The Great Hearts II: A Game of Gods

by David Oliver

  At that everyone looked taken aback. “What do you mean, ‘us’?” queried Scythe hesitantly.

  Laniel sniggered. “Did you honestly think that the Emperor would only have his Imperators have access to seraph? Before you attempt to answer, that’s a completely rhetorical question – of course he wouldn’t.” She locked us all with a steely gaze. “I know you all think that Imperators are special, that you are the be all and end all for the Emperor and the empire. And in most cases that is true. You are trained to be the best. To work as individuals or in pairs and achieve what no other force in the world could achieve. However the Andurran empire is engaged on multiple fronts and has been for many years; its fighting forces are widely regarded as some of the best in the world. The Emperor’s elite units, often referred to as the Dragons, are regarded as the most terrifying units within our forces and are able to wear extremely thick plate armour because they are subtly empowering themselves with seraph. They are trained to utilise it to empower themselves and to smash through enemy ranks. Rumour has it that a single squadron of Black Dragon Knights can rout an entire army almost single-handedly. And whilst we don’t show it off, the Emperor does of course have a cadre of seraph users who specialise in large-scale battle magic. If they are brought out onto the battlefield it means that the Emperor is intending to wipe all survivors out. No mercy. He doesn’t like other countries knowing the extent of his power.”

  “And the common folk know nothing about this?” Sophia asked incredulously. “What about the troops in the armies who see the seraph users in action?”

  “Of course some would talk,” Laniel replied, “but a few rumours here and there are useful. They make their way to the ears of enemy spies and make their masters worry about the might of Andurran armies. Of course, those physically closest to the cadre are men loyal to the Emperor through and through; they know full well not to speak of what they see. If one does? They tend to find themselves either reprimanded...or removed. As for the common folk, like I said, many of the common folk still worry about ghosts and demons. I believe there is still a haunted forest near Forgoth thanks to Seya,” she said with a nod in my direction. “They worry lots and know little, often deriding what they do not know. Why do you think so many stories of hermits, medicine men and witches have them out in solitary locations far from people? Their seraph powers tend to see them reviled even if they help people in need, their actions too strange for the peasantry to justify.”

  She sighed sadly. “In all my travels I have come across a small number who are trusting and happy and willing to give a shot to someone who is strange and unknown. They are by far the minority. Listen to this and this and well for it is advice for life. For the most part the common folk just want each day to continue as the last, for there to be food in their bellies and to sleep undisturbed. Anything that takes them out of this natural order of things is a threat. This includes wise folk, witches, wizards, shamans, whatever everyone wants to call them, and yes,” she gave us all an appraising glance, “Imperators on a mission for the empire. You will never feel welcomed, not once they know your true nature. You are a sign that something is wrong, that there will be upset in the near future.” A flash of grief passed over her face as she spoke, as though she was digging up memories long buried. “Some might actively work against you. Revile you. Hate you. After all, Imperators don’t always have the best reputation. Honestly,” she said after a moment’s pause, “I really do hope you have better experiences with the local populations wherever you go.”

  She noticed Sophia’s raised hand and gave a slow nod.

  “What did you mean by Imperators not always having the best reputation?” Sophia asked.

  Laniel gave a dark bark of laughter, quickly cut off. “I sometimes forget how little you Imps know. Imperators are the burning knife that lances any boil that encroaches upon the empire. Sometimes that boil is murderer, sometimes a monster and sometimes innocent people.”

  “Innocent?” Sophia murmured in shock, dismay plainly written across her face, “Why would we kill innocent people?”

  “Sometimes it is seen as the only solution,” Laniel replied in a low voice, her eyes blank as she lost herself in memories. “Sometimes the definition of innocence is in the eye of the beholder.” She roused herself slightly and cast a strange look on Sophia. “Tell me, Sophia, have you heard of a Ranulskin?” At her head shake Laniel continued, “A Ranulskin is a type of monster that breeds incessantly. It does so by finding hosts and injecting them with eggs. The larger the host the better, and humans seem to be a particular favourite. These eggs can be hard to trace and as the majority of hosts are attacked whilst asleep they have no memory of it. What would you do if, as Imperators, you were sent to remove a Ranulskin threat and there happened to be a settlement near where it was last reported?”

