by Allan Cole
“Call me, Hana, please,” she admonished. “Or I shall take away the brandy.”
“Then Hana it is,” I said. And held up my cup to beg more.
My emotional balance had returned and I was considering how best to answer her question.
Finally I decided to tell the truth - although in a circuitous wizardly way.
“I think it’d be best if you learned who I am for yourself,” I said.
I tilted the cup, slowly pouring the contents into my gloved hand. The brandy came out as a shower of silvery flakes. It made a small shimmering heap in my palm. Then I poured it back and it became brandy again, splashing into the cup. While I did this little trick I felt Hana’s magical senses recoil in surprise, then creep out to taste the ethers.
She grinned, eyes glittering with wisdom. “So that’s how you escaped,” she said. “You’re a wizard! Like your great ancestor Rali Antero.”
“I’m more than that,” I said.
I dropped all shields, laying myself open to her. Inviting her to probe for truth. I sensed her recognition of my offer, then felt a gentle presence enter my aura. Quizzical fingers slipped here and there, tenderly skirting the edges of old wounds and older sins, until they came to the center of my auraself. They quivered, startled by what they found there. Tested again. Then slowly withdrew.
Hana’s eyes were great moons of amazement.
“You are Rali Antero, herself!” she said.
“How can this be? Am I dreaming? If so don’t wake me, for I am clearly insane!”
“All the crazy ones dwell in the heavens and sit on godly thrones,” I said. “I won’t speak their names for fear of lightning bolts striking too near.”
Then I topped up our cups and told her my tale. The Crier called the hour several times before I was done.
Hana wiped tears from her eyes. “Such suffering and tragedy,” she said. “And yet, the first thing that comes to my mind is your dear Salimar. How lonely she must be without you. How miserable you must feel to be torn from her side.
“And if you fail, you might never be rejoined again.”
“That might be my fate even if I don’t fail,” I said, barely disguising my bitterness. “Victory may well require my death.”
I shrugged. “I’d thought I’d made my peace with the Dark Seeker long ago,” I said. “Death wasn’t something I sought eagerly. And I certainly had a normal fear of it. But now...” My voice trailed off. I shook my head.
“Now you have something more precious to lose, Rali,” she said. “You have Salimar. Before you fought for your homeland, your family. But you had nothing that you’d gained for yourself.
“Money? I don’t think money means anything to you. Power? I know your history. I’ve read your book and both of your brother’s books and saw no such ambition in either of you.
“But your brother found love. Long lasting love. And until Salimar - you had nothing but sad memories of your first real lover.”
“Otara,” I said.
Hana nodded. “Yes, that was her name. I recall it now - Otara. After you lost her it was quite plain in your journal that you never expected to find such a love again.”
“That’s so,” I said.
“Then I must make sacrifice tomorrow,” Hana said. “All of Pisidia will participate. And we’ll demand that the gods assist you in your mission. Rali Antero deserves no less.”
“Please allow me to decline that gracious honor,” I said. “No one can know that I’ve returned. I don’t want Novari to have the slightest suspicion that I live.”
Hana sighed, but nodded. “I understand,” she said. “But if all must be done in secret, what can we do to help you? Just ask and it will be done. I’ll see to it that no questions are asked.”
“What I would welcome most right now,” I said, “is information from someone I can trust. Tell me what you know of the events in Orissa, please. And how it’s affected the rest of the world.”
“The last is the simplest to tell,” she said. “The whole civilized world is in shock. For your homeland has been torn by a bloody civil war that has disrupted all trade, shattered all alliances and has many a villain scrambling for the dark profits that come from such things.
“We are so distant from the troubles that the only affect it’s had on Pisidia is increased trade from merchants seeking new routes until things settle down. But we listen closely to all the news we hear because our sentiment is naturally with the people of Orissa and especially the Anteros.”
“How long has the civil war lasted?” I asked.
“More than two years,” Hana said. “It began when a rogue Evocator - Kato - won election to the Council Of Magistrates. He immediately purged the council of all but his cronies and seized power as Chief Magistrate. He declared martial law and made himself War Director, freezing the rights of all citizens.”
“My people wouldn’t take kindly to that kind of yoke,” I said.
“They didn’t,” Hana replied. “In fact, the majority of the citizens revolted. They were led by two men. The first, and the most popular with the masses, was your own nephew, Hermias Antero.
“The second was your Chief Evocator, Lord Palmeras.”
I blinked in recognition of the name. Palmeras had been Chief Evocator when Amalric set out on his final voyage. From my brother’s journal I gathered that he thought highly of the man.
“One of Kato’s first actions, you see,” Hana said, “was to seize the Palace Of The Evocators. He wanted the workshops, of course, where new discoveries are being made every day advancing Janela Greycloak’s discoveries. Palmeras was forced out but he took a small band of Evocators with him.”
