An Emperor's Fury: The Frayed Rope

by Paul Heisel

  “I’ll bring her here if she’s willing to speak with you.”

  “Let me go with you instead. My monks will go back into the city.”

  “Agreed. Close the gate,” Sondossasya said as he waved Hector inside. “Mind your arms.”

  The gate swung closed, creaking and squeaking. Two guards accompanied them, one held a lantern and the other had a spear ready. Ahead of them was the cobbled avenue that meandered through grass, small shrubs, and trees. There was open space to the left, and to the right in the distance a large structure – the stables. Far ahead the monastery buildings stood, brightened by the lights coming from within. To the left side of the structures was the barracks, their eventual destination, where teams were waiting to take Caleth and Feln into custody. Sondossasya quickened his pace. He had been so busy he hadn't changed the orders! They were going to take Caleth and Feln for questioning, not Kara! Open space gave way to oak trees that lined the walking gardens, the ancient trees towering high. Sondossasya’s vision was drawn along the gardens where he saw movement in the darkness. There were figures lurking there, suspiciously taking cover in the hedges. He moved forward and his hand went to his sword. Beside him Hector stopped.

  “Alarm! Sound the alarm!” Sondossasya yelled, hoping the guards would hear him.

  From the darkness came a blinding orange fire, streaking across the open space toward them. Hector dived to the left of the fireball, while Sondossasya dived to the right. The two soldiers weren’t as quick. The explosion rocked the area and sent flames shooting in a dome shape, scorching the ground and nearby trees. Sondossasya felt the searing heat and rolled on the cool ground, trying to put out the flames. There was pain and he sat up trying to regain his bearings and his sword. Looking up, Sondossasya saw another fireball heading for him unerringly and it was the last thing he saw.

  #

  Feln and Caleth marched through the hallways of the monastery, being led to the prison cells beneath the buildings. The first guard station they came across was vacant, the door in front of them unlocked and open. Down the long hallway they could see two twisted bodies on the floor, and in the distance, they heard fighting, steel upon steel. Everyone stopped. The Dragonmasters took out their short stout blades - designed for close in fighting, and took positions against the cold stone walls. They directed Feln and Caleth to move behind them.

  “Give us our weapons back,” Caleth said. “You may need our help.”

  The Dragonmaster didn’t acknowledge Caleth’s request, he just motioned for quiet. At the intersection ahead, a white-gray mist drifted along the ceiling and it was getting thicker. A guard stumbled into view, his hand clutching his burnt leg. He lurched at them, mouth quivering, the scream unable to get out. Behind him came a monk, and without pause he stabbed his sword, going into the guard’s back and out through the front, blood spilling forth. The guard dropped to the floor.

  “Give us our weapons back.”

  The Dragonmaster complied, handing their swords to them without taking his eyes off the man facing them. Feln took the Dragonfly blade and pulled it free of the sheath. The killer wiped his bloody blade on the fallen guard, then he looked up, saw them, and calmly stood in intersection appraising his new adversaries. Around the corner came two other monks who were carrying the Fury who killed Haworu. The Dragonmasters went into the middle of the hallway, set their feet, and readied for battle. They made demands and told the intruders to lay down their weapons. Feln snatched Caleth’s sleeve and pulled him back. There were four Furies there, and in such tight spaces it would be a difficult fight to win unless they could get up close. They retreated and turned a corner with swords in hand. Feln motioned back the way they had come. Bright white and blue light came from the hallway, followed by an ear-splitting crack. More white and gray smoke rolled off the ceiling, spreading in all directions and bringing with it the smell of burnt flesh. Feln guessed that they had thirty seconds before the Furies were upon them.

  “We need a plan,” Feln said.

  “For now retreating seems best,” Caleth replied. “What was that smoke?”

  “Magic. Lightning is my guess. Burns from the victims.”

  “Anyway to combat it?”

  “Only with other magic, or you have to get right in their face. The problem is surviving to get close enough. In this tight space, I think we’ll be slaughtered.”

