by K Hanson
“What’s so wrong with standing out, anyway?”
“These people we’re about to see—most nobles, really—are surprisingly sheltered from the world, despite the education that they can afford. They wall themselves off, often literally, and pay servants to take care of any dirty work. Any sort of change can seem intimidating to them.”
“If someone feels threatened by a woman in a dress, they’re not going to be a very worthwhile ally, are they?”
“Unfortunately, this is the game we have to play. I can’t imagine being successful without at least some support from the nobility. And you know we’re broke. We need the money.”
“But if they’re so afraid of change, why would they help us? Isn’t overthrowing the Emperor rather a big change? Do they actually care enough about the average person to invest in our rebellion?”
“Most of them are blind to how the average citizen lives. While some of them are sympathetic, as I am, many of them are interested in our cause for less than altruistic reasons. They may see it as a chance to gain influence or wealth. Some of them are from families who have fallen into disfavor with the Imperial court and are looking to change their fortunes.”
“Seems like that would make them unreliable allies. How can you count on them to stick with you when it gets tough?”
“The pirate’s complaining about potentially unreliable allies?” he asked with raised eyebrows. “Aren’t you just in this for a ship?”
Nereyda smiled slightly. “You know I could have taken a ship anytime I wanted to, right?”
“But you didn’t. Why not?”
She shrugged. “Maybe I care about my friends in Antalia.”
“I saw that. They saw it, too, when you led them. You’ve also been on the receiving end of what the Empire considers justice. You, perhaps, deserved it for being a pirate, but not everyone did.”
She nodded at him and turned to look out the window as the countryside rolled by. They passed verdant hills and towering forests. Peasants worked the land and chopped trees, seemingly oblivious to the civil war around them. On top of one of the hills, a small château looked out over the area, the sun glinting off its blue roof.
A couple of hours later, as the sun sank toward the horizon, they crested a hill, and one of the largest estates Nereyda had ever seen came into view. The center of the grounds was dominated by a sprawling mansion that rose four stories, made with white marble walls and golden trim. Lush and colorful gardens stretched out from the building. Outbuildings such as a stable, gardening shed, and guardhouse were scattered around the edge of the area. A wall of marble pillars and iron grating surrounded the complex.
“I haven’t seen a place as big as this since I was at the Imperial Palace,” said Nereyda.
“Well, that’s fitting since our host is sometimes called the ‘Emperor of the West,’ though not within earshot of the actual Emperor.”
“Where did he get the money for all of this?”
“Lord Volkan consulted in the expansion and further development of the whole mining complex. It was a very lucrative contract.”
Nereyda’s eyes narrowed. “We’re allied with someone who profited off of creating that terrible place?”
“I didn’t say I like it. But someone with his wealth is an incredible ally, or could be a very problematic enemy.”
“That place was hell for my crew. Enough so that it broke my first mate to the point that she betrayed me. I’m not sure I can set that aside and play nice with one of the people most responsible for creating that place.”
“If you can’t play nice, then fake a smile and stay quiet. I know you’re not really one to bite your tongue, but do it as a favor to me. I’ll handle talking to our host, and you can go make friends with everyone else.”
“I’ll do my best not to piss people off.”
“With that diplomatic mouth of yours, I don’t think you’ll have any problems,” Devrim said with a smirk.
They pulled up to the gate of the estate, and a guard reached up to the side window of the carriage.
“Invitation, please,” the man said.
Devrim pulled his invitation out of his jacket pocket and handed it to the guard, who gave it a quick scan before passing it back.
“Welcome, Lord Devrim. We’ll open the gate for you, and you can pull in. Passengers may exit directly in front of the house, then your driver can park in an area that we’ve set aside near the stable. Our staff will attend to your horses.”
“Very good, thank you and your lord for your hospitality.”
“My lord aims to be a gracious host, and he appreciates your attendance tonight,” the guard said with a bow before he returned to his post where he awaited the next guest.
The iron gate rattled open in front of them, and the carriage trundled through and up the driveway toward the house. When they stopped, Limbani stood and opened the door ahead of them. Devrim stepped out next and held up a hand toward Nereyda. She gave a soft laugh as she took his hand and accepted his support as she climbed out of the carriage.
“Such a gentleman,” she said.
“I’m good at pretending. And you’re good at faking being a lady.”
“Let’s see how our disguises hold up. Lead the way,” she said with a wave toward the house.
Devrim held out his arm and Nereyda linked hers through it. Giant doors stretched up two stories of the front of the structure and appeared to be made of solid gold. As they approached, one of the guards standing on the side of the doors reached up to one of the heavy knockers and swung it against the door three short times. With each knock, the door boomed with a deep tone. A moment later, the doors pulled open. Limbani trailed behind them as they entered.
Nereyda’s eyes threatened to pop out of her head as she took in the opulent entrance hall. The hall rose three stories, with staircases both to the left and the right of the doors. They spiraled up to walkways that lined the second and third floors, then disappeared up into the fourth floor above. The hall stretched at least the length of a frigate toward another set of golden doors at the other end. A shimmering reflecting pool occupied the center of the hall.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said to Devrim, her eyes devouring the statues and paintings that lined the grand hall. Hallways led into other wings on each side.
