” Devak said. “First, we need to get Rao.”
And Narayani. “I agree.” Aayu nodded so hard his chair rocked. “When I saw him late in the day, he still wasn’t doing well. He couldn’t focus his powers for long. She had her sword and shield, though, and she swore to protect him.”
Devak slammed his fist on the table and shook his head. “You shouldn’t have let him go.”
“He insisted.”
“Indrajit ordered Rao to be murdered by my own men?”
“That is what Rao told me, my Rajah.”
Devak’s pockmarked face looked drained of hope. “It’s too late to reach the patrols searching for him. They must have orders to kill him.”
“The good news is that I used my sadhana to conceal Rao and the woman. That effect should last until the morning. That’s when he’s going to try to meet with the Rezzians.”
Devak made eye contact with Aayu. His eyes turned from hopeless to merely emotionless. “Good.”
“You’ll let me come with you in the morning, then?”
“We need to reach Rao before he talks to the king. Did Rao,” Devak paused and let out a shallow breath, “tell you what I told him, about what happened to his family?”
“No, my Rajah.”
“Their king sent the assassins who killed my wife and his brothers. I didn’t tell Rao that King Vieri has tried to kill him many more times since. Their king is determined to eliminate my lineage. If he sees Rao, he’ll kill him on sight.”
Aayu’s throat seized up. Moments later, he breathed again. “The woman said she knew Rao saved her life. She said she’d protect him, on the honor of her kingdom.”
Devak looked up, with very little color in his cheeks, and breathed through his mouth. “Rao would believe her. I intend to bring Rao back to us one way or another. If Rezzia’s king gets to him before I do, I intend to at least give him the burial he deserves.”
“He is coming back. Please focus your thoughts on that outcome. He wanted me to protect you. Maybe he knows more than we do about the Rezzian woman. Maybe she will protect him.” Aayu smiled a bitter smile. “Now, about what Rao asked me to do. I have an idea.”
Chapter 75: The Rage of Achilles
RETURNING FROM THE DAY’S EXCURSION, Caio’s eyes rested on Rezzia’s military city after dark. Torches burned atop tall poles throughout the site, throwing shadows on the complex of white tents. Smoke rose from the kitchens, carrying the succulent scents of roasting goats and pigs.
Caio felt once more the emotions of the army behind him. Morale remained strong, despite the long march with the extra climb to and descent from Pawelon’s citadel. Faith carried them on. Many perished in the fighting earlier in the day, but thanks to Lord Galleazzo’s lions, far more Pawelons fell in the rout. After Caio summoned the storm promised by the goddess Mya in his dream, only small skirmishes around the citadel claimed any lives, and then only in small numbers.
“Can you tell if the storm still rages?” His father’s voice surprised him. They’d barely spoken during the journey back.
Caio nodded and visualized Pawelon’s incredible citadel. He saw the storm pounding the structure, but weakening throughout the night. “I believe it does for now, but perhaps not for long. It’s amazing that it seems to have continued even though I am not there.”
“Ah, but Lucia is there. The gods can do their work through her presence.”
“That must be why. I’m certain Ysa is also involved.”
His father sat tall in his saddle, scanning the sights in front of him. “Do you see anything about Lucia?”
Caio remembered Lucia’s face the last time he saw her, after the Ayot.
Lord Oderigo, how does Lucia fare?
Caio saw a vivid image of Lord Danato dwarfing Lucia, one arm crossed over his chest with his other hand on his jutting chin. The black god leaned forward, looking down on Lucia with eyes that revealed the god to be in pain.
“Nothing much, Father.”
Caio and King Vieri rode on to the entourage waiting to welcome them. Out in front of the camp, the gathering of elite soldiers and warpriests chanted a monotonous prayer.
“Havah ilz avah Haizzem!” the leading warpriest exclaimed. The crowd paid their obeisance, either kneeling and bowing or prostrating the full length of their bodies.
“We achieved a great victory today!” Caio called out just as his horse slowed to a stop.
“Yes we did, my Haizzem!” His father stepped comfortably into his role. “We marched to the pigs’ fortress and our gods assaulted the very walls. The stone itself began to crumble, and continues to do so! We may have reached the final days of this great war.”
The men in the crowd stood again and cheered, most of them clapping their hands above their heads. Caio scanned their hearts. He felt their burning hope that his father’s words were true, whet
her because of their faith or because of their longing for the fighting to be over.
Caio and his father dismounted at the same time. His father walked toward him awkwardly on sore legs and took Caio’s left hand in his right. Vieri raised their hands together. “Together, we are unstoppable, king and Haizzem! My daughter still suffers for us all, but I swear upon the gods of Lux Lucis, we will rescue her soon.”
After his father released his hand, Caio walked through the crowd, giving his blessings to each person there. He noticed his father waiting beyond the gathering, squinting at him with his face clenched. Caio sensed the emotion beneath his father’s glance: guilt.
Caio pulled away and met his father with a quick embrace.
“Let’s walk, Son. We should eat.”
“I’ll walk with you, but then I must go to my yurt and check on Narayani. It’s been a long day.”
With a wave of his hand, King Vieri signaled for their entourages to follow behind them.
“Do you ever get accustomed to it?” Caio asked. “Knowing how many men died or were maimed?”
“No, but you harden yourself to it. Even so, I still see them in my dreams. It helps to have some release. That’s why the Pawelon whore was good for you.”
“She’s not a whore.”
“Did you have to force her?”
“Father!”
“Then I’m right. She is a valuable whore now. Her body belonged to the Prince of Pawelon. She has great value to us.”
“Don’t speak about her like this. I wouldn’t have been able to come with you today if she hadn’t healed me.”
“We’ve talked about this before. Let our spirits dwell on something else. You made our ancestors proud today. I will make sure the people of Rezzia know what you have done. Soon, you will destroy a Pawelon fortress that has stood throughout history.” His father turned his grave eyes to stare at his son.
“It is Mya and Ysa who should be thanked.”
His father shifted his glance forward and downward. His nose twitched. “Someday you will have your own children, and you will understand that fathers must do what they believe to be best for their sons and daughters—that they cannot always do what makes their children happy.”
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