  “Let’s get to a safe place then,” Caleth said. “Any ideas?”

  “The only safe place in this monastery is going to a location that everyone forgets is here. What’s the one place we see when we enter, but never go to?”

  “The stables. Feln, gather everyone from Waskhal and get them to the stables.”

  “Where are you going?” Feln asked.

  “I’m going to find out what in the shades is going on.”

  They ran and didn’t look back.

  #

  The Dragonmasters and standing soldiers dispersed from their barracks. Feln was glad for that. Outside there were skirmishes, at times lightning or fire would streak across the open spaces, and it was difficult to tell who was who. Time passed and the fighting stopped. Feln did as Caleth asked and got the monks from Waskhal together. The monks from Waskhal gathered their weapons, left the barracks as a group, and were now hiding behind the stables. The horses were restless with the activity outside, and Feln didn’t blame them. Just like the horses, he didn’t want to be in the middle of this Fury battle either. More time passed and Caleth didn’t show. Feln gave instructions to the others, telling them to remain hidden amongst the stables and hide with the horses if necessary. He told them if he or Caleth didn’t return, for them to leave the monastery and seek shelter in the city. The monastery wasn’t safe.

  The night was cool and Feln was aware of the smoke hanging in the air. He blinked at the opportune moment and went to find Caleth. His guess was Caleth went straight to the Grand Master for information. So that’s where he was going. There were people running in the corridors inside the monastery, and he thought they were on the brink of calamity. Most had weapons and were going to guard areas, others were heading for safety. Feln avoided them and followed the corridors to the Grand Master’s quarters, hoping he would find Caleth there. As he made his way down the hallway, he could see the heavy doors to the Grand Master’s chamber were open. One door hung precariously by one hinge, and both were scarred by black streaks. As he came closer, the smell of burnt flesh made him cover his nose and mouth. Near the door were two charred bodies – both burned so badly they were unrecognizable. The room inside looked undisturbed. Feln wondered if the Grand Master would retreat to the secret vault, then it dawned on him that was the reason all of this was happening, thus the Grand Master would want to be as far away from the real vault as possible. The next two areas he checked were vacant – no Grand Master or signs of him. He then headed to the main hall. Based on the number of soldiers and monks patrolling the area, he figured the Grand Master was here. He slipped by undetected, found his way into the hall, and crouched down to further conceal himself despite being invisible. The Grand Master was here, but the scene before him was not what he expected. Feln crept closer to get a better view.

  Draped over a railing was Caleth’s limp body. His face was swollen and battered, but he didn’t appear dead. His hands were bound behind his back. Soldiers were attending to their wounded and the Grand Master was speaking with various commanders – issuing orders, screaming at one of them because he hadn’t found Sondossasya. Arranged the middle of the great hall was a large force of soldiers and monks, all armed and ready for battle. They were organizing into platoons. From another door strode the tall Akuka. The Fury went to the Grand Master. He was out of breath. “I need to speak with you,” Akuka gasped.

  The Grand Master dismissed the commanders. “Find Sondossasya,” he told them again. “Now!”

  “What did you find out?”

  “The monastery is in chaos. From what I can gather, a group of,” he lowered his voice
, “Furies entered the monastery. They came over the wall, went to the dungeons, slew the Dragonmasters and soldiers there, freed the assassin responsible for killing Haworu, and departed the dungeons. Dozens are dead. Everyone was brutally slain.”

  The Grand Master looked at Caleth, his angry expression needed no interpretation. “Perhaps we can use Caleth as collateral to halt the violence. They’ll want their leader back. Surely they know by now he is missing.”

  “That’s part of the confusion. As far as I can tell, the Furies went to Kara and Ash with the prisoner. I heard separate reports that the balance of the intruders who came over the wall went to Kara as well. I think we have made a mistake with Caleth. We should have found a way to verify the Fury’s confession.”

  “No easy task,” the Grand Master said. “So Kara is responsible for this?”

