by John Marco
“Queen Jelena, I presume.” He paused a few paces before her, inclining his head as he spoke. “It’s my honor to meet you.”
Jelena was shocked. She had heard that Biagio was extraordinary looking, but the vague description hardly did him justice. He was astonishingly handsome, with delicate features that belied his masculinity, making him seem like both a woman and a man. His voice was musical, tuned like an instrument, and his golden hair was silky, pulled back in a long tail that fell down his back. When he looked at Jelena his eyes were bright, an ocean green that surprised the queen. She had heard his eyes were blue, the narcotic sapphire of all the Naren lords. Yet they were as clear as gems and remarkably animate, full of humor and danger. He took another step toward her, offering a cautious smile.
“The honor is yours alone, Biagio,” said Jelena icily. She turned toward the Naren officer. “Who is this?”
Before Biagio could answer, the officer stepped forward. “My name is Blair Kasrin,” he said. Then he pointed out over the water. “That’s my ship, the Dread Sovereign. I’m her captain.”
Jelena didn’t acknowledge him. “You were supposed to come ashore alone,” she said to Biagio. “Why did you disobey me?”
“Because I have important business with you, my lady. And Captain Kasrin is part of that business. I knew you would let him come ashore, just as I knew your schooners would not open fire on us. Now …” He looked around, stopping when his gaze fell upon his villa. He sighed. “I’m tired of playing games with your people. We must talk.”
“First I want to know why you’re here,” said Jelena. “We won’t move an inch until you tell me.”
But Biagio was still inspecting his former home, clucking his tongue unhappily. “What a waste. It was so beautiful, and now you’ve ruined it. Have you any idea what you’ve done?”
“Watch your mouth,” warned Timrin, stepping between Jelena and Biagio. “You’re talking to the Queen of Liss, you Naren pig.”
Biagio peeked around him, saying to Jelena, “You’re expecting an invasion, aren’t you? It isn’t coming.”
“What?” Jelena blurted it out too quick to catch. Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
Biagio grinned at her. “Queen Jelena, I have important news for you. Now we can stay on this beach all day, arguing and getting nothing accomplished, or you can let me come inside and explain things to you. It’s up to you of course, but I think you’ll be interested in what I have to say.”
He was acting like he still owned the place, and Jelena seethed at his behavior. But he had come a long way, and at great personal risk, so the young queen finally surrendered.
“Follow me,” she ordered, then turned and stalked up the beach. Biagio and the navy man followed her dutifully. It was a long way up to the house, but they traversed the distance without a word. Biagio did nothing threatening, only muttering occasionally as he noticed some new change to his villa. Surprisingly, Jelena felt a creeping embarrassment about his dismay. She was the one who had ordered all the defenses built and all the valuables sold off, and it seemed to her that Biagio blamed her for the desecration of his home.
The hell with you, Biagio, she thought.
Inside the rambling house at last, Jelena and her advisors led their guests to the west side of the mansion, a sun-filled corridor marked by numerous, expansive rooms and once boasting a gallery of priceless paintings. The walls were bare now and Biagio noticed their nakedness with a groan. Jelena half expected him to start weeping. But the emperor remained silent, letting her lead him to the destination he had probably already guessed—his former study, an intricately designed room that had once housed valuable antique globes and writing implements from around the Empire. Jelena hesitated before crossing the study’s threshold. All that was left of Biagio’s fine furnishings were the desk and a few simple chairs.
“Timrin, join us,” said the queen as she entered the chamber. “The rest of you, wait for us outside.”
The Lissen bodyguards remained in the corridor while Timrin, Biagio, and the captain followed Jelena into the room. The queen closed the door, watching Biagio as his eyes skidded across the stripped walls and empty shelves. He shook his head in disbelief.
“Even my books are gone.” He leveled a scowl at her. “Why?”
“To pay for your war against my country,” said Jelena. “All the things you collected were quite valuable. They’ve been sold off to black marketers for whatever we could get for them. The gold and precious metals were melted down.” She grinned, loving his shocked expression. “You’ve been quite helpful to us, Emperor. I doubt we could have accomplished so much without your fortune backing us up.”
