The Blood of Whisperers

by Devin Madson

  ‘There’s a wall that runs from the armoury to the Willow Gate,’ Katashi said. ‘Once there we’ll be able to open the first gate. I’ll lead the way.’

  ‘I’m not coming with you.’

  He had taken a step into the torch-lit passage, but he spun back to face me. ‘What?’

  ‘What what? I said I’m not coming.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because I have my own reasons for being here.’

  He pulled me back into the dark stairway, hissing in my face. ‘To betray me to Kin?’

  ‘Why? I could have just alerted some guards on the way up here.’

  ‘You’re meant to help me.’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘You made a deal with Malice that got you inside the walls. I made a deal that he would get me into Kin’s court. We have both got what we wanted and we will both pay the price for it.’

  ‘I had no choice.’

  ‘There is always a choice.’

  He glared at me, those blue eyes aflame. ‘I do what I have to do. That’s what it means to be a leader.’

  I felt the sudden ingress of emotion and knew someone was coming. Drawing Katashi deeper into the shadows, I pressed my hand over his mouth. Skin on skin the connection was there. His anger, his very soul burning with vengeance, hot beneath my touch.

  Who is this little kasu? How dare he talk to me as though I’m nothing? I have done what I had to do and I will keep on doing whatever it takes until I see Kin’s head roll.

  I pulled away. The presence was passing. Footsteps faded, while out in the passage the torchlight flickered, fighting back the heavy darkness. My hand tingled with his lingering hatred, and for a moment I knew what it was like to be Katashi.

  Closing my eyes, I let my Empathy roam, guiding it along the passages and out onto the walls. Snatches of thought came to me like whispers on the wind, each soul a glowing beacon full of its own complexities.

  ‘The easiest route is through the centre,’ I said, my eyes still closed. ‘Left, then right, twenty paces, one man, twelve paces, turn right, one man, five paces, left, then straight. Two men outside the Keep gate, three on the wall, two at the first gatehouse and another asleep on the stairs.’

  I opened my eyes and found Katashi staring at me, his expression a mixture of disgust and amazement. He repeated the instructions back to me, slowly, his gaze wandering as he recalled it from memory.

  ‘No, three men on the wall,’ I said, making the only correction. ‘But you had better go before it changes.’

  ‘And where do you go?’

  I touched my cheek. ‘I have my own revenge to take.’

  ‘Lord Laroth?’ He grinned at me. ‘You think about him a lot. It’s always him I see when you touch me.’

  I will find him and I will make him suffer.

  ‘He has a lot to answer for.’

  ‘Then we part here. I hope you kill your man; it certainly won’t harm my cause. Left, then right. Twenty paces to the first man.’ He nodded, tapping Hatsukoi. ‘I’ll see you at dawn.’

  ‘Or in the hells.’

  ‘Whichever comes first.’

  He winked, and with a flash of his boyish grin, he was gone.

  Chapter 19

  Malice was here. I could smell him. I could feel him behind me with every step I took, the sound of his footsteps falling with mine.

  He had dressed the boy to taunt me. Malice himself had worn that robe the night we first met. Look at him, it seemed to say. He belongs to me.

  Takehiko Otako. Katashi was only the start of Kin’s trouble.

  Outside the council chamber I stopped to smooth the furrow from my brow. I could feel it there, yet another chink in the armour.

  The rest of Kin’s Council were already present, Kin himself kneeling at the head of the table. Annoyed to be the last summoned, I managed to compose my features into something like my usual mask, and knelt upon the matting. The threads of my robe caught on the rough, well-worn reeds, and I tried not to breathe in their dust.

  ‘Rise, Darius,’ Kin said. ‘Join us and we may start.’

  ‘Yes, Majesty.’

  Receiving few nods and even fewer smiles, I took my place at Kin’s right hand. With Minister Bahain and half the Council left behind in Mei’lian, it was Councillor Ahmet who sat across the table from me, engaged in making the most of this place of favour.

  ‘It is certainly to be expected,’ he was saying to Kin. ‘You are right to be on your guard, Your Majesty. Think of the timing, too. Tomorrow will mark the anniversary, not only of your oath, but of his father’s execution.’

