Killmar nodded and started back towards the bedroom.
JESSICA STIRRED AND opened her eyes. Her first sight was Killmar observing himself in the polished metal disc that rested against the wall. He was dressed in finely tailored black trousers that were tucked into his leather boots. Black silk hung loosely from his muscular shoulders as he turned to her.
“You should get dressed. We will have an audience with the esteemed Emperor soon,” he said as he buttoned up his shirt.
“What about my dress?” she asked, still half asleep.
He motioned to the other side of the room. “It has already arrived.”
She turned and saw it hanging from a wall peg. “I thought it best not to let you go to court with a wrinkled dress,” he added.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said as light danced off the black mantle he threw over his shoulders.
She wondered at the shimmering piece of fabric before inspecting her own dress at arms’ length. “It is perfect.”
“You might want to hurry. I can hear our carriage approaching,” he said as he left the room, adding through the doorway. “Though I hear it is fashionable to be late for these things.”
She laughed before starting to undo the dress’s various laces.
The carriage arrived just as he exited the house. It was drawn by two black stallions and coached by a boy verging on adulthood.
“No ranshaks?” he asked trying to sound disappointed.
The boy smiled. “No, my lord. His Eminence, thought you’d prefer the colour of these two,” he said patting the rump of one of the stallions.
Killmar returned the boy’s infectious smile. “The lady is just finishing up. Let us not rush her, and wait patiently.”
“Whatever you wish, Lord Killmar,” answered the young coachman, clearly ecstatic to have been assigned such an honourable task.
“LORD KILLMAR AND his wife Lady Jessica,” heralded the crier in front of the Royal House’s audience hall.
The throng of people gathered before the hall voiced their awe as Killmar exited the carriage. It seemed that the entirety of the ewienian populace had gathered in anticipation of his arrival. He helped Jessica from the carriage, and the crowds redoubled their awe-inspired cheers.
She nervously locked arms with him as they began to proceed down the only open path left in the sea of bodies. “They seem to regard you as a hero.”
He grinned deviously. “Because I am one. I did rescue their princess, after all.”
“You just fulfilled your contract,” she replied dryly.
His grin widened. “True, but they don’t see it that way.”
“Foolish mortals, right?” she teased.
He chuckled. “That they are.”
A boy fell unnoticed in front of them as the crowds tried to push themselves just a bit closer.
“Wait!” cried Jessica when he was about to unknowingly step on the child.
She bent down and helped the boy to his feet. “Are you all right?”
Again Killmar was struck by the gnawing feeling that something about her had somehow changed.
The boy blushed and lowered his eyes. “I am fine, thank you, Lady Jessica.”
“Be careful,” she said as the boy was escorted away by a guard and they continued on.
The doors to the audience hall swung open, and she stared on with disbelief. Even though the hall was filled with the noble families of the Eranian Empire, what was most intimidating was the hall itself.
The floors seemed to be fashioned from gold, which villainously reflected her every move, eagerly waiting to expose any errors in movement. While massive, silver columns mischievously redirected every beam of light in an attempt to blind those who dared enter.
The thrones sat propped on top of a dais at its end, a grim reminder of one’s station. It created an air that the occupants of the four thrones were unapproachable. The Emperor and Empress each wore finely tailored emerald silk with patterns embroidered in gold and fine gems. To the Empress’s left sat the beautiful Princess Hinamori in all white, while to the Emperor’s right sat the young Eranian Prince, adorned in the gold and green armour of the Viridian Dragons.
However despite all this, Killmar strode down the hall as if he were the Emperor himself. The surrounding audience was all a whisper as the couple made their way to the thrones.
Hinamori gasped. “She is breathtaking.”
“Why is everyone staring at me?” whispered Jessica self-consciously.
Killmar smiled at her ignorance. “Because the old man at the Golden Weaver earned his wage.”