“And my people?” asked Biagio sharply. “Are they well? Or did you sell them off, too?”
“Your Crotans are sheep, Biagio. They were easily tamed.” Jelena gestured toward the spartan chairs that had been brought in for them. There was no wine in the room, no food, no luxuries of any kind. She didn’t want Biagio to be comfortable. She took a seat in the chair behind the desk. It was wing-backed and far more impressive than the simple wooden ones used by Biagio and his officer.
“Now,” said Jelena, leaning forward. “I’ve been very patient with you, but I won’t wait a moment longer. Tell me what you’re doing here.”
The emperor spread his hands in a gesture of peace. “As I told you outside, I have important news for you, Queen Jelena. But before I go on, I think I should assure you of some things. I am not here to threaten you, and my visit isn’t deceitful. I’ve come here out of sheer necessity. But what I need is equally important to you.”
It was a riddle, and it irked Jelena. “None of your double-talk,” she warned. “What is it you want?”
“The same thing you do,” replied Biagio. “Peace.”
Jelena leaned back, trying hard not to look startled. “Peace? With you?”
“Peace between the Empire of Nar and the Hundred Isles of Liss,” said Biagio. He looked her straight on, not even blinking. “That’s what I’ve come to offer you, my lady. And please, let’s not bother with verbal fencing. I know how desperately you need peace. I know how badly stretched your resources are, and how much your people have suffered.”
“Do you? Do you really?”
“Yes, I do,” replied Biagio. “You forget, I ran the war against Liss. Your islands were under siege for ten years, and it was only our fight with Lucel-Lor that stopped us from crushing you. Don’t try to lie about your strength, because I know it’s not as grand as you claim.” Then, remarkably, Biagio laughed. “But I am in the same predicament, you see. I need peace as much as you, and that’s the reason I’m here.”
Jelena was intrigued. So was Timrin, whose eyes were wide, waiting for Biagio to explain.
“Go on,” bid Jelena. “We’re listening.”
The emperor remained strikingly calm. He began to tell his remarkable tale, looking perfectly comfortable despite the hostile audience. Jelena listened, enthralled, as he explained his reasons for coming to Crote. He told of the awful strife in the Empire, spoke of genocide and war and assassinations, and how chaos reigned throughout his land. He confessed his weakness as emperor, an impotence that he claimed made him unable to deal with the various threats to his throne. Then he told of the long war with Liss, and the terrible toll it was taking on his own people, sapping the wealth of his imperial coffers and wasting resources desperately needed elsewhere. He wanted peace with Liss, he repeated. More importantly, he needed it. Then, when the emperor had finished, he leaned toward Jelena.
“I’ve come here at the risk of my own life,” he said. “I took that risk because I know you need peace as much as I do. There are threats against Nar that are too great for me to deal with alone. I need allies. I also need fewer enemies.”
A suffocating silence engulfed the room. They all stared at Biagio, stunned by his admissions. Even his companion, Kasrin, seemed awed by his statements. He looked at Biagio curiously, and Jelena wondered sudden
ly how well they knew each other. How much had Biagio told the captain? She reminded herself that the emperor was a man of secrets. Expecting too much from him might be dangerous. Then she noticed that Biagio was watching her, waiting for an answer.
“I wish you would say something, Queen Jelena. Your silence makes me nervous.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Jelena confessed. She didn’t like the idea of being honest with Biagio, but his very presence had stunned her. As had his incredible plea for peace. But she didn’t feel Biagio was lying. She didn’t trust him precisely, but she believed that he wanted what he claimed. “You have startled me by coming here,” she said finally. “I keep asking myself why you would risk your life like this, and the answer is always the same. Yet I cannot believe it.”
“Believe it,” said Biagio. “I know that you can kill me easily. Or, if I go back to Nar and my enemies learn that I’ve been here, they will kill me themselves and save you the trouble. The effort will only have been worth it if you believe me, Queen Jelena.”
