Heric had to pause. He had not reported any of this to Aldrin. He would never show weakness to the madman.
“Where have you gotten your information?” Heric asked.
Aldrin smiled. He snapped his fingers. Genom grunted. He kicked the animals to move forward. They shuffled toward the others. It became clear what they were.
Two people were covered in dog’s fur. The skin completely surrounded them. Its seams were visible on the belly.
“Do you like my new pets?” Aldrin asked. “I found that befriending an actual dog meant a short life span. This way I can have a pet for years to come.”
Rasid looked up at his former emperor. He and his wife had discovered the Tcher Islands were not the haven they had been promised. He tried to cry out for help but his mouth guard prevented him from speaking.
Heric restrained himself. His rage fueled into his fists. He held back every second he saw the two people suffering as animals.
“Release them this instant,” said Heric.
“They came to me, Emperor Caning. They left your distraught empire, crossed the End Sea to my shores. They belong to me now. If you touch them our alliance is over.”
“What do you want?” Heric demanded to know.
“I want these avadons.”
“Absolutely not,” said Heric. “I will not have you roaming my country looking for those monsters.”
“And why shouldn’t he?” Marina stepped in. “The more eyes looking for those demons the better. They need to be eradicated.”
“Listen to your wife,” said Aldrin.
“Unlike myself, she does not have a history with you. Return to your islands. My men and I will handle the avadons. There is no need for you to get your hands dirty.”
Aldrin stood up from his chair. His bones creaked under the weight of his small frame. He straightened his robes. Genom once again kicked his pets. The Tcher men left for the door. Heric reluctantly watched them go.
Before they left, Aldrin stopped. He turned around to address Heric one last time. “I hope you change your mind, Emperor Caning. In case you do, I’ll be staying near shore. My ships will be ready.”
“Return to your home,” said Heric.
“No,” defied Aldrin, “I am here to help. We will offer aid to those who need it. My ships will reach across the entire coast of Eluan. We will be seen by every town, every village, every person that wants to escape to the east from your new enemy. I will welcome them onboard my ships with open arms. They will remember the legends of old. The Tcher Islands welcome all who come. We’ll take them back to the islands where they will be safe from these new invaders. Then I will sit back and watch as the remains of your empire drown in its own tears.”
“Leave,” ordered Heric.
Aldrin turned away. He and his guard left the palace. His ships were waiting.
Chapter 9
Heric waited until he had the message that Aldrin and his guards were beyond the Capitol walls. It did not take long. Aldrin left directly from the palace.
When the message came Heric turned his attention to his empress. Marina had already retreated to her quarters. Heric followed her alone.
He burst through the doorway. Kastor and Tyeche attempted to stop him where he was, but Heric was ready for them.
“Do not lay a finger on your emperor,” he ordered. The two Louson guards stopped in their tracks. “All of you leave.”
Kastor and Tyeche glanced at each other. Then they looked back at their empress. She gave no surprised that Heric had barged in on them. Gracefully, she walked to her two guards. A nod was all they needed. They walked out without saying a word.
“And your confidant,” said Heric. He looked over at a young girl sitting in the corner. She was Marina’s fourth confidant in the year. They never stayed for very long.
“You may go,” Marina said, waving off her assistant. Only then did the girl exit the room. Heric waited until him and his wife were alone. The door clanged shut. His rage could finally come out.
“What did you think you were doing?” Heric asked.
Marina’s smile dissolved. Disgust protruded from her eyes.
“I was solving a crisis.”
“Aldrin is not a solution to anything.”
“He will hunt the avadons. I see no drawback in that,” Marina defended.
“I will not have that man roaming my empire. He has done enough damage as it is. The avadons have already destroyed cities. Aldrin will only do the same.”
“He is your ally. Is he not? Stop shaking in fear. You are the emperor of the greatest power in the world. Use it.”
“Aldrin is a mad man. He has turned his island into a warworld. Every child goes through training. They either drop out into poverty or succeed into riches. Those men that surrounded you are killers. Eviton is one of the best fighters I have ever seen. He will kill whatever is in his way, friend or foe.”
“Yet here we stand,” said Marina.
“The Treaty of Prial gives us a lead,” said Heric. “Aldrin must have weaker forces when coming to the mainland. It was the only way my father would help him.”
“You would rather spare an avadon’s life than let that man be on our land. Those avadons are the monsters. Let Aldrin help. He has an army that can destroy the beasts.”
“I am not going to let Aldrin push me around. My father made many concessions because he feared Aldrin. That will not happen to me. He will stay in exile.”
