More than once it seemed that the Shashidans were about to rule the day, only to have the Rustannican legions regroup and attack again with renewed fury. Even so, Tristan came to realize that the advantage belonged to the katsugai. By and large, Hoshi’s plan had worked, and the legions were surrounded, their valiant soldiers corralled near the valley’s center.
Just then Tristan saw a shadow loom over the valley floor, not far from where their barge hovered. Looking up at the sky, he saw a huge, very dark cloud forming in the sky. It hovered higher than their barge and lay about one hundred meters west of them. It would not have seemed unusual had it not been so much larger and darker than the others. He mentioned the strange-looking cloud to Hoshi. As she lifted her war mask to take a better look, the blood suddenly drained from her face.
Knowing that there was no time to warn her barge pilot, Hoshi immediately called the craft and wrested control from him. At once she caused the barge to lunge forward and heel over hard on her starboard side.
But even Hoshi’s quick actions hadn’t been enough to avoid disaster altogether. As the first of Vespasian’s conjured lightning bolts loosed from the dark cloud that he had created, it streaked toward the tataki fune and struck a thunderous glancing blow to its starboard stern quarter.
The corner of the barge exploded into matchsticks and its bow tilted skyward as the craft careened through the air. Hundreds of katsugai were instantaneously burned to cinders by the lightning bolt and hundreds more tumbled through the partly destroyed wall to fall end over end toward certain death. Holding on to the front wall of the barge for dear life, Tristan and Hoshi struggled to remain standing while Hoshi fought to regain control of the pitching craft.
Finally she righted the barge. After desperately searching the valley floor, she turned back toward Tristan.
“Only Vespasian could have done that!” she shouted. “The emperor lives! Worse, he has found our position, but we do not know his!”
Before Tristan could answer, more terrible lightning ripped free of the ominous black cloud. Hoshi again did her best to maneuver the barge out of its path, this time barely succeeding. Tristan watched in awe as the lightning narrowly missed the leading edge of the barge. It passed so near that everyone aboard felt its heat and heard it crackle with energy as it plummeted earthward.
Using the craft to augment her sight, Hoshi searched desperately for Vespasian’s well-known gilded chariot and white stallions. She knew that she had little time to search him out before another lightning bolt struck. Suddenly she spied the chariot and the tall blond figure commanding it.
“There!” she shouted to Tristan. “Near where the river bends, there are three azure portals lying side by side! Do you see? Vespasian is there!”
Tristan found the bend in the river, and he could just make out the three azure portals. But because he could not call the craft in ways that Hoshi might, he did not see Vespasian.
“I see the portals!” Tristan shouted.
“Send one of your meteors there!” Hoshi shouted. “If you do it quickly, even he will not be able to escape it in time!”
Just as Tristan was about to act, to his horror he saw another dark shadow forming across the valley floor. Much as the first one had done, it too started to move.
Vespasian has called forth another cloud! Tristan realized. If the emperor simultaneously launched two lightning bolts from different directions, even Hoshi’s gifts wouldn’t be able to save them and they would be obliterated. Raising his hands, Tristan quickly launched another azure meteor. But even as he saw the meteor start plummeting earthward, he realized that another of Vespasian’s lightning bolts had been loosed.
Hoshi swung the barge over hard again, but this time the blow was far more direct. Striking the barge amidships, the lightning bolt blasted much of the craft to bits. Blown head over heels, Tristan, Hoshi, and thousands of katsugai tumbled toward the ground.
Because his use of the craft had been affected by the exploding barge, Tristan’s meteor plummeted crazily toward the valley floor. Careening madly, it headed in Vespasian’s general direction, then veered north before it hit the ground. Tens of thousands of legionnaires and katsugai were vaporized instantly. The resulting concussion reached Vespasian, throwing him from his chariot.
As Tristan fell earthward he caught a quick glimpse of Hoshi to see that she had used the craft to stop her descent, but she had apparently been unable to do the same for him. Over and over he went, his lungs gasping for air and his limbs flailing wildly. Hoshi acted again, this time sending down an azure bolt to try to catch him. But she missed widely, the bolt streaking by him.
Suddenly Tristan felt a jolt so great that he thought his back might break. The wind was quickly knocked out of him and he felt his left shoulder dislocate. As he slipped from consciousness, he turned to see Ox’s eyes looking into his.
That’s why there were two lightning bolts coming at us at once, he realized. The second shadow didn’t come from another of Vespasian’s clouds…it came from the Tammerland.
Finally losing consciousness, theJin’Sai dangled limply in Ox’s arms as the faithful Minion warrior reversed direction and soared upward.
