Blood on Bronze (Blood on Bronze Book 1)

by Gillis, Anthony

  Last and most dangerous of their inner circle was Bal-Shim. Naram, finder of secrets, knew something of what hid in the heart of that smiling and ever more popular man. He had plied Bal-Shim with slave girls from one of his less-well known enterprises, and the reports they gave of his inclinations had led Naram to provide other, less fortunate, girls from a most secret enterprise. Unfortunately, they failed to live through their time with Bal-Shim. So at last, Naram gave one of them certain drugs obtained from the G’abudim that kept her alive a little while afterward. Dying, she had wanted revenge in any form she could on the son of Shulggi, wanted it enough to confide even in the master who had sent her to him, and she had revealed things the man had gloated in his ecstasy. Naram had thereby learned enough to be prepared for the time when he would need to dispose of Bal-Shim, and at the cost of only a few of his cheaper slaves.

  But none of them, nor his wife and his half-grown sons, or indeed anyone still living, knew of the secret Naram dra Zash-Ulshad kept for himself. A secret he had uncovered not so long ago, far underground beneath the city, and that had led directly to his formation of the circle now around him. A secret he believed no one had known since the founding of the city three thousand years earlier. Of the lineages of the twelve founding lords, there were many descendants, but after so many ages, only two lines left who still bore the old names, and in whom the old signs could still be discerned. When Artashad was put to an end, Zash-Ulshad alone would remain, and then when the other necessary pieces were in place, oh yes then, would all discover the meaning of his secret.

  12. The Tale of the Spark of Life

  Arjun held Inina in his arms in their little bed. Over her objections, he’d bought a slightly larger one through Lurshiga, but even that required them to sleep in very close contact. They did not mind.

  He’d just returned from a day of training in arms, and she from a day of working her network of friends, gathering information wherever she could. As he held her, he remembered how close they’d come, just two nights before, to death at the hands at a squad of guards. They’d killed two of those men, and now even those on the council who might have seen his feud with Bal-Shim as understandable would be forced to act against the slayers of city guardsmen.

  As his hands roamed the familiar curves of Inina’s body, he noticed something unfamiliar, the slightest hint of firmness and bulge in her belly. She tensed.

  “Inina?”

  “Arjun, I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure, but I’ve been to Sina the midwife, and she confirmed it… I’m pregnant. What… do you plan to do?” She began to shake, and then cry as emotions and fear swept over her.

  Arjun looked surprised, then concerned, “What do you mean, what do I plan to do?”

  “I… well, you’re a rich merchant’s son, and of one of the old aristocratic families, and I know you can’t marry someone like me, but will you… take care of our baby?” she sobbed.

  “Inina, I’m sorry for my stupidity in not talking about this earlier. I guess in the middle of all my plans, I didn’t think about pregnancy and children, or much else except how much I love you,” he said as took her in his arms, “But,” he continued, “Who said I can’t marry you? My father is in prison, and in his absence, I head house Artashad, all one of us. Now, let that be two.”

  She started, and peered up at him through red-rimmed eyes.

  “Inina, will you be my wife?”

  She covered him in kisses, clung to his neck, whispered love in his ear, and then remembered she was supposed to answer.

  “Of course, my love, yes, I will,” then she thought further, “But what if you succeed in getting your father out? What will he say?”

  “My father is a very understanding man. I think he’ll be grateful and support my choice. In any case, we’ll all be fugitives. We might have to flee the city, and then any dynastic dreams he may have had regarding my marriage prospects will be as dust.”

  “Flee the city?”

  “I hope not, but if you want to make a life with me, that is among the possibilities.”

  “I do my love, I do. Come what may.”

  And they set to work practicing to make another baby.

  ~

  In Shirin’s training room, protective magics crackled and engraved traceries faintly glowed. The magus sat in his chair amidst a circle of power, and the apprentice stood before him.

  “I have chosen the spells I ask to learn, master,” said Arjun.

  “Name them now,” replied Shirin.

  “Master Shirin, I beseech you to teach me The Lesser Portal of Flame, The Eyes of Comprehension of Truth, The Eyes of Comprehension of Darkness, The Words of Opening, and The Forge of the Least of Worlds.”

  Shirin’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed his student.

  “Arjun my apprentice, most content themselves with one or two as a start, and they have more time at their disposal than do you. The two spells last named are usually studied by those with much greater lore and experience than yourself, and one preceding them will require more explanation from you, and to you. Let us begin, however, with the first. Why, apprentice, do you wish to learn the Lesser Portal of Flame?”

  “Master, I wish to learn so that I may call forth fire directly from its own plane, and fire is a most useful thing. As one who honors Zamisphar, this has greater meaning for me than for most others”

  “And on what sort of object do you wish to inscribe the circle and the signs?”

  “I wish to construct the circle and the signs purely with magic on my own open hand, as is done by the high adepts of Zamisphar.”

  Again Shirin watched his apprentice, this time with a hint of wonder in his expression.

