The crowd cheered. The royal class gave a gentle clap, only half interested at the speech. Emperor Caning paused to let the audience settle down.
“The bridge is completed. We can now cross the canyon with ease. I want to give special thanks to my friend, Alexus. He is the one who braved his life and discovered the Kingdom on the other side of the canyon.”
Alexus stood up in his chair. He waved to the crowd. They cheered for him, the merchants louder than most.
“We have new neighbors, and it is time to bring them into the fold. Tomorrow, a delegation will be sent out to represent the Eluan Empire. I am proud to say they will be lead by my son, the Heir Caning. He will usher in this new era that will benefit us all!”
Heric stood up to play to the crowd. Then his father gestured for him to approach. This caught Heric by surprise, but he did as he was told. Together they stood in front of the entire audience cheering for them.
Cyrus whispered into his son’s ear. “Say something. They’ll be yours some day.”
Heric put his hand up to shush the crowd. He paused to think of something to say. All eyes were on him now. Then it came to him.
“Thank you,” Heric said. “Eluan is forever my life. Even if I leave the walls of the Capitol I continue to hold it and its people in my heart. Everything I do in the future will be for the betterment of everything in Eluan. The future is bright for the Eluan people. I hope only for the best regarding our new neighbors, but I will not hesitate to protect Eluan from this new land. Rest assured, Eluan comes first.”
The crowd cheered louder than ever. Even the royal class gave a proper round of applause. Heric and his father shared a smile. Heric, then returned to his seat.
“Eluan first!” his father reinforced to the crowd. “It’s the last night of the Night’s Flower. Please, go out and enjoy it!”
Emperor Caning turned away. His speech was over. The entire audience was on their feet, clapping. Nikali stood up with the rest of them, but he was not clapping. He kept his eyes on the Emperor. Watching him give his speech, it had finally dawned on him what was going on. Now, he watched in amazement at the Emperor’s bravery.
“What is wrong?” Abigail asked. It broke Nikali from his trance. He looked back at her, inching in closer to whisper through the roaring crowd.
“The Emperor is using arcan,” Nikali said. Abigail went wide eyed. She was obviously stunned at this claim.
“No,” she said. “Why would he risk that? The royal class would never approve. There would be so much grief to deal with.”
“I’m sure he’s keeping it close to the vest. The level he is using is phenomenal. It took me a while to notice it.”
“What is he doing?”
“It’s a doll-hold,” said Nikali. “It’s meant to carry things, generally inanimate objects. Performers use it on their dolls to make them appear to be alive.”
“Why would he need that?”
“Because he can’t walk. That would be the only reason.”
“Does Heric know about this?”
“I doubt it. He doesn’t do anything with arcan.”
“How does nobody know about this? If the Emperor was using arcan somebody would have noticed.”
“Not if it’s not him doing it. A doll-hold is complicated if you want it to look real. It’s easier on the body if you want to do it to yourself, but it looks unnatural a lot of the time because you can’t see yourself in relation to the environment. For what just happened, there would have to be a puppet master. Somebody was walking the Emperor for him.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. Somebody he trusts. A doll-hold can kill you if the wielder is holding on to you too strong. This took knowledge and practice. Somebody on the Royal Council does arcan.”
“This is a good thing, right?” Abigail asked. “I’ve read notes on how arcan could be used for the betterment of the city. Maybe they’re finally making headway with that.”
“I don’t think so. We would have heard something about it by now. Somebody has trained in secret for the Emperor alone.”
“Are you going to say something?” Abigail asked.
Nikali gave Abigail a smile boasting of confidence and mischief.
“Of course.”
Chapter 7
The palace was nearly empty. Most of the workers and soldiers were given the opportunity to celebrate the final night of the festival out in the city. This allowed Nikali to walk through the palace unhindered by questions and concerns.
Since he did not spend as much time there as he did in his early years, a lot of people did not recognize him. Usually there was constant arguing with guards in every room. The last time he was in the palace uninvited, he had to fight his way through the greeting room before Heric showed up to resolve the situation.
This time the rooms were empty. Nikali walked deeper into the palace one room at a time. It brought back a flood of memories for him. He would smile then move on to the next room. Nostalgia would have to wait.
Emperor Cyrus was not in his usual quarters. The light security meant he had to be in an area that was more secure. Rooms were set up for Emperor Cyrus below the palace. They were as luxurious as the rooms up above. They only lacked windows. If somebody were to be foolish enough to attack at this time, the hallway leading to the entrance of the lower rooms narrowed to allow only one man through at a time. There they would be met by the guard and the door separating them from the Emperor. If they did manage to get through all that, the Emperor would already be gone. The room contained an escape hatch with an exit location that nobody knew. It was the safest room in the palace.
The hallway closed in on Nikali as he approached the guard. Nikali recognized him immediately. Hogan the Terrible was the Emperor’s most favored soldier. His name came from his time during the war. He defended Emperor Nikali Caning by killing a dozen men, showing them no mercy. His name stuck and it gained him more respect as his legend grew. But to those who personally knew him, he was a good friend.
