by Reece Dinn
The Drowner sniggered. 'So you believe that you are to be the one who shall run this city? How ambitious, and deluded.'
'Says the guy with only one district left to his name,' Banen scoffed.
'And what of the Lurkers?' asked Jonbu, brushing some of his long, pale blonde hair out of his face.
There was a moments pause, then both gangs burst into laughter.
'Gentlemen, please. I don't want to be here all night,' said the Konar-kas with a slight smile. 'What do you say to my proposal?'
Both sides of the room fell quiet.
'I reckon we fight 'em,' said Awon, punching one hand with the other.
'Shut yer fuckin' mouth,' said Red, reaching over and smacking him on the back of the head, causing Awon to bite his lip.
'You're allowing your underlings to make decisions for you now?' said the Drowner. All of his men laughed at that.
'I say we fight them,' said Jonbu. 'Our blood is much finer, and nobler than theirs. We'll achieve victory for sure.'
'Yer gonna bring a load of yer elves with yer ter fight?' scoffed Red, causing all the Merchers to laugh.
Jonbu folded his arms and raised his head so he was looking down his nose at them. 'I am all that is necessary to kill you low born retards.'
'Ha. Low bern? Stop pretendin' yer mam wasn' a whore an' gave berth ter yer in a sewer.'
Jonbu stiffened, hands reaching for knives at his sides that weren't there.
'Gentlemen,' said the Konar-kas, raising his voice.
'I accept your proposal, Konar,' said the Drowner. 'Let us put an end to this once and for all.'
The Konar-kas nodded. 'Good. And you, gentlemen?' He inclined his head to the Merchers. 'Do you accept?'
Banen cracked another knuckle. 'Fuck it. Let's do it. Us against them. One big killing spree. Yes. Count us in. About time I got to use my axe for something.'
'Yes,' cried Awon, pumping a fist into the air.
'Then it is settled then,' said the Konar-kas. 'My men will ensure that no one interferes with the fight. On the twelfth hour, three days from now, meet in the City Square in Main. Bring as many men as you wish, but no rifles. Agreed?'
'Aye,' said Banen. 'Rifles aren't the way. We fight hand to hand.'
'I feel I must agree with you, although I never thought I'd see the day,' said the Drowner.
'Then that concludes this meet, gentlemen. I wish you both the best of luck. Pray to the gods that they favour your side, and I shall see you in three days. Now go. Drowners leave first.'
Each Mercher glared at the Drowner opposite him as they made to leave. Awon met the eyes of a guy with two very big front teeth and milky eyes. His skin was mud brown, almost as dark as Ekviv's. Awon mouthed to him that he was going to eat his liver. The guy sneered back at him.
One by one the Drowners left. The Drowner himself looked back at them as he stepped outside and said, 'if any of you wish to run for your lives, I promise no one will hunt you down. Just know that once the battle begins no one will be spared.'
'Fuck off yer jenni,' Awon shouted at him.
The Drowner's gaze fell on him, lingering for a moment, then he left.
'Fer once,' said Red, laughing. 'That was actually funny.'
'Gonna smash that prick's teeth in. Fancy talkin' blue skinned shit,' said Awon.
'He's mine,' said Banen. 'Been wanting to drown him a barrel for years. Now's my chance.'
'Gentlemen,' said the Konar-kas. 'Goodnight.' He motioned to his men, then left, his armour clinking as he moved.
Fenon remained, along with the rest of the Konar. 'Well isn't this exciting for you all,' he said. 'A big battle. You'll think you're all war heroes.'
'Don't think when this is done I won't be comin' fer yer fer betrayin' me. Yer owe me money,' said Red.
Fenon smiled at him. 'I betrayed no one. That money you paid me was to stop me from raiding your little lair, not to keep you out of jail.'
'Watch yer back, yer condescendin' prick.'
'Of course. Now go on, Before I give your enemies a big advantage.'
'Come on, lads,' said Banen. He strode down the line and out through the hole in the wall. One by one the Merchers followed. Awon was last to leave.
'I'll tell your father that you'd make him proud,' Fenon shouted to him.