  “Yes. On the northeast part of the monastery, Kara has gathered her contingent. Including those who came over the walls, I think they have about seventy monks and soldiers. Many of them are marked, so we can expect magic. Even if we had thousands of soldiers at our disposal, we can’t defeat all those Furies working together. We wouldn't even get close to them.”

  “Tell me the good news.”

  “I have none. Near the north barracks there are two groups who have taken refuge in the gardens and walking forests. Our scouts say one group numbers about a hundred – they’re hunkered down in the garden, the other numbers about fifty and they’re keeping close to the barracks but are using the old forest as a base. They are at odds with each other, and every so often the large group will cast lightning or fire at the second group, and the second group simply deflects the magic aside. I have no idea who they are or who they have sided with. Eventually both will head into the monastery, I'm sure of it.”

  “Where’s Djaa?”

  “I couldn’t find him. He and his monks have disappeared.”

  “And Caleth’s monks?”

  “I couldn’t find them either. I was told in the confusion they left the barracks. They may have left through the front gate for all I know.”

  The Grand Master looked pensive. “I’ll have the army brought to help. They can counter the Fury threat by making sure no one leaves.”

  “They are miles from here,” Akuka said.

  The Grand Master summoned a monk. “Go to the army and have them come to the monastery. Leave undetected. Have them surround the monastery walls from the outside, stretching from the lake, around the walls, to the cliffs on the east side. Their instructions are no one is allowed to leave the Sabrin monastery.”

  “Yes, master.” The messenger departed, taking two guards with him for protection.

  “Where did these Furies come from?” the Grand Master asked.

  “Bora,” Feln said. He appeared near a doorway so it looked like he just walked in. He bowed to the Grand Master. “Caleth had nothing to do with what is happening here.”

  “The Fury confessed to Caleth being his master.”

  Guards came toward Feln. The Grand Master put his hand up, stopping their advance.

  “Stay where you are,” the Grand Master told Feln.

  “The Fury was rescued by Kara for performing his part in all of this. It was Kara all along, or Ash or both. Unless you have a way to counter their threat, we’re all going to die. If there are hundreds of Furies, who knows what will happen. This monastery could be a smoldering pile of ashes by tomorrow.”

  “I’ll take care of the threat with my army,” the Grand Master said. “The core of the issue is this; we have no idea why there is all this fighting. Why did it start? We need to find out what they want. If we can negotiate a peace and stall these factions from taking further action, then the army can surround the monastery. The superior force will defuse the situation.”

  Feln inched his way to Caleth. When he was close enough, he untied Caleth’s hands and pulled him from the railing. He put Caleth on the floor. No one made a move to either stop him or help him. “The question is, who do you talk to first?” Feln asked. “What lies are you going to be barraged with and accidentally believe?”

  “That doesn’t matter, as long as we speak with them to ascertain what they want. Right now we have to figure out what is going on,” the Grand Master answered. “If it takes a few hours, it will give the army enough time to arrive. I will call a meeting. Who will gather these leaders for me?”

  “I will,” Feln said. “On one condition that isn’t negotiable.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I want Caleth woken and taken to the stables where the monks from Waskhal are waiting. They are to leave the monastery immediately, before the army encircles it.”

  “They could assist in a fight! This is the Accord of the Hand! Are you on Sabrin’s side or not?”

  “We are with you,” Feln answered, “as we have from the beginning. But against Furies it is folly. All of us will be fodder! You know this! You know the power they possess!”

  “You ask for too much,” the Grand Master said. “I can find another to do this.”

  “You could. I would suggest finding a person who knows the Seasons and who knows the truth about what is happening. I will not offer again. Make your choice now.”

  The Grand Master looked to Akuka for guidance, but the Fury stood there expressionless.

  “Make it now…”

  “Let him do it,” Akuka said at last. “Caleth has no Furies. Their monks can neither help us or hurt us in this fight.”