LYING PRONE ON THE GROUND, VESPASIAN GASPED AS HEtried to gather his senses. His chariot was wrecked and his stallions had run away. Screaming fighters still hacked viciously at one another all around him, and azure bolts from both sides wildly crisscrossed the battlefield. Coming to his feet, Vespasian called the craft to stem his growing nausea, then tried to assess the situation.
Screaming katsugai were attacking his forces on all sides. While he had been trying to kill theJin’Sai, the Shashidans had closed their circle even more, forcing the legions into a compact group near the valley’s center. Although Vespasian found himself at the center of that group, the end would come soon, he realized.
He turned to see three azure vortices nearby. One gallant tribune had taken charge of them, deciding that the time had come to save as many legionnaires as he could by ordering them home to Ellistium. As legionnaires swarmed into the vortices, the situation was becoming hopeless, chaotic. Soon Vespasian was engulfed by soldiers begging him to issue new orders.
Ignoring them, he turned and ran toward the three vortices. As the raging katsugai continued to press his forces from all sides, Vespasian was forced to make a fateful decision.
He turned to look at the senior tribune who had taken charge of the three portals. Although admitting defeat was abhorrent to the legions, the tribune was following his orders to the letter. Still dazed and wobbly, Vespasian staggered toward him and gripped the man’s forearm with his own.
“You know your orders!” Vespasian shouted as yet another azure bolt tore through the air just above their heads. “Save as many as you can, then close the portals forever, and see to it that the same is done with all the others!”
Standing tall, the tribune gave his emperor a perfect salute.
“It shall be done!” he shouted. “I speak for all of us left behind when I say that it has been a pleasure to serve with you!”
At first Vespasian could find no words. “If you wish to surrender to the katsugai, I will attach no shame to it!” he finally shouted back. “They do not kill their prisoners! I will return to this land and free those of you who live, I swear it!”
“You must go now, my liege!” the tribune shouted. “The time grows short!”
Despite the insane fighting closing in on them, for several moments the two men looked each other in the eye with the unique brand of understanding that only years of service in the legions could provide. Vespasian did not know this man, nor would he ever get the chance to do so. Even so, he would never forget this stalwart soldier who sacrificed his own life for that of his emperor.
Vespasian ran into the depths of the whirling portal and vanished.
CHAPTER LII
VESPASIAN SMILED AS HE LOOKED ACROSS THE ARENA. The day would again be hot, and the two blood-red canopies had been stretc
hed toward one another to provide shade for the multitudes that had come to take part in their emperor’s victory celebration. So as to keep the growing crowd amused, he had ordered an initial slate of killings. Blood, wrecked chariots, and dead skeens littered much of the arena floor.
Because so much Shashidan gold had been brought home to Ellistium, no expense would be spared on this celebration day. Attendance would be free, thousands of wild animals and Shashidan skeens would be slaughtered, and the food and wine would be without charge. Every seat was filled, and Vespasian had issued an unprecedented decree that the public might also stand in the aisles.
A fortnight had passed since the Battle of the Vallesis Majestatis. Many legionnaires had been killed, but many katsugai had died as well. To the tribunes’ credit, a surprising number of Vespasian’s soldiers had escaped through the azure portals before the vortices had been closed. Vespasian’s dream of taking Ryoto and killing theInkai had not been realized, but his most urgent need had been fulfilled beyond his wildest dreams.
Even now, the gold count was still being tallied, to say nothing of how busy the Imperial Mint was stamping out new coins. Soon Rustannica’s treasury would be filled to overflowing-creative ways would be needed to deal with all the money. Most important of all, the war against Shashida could be prolonged for centuries if need be.
Vespasian turned to look at his wife. Persephone had long since forgiven the way in which he had forced her to escape the battle scene. Dressed in a long red gown, she wore new jewelry of her own design that had been crafted from the stolen gold.
Lucius Marius sat beside her. Because this celebration was to be unique, he had asked Vespasian if his latest female conquest might be allowed to accompany him to the emperor’s box. His mood generous since returning home, Vespasian had approved. The woman was a lovely creature with long dark hair, and she hailed from an Ellistium krithian family of some note. The way Lucius coddled her caused Vespasian to wonder whether the legendary First Tribune had perhaps met his match.
The usual box reserved for the tribunes was full, as was the section meant for the women of the Priory of Virtue. All twelve members of thePon Q’tar had survived the battle, and they were in attendance as well. Tray after tray of sumptuous food was served by Shashidan skeens, and wine flowed without end. As he waited for the celebration to begin, Vespasian pointed toward his goblet and caused it to float into his grasp. The rich red wine had been made from the best Rustannican highland grapes, its finish sweet and strong.
On arriving home, Vespasian’s first order of business had been to call a meeting of the Suffragat, whereupon Lucius had given the war report and detailed their losses. Many legionnaires and tribunes had perished, and not one of the Bedevilers had returned. By necessity, vast amounts of supplies, food, and support troops had been left behind in Shashida.