The princess closely examined Jessica’s dress. It was fit for a queen, midnight black moiré hugged her chest then exploded into a skirt of bright azure. Rose vines were embroidered in gold on the fringes of the skirt, spiralling around the dress, ending with a large rose bud crafted out of minute sapphires on the bodice. It was made all the more beautiful by Killmar’s presence, whose unusual features complemented it.
“We welcome you and your wife to the Empire, Killmar,” said the Emperor finally when the whispers died down.
He regarded the red streaks in the Emperor’s ashen hair; a grim indicator that he was nearing the end of his life. “You have become quite old, Ryuuhan.”
The majority of ewiens flinched at the disrespectful tone and several guardsmen found their hands tense on their blades.
The Emperor laughed. Despite often being referred to as the Old Emperor, he had the youthful appearance of a man in his thirties, as was common for his people. “Still as brazen as ever I see. Before you ask, I read a report of a rather interesting ordeal in Larin, centred on a certain blue-haired individual. It was not hard to determine where you were headed after that. I must admit, I found the whole state of affairs to be quite surprising. It is not like you to make such a spectacle.”
Killmar smiled at the foresight of perhaps the greatest emperor that has blessed the Eranian throne. “Sometimes, unexpected things happen and you just need to adapt.”
“Yes, speaking of unexpected, what is this I hear about you taking a wife? I would have never thought I’d live to see such a day,” said the cheerful ruler as he shifted his gaze to the beautiful woman in front of him. “It is quite the pleasure to meet you, Lady Jessica.”
She curtsied. “It is an utmost honour to be granted an audience with you, Your Eminence.”
“Oh? You’re quite well-mannered. Some would even say more so than certain respected individuals,” he said with a wink. “Now tell an old man how you managed to tame the mighty Blue Rose, when so many have failed?”
Jessica blushed and looked away as memories of the previous night stirred.
Killmar frowned. “Would you please stop speaking to her as if I am not standing beside her.”
The young prince sprang to his feet. “I’ve had enough of your impudence. How dare you speak to his Eminence in such a manner?! I should have you executed!”
Jessica could almost feel Killmar’s anger radiate upon her skin as he turned his head to the fine-featured youth.
“Please forgive my son, Killmar. He is still young,” pleaded Ryuuhan before turning to his son. “Return to your seat this instant, Ranhou!”
“But, Father—”
Killmar started to move when Jessica caught his hand. “He is just a foolish boy; he knows no better.”
“Then I shall educate him,” he hissed. “I will give you a choice, Little Prince. You can apologise for your arrogance and sit back down on your throne, or we could have a duel where, if you win, I will swear my fealty to you for the remainder of your life.”
“Do no—” started the Emperor.
“Stay out of this, Ryuuhan!” he roared. “Let the Little Prince decide.”
“I am no child! I will accept your challenge,” answered the youth with a flushed face.
“No, you fool!” cried his father.
Ranhou descended the steps of the dais as the hal
l turned crypt quiet. “What are the regulations for our duel?”
Killmar slid his hands into his trouser pockets. “If you are able to lay a single scratch on me, I’ll count it your victory.”
“Do not mock me!” screamed the prince as he attempted to draw the katana at his side.
The half-drawn blade slid back into its sheath as Killmar’s right boot rested on the end of its hilt. There was a sudden intake of breath from the crowd, for no one had seen him move from Jessica’s side.
Killmar smiled at his prey’s sudden expression of fear and pushed down his right boot while raising his left. The katana’s sheath loudly struck the floor under his weight as his left boot smashed into the prince’s chin. The move was made all the more impressive as he executed a backward summersault before landing on his feet.
Ranhou drew his blade in a fluent motion as he stumbled backwards. “Lizthow, hikari zài sekjiè!”
Killmar laughed as the katana started to shine a brilliant white, unwittingly obscuring the light golden glow of his own eyes. “Foolish Little Prince, how will your reibai save you when you can barely stand?”
