by Duncan Lay
“That’s it! I cannot take it anymore!” Nola cried and raced out of the room, tears streaming down her face.
“What is it?” Brendan asked, then swung around to Devlin. “See what you’ve done?”
“What he’s done? You great lummox, can’t you see it’s you that has upset her?” Riona cried, hurrying after Nola.
“Where are you going?” Devlin called.
“To look after my friend. Which is more important than listening to this!”
“You need to control your wife,” Brendan told Devlin.
“You know what your problem is, Brendan? You can’t take a joke anymore,” Devlin announced and also stormed off.
Fallon rubbed his forehead. “Do you plan to go anywhere, Brendan?”
“No, I’m staying right here and doing my duty,” the smith said, thumping back into his chair.
“Well, we only have three of us left now. We cannot make a decision with just us three,” Bridgit said.
“We can if the three of us say that is what we can do,” Fallon pointed out. “And let’s face it. What useful argument were we getting from the others anyway?” The more he thought about it, the less sense this Ruling Council was making. All they were doing was bickering and yelling at each other. Things were easier when he was making all the decisions. Yes, he had been terrified of Aidan’s dying prophecy coming true but that had been proved false, the last spite of an evil man. He didn’t really need the others. He would listen to Bridgit, of course, but that was all that was needed.
“They have worked well in the past and they will again,” Bridgit said.
“Or will they? I can’t see Gallagher waking up any time soon. His head is stuffed full of foolishness and we have to wait for that to drain out,” Fallon said. “I say we vote now and then get something to eat. Brendan?”
“Agreed,” the smith rumbled.
“This is ridiculous. Fallon, stop and think about it for a moment. We have to get everyone back in and do this properly.”
Fallon gestured towards where an hourglass sat on a side table. “Time is trickling away and we have to act.”
“How does the old saying go? Marry in haste and repent at leisure. This is not something that should be hurried.”
“Well, we married quickly enough and look how well that turned out,” he said with a smile.
“Can we just vote? I am hungry and need to go and apologize to Nola,” Brendan growled.
Bridgit rubbed her face with her hands.
“Look, we send the men out now. If things start going bad here, we just get them back. Thanks to Padraig, we can move people around the country in the blink of an eye,” Fallon said persuasively.
“I agree,” Brendan said immediately.
Bridgit groaned, then threw her hands up in the air. “All right. Do it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if we have to bring them back again!”
“It will be fine. Nothing to worry about,” Fallon assured her.
“That’s what makes me afraid,” she retorted.
CHAPTER 39
“Prince Kemal is awake.”
“Of course he is,” Finbar muttered. “I was the one who woke him up.”
Dina ignored the wizard and instead gave Durzu a dazzling smile. “Are you ready, my dear Prince?” she purred.
“I know what I have to ask. I don’t know if it will work,” Durzu replied.
“We have bet our lives on this. Feray will settle for nothing less. But we shall win and you shall get everything you ever wanted,” she said, giving him another smile. Manipulating these men was becoming all too easy, she felt, although it was also tiring. She had just spent two turns of the hourglass reassuring Swane and now she had to do it all again to Durzu.
“And if I am announced as the next Crown Prince, what then?”
“Well, how about we prove we can help you before we go any further? We have a saying in our country: don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
Durzu stared at her blankly. “What has this to do with chickens?” he asked. “I just need to know what my allies want.”
Dina looked at him carefully and decided he was not going to be fobbed off with just a smile this time.
“It is simple. We want what you want,” she said. “King Swane is a king without a country. We want your army to destroy the rebels and make Gaelland safe again. Then we can rule in your name, as valuable allies, sending you tribute and slaves.”
“And that is all?”
“We want to be honored above other client rulers,” she admitted. “But nothing more.”
She knew Swane was eager to introduce Durzu to the powers of blood magic but she felt one step at a time was the better approach. Durzu looked at her carefully but she had many years of experience at hiding her thoughts from men and he finally nodded.
“Come then. My father does not like to be kept waiting,” he said.
*
Feray was dreaming, being chased by strange creatures through a dark wood, something that made no sense because she had never been in a wood, dark or otherwise, although it seemed very much like ones she had seen from a distance in Gaelland. She had finally fallen asleep sitting beside Kemal’s bed. If Kemal’s words were to be the final ones in her argument with Durzu, she needed to be the first to hear them. But, despite all the potions the physicians poured down his throat and the poultices they strapped to various parts of his body, he had not stirred. Something touched her hand and she came awake, her heart racing, to discover Kemal had reached out.
“My love! Can you hear me?” she cried, holding his hand tight.
His eyes opened and he stared at the ceiling, saying nothing.
She stood, looking over him, so her face had to be filling his vision.
“My love, what is it? Are you in pain?” she asked softly, hoping the physicians would not hear, for then her chance would be gone.
But although she met his eyes, he looked right through her. He groaned, a deep, rattling sound, and tried to sit up, but fell back to the bed.
“What happened to you?” she persisted.
Again he did not answer her, merely tossed his head from side to side, drawing his legs up at the same time.