Even so, these losses paled when compared with the amount of stolen gold that had been taken. Because the treasury had been so amply refilled, replacing the war materiel would be a simple matter. Given time, thePon Q’tar could easily conjure even larger herds of Bedevilers and other creatures. Even the loss of so many troops did not greatly concern the Suffragat, for now the empire could afford to offer large financial bonuses to entice enlistees. New blood had been needed in the legions for a long time, and at last they would have it.
Vespasian and his counselors knew that the campaign losses should not be publicized; therefore they would be made up a little at a time so as not to arouse suspicion. The Suffragat’s usual report to the citizenry had been censored even more heavily than usual, and it contained only the details of a great Rustannican victory and the taking of much gold. Because the treasury was so full, Vespasian also announced that taxes would be lowered, especially on the trading of slaves. The mood in the country was joyful, and any hint of rebellion had vanished.
Even so, as Vespasian waited for the celebratory portion of the day to begin, concerns still plagued him. On returning home, the Oracle had informed Gracchus of Shailiha’s victory over Khristos, and he had told the Suffragat. When compared to the threat that Shashida continually presented, the world’s other side remained a relatively minor concern. Even so, the reigningJin’Saiou would have to be dealt with in some way.
Most worrisome of all, theJin’Sai had reached Shashida and he too now commanded forestallments banned by the Borderlands Treaty. Vespasian had destroyed the Shashidan barge from which theJin’Sai had thundered down azure meteors, but as Vespasian’s chariot had overturned he had not been able to determine whether Tristan had been killed. Sitting back in his marble throne, Vespasian pursed his lips, thinking.
In a strange way it didn’t matter whether he knew theJin’Sai ’s fate, he realized. If Tristan died during the battle of the Vallesis Majestatis, so be it. If not, Vespasian would soon know, for only he and theJin’Sai commanded such awesome gifts of the craft, and they would surely meet again.
Just then, legionary buglers and drummers entered the arena through the Gates of Life and the crowd stood and cheered. On a signal from Vespasian, the one-eyed Games Master quickly swiveled a new sign that had recently been crafted from stolen Shashidan gold.
On seeing the order, hand-picked centurions stationed on the arena floor quickly exited through the Gates of Life. When they returned, at first the amazed spectators gasped, then they cheered as never before when they saw what the centurions carried. From the woven baskets lying in their arms, the centurions began throwing newly minted sesterces-complete with Vespasian’s likeness-into the surging crowds.
Smiling, Gracchus Junius sat back in his chair and took another sip of wine. Seated by his side, Benedik Pryam leaned closer.
“You were right,” Benedik said quietly.
“I usually am,” Gracchus answered. “But even I do not know to which of my recent accomplishments you refer.”
“I speak of our young charge, of course,” Benedik answered, tilting his head in Vespasian’s direction. “He truly knows what Ellistium is. It’s the mob, pure and simple. His decrees to lower taxes and to throw money into the crowd are master strokes. They are sure to love him as never before.”
Rubbing his chin, Benedik scowled. “Even so, it seems that in some ways we are right back where we started.”
Gracchus laughed. “If that is what you believe, then you are as blind as you are foolish,” he replied. “Aside from the total destruction of Shashida, we have gained all that we could have hoped for. Our treasury is bursting, and the mood of the populace has again swung in our favor. Rustannica’s ability to finance her war against the Vigors has never been so robust. Our emperor has accepted his immense gifts and he has proven that he is willing to use them. Even better, he believes that his terrors have been forever banished.”
As he again turned his attention to the arena, Gracchus plopped a grape into his mouth.
“So you see, my dear Benedik, aside from the arrival of theJin’Sai on this side of the world, all is as it should be,” he added. “And given time, even he will be dealt with.”
Hearing the buglers again blow their horns, everyone in the royal box looked toward the arena floor. On Vespasian’s order, Shashidan skeens were entering the arena. They wore only meager loincloths and were shackled hand and foot. Each slave carried something across his or her back, their bodies bent low under the crushing weight. As they were whipped, they staggered across the arena floor as best they could.
When the crowd realized the nature of the slaves’ burdens, they cheered and stamped so loudly that they could be heard in the farthest reaches of Ellistium. They were witnessing the ultimate humiliation, and its savage cleverness endeared their young emperor to them even more.
Across each slave’s back, tied together with stout rope, lay several bars of their own gold, recently stolen from the Vallesis Majestatis. Sitting back in his ivory chair, Gracchus smiled.
From behind the protection of her gauzy veil, Julia Idaeus wiped away a tear.
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Rise of the Blood Royal dobas-3 Page 61
