by Howell, Rob
“He let them beat up Honker while he stood back and watched. He was really good with swords, but he did not like to beat up people.”
Gibroz leaned back in surprise. “You’re fuckin’ right, I never fuckin’ noticed that.” He looked back at me. “So you know it was him that beat up Big Nose.”
“Yes. And there’s another thing.”
“What?”
“His grandmother.”
“Wasn’t that a fuckin’ thing? I had no fuckin’ idea that she was a fuckin’ wizard. Gabrijela here earned a fuckin’ bonus for dealin’ with her, let me fuckin’ tell you.”
I smiled at Gabrijela, who shook her head ruefully.
“He’s not telling you everything, Gibroz.”
“No, I’m not. But I did tell you all you fucking need.”
Gibroz peered up at me. Time stretched as he debated what to do. “Get the fuck out of here, Sevener. I owe you a fuckin’ favor. That favor may just be not fuckin’ makin’ you tell me all you fuckin’ know.”
“You’d be bored as the Trickster if you knew all I know.”
“I’ve not fuckin’ idea what that fuckin’ means. Just fuckin’ go. I’m sure I’ll fuckin’ hear from you too fuckin’ soon.”
I laughed. “For me, too.” I looked at Gabrijela. “Dinner tonight? We’ll go to Milos’s Mare for a change. It looks to be a lovely evening.”
She smiled and blushed while Suzana, Andreyev, and Vladan hooted. Fortunately, she nodded.
We left Gibroz’s, stopping before the Square of Legends near Karlo’s stables.
“I think I’m going to go check on Radovan,” said Sebastijan.
“Come to the Faerie in the next couple of days for an accounting.”
He nodded and walked away.
“I’m going to take my leave, too.” Piri smiled. “You have a date to prepare for.”
I smiled sadly. “Yes, Piri, I do. I’ll be over to the barracks in a day or two to spar.”
“Make sure he does that, eh, niece?”
Maja nodded, and the two of us returned to the Faerie. My afternoon nap beckoned, and I knew I needed rest after the events of the last few days. Especially if I was going to spend the evening with Gabrijela.
Chapter 51
Late Evening, 30 Heamoanne, 1712 MG
The full moon etched its glory on the lake I stood at the foot of Samiel’s Keep, almost directly over the Frank Faerie. Stunning in its glory, it called to lovers everywhere. A small wind ruffled my hair. Gabrijela and I had climbed up here after our dinner.
Truly a night to remember. I turned to Gabrijela and took her in my arms.
She kissed me. After our kiss she leaned back with a slight puzzled look on her face. “You’re holding back.”
“Yes.”
We kissed again. I had never loved anyone like I loved Gabrijela.
“What’s wrong?”
“I love you, Gabrijela.”
She shyly looked down. “I love you too.”
“I don’t know how we can be together, though.”
“Why not?”
“One of us will be in Basilopolis, or wherever the Emperor assigns, and the other will be here. How can we live like that?”
“I think we can make things work.”
I shook my head.
She sighed. “When are you leaving?”
“I’m not. I’m going to stay at the Faerie.
“Then what is the problem? We’ll both be here.”
I sighed and crushed my soul. “Bedarth told me to look and look again. Every day, he asked me to question everything again. Sebastijan keeps teasing me about this being the Empire.”
“What does all that mean?”
“I thought to myself, if I was the Emperor and I wanted to push a rivalry between Gibroz and Ylli, I might send a person like Markov to create the friction.”
“You think the Emperor is the person behind Markov?” She started to kiss me, but I forestalled her.
“Yes, but in this Empire it seems like there’s always a deeper level.” I sighed. “In fact, there are several people who worked with Markov to help the Emperor. His grandmother, if she was his grandmother, was one. She and the other Gimerrai. They all came from the Great City. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”
“His grandmother?”
“How long have you worked with Markov and his grandmother? Did you invite them here to help control Gibroz? Did they invite you? There’s no way I’ll ever know, I suppose.”
“But I helped you kill them!”