“Ranhou, what is the matter?” asked the Emperor, concerned as his son slowly fell to his knees, as if unable to bear his own weight.
Killmar casually strode over and kicked the katana from his hands. As it slid loudly over the golden floor, its light faded almost immediately. “You see, Little Prince, I need not even the use my hands to defeat the likes of you.”
Jessica stepped closer and he turned to her. “I know.”
Ranhou surged to his feet as the otherworldly pressure on him was lifted, only to find a hand grip his throat. Terror seeped into his flesh as his eyes met the two pitiless golden orbs that regarded him. “I want you to remember this moment, Little Prince; for if not for my wife, you would be dead. It would be best for you to remember that you are not as powerful as you believe.”
The young prince staggered backwards as he was released and nodded, clearly unnerved by what he had just experienced.
The Emperor scowled at his son. “Ranhou, return your hot-blooded rump to your seat. Killmar, thank you for your mercy, and again, I apologise for my son’s rudeness.”
“You and I have had a good business relationship, Ryuuhan. But if not for Jessica, you’d be burying a son today,” he answered plainly.
“Then I am in your debt, Lady Jessica,” he amended.
“As am I,” said the Empress, clearly still unsettled by what just happened. She was a beautiful woman seemingly in her twenties with short, dark grey hair.
Jessica only curtsied.
“So why have you called for me?” asked Killmar as Ranhou found his seat.
The Emperor was silent a long while. “I’m afraid I have something rather unpleasant to ask of you this time.”
“I’ve been asked to do many unpleasant things.”
“I take it you know what is happening in the Kingdom of Zinox?”
“Apparently the Fat King has decided to take all his playthings and go show them off to the tribes of the Viper Mountains,” he answered unconcerned.
“King Lindred has gone mad, consumed by hatred for all those who are different. We are at peace with the Kingdom at present, but this invasion on the beastmen will violate that treaty. Should he win his war with them, he would surely turn his attention on us next.”
“You want him assassinated then?” asked Killmar stoically.
The Emperor rubbed his temples with his right hand. “No, unfortunately that is no longer an option. The Kingdom war machine has already been set in motion. Losing their leader now would probably just spur them on. However, this is not my only problem. I am sure you have heard of the appearance of Asteroth?” Killmar indicated he had, and Ryuuhan continued. “What is not common knowledge is that he has united all the tribes of the Viper Mountains.”
“Good. Just let the tribes and the Kingdom grind each other to dust. I fail to see why you need me,” he said, impatience getting the better of him.
“I recently learned that the beastmen still harbour an ancient grudge. Should they be victorious in their war with the Kingdom, they intend to invade my Empire. You see, Killmar, no matter what happens, my people will suffer.” The Emperor paused, and a general air of uneasiness filled the hall. “Unless both threats are snuffed out completely, by a third overwhelming force.”
“You want me to destroy both armies?” he asked, impressed at the Emperor’s ruthlessness.
Ryuuhan sighed. “It is not a case of want. I do not desire the deaths of more than a hundred thousand souls on my conscience. But it is what is required to keep any blood from touching Eranian soil.”
Killmar was about to inquire about the payment when he felt a soft hand squeeze his own tightly. He hesitated and shook his head slightly in astonishment, sighing softly. “It seems you’ve lived long enough to see another astonishing thing. I decline this contract. We’ll take our leave now.”
Jessica smiled happily as he glanced at her. The hall was awash in voices while Ryuuhan seemed utterly speechless.
“Even if we offer the Eye of Heaven,” came an unfamiliar voice from behind the thrones. The hall fell silent at the mention of the mythic relic.
“The Eye of Heaven has been lost for nearly four hundred years. Do you expect me to believe that you have it in your possession and that you are willing to part with it?” he replied to the man he knew was there.
A young, slender-built ewien stepped out from behind the Emperor’s throne. “If I may, Your Eminence?” Ryuuhan nodded and he continued, “I am Joneras, magician to the royal house.”
