Markus turned and saw another man. The man looked small, with messy hair and a thick beard. A bit rough.
"Um, hello," the man said. "What's your name?"
Markus's throat felt dry. "Name's Markus, what's yours?"
"Berig."
"Strange name. Don't think I've ever heard it before."
Berig shrugged. "Yeah, I ain't sure where my parents got it from."
A tense silence fell. Berig didn't look or sound dangerous, but he was in prison, and Markus felt defenseless without his sword.
"You don't seem like the prison type," Berig said. "What'd you do?"
"I was supposed to become an Imperial Guard. I refused."
"And they didn't kill you?"
"Obviously," Markus said. "My uncle used to be an Imperial Guard. He made this deal when I was young that I'd become one. Since the commander's friends with my uncle, he decided he'd give me another chance, throw me in prison to make me change my mind."
"You gonna take it?"
Markus leaned back against the stone wall. "No. Warrick is evil. I can't bring myself to serve him. If it means starving to death, then so be it."
Berig laughed softly. "I don't know. I think I might take the chance. You know, not all Imperial Guards are so bad. Knew a guy back in Bradenton. Gram. A good man."
"I know they're not all bad. I mean, my uncle's always been decent to me." Markus hesitated. "Wait. Did you say Bradenton? That's way on the other side of the Empire. How did you get here? I think I'd like to hear your story. I told you mine. It's only fair."
In the dim light, Berig looked troubled. Maybe Markus had ventured into dangerous territory. He opened his mouth to apologize, but then Berig began speaking.
"To be honest, I ain't exactly sure why I'm in here. Might be that I used the Imperial Guard teleportation system, and they weren't too happy about it. Might be that I had to defend myself against another man in Riverside. He ended up dead. I didn't mean to do it. It just happened. Wish I could take it back."
Another tense silence fell. "You been in prison before?" Markus asked.
"Yeah, I've done my share of bad things. I don't go around hurting people, but I've been known to steal things I really shouldn't.
"Well, you seem okay to me," Markus said.
"Yeah, you seem okay too."
Markus looked wistfully at the bars. "I wonder when they'll come back."
"At least you've got a chance. I'm pretty sure they're gonna let me rot in here. I wish they'd at least tell me what's gonna happen to me."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and find out," Markus said.
They spent the next few minutes trading life stories. Berig thought it was strange that Markus couldn't remember his parents. Markus felt sorry for the horrible life Berig had lived. But what could they do about any of it now?
Berig looked down at the damp ground. "A few days ago, this wasn't where I expected to be. I thought I could start a new life over here. Guess I was wrong."
"Same here," Markus said. "I thought I'd have a chance to get to Mountainside. I guess life has a way of not working out like you planned." Of course, he and Rik had come up with a stupid plan. Markus shouldn't have expected anything better than this.
"You never know. Maybe life has another plan for us."
"I don't believe in fate or anything like that. My uncle always taught me that life's about the decisions you make. Who knows if there's a God?
"Yeah, I guess I'm the same way. Don't really know what to believe."
Markus chuckled without humor. "All I know is I want out of here."
"Amen."
* * * * *
Darien left the chamber where he read the Webs of Fate, failing to hold back a smile. His steward gave him a strange look, as though he'd never seen the expression on Darien's face. In truth, Darien had seen few reasons to smile the last few years.
But he was proud of himself today. Markus's decision of a few days ago, to abandon his future as an Imperial Guard, had thrown Darien's plans into disarray, but now Darien had manipulated things in the right direction, finding the proper strand in those Webs.
Markus had returned to the right path. It was strange how the future could be manipulated. A person might think it was impossible to return the future to a path once it left that path, but it wasn't true. Certain strands in that Web, like the Weavers who spun them, drew events toward them. To return to such a path was a delicate matter, but Warrick was capable.
Now he could see the path ahead of Markus. A path that led to Darien himself.