“Yes, yes you did. You hoped that with them dead, your connection with the Emperor would be hidden. Markov would take all the blame. I’d accept his guilt for he was, indeed, working for the Emperor. Yet it was too easy. The truth hid the lie.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“He simply couldn’t have completely covered up the money trail without help. Ognyan’s system was too thorough. Ognyan could have done so, but only if he had help inside Gibroz’s organization to change the numbers. That could only be you.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“It could only be you. Gibroz used you to see when people were lying. Markov could not have continually passed the wrong amounts to Gibroz without you knowing. Then you verified Ognyan’s words when we talked at the Plucked Owl.”
“He’s adept at shielding.”
“Clearly, but he announced he was dropping that shielding. You said he had. Then you said he wasn’t lying. So, either he never lied, which really can’t be the case, or you were covering for him like you covered for Markov.”
“But—”
“And there’s one more thing,” I interrupted sadly. “Gibroz told me he specifically told you not to enchant me. You told me he specifically instructed you to try and control me with your magic.”
“He forgets things sometimes.”
“Not this. He was too proud about being right. You tried to wrap me around your finger with your magic. You had no need. I loved you anyway.”
“Dear, what are you saying?” She tried to back away, but I held her.
“You never really explained why you continued to work for Gibroz. The story of having to choose between Gibroz and Katarina when you first arrived made a lot of sense. I’d certainly choose Gibroz over her. But that was years ago. You’ve made your reputation. You could leave Gibroz at any time.”
She started using her magic to get away from me. I held her tight, hugging her with all my love. She tried to turn my love to submission, but I knew it was coming. In fact, my defenses against her magic felt stronger than I hoped.
“I don’t blame you for serving the Emperor. I too served a lord. But I can’t serve him, and I—” I choked.
She tried to twist my love to something, something, anything else. I loved her too much, and my defenses held again. My defenses were so strong on that night.
Suddenly she broke, and we held each other up.
We tried to say things, but our emotions—our honest, human emotions—were too powerful. Eventually we looked at each other.
“What now?”
“Now Sebastijan escorts you on the road to Basilopolis.”
“What? I mean? Why?”
“Tomorrow you’ll go to Gibroz and tell him that you just cannot stay after killing Markov’s grandmother. Or whatever other excuse you want to make. Just tell him that you have to go. Then Sebastijan and you will leave.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
She stared at me. “Then why can’t I stay and be with you?”
“The Emperor and his agents beat an innocent man, threatened his wife and children, tried to kill me a half-dozen times or so, and tried to create a war between crime lords that would kill scores more than I ever have. Penwulf broke his oath to his father and led me into rebellion, yet I would kiss his hand, even knowing what to expect, long before swearing to the Emperor. I don’t know where I will go now, but I will never swear to serve him.”
“But that doesn’t mean I can’t stay.”
“Ylli and Gibroz would kill you if they knew what I knew. They wouldn’t hesitate. If you stay, they’ll find out, sooner or later. I can’t be your man, but I will not look at your bleeding corpse.”
She put her hand to my cheek and held it there. I covered it with my hand. I stared into the eyes that had once given me such hope. The lover’s moon illuminated our tears.
Some time later she left. I did not follow. I turned back to the lake. I could not watch her walk away. I waited for the other steps I knew would come.
“I can help you Sevener. I can remove that pain.”
“I know you can, Katarina, but it will be all I have to remember her with.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“I guessed you followed me whenever you could ever since Anastasius appeared to heal Radovan. Thank you for that, by the way. Then, when Gabrijela pressed me I could feel an echo. I could feel you reinforcing my defenses.” I turned to her. “Why did you follow me? And how?”
“Why? You should know the answer to that question.”
“I suppose I do.”
“As for how, I can sense great emotions from you anywhere in Achrida right now. I watched your pain grow all night. I just followed it here.”
“Can all erkurioi feel my emotions so easily?”
“No. I’ve just learned your emotions. Studied them, in fact. And then there was the Bardheküülle.”
“What do you mean?”
“I had to dig deep into all of us to protect us.”
“I’m not comfortable with that.”
“I know.” She giggled.
We paused, deep in our thoughts.
“I’m glad you gave up the Mavric iron. It would have ruined you.”
“I know that, too.”
We paused again, staring at each other.
“You should go back to the Faerie. I think Zoe has something waiting for you,” Katarina finally said.
“At this hour?”
“She needs no magic to sense your pain.”
I stared at the cruelest person I had ever met. The moonlight twisted in her evil face.
