“A week ago.”
“Not at the docks?”
“No. They did help me, but it was purely coincidence.” She felt Chand’s cold stare from lying to him weeks prior.
“Why did they help you? What did they want?”
“Nothing.”
“You mean they just did it out of the kindness of their hearts?”
“I think so.”
“And how is it that you’re working with, or rather for them now?”
“I sought them out just to thank them, I promise. But we started talking, and it just sort of happened.”
“What happened? You’re still trying to guard your tongue. Do I need to give your uncle another dose? I have to warn you that he’s already had quite a bit. No telling how his body might react to more so soon.”
“No! Don’t. Let me explain.” She took a deep breath and told them everything she knew about Rondel and Andrasta, including her own personal assumptions. Every time she mentioned their interest in the tower, the tiny pieces of her already shattered dream broke further.
It was a stupid and foolish dream anyway.
“The Tower of Bashan? Are they serious?” asked Beladeva.
“Very. They’ve got a stack of notes about it.”
“What kind of notes?”
“I don’t know the language. But from what I gather it’s supposed to help them get through the obstacles inside. There are drawings among the notes. Very detailed. They’ve been planning to steal the jewel for some time.”
He leaned back in his chair, studying her with his dark eyes. “Interesting. What do you think, Chand?”
“I think that even if they manage to get into the tower, we’ll never hear from them again.”
Beladeva rubbed his chin. “That’s likely. In the twenty five hundred years since the tower’s creation, several dozen have made it inside. But not one has ever left.” He paused. “Yet, if these crazy stories from the west are even half true, and if these notes are as detailed as Lela says, they might have a chance.”
Chand’s eyebrows lifted. “What would you have me do?
“Watch them closely, but do not act. We need to see how this meeting with the princess goes. Let them figure out how to get inside first. Then we can grab them right before they enter the tower and have them lead us to the jewel.”
“Why do you want the jewel?” asked Lela. Her hand cupped her mouth, regretting the interruption.
Beladeva grinned. “I can’t imagine anyone not wanting the jewel.”
“You want me to get rid of her and the addict?” Chand asked.
“No. We still need her to keep an eye on the princess. Besides, she already has connections with Rondel and Andrasta.”
“You’re not worried about her talking?”
“Of course not. Because if she does, her uncle dies. Is that understood?”
“Yes.” She paused. “What will happen to Kunal in the meantime?”
“He’ll stay here with us. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.” He gestured to the drugs being manufactured behind them. “We have plenty to keep him occupied.”
CHAPTER 20
Rondel shivered in the cool night, slightly nervous in anticipation of what awaited them. He had been unable to think of anything else except the tower all day.
I can’t believe we’re finally going to see the real entrance, he thought, walking along the path to the tower.
“Where are all the vendors?” whispered Andrasta in Juntarkan. Empty stalls, quiet alleys, and deserted pathways stood eerily on the blue marble in the area around the tower. “For that matter, where is everyone else?”
Rondel nodded toward the princess. “I imagine she emptied the area before our arrival for safety reasons.” She walked fifty feet in front, surrounded by guards and a very nervous looking little girl.
It’s fine, Lela. Just stay calm.
More guards stood mindfully on either side of the path leading to the tower.
“That must have gone over well with the vendors.”
“Especially since they’ll be forced out again in a few days when the prince holds his big party. So, what does that tell you?”
“That she’s serious about winning you over to her side.”
“And she’s just as desperate as Lela said. Both good signs. See, the girl’s still doing her part even with the Beladeva connection. You remember what you need to do?”
“Yes, assess the guards and physical obstacles first. Then work my way toward the lock at the door all while scanning the symbols on the walls leading to the entrance.”
“Right. I’ll look at as many of the glyphs as I can, especially around the frame, but since I’ll also have to talk to the princess I doubt I’ll be able to study things as well as I’d like. I’m relying on you to get what we need.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get it.”
* * *
Rondel walked quickly through the recently painted, fake entrance of the tower, obviously enhanced to appeal to tourists. The true entrance was hidden away from the public, accessed through a secret door in the back.
Not a single jewel adorned the walls in the hidden area, yet the polished granite sparkled under torchlight as if made from gold.
The space was vast, bizarrely so he realized, extending for several hundred feet at a width half as large. How is that possible? From the outside, the base of the tower isn’t near this size. He glanced at the floor, ceiling, and walls to confirm that neither sloped into the earth or upward into another level. Not a single pillar supported the weight at the room’s center, an impossible feat of engineering considering what resided above him.
Not impossible. Sorcery.
To his right, Mira gestured, the slightest hints of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Please, study the space as you like.”
He smiled. “I believe I will, Your Majesty.”
He drifted over to the nearest wall, examining the carved glyphs by sight and touch, trying to ascertain those of importance over ones used purely for decoration. He imagined he moved slowly in the eyes of the princess, but in his mind not slow enough. He hoped Andrasta was doing her part.
