Every eye in the courtyard was on Sulel. The soldiers were confused. Shocked at the news that Therek had once held such a prestigious rank. No one knew what to think. Who to believe. The Empress continued to stare down at the document in her hands, shaking her head absently. Kaori watched Therek and Sulel closely, hopeful, praying silently to the gods that they would make Sulel see reason and restore Therek to his rightful title.
Sadly, the gods didn’t answer her prayer. Sulel’s fingers snapped toward two of the soldiers, pointing them toward Therek with a commanding gesture, sputtering angrily before managing to form words upon his lips. “Escort this man out of my sight,” he stammered. “I want him out of Eykanua. And Losuva – if I ever see your face again, I will have you killed.”
“I am offering you to kill me now, Sulel!” Therek shouted, fighting against the guards as they approached to take him into custody. “Let the girl go and I will relinquish everything to you.”
“The girl stays. If you do not leave this instant, I will make you watch every second of her torture.”
“She can give you nothing!”
“She will give me everything, Losuva! Your people respect her. Revere her like a queen! Even if she cannot provide names beyond those given by Leuzen, her death will be a direct hit to the rebels. The perfect message to make them see that I will not be made a fool of.”
“Killing her will only make them stronger,” Therek shook his head. “If you take her life, you will spark a civil war between our people and yours.”
“Then I will strike every last one of your wretched people down – starting with you. Now get out!”
In a fluid motion Therek brought his elbow up to connect with the nose of the soldier on his right, a loud crack resounding through the courtyard from the strength of the blow. Instantly the other men were on him, struggling to get him under control, his speed and power easily knocking the first few soldiers back before he was overpowered by their numbers. They were striking him. Fists pummeling against his head and body, merciless in their repetition. From under Deliao’s tight hold Kaori screamed for him, her legs nearly tripping over the fetters at her ankles in her desperate attempt to reach him. “Therek, just go!” she cried. Although she appreciated the loyalty he demonstrated, she couldn’t argue the fact that their people needed him more than her. If they both died in this miserable courtyard, there wouldn’t be anyone left who was capable of leading their people into war. Therek was their last hope and if he didn’t get out now, he would single-handedly destroy any chance the Vor’shai might have in defeating Sulel’s army.
“I will not leave you, Kaori,” he groaned from under the soldiers, a pain-filled grunt cutting his words short as another fist connected with his stomach.
“You must!” Kaori gave another hard pull forward, the strain of the motion reminding her of the discomfort in her chest. It hurt to move but she didn’t care. She had to make Therek see that he was making a mistake. “Your death accomplishes nothing, Therek. Do not make mine and my brother’s suffering be in vain.”
All at once Therek stopped fighting, his hands raised to protect himself from the relentless strikes though no longer throwing any in return. Kaori hoped he understood what she was trying to tell him. She couldn’t say it any more plainly without putting his life in danger. Sulel was giving Therek a chance to walk away. If she gave him any reason to believe Therek would leave and join the rebels, Sulel would never let him out of the palace. Judging by the sudden change in his behavior, she could only assume he caught the poorly veiled meaning of Kaori’s argument. “I will go!” he called out from under the soldiers, buried under their muscular figures until one of them grabbed onto his arms, yanking him gruffly to his feet. Out of breath, he tried to regain his composure, his chest rising and falling with painful wheezes, blood trickling down the pale skin from his nose onto his upper lip. “Have your men… unhand me and… I will leave Eykanua as you command.”
Sulel held Therek’s gaze for a long moment, as if challenging him. Testing to see if he would lash out again. Content that Therek had given up the fight, Sulel waved his hand dismissively toward the soldiers, directing them to leave him alone. “Let him go. I have more important business to attend to.”
Shaking himself free, Therek straightened his doublet, eyes locked straight ahead on Kaori with a look of sheer determination. “Be strong, Kaori. This is far from over, I assure you.”