  “I... I?” Sophia grasped for an answer but none came.

  “Ranulskin eggs take five days to gestate. So if you can’t spare the time to wait and see if anyone was infected? There is perhaps only one logical path.” Laniel’s eyes clouded again as she spoke. “To put the town to the sword in the name of the Emperor. Logical, but not an act that wins the hearts and minds of the locals...These are decisions that may well come to pass for you in the future, so when and if they do please choose wisely.”

  Shaking herself, as though shaking off the echoes of a past long forgotten, she forced a smile to her face and clapped her hands. “Enough of that,” she said brightly to the subdued room. “Rikol, please stand up and show us what you have been working on. I’m sure we all need something to lift the mood.”

  As Laniel forced us back into a more upbeat class I couldn’t help but wonder if that story was something that she herself had been a part of. As I knew full well, survivors of an attack like that would only hold burning, unbridled hatred within their hearts for the perpetrator. There could be any number of survivors from that or other similar situations biding their time and building their skills all in preparation to strike at the Empire for the actions of years long past.

  As it turned out, I was more right than I could have known.

  Chapter 25

  Lessons

  Seraph lessons were not the only new addition to our curriculum. Lessons on history, politics, geography, they had all been there in some small shape or fashion in the first few years but the focus had been very much on the combat arts. Now they ramped up in earnest. Geography involved not just a wider understanding of where countries lay in relation to the Andurran empire but the detailed understandings of the terrain that surrounded our borders. We studied the locations of potential choke points and areas that could be used to funnel enemy troops or that we would need to pass were we to invade. Moreover we were taught the locations of villages, towns and people who might be sympathetic to a fleeing Imperator.

  Politics was an area that made my head spin. Sophia, Scythe and Ella took to it like ducks in water, minds running amok with thoughts of courtly intrigue. It interested me, but in more of a strategic sense. Whilst I imagined courtly balls to be fairly interesting events I had no desire to ensconce myself in such a world for long periods. I was sure that the inevitable web of intrigue, constant threat of assassin’s daggers and two-faced witticisms would quickly drive me mad. At the same time however, the study of human behaviour was enthralling. Instructor Laniel, who also took this class, would feed us the latest news from her spies, which at times seemed almost petulant.

  ‘Lady Afrulia has a taste for young men, strong spirits and impropriety.’ ‘Lord Hayden’s eyes follow the most buxom of mature ladies, but trysts are through no action of his own.’

  At first information like this seemed like somewhat strange insights into people’s personal lives, however Laniel was quick to show us just how easily personal information could be used against the individual and thus the country. She highlighted that Lady Afrulia’s impropriety was well known and that she would likely not be fazed by the threat of blackmail and so whispers into
her ear from a young lover might be more rewarding. Similarly, Lord Hayden would be easily ensnared by Laniel’s positioning of a well-endowed widower who just so happened to lift some incriminating material during a sordid encounter, his youth and lady wife leaving him vulnerable to blackmail. The fact that she could see the potential outcomes for each course of action, recognise which pressures to bring to bear upon the individual and predict how they would respond was, frankly, astounding. Whether it was experiential or an innate skill I wasn’t sure but I endeavoured to become more empathetic in the way that I interacted with people, to better understand from their perspective my actions and consequently be able to predict exactly what they would do.