“Why should we?” growled Timrin suddenly. “If Nar is as weak as you say, we can defeat you ourselves and have our revenge.”
The Naren captain laughed. “Do you really think so? By all means then, go ahead.”
“Stop it,” demanded Jelena. She locked eyes with Biagio, trying to gauge the depth of his honesty. “Why did you come on your own? If you want peace so badly, why not just declare it yourself?”
Biagio blanched, warning Jelena that she wouldn’t like his answer. “Because I am weak,” he admitted again. “Certain things are out of my control.” He pointed at his officer. “Kasrin is the only Naren fleet officer loyal to me now. The rest follow Nicabar.”
Jelena and Timrin traded glances at the mention of their nemesis’ name.
“Yes,” said Biagio. “You understand me, don’t you? Nicabar will never call off his war against Liss. He is beyond my influence.”
“Believe him,” urged Kasrin. “I know Nicabar as well as anyone. Biagio is telling the truth. Nicabar is obsessed with defeating Liss, and so are many of his captains.”
“And you?” asked Jelena curiously. “Aren’t you obsessed with killing us, too?”
The Naren captain bristled. “I am not. It is Nicabar’s war, not mine.”
“I don’t believe that,” said Timrin. “You’re all butchers. The Black Fleet only employs murderers.”
“Perhaps that’s why Captain Kasrin is no longer employed by them then,” countered Biagio. “Kasrin refused to join Nicabar’s war against Liss. For that he was ostracized and called a coward. It’s up to you, my friend, but I think you should show this man a little respect.”
Timrin colored. He looked away from Biagio, glancing at his queen for support. Jelena was fascinated. Finding a Naren seaman who didn’t hate Lissens was like finding a lake in the desert—it just didn’t happen. But she still had so many questions left unanswered. Again she began pressing Biagio.
“When you saw our defenses you knew we were preparing for an invasion, but you said no invasion was coming. Explain yourself.”
Biagio smiled. “I have very little to offer, but this is one of my gifts. I’ve never ordered Crote to be retaken. No plans have ever been drawn up to attack Crote and win it back, and Nicabar has no intentions of invading here.” He laced his fingers. “My old friend Danar has other plans.”
“What other plans?” asked Timrin.
Biagio ignored him, looking straight at Jelena. “Liss. Even now Nicabar is on his way to Casarhoon, to rendezvous with some other ships. He’s hoping to find a weakness in your islands. When he does, he will strike.”
“Oh, but that’s madness,” said Jelena. “The Black Fleet tried for a decade to find a way into Liss, and never did. He won’t succeed.”
“Then he’ll invade without a way in,” said Kasrin. “If he can’t find a secret waterway, he’ll attack head-on with the Fearless, and he won’t let up until his guns are exhausted. You’re right, Queen Jelena. It is madness. But that’s Nicabar.”
Jelena still didn’t know what to believe. She felt miserable, trapped by these untrustworthy devils. Biagio’s claims were certainly plausible, but it was the source that worried her. Part of her thought it a trick, another of Biagio’s elaborate schemes. But whatever else Biagio had done to get here, he had put himself at gigantic risk.
Maybe, just maybe, he was telling the truth.
“This is what you’re offering me for peace?” she asked. “A rumor?”
“Peace needs no offerings,” said Biagio. “It is its own reward. If you do as I ask, it will be because you want peace as much as I do, Queen Jelena. I didn’t come here expecting favors. But I warn you—this news about Nicabar is no rumor. He will attack Liss because he knows you have concentrated your forces here on Crote, expecting an invasion.”
The argument was so logical Jelena wanted to scream. Liss was weakened because of her foolish expectations of invasion, and Nicabar knew it. He would rally whatever ships he could, try to torture a secret waterway out of a captured crew, and then he would attack. Jelena closed her eyes, rubbing her temples to banish a growing headache.
“I still don’t understand why you’re here,” she said. “What can I do? How can I make peace with Nar when Nicabar isn’t bound by it?”