  “That will be most difficult, apprentice, but as one who has been well taught in the lore of Zamisphar, it may be within your abilities even in such time as we have. I will teach you. Now, apprentice why do you wish to learn The Eyes of Comprehension of Truth?”

  “I wish to learn so that I will no longer have difficulties seeing the gleam and feeling the energy of magic in bright light or when there is much activity. As this is a spell I have read many magi put directly on themselves rather than through a lens or glass, so I wish to.”

  “Apprentice, did you say you can see the light and feel the energy of magic already?”

  “Yes, master, in dim light I see it and in quiet spaces I feel it, cannot all do so?”

  “No. Some magic of its nature gives off light visible by all, but most does not. Those who are untrained can, at best, out of the corners of their eyes, or in some altered state of dreams or madness catch such things as a faint sense. Yet as soon as they try to look directly at the magic, or focus their attention upon it, the sense fades. Have you hidden something from me and received prior training?”

  “No master.”

  “Then you have some mark or sign upon you. I know not from where it might come, though your family is an ancient one, older than the city itself, and who knows what may have befallen them in those millennia? I am no historian, but will give this matter such study as I can. In the meantime, though I wonder, I will teach you. Now, apprentice why do you wish to learn The Eyes of Comprehension of Darkness?”

  “Master, I wish to learn so that I may see in darkness without the need for fire or lamp, should the need be there.”

  “My apprentice, there are far simpler ways to deal with such problems, most commonly by the enchantment of some minor object with a spell of light, or for those more adept, by the preparation of a contingent one upon one’s person. Do you understand the true meaning of the words comprehension of darkness?”

  “I fear now master, that I do not.”

  “Apprentice, this magic does not allow one to see IN darkness by deft use of the least light, as does the enchantment known as The Eye of The Cat, rather it makes one see darkness itself, and such things as are in and of it. It is such sight as ghouls and spirits of the dark possess. One may well wish not to see the things revealed, though the
y are present among those who see them not. Do you still wish to learn this magic?”

  In his mind, Arjun saw nightmares of his time in the sewers. Yet, he thought, by comprehending such darkness, by knowing it, he would escape its power. Or at least, so he hoped. He steeled his heart and cleared his mind, then spoke.

  “Yes master.”

  “Arjun, my apprentice, this magic is very rarely, and with great difficulty, cast directly upon oneself, and its effects are difficult to undo. However, I will guess that like the others, you wish to do exactly that. Do you still wish to learn this magic?”

  “Yes master, is as you have said.”

  Shirin made the slightest gesture of resignation, and a spoke again, “I will teach you. Now, apprentice why do you wish to learn the Words of Opening?”

  “My master, so that I may defeat and undo wards that may block my way or seek to strike me down.”

  “Know then, apprentice that the Words by themselves are of little use, for to undo wards requires an understanding of the wards themselves, and thus far more knowledge of the underlying laws of magic, and of its lore, than you yourself now possess. Even so, the Words are difficult to master, and are, like all magic, dangerous when improperly used. Do you still wish to learn this magic?”

  “Yes master.”

  “You will heed my words as you learn, and the skill to actually use them to good effect must unfold over a longer span of time than I think we have, but still, I will teach you. Now, my apprentice, why do you wish to learn the Forge of the Least of Worlds?”

  “Master, so that I may make a place wherein to hide small but useful objects until they are needed, a place invisible to all others but at my call.”

  “My apprentice, know that this is very difficult magic normally learned only by those who have great mastery and long experience. Its name is more true than you know. To make such a place by magic is in truth to create a tiny world, a small plane of existence at your command. And moreover, it is very dangerous, for creating such a world requires opening a hole in this one. And, unlike The Lesser Portal of Flame, this opening is not tied inextricably to a certain destination. If the opening goes ill, things from outside may come in.”

  “And, apprentice,” continued Shirin, “the normal use of this magic, even by those adept, is to inscribe portals to the created planes inside boxes, on hidden places in walls, or on seal stones that thereby form the caps to invisible containers. You likely know that certain men of great wealth have items of this kind. It is for good reason that they are so rare and expensive. However, I shall guess that once again you wish to learn to do this invisibly through your mind and will, a method which means only you can cast it, if it is to work for you. Do you still wish to learn this magic?”

  Arjun replied with grim resolve, “Yes my master, it is so, and as you have spoken.”

  Shirin then put his hand to his chin, fingers on his beard, and thought a long time. At last he spoke.

  “Arjun, do you promise me, my apprentice do you swear to me, that you will not use this magic anywhere but here in this secure room and under my supervision, until such time as I release you?”

  “Yes, my master, I so swear.”

  “Give me your oath before gods and men.”

  Arjun did so, in the full old form.

  “Very well then, I will teach you.”

  ~

  Some days later, Enlil iru Geb, master of weapons, watched his apprentice Sharur. The young man was learning well, far better than he, Enlil, admitted to him. In fact, when he thought about it, the boy was better than anyone he’d trained in the twenty years since he’d become a master himself. But that didn’t mean all was well. In his time training Sharur, he’d rarely spoken to him about anything other than what was at hand, and at all times. Now he knew he had to.

