Red World Trilogy

by V. A. Jeffrey

  And nothing was to allow the hindrance of these caravans.

  The message was sent by a golden bird. Painted black. The crown prince was dead. His corpse carried into the city of Galieh, tied upon his own horse. The king was sitting in the King's House drinking his wine when he received the message. The servant had bowed low to the ground, so low that his face kissed the rugs. The king displayed no emotion, his face drawn, his complexion pale.

  "Take this wine from me and take all the wine from the house. And everyone in the palace must mourn with me and drink no wine for thirty days. Leave me." The alchemist remained silent as the grave. The king let the letter fall to the table.

  "The gods have spoken. It seems the youngest one is most worthy. I'd wondered when the truth would be decided. Alin was always foolish."

  "Some might think that he was on a death mission, Your Greatness." Only Lord Erol was allowed to even suggest such a thing. King Teraht glanced at him, his gaze full of suspicion.

  "How else can the best be determined? First, I want the body well preserved. I trust your men to do this better than any other." Erol bowed low at this. "If he will not be a king in this life he will be one in the next. I shall arrange to have his burial chamber be even richer than the one my niece had created for herself."

  "You saw it, Your Greatness?"

  "I did. It was grand. She had grand delusions."

  "I suppose better than pitiful ones, Your Greatness." The king got up and crossed his private chamber and stared out his window.

  "I have been too long away from Egi. The whole order of things is turning upside down in the land. First, slaves who do not know their place and now this. It is not good to be away from the rootstock." The sharp towers built into the shadowed mountainous rock stood against the sky like pointed teeth. The blue stone mansions and thousands of houses built on or in the rock face of the mountains were catching the sun's lessening rays. His eyes came to rest on the great obelisk in front the royal palace that boasted of his victory over Hybron. At times it seemed a hollow gesture and he did not always understand why.

  "Your son Remu should now be appointed lord and king of Hybron, under your authority, Your Greatness. He is strong. He is wise, " said Lord Erol. The king grunted.

  "He is crafty, like you. I will get to Remu later. But to my first son. The burial. Let him rule with the gods, since he could not rule here. Yet, I must pull myself up and remain with the living, the mortal stink. I hate him even more now that he is going where I cannot. Until death takes me. Call an attendant for me, Erol. I will have my head shaved." The king's voice was mirthless, cold.

  "And, secondly?"

  "Second, you and my other counselors must put your heads together. This man in the desert, I perceive he has the strength of a powerful god on his side. Before I avenge my son I must see what the future holds, what path to take that will best avenge him. Incompetent fool that he was, he was still my son." He went back to the table and picked up the letter and handed it to Erol. "Have one of my personal attendants tell his mother. And call the priests of Nisrok and the royal astrologers. I will require your attendance as well, tonight. I must understand what all this means. How he died and who did it. Regardless of the sword you created, I still dream of the Red King. In battle." He fixed an ugly, accusatory look on the alchemist. "He lives. And we both know I am not the one." Lord Erol left swift as a shadow.

  . . .

  The old, deposed queen collapsed in bitter grief. The death of her eldest - and favorite son - was the end of her world. When the prince's body was finally delivered to Egium her wails and cries poured out like the Mowret over its banks in the spring.

  "So handsome, so fair! My little lion, Alin! My little lion!" She cried out and tore her garments apart. She wept for days, for her son whom she loved more than the younger twin, more than the king, more than anything in the world. After seven days of constant grief the old queen died and she was buried in the Valley of Kings and Queens. Soon after, Prince Alin's funeral took place and it was grand, indeed. There were three hundred mourning women that accompanied the burial procession. His body was borne along in a golden sarcophagi to the Valley of Kings and Queens.

  Remu was now given rule of Galieh and Jhis and the king made Remu his son vassal king in Hybron.

  . . .

