World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

  "I gave you your share yesterday. Check your records."

  "Our records indicate that you didn't."

  "Then your records are wrong," Dilon said. "Look. I know how this works. You can't take too much from me, or I'll be out of business. And then where will you get your money?"

  "Don't worry. We know when to stop. A little extra right now wouldn't hurt."

  Nadia clenched her fists at her sides. Events like this showed why she had to kill Warrick. He had not created a better, more equal empire. He had created an empire of chains. And he was the master of those chains, pulling everyone the way he wanted. No one had the power to oppose him, to shed those chains.

  As much as Nadia hated Tylen, he was right about one thing. Freedom was an antiquated idea. They were all prisoners, bound by the chains of power and economics, their cells barred by the ring of mountains surroundings the Empire. But she had the key.

  "Fine," Dilon said. "Here's your damned money. Now leave me alone."

  "Thank you," said one of the men. "We also came here to inform you that, in half an hour, the emperor will be speaking in the town square. Attendance is mandatory."

  That explained Warrick's presence in Riverside, but why had he come to Taren's inn?

  Once the Imperial Guards marched out the door, Nadia led Markus and Rik to the counter, where Dilon eyed them curiously.

  "It's just wrong that they can do that," Nadia said.

  Dilon shrugged. "It's part of being a merchant. I'm used to it. Like they said, they won't take so much that I'd go out of business, just enough that I can't live as comfortably as I'd like." He sighed. "But there are worse lives. A little bribery can buy a lot of comfort."

  "It's still wrong," Nadia said. "Warrick has us all in chains."

  "Maybe. But what can we do about it?" Dilon surveyed their merchandise. "Hmm, this is an interesting assortment. Where, might I ask, are you going?"

  "No offense," Rik said, "but that's none of your business."

  "I understand. Can't afford to put too much trust in a stranger."

  They completed their purchase, handing over a couple of gold coins, then left the store. Nadia retained quite a collection of gold coins, so she wasn't worried about money. Nor had they used any of the reward her father had given Markus.

  "We should get to the town square," Nadia said. "We don't want to risk getting caught skipping Warrick's speech. We can't afford to look suspicious."

  "I think we already looked pretty suspicious," Markus said. "Rik's right. You can't tell me Warrick doesn't suspect anything. I just wish I could understand what's in his head."

  Nadia gave Markus a look. "I don't think anyone can understand that."

  By the time they arrived at the town square, most of Riverside had already assembled. Nadia picked out a spot toward the back of the crowd, where they rested on a small wooden porch, their heavy sacks of supplies beside them, close enough they could watch them.

  Warrick arrived right on time, dressed now in his extravagant red and black imperial robes. He strode up some steps to a wooden platform in the center of the town square, his posture more commanding than back at the inn. As soon as he faced the crowd, silence fell.

  "Bow down to your emperor," he called out, his voice magically amplified. Everyone obeyed his command under the watchful eyes of Imperial Guards. Even Nadia, Markus, and Rik showed their fake respect.

  After about twenty or thirty seconds, Warrick allowed them to stand up again.

  "Crayden," he said. "It's the word on all of your minds."

  He paused for a moment, the crowd focusing their attention on him.

  "Why?" he said. "That's the other word on all of your minds. Why did I destroy Crayden? Why did I kill thousands of people?" He paused again, letting his words sink in. "And, finally, the third thing on your minds. Are we next?"

  Despite her hatred, Nadia fixated on his every word. It wasn't often that she had a chance to observe Warrick in a situation like this. Perhaps she could find some insight into his mind, some secret that would give her an advantage when the time came.

  "I will tell you this, loudly and clearly. No one else has to die. But it was necessary. Necessary because the Order had grown too strong, because it became a threat to the very peace I've worked so hard to maintain." He stopped, surveying the crowd. "Necessary because some within the city held the key to taking my throne from me."

  Nadia didn't know what to think of his final statement. If he knew about her plans, then why hadn't he killed her? Was there something else at play here?