“Hogan,” said Nikali. He tried to wave, but the walls hindered his arm movement. “Have you ever enjoyed a festival?”
“Once,” Hogan said. “The flowers light up; people get drunk. I got the gist of it.”
“I’m sure there is something fun you can do.”
“I don’t need a particular day to have fun, Nikali. People hold too tightly to structures like that. I’ll have fun tomorrow. I’m flexible.”
“Alright, don’t go all Terrible on me. I was just making conversation.”
“Sorry,” Hogan apologized. “I’ve been getting a lot of annoying remarks like that. People wanting me to join them for the night.”
“It should only be annoying if it’s a woman you are turning down.”
“What do you want?” Hogan said, quickly changing the subject.
“I would like to talk to Uncle Cyrus, please,” Nikali answered.
“It can’t wait until tomorrow?”
“I might forget about it tomorrow. I might die tonight. I might not care later. The fact is something is on my mind right now, and I would like to see my uncle.”
“Let me check you for weapons,” Hogan said. Without waiting for a reply he started patting down Nikali.
“Just be sure to leave a tip when you’re done,” Nikali said. He rolled his eyes at the situation. Hogan finished looking him over. Nikali was smart enough not to bring anything to visit his uncle. It would have been an unnecessary headache for everybody.
Hogan knocked on the door with a pattern of bumps and swipes. After a brief moment another knock came from the other side. Hogan opened the door allowing Nikali to pass. Cyrus was there to greet him.
Emperor Cyrus Caning sat in a wheelchair that looked like a throne on wheels. He gestured for Nikali to come in. As soon as he did, the door behind him closed. Nikali was left alone with his uncle.
“Nikali, it’s good to see you again,” said Cyrus. “You should come around more often.”
“Sorry about that. I’ve been busy,” Nikali said. His words trailed off. Even he knew he was lying.
“Of course,” said Cyrus. “Heric tells me you spend a lot of your time down in the ghetto. It’s dangerous there for the royal class.”
“I can take care of myself.”
Emperor Caning eyed his nephew up and down. His serious expression turned to a smile. “I know. I’ve watched you grow up on your own for years. You never listened to your mother. You barely listened to me. Yet, you’re not dead. You’re doing something right.”
“It couldn’t have happened without you. You gave me the opportunity to learn and become independent. Thank you,” Nikali responded.
“Enough reminiscing, what brings you here? The celebration in the ghetto should be going out with a bang tonight.”
Nikali hesitated. His head bounced on his shoulders. He kept rethinking what to say to his uncle.
“That was quiet the performance earlier,” Nikali finally said.
“Thank you, the speeches come easier every year.”
“I wasn’t talking about that,” said Nikali. His expression immediately dropped to serious. There was no turning back. Nikali approached his uncle. He towered over his elder in the wheelchair.
“I’ve heard the rumors. You’re sick. You’re in here in a wheelchair. There is no audience to play to. But earlier today you were walking around, standing in front of everybody. It was glorious, I assure you. I’m sure nobody noticed it, but there was arcan involved.”
“Nikali, you don’t know what you are talking about,” said Cyrus.
“I’ve seen the doll-hold. You consider me brave? You let somebody else take control of your body. That is the only way to pull-off such an elegant performance.”
“Leave this matter alone, Nikali,” warned his uncle. “I don’t use arcan. It would be too much of a disturbance with the royal class. It’s not worth the fight. Trust me I’ve tried.”
“Who is it?” Nikali persisted. “Who can do that level of arcan? I’ve never seen anything like it. The practice, the minerals, it must come from a good source.”
“I said let it go Nikali,” ordered Emperor Cyrus. His voice grew stern. His hands braced up against his chair. He was ready to lift himself out, charge Nikali if necessary.
“I wouldn’t tell anybody. Nobody would believe me anyway. No one talks to me. I’m a pariah to everyone. I’m an arcan user. All of my peers live down in the ghetto. That’s why I spend so much time there. If there is just one person in the royal class like me I would like to know about it.”
“I’m sorry, Nikali. Is that what this is about? You feel left out? Is that how you feel?” Cyrus asked. He went back to leaning in his chair. His temper had flared down. “I never wished you to be a social outcast. It’s why I brought you into my home. I loved my brother.”
“I do not want to talk about my father,” said Nikali, cutting off the Emperor.
“That’s too bad. You feel like you’re a pariah? Those people out there do not look down on you because you weren’t born to become something. They look down on you because you choose to become nothing.”
“I’m not nothing,” Nikali said.
“I give you a lot of leeway because of your father. A day doesn’t go by when I wonder how things would have been different if he had lived. Maybe our family would be in a better place.”
“You think this is bad?” Nikali asked. He gestured to the grand room they were standing in.
“Here’s a truth. I never wanted to be Emperor. Your father was great at it. The people loved him. When he died I tried to be just like him. All I got was a headache and more demands to bring back the glory days.”
“I wouldn’t be emperor, Heric could continue to live his life the way he wants to, and you could take your headstrong attitude and throw it in the faces of the royal class, instead of me.”