“Or what?” Marina taunted. “I see so much passion in your eyes. I haven’t seen that since the day we met. What will you do if Aldrin doesn’t stay in exile? Are you prepared to go to war with him?”
“No,” Heric said honestly. He knew a war with the Tcher Islands would only lead to more destruction and bloodshed. His army outnumbered them five to one, but Tcher was far deadlier. No one would be named the victor.
Marina reached down and grabbed Heric by the groin. She caressed him for a moment. Then she leaned in to whisper into his ear.
“Stop fighting everybody,” she said. “You’ve kept me at arm’s length since we were married. You lead your empire into indecisiveness. There is talk of change. Will you be leading it or pushing against it?”
Heric took Marina by the wrist. He forced her hand away from him. “I am merely biding my time. Change will come. This marriage is one of them. Stay out of my business.”
Marina yanked her hand free from Heric’s grip. He turned his back to her and began to walk out.
It didn’t stop Marina from getting in the last word. “They expect a child from you Heric. You can’t keep me away forever. I am the Empress. You cannot take that away from me. Our day will come.”
Chapter 10
A small town resided south of the Majon River. It was called Selour. The town thrived off of the fish in the sea and the river nearby. Unlike its neighbor to the north, New Salid, Selour traded enormously with the Capitol. The Majon River connected the town to the major city of the empire.
In the recent months, many of the people of Selour were getting sick. Boils spread across their skin. They coughed up blood. A citizen died every day from the mysterious illness.
It was a devastating burden on the town. New Salid would not help. They had closed themselves off to their neighbors decades ago. Selour was left to fend for themselves. The little help the Capitol sent to them did no good. In many of the cases, the soldiers and doctors sent to Selour got sick as well. Quarantines were built, but shortly after the outbreak started the entire town had fallen under the deadly disease.
Then Aldrin the Ageless and the rest of the Tcher Islands intervened. He offered aid for the town in need. He had enough supplies and food to help sustain Selour until they could weather through the sickness that was spreading.
Reluctantly they accepted his offer. The people of Selour were desperate, and the Tcher Islands were still allies. The day after they accepted, soldiers from Tcher came marching in offering blankets, food, and water to everyone. Selour w
as on their way to recovery, and all they needed was an extra helping hand to get them back on their feet.
Aldrin was on his way back to the End Sea from the Capitol. The Tcher soldiers occupying Selour and its citizens were all grateful to see his return. They readied a celebration in his honor. He was their new savior.
Chapter 11
Cassandra carefully stepped through the refugee camp. She took great care not to touch too many of the people around her. She had to stay clean for her client. The messenger boy she followed had no such goal. He pushed his way through the crowd under the promise the faster he brought the woman the more money he would receive.
The stench immediately made Cassandra regret her choice of coming down there, but the boy was persistent. Her day had already been planned out. She had an evening planned with a senator from Sabtre. After the destruction of Myrus, Sabtre was becoming one of the more influential cities in the empire. Cassandra promised to entertain him during his visit to the Capitol. She would do whatever she had to for him to be in her pocket.
She already went to the baths earlier in the day. Her blonde hair was still wet. When the boy pushed for her to follow, she threw on some old rags. They draped over her body concealing her luxurious shape.
It angered her more every second that she gave in. She couldn’t resist though. Somebody down in the refugee camp was asking for her. Hers was the only name the man would mention. A bit of pride came with that knowledge. Had she stricken a man so love sick she was all he thought about in his time of despair? Cassandra had to know.
The boy led her down more alleys, past tents and shelters until finally they arrived at one of the medical wards. People everywhere were sick. Cassandra lifted her rags over her mouth before she continued inside. A guard was sitting across the room near a door. He was nudged awake by the messenger boy knocking him on the arm. He was eager to get his money.
Cassandra watched as the boy pointed in her direction and then stuck out his hand. The guard grumbled before he gave the boy three gold coins. Cassandra was surprised at the amount the boy had received. She knew somebody important had to be behind the door.
The guard signaled for Cassandra to approach. He stretched as he stood up from his chair. Keys dropped from his hand. They danced around a ring before he found the right one.
“Who has been asking for me?” Cassandra asked.
“I don’t know,” said the guard.
“What has he said?” asked Cassandra. Any information would have been helpful.
“Nothing,” said the guard.