She couldn’t bear to look at him. Face contorting in anguish, she averted her gaze, saddened to see him go yet embarrassed at the thought of him seeing what these men might do to her. Therek was the only person left in this world that she loved. If he didn’t leave soon, Sulel would take him from her just the same as he had done to everyone else she ever cared about. “Go,” she whispered, overcome with emotion, unable to say anything more. Now wasn’t the time to profess her feelings for him. It would only give Sulel more reason to try and keep Therek there.
Head held high, Therek turned on his heel away from the center of the courtyard, moving swiftly back toward the palace doors. The garden was quiet, everyone watching his departure with bated breath, anxious to see if Sulel would keep his word and actually allow Therek to leave. Sulel’s secret had been exposed. The will was there in the Empress’s hands to act as proof of Therek’s rightful title. Letting him go seemed dangerous yet for some reason Sulel did nothing to stop him, waiting quietly for the sound of the doors closing behind Therek before saying anything more. “The girl needs to be broken,” he stated plainly to the soldiers around him. “Do what you like with her. I want to hear her begging for death before dinner.”
Kaori’s heart beat hard against her chest at Sulel’s order. She wasn’t ready for this. It had been simple to think of enduring the pain and humiliation these men could bring her. They would seek to injure her in every way imaginable. Physical. Mental. Nothing was too depraved for Deliao’s soldiers. Closing her eyes, she tried to resign herself to fate, but it was harder to let go than she hoped. She didn’t want this. Death was far more desirable. It just wasn’t an option. Sulel wouldn’t let these men kill her without first obtaining the names of her friends and allies.
Laughter filled the courtyard as the soldiers made their way toward her, Deliao’s hand releasing his hold on her hair to leave her standing there alone, his men closing in around her. She trembled at their approach, listening to the sound of their footsteps, feeling their hands upon her body. She could hear the fabric of her dress being torn, her legs lifted out from under her, a sharp pain shooting through her midsection as she was dropped unceremoniously onto the cobblestone. Biting her lip, she tried to refrain from crying out in fear. It was what they wanted. Sulel would take pleasure in hearing her scream for mercy. No matter what happened, she couldn’t let him have that satisfaction. It would all be over soon. And when they grew tired of her, she could find peace in death knowing that she would be reunited with her family.
Through the haze of her thoughts she could hear the Empress’s voice call out over the commotion, authoritative, stern. “Sulel, stop this madness! What is wrong with you?”
“The girl won’t talk if we don’t soften her up first. If you cannot watch, then leave. Do not interfere with my business.”
“It is not your business,” she shouted angrily, her voice growing louder. More insistent. “You are not the Emperor. The fate of this woman is not yours to command.”
The hands of the soldiers began to slow in their excited groping, kneeling over Kaori, their eyes glancing between one another in confusion at the Empress’s words. Kaori laid there, her eyes opening slightly to look up at the men, grateful for the distraction, even if only for the moment.
“I am the Emperor, and it is treason for you to say otherwise,” Sulel snapped, moving toward his wife with a strong, deliberate stride. He reached for the parchment in her hands, his fingers grasping at nothing as she moved out of the way, tucking the document behind her back to keep him from getting near it.
&nb
sp; “If you do not stop your men from violating that girl, so help me, Sulel, I will see to it that every citizen in Carpaen is made aware of your father’s true successor.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, I would,” the Empress gave a strained laugh, taking another step backward to place more distance between her and Sulel. “Not everyone is a slave to their rank, dear. I would rather be a titleless pauper than the wife of a false king who lets his men defile women like the scoundrels they are sworn to protect our people from.”
“If we do not torture her, she will not talk.”
“Then torture her like you would a man. Show me there is still some honor left inside you and I will forget this document ever existed.”
Lips pursed, Sulel stared at his wife, speechless. Kaori had never met the woman before and she already possessed a greater respect for her than she ever had for her husband. She could only hope that Sulel cared enough for his wife to do as she asked.
After a moment Sulel shook his head, heaving a long, drawn out sigh of frustration, seeming displeased with the decision he was forced to make. “Return the girl to her cell,” he commanded begrudgingly, never taking his eyes off his wife. “You and I will discuss this later. I will not tolerate the disrespect you have shown in front of my soldiers.”