Yet parts of that path remained dark, Darien lamented as he entered his chambers. He settled down on his bed and closed his eyes. Though he was pleased, he was still exhausted.
The dark strands. There were few of them in the near future. He felt confident that Nadia's quest to kill him would fail. Beyond that, he wasn't so sure. The possibilities expanded, branching in infinitely complex patterns, ending in dark strand after dark strand.
Dark like the memories he had lost more than five hundred years ago. He had thought many times that the two might be related. Just as he couldn't see some of the future, he couldn't remember some of his own past, during the period of his rise to power.
What had driven these memories from his mind? Who had the power to do such a thing to a powerful sorcerer like Darien?
He'd tried to ignore these doubts, but for a mission as delicate as his, he had to know everything. He had to feel like he was in control. Ever since the day his parents had disappeared—a random event, everyone said—Darien had felt that drive to retain control.
An obsession, some might say.
But this world had taken his parents from him, taken the comfortable life he might have had, and it did the same thing to countless people every day. The stories he'd heard. Monsters breaking through wards. Strange weather phenomena swallowing entire towns. Tales of cruelty, of war, of oppression the likes of which Darien's people had never known.
Was he a hard man? Yes. But it was necessary.
And he regretted every innocent life he took.
Chapter 19: The Suitor
Nadia wiped the last of her tears away, then looked in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy, with dark circles under them. Her curly brown hair was even more a mess than usual, and she didn't want to fix it, didn't want to do anything.
A knock sounded at her door.
"What?" she demanded, not turning.
Her father stepped into the room. "I don't care for that attitude."
"Well, I'm sorry my emotions don't work on your schedule."
"I don't have time for this," he said. "You have an hour until dinner. And if you come down looking and acting like this, you will regret it, young lady."
He strode out of the room, and she longed to hurl something at the back of his head. Didn't she deserve a little compassion after losing Varek and Len?
She spent the next few minutes taking deep breaths, then called Avia into the room. Nadia felt too choked up to say anything, and Avia nodded with understanding as she began brushing Nadia's hair.
"I don't want to marry Tylen," Nadia said.
"And why is that, my dear?"
"He's a horrible person. He supports Warrick."
Avia sighed deeply. "Not this argument again. I understand how you feel, Nadia, but you're not likely to find many nobles who oppose the emperor. Your mother was a rare woman, and she kept her ideas about Warrick secret until she knew she could trust your father."
And she misplaced that trust, Nadia thought bitterly.
"Tylen will control me," she said. "He's as strong a Warrick supporter as you can get. And he strikes me as the kind of man who would imprison me here in the castle, or even turn me over to the authorities once I give him an heir."
Avia pulled the brush through a particularly troublesome curl. "Nadia, this is all conjecture. You can't judge him without actually knowing him."
"You weren't there at the gathering. He isn't just one of those p
eople pretending to support Warrick because it's convenient. He actually supports the man."
"Did you ever consider that he might be a very good actor?" Avia said, continuing to untangle Nadia's hair, her touch patient and gentle. Just like her words.
"I trust my intuition," Nadia said. "It tells me he's dangerous."
"Dangerous, Nadia? I think you're being dramatic."
"All right, I'll give him a chance," Nadia lied. She didn't feel like continuing this argument.
"That's a better outlook."
Nadia didn't like lying to Avia and had never made a habit of it. But was it all right if she lied to make Avia feel better? Or was Nadia lying only to soothe her own conscience?
She remained silent while Avia did her makeup and found her an elegant dress. When Avia finished, Nadia studied herself in the mirror again. She certainly looked good, as though she hadn't been crying. Only a few small curls remained in her hair. Given a choice, she would have gone to dinner looking terrible, but her appearance wouldn't change Tylen's mind.
A few minutes later, Nadia stepped out of her room. When she passed the guard at the door, she thought she would lose all her composure. Len should have been standing there.
