Nikali’s ravetroopers patrolled the streets like Nikali’s own personal army. The pretense of hunting for Tcher spies was long gone. Now, if anybody so much as looked at the ravetroopers wrong they would find themselves on their knees in front of Nikali. One way or the other Eluan was going to bow before Charos.
“What is so urgent?” Quaet asked General Kayl. Kayl had been holed up in Quaet’s townhouse since their alliance was made official. It was the safest and closest place to the palace they could secure. And it wasn’t just for General Kayl. He was given the task of protecting one of the Suraya’s greatest assets, Marina Arraw.
“Your Highness,” said Quaet as he bowed to one knee at the presence of his Empress.
“Thank you for coming,” said Marina.
“What is this about?” Quaet asked. “We agreed I would not come here unless it was absolutely necessary.”
“There’s been news from Myrus,” said Marina.
“Is Seres still holding?” Quaet asked.
“Yes,” said Kayl entering the main room of the townhouse where Quaet and Marina were.
“Is this about Farrah?” Quaet asked.
“No,” said Kayl. “It’s about Nikali.”
“What about him?”
“He was at Myrus,” said Kayl.
“What?” Quaet asked, half thinking this was a joke.
“Nikali was at Myrus,” repeated General Kayl. “Why were we not informed that Nikali had left the city? We could have taken the Capitol.”
“Nikali hasn’t left the city,” said Quaet. “He’s been in the palace for days.”
“Then explain to me the multiple reports that say they saw Nikali outside of Myrus. They heard his voice. He gave them an ultimatum to surrender or perish. He told them about Farrah’s connection with Tcher.”
“If you are holding back to give my brother time to get to the Capitol I would strongly urge against that,” accused Marina.
“I have done no such thing,” said Quaet. “I promise you that Nikali has not left the palace long enough to be gone to Myrus and back. And I guarantee you, Your Highness, my only allegiance to your brother is through you. You are the one that I follow. Nobody else.”
“Then how is Nikali in two places at once?” General Kayl asked.
“He continues to grow in power,” said Marina. “This is more arcan trickery.”
“He should be dead,” grumbled Kayl.
“If your men had fought harder they could have reached Nikali, out lasted his power,” said Quaet.
“It was your impatience that was our downfall. You were not ready to give the signal,” said Kayl.
“You said your men were ready,” said Quaet.
“For the right moment,” said Kayl. “That was your end of the plan. Nikali was in no position to be attacked.”
“We almost had him,” said Quaet. “But I’m not done. We can still salvage this.”
“How?” Kayl asked. “Nikali has killed a majority of our men. Dozens dead on a whim because Nikali had an episode. The Suraya is considering pulling the men we have left out of the Capitol and sending them to Myrus. If Nikali is in Myrus they will be needed there.”
“No,” said Quaet. “This is still the capital of Eluan. This is the city you want control of.”
“This city is gone,” said Kayl. “Even if we are to overthrow Nikali, his believers will keep fighting. We will still have a war on our hands and we do not have a proper army.”
“Then the Suraya should pull out of Myrus,” said Quaet. “Myrus is the city that is lost. It is nothing but a rally symbol, a dead one at that. A free world would be great, but it will not come from Eluan’s destruction. It will come from Eluan’s takeover.”
“I will pass along your suggestion,” said Kayl.
“Stop this two front war,” said Quaet. “Screw Myrus, screw Seres, screw your plans. The Capitol is where we need to concentrate our forces. We can still bring down Nikali.”
“If Nikali is even in the city,” argued Kayl.
“He isn’t going anywhere,” said Quaet. The older councilman got to his feet. His frustration finally hit the level that he was done arguing with General Kayl.
“Do not call for me again,” said Quaet. “When the time is right you may return to the palace. Until then.”
Quaet bowed his head and flipped his hood back over his head. He then hobbled out of his townhouse and began his slow trek back to another one of his homes in the better part of the city.