“Me neither. I’ve never been here. I’ve only heard descriptions from other people, but I always thought they were exaggerations. He’s not afraid to show off his wealth.”
“Maybe he’s just compensating for something.”
Devrim chuckled. “Don’t say that to his face.”
As they reached the other end, servants pulled the doors open, and they stepped into the ballroom. The wooden dance floor stretched out in front of them, while staircases on each side led up to a second floor that surrounded the dance floor. Another pair of stairways led to a third tier. A small orchestra was setting up in the corner of the dance floor. Scattered groups of people were on the two levels above, wandering around or leaning on the railings. Heaps of billowing fabric roamed the floors, with women’s heads poking out the tops of their dresses.
“Looks like we’re just a bit early, which is good,” said Devrim. “It’ll give us a chance to greet our host without feeling rushed.”
Devrim and Nereyda climbed the stairs to the third tier, while Limbani drifted toward a group of servants and bodyguards. Nereyda felt the eyes of the other guests on her as they walked up to a man and a woman standing at the far end of the cavernous chamber, where they could gaze down on anyone who entered. The man appeared to be about middle aged, with a trace of silver in his black hair and faint wrinkles on his otherwise strong face. He stood tall and broad-shouldered in his light-gray suit. The woman wore a green dress with a wide skirt and had her golden hair twisted into a coil on her head. She wrinkled her nose when her eyes fell on Nereyda.
“Ah, Lord Devrim of Ascaya,” said the man in a booming voice as he held out his hand. “I’m gl
ad to see that you’ve arrived safely. How was the trip here?”
Nereyda gave Devrim a sideways glance at the formal title, but held her tongue.
“Very smooth,” said Devrim. “Thank you, Lord Volkan, for hosting this ball for us.”
“You don’t have to thank me. You’re the one doing all the hard work out there.”
“Well, it isn’t just me. I want to introduce you to General Nereyda. She’s been instrumental in our campaign so far. Without her, we wouldn’t have captured a prize like Antalia.”
“Oh, yes, the pirate,” he said with a touch of condescension. Their host’s eyes grazed down and back up, looking Nereyda over, before he extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you, General. I must say, your dress is quite unique. Very lovely, as well, if a bit unexpected.” His smile contained half of a sneer.
Nereyda took his hand but didn’t quite turn her body fully toward him, looking at him at an angle. “Thank you. Devrim’s tailor is quite creative. And you can just call me Nereyda. I’m not really one for fancy titles.”
“Still, we took Antalia for the price of just a few pirates and rebels. Quite a bargain for us. It is a title you’ve earned, I’d say.”
Volkan’s words stabbed into the memory of Elvar’s death and of the civilians who died in the bombardment. “True, I did earn it, which is more than can be said of some people.”
The lord’s eyes narrowed at the remark. “What do you mean by that?”
Devrim tugged on her elbow and cleared his throat. “I’m sure you have more guests that would like to speak with you, my lord host. Perhaps we can speak later about some of our more formal business.”
“Very well, I would like that. Please enjoy yourselves.”
“Come, Reyda, let’s sample some of the food that looks so delicious.”
“I’m not hungry right now,” Nereyda said as she pushed Devrim’s hand away. “And our host asked me a question.” She ignored Devrim’s warning look as she turned back to Volkan. “I meant exactly what I said. Not everybody earns or deserves the titles they’ve been given. Some are born into them. Some buy them. And some very special people get there by profiting off of the suffering of others.”
Volkan leaned back and took in a deep breath through his nose, puffing up his chest. “It seems Lord Devrim has told you of my success with the mines.”
“Success? That’s what you call it?”
“Nereyda, please, now isn’t the time,” said Devrim.
She pulled away from Devrim and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “And when exactly is the time? It’s easy for you to tell me to be quiet when none of you have been to the mines to see what it does firsthand. I have been there. I know what it does to people. I may have only been there for a few days, but my crew was there for months. I still see the scars on their backs and how they wince in pain sometimes as they move. I’ve listened to them cry out in the night and held them as they calmed down. Have you done the same? Have you witnessed what your ‘success’ does to people?”
“The Empire would have made that facility with or without my help. Someone else would have done the work to expand and develop it. If it had to happen, why shouldn’t I be the one to do it?”
“Is that what you tell yourself to keep your own demons away?”
He placed a dramatic hand on his chest and spoke with a practiced sadness. “My heart breaks for the people, like your crew, who have been made to suffer there. It truly does.”
“Perhaps, but I bet it’s more comfortable to cry in a beautiful house like this than it is to weep in a dark hole in the earth. Is your broken heart why you’ve decided to back this rebellion? All of a sudden, you want to make up for the damage you’ve done and become a friend to the poor? Or are you just hoping to take your mines back and fill them with the prisoners of this war?”
He stood rigid and peered down his nose. “You’re questioning my dedication to our cause?”