With a kindly smile she spoke softly. “You have a home now, Sevener. Go there. Your family awaits you.”
Appendix One – People
Aca (ACK-ah): An employee of Gibroz. Edward discovers his body when he is searching for Ludmilja’s doll.
Aegiala (eh-GALL-ah): Daughter of the sun in Imperial myths. She was turned into a poplar tree for her arrogance, but was later courted by Marko. Her story is told in the play The Courting of Aegiala.
Aethelred Aethelwulfson (ETH-el-red ETH-el-wolf-son) Father of Edward. Thegn of Cynric. Killed by Edward in Penwulf’s failed coup attempt.
Agata Kyranna (AG-a-ta KEY-ra-na): The daughter of Zacharia and the youngest member of the Gropa Council.
Akantha (a-KAN-tha): The black and white cat of the Frank Faerie. She normally spends her time in the stables.
Alcaeus (al-KAY-us): Minor god in the Imperial pantheon. He is known for his immense strength and bravery.
Anastasius: A Reader of the Library of Achrida.
Andreas: Corrupt governor of the province of Dassaretum.
Andreyev (AN-dre-yev): One of Gibroz’s primary henchmen.
Andrija (AN-dre-ya): A member of the Gropa council. A renowned warrior in his youth, who even in his later years remains formidable.
Anzhelko (AN-zhell-ko): One of Sebastijan’s men.
Arkady: A member of the Pathfinder military company of Achrida.
Basil (Emperor): Emperor of the Old Empire in the 3rd Century. He founded the city of Basilopolis.
Bedarth (bed-ARTH): A liffrea in the Seven Kingdoms. He became Edward’s mentor after Edward’s lord Penwulf was killed. He was widely known in Shijuren, corresponding with many other magicians throughout the world, including Veikko of Haapavesa.
Besnik (BEZ-nik): A teamster and leader of a caravan based in Lezh.
Boza (BOW-za): A boy who lives near to Isidora in the Stracara.
Branimira (BRA-nee-mee-rah): Seamstress and wife of Gordan. They have a shop on Medusa’s Way near the Frank Faerie.
Cosmas: A god of the Empire, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Twin brother of Damian. They focus on wounds, injuries, and assisting with surgeries.
Cynric (KIN-rik): The King of Middlemarch. Father of Penwulf. Bencriht lord of Edward Aethelredson’s father.
Damian (DAME-yen): A god of the Empire, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Twin brother of Cosmas. They focus on wounds, injuries, and assisting with surgeries.
Danjel (DAN-jel): A member of the Pathfinder military company of Achrida.
Dardan (dar-DAN): The owner of the Westering Winds, an inn in Lezh. Though he lives in Lezh, he is a part of the Dassaretae tribe.
David: A boy who lives near to Isidora in the Stracara.
Davorin (dah-VO-reen): A member of the Gropa Council. Corrupt but capable and inventive.
Deor (DAY-or): Edward Aethelredson’s horse.
Desimir (DEH-see-meer): A decarch in the Pathfinder military company of Achrida. Slain in the events described in A Lake Most Deep.
Dominik: Hecatontarch of the Feroun military company of Achrida.
Dragan (DRA-gan): One of Gibroz’s minor thugs. He leads a small gang of criminals.
Edouard: A soldier in the Pathfinder military company of Achrida.
Edward Aethelredson: Once a thegn of Penwulf. Following Penwulf’s failed coup, he was tutored by Bedarth until Bedarth passed away.
Eirik (EH-rik): Son of Ragnar and stableboy of the Frank Faerie.
Elena: A goddess in the Imperial pantheon. She is worshiped by mothers and women leaders.
Emilija (eh-MEEL-ya): A regular at the Frank Faerie.
Era: A lore magician who works for Ylli.
Flavian: A regular at the Frank Faerie. Known for a weird high-pitched laugh.
Frano: A courier between the Gropa family and Gibroz. Usually gets his instructions from Jeremena.
Gabrijela (gah-bree-YELL-ah): A zokurios who works for Gibroz.
Gibroz (jah-BROZE): One of two kraljevics of Achrida. He focuses primarily on gambling, smuggling, and extortion. Usually to be found at his gambling parlor at the end of Metodi Mean.