Awon stopped halfway through the hole. 'No. Tell him next time I see 'im I expect 'im ter 'ave lost sum fuckin' weight.'
Chapter Forty Eight
Saima looked around at her mother's painfully golden sitting room. The scene of her infidelity. Everything in the room made her sick, from the couches to the carpet, even the lamps. All of it had bore witness to her crimes and nothing had been done about it. Their silence made them as guilty as her mother, and that bastard Paulu. Even with his mouth closed she could see the gleam of his teeth. I will kill you, I swear it. Even if I have to pray to the Benigradan death god, I'll see you pay for your crimes.
'Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice,' said Saima's mother. 'We are in a state of emergency and we must act with haste.' Her mother wore a golden silk gown that came down to her knees, the gown far too elegant for this meeting. She always has to be elegant, like she's permanently posing for a painting. Her blonde hair was tied up into a bun, with a small decorative hairpin placed through it, displaying her neck and jawline.
Hontonu sat to her mother's left, the Qotan dressed in his usual faded robe of state. To her right sat the Tradan, master of trade, a rotund man whose red shirt and grey trousers were barely able to contain his girth. Saima had heard that the previous Tradan had died shortly before her father had, but surely she'd have seen this man before now. Have I? She'd attended so many Council meetings of late that they'd all started to blend into one, the people who participated blending together as well. Perhaps he was apart of the conspiracy too. Promised the position of Tradan as a reward.
Sat on the couch opposite her mother was Paulu and the Coinan, the head treasurer of Predemagda. The Coinan was a blonde haired man with a blonde beard, blue eyes, and wrinkled skin. He wore a dark blue robe that hung loosely over his slender frame. He wasn't at my father's funeral either. His predecessor too died shortly before my father's death. Coincidence? Or did my mother and Paulu's plot extend beyond my father? She nervously scratched her gloved deformity. Murderers everywhere.
'I realise I haven't had many dealings with either of you since both of your appointments, and I'm sorry for that,' Saima's mother said to both the Coinan and Tradan. 'But be assured your counsel will be of great value to me.'
Both men nodded, thanking her.
'For those who may not know,' said Hontonu, looking to Saima, 'the worst has happened. The Raginarsaru have made their move. Zanaidu has been invaded.'
'Oh,' said Saima, attempting to find it interesting, but all she could think of was Paulu's disgusting eyes on her.
'The situation is dire,' Hontonu continued, 'and will require careful action.'
'Hundreds of traders and merchants have fled south into our lands,' said Paulu. 'Many have abandoned all of their stock, bringing with them only what they could carry. The northern Socrae-tu had sent the majority of his troops straight to the northern border to see that they are protected. His forces however are spread thin. He has requested more troops. I have already sent orders for three Sonars from the east to be deployed to the north at once, but with Raginarsaru forces in the north, should they attack, it will be nowhere near enough.'
'We cannot risk leaving our southern and western borders short of men, Socrae-al,' said Hontonu, 'not when we aren't, as of yet, under attack.'
'So you're suggesting that we wait until we're attacked before taking action?'
'I must point out,' said the Coinan, 'that the country is still far from rich. We are only just recovering our losses from funding years of war with Benigrada. We do not have the wealth for another. Our budget is stretched as it is'
'I don't wish to take any action that will lead us directly into war. Not without first meeting w
ith the Raginarsaru myself,' said Saima's mother.
Paulu gasped. 'Meet with them?'
'I will not bring war to our people, if it can be helped. If we are able to make a peace, then that must be the course we take. If we can establish direct trade with them, then I see no reason for conflict.'
'So we leave the Zanaiduns to fend for themselves?'
'I must agree with the Saban,' said the Tradan. 'As my predecessor warned the Council many times during his tenor, our reliance on foreign trade is a grave problem. With the Raginarsaru controlling our sole source of import, negotiating a peace and establishing trade will be our only hope of preventing a food crisis.'
'And what if they refuse?' said Paulu.
'Then we shall either have to reopen trade talks with the Benigradans, even if that means agreeing unfavourable terms, or we will be forced to oppose them,' said Saima's mother.