He had not stayed in the palace since Nikali’s attack on the council members. Quaet was lucky to not have been present for Nikali’s massacre of the servants.
The city around him was warped. Nikali had twisted it and gutted the glory that Eluan took centuries to build. Beggars and drunks roamed every street of the city. Imprisonment and death were around every corner. And at the top of it all was a mad man thriving in the chaos.
Chapter 59
Night never got a chance to settle over the city of Myrus. Light thrived in the heart of the city. It shone from every end of Myrus. People in the streets could look to the sky and see that something close by was brightening the night sky. It naturally attracted curious onlookers.
People walked through the streets lured by the illumination coming from somewhere in the city. The closer people got the clearer not only the night was becoming, but where the light was coming from.
The area around the Senate House was as bright as the day time. The garden behind the building was the source of the light. It was larger than ever before and its flowers erased every shadow near it.
The Night’s Flower had returned.
The citizens in Myrus, old and new, looked upon the Senate House in awe. It was a sight that many had not seen in years, and some thought they would never see again. Joy filled hundreds of hearts that were swarming the streets as memories of weeklong celebrations came to mind. Smiles started to spread across the people’s faces. Any ill thoughts of the day were pushed away and for one night there were thoughts of delight.
Abigail looked beyond the vines and flowers of her garden to see out onto the streets. She could feel their emotions. Their happiness became her happiness. Then she gave it right back to them. She could give them all what they wanted. She could offer contentment, fulfillment, and the chance to no longer want for anything. She was stronger than ever before. Her arcan could reach into everybody’s thoughts and dissolve their worries. And that was what she was going to do. It was to be one of her last gifts to her people before the fall she remembered, once again, began.
Francesco de Seres and Ellen Caning looked out their balcony to see the brunt of Abigail’s garden of illumination. It was a pocket of daylight that put a shadow on Seres’ mood.
“It’s beautiful,” said Ellen, matter-of-factly.
“It’s dangerous,” said Seres. He wrapped his arms around Ellen to protect her from the soft chill of the night. “She’s making us a clear target.”
“If Nikali hasn’t attacked yet then a garden will not change anything,” said Ellen. “He knows where the Senate House is.”
“I still don’t like it,” said Seres. “It’s just defiance. We should be discussing attacking Nikali by now, but Abigail holds off.”
“They’re hiding something,” said Ellen.
“I know,” said Seres. “I just can’t figure out what.”
“It’s her first display of power,” pointed out Ellen. “Abigail has been generous since coming to Myrus, but this here is the first we’ve seen her use arcan. It has to be for something to develop in one day like this.”
“Then why has she been holding back?” Seres wondered out loud.
“Maybe she can’t control it,” suggested Ellen. She took a sip from her mug of Tamor Blood. “I’ve struggled in developing my arcan. Maybe it is the same for her. We grow stronger with practice.”
Seres looked out over the cityscape toward the lit garden. Were they chasing a false idol? The Suraya believed in Abigail and o
nly Abigail. Her display tonight would further solidify that belief, but what if Ellen was right. What if that was all Abigail could do?
Half way across the Eluan Empire, Emperor Nikali Caning fumed with rage. The fires surrounding the room of the Blood Beauties burst with energy before dying down once again to their normal level. Nikali’s anger surged with power at the very words the Blood Beauties had for him. “They are not turning on her.”
“She is doing something to the people,” said Nikali. “I can’t manipulate them like I can here.”
“Farrah is very powerful,” said Mareen. “She watching over her people now.”
“How?!” Nikali demanded to know. “What does she know that I don’t? I have the books. I have the knowledge. How is she more powerful than me?!”
“She is more focused,” said Mareen.
Nikali turned his head to stare at the Blood Beauty. The rest of his body remained unmoved. “Focused? I do nothing but push my arcan. I’ve worked with every page we have translated. She is starting to make you ladies look bad.”
The Blood Beauties shared a growl of disgust toward Nikali. “Do not test us.”