Eventually, he reached the opposite end of the space where floor-to-ceiling double granite doors stood. Andrasta drifted over to the lock at the middle just as he had requested. He busied himself with the seams on either edge at the frame, making mental notes to compare to those written at the inn.
“Is it everything you imagined it would be?” asked Mira as she came up beside him.
He hid his annoyance at the interruption. She had given him far more privacy than expected. More than I hoped. “That and much more, Your Majesty. It’s beautiful.”
“It is that.” She cleared her throat. “Well, Lord Rickar, I’ve dined you and shown you part of the greatest wonder in all of Untan. I’m sure you understand there was more to this visit than a simple courtesy and pleasant conversation.”
“Of course.”
“Then let me speak plainly. Do you intend to give Minander the army he’s requesting?”
“Your Majesty, both the army and navy are not mine to give. Such decisions can only be made by the queen herself. The best I can do is work out what I believe to be the most favorable terms for Bratanic, then send word back to her highness with my personal opinion on the matter. It will be up to her to decide what course to take.”
“Which would take months.”
Giving us more than enough time to disappear before the prince realizes this is all a farce. “Yes.”
“That won’t do in Minander’s eyes.”
“Be that as it may, that is the best I can do.”
“If I may, what is your personal opinion on Minander’s proposition?”
Rondel chose his words carefully. “I think your brother is very confident in what he intends to accomplish.”
“But you’re not?”
“It’s a big risk, both for Bashan and Bratanic. I wonder what the long term repercussions o
f his actions would be. Your brother entices us with exclusive trade rights, but is that enough? Especially because surrounding nations may not wish to deal with us after we help him with ships and soldiers. Or worse, they may expect the same deal themselves. I know the queen well enough that she will not be keen on providing troops for every nation to settle its disputes. She does not intend to turn Bratanic’s army into a mercenary outfit. The terms under which the queen would provide military support would be ones your brother would not likely agree to for long. Then the question becomes when would your brother try to terminate our contract? After unifying Kindi? A year after?” He shrugged. “Where would that lead us?”
“All good points. In fact, I agree with every one of them even though they only relate to Bratanic. Granting my brother military support would be disastrous. Lord Rickar, war is the worst mistake possible for the future of Bashan.” She explained her concerns about internal revolt and external threats after reuniting Kindi through force. “My brother will ruin everything my father worked for in one fell swoop. I can’t let that happen.”
“Then I wish you luck with your efforts.”
“You can keep your luck, Lord Rickar. I’d much rather your help instead.”
Here it comes. “I’m not sure how I can help.”
She smiled. “I received reports that eight ships flying Bratanic’s colors were spotted near the Hidesi Islands just three weeks past.”
Rondel recalled old conversations overheard in the queen’s court when still a relatively unknown minstrel. “Yes, well her highness has greatly admired the coal mined on those islands for years. It was my understanding that she would send an envoy out to discuss the possibility of them becoming part of our empire.”
She nodded. “You say discuss. I say intimidate. The reports I read said that each ship contained between one hundred to two hundred fighting men. That’s anywhere between twelve hundred to sixteen hundred men in total. Based on my estimates, they should be on their way back this way any day now and could be within our bay sometime in the next two weeks, correct?”
“I presume so. It would depend on how well discussions went. However, I doubt stopping in Bashan’s port would be part of their orders.”
“I doubt so as well which is why I need you to pen a letter that I can have delivered via my fastest ships that would encourage them to do so.”
“Your Majesty, I am a diplomat. Not an admiral. The captains of those ships have no obligation to follow my wishes.”
“I’m sure you can think of something to tell them that would make them think it was in their best interests to do so. Correct?”
She wants me to lie outright to the captains, pretending some emergency. If I wasn’t already lying to her, I’d feel pretty offended at the remark. Crap. This isn’t what I expected at all. “And I would do this, why?”
She set her jaw before speaking, as if solidifying her resolve in what she was about to say. “I need to borrow them to stage a coup against my brother.”
Wow. She must be desperate to speak so openly.
“So your idea to avoid a civil war with the city-states of Kindi is to start a civil war with your brother in Bashan?”
“It won’t come to that, I promise. I don’t even intend to allow Bratanic’s soldiers off the docks. Their presence is what’s important. I need them to win over a certain influential major house. Once I get the support of this house, the rest will follow.”
Talk about gambling with poor odds.
“And the watch? Won’t they still answer to the prince? I imagine they would be displeased by foreign soldiers just waiting on their docks.”
“I can handle the watch.”
“How?”
“You don’t need to know how. Just be assured that they won’t be an issue.”
“But if they are? And all your other plans with the houses of Bashan don’t work? What then?”
“Then I will deal with the consequences.”
Desperation galore. Not what I expected at all.
“And Her Majesty’s troops?”