“How convenient it is that they are not your soldiers.”
Narrowing his eyes, Sulel glared at the Empress, his nostrils flaring under barely controlled rage. “Deliao, escort my wife to our chambers and keep watch over her until I am finished here. Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Deliao bowed low, giving no hesitation to follow the order. Not that Kaori expected any different from a man like him. His wealth and power was dependent upon Sulel remaining on the throne. If Therek was granted the crown owed to him, Deliao’s decommissioning would be his first order of business as Emperor.
A wave of relief passed over Kaori as the soldiers lifted her to her feet, checking the locks on the restraints which continued to bind her ankles and wrists. The cuff around her neck hurt worse than before, the pressure of the metal rubbing against the laceration caused by Deliao’s sword. When compared to the injuries she may have otherwise sustained if not for the Empress, Kaori was able to grit her teeth and look past the pain, grateful that a few broken bones and superficial cuts were the only wounds she suffered. For now. Of all the uncertainties which flooded her mind, that was the one thing she knew without doubt. Her torture was far from over. But Therek was alive. As long as he walked Myatheira, her people still had a chance at victory. And that, in the end, made anything which happened to her at the hands of these men seem worthwhile.
Kaori’s stomach growled hungrily, pangs stabbing through her abdomen. Even without a means of telling time, she knew it had been days since her last meal. The moldy bread provided when she first arrived was starting to sound good, longing for anything which might fill the void. It was a test. A means of slow torture. The guards brought her only enough water to sustain life so she would live longer to experience the pain and misery of starvation. Combined with the daily beatings, Deliao no doubt hoped it would weaken her will. Loosen her tongue so he might uncover the names of her accomplices. But he wasted his time. She was prepared for death. No longer did she fear it the way she had when faced with her brother’s murder at Deliao’s hands. Therek was alive and with their people. That alone gave her the comfort she needed to resign herself to the end.
Gently rubbing at her temples, she considered the possibility of taking her own life. Oh, how it would anger Deliao! He enjoyed torturing her far more than was healthy for a sane man. Not that she believed him anything but mad. His behavior was despicable. Self-serving. Evil. More and more she found herself wondering if the terrible things which had befallen her people were entirely on Sulel’s shoulders or if he received guidance from Deliao. But that didn’t matter. The deeds were done. All she cared about was whether Therek would be able to stop them.
Curious, she let her eyes drift around the damp cell, searching for something she could use to end what was left of her pathetic existence. Unfortunately, there was nothing. Her prison was devoid of sharp objects or anything capable of acting as a noose to cut off the air to her lungs. She was stuck here with no way out unless she inflicted wounds upon herself with nothing more than her fingernails and teeth; which wasn’t completely unheard of. She just didn’t like the idea of the pain it would cause. Bleeding out didn’t seem a pleasant way to go. And while she longed to end the torment of her captivity, she didn’t desire it enough to mutilate her own body and die a death almost as brutal as that which Deliao and his men might bring upon her.
From somewhere in the darkness Kaori heard a slight rustle of fabric, immediately distracted from her morbid thoughts. Someone was coming. The soldiers? They hadn’t been to visit her in some time. Several hours, at least. By now Deliao was likely chomping at the bit to see what pain he could inflict upon her today. Determined not to let her discomfort show, she did her best to straighten her back, an agonized grimace crossing her muddied features at the sharp pain in her midsection. It was difficult to conceal her injuries when they were so plentiful. Bruises. Cuts. Broken bones. Without a physician to diagnose the extent of her wounds, she couldn’t say with any certainty just how many fractures she suffered, though she suspected numerous cracks in the bones along multiple areas of her body. The soldiers hit hard. Regardless of her strength and ability to take the strikes, her skeletal structure remained slender and more fragile than she cared to admit.