  "Some might welcome this change," Warrick continued. "But you have not seen the world as I've seen it. Only through my tireless efforts can you go to bed knowing you'll be safe from monster attacks. Only because of my magic can you live without fear of the magic that warps the land. When we were trapped here inside the mountains, the magic of the Darkness Temple was trapped with us. That magic twists its surroundings, and because of that magic, I had to create the Plain of Storms, the Black Swamp, all these other places.

  "It was never meant to torment the people. It was never meant to separate the different parts of the Empire, as some might have you believe. It was meant to protect you. That is all I've ever wanted, but sometimes I must protect you from yourselves.

  "Sometimes that requires great sacrifice."

  The crowd had fallen into stunned silence, their gazes set on Warrick. Even Nadia had to admit he was sending a powerful message today. Everything he said was surely a lie, but he delivered his words with passion, with a depth of emotion she hadn't expected.

  "The world outside the mountains is no paradise," Warrick said. "It never has been. It is a place of monsters, a place of war, a place where sorcerers live in luxury while the rest of the people struggle to get by. I have created a different kind of world, a better world, and all I need is your cooperation. It is my hope that the destruction of Crayden has sent a powerful message. I am capable of destroying anyone who opposes me.

  "But I am also capable of helping everyone, but first we need to come together. No more divisiveness. No more hatred. No more disobeying the law for selfish gains. If we all work together, if we all see the truth in my visions of a better world, we will not need to suffer another tragedy like Crayden." He wiped at his face as if getting rid of a tear. "For Crayden was a tragedy. But it was also a reminder, and we should never forget what happened there."

  I won't forget it, Nadia pledged silently. And you will pay the price.

  "Many innocent people died that day, and I regret every life I took. But I also know this. Their deaths will save the lives of countless others. For now you have all seen what happens when people seek to destroy the peace we've worked so hard to build. Destroying the Order would not have been enough. It would have formed again. But now those with such destructive ideologies have seen what happens when they pose a threat to peace.

  "I do not want to do this ever again, but I will if I must. I have seen the future, with its many possibilities, and the only way I could bring about a peaceful and prosperous future was to destroy Crayden as I did. It was necessary. Horrible but necessary."

  He leaned his elbows on the podium behind which he was speaking and rested his head in his hands, looking suddenly weary. Nadia had to admit he was a good actor.

  After a long moment of silence, Warrick said, "Whatever happens, we cannot allow the destruction of the peace we've worked so hard to build. I will always seek to protect you. We are trapped here together, trapped by those who would rather see a violent and chaotic world. But one day soon, we will break free of this prison, and when we do, we must be one empire, strong and united."

  He rose back to his full height, towering over those with whom he shared the platform. In a soft voice that still carried, he said, "One empire, strong and united."

  The crowd, sensing the end of the speech, erupted into cheers and applause. Nadia had no idea how many of them truly supported the emperor and how many had been tricked by his words, or
perhaps by some magical persuasion.

  Even apart from the magical persuasion, Warrick had delivered a powerful, impassioned speech. Had she not known his true nature, she might have believed what he'd said. Had she not scoured her library for more accurate accounts of the Empire's history, she might have been swayed.

  But she wasn't. Nothing could change the fact that Warrick was a tyrant and murderer. A powerful army might crush any opposition. A large government might provide services that, in reality, enslave its people. But words were a dictator's most powerful weapon. Like the chains of power and terror, they bound the people to Warrick's rule, trapped them in an empire of chains.

  * * * * *

  Darien always felt more relaxed after a powerful speech. He hated that he had to lie to his people about some things, but he couldn't let them know his true plans.

  He could handle that sacrifice.

  Taren had accompanied him to his chambers in the Golden Palace. Darien knew Taren well enough now that he didn't feel the need to entertain him in the throne room. Instead, Taren sat in a soft armchair, relaxed in his emperor's presence. A true rarity.