“The ewiens have no mages,” stated Killmar.
“He speaks the truth,” the Emperor said. “He was rejected when brought before the most holy Tiasekai at birth. We could not understand why until he started showing signs of magical aptitude as a young man. It was then that we declared him the first Imperial Mage in over three thousand years.”
Killmar seemed dubious as he moved his eyes to the robed figure. It took him only a moment before he recognised the quenru that seemed to smoulder in the man. “You possess more power than one of your race should. You must have . . . sacrificed much.”
Jessica could have sworn she saw a flash of surprise and fear in the stranger’s face before he continued, “I have been blessed; this I do not deny. However, the Eye of Heaven is the subject of our conversation, not I. I assure you Lord Killmar, that we do, indeed, have it in our possession.”
“Ryuuhan, you are being unusually aggressive about this. I have never known you to be this bloodthirsty.”
The Emperor sighed and the weight of his rule could clearly be seen. “I am old, Killmar. Too old for the chaos war brings, and I will not leave such a burden on my successor. Ending an inevitable war without shedding a single drop of Eranian blood is something that I would do anything for, even hand over the Eye of Heaven.”
“I want to authenticate the Eye,” he answered before glancing at Jessica.
It was all she needed as an explanation. She understood what the Eye of Heaven could mean for him. The gem was said to have been crafted by the gods themselves. No one was sure exactly what its effects were; only that those who had possessed it in the past are now remembered as legendary individuals. Some scholars had even come to believe that it was not a gem at all, but a metaphor for valour, intellect, and wisdom.
Joneras turned to the Emperor enquiringly. “Show it to him.”
“As you wish, Your Eminence,” answered the mage before closing his eyes and mouthing a few words. He then reached into his robe and retrieved a small box. “Here it is.”
Killmar walked over and took the box, slowly opening it. A rainbow of colours burst from the box. He reached into the box and took out the gem. It was a thumb-sized equilateral gem; each of its facets reflected a different colour that in turn kept on shifting to different shades.
Jessica moved a bit closer to him. “Is it real?”
He turne
d to her, and she knew the answer. “Cover your eyes, Jessica. Cover them now!”
Her hands had barely reached her eyes when light erupted from the gem, turning her sight blood-red as it pierced through flesh and skin. But most notable was the laughter that came from the man she loved, it seemed to vibrate within her very bones.
The radiance slowly subsided, and she uncovered her eyes. Everyone in the hall lay on the ground unconscious, except for the Royal Family and their imperial mage. Joneras had erected a dark blue barrier that now broke on the floor like shattered glass, disappearing into nothingness.
The Eye of Heaven was gone, and Killmar tossed aside the small box. “You have gained great favour from me this day, Ryuuhan. I will crush the Kingdom and the tribes as you wish, but only if they approach your borders. Until such time, I will stay within your Empire.”
He was still a bit shaken, but the Emperor answered with clear relief, “Thank you. You are welcome to stay here in the palace with us as long as you wish.”
He smiled then turned to Jessica. “Let us retire. I have much to tell you.”
Chapter Nine
The Summoning
“DAMN HIM!”
The words contained as much fear as they did rage as the glass goblet shattered in the hearth of his personal quarters, the fire roaring at the taste of wine.
A knock on the door calmed the cursing ewien. “The members have assembled; they are all waiting for you to begin the ritual, Master Joneras.”
He pushed back his ashen hair and straightened his robe before leaving his quarters. With each step he took towards the Council Chamber, he felt fear spread through his veins, filling him with an icy cold trepidation. He pushed open the doors to the chamber and found that the eight other council members already stood around the gigantic crystal bowl, the runes on its rims burning a hungry crimson in the dark. Each member was concealed by the robes of the Harbingers of Obscurity; a black robe with the dark purple glyph of their lord on the back, their hands the only visible part of their bodies.
Birth of a Mortal God Page 20