  ‘I assure you, Councillor,’ General Ryoji said, leaning forward, ‘that we are fully prepared for such an event. Steps have been taken to ensure His Majesty’s safety.’

  ‘Such as?’

  General Ryoji gave the councillor a long stare. ‘In the circumstances, Councillor, you must forgive my silence. It is, as you say, an inauspicious time.’

  ‘You do not trust His Majesty’s own Council?’

  ‘My job is to keep His Majesty safe, and to that end I will keep my own counsel. Of necessity only, Minister Laroth has been made aware of these arrangements.’

  Councillor Ahmet smiled an unfriendly smile. Until Kin officially retired me, I was still Minister of the Left, which meant military business came under my jurisdiction. The protection of the emperor was as much my responsibility as that of General Ryoji.

  The door slid open, and the entrance of half a dozen serving girls kept the conversation minimal. Kneeling, they served the midnight meal. Roasted tea, sweet rice, and red bean cake all made it onto the table, but wine was conspicuously lacking. Those councillors who weren’t watching the maids noticed its absence, eyes turning reproachfully toward the head of the table. Kin’s expression was more than ordinarily grim. He seemed not to be present in more than body, those dark eyes fixed upon nothing. The others would assume the meeting had gone poorly, and it had, but having visited Hana, I knew his frown could be attributed to more than just Katashi’s inflammatory behaviour.

  The serving girls finished their duties and bowed themselves out. A few pairs of hungry eyes lingered on the door after they had left. Kin’s councillors were not used to the deprivations of life on the road without the female portion of our court, and tempers had been getting short.

  Eyes turned back to Kin. He must have felt their weight, their expectation, and gripped the edge of the table. ‘Katashi Otako will not back down,’ he said, brusquely. ‘He saw fit to ignore my every demand. He will not trade the crown and he will not renounce his claim upon my throne. By the gods Darius, I hope you saw more than I did, because what I saw was an arrogant bastard with all too much of his father’s self-righteous posturing. And that is the man she would put on the throne.’

  Ignoring this sour reference to Hana, I said: ‘He is certainly arrogant, Majesty. But he is a leader, a man people would follow to their deaths. We wonder why information is so scarce. It is scarce because his men do not betray him. They love him, and little wonder when his knowledge of his own superiority runs so deep it rules him.’

  ‘Oh, come now, Laroth,’ Ahmet said with a laugh, looking around the table for support in his ridicule. ‘You cannot have divined so much from a brief encounter, if at all. It is all nonsense with you.’

  Kin held up his hand. ‘Let him talk. What did you see, Darius.’

  ‘I saw a man who speaks a fraction slower than is usual because he likes the sound of his own voice. He holds his hands so he is always touching some part of himself with the tips of his fingers. You will never be able to persuade this man that he’s wrong. It is his divine right to sit upon the Crimson Throne.’ I turned so I was speaking to Kin and no one else. ‘I told you he wanted revenge and I was right. It is the only thing he wants more than the throne, but fortunately for him, killing you and taking the
throne go hand in hand–’

  ‘Laroth!’ Ahmet protested, half rising to his feet.

  Kin held up his hand again for silence. ‘No, Councillor, I asked for the truth. Let him speak. Go on, Darius.’

  ‘There is nothing more to say, Majesty,’ I said. ‘He will do anything to achieve his ends. Katashi is a rebel, not a gentleman. He has no honour.’

  ‘Fortunate then that I was not born a gentleman,’ Kin said. ‘Hallan, what new reports?’

  Attention turned swiftly to the young man at the far end of the table, a bundle of recent dispatches at his elbow. Master Hallan was bright-eyed and sharp. He was the Imperial Secretary, generally believed to know more of the emperor’s business than did the emperor himself.

  With every eye upon him, Hallan clasped his hands upon the table and said: ‘Not long after sunset we received a message from General Jikuko. He has lost another thirty-four men in night raids. They are having difficulty tracking the rebels during the day.’