  Darien sat upon another armchair, sipping at a cup of warm tea. "What are your impressions of Nadia, Markus, and Rik?"

  Taren hesitated a moment. "They seem capable. Are you sure it's wise to let them proceed with their plans to kill you? I can't claim to understand your plans, but there must be another way."

  "There is no other way. The Webs of Fate are very clear on that, even if they aren't clear on many things. I must allow them to continue in their efforts. For now."

  If only he didn't have to help them along so much. Rik had come far too close to dying, forcing Darien to intervene more directly than he would have liked. He had procured the Miracle Fruit for Taren weeks ago and instructed him to give it to Rik if the time came.

  "Why did you allow them to disrespect you?" Taren asked.

  "Because I understand how they must feel about me. I don't like what I have to do, and I'd love to reveal my true plans to everyone, but I can't change what the Webs demand. I've taken so much from them. I can handle a little disrespect in turn."

  "But don't you think they might suspect something?"

  "Perhaps," Darien said, and took a quiet sip of his tea. "However, I think Nadia's drive for vengeance will overpower her logical side. Even if she believes she'll fail, she'll still try."

  Taren sipped at his own tea. "And you're prepared for that day?"

  "I've been prepared for a long time."

  Chapter 39: The Swamp's Price

  Berig felt numb as he followed the rest of the group around the edges of the black lake. Again and again, he looked at those waters, expecting the tentacle to reappear, praying that Graig would emerge.

  Neither happened.

  Berig walked in a daze. No one spoke. The weight of Graig's loss hung over them as thickly as the swamp's mist. Sweat drenched Berig's face and clothes, but he didn't care.

  Once they walked a fair distance from the lake, they stopped to rest and recover. Berig collapsed against the soft ground, leaning back among tree roots and thick vines. He couldn't meet anyone's eyes, couldn't think about anything but Graig. How could such a good person come to such a sudden and terrible demise?

  "It's not your fault," Danica said, settling down beside him.

  Berig fought against tears. "Yes, it is! Everything's my fault. I don't know how, but it's like bad luck follows me around. My parents, dead. My brother, dead. Crayden, destroyed as soon as I got there. Graig, dead because of me, because I got hurt last night."

  Ander approached. "We would've taken this route anyway. It appeared safer."

  Berig glared through his tears. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

  "It's true," Aric said. "Why would we risk falling into the black water?"

  Berig wanted to argue, but he understood the logic. Still, it was easier to blame himself. Maybe he should turn back, go through life on his own. Less people to hurt that way. It would have been better if he'd died in Crayden.

  "We would've been with everyone else if I wasn't hurt," he said.

  "Don't think like that," Talia said, slumped against a skeletal tree a few feet away. She wiped a tear from her cheek. "Don't blame yourself. We all knew what might happen when we got involved in this. I'm upset enough as it is. I don't need you adding to it."

  Berig choked back tears. He'd been so wrapped up in his own misery that he hadn't considered Talia. Seeing the strong woman in tears seemed strange, but anyone could fall apart after a loss like this.

  She'd probably recover before Berig. That was the sad part.

  "We can't just sit around here," Ander said. "Moving toward our goal will distract us from the loss." He turned to Talia, softening his tone. "Will you be able to keep going?"

  She rose and wiped away another tear. "We can give Graig a proper funeral later."

  "Good," Ander said. "Let's get moving." He, Aric, and Captain Davis led the way. As usual, the captain remained silent while Ander and Aric shared quiet conversation. Danica invited Berig to walk with her and Talia. Once more, Farah traveled apart from the rest of the group.

  Distant growls sounded, and unseen creatures lurked somewhere off their path. Maybe the swamp's creatures feared the large party and attacked only when someone was alone.

  When it became so dark they could no longer see the black pools of water, they settled down for the night. The mist had thickened again, reducing visibility to little more than twenty feet as they huddled close around the campfire, waiting for their meal to cook. Even Farah sat closer than usual, but she didn't make eye contact with anyone.