  Demos sat mulling over a bowl of thick beer. Alil's beer had not gotten any better but it nourished him and kept him from feeling hungry when he did not have time to eat much. The inn was now his second home away from Senetta's house. One of his watchers walked in. Demos waved for him to come to his table. The man placed a small coin on the long table where the owner stood carefully surveying everyone coming in. Then he went and got a bowl of beer from the vat.

  "What news, Yunki?"

  "Bad news." Demos caught his breath and braced himself. "It is said the throne suspects that Senetta's House is a slave refuge. Many do not believe this but the rumor is alive in the King's own palace. Any slaves there will have to be moved immediately, Demos." Demo could feel his body growing cold with fear.

  "There are no slaves at the house, presently. Things have slowed down temporarily because of the king."

  "There is something else. Slaves in Egium, Merikut and Teynahil have been caught. There was a massacre in the mountains some days ago, of the king's men."

  "Dear God."

  "Yes. The king is striking back. Many have been rounded up and they will be slaughtered on the holy day to Nisrok. Thrown to the crocodiles the king keeps in the palace dungeons."

  "That is tomorrow!" Cried Demos. Yunki nodded.

  "Go, Demos. They must know by now. Those men that came to the house that disappeared? They were thugs from the Black Alchemists' Guild. Senetta is powerful but she is not all powerful. She and her house are in great danger now that the king is here. Go!" Demos wrapped himself in a deep hooded robe and made his way back to the Black Quarter. His leg was bothering him greatly but there was no time to rest. As soon as he got inside Samje accosted him as he was going up the stair to speak with Senetta.

  "Demos!" He was panting and sweating, looking as if he'd been running for his life.

  "What is the matter? What has happened to you?"

  "Never mind that. . .just running as fast as I could to. . .get here." He leaned against the wall. "The Black Guild has made a drug. I do not know what it is called but I know they have a new potion that they will require all new slaves brought here to take before they are sold, to make them docile. It, I hear, melts parts of the mind so that they become like machines, Demos!" Demos was breathing nearly has heavily as Samje now. He felt the world closing in on him and he new his time would be up, his rebellion would be found out and he would be executed.

  "Samje. I must speak with Senetta. We must find a new place to hide our activities. Go and gather the others. If any are willing to leave with me if we can, find out who they are. I would speak with them." Samje went downstairs. Demos turned, feeling his steps grow heavy as he went up. His mind raced. Where would they go? How could they escape without being noticed? He knocked on the door. He heard the command to enter and he entered.

  . . .

  "But my lady, you cannot stay here! We must all move from this place. They know!"

  "We have gone through all this before, Demos." She took a fringed pillow and threw it in front of him, a command to sit. Demos sat down and tried to settle himself but he was too anxious.

  "Calm yourself, Demos. You can escape but my life is here. I am tied to this place like a tree with deep roots."

  "But do you not know what is happening?"

  "I know. Did you know that just a few days ago the Black Guild under the king's approval, just slew a whole host of innocent slaves that were newly brought here, bought and had nothing to do with the matter?" Demos felt the pit in his stomach deepen. He nodded, unable to say anything.

  "Do not feel remorse. It is the price you pay to upturn the order. The conquerors do not want freedom to exist for some and t
hey will do anything to crush the rebellion but it must come to pass. Death is necessary in these matters when the conqueror holds on so tightly. They will not play this any other way."

  "But perhaps if there weren't the revolt. . . "

  "But that is not under your control. After all, is it not your claim that your god is going to destroy many people in the quest to set up a better kingdom? It is always the way. And though frightful and cruel, it is necessary if any real change is to come. I am a freak. Your people would never accept me. This is a truth. Do not deny it, Demos. There is no where I can go in this world and be safe or find work because I am an object of derision and perversion. Made specifically for Egian tastes. I have no use for anyone else because they have no use for me."