  “Do as he says,” the Grand Master commanded. Monks came over and tried to wake Caleth. “Take him to the stables and let the Waskhal monks go beyond the gates.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Feln asked.

  “Go to each of the factions and to each Season, call for a truce and have the leadership meet with me in two hours. It’ll probably take you an hour to find everyone.”

  “I doubt they will meet here, in this great hall with your entire force ready to attack them. Where we meet should be neutral, or as neutral as we can make it. Otherwise they may not show up.”

  “Convince them to come to the old church in the front of the monastery. Each leader and one protector may come, and all hostilities must end immediately! Anyone who comes to the meeting will be allowed to speak, and we will listen to what they have to say.”

  “I’ll have them come to the old church then.”

  The Grand Master twisted and turned his signet ring until it came off his old gnarled finger. He gave it to Feln. “If they want proof that you’re acting on my behalf.”

  “They may think I killed you and took the ring to lure them into a trap.”

  “Then whoever jumps for joy is our enemy,” the Grand Master said. He took off his simple leather necklace and handed it to Feln. “Put it on this and don’t lose it. I want it back.”

  #

  With his mental map of the monastery, Feln went in search of Kara first. According to Akuka, she was on the northeast side of the monastery. He made his way out of the great hall and through newer parts of the building. By now the factions would have organized and made bases of operations away from others, so it was a matter of finding each of these areas without losing his life. Akuka said the monks from Bora had gathered outside in the gardens and forests, and Feln was certain this was because they didn’t want to be trapped inside. Logically they would set up a perimeter, guards, and checkpoints in the area they occupied.

  He decided to go outside and circle the monastery with the hour he had to gather everyone. Out of the front he went, took a left, and moved in the darkness along the outside of the building. To his left he passed by the old church, the first structure to grace the Sabrin monastery. It was a square building made of stone with a tall tower in each corner. A steeply pitched roof with four surfaces culminated in the center where there was a statue. It was old and worn, stained by countless years of weather and acidic bird dung. Feln thought it was a shame three sides, all but the front, had been covered up by the expansion.
He knew progress had casualties, and the church was one of them. He didn’t know what the building contained, nor did he know what it was used for.

  Around the corner of the next building he could see small structures, greenhouses, sheds, and shacks dotting the open area. This was the working part of the monastery, and he could see remnants of today’s work left for tomorrow. Wood needed chopping, the blacksmith’s forge looked warm, and the vegetables in the extensive garden needed picking. The outer wall was not that distant and it was unguarded here. On the other side were steep cliffs, the rocks were sharp and impassable, making the approach to the monastery impossible except for the most experienced climbers.

  Ahead he could see monks and soldiers stationed near side doors to the monastery structure. Feln didn’t know what the area inside was. He thought it would be close to the secondary eating hall, which would be large enough to hold hundreds. It would be easy enough for him to blink and slip through their defenses, but he didn’t want to give them any reason to attack if they discovered his presence. He recognized the soldiers as being from Bora, so this must be where Kara had hunkered down.

  “Stop where you are,” one of the soldiers called out. A pair of Furies stepped forward.

  “I’ve come on the behalf of Montishari Gatôn, the Grand Master of the Accord of the Hand, leader of this monastery. I have a message for your masters, Kara and Ash. I need to speak with them.” He held up the leather necklace and the signet ring.

  “Come with us.”

  They escorted Feln into the building, taking him through a series of hallways. This was the old cloisters, where the monks once lived, converted into a storage area and an armory, as well as quarters for lay people who worked in the monastery. It was vacant or cleared out, which was the case, Feln didn’t know. Furies were at checkpoints and let them through into the empty kitchen where the cooking fires were waning. Feln could see that the kitchen staff departed in a hurry. From the kitchens, they went into the secondary eating hall. Rows of tables and benches lined the entire length of the hall, providing enough seats for two hundred or more. Along the western edge of the hall Feln could see the doors were barricaded and effectively sealed by a mountain of ice.