There was fire!
Strangely he became calm. He went to Master Ulthi's bedroom. The drapes and the bed were on fire and the fire was running up the wall and curling toward the ceiling. Ulthi's body lay splayed awkwardly on the ground, his face an unrecognizable, bleeding bruise. He had lost one of his eyes in the beating and it looked as if his neck and back were broken. Demos, in a rare episode of calculating coolness, went straight for the trap door by the bed. He overturned the table and opened it and grabbed the small box of gold and silver coins and jewels. He then went to the kitchen cellar and threw every vial and bottle imaginable into his sack without thinking or looking as the fire spread to the ceiling of the main room. He grabbed one of Ulthi's robes draped on a chair and ran outside and down the road screaming: "Fire! Fire!" More people awoke at this sudden rise of noise again, disturbing the peace. There were shouts of fright and confusion. Demos then made his way down one of the narrow streets. His mind remained sharp, his memory keen and in the dead of night with no care but escape and freedom, he made for the Black Quarter.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
It came to be close to the time of the queen's ascension when Teraht suddenly descended upon the palace in Egium and put to death the queen's supporters. After imprisoning some and discovering from them where the queen's spies were in the land, he had them all found and executed. Then he went back toYilpahaeus and the first outward call went out for all those who wanted to see the end of her rule. Thousands flocked to the ensign of the Lord-Chieftain Teraht, the chimera of the leviathan with the sea serpent's tail. They came in droves, upon donkeys, upon horses, upon foot. Teraht himself had secretly forged an engine of war in Yilphaeus that produced chariots and iron spears and strong swords and many weapons of war. Even wild tribesmen from the west and mercenaries, flocked to him.
He himself was in deep concern and meeting with his astrologers and the greatest alchemists in the land. He was bent upon something great and the land buzzed with rumor. Prophecy was on his mind. Prophecy that pertained to him - the prophecies of the serpent, and prophecy that would be formed and shaped to his rule. The Rise of the Red King. Teraht himself was of the serpent house, the House of Seht, but he had wrapped himself in the worship and essence of the river god and his sons, the mighty leviathans. The great day was near and the shade sun, or what many wisemen called the path of the dead sun, was nearing when it would cross paths with the reigning sun. A fear inspiring day.
There was something else brewing, for all this treasonous scheming was a deadly matter against an already treacherous queen. It would spur from a vicious family feud into an internecine war and many feared the slaughter that would come if he lost. Teraht feared the possibility of loss as well, for he was growing nervous over what Taliat was trying to achieve. At first he thought it foolish and vainglorious. But there were times when he thought that perhaps she would actually achieve it, that her gods were far stronger than he realized. She was certainly zealous in her worship of them. However, Teraht had a powerful thing, a symbol, of which was so secretive that he had not yet revealed it. It would signal to his supporters his strength and that the strongest gods were now on his side.
. . .
He alone had the key to make kings. Bless the god of the old knowledge whom others called the unnamed one. The one of secret knowledge. Erol shuddered inwardly, thinking of what might have been if that incompetent jaga Ulthi had managed to succeed in stealing the formula. How such a man could come to be a part of the illustrious and proud members of the Black Guild had always galled him and earned his contempt for the deterioration of the standards of the age. All obstacles in the path were now cleared away for them to concentrate on removing their greatest problem, the queen. The litter halted suddenly.
"Why are we stopped?" He demanded.
"We have arrived at the palace, sire." Said one of the slaves.
"Why did you not say so?" He took his flail and struck several of the litter-carriers, drawing blood upon the backs of one.
"Forgive us, sire."