  "This may be true of many but that is not true of all, my lady," he said quietly. Demos knew that this would be the last conversation on the matter. He felt desperate. The woman who had given him a home and safety and had put her life on the line many times for him, backed him and supported him in all his endeavors would not save herself. He turned to looked out of the window but the windows as usual were covered with luxurious and heavy drapes, stained with years of smoke that kept out the world. Senetta had her own world here and it was the only one she wanted.

  "I am a creature of a past time. I perceive that the world is changing and there is no place for me in it."

  "Now you sound like a desert father," he said. He heard her mirthless laugh, her voice ragged with age and smoke. Then she began to cough and wheeze violently, so much so it frightened him. He struggled up to go to her but she put her two lower arms out to hold him at bay and finally the coughing fit ceased. he could see that though his medicines had slowed the progression of the necropsy in her lower arms, it was still there. This too, frustrated him. He did not have the skill to rid her of it. In fact it seemed no White Alchemist in Egi did. Such was the curse of Black Alchemy on mortal flesh.

  Demos settled himself back down on the pillows. Around them were was signs of supper. Spiced meats and fruits, a salad of tomatoes, roasted nookal and dates and onions and kata leaves. He reached over and took up a date and ate it. Fear was rampant in the land. A physical presence that he could feel like webs pressing in on him.

  "Well, if you refuse to save yourself by leaving what will you do?"

  "Eat first. You are weary and lacking sleep and strength. Eat and satisfy yourself and then I shall make my plan known. To you and all my household."

  After Demos had eaten his fill and drank some fig spirits to calm his nerves they hammered out a plan. It was risky and desperate but it was all they had and it had to be executed within the next few days. Demos sent for several of his underground associates to come as quickly as they could. If they did not respond, Demos had one last choice. He had written Lady Hazad and Lady Diwa over two weeks ago but neither of them had written back. That worried him not only because he did not know what was happening in the latest news in Egium but his love and affection for her was growing.

  Senetta rang her gong and bells and everyone congregated into the central room in the middle of the house, the hub of activity. The house was closed down. It was early dawn and all patrons were out and were not allowed in until later that afternoon. Senetta had her men carry her upon a special sedan chair downstairs. Several other servants had also brought down some large rosin chests, ten in all, and set them in front of the sedan chair. Everyone looked curiously at her and the chests. She had a long, thin staff of gold in hand with a large, sharpened diamond atop it. She had killed several unruly patrons with it in years past. All fifty of her women, boys, including the servants and guards of the house were gathered. Ina hovered around Senetta, carrying on her sash belt, Demos noted, an extra ring of copper keys.

  "You all well know the goings-on of this house. This house has been a refuge for slaves who want freedom. The tide is changing in the land and much bloodshed will come. Demos is arranging for all of you to leave this place and gain your freedom, if that is what you want."

  "But we are marked. We have the tattoos or we are marked by our appendages. We are the changed men." Cried a young woman.

  "I know and Demos has thought of this," she turned to Demos.

  "I have contacted several of my associates. You have seen them about at times, some of you. If they do not come within the day or next day I shall lead you, should you chose to go, to the Soudan. There are several hideouts there. Some are in villages. For those inclined to fight, there is the mountain place."

  "The old quarry?" Asked one of them.

  "Yes."

  "But we have no ladre. Without this place to shelter us we fit in no where," he said. A low murmur of complaint grew.

  "I cannot help you with fitting in. You must see to that, but I can help you all with the ladre," said Senetta. With that, Ina took the copper keys from her belt and opened each of the chests. Inside they were all filled with gold and silver coins and precious jewels. Senetta opened the last one herself and in it were pouches filled with electrum coins, jewelry and jeweled daggers. A fortune. Each of these pouches were handed out to everyone there including the servants. Demos had already been given his share. He had an entire chest of silver and gold and a few precious stones. Everyone was in awe over these gifts. More pouches were handed out for them to fill and they made a dash to fill them. Demos then took out hooded robes, turbans and silks of good quality that would cover over most deformities and handed these to them after everyone had filled their pouches. They all began bowing and kissing her hands.

  "Oh, thank you dear mother!"