A figure appeared from the shadows, coming to pause outside the cell. Uncertain who to expect, Kaori strained her eyes in the dim light to try and make out the features of her unexpected visitor. The area around the eyes was dark, leading her to believe her visitor was of human descent. Shorter than most Vor’shai. Feminine. There was something about the way the figure moved which made her confident this person was female. She displayed too much grace and fluidity. An elegance only possessed by a woman of rank and standing. Learned through years of strict training in etiquette.
Kaori thought to demand the person reveal their identity, but she realized she was in no position to give such an order. Whoever it was held enough sway to gain entrance to the lowest levels of the Imperial Prison without an escort. That alone was enough to prove they held a higher rank than Kaori. That is because you no longer hold a rank. The thought rang through Kaori’s mind, striking her like a punch to the stomach at the reminder of her lowly position. Not worthy to be in the company of the woman who stared back at her now.
Through the shadows Kaori could see the hood on the figure’s head slowly twist from one side to the other, observing the corridor for any sign that the guards might be coming. It seemed an odd precaution for her to take. This person must have come past the soldiers to get here. What difference did it make if the men were near? Kaori wasn’t going to discuss private information with anyone while in the confines of this cell. The walls had ears. To talk about anything may inadvertently place her friends in danger.
Satisfied that she had Kaori’s attention, the woman lifted her hands to grasp at the material of her cloak. As she lowered the hood away from her face, Kaori’s breath caught in her throat, eyes open wide with shock and awe to see the Empress standing there before her. “Your Majesty,” she exhaled, falling to her knees in a show of respect. It didn’t matter whether this woman’s husband was truly the Emperor or not. Kaori owed her more than would ever be possible to repay. Had it not been for the Empress, the gods only knew what Sulel would have let his soldiers do to her. Beatings and torture were preferred over utter ruination.
Holding her hand up in a dismissive gesture the Empress shook her head, signaling for Kaori to rise. “Please,” she replied calmly, urging with greater insistence at Kaori’s hesitance to stand. “Call me Mhina. You and I both know I am no empress.”
Guilt filled Kaori at the woman’s words. For so many years Sule
l and his wife had been known by their prestigious titles, loved by the loyal citizens of Carpaen as the rightful rulers – and in a single moment Kaori had taken it away from them. Or at least from Mhina. Sulel seemed rather content to continue using his fraudulent title even if everyone knew it was a lie. “I am sorry… Your Grace,” she stammered, no longer certain how to address the woman before her. She may not be an empress, but her status remained far above that which Kaori possessed.
“No, it is I who am sorry,” Mhina frowned, stepping forward in a graceful motion to kneel next to the bars which separated her from Kaori.
It was a strange statement to hear from a woman of Mhina’s standing. She was free from fault in everything, unaware until only recently that her husband was living a fantasy. “I don’t understand,” Kaori shook her head, knees trembling as she struggled to stand and make her way closer to the front of her cell. “There is nothing for which you need apologize. I place no blame on you for your husband’s actions.”
“You may not, but my conscience has not granted me a moment of peace since I learned of the truth. Had I known, I may have been able to do something to prevent what happened to your brother. Your parents – all that has happened to your people because of my husband’s jealousy.”
“Jealousy?” Kaori peered at the woman through the long, oily strands of hair which hung in front of her eyes. Curious, she lowered herself to the ground in front of Mhina, fingers tightly wrapped around the bars to help keep herself upright.
At Kaori’s question Mhina gave a slight nod, averting her eyes, embarrassed. No. That wasn’t it. Ashamed. “It has never been a secret that my husband harbors a deep resentment toward Therek Losuva. I merely had no understanding as to why until only recently,” she sighed. Heartbroken at the truth she burdened herself with. “Many times I listened to Sulel complain about the Duke. Insult him behind his back. Reject his counsel whenever he had an opportunity. Yet I could see how he tried to mimic Losuva. Changing his fashion to match him, even his speech patterns at times were reminiscent of how Therek spoke. Sulel hated him because he wanted to be him – and everyone at court held more respect for the Duke than for their Emperor.”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 59