"I want a smooth ride. How difficult is that? I ought to have your legs cut off, all of you." He threatened but there was no time to punish them. He had business. The assistants gathered the boxes as they prepared to de-board. He put his kerchief scented with balsam oil to his face to block out the fetid stench of the air. He climbed out and down from the litter, the sharpened, knife-like heels of his sandals tore through the skin of his slaves as he used their bare backs as stepping stones. They bore it in feared silence. Any slave who complained or cried out was sent to the black chamber where they never saw the light of day again. He approached the pristine gardens and courtyards of the grand palace. After entering the gate Erol strode through the first garden, a courtyard full of succulents and exotic flesh-eating plants. Some as mighty as elephanta, their flowers closed in the cool morning air. The second courtyard was on the platform after he ascended a small, wide stair and this was the most important. It was an expansive garden and Erol knew why. There was an underground stream that led from the palace gardens to the Mowret and the Lord of the Mowret and his sons leviathan made their home here, the great river monsters.
He glimpsed numerous smaller creatures hidden under the wide, jade and white flecked fronds and the man-made ponds in the garden. In the center of it sat a large rock formation and a water fall. Behind it was the cave of the firstborn son of the crocodile god himself, who was always bedecked in emeralds, jade, topaz and citrine jewels. But he remained hidden today. Erol touched the top of his bald head and felt down the thick lock of braided brown hair and then he bowed before the rock and then went in to see the Lord-Chieftain of the palace. His three assistants followed silently behind.
"My Lord-Chieftain, I come to you with supremely felicitous news." They were sitting in one of his private chambers. A military secret was about to be unleashed.
"It is about time. You are sure this will work?"
"When they see it there will be no doubt in their minds who is the ruling king of prophecy. I too, have peered into prophecies and you are the one who will triumph. We shall all make it so." Erol turned sharply to one of his assistants and the man set down a long, thin wooden and metal box covered in written charms and spells. He opened it and in it was an exquisite iron broad sword with a brass hilt and pommel wrapped in fine leather. The blade itself was covered in etched charms and family arms.
"A new sword, forged from the finest swordsmith shop in Pallinona. Even better than in Egi." The chieftain grunted and threw him a cold, expectant look.
"Worry not." Said Erol confidently. He snapped his fingers and the other assistant went to a table and set the box down. They had another box which they handed to Erol. Erol fingered his golden medallion lovingly. Then he produced a thin, elegant key from his robes and unlocked this box. It was filled with vials of strangely colored liquids. There was something else. A long, stoppered cylinder. In it were blue, black coals and a heavy, viscous liquid was in it. One assistant handed him the sword. He took the sword and plunged the blade into the cylinder and kept it down for a few moments before drawing it back out slowly. Before their eyes the blade had turned black. He then went to the brazier and set it on fire. From it lept red and black flames and from those issued ink black smoke. It burned so bright that everyone in the room had to hide their eyes but even as the flames flickered wildly the sword did not melt or even seem to become heated up. Erol went to a window where the rays of the sun fell upon the floor and he put the sword within the rays of the sun and the metal bloomed bright like a sunrise.
"Your star sword, made from the most precious element in the world, dark ether." Erol said triumphantly. The Lord Chieftain's eyes widened.
"Is it battle worthy?"
"It is my lord. It was tested. It is the first star sword since the Hybronian warrior Ishuye walked the earth."
"Is that not a legend?"
"Ishuye may have receded into legend but he was a man as real as you and I and so was his s
word. This object of dark material will cause every man in Egi to flock to your standard even faster than they already are. No amount of accusations of treason from the queen and her men will stop them now. You have Egi in your hand, my lord. Now you only have Hybron to subdue. The people there are ready for a proper ruler. A man, who understand how to reign." Teraht cupped his hands together, then he began laughing wildly.
"Yes! Oh, yes. You have done me well, Erol! I will not forget what you have done. You shall be greatly rewarded when I am king!" He took it and wielded it, slicing it through the air. The sword sizzled and whispered like a conspirator to him.
"I cannot believe it! I have waited for this moment all my life, to rule!" His men shouted in anticipation and he laughed again.