“No,” said Nikali. “Do not test me. I’ve had enough of this farce. You promised me power. I do not care who else you are toying with. I am the Emperor. You do what I say. Give me the power to fight Farrah. When I end her there will be nothing standing in my way from controlling the entire Empire. Quaet and the others can rot in the Council Room for all I care. Give me what I want!”
“Farrah is a mender,” said the Blood Beauties. “Destroy what she has built. She holds dear the city of Myrus and its people. Do not strike at her. Strike at them. Myrus will swallow her whole when you are done with it.”
Nikali smiled as the Blood Beauties handed him another drink of their personal Tamor Blood. It always tasted sweeter than anything Nikali had in his possession.
“Do not fight Farrah directly,” instructed the Blood Beauties. “Become the breaker of worlds.”
Chapter 60
Nikali stood alone in the darkness outside of Myrus. He glared at the illuminated heart of the city that Abigail had brought to life. Her actions mocked Nikali and everything he was trying to achieve.
The Red Cast was nearby holding the lantern, waiting for somebody to answer Nikali’s decree. But now the lantern looked dim compared to the light Abigail offered to the people. Nikali had yet to break the will of the city.
He took in a deep breath. The air was still. The bushes were filled with the sounds of nocturnal animals. Insects chirped, and creaked into white noise. Nikali listened carefully. He could feel the primal drive in the swarm of insects that were hidden in the darkness. Then he smiled.
The garden of Night’s Flowers in the Senate House backfield kept the night at bay. The surrounding streets were open for business due to the heavy foot traffic that the Myrus citizens brought to the area out of curiosity. Everybody wanted to see the dazzling lights that Farrah had created.
Turim was one of the first merchants to put up shop outside of the Senate House when the flowers lit up. He sold day old meat that came from the farms on the outskirts of the city. There were a handful of customers that never wanted the entire goat or steer. Turim’s employers were happy to oblige their wealthy and returning customers, but it always meant they were left over with wasted product. It was Turim’s job to go out into the city and unload the unwanted meats from yesterday’s orders and make his employers’ more money. That meant Turim had to be where the people were. He was smart enough to know when there was a light there would be people. He had been to the Night’s Flower Festival several times over the years back at the Capitol. If Myrus was half as good as the Capitol then he was in for a good span of business.
“Have you seen our new selections?” Turim asked unsuspecting customers walking by. Turim pointed at the beef hanging from his cart. There was nothing new about it, but Turim didn’t need to tell the customers that.
“I can cook you two up a few pieces,” continued Turim. “It’s a nice night for a dinner lunch. You can sit back and admire the garden, eat, chat, have a great time. What do you say?”
The couple looked at each other. The man’s stomach growled and Turim’s eyebrows perked up. Then the woman nodded her head. Turim smiled.
“Two pieces, please,” said the man.
“Wonderful!” said Turim. He reached up for the slab of goat hanging from the top of his cart. He waved away a couple of Cate and Willem bugs, tiny insects that when mating, joined together and would become stuck. Unable to separate, the two bugs would slowly perish away after laying their eggs.
The insects formally known as elta bugs got their nicknames after a play about two young lovers, Cate and Willem. Their families were feuding with one another. The love affair lead to the climax where Cate’s family had finally had enough of the feud, and was going to move to Prial from Myrus. Cate, having only learned a part of the plan, chains herself to Willem, so wherever she goes he would follow, and vise versa. The act of passion and misunderstanding leads the two families to fight once more and ultimately ends with Cate and Willem’s drowning.
Turim dropped the beef down on his cart. He eyed the meat down and decided where he was going to make his cuts. Turim was going to short the couple a few ounces. He could get a few extra customers out of the slab of beef if he was careful with his rations. That way he could pocket a few coins before returning to his employer. They wouldn’t suspect a thing.
Then a few more Cate and Willem bugs began to swarm Turim’s cart. They were silent insects, but nonetheless aggravating. Turim waved his hand around his meat and brushed the insects away. His treatment did not last long. More Cate and Willem bugs began to appear. They were lured in by his food.