  "I know it's been a rough day," Ander said, "but we should be close to the plateau."

  "I sure hope so," Berig said. "I'm sick of this damn place."

  Aric forced a smile. "I think we all are. But we need to remember that Graig wouldn't want us to feel so miserable."

  Talia leaned closer to the fire. "You're right. Graig could always look at things in a positive light, and no matter how we might feel, he's in a better place right now, with God."

  Berig frowned, looking into the fire. If only he could believe that. How could God let people like Graig die so senselessly? How could He allow thousands to die in Crayden?

  "I should've been there to protect him," Captain Davis said. "Yet another on my long list of failures. What kind of protector am I?"

  Danica scooted closer to the captain. "You couldn't have known. You and Berig are a lot alike. You keep blaming yourselves for things that are out of your control."

  "No," Captain Davis said. "There's a big difference. Berig lacks the skills to protect people. I don't. I'm just a coward, a worthless coward."

  "No, you're not," Aric said. "You're a brave man, a protector."

  The captain barked a laugh. "A brave man? Really? When Imperial Guards raided the Order meeting, what did I do? I ran away with everyone else. Lady Nadia nearly died. Varek and Len, two good men, guards much braver than me, died protecting her. I was too busy worrying about my own life, failing in my duties as a protector."

  "You couldn't have known that was going to happen," Aric said. "We all left that meeting. We're all to blame for what happened."

  "You never took an oath to protect the people," the captain said.

  Ander turned to him. "We all did. That's part of the Order."

  "It's different for me. When I became a guard, protecting the people became my purpose in life. I thought I was good at it, thought I would always do the right thing. I was wrong."

  He looked down at the ground, shaking his head in disgust.

  "Stop feeling sorry for yourself," Ander said.

  The captain gave another sharp laugh. "Oh, that's not even the worst of it. No, that happened when Crayden burned. I fought for a while. I tried to protect the people. But when you came to me with news of a way out, I didn't even stop to think about anyone else. All I cared about was saving my own life.
Some hero I am, some protector."

  "We all did the same," Aric said. "We all feel bad about it. But you can't let it consume you. Use these feelings to rededicate yourself to the Order. You can still do a lot of good."

  Farah scooted closer to them. "He's right. We all have things we aren't proud of. Look at me. I was like any other noble. I supported Warrick. How do you think I feel about that?"

  They all turned to her. Was she finally going to open up, reveal her true allegiances?

  "She makes a good point," Aric said. "We can't dwell on the past. We can't change it. We can only act in the present and prepare for the future."

  The captain stared at the ground. "The past says a lot about you."

  "No, it doesn't," Aric said. "It only tells you who you were, not who you are, and definitely not who you will be. People can change. Give yourself a break."

  "Well, I don't agree," Captain Davis said. "But I'll try. It's just so damn hard."

  Berig thought over these arguments. Maybe he was capable of changing too. But was it possible to change a lifetime of thought patterns? At least Berig understood the source of the captain's bitter mood. The man had every right to feel the way he did. A failure. Worthless.

  Like Berig.

  Something rustled in the stunted bushes nearby.

  "What was that?" Danica whispered, firelight dancing across her face. Ander, Aric, Talia, and Captain Davis sprang to their feet, readying their swords and staring into the mist as the rustling grew louder.

  Berig pulled his knife from his belt. He felt foolish holding a weapon, and it reminded him of the man he'd killed in Riverside.

  He crept closer, peering through the thick mist. At last, something huge emerged from the nearby vegetation. It looked at least fifteen feet long, standing on four relatively short legs and hissing loudly as it approached.

  "What the hell is that?" Berig said, pulse pounding.

  Aric's voice sounded tight. "Giant lizard, I think."

  Berig didn't know what the hell a lizard was. A snake with legs?

  It lunged at Aric and Ander, knocking them flying. They hit the ground hard, grunted, and scrambled to their feet—but too slowly.