“Your father left an enormous legacy. None of us will be able to fill it. When the royal class sees you, they think of him. I am sorry for that.”
“All the more reason to tell me who helped you. If the royal class will not have me, then I will find my place elsewhere,” said Nikali.
“You found comfort in arcan, but you will not find comfort in somebody else who has done the same. I’ve met a lot of arcan users. They all have their reasons. A common goal with different beginnings only creates rivalry.”
Nikali dropped his head in frustration. He bit his tongue. There was nothing left to say. Emperor Cyrus was not going to give up who his ally was.
“I should be on my way,” said Nikali. “The ghetto serves the best food and drink tonight. I wouldn’t want to miss out on that.”
He turned away from his uncle. Before he walked away, Nikali had one more thing to ask.
“Would my father be proud of me?”
“Not with your life the way it is now,” said his uncle.
Nikali’s head dropped lower. He left with no further argument.
Chapter 8
The sun began to reach its rays into Heric’s bedroom. Sounds from the streets whispered in the air. People were beginning to go home now that day was breaking. There would be little recovery time for the citizens of the Eluan Capitol. The shops would force themselves open during the day to get back on schedule with the rest of the world.
Heric had not slept. A bit of anxiety had overcome him earlier in the night. Once he realized it was fruitless to lie in bed, he got up and read about the Louson Kingdom. Alexus had written a handful of books after his journey across the canyon. He had been teaching them to Heric in preparation for this inevitable day.
Alexus came knocking on the door shortly after the sun was past the horizon. Heric met him at the doorway. Alexus was surprised Heric was ready to go.
“I was expecting another hour delay because of you,” he told his student.
“Because of the earliness or my reluctance to go?” Heric asked.
“Your reluctance. Your father told me you were not happy with his decision. I was ready to call on Forman to tie you to your horse if necessary.”
“Despite the amazing allowances my father has given you, there will be no need for them. It’s time for a new direction in life. There will be no further arguments from me. The Empire is mine.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You’ll come into your own over there. They have never heard of your father. You will be the Emperor in their eyes.”
“When do we head out?” Heric asked.
“Soon. The horses and supplies are being finalized as we speak. Gather whatever is left that you want to bring and meet us at the stables. We’ll begin the trip as soon as possible.”
Alexus left Heric to gather his things.
Forman was in the stables getting his horse ready. Servants hustled around the area arranging bags on the rest of the horses. Heric walked through the group to reach his friend.
“You ready to ride?” Forman asked.
“Yes, I’ve got all my stuff here,” Heric said. He gestured to the bag over his shoulder. It was his military travel bag. Everything he would absolutely need was in there. Anything else he could pick up or discard along the way.
“We have room for more,” Forman said.
“It’s fine. I don’t need the extravagant travel gear my father does.”
“It’s your call,” Forman said, shrugging off the situation.
Abigail cut into the two men talking. “It’ll leave more room for my things.”
“You can’t have extra space,” Forman told her. “You’re allotted only so much. If Heric chooses to not use his then that space goes empty. I’m not letting people trade areas.”
“I hope you won’t be like this the whole trip,” said Abigail.
“This trip is under my organization. It needs to run smoothly.”
Heric had to place himself between the two in order to end the argument. “She’s joking, Forman. She knows she can only bring so much.”
“You better be right,” Forman glared
. He walked off, no longer wanting to be a part of the conversation.
Heric turned to Abigail. “You do know that, right?”
“Yes, Alexus told me. I was just giving Forman a hard time. I didn’t think he would get that angry.”
“He’s stressed. This is his most significant assignment yet since becoming a general. He hates things being handed to him. He wants to prove himself to my father.”
“He puts up with you. Shouldn’t that be enough for the Emperor?” Abigail joked.
“So do you,” Heric said. He got closer to Abigail, bringing himself in to kiss her. She stopped him before he got too far.
“Not here,” she said.
“Just when we’re alone then? I can’t keep going on like this in secret.”
“Your father would never approve. Neither would Alexus. They all know you here. If anybody sees us, word will spread.”
“You worry too much,” Heric said.
“That’s only because you don’t know what it’s like to worry.”
“Of course, when we’re in Louson nobody will know us. We can walk the streets together.”
“I don’t know,” Abigail mumbled.
“Abigail, please give me that much. I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve seen a lot of wonderful sights, but I’ve never been able to share it with somebody. Just let me do that this one time.”
“Okay, we’ll see the city together.”
They both shared a smile, comforted in their own little world.
“Whose bag is this?” Forman yelled out. Everyone stopped what they were doing to take a look. Forman held up a leather skinned bag. It was not issued by the palace, and had not been there a few minutes ago. The entire group looked on in silence. Nobody wanted to claim it.
“This bag is not on my manifest. Where did it come from?” Forman asked again to his silent audience.
“It’s mine. Could you please put it down,” said Nikali, emerging from another room in the stables. “Honestly, I leave my bag for a couple of minutes, and it becomes a thing of enquiry?”
Eluan Falls: The Inheritors of the World Page 5