'Unfavourable terms would not be wise,' said the Coinan. 'Besides the Benigradans are not a wealthy nation themselves. Even if we were able to establish a greater trading relationship with them, I fear we would not be able to acquire a substantial amount of produce.'
'The majority of our food import comes from dealing with merchants and traders from the Broken Kingdoms,' said the Tradan. 'Most of those will have fled back west, rather than south to us. Zanaidu was our only way of trading with them. With it lost our only route to them is up through Rengokuda. An impossibility.'
'Why can't we trade with the Rengokudans?' asked Saima.
Everyone turned to her, regarding her as if they'd forgotten she was there.
'Because Sabu, the Rengokudan borders are closed to us,' said Hontonu, as if talking to a child. 'We are still enemies and traitors in their eyes. It is not an option.'
'But the War of Independence ended nearly two hundred years ago,' said Saima. 'How are we not at peace?'
'I shall explain it all to you at a later time, Sabu.'
'Back to the matter at hand,' said her mother, visibly irritated.
'All this being said,' said Paulu. 'We must send troops north and prepare for an invasion. Not taking action against them is one thing, not preparing for action taken against us is another.'
Why do they allow him to talk? He murdered my father. He should be hanging in the City Square, his body eaten by karrons.
'And where do you propose we acquire these troops,' the Coinan asked. 'We haven't the money to recruit, as I'm sure you're aware with the recent cuts to your budget our previous Saban imposed upon you, and we can't afford to take Konar from the cities, especially in the north. They're spread thin as it is supporting the farmers and villages, as well as these refugees now. So where?'
Paulu tapped his nose. 'I actually have a plan. One that serves two purposes.'
'What plan?' snapped Saima's mother, mouth agape.
So he keeps secrets even from you? And you dared to trust him?
'I received troubling information just hours before from a valuable source I have within Denistas' Konar ranks. However I think there's a way of turning the situation into an advantage, one that may both end the escalating troubles down in the tiers below, and gain me some more troops. Not as many as we'll need. But it's a start, and we may be able to employ this strategy in other cities.'
'What is the plan? What is happening?' Saima's mother demanded.
'If I may, my Saban, I'd prefer to keep it quiet, in case it is leaked out.' Paulu shot the Coinan a dark look. The Coinan looked down into his hands.
'I think it'd be prudent to tell us what is happening, Socrae-al,' said Hontonu, his forehead creased into a frown.
Saima's mother scowled. 'You don't trust me?'
'Of course I do,' said Paulu, softly. 'But this is a matter that requires the utmost secrecy. Please trust me, my Saban. I promise you I will take care of it.'
Her mother huffed and frowned. 'Very well. You have my blessing, whatever it may be. If it will end the violence down below then yes, do as you must.'
'The Konar-kas himself informed me that the situation is under control,' said Hontonu. 'Please make sure, Socrae-al, that your plans do not affect his.'
'The Konar-kas cannot be trusted,' said Paulu, flatly.
'What?'
Paulu raised a hand. 'You will find out soon enough. Unfortunately.'
'Michamu is a good man, and a dear friend of mine. For you to accuse him of..'
'He is incompetent,' Paulu snapped back.
'You're troubling me,' said Saima's mother.
'The matter will be resolved very soon,' said Paulu, meeting Hontonu's glare. 'In fact I intend to begin preparations as soon as this meeting is adjourned.'
'But what of the issue of feeding and sheltering this influx of refugees?' asked the Coinan. 'Where will we find the resources?'
'Send orders to the southern cities to send aid from their own reserves,' said Saima's mother. 'It is a temporary fix, but it is a start. Then send word south to the Benigradans that we request a meeting to renegotiate trade agreements. Agreeing unfavourable terms is a last resort, but we should at least see what they are willing to offer us.'
'Yes, Saban. I shall do so at once.,' said the Coinan, then turned to address Paulu. 'And what of paying for these new recruits?'
'They will not require payment,' said Paulu.
'No payment?'
Paulu nodded.
Is he going to enslave the yegeyor again? Invade their mountain homes and take them? The women and children too? Gods, he is a monster.
Saima's mother eyed her lover curiously.
'It will be fine, Saban,' Paulu said to her, giving her a wink.