"Are you okay, my lady?" the guard asked. He was maybe thirty, with a short dark beard. She remembered him as one of the sloppier guards, and a man Varek had never trusted. Too sympathetic to Warrick.
"Yes, I'm fine," she said, sounding angrier than she'd intended. She softened her voice. "Sorry. It's been a rough day. Thank you for your concern."
She stepped into the stairwell, feeling his gaze on her back. When she reached the dining chamber, the succulent aroma of glazed ham filled the room. The voices of servants drifted in from the adjacent kitchen.
Her father looked up. He was freshly-shaven today and wore his richest red robes. The color of power in Warrick's empire. Her dress was a soft blue with some lace ornamentation, but not too much.
"Good," her father said. "You look like you've cleaned up." He narrowed his eyes. "I trust that your attitude won't be a problem."
"I'll try my best."
He frowned, then rose from the table, motioning for Nadia to follow. They walked out to the foyer, where they waited before the open gate.
A few minutes later, Tylen's elegant carriage appeared along the cobblestone path, led by immaculate horses. The soft clip-clop of hooves became louder, then stopped when the carriage reached the guards at the gate. Tylen dismounted gracefully, a pair of servants alongside him. The servants accompanied him to the gate, then stepped aside as he strode into the castle.
He bowed to Nadia's father. "Good evening, my lord."
"Good evening, Lord Tylen."
"And good evening, my lady," Tylen said. "You look marvelous." He smiled and bowed to Nadia.
She returned the bow, hoping it looked sincere. "Good evening, Lord Tylen. You look quite stunning as well."
His smile widened, and she felt the insane urge to knock his teeth out. She was saved from doing something she might regret by her father.
"Our dinner should be ready now," he said. "Please follow me." With a relaxed smile, he led them into the dining chamber. Though Nadia tried to hang behind Tylen, he made a determined effort to remain beside her, standing closer than she wanted. He didn't touch her, but she could tell it was on his mind. How could her father not see the kind of man Tylen was?
They took seats at the long table. On some occasions, her father hosted the city's nobility, but today it was only the three of them. Her father sat beside her, and Tylen took a seat across the table, sitting with elegance and composure.
Servants arrived with the first course. Nadia didn't have much of an appetite, but she vowed to force the food down her throat. She didn't want to waste anything. However, her father and Tylen cast aside whatever they didn't find to their tastes.
Between courses, they arrived at the conversation Nadia dreaded.
Her father cleared his throat loudly. "Lord Tylen, it is with great pleasure that I formally extend to you an offer to become a part of the Cray family. In the coming months, you shall wed Lady Nadia, and then upon my death, you shall inherit the city, and the Cray name."
Tylen bowed, his expression controlled. "Thank you, my lord. I am most deeply honored by your offer, and it is with great pleasure that I accept it."
Nadia felt like throwing her knife at Tylen, and her father. He'd never had any intention of letting them get to know each other. She should have known.
"Then it is done," her father said, not even glancing at her. "Congratulations, Tylen."
"Don't I get some say in this?" Nadia asked, knowing her question was a mistake as soon as it left her lips.
Her father narrowed his eyes. "We've been over this, Nadia. You might not like the idea of an arranged marriage, but you will come to love Tylen in time. After all, I didn't love your mother when we first met. Our love grew with time."
Nadia held in her scathing retort. Angering her father would accomplish nothing and make her sound whiny and spoiled. Besides, she wouldn't marry Tylen. She likely had a few months before the marriage, enough time to leave the city.
Tylen maintained his composure. "Lady Nadia, I can understand your misgivings, but I assure you that I will do everything possible to gain your love."
"Maybe it's time you two get to know each other better," her father said.
Tylen smiled. "That sounds splendid. Shall I begin?"
"Of course. Go on."
Tylen met Nadia's eyes. "What do you wish to know about me?"
Nadia took a few moments to consider. On the one hand, she didn't want to anger her father. On the other, she had to know if Tylen truly was what she thought.