“You’re damn right I am. If you’re so dedicated, why hide in your fancy mansion, away from the fighting? You smell like a coward and an opportunist.”
Volkan’s face turned bright red. “Why, I’ve never been so insulted.”
“Good. Maybe you should be insulted more often. It might teach you something.”
“Okay, that’s more than enough, Nereyda,” Devrim said with a hint of a growl. He yanked her away and tugged her outside onto one of the balconies that lined the third floor. “What was that all about? I thought you agreed to play it cool.”
“I did before I heard him talking like that. You heard what he said. He brushed off the people who gave their lives to take Antalia. They and the people in the mines are nothing more than objects to him. He doesn’t care about people. He just wants whatever’s best for himself.”
“I know all of that. But we need to be pragmatic. This war isn’t free, and with his support, we can buy a lot of supplies.”
“Is it worth it though? Do you really want an ally like that? If he’s an opportunist and is backing you, that means he thinks you’re going to win. And if he ever senses that you could lose, he won’t hesitate to turn on you.”
“If that wasn’t true before, it definitely is now after you called him a coward to his face.” He relaxed his grip on her arm. “Look, I’m going to go try to fix this mess and smooth things over with him. Maybe it’s best if you get some food and mingle with the other guests.”
“You trust me to talk to more nobles? I don’t need a babysitter?”
“None of the others have helped with anything like the mines, so I think you should be fine. Maybe stick with small talk this time. We don’t need another incident.” He slowly moved his hand away from her.
“Oh, nobles always love me.” She winked at him. “Don’t worry about me.”
Devrim hesitated before turning away and heading back to their host.
Nereyda scanned the people nearby and spotted a group of four nobles clustered together near a tall table, with glasses of dark crimson wine and small plates of grilled calamari. They appeared to be two couples. A tall, thin man in a crisp black suit stood next to a woman in a flowing red dress who had her golden hair pulled up. The other couple consisted of a woman in a billowing blue dress with brown braided hair and a broad-shouldered man in a dark brown jacket.
They faced Nereyda as she approached. “Mind if I join you?” She slid into the space between the couples without waiting for a response.
“Oh, please do,” said the blonde woman. “I’m Aliya, and this is my husband, Kerem of Sanliurfa. And our friends are Idris and Nebila of Kas.”
“I’m Nereyda.” She shook all of their hands.
“So you’re the pirate, then,” said Aliya.
“I suppose I am. My name keeps reaching places before I do.”
“From what I’ve heard, I can understand why. You’re not here to rob us, are you?” the woman asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Not tonight, at least. Figured I should take the day off. Unless you’re carrying something valuable; then I might make an exception.” She smirked at the nobles.
Aliya laughed, but the others stiffened up.
“I’m not sure this is the company we should be keeping, Aliya,” said Kerem.
“Lighten up. This is supposed to be a fun evening. Nereyda, do you have any good stories for us?”
Nereyda shrugged. “Several, but I’m not sure many of them are good for polite company.”
“Maybe you can start with how you met Lord Devrim?”
“Well, I was trying to rob him, actually.”
The nobles stared at her with wide eyes.
Since she had their attention, she jumped into the whole story about how she had broken into Devrim’s mansion and found him conspiring to start the rebellion.
“So you blackmailed him into helping you?” asked Nebila.
Nereyda swiped a piece of calamari from Aliya’s plate, though she didn’t seem to mind. “That’s right. I told him I would spill his secret if he
didn’t.”
“And yet he trusts you now?” asked Idris.
“I think so. Nothing like a little rebellion to bring people closer together.”
“I want to hear more,” said Aliya.
Nereyda acquiesced and shared a few more stories from her time as a pirate. Her new noble friends seemed both horrified and amused, though maybe a touch more amused.
As the group of nobles laughed, something brushed her arm. She turned and found Devrim standing at her shoulder. “Ah, you’re back,” she said. “Devrim, do you know these fine people?”
“I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.” He shook hands and exchanged introductions with the group.
“Oh, we know who you are,” said Aliya. “You’re part of the reason for all of these festivities. After talking with Nereyda, my husband and I will certainly make a donation to the cause.”
“Us, as well,” said Idris.
“Wonderful!” Devrim clapped his hands together and bowed slightly. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am. We’ll put it to good use.”
“As long as you can change things so we can wear dresses like hers,” Nebila said as she pointed to Nereyda, “that’s good enough for me.”
“Thank you, again. Nereyda, would you perhaps like to go dance for a bit?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Sure, that could be fun.”
Nereyda accompanied Devrim down to the dance floor, where other couples were swirling around each other in time to the music. They found space in between the other people.
Devrim took her hand and placed his other hand on her waist. As Nereyda put her hand on his shoulder, she couldn’t help but appreciate the solid muscle she felt through his dress jacket.
Nereyda allowed Devrim to take the lead since she didn’t have much experience with ballroom dancing. However, she picked it up quickly. The steps weren’t too different than sword fighting and lacked the distraction of someone trying to kill her. And while her dress had been designed to make fighting easier, it also let her move freely as she twirled around the ballroom.