'See that it is,' she replied with barely concealed irritation.
You're finally seeing him for the lying monster that he is. Soon you'll realise the full error of your ways. When you're rotting in a cell, on trial for murder I hope you feel the full extent of what you've done.
'I would just like to reiterate that allowing the Raginarsaru time to gain a foothold in Zanaidu is a bad strategic decision,' said Paulu. 'If we attack now we can take them by surprise.'
'I take your counsel on board, Socrae-al,' said Saima's mother. 'But this is my decision.'
Paulu bowed his head. 'Of course, my Saban.'
Yes. Put him in his place, mother.
'Then this meeting is adjourned?' asked Hontonu.
'Yes, Qotan.'
'Thank the gods. My bladder is not what it once was. Please excuse me. Too much wine.' Hontonu sprang up faster than Saima had ever seen him move, and he hurried out of the room, pushing the door open before the Guard could even open it for him.
Paulu looked to Saima's mother. 'I must follow him.' He rose before she could say anything and hurried out the room.
'Mother?' Saima asked, disgusted with herself that she had to talk to her, but there was no choice. 'May I speak with you in private?'
Her mother rolled her eyes, then nodded. 'Wait in my room.'
The idea of going into that room nearly made her sick. 'I'd prefer we do it here.'
'Fine,' she sighed.
The Tradan and Coinan rose, said their goodbyes, then left the room.
When they were alone her mother huffed. 'So what is it?'
Saima moved to the couch opposite her and was about to sit down, but then realised Paulu had just been sitting there, so remained standing.
'With your permission, I want to make a pilgrimage to the Olsap plateau so I can see father before he is reincarnated,' she said.
'Leave the city? At a time like this? Have you completely lost your mind?' her mother snapped.
'Why not?' Are you afraid my father will tell me the truth of his death?
'Why not?' her mother snapped. 'We are potentially entering into a war. Allowing you to go south, alone, is out of the question. You need to be here. You are to be a Saban sometime, you need to be here to learn how to handle a crisis. Learn not to be such an embarrassment.'
'But I want to go,' pleaded Saima.
'ENOUG
H,' her mother snarled. 'I said no. Don't whine at me like a spoilt brat. Your duty is here, with your people. What would Shonmu say if he heard I'd allowed my daughter to flee south at a time like this? He causes enough trouble as it is. We should not give him more ammunition to use against us. And how would the people react if they heard you fled south in a time of potential crisis? You need to start thinking about the consequences of your actions, my child.'
Consequences of my actions? I think it's you who needs to learn, you self-righteous bitch. But don't worry, soon you will. Soon you will. Saima forced herself to bow her head. 'Yes, mother.'
'Good. Now go to bed, get some sleep. You look haggard. Goodnight.' Without another word her mother left her, stomping into her bedroom and slamming the door shut behind her.
Evil woman. I will kill you.
Saima knocked on Koma's door.
'Koma, Koma, wake up,' she whispered.
There was shuffling on the other side of the door. A moment later Koma pulled open the door. She was wearing a short, thin night gown that hung loosely over her slender body, barely concealing her breasts. Her eyes were half open, but other than that she looked as beautiful as ever. As she yawned her soft, foreign features moved in an enchanting way. How did I ever hate someone as beautiful and loyal as you, my dear friend.
'Koma, I have good news,' said Saima, barely able to contain her excitement. 'My mother has given us permission to go to the Olsap plateau. We leave tomorrow.'
Koma's eyes opened wide. 'You did?'
'Yes. I'm sorry to wake you, but can I ask you to go and send word to the Koku-bier that we leave tomorrow. I need to inform the Socrae of the Guard that I require an escort. I promise, Koma, you will have plenty of time to sleep on the way there. I'll have extra cushions and blankets brought, I know you don't like carriages.' My beautiful friend. We'll lie together and tell each other our deepest, darkest secrets. I can finally find out where you are from.
Koma scratched her head, her features creasing a little. 'Yes, Sabu. Of course. I'll do so at once.' She squeezed her eyes shut, then rubbed them.
'Thank you, Koma. I'll arrange for a couple of Guards to escort you to the temple,' said Saima.