  "Thank the gods for you, Lady Senetta!"

  '"Do not thank me for I would rather you all stay here and work for me but the end has come for this place." There was a knock on the front doors. Ina scurried to see who it was.

  "It is Hunda and Mayura!" She said. Both of them walked in, stressed and anxious. They both caught sight of the ladre and their eyes widened. Mayura laughed suddenly.

  "Payment, my lady?"

  "Demos has it for you." Senetta said and pointed to him. Demos took up two small pouches full of gold coins and two pouches of highly prized Zapulian red salt and tossed the pouches to them. They seemed quite a bit happier.

  "This will be our last time doing this." Demos said. Before he could say anything else Mayura told him.

  "Enkil is in hiding. I do not know where he is at the moment."

  "Neither do I. I have not heard from him in two weeks but his house was ransacked by the king's men."

  "They will come here next. So, I am emptying the house now." Said Senetta ruefully.

  "Any one who wished to go to Hybron, come with me."

  "But the king is now lord of Egi and Hybron," said one of the boys.

  "This is true," said Demos. "But even though he has changed the laws on slavery there it will take a generation or more to change hearts. The conception of slavery in Hybron is very different there than in Egi. Over there slaves still have legal rights and of all the most tolerant places and permissive is Rhuctium. In Hybron a slave can eventually be set free."

  "And Rhuctium is where I will be headed at some point," said Demos.

  "Well I am ready to see the world. With money I have power I never had before," said Samje thoughtfully. "I wonder if anyone can take me to the North Ocean and beyond. I should like to go there, to Pallinona."

  "Enkil used to take the underground route west and he knows it. The rest of us do not. If you can make your way to Yeleb, you will find Yelebians are less harsh and more humane than other Egians when dealing with their slaves. Educated slaves can find decent work there under more fair-minded people."

  "There are also a few White Alchemists I know who specialize in removing slave tattoos. And unsightly or telling appendages if one wants to blend in better with the populace there. I have heard of some incidents of known runaways even in Hybron being kidnapped and brought back here and now that the king's son rules Hybron in his stead there is an increasing number
of this but it is still better than here. And some kidnappers have been killed in Hybron."

  "Jusawa! They have no right to do that in Hybron!"

  "It would sound as if we need to bring the fight across the border," said Hunda.

  "All those in a fighting spirit, come with me. I will take you to the mountain passage to the Soudan and to the revolt hideout or to one of the villages sympathetic to the rebellion. I do not fight but I will no longer take issue with those who will." Many young men gathered to him and some of the warrior guards. Most of the others, younger boys, women and servants. Some also gathered around Demos.

  The house remained closed by word of Senetta all that day and night and it was the job of Ina to fend off patrons trying to get access to the house which in Demos's mind drew eve more suspicion. When it had first become dark everyone had packed what belongings they had and went with Hunda or Mayura.

  "Those coming with me, we leave by the cistern of Mabelat," said Mayura. From there was an underground passage leading to the border of Egi beyond the city gates of Yilphaeus. This group had already left an hour earlier and to their fate Demos prayed. They said their farewells to the lady of the house who had taken them in, clothed, fed and protected them and kissed her hands. Many made incense and offerings to the various altars in the house before they left. Samje stayed behind with Demos's group. Hunda took his an hour later and he went straight away toward the high desert and the mountains by a route only he knew of. He took many of Senetta's warriors with him. The last group were those with Demos. By then there were seven left with Ina and Senetta among them. Demos packed all his most precious things, his ladre, quite a sum by what Senetta had given him plus some of his own resources which would have been greater but turned out meager for most of his ladre he spent helping others. He was eternally grateful for he would need this fortune to determine where his life would now go. He packed his clothes and also his alchemy utensils in another bag and his ladre sacks and a thin, short dagger. Everyone was now taken care of. The warriors left to travel with Demos were armed to the teeth and ready for a fight. Ina however would not leave Senetta.