"I was the youngest of all my many brothers. No chance to gain any throne but skulk here in this dung-infested heap of a city! You have no idea what it is like to be of the House of Seht with no power. I left their gods and came to Nisrok and he has granted me the power! All my desires have come to pass! My fool brothers are out of the way and now I shall deal with the usurping queen." He pointed the sword at Erol. "My father denied me my right, then my brothers, and now my own niece! But I will have it! Did not Egian kings rule Hybron once? Anyone denying my claim to the throne will die in fire and blood!" He shouted. His men gathered round him, his twin sons, Alin and Remu were called to his side. All were dazzled by the spectacular sword.
"This sword is the sword of God. It has been raised again with His power! The true One." Said Erol.
"And now all will have to bend the knee and acknowledge me as their rightful king!"
"The king!" They all shouted. "The king! King of Egi! King of Hybron!"
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Only three men were left standing after the mayhem. The next beasts put into the arena would be bigger and more savage. The crowds would see if there were champions today. So far, there were no Queen's champions.
"Perhaps they will bring out more fighters?" Asked Bakku. His eyes were red and nearly closed in amber filled ecstasy.
"Why do they need more fighters? These three still stand." Snapped the queen. The day was so close she could taste it. And all the while problems were mounting, problems that threatened her plan but wasn't that always the way? Bakku had become more and more witless, of late. She watched him from behind her veils and wondered how his body would react to a poisoned pipe.
Plague had recently broken out and was spreading south. Bloody flux had already claimed some in Jhis. Public games soothed the people, or so she hoped. Her building projects had come to a halt after many builders had died in this new outbreak. It was reported to her that a lordling from Egi had even laughed at her plans for the schools, calling it a childish and stupid dream of a woman. His head was now just another decorative item in one of her gardens. But she sensed a change in mood in the air and she had to keep herself on top of everything. Perhaps she needed new courtiers. She had supporters in Galieh, Rhuctium and Haiga. She needed to shore up support from the people. Everything depended upon one day. She licked her lips thinking on it. Her skin was even more delicate now. Her subjects thought her veils protected her light skin from the harsh sun and in part, it did. Those allowed to look upon her now were her closest courtiers and advisers. She wore her diadem over her veils and another lace veil over that. It was not enough! Nothing was enough! She recently had a new edict written up and sent out for all the land to hear: anyone looking directly upon Her Greatness's holy image was to be executed. They now all bowed when seeing her coming, always casting their eyes downward.
"I think I will move the capital from Jhis soon. I shall, in fact. I will move it to my palace in Rhe." She said absently, fingering one of her gold bracelets. She was tired of Jhis and she feared the eternal fires. They had grown hotter and even higher. There was the night when she'd had many, many bodies thrown there, some years back, and the fires had seemed to grow much brighter, hotter and stronger after feeding on all that flesh; they had never receded from that feeding. It was an omen, but what sort, she did not know. Would they engulf her? Her transformation became all the more urgent. When she was a goddess in mind and form she would fear nothing, but she had to achieve it first. Her soul grew restless as the day drew nearer.
Bakku took another long draw from his pipe. She frowned in disgust. He really had become an addict now. How sad and weak. All men are weak, though they think themselves strong. She gazed sidelong at him, like an insect she might crush. Or let escape out a window. He seemed unmoved by the carnage on the arena floor, trapped in a cocoon of opium and amber dreams and dazed comfort. So intent was she in her thinking on Bakku's continued usefulness, or lack thereof, that she nearly missed the movement to her left side. One of the ladies of her court handed her a letter.
"Your Greatness, a message from General Cardith." She said. The queen took it and read it.
HG Taliat Seht Most Revered Queen and daughter of Elyshe,
Your uncle is gathering a great army in Egi. He has overtaken the palace in Egium. Thousands have rallied to him and he is coming against you to attack the capital. He is strong. Action must be taken now to prevent his usurpation of the throne. He will lay siege to Jhis. The walls must be more strongly guarded and we need more archers in the city. I have sent out word for warriors, mighty men, to come to Jhis. Prepare the city for war.