  ‘As much trouble as we are having,’ General Ryoji muttered. ‘Whether Katashi Otako is behind it or not, someone knows what they are doing.’

  ‘Do we have estimates on his numbers yet?’

  ‘Our best guess is several hundred, Your Majesty,’ Master Hallan said. ‘As Minister Laroth has already mentioned, his men do not betray him. Perhaps Lady Hana–’

  ‘No.’

  The ferocity with which Kin spoke caused many to flinch. Hallan, with the adroitness for which he was known, went on with barely a pause. ‘Whatever the actual numbers, there is great advantage in operating in secret. As we are surely all aware, the Pikes, as they call themselves, have become quite adept at the sport of “hunting the red-belt”, picking off our soldiers when and where they can.’

  There were murmurs of agreement and a few particular instances commented on. Kin glared at the table.

  ‘Katashi has more supporters in the north than we thought, too,’ Ahmet said, adding to the slew of bad news. ‘We have just received a list of lords known to be in contact with him. We expected many of his father’s old allies and the deposed nobility and exiles, but the list appears to be extensive. Some are noted as having housed him, while others are known to have financed his campaigns. We have yet to go through it in detail, but–’

  ‘Names,’ Kin ordered.

  Ahmet held out his hand and Master Hallan gave him a scroll. Unrolling it, he began to read. ‘Lord Sulaya, Count of Ya, known to be in contact. Lord Kirita, Count of Veil, known to be in contact and believed to have housed Otako exiles. Lady Muya, Duchess of Lin’ya, believed to have given substantial financial support.’ Ahmet continued unrolling the scroll, his eyes darting back and forth. ‘Tishan Mei, deposed and exiled Count of Risian and his son, Tan Mei. And–’ The councillor stopped abruptly and looked up ‘–General Lord Manshin, known to be in contact.’

  Silence. Then: ‘I want a rider sent immediately to Kogahaera and another to Shimai. General Manshin and General Roi are to be removed temporarily from their positions. Quietly. I want them taken to Mei’lian.’

  ‘General Roi, Majesty?’ Ahmet said. ‘His name is not on this list.’

  ‘If Manshin is in this then so is Roi.’ Kin turned to me and looked as though he was going to speak, but thought better of it. As Minister of the Left it was my job to deal with such problems, but after tonight it wasn’t going to be my job anymore. I had known it was coming, but until that moment Kin had continued to look on me the same as he had ever done, yet with that turning of his head, that dismissal, he had dashed any hope I had begun to cherish that he might change his mind and keep me.

  As though I was already absent, the Council went on without my input. Ahmet continued with his list of names. The possibility that General Tikita might also be tempted to take the Otako side was raised, Master Hallan reminding the assembled councillors that Tikita was the youngest son of a border lord, brought up to support the Otakos. I let them talk, let them discuss such petty enemies. Generals or peasants, they were nothing compared to Malice, nothing to Takehiko. But there were no words to explain the danger. Empaths were rare. These men would not understand even if I risked my life to speak.

  ‘And the oath, Majesty?’ Councillor Rhim said, drawing my attention back to the table.

  Beside me, Kin took a deep breath, compressing his thin lips. ‘I take it,’ he said. ‘The divinity of the Hian Crown is nothing but a myth. I have ruled this empire for sixteen years, not because I wore the crown, but because I have kept Kisia safe through my own sweat and blood. Anyone who denies my right to sit upon the Crimson Throne because of superstition deserves the war that will come to them. I will not let Katashi win.’

  No one dared argue with the scowl he used to cow us. But we were not the danger. It was Katashi who would take any excuse offered to weaken Kin’s claim, and the city of Koi, so proud of its ancient lineage, would follow him. In Mei’lian Kin’s throne would barely tremble. The south belonged to him, but the north would fall and there would be war.

  A knock sounded on the door. Many held breaths eased, the Council grateful for the interruption. Upon being summoned, an Imperial Guard stepped in. ‘Your Majesty,’ he said, bowing low. ‘Lady Otako has requested your presence.’