“Will be free to go the moment you feel the risk is too great to stay. You and they can pretend the ships were here only for supplies.”
“What’s the benefit to Bratanic?
“The same terms my brother offered you at dinner.”
“You’d give me those terms without nearly the risk your brother wanted?”
“Well, there is some risk as I’m asking you to lie to the captains of those ships by saying they must turn to our port by order of the queen. But as far as long term risks are concerned. Yes.”
“I think you’ve shown too much of your hand, Your Majesty. It’s obvious you’re quite desperate. I feel like I should push for more.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You can try, but you won’t get it. Besides, as you mentioned earlier, if the plan is too one-sided won’t I be tempted to renege on the terms later?”
“A valid point. I’ll need time to think on it.”
“Time is of the essence and—”
“One day. Tomorrow, you will have my answer.”
“Very well. But no longer.” She gestured to Andrasta who continued studying the door. “Your bodyguard seems more interested in the tower than even you, my lord.”
If you only knew.
* * *
Mira eased onto the cushioned carriage seat with a sigh. Exhausted did not begin to describe how weary she felt. Meetings, messages, and dozens of other tasks kept her from the already small amount of sleep she usually managed.
But I’m done for now at least. The decision is Lord Rickar’s. Not like that will help me sleep any better tonight.
“Do you think Lord Rickar will agree to your offer?” asked Lela.
Mira turned her head to the little girl bouncing beside her carriage in excitement. “I don’t know. Something about his demeanor seemed odd.” She shrugged.
“Maybe he was distracted by the tower, Your Majesty.”
Mira cocked her head to the side. “Are you all right, Lela? You really don’t seem yourself.”
Lela looked down, fidgeting. “I apologize. I’m not myself. My uncle is not doing well. And I’m just worried about his health. I was trying to think of a way to ask Your Majesty if I could leave early tonight in order to look in on him.”
“You deserve an early night off after all you’ve done for me.”
Lela bowed, looking sad. “You’re too kind.”
“Not at all. Go.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” She backed away from the carriage with a bow.
The coachman called. “The palace, Your Majesty?”
Mira thought for a second. “No. Inform my guards that I’ll be taking a ride around the city.”
I could use a more personal reminder of what I’m fighting for.
CHAPTER 21
Upon leaving the tower, Rondel and Andrasta went to their room, dumping all they had learned about the tower onto paper.
Lela crouched on their balcony listening. She hid in shadow while huddling beneath the awning to stay dry from the steady downpour.
“No. The line going inward is still too sharp,” said Andrasta. “Let me show you.” There was a pause. “Like that.”
“And you’re sure that was the last one?”
“Positive.”
Thank the gods. She hadn’t yet reported to Chand the details from the meeting at the tower because she wanted to first gauge Rondel and Andrasta’s impression. She thought about asking them outright, but figured they’d be suspicious that she chose not to remain with the princess.
There was a long shuffling of papers, followed by a muttered curse.
“What’s wrong?” asked Andrasta.
“This half-shaded circle often stands for an eclipse, according to my notes. However, there were also just enough references in competing texts that suggested the glyph sometimes is used in place of a turtle. But that can’t be right. Why would one symbol potentially mean two drastically differ
ent things?” He cursed again. “We still don’t have enough information.”
“What do you mean? I told you every symbol on the lock and even confirmed all the ones near the frame that you jotted down.”
“I know. But several of these symbols could have alternate meanings. We’re still missing the key to them all.”
“I thought you had the key.”
“I have a key which tells us what each symbol means. What I need is the key that tells us which of the alternate meanings to choose.”
“Sorcerers and their games,” spat Andrasta. “Can’t we just try each option until one works?”
“We could. However, this glyph right here suggests that wouldn’t be a wise decision. It’s an ancient representation of the number three. The one next to it is death.”
“And that means . . . ?”
“It means that we have three chances to get the door open. After that, we die.”
“And I guess there are more than three paths to choose for unlocking the door.”
“More than three dozen off the top of my head.”
She sighed. “So, then what do we do?”
“The key is in the tower somewhere. I know it.”
“So we need to have the princess let us back in?”
Rondel shook his head. “I don’t think that’ll work. The best course of action is to deny her request, wait for Minander to return to the city, and as part of our terms for bringing in Bratanic’s army, we ask for an invite to his party. With so many people, we should have more than enough time to study the walls for the key unnoticed.”
“Still more waiting then.”
“Unfortunately.”
“And what do we do in the meantime?”
“You could spend more time studying my notes. We still have to get past the five guardians once we get inside.”
“Don’t you have that all worked out already?”
“I have some of it worked out. But I can only be so prepared since no one has ever escaped the tower to confirm what stories are true and which are false. For all we know, Thalamanak could have put more than five guardians in place. The solution to get past each guardian will be something we’ll have to finish figuring out once we’re there. No way around it. That’s why we should have as much of this information memorized as possible.”
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