Feray was torn between continuing to speak to him in the hope of getting his story before anyone else—as well as telling him what she had told his father—and helping him in his distress. Then the decision was taken out of her hands when he uttered a long wordless cry. The physicians could not fail to hear that, for they were just outside. Their lives may not depend on healing the Crown Prince but their status as Royal Physicians certainly would.
“Quick! The Prince is waking up!” she cried, just in case they were asked to report to the Emperor.
Two of them came racing into the room a heartbeat later and, although she eased backwards, she kept her hand entwined in Kemal’s. The physicians tried to ask him questions, to which they received no reply, although they also listened to his heart and urged him to pass water.
“If he can’t say anything, I doubt that is going to tell you anything,” Feray said, but they ignored her.
“He is coming out of his deep sleep. We have brought him back from the dead,” the older of the two announced. “We must tell the Emperor immediately.”
Feray kissed Kemal’s hand. “Come back to me, my love. Where does your mind wander?” she asked. But he did not answer.
*
Only the arrival of the Emperor forced her from the bedside. Kemal’s eyes were still open and he was moving weakly, although not talking. The Emperor was accompanied by guards and two dozen senior nobles, most of whom had to wait outside.
To hear the physicians, however, it was as if he had made a miraculous return from death’s door. She tolerated that but her worry turned to fury when Durzu and some of the Gaelish arrived.
“What in Aroaril’s name are they doing here?” Feray thundered.
“I sent for them, because I was told my son was awake and talking,” the
Emperor said coldly. “We have agreed he shall speak the truth about them. Once I hear what that truth is, I will judge what to do with them.”
She bowed her head in apology, although inside she was seething. “They were the ones who did this to him!” she insisted.
“Father, can I at least try and speak to my brother?” Durzu asked humbly.
“What good will that do? We have all seen that he is not capable of speaking,” Feray snapped.
“You may try, my son,” the Emperor agreed, as if she had not said a word. That hurt but she would not show the bastards a moment’s weakness.
Durzu approached Kemal’s bed, where the Crown Prince was still. “Brother, who rules in Gaelland?” he asked.
“What sort of a question is that?” Feray protested. Durzu ignored her and she was about to say more when, to her shock, Kemal replied.
“The rebel Fallon rules in Gaelland,” he said, clearly and distinctly.
Feray’s gasp of horror was lost in the general gasps of surprise at Kemal speaking.
“And your army? What of them?” Durzu asked.
“Forced to surrender. The survivors are being held prisoner,” Kemal said.
“This is not right!” Feray shouted, hurrying to Kemal’s side. “He is still sick, he does not know what he is saying! His mind is lost!”
“Stay back!” Durzu commanded. “You had your chance. Now my brother is speaking to me. Tell me, Kemal, who am I?”
“You are my brother Durzu,” Kemal said instantly.
“See, Father, he knows what he is saying,” Durzu said.
“Continue. I would know more,” the Emperor said.
“Is Gaelland ready to be part of the Empire?”
“Fallon refuses to bow before us. He will defy us until he is destroyed.”
“What did they plan to do with you?”
“They planned to bargain with me, threaten to kill me if we did not leave them alone. I would have been a hostage. Fallon wanted to see the Emperor kneel before him, in order to get the Crown Prince back.”
“Monstrous!” someone exclaimed.
Feray was caught between a seething fury and a numb shock. Why was Kemal saying all this? He knew as well as she did what that would mean for them both.
“This is not my husband talking! He is being made to say these things!” she cried.
“Impossible. Nobody is touching him,” Durzu said sharply. “You just do not want the truth to come out.”
“The truth? You want to hear the truth? What about that your allies sacrifice children to Zorva? Ask him about that!” she snarled.
“This is nonsense. They have passed every test set for them by the Hierarch,” Durzu said dismissively.
“My love, have you seen Swane and Aidan worship Zorva? Are they not evil?” she cried, rushing to his side and shaking his shoulder. “Speak!”
“Father, she is forcing a sick man to say what she wants!” Durzu appealed.
“Step away,” the Emperor agreed.
Feray looked again into Kemal’s eyes but they seemed to slip right through her. She sensed the Emperor was about to order guards to drag her away so she stepped back.
“They have cast some sort of spell on him,” she said bitterly and pointed at Swane. “They are using their dark magic to put words into his mouth!”
“That is nonsense. It was the skill of the Emperor’s physicians that have revived my brother,” Durzu said fiercely. “Does she accuse them of lying to their Emperor and not knowing what they are doing?”
“Exalted One, the Gaelish have not been anywhere near Prince Kemal,” the lead physician said immediately. “It is surely our care and skill that has brought him back from the dead.”
The Emperor nodded, then beckoned the Hierarch forward. “Can you feel anything? Is dark magic being used?” he asked.
“I can feel nothing,” the Hierarch declared.
Feray saw the Emperor’s dark eyes turn on her. “Nevertheless, ask my son anyway, Durzu. I would hear it from his mouth.”
“I never saw them pray to Zorva,” Kemal said, when bidden by his brother.
“Where then, do these rumors come from?” Durzu asked.