General Cardith
Her stomach turned. She quickly put the letter away and hid her hands underneath her veils. She could feel her body trembling. How dare he! How dare he come up against a goddess! She should have killed him as soon as she had come to the throne. Now this rat had gathered other rats to him. Like a rodent running from trash heap to trash heap and city to city, he infected the land with treasonous talk and ideas, and now this. Suddenly and without warning she rose and the shouting, laughing and talking by the people quickly quieted. A fighter down below had pinned the other beneath him and he was looking to her for an answer: Yes or no? She had nearly forgotten. She sighed in irritation and flew out her red silken kerchief.
Death. The crowd roared enthusiastically. He took the man's head and held it up but the queen was in no mood for gestures of any sort.
"Bakku!" She barked, "If this buffoon offers the head to me as a tribute have him hung on a stake!"
"But my queen, it is a great honor-"
"I will not say it again!" Bakku bowed his head, his eyes red and dull. She was disgusted and now her rage was growing. An ugly storm of emotion boiled through her and the undercurrent was fright. Which made her even angrier. She hadn't been this frightened since she was a child in her father's house. The people cheered and hailed the scene below. She ignored them all, turned abruptly and left the arena with her ladies. The games were over in Jhis.
. . .
General Cardith had long since stopped drinking the water in Jhis and he was not the only one. Omens and portents were everywhere. Only the staunchest and most wicked supporters of the queen would not see them. Her time had come and this both excited him and struck great fear in him. Hybron had been nothing but a violent succession of usurpers in the past decades. After he had come here as part of her retinue when she married Khalit he had learned that Hybronians disliked Egians as much as Egians disliked Hybronians but valuable trade and a shared interest in survival kept them from warring with each other. Egian grain for Hybronian iron. However, it did nothing to curb mob attacks against Egians in the city and general hatred of them everywhere among the common people. Jhis remained a seething pot of rage and bloody resentments.
Cardith's days and nights were filled with worry; worry over the increasing mental instability of the queen, the increasing instability of her reign, enemies from without and then his own deadly schemes, one with the Ainash and one bound up with a few people he'd met who vowed to save the land from both the queen and her uncle by freeing the prophet. Not an hour went by in the day when he thought that perhaps he had made a grave error in judgment by trusting t
hem but whenever he looked upon the veiled queen, who was performing her sinister secret rites, it told him he was doing what was needed for the survival of the kingdom. May I be forgiven for my folly in supporting her. He felt weighed down even more from that than with all the battles he fought and all the men he had killed. Not until he had lived here under Queen Taliat's rule did he hear much of this god Airend-Ur. His price was not so high. Cardith hoped this Airend-Ur would win the struggle or it would be him hanging upon a stake.
"She comes now." Said one of the field attendants. "How long until he comes?"
"He has not stirred as far as I know. A source in Egi tells me that they are still gathering forces. Men from the Soudan Mountains beyond Egium, men from further west are coming. Even some Egian warriors here in Hybron flock to him. His two sons he has set up as commanders in the army but he has not yet stirred from Yilphaeus."
"And why have we not moved from here to combat this problem?"
"If it were left solely up to me, I would meet him halfway and work out terms of surrender but too many people are divided. Even those who support a peace agreement with Teraht are loathed to put another Egian on the throne. He intends to rule from here, not install a vassal and go back to Egi. The queen does not have the support she had long ago. Her cruelties have taken their toll, she executes at random with no real law other than her own whims. Plagues that were thought gone have come back and destroyed many, strange signs and visions hound the land. All these have given rise to people thinking that perhaps their lovely serpent queen is a curse. Her rule is no longer popular and her forces are no longer what they were. People think she is mad and they do not really want to see another of her blood ruling their land."
Red World Trilogy Page 59