"Do you support Emperor Warrick?" she asked.
Tylen let out a low laugh. "Lady Nadia, you get right to the tough questions, don't you? I like that quality in a woman. You will present an interesting challenge."
She glared at him. "An interesting challenge? Is that what you see me as?"
"Perhaps I should have used a different phrase," he said, unfazed. "I simply meant that you are unlike most other noble women."
Nadia stifled a laugh. No matter how smooth his words, he meant exactly what he'd said. He intended to conquer her. She'd seen too many noble men like him, people who thought women were possessions.
She maintained her calm. "All right, I understand."
"Then let's get back to the original question. Do I support Emperor Warrick? That is not the easiest question for a person to answer, but since I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you, I should do your question justice." He took a sip of red wine. "In general, I support Emperor Warrick's vision. I encourage you to read the books he wrote on it. Fascinating reads."
"I've read them," she said. And they're disgusting.
"Good. Then you'll know where I'm coming from." Tylen paused. "Emperor Warrick seeks to create a more equal society. In his youth, he suffered the life of a poor commoner completely unable to find any opportunity. Only his great magical gifts got him a spot at the Academy of Sandersburg. Others like him, people with no such gifts, were left to lives of servitude. When he came into power, he set out to change this."
"And how has he done?"
"Well, the results haven't been what he wanted, but that's not his fault. When the other sorcerers of the time imprisoned him here in the Empire, it cut off many of the key resources he needed to sustain the population here. He has made society more equal. Anyone can become important now. But there is only so much to go around. Even then, many people could be better off, but they choose to blame their problems on Emperor Warrick. He can't reward people who don't support him."
Nadia clenched her fists beneath the table. How could anyone believe the nonsense Tylen was spewing? Warrick was a tyrant, nothing more.
"A good ruler would allow dissent," she said. "Warrick knows his ideas have failed, but instead of trying something new, he keeps doing what he's doing. He thinks hi
s ideas have failed because the people won't accept them, not because they are simply bad ideas."
She'd read a lot of political philosophy in the last four years. At first, she'd found only Warrick's views, but when she'd dug deeper in the library, she'd discovered texts describing other political systems, even some from the Old World. She believed in the ideals of the democratic republic, a long-forgotten system in the Empire.
She'd tried to convince her father to believe the same, but he'd resisted. In his view, such ancient systems disappeared because they didn't work.
In his mind, the people needed to be controlled.
She had more faith in people, though. Yes, the poor often resorted to thievery and other criminal acts, but that was because of the system that worked against everyone. With Warrick's excessive control and taxation, few people could achieve economic prosperity.
"Nadia, are you paying attention?"
She glanced up to see her father looking at her with narrowed eyes. "Oh, sorry, I got lost in my thoughts for a bit. What were you saying, Tylen?"
Tylen gave her a cross look. "As I was saying, his ideas are not bad ones. The people are the problem. Merchants do everything they can to hide their profits and avoid taxation. People from all walks of life don't report their income. Even many nobles, the people who are supposedly on the emperor's side, do everything they can to avoid supporting the government."
Nadia wished she could slap Tylen. "You only say these things because you've never known of any other system, because you benefit from Warrick's rule. The rest of the people see that Warrick is evil, and they have the integrity you don't."
"Nadia, you're going too far," her father said with a stern look. At that moment, their next course arrived, giving her time to think of a response. They ate in silence worse than any she'd ever felt. Each clink of silverware echoed like a mighty chime.
"Is there anything else you'd like me to tell you?" Tylen asked at last.
Nadia swallowed a mouthful of food. "What are your thoughts on charity?"
"That's the purpose of taxes. The government is much better at delivering services equally. Who are we to decide who should benefit and who shouldn't? In paying taxes, we all do our part and allow those who are more knowledgeable to distribute resources evenly."
World in Chains- The Complete Series Page 15