I smiled a sad cynical smile. “I’m not surprised it was only a small band,” I said. “We wizards are such a greedy breed.”
Hana nodded. “What they seek,” she said, “is iron control of what the scholars among us call ‘Greycloak’s Law Of Unification.’”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Scholars can make the most stunning ideas seem drab by their titles.
“The Evocator’s ranks split badly for Orissa,” Hana said, “but most of the people supported your nephew and Palmeras. There were many rallies and incidents that for a time threatened to make Kato’s reign a short one.
“Unfortunately the Director’s minority included the most influential men in the military. So he had a good portion of the army under his control.”
“But not the Maranon Guard,” I said. “They’d never go along with such a thing.”
“Then you’ll be pleased to know your sisters didn’t disappoint you. They joined forces with the rebel army groups - special troops, mostly, from what I understand. Mountain fighters and other highly trained soldiers. They are the much smaller force, but so fierce and so able that for a short time it looked like they might win the upper hand. Alas, the latest news I have is that Kato has been gradually overwhelming them.
“First Hermias was killed leading an assault against the Palace Of The Evocators where Kato holds court. It was an assassin, not a soldier who slew him, I’m told.
“Then a major battle was lost at the outskirts of the city and the rebel army had to flee. Palmeras and most of his Evocators escaped. As did your sisters of the Guard. The rest of the army suffered badly. They were led from the field of battle, it was reported, by a man named General Quatervals. It was called a textbook retreat and was spoken of admiringly by those who know of such things.”
That was another name I recognized. Quatervals had been my brother’s strong right arm during his expedition to Tyrenia - then known as “The Kingdoms Of The Night.” Quatervals had also been among four people who’d taken on the special mission of carrying Amalric’s journal back to Orissa, section by section.
“All of Orissa and most of the surrounding countryside are now under Director Kato’s rule. I was told he used the term ‘pacified.’ Which meant all who opposed him were hunted down and slain. And all their family and all their friends. The Ante
ros were at top of that death list.
“You should know that all Pisidia has been shocked by the assault on your family, my dear. We’ve wept and said many prayers for your ghosts. Men and women, even infants were slain. Until all Anteros, the rumors claim, were wiped from the face of the earth.”
“But what about Emilie?” I said. “My grandniece. Do you know for certain that she’s been slain? Have you even heard her name mentioned?”
My heart sank when she nodded, yes.
“That is a tragic tale in itself, I fear,” she said. “One of your brother’s most trusted captains died trying to save your little Emilie. Her name was Kele, you may recall it from your brother’s journal.”
Yes, I knew it well. Kele had been his most loyal and able skipper. She’d commanded the fleet that took them to Tyrenia. And her father, Lu’r, had skippered my brother’s first voyage in search of the Far Kingdoms.
“Kele spirited Emilie out of the city when the collapse came and the assassins were hunting down your family. She carried her up the river to the rebel stronghold, dodging Kato’s forces for weeks.
“I believe that stronghold is called Galana. Perhaps you know of the place?”
I nodded. It was in the small temple at Galana where my journey had truly begun fifty years ago. It was also the Maranon Guard’s private retreat for old soldiers and would be an ideal place to withstand a siege.
“Captain Kele,” Hana continued, “was cornered before she reached her goal. She turned to fight, sending others ahead to Galana with little Emilie. In the end Kele was slain and the girl was safe. But only temporarily, so. At least that’s the last news I heard. As I said, it was as much rumor as news.
“The account making the rounds now is that the rebel defenses at Galana have been breached, and although they were not overwhelmed, the child herself has been taken.”
“And killed?” I asked. “Do they say she was killed?”
Hana gestured, helplessly. She didn’t want to arouse false cheer. But she didn’t want to alarm me unduly either.
“Yes, they did. However, it’s speculation, I’m sure,” she said. “Although... what else could you expect her fate to be?”
“If Novari’s got her,” I said, “I’m not sure. Death may not be so bad an end if that’s the case.”
Hana grimaced. Besides my own tale I’d told her what Maranonia had said about the child’s innate power. A power that Novari desperately wanted. And she could guess what means the Lyre Bird would take to achieve that aim.
“Even with a child?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Even with a child.”
Then I asked, “What of Novari? What role has she played other than the power behind the scenes, of course.”
“I’m afraid your assumption is in error, my dear Rali,” she said. “The Lyre Bird is very much on stage. In fact, she takes the center. Wait, I’ll show you...”
She got up to rummage in a chest and brought back a roll of blue cloth. She unrolled it, saying, “A merchant brought this to me a few weeks ago.”
She held it up. Emblazoned on it was the picture of a wondrous golden bird perched on an ancient harp.
It was Novari. The Lyre bird.