  They were taking one of their brief breaks, and Sharur was sitting on a stone, his eyes distant but thoughtful, as they often were.

  “Apprentice, come here.”

  His apprentice rose and approached, eyes suspicious and form tense and ready.

  “Sharur, I give you my word I will not try any tricks while we discuss what I’ve got to say to you. I’ll let you know when we’re back under training rules.”

  “I’m ready, master Enlil.”

  “You know that I said at the beginning, no questions asked by either party, and I’m not going to ask you anything now, but I’ll tell you that something that has put me on edge.”

  The young man looked at him with a hint of worry in his eyes.

  “Sharur, twice now in the past few days, guards have come round looking for someone named Arjun dra Artashad, and given a description that sounds a lot like you, before you changed your look. I’ve seen notices offering a reward that is now up to a hundred gold suns for the capture of this same person, and lately I’ve even met random people roundabout asking around for him, probably looking for that reward. If I were this Arjun, I think I’d get myself out of the city, instead of sticking around waiting for the hammer to fall.”

  Enlil was now sure he saw worry in Sharur’s eyes, and when he spoke, he heard it in his voice.

  “And were I Arjun, master Enlil, I’d make sure no harm came to anyone connected with me, getting clear of them if I had to. But who can say why Arjun himself might stay in town?”

  “Reasons having nothing to do with revenge, or training for it, I’m sure,” replied Enlil.

  ~

  Days later still, Arjun stood before Shirin in the training room, his palm upraised. In it was a circle of magic and glyphs, a circle visible only to those who could see magic with their waking unclouded eyes, a circle that he and his master could both see. From the circle leapt a small flame, no bigger than a finger, but it burned steady and bright.

  Shirin’s face beamed.

  “Arjun, I’ve never seen anyone master those magics in such a short time, let alone doing so without carved inscriptions and the items to bear them. Ah! I Shouldn’t be saying this to you, such praise isn’t good form for training…”

  Shirin composed himself, and his speech returned to its normal formality.

  “My apprentice, do not take my praise for more than it is, and do not fill your head with pride, for that leads to recklessness, which has been the undoing of many a magus.”

  Arjun bowed his head, but he had felt only discomfort at the praise, as he always did. His mind was focused grimly on what he intended to do with these magics, and his soul was driven onward by the need to master them as fast as was possible.

  Shirin spoke again.

  “Apprentice, I declare you competent to wield The Lesser Portal of Flame and The Eyes of the Comprehension of Truth. Remember that your prior training aided you greatly in the former, and your mark or gift, whatever it may be, aided you in the latter. Your further training may not be so simple. Now we will move on to begin working with the Eyes of Comprehension of Darkness, and I warn you again that you will not like what is revealed. As for the others, continue your studies, but we are far from ready to test their wielding.”

  ~

  On a particular day, Arjun read a message stone he’d received from Umrub the G’abudim, who had otherwise had nothing to say to him this time. In it, Kartam told him that for now at least, Naram dra Zash-Ulshad, Bal-Shim, and whatever others might be among their friends still found it useful to keep his father alive, but that their patience was running out. It also said that Keda was deathly ill; her frail old form unable to bear the harsh treatment it was being given. Lastly, it warned that through some combination of fear and promises, some of his father’s old servants were being induced to aid in the hunt for him, and that others who’d once known him might do the same.

  Arjun swallowed his misery, put on a happier face, and stepped from his room down the hallway to Lurshiga’s, where she and Inina awaited him.

  Space had been made in the little room by stacking things in corners or lowering them down the secret shaft. Lurshiga had put on a long kilt, to
p, and cloak of red and purple with copper decoration. It was of finer work than anything they’d ever seen her wear, but looked old, and a bit tight on her. Inina wore a shorter kilt and top in red and bronze, and the red shawl with yellow designs and bronze and gold bangles of specific shape, that women normally only wore on this one day. She wore rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and anklets of Arjun’s bronze, and she had flowers in her hair.

  Arjun donned the short red cloak with bronze and gold fittings that was the garb of men for this day, their wedding day. Most folk rented the expensive garb of the bride and groom for only the day, but he’d taken the risk of being noticed to buy them. He stood before Inina, and took her hands in his. Her eyes beamed radiantly. His heart melted with love and joy at the sight of her. Lurshiga wrapped a small piece of red cloth with gold and bronze threads around their joined hands. Then she spoke.

  “Normally, a priest or priestess presides over weddings, but you two should know that the only things actually needed to make you married before gods and men are the vows I taught you. That said, I’ll admit the reason I know them so well is that I’m in fact a priestess, a junior one of the outermost circle, but still a priestess of Lashu-um, goddess of earthly comforts and pleasures.

  The two young people looked at her in surprise, as she continued.

  “In the days before my wonderful husband died, when you children weren’t yet in the world, I presided over quite a few weddings. After he… I didn’t really have the heart. Until now. All right you two, turn to each other and repeat the vows as I taught them.”

  Those vows, ancient wedding vows of the Hayyidi peoples, were long, but Arjun and Inina had learned them with care. When they were finished, Lurshiga smiled.