  History was, unsurprisingly, spent with Korthan. He and I had already spent much time in discussion over the past few years and you would think that this would make him an amiable instructor. You would be wrong. Korthan did not like teaching. He knew it, we knew it, and he made sure that we full well remembered it. The bonus was that we could sit within his small library and digest the books within, the downside was that asking him questions on any subject that he didn’t feel was entertaining was almost as deadly as asking a troll if you could have your arm back - you’d be lucky to still have all your features after the verbal tirade he embarked upon if your question was deemed too dumb to answer. Things improved somewhat when Kane, likely recognising just how Korthan liked to work, stepped in and watched a session. He ordered Korthan to take a more active role in our training. I say somewhat because we still got the angry rants and bitter rancour but it did at least give us dedicated reading and resulted in a more cohesive knowledge for the group.

  There was one final class, but it was for myself only. The class for Great Hearts.

  The first I knew of it was when I was in the forest with Seya and she stiffened in alarm. A deep rumble, deeper than anything I had heard her make before emanated from her chest, vibrating the trees around her.

  What’s wrong? I asked in bewilderment. My senses couldn’t detect anything amiss.

  Something comes, she replied. Something large.

  Skyren? I instantly questioned, my mind jumping to the giant creature that we had killed in the desert caverns.

  If it is, then it moves with purpose. It is coming straight for us.

  With that she leapt forwards and sped off into the undergrowth, and though I tried to follow behind I could no more match her speed than a kitten match its mother. Twin roars shattered the forest air, sending leaves and branches spiralling to the ground. The first was Seya’s; deep and throaty. The second was something I hadn’t heard before. It wasn’t the monstrous roar of a Skyren - or at least the one that we had encountered. It was more harsh, sharp. I sped towards the sound, leaping logs and undergrowth, knives unsheathed in my hands. If something was attacking Seya I would make it pay.

  The roars died down but I could still feel Seya’s wariness. She wasn’t hurt, of that I was sure, but she was so focused that she didn’t respond to any of my questions. Preparing myself for the worst I broke through the undergrowth and into the clearing where Seya stood, teeth and claws partially bared, body quivering with barely restrained power. At first my eyes were only for Seya and it took me a moment to register that the orange mountain in front of her was not a mountain at all but a gigantic orangutan. A round face with bright, intelligent eyes lay in-between thick shoulders that led to massive yet dexterous hands that I knew would possess the kind of crushing power that I could only dream of. Instantly I knew what it was and why Seya was so wary. In front of her was something that could truly be considered a threat.

  In front of her was a Great Heart.

  “Please, don’t be afraid,” a soft and creaky voice said from the trees. “We mean you no harm.”

  “Show yourself then,” I said with as much of a commanding voice as I could muster.

  “As you wish,” the voice replied and from behind a tree stepped a woman. She was short and stooped with grey hair, her face lined with wrinkles. She looked almost as ancient as Korthan. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Calidan, Seya,” she said brightly, nodding at each of us in turn.

  “Who are you and how do you know our names?” I replied, feeling Seya bristle at my side.

  “Borza and I know a great many things,” she chuckled. “Your existence is just one of them.” She waved a hand to forestall my response, “Don’t get your panties in a twist boy, I’m on your side. My name is Anatha, and as you might have guessed this is my Great Heart, Borza.”

  Borza casually waved a cartwheel sized hand as its name was called, its eyes still on Seya.

  “In answer to your next question, the Emperor sent us here. It seems he felt you might desire a little instruction.

  “Instruction?” I replied slowly, stupefied.

  A broad grin spread across her face, “Aye, instruction! Hell’s teeth boy, the Emperor said you were smart, tell me straight; had he been drinking at the time?”

  I couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across my face, I could almost guarantee that she knew Korthan. “You’re one of the Emperor’s Great Hearts,” I replied, awe in my voice. “It’s an absolute honour to meet you.”

  “I should say so,” she cackled. “It’s been too long since we’ve been let out to play. Especially for something so simple as teaching, so I have that at least to thank you for boy.” She paused for a second as if listening and I knew that her Great Heart was speaking to her, just like Seya did to me.

  With amused chastisement on her face she continued, “Borza says I need to reign myself in and deliver the Emperor’s message. He’s not wrong, so stay there and shut up for a moment.”