“I’ll have your meal ready to go shortly,” said Turim, trying to keep his customers calm. Once he got the fire going, the bugs would dissipate.
Turim reached down for his tools to start a fire. His arm came into view and several bugs were resting on his skin. Then his eyes started to adjust better to the situation. Cate and Willem bugs were everywhere. They were swarming the entire area.
The reception from the people on the streets started low. First it was a few mumbles about the bugs. Then it grew into annoyance. As the bugs began to surround the area, mild annoyance turned into full on panic.
A swarm of Cate and Willem bugs grew thicker in the air. They began to accumulate around the Night’s Flower garden. Their presence began to blot out the light the flowers gave off. The streets were left in shadows and some areas were in complete darkness. People ran in any direction. There were several collisions as people tried to escape from the swarm of insects, even if they were nonlethal.
Turim tried to save his cart from the mass panic. He hurriedly closed up his windows with several Cate and Willem bugs still inside. Then he started to drag his cart away from the area, but the streets were too congested to move quickly. Turim tried to force his way through, but the crowd overcame him. He and his cart were trampled by panicked individuals too afraid of the sudden attack of insects.
Slowly, the light at the heart of Myrus began to dim as the bugs throttled the area and began to consume the pedals of the Night’s Flower.
Chapter 61
“What are you going to do about this, Francesco?” asked Jordon. The revolutionary sat forward in his seat. The recent mood in Myrus had him anxious to be done with his campaign. Seres’ calm attitude was no longer a reassurance. Emperor Nikali’s attention was finally on Myrus and a line in the sand was going to have to be drawn.
“I’m handling it,” said Seres. He took another swig from his drink. Seres did not look like a man that was commanding a city surrounded by his enemy. He stretched out on his seat with Ellen by his side. Ellen kept close to her lover. Seres’ arm fit perfectly around her.
“No more of this,” said Jordon. “We came to you because we believed you could deliver us Farrah.”
“And I did,” said S
eres. “She’s here. She’s taking care of the city.”
“She is doing nothing,” said Jordon.
“She gave the city a lantern of hope,” accused Seres.
“And Nikali destroyed that,” said Jordon, “Just as he will destroy her if he gets the chance. And how few guards you have here? How does one feel safe? Where are your soldiers?”
“They are protecting the city walls,” defended Seres. He threw his cup away in anger. It crashed against the wall and splintered in to dozens of pieces. “Do not begin to lecture me on ineffectiveness. I am the shoulders that you have put the revolution on. Nikali sees me as the cause of his problems. He is coming for Myrus because I am the one that saved Farrah. If there is any ineffectiveness in this plan it is from you. What do you do Jordon? Yet, you come to my home and lecture me on the dangers that are coming.
“You are nothing but a fanatic. Was there ever actually a real plan? Or were you counting on yet again stronger leaders to plan for you?”
Jordon got to his feet. He tried to intimidate Seres and Ellen, but Seres was quick to respond. The two men stared each other down. Seres stood confidently. Even with several glasses of wine he knew he could challenge Jordon, who was nothing but an idealist pretending to be a fighter.
“The revolution is far greater than either one of us,” said Jordon. “It has to continue.”
“It will continue,” said Seres. “On my terms.”
“I am beginning to doubt our decision to bring you in,” admitted Jordon. “The Suraya is growing impatient. The people of Myrus are starting to talk. They are turning on Farrah. A beacon of light is not enough. Before long they will call for her head. How long will it take before they call for yours as well?” Jordon smirked at his last comment.
Seres felt a little twinge from the scar on the back of his neck. He knew all too well the horror of an execution.
“Battles are short compared to a war,” said Seres. “If we attack Nikali now we will lose.”
“I do not see it like that,” said Jordon. “If we give Nikali more time then he will only grow stronger. He is out there every night. Your men need to take him down.”
Eluan Falls: A Whisper of Fate Page 29