And Hana said, “This is the flag that now hangs over your city.
“She’s been declared a living goddess in Orissa and it’s her banner that Kato flies. That he commands all to fight and die for.”
Hana crumpled up the flag and hurled it to the floor. She kicked it to the side and slumped back into her chair.
“Many have become convinced of her godhead, I’m sorry to report,” Hana said. “Her magic is very powerful. Especially with the Evocator’s workshops in her hands. The Law Of Unification is a staff she is increasingly learning to wield. It’s amazing that Palmeras and the rebels have been able to hold out against her for so long.”
“It’s Emilie,” I said. “Little Emilie is shielding them from the full force.”
I looked up at her. “But if she’d dead...”
Hana sighed. “Yes. All is lost. But we’ll pray that it’s otherwise. And if the gods be willing you’ll reach her side soon.”
I sailed the next day with the bells of Pisidia tolling at my back. I could still feel Hana’s farewell kiss on my cheek and hear her whispered prayer fluttering in my ear.
The winds were with me and the gods’ attentions were elsewhere for I sailed without incident for many a day and many a night.
It was a dismal experience. Day after day I agonized over what had happened to my city. I was even more devastated as the reality of what had happened to my family sank its claws deeper and deeper with each league that I traveled.
All my kinsmen had been slain, Hana said. So many lifetimes, so much struggle and pain to make the Antero name.
Exterminated by Novari.
I brooded over the long journey. And polished my weapons and kept myself fit for what was to come.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
RETURN TO ORISSA
It was late summer coming onto fall when I reached the mouth of the OrissanRiver.
I approached with extreme caution. I’d already dodged swarms of patrol craft flying the Lyre Bird’s flag. They were bristling with armed men and each carried an Evocator to sniff for magical contraband. But I knew the delta region well. Where the fog banks and hidden coves were most likely to be. Where the coastline was most deserted and would offer the most ideal cover.
I leapfrogged from fog bank to cove to fog bank. Several times I slipped into a cove and climbed a hill to spy on the patrol ships. In one incident I saw a patrol run down a petty smuggler. They boarded the ship, searched it and seized the cargo from the hold.
This was not so unusual. All civilized people have regulations to protect their trade. Under Orissan law, the Orissa I’d last seen five decades ago, the ship, its captain and the crew would be arrested and made to stand trial. The penalties would range from heavy fines to imprisonment. Perhaps even banishment if the smugglers were citizens.
What happened next, however, was not only unusual but appalling. Through my telescope I saw the ship’s Evocator order the goods placed under special seal. Then the captain and crew were beheaded on the spot and their corpses were dumped into the smuggling ship which was burned in place.
I shadowed another such patrol craft for two days. I watched them board ship after ship. Almost all were allowed to pass without harm when the search was completed. But a few were as unlucky as the first group I saw.
If I wanted to avoid the same fate I’d have to approach Orissa by land. It was a week’s walk from the delta to the city. Four days on horseback. Whatever means I took I’d also need a disguise that would pass muster at the many checkpoints I assumed Novari and Kato would’ve posted along all the main byways.
The most wrenching part of my decision was realizing it was unsafe to leave my ship behind. There was no hiding place I could trust completely. If someone stumbled on it Novari’s Evocators would soon be swarming all over the ship and quickly pick up my spoor, which to the Lyre Bird would be unmistakable.
I found a likely inlet to do the deed and ran the ship up on the shore. I cut a splinter of silver from the mast. If by chance I survived I could recreate her from the splinter and fly home to Salimar. I didn’t think that was likely but I did it anyway.
Then I said a prayer of apology to the ship’s soul and cast the spell that would destroy it. Cold blue flames licked up all around her. There was no smoke but as each piece of the ship caught fire the air shimmered, then there’d be a sharp crack as it vanished into nothingness.
When I departed all that remained was the depression on the beach where I’d driven her ashore.
Two days later I came out of the hills and found the main road leading to Orissa. I was riding a fat old war horse whose best days were behind her. She fit perfectly with the disguise I’d adopted.
I was posing as a Guardswoman who’d been pensioned off because of the wounds she’d suffered
fighting for Orissa. To that end I’d removed my golden hand - wrapping it in clean white rags - and stashed it in my saddlebags. I covered the stump with a wooden bowl carved for that purpose. It had an attachment fixed to it so I could grip the bow I carried slung across my back. I made the magical eyepatch appear like sturdy leather, tanned a deep brown. And I rubbed a little rouge into the scar below to make it stand out more.
I demoted myself to sergeant and to avoid untimely slips of the tongue I kept my first name - Rali. I wasn’t worried about arousing suspicion. After all, many Orissan children were named for me after my victory over the Archons. And if anyone thought of it all they would assume I was one of those children who happened to follow her namesake into the Guard.