“I made a deal with King Aidan to make Gaelland’s submission easier. We gave them three of the Emperor’s special guards, who stole children from their beds to allow Aidan to pretend there were witches loose in his city. Meanwhile I helped steal people from ships and villages, to make the Gaelish afraid.”
Feray closed her eyes as gasps of horror echoed around the chamber and the Emperor’s face went pale with fury. She did not know what to say. This was the truth but there was no way Kemal would ever reveal any of this unless some sort of trickery was involved. But she could not see how she could force them to reveal what they were doing. Unless … she let her shoulders slump and shuffled closer to one of the guards.
“And this worked? The Gaelish are scared and willing to embrace us now?”
“They hate us now and this tactic created Fallon and his men. If we had not stolen his family, none of this would have happened,” Kemal intoned flatly.
More sighs and groans came from around the room as Feray took another half-step towards the guard, her eyes on the dagger at his hip.
“And what of the slave revolt that happened here? What is the truth in that?” Durzu asked, unmistakable triumph in his voice now.
“My wife and children were captured by Fallon. He offered to exchange them for his family. I freed the slaves here, sent guards off in different directions and let them escape, even helped them get home.”
The gasps and mutters had stopped now and there was a deathly silence, for all could see the Emperor was in a rare fury. Feray, however, was within reach of the guard’s dagger now. There was no stopping the flood of truth from Kemal’s mouth. The only way to show he was being made to say this was to prove the Gaelish were using magic. A quick grab and throw of the knife and she would force them to use magic to protect themselves. And then their other lies could be proved.
“You let Kottermani guards die and property be destroyed to help these slaves?”
“Yes.”
“And when you returned them?”
“I signed a false treaty with Fallon, making him think Gaelland would stay independent. Then I tore it up and attacked. But I was defeated and captured.”
Strangled gasps from around the room were drowned out by the Emperor’s snarl of fury. Now was her last chance.
She took half a step forwards, snatched the dagger out of the scabbard and then looked up, whipping her hand forwards to send it whistling at Swane’s chest.
Cries of alarm echoed in her ears but she only had eyes for Swane. The only way for him to save himself was to use magic to force the blade away from him. She savored snatching triumph from the jaws of defeat as she was sure he had to prove he had dark magic.
Her heart jumped into her mouth as she realized he was not moving, and was not doing anything to save himself, either. For a horrible moment she thought she had killed him, and forfeited her own life at the same time—and then Dina shoved Swane out of the way. The dagger did not thump home into his breast but instead sliced across his arm before clattering into the wall.
“Treachery!” Durzu howled as the room erupted.
Feray felt guards grab her arms, while the physicians rushed to Swane’s side.
“Bring her before me!” the Emperor thundered. “By Aroaril, I will have silence here!”
The room went whisper-quiet and Feray did not fight as she was dragged in front of the Emperor. She had gambled and lost and she could not see another way out of this. But the Emperor did not even look at her.
“King Swane, are you badly hurt?” he asked instead.
“It is but a scratch, Exalted One,” Swane said, sitting up as physicians fussed over him, Durzu hurriedly translating between them, although Feray could understand both languages.
“What would happen if we returned you to your throne in Gaelland
?”
“We would rule in your name, giving you all the tribute and honor you deserve. Once I have my throne back, my people will accept what I say. All the fighting will stop and any Kottermanis being held as prisoners will be handed back, while we shall punish those who defied you,” Swane said.
The Emperor nodded. “Then that is what we shall do.”
“And what of my brother and his wife and their plotting?” Durzu asked.
The Emperor’s eyes lit up with fury as he contemplated Feray. “You and Kemal have lied to me. Repeatedly. You have jeopardized my conquest of Gaelland, wrecked my careful plans and nearly killed one of the few allies we have left. What did you hope to gain by such an act?”
“Exalted One, they are lying to you. They have dark magic and they are using it here. If you trust them, it will mean not just your life but your soul and even the existence of the Empire itself,” she said urgently, persuasively.
Her words vanished into thin air, as if she had not even spoken.
“You and your sons shall be held in your home until I have decided what to do with you,” the Emperor said heavily.
“Exalted One, do what you want with me. But see my husband restored to full health and hear his words then,” she tried one last time. “You cannot trust Durzu. He longs to be Crown Prince but he does not know what to do with the role. He will destroy all you have built.”
“I cannot imagine how my son Kemal could undo what he has already done,” the Emperor said heavily, seemingly ignoring her other words. “It is clear to me that he is no longer fit to be Crown Prince.”
Feray could not see Durzu’s face but she could imagine what it must look like.
“We cannot speak of what he has revealed in this room,” the Emperor continued. “If I hear one word of this has escaped, then that person shall not only lose both life and lands but their families down to their third generation of relatives shall die. Is that understood?”
Feray was the only one not to speak as they fought with each other to promise their lips would be sealed.
“The people cannot know the mistakes that were made. As far as they are concerned, all is normal. The last thing we want is for some of the more troublesome provinces to take encouragement from this news of the Empire being defied. As for Kemal, we shall return him to Gaelland in the spring and he shall die there, falling in battle to bring Gaelland into the fold of the Empire. All shall mourn his passing but none shall question it.”