  She rummaged in a bag at her side for a moment before retrieving a small scroll. Clearing her throat noisily she began to read.

  “Calidan, your usefulness to myself and the Empire has not gone unnoticed. You’re turning into an excellent fighter and a fine strategist. However your skills with your Great Heart leave a lot to be desired. A Great Heart and its partner are one of the strongest assets I have and I intend for you both to reach your full potential so that you can be of greatest use to me. Anatha and Borza’s time with you will be limited and must remain secret, so make best use of the time you have together and do not reveal anything to anyone at the Academy.

  I am counting on you.”

  A shadow seemed to pass over Anatha’s face as she read the scroll but whether it was just a trick of the light or something more it was gone as soon as she noticed me looking. Instead she gave me a gap-toothed smile.

  “So there you have it, straight from the Emperor himself,” she said. “Under no circumstances are you to reveal my presence here. If you do I imagine you will find yourself…” she pursed her lips in thought, “removed.” She gave me another smile and a wink as she said it. “I will be in the forest just after noon every other day for one whole hour. Do not be late. Understood?”

  I nodded and then spoke up. “May I ask a few questions?”

  A wheezy sigh. “If you must.”

  “What is your role with the Emperor, how old are you and why do I need to keep your presence secret from the Academy?”

  She laughed. It wasn’t the cackle from before but a vibrant, joyous sound. “He did say you were inquisitive,” she replied once she had her laughter under control. “Perhaps I should have put a limit on the type of questions you asked me.” A snort, “But then again, he is trusting you with many things so perhaps some information can be freely shared.”

  Nodding to herself she walked over to Borza and sat in his lap, reclining against his stomach. Once she was completely at ease she began.

  “I am Anatha. I am one of the Great Hearts within the Emperor’s inner circle. We are kept close as…” she coughed and Borza tensed, but her coughing fit settled and she leant back again, a rueful smile on her face, “...our powers are uniquely suited to support the Emperor. As I said, we are rarely outside of the citadel. If we are then it is for a mission of grave importance, li
ke killing a king or quelling a rebellion...or apparently teaching a child.” A big wink. “As for my age, that is a horrible thing to ask. Did your elders never teach you better? Shame on you.”

  Just as my face began to colour she chuckled. “I’ve seen one hundred and five winters.”

  I gasped, “But you don’t look remotely that old! You look… sixty? Seventy?”

  This time she gave a mad cackle, avid humour in her eyes. “Well aren’t you a charmer?” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Yes I look younger than I am, being bonded to a Great Heart gives you a long life. It would be longer except-” she broke off and waved her hand, “well, never mind why. Suffice to say I am old. And naturally in the view of your tiny brain that enhanced age of mine makes me very, very wise indeed.” A cheeky grin. “So listen close when I speak and never ever contradict me for,” she took a deep breath and raised her hands to the sky, adopting as powerful a voice as I suspected she could manage, “I am infallible and all knowing.”

  Silence echoed around the glade.

  I think she was right about being cooped up too long.

  I titled my head in amusement, perhaps she has it backward, maybe the Emperor doesn’t let her out because she is so…

  Eccentric?

  I would have gone with crazy.

  We shared silent laughter at the old woman’s antics and when I opened my eyes I saw Anatha watching me with a suspicious glare. “You think it isn’t obvious when you’re talking with your Great Heart? You’ve got to get better at hiding your feelings and communication boy. It’s too easy to read that you’re talking to someone or something. And if I can recognise it then the Enemy can recognise it too.”

  “Enemy?” I replied with confusion, feeling like she had put particular emphasis on the word. “What enemy do you mean in particular? The Hrudan?”

  “The Hrudan?!” she shrieked. “No, not the fucking Hrudan, what’s wrong with you? The Hrudan are barely a piss stain in the annals of history. No boy. I’m talking about The Enemy.” She finished the sentence with an expectant air.