Gjon (ga-YAWN): A guard and scout of Ylli’s organization.
Gordan (gor-DAWN): Tailor and husband of Branimira. They have a shop on Medusa’s Way near the Frank Faerie.
Gregorius: An assistant of Emperor Nikephoros
Harald: A regular at the Frank Faerie. Also known as Honker Harald, Honker, or Big Nose for his large nose. Married to Soraya and the father of Ludmilja.
Heraclius (HERA-a-KLEE-us): An Emperor of the Empire of Makhaira. He constructed a tower in Lezh to see the setting sun.
Hlodowic (CHLO-da-vik): Trainer at arms for Cynric. Helped train both Aethelred and Edward.
Hristo (CHRIS-tow): An armsman in the service of Ylli.
Hrodwaldr (h-ROAD-wall-drr): A war leader in ancient Sevenish history.
Isidora: An aunt of Gibroz.
Iva (EEV-ah): A girl who lives near to Isidora in the Stracara.
Ivan Yevgenich (EE-van yev-GEN-itch): Boyar in Zabad Oblast, the northwesternmost oblast of Periaslavl. Hosted Edward during the winter of 1711-1712 MG.
Jadran (ya-DRAN): A boy who lives near to Isidora in the Stracara.
Jeremena (YAIR-a-mah-nah): A member of the Gropa council. Her primary focus is trade and wealth.
Jovanka (yo-VANK-ah): Radovan’s girlfriend.
Kapric (ka-PREEK): A quaesitor of the Empire of Makhaira, currently with the rank of tagmatarch. He is the ranking quaesitor in Achrida, and is generally tasked with investigating killings. Son of Marjana. Brother of Sebastijan. Heir of a minor line in the Enchelei tribe.
Karah: Daughter of Ragnar and Zoe. She helps serve at the Frank Faerie.
Karlo: The owner of a stable just south of the Square of Legends in Achrida.
Karthak: A giant in Imperial mythology.
Katarina: One of two kraljevics of Achrida. She focuses primarily on prostitution and drugs. Usually to be found at her bordello Tresinova’s Treasures.
Ludmilja (lood-MILL-ya): Daughter of Honker and Soraya.
Maja Mrnjavcevic (MAI-ya) murn-yav-CHEH-vich): A niece of Piriska Mrnjavcevic and a recruit in the Pathfinder company of Achrida.
Marija (MAH-ree-ya): A priestess and zokurios of Naum. She believed she could capture some of the actual thought of Naum if she took the original copy of The Notes of Naum in His Captivity back to the cell where he had been held in the Kreisen. .
Marjana Gropa (mar-YANN-ah GRO-pa): A member of the Gropa family. Mother of Kapric and Sebastijan.
Marko: A legendary hero in Imperial mythology.
Marko: A regular at the Frank Faerie.
Markov: One of Gibroz’s primary henchmen.
Melia (MEL-ee-ah): The gray tabby cat of the Frank Faerie. Normally found in the taproom demanding her due.
Miho (MEE-ho): A priest of Cosmas.
Milos Obilic (MEE-lose OH-ba-leek): An ancient hero of Dassaretum.
Miroslav (MYRR-oh-slav): A love magician who assists the quaesitors of Achrida in their investigations.
Mithra: The Imperial god of soldiers and warriors.
Nadja (NAD-ya): Ludmilja’s doll.
Naum Gropa (nawm): A prominent Enchelei of the late 12th into the 13th centuries. He created the Glagolitsa script. In a diplomatic mission to the Berzeti, he not only taught them to read using that script, he brought them into the Enchelei tribe as a group. In a different diplomatic mission to the Kreisen, he was captured and held for nearly a year. During this time, he wrote what would become The Notes of Naum in His Captivity. Upon his death, his admirers kept his memory alive and soon he became one of the many godlings of Achrida. Over the past few centuries, his sect has grown in power and reach, and now he is worshipped through the Empire of Makhaira and in a few places in the Old Empire.
Nikephoros (NIK-a-FOR-ose): The current emperor of the Empire of Makhaira.
Ognyan (OG-nyann): A factor in Achrida whose clients include both Gibroz and Ylli.
Pal Gropa (pawl GRO-pa): The current zupan of the Enchelei.