“Jelena, look at me,” said Biagio.
She opened her eyes. Biagio was staring at her, willing her to be strong. For the smallest moment he reminded her of another Naren, one she had trusted and betrayed. Biagio looked nothing like Richius Vantran, but when he stared at her he had the same resoluteness.
“Nicabar is our mutual problem,” Biagio explained. “I cannot call him off, and you cannot make peace with Nar unless he is gone. Am I right?”
“I think so, yes.”
Biagio leaned back comfortably. “So what are we to do?”
His meaning was deplorably clear. “My God. You’d sell out your own kind? Your friends, even?”
“It is the only way,” said Biagio. His face was unyielding. “If you’d stop thinking with your heart instead of your head you’d realize I’m right. I gave Danar Nicabar a chance to call off his war, and he refused me. I don’t see any reason I should spare him, not with the fate of Nar in the balance. I know more about you than you think, Queen Jelena, and I know the Lissen mind. You want the Fearless destroyed more than anything because it’s a symbol of everything your people have suffered. That would be quite a trophy for you, wouldn’t it? Then you could go back to Liss like a real queen, a hero who presided over the death of your greatest enemy. Well, here’s your chance.”
“True,” Jelena admitted. “Not for the reasons you think, but you’re right. We must sink the Fearless.”
“How?” asked Timrin.
Biagio’s eyes flicked to Kasrin. “Him.”
“Him?” echoed Jelena incredulously. “That’s it?”
Captain Kasrin started. “Is that it, Biagio?” he asked.
Jelena was shocked. He seemed to know as little as she did.
“Well?” she pressed. “What’s your plan to sink the Fearless?”
Biagio was characteristically relaxed. As he crossed his legs before him, he explained, “It’s very simple. Kasrin will lure Nicabar to Liss. He will tell Nicabar that he has discovered a secret waterway into the Hundred Isles and he will lead him there. You and your Lissens will do the rest, my lady.”
“A trap,” said Kasrin, understanding.
“You want us to work together?” Jelena looked at Kasrin distastefully. “Us and him?”
“He won’t go for it, Biagio,” said Kasrin. “Nicabar will never believe me.”
“He will,” countered Biagio. “Because you will have a real map of Liss with you, one that Queen Jelena will provide you.” He grinned at the queen. “He won’t be able to resist.”
Jelena considered the idea. Sinking the Fearless would indeed be a feather in her cap, but it wasn’t personal pride that drove her. The Fearless and her c
ommander were the scourge of Liss. Even if a truce was declared, her people could have no solace while Nicabar still lived. He was their nightmare, their devil. To slay him would bring Liss a very special kind of peace.
“Jelena,” said Biagio, “this can succeed. If you and Kasrin work together, you can destroy Nicabar. There can be peace between our nations. I know you want to believe that.”
“I do,” admitted Jelena. “But trusting you is …”
“Impossible,” Timrin finished for her.
Biagio nodded. “I expected your suspicions. All that I can say is that I’ve changed. I’m not the man I was a year ago.”
Is that true? Jelena wondered. She looked at Biagio, studying his earnest face and wanting desperately to believe him. But he hadn’t come with any proof, just a wild claim of things that might be. If the Fearless could be lured into a trap, Liss had the firepower to finish her. If it weren’t all an elaborate lie …
Jelena rose from behind the desk. “I will think about it,” she said. “You will both stay ashore while we make a decision. If I decide to believe you, then maybe we will talk further about your plans, Biagio.”
Emperor Biagio got to his feet. “There’s one more thing.”
“Oh?” said Jelena, cocking an eyebrow.
“I need a ship.”
“You have a ship.”
“No, I need another ship. The Dread Sovereign will be occupied working with you. I need a ship to take me to the Eastern Highlands.”
Now Kasrin got to his feet. “What? You didn’t tell me anything about that!”
“Queen Jelena, it’s important,” urged Biagio. “I must get to the Eastern Highlands, and I must leave quickly. If you can spare one ship—”