  Eyebrows rose. The councillors exchanged amused glances and Kin’s jaw muscles tightened. Exactly what had passed between them I did not know, but that neither was happy with the outcome was obvious. Kin’s councillors had all offered him the same advice. If she would not marry him, then the empire was safer without her.

  ‘Did Lady Hana give you a reason?’

  ‘No, Your Majesty.’

  It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse. I could see the petulant curl of his lip and held my breath, hating to see him give himself away so obviously. I hoped it was only obvious to me, that the other councillors were blind to the true reason he was keeping Hana safe. What had the little minx done to touch that heart? Of course, Kisia had been at stake. That had undoubtedly been his first motive, but though he might be unwilling to admit it, it was no longer the only one.

  ‘If Your Majesty would prefer, I could see what it is that Lady Otako desires.’ Ahmet was leaning obsequiously forward, his smile turned greasy.

  ‘Very well, Councillor,’ Kin said, grasping this opportunity. ‘Make sure she is comfortable. Double her guard.’ Pushing up from the table, Kin rose. Every member of the Council hurried to do the same, bowing as he went to the door. ‘You are all dismissed,’ he said. ‘I will retire for the night and I don’t wish to be disturbed. General Ryoji is in command.’

  Shocked, the general jerked out of his bow. ‘Majesty? But Minister Laroth–’

  ‘You are in command, Ryoji.’

  ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

  The others murmured good night, and feeling as insubstantial as a ghost, I went to the door. Ahmet was before me, wishing Kin a pleasant sleep as he left upon his mission.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ I said, following Kin out into the passage. ‘A word before you go.’

  ‘Very well, Darius. Walk with me.’

  ‘Thank you, Majesty.’

  The hallway was dark despite the burning torches. Koi Castle was always dark. It was old, made of blackened timber as hard as iron, each beam as long as half a dozen men. They sucked light from the air, leaving us to walk through shadows.

  There was a new notch between Kin’s brows.

  ‘Majesty,’ I said, as we slowly made our way along the passage. ‘Your life is in danger every moment you remain here. This is unfriendly territory. Why don’t you return to Mei’lian and take the oath there?’

  Kin stopped walking, shadows upon his face. ‘And have people say I am a coward? That I surrendered Koi to Katashi without a fight? Every emperor in Kisian history has sat upon the throne at Koi and spoken their vows, year on year, and I intend to do the same.’

  ‘They also did
so wearing the Hian Crown. It seems contradictory to insist upon half of the tradition while letting the other half go.’

  ‘Majesty,’ he reminded me. ‘Your manners are slipping, Darius.’

  ‘As I am no longer in your service, I don’t think it matters.’

  ‘You hold your position until morning. I would have you see me safely to my oath.’

  ‘Then take it in Mei’lian,’ I said. ‘Majesty.’

  He stepped closer and hissed: ‘This castle is impenetrable without inside help. Do you think I am surrounded by traitors? Or is Katashi a magician now as well?’

  ‘Traitors perhaps more than you think. It is all well to make allies during peacetime, but there are no true allies in war. Anyone may yet turn on you.’

  ‘Including you?’

  I bowed my acceptance of this criticism. ‘Yes, Majesty, including me, count nothing out.’

  ‘Minister Laroth counselling the great General Kin on warfare? How many years older than you am I, Darius?’

  ‘Thirteen and a half, Majesty.’

  ‘Well then, of course, do go on. You must be enormously well informed.’

  ‘You doubt it?’

  He parted his lips to retort, but snapped them shut. ‘This conversation strikes me as being particularly pointless.’

  ‘It is.’

  A rueful smile calmed the severity of his expression. ‘Damn you, Darius,’ he said. ‘You make me feel like I’m ten years old and she makes me feel as though I’m eighty. What did you want to say to me?’

  ‘I wanted to say that while Katashi might not be a magician, the Vices are.’

  He stared at me, the smile vanishing from his face. When at last he spoke it was slowly, every word deliberate. ‘We found the Eye of Vice on your serving boy’s cheek.’

  ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I have some knowledge of them. More than I would like.’

  ‘Another reason for me not to trust you?’