“What do you mean nothing?” Cassandra put her hand on the guard’s. She stopped him from opening the door. “He asked for me. How did he ask? What does he look like? How much money does he have on him that would pay a boy three Remy coins to find me?” Cassandra was getting agitated. She wanted to know more before she went into the room. Any bit of foresight could help in consoling the man on the other side.
The guard looked Cassandra straight in the eye. Whatever drowsiness he had in him was gone. “The money came from us. He didn’t so much as ask for you as he just mumbles your name. He’s brought nothing but bad fortune since he arrived at the Capitol with the guards, but nobody seems to want to get rid of him. We want him gone. You’re here. He’s your problem now.”
The guard threw the door open. He didn’t wait for Cassandra to say anything. He walked off, washing his hands of the situation.
Cassandra stared off in disbelief. Her journey to the refugee camp was looking less and less like a good decision. The smell grew stronger. Her rags were doing nothing to prevent the stench from getting to her nose.
Inside the room was a man laying on a cot. He was face down. Half his body hung over the edge. His hand twirled in the dirt. He was mumbling something that Cassandra could not understand.
“How do you know me?” she asked the man. She was only a few steps inside the room. She could easily leave and close the door behind her for added protection.
The mumbling grew louder, but it was still incomprehensible. Cassandra found herself walking forward a few steps. She was drawn to the man’s words. She wanted to know what he was saying.
The man stirred in his bed. Bits of hay attached themselves to his hair and beard as he turned to face Cassandra. The two made eye contact. The man grinned. Cassandra froze in shock.
“Suns rise in the west. A tamor catches a fish,” said the man.
“Nikali,” she responded. “You’re back.”
Chapter 12
“What am I expected to do?” Heric asked Forman. They were in his training room. Heric’s only moments of relaxation were when he was going through battle routines. There was a rhythm that soothed him. He and Forman continued to learn strategies from Louson. They remembered what they had been taught years ago and they tried to expand on that. There own experiences with the avadons helped in creating new fighting techniques for later battles.
Forman stopped what he was doing. Their training was over.
“You have never told me why you do not trust her,” Forman said. They were talking about Marina. It was a constant subject of the two when they were alone. Heric found himself stuck with her, but he did not have a solution to get rid of her.
“She has not shown me a reason I should,” said Heric. He had not yet told Forman about the letter Nikali gave him. That was his only secret.
“She helped us get out of Louson,” defended Forman. “She accepted Nikali for what he had done. Even Alexus would not have predicted that.”
“She is causing more problems. She will not listen to me,” said Heric. “The way she invited Aldrin into the Capitol and practically the rest of the empire is unforgivable.”
“Marina made a mistake. She does not know of the history between Eluan and Tcher. Tcher is our ally whether we like it or not. She was playing the role of Empress.”
“She wants a child,” said Heric.
“It is expected, Heric,” said Forman. “There are no heirs to the empire at the moment. Without one, civil war will leave us in ruins. A successor needs to be made. Your father chose her because she was fit for the role. She is a princess. Your child will have two worlds to stand on. It is what’s best.”
“I thought over time I could come to love her. Find some kind of affection for her. But I cannot. I do not want her to be my wife,” said Heric.
“I liked Abigail,” said Forman. “But it was never going to happen. I’ve told you this before, and I will continue to tell you this until you get it into your head. Abigail was a servant girl. Beyond that she was from Prial. Neither the Royal Council, nor the soldiers would ever follow a Prial Empress. Relations between the empires were rough before the war. Then Tcher turned it into a massacre. There is no going back. Prial is history.”
“I could have made it happen,” said Heric. “My council is ready for changes. They would have accepted her.”
“It still does not matter. She is gone,” said Forman, harshly.
“That does not mean Marina wins,” said Heric.
“Very well,” said Forman, “You say you cannot trust her. Is there enough for an execution?”
“I will not kill her,” said Heric. That last thing I want is for the relations between Eluan and Louson to fall apart. Destroying the bridge did not help.”
“Then we don’t rebuild at all,” said Forman. “Marina is executed and we erase the time with Louson from our hands.”
“What do we know about the Louson King?” Heric asked. “Alexus told us very little. Have you seen the books? Only short chapters have been told about him.”
“The books only mention his later years. What does it matter?” asked Forman.
“You saw him,” said Heric. “That was not the face of a man that will give up a future. He has been through wars. If we do not rebuild that bridge he sure will. Creating enemies on either side of the empire is a fool’s run. We can not abandon Marina because of my pride. Tcher is our biggest problem, nothing else. There has t
o be another solution.”
Marina was nearly prepared for her walk. Kastor and Tyeche stood near the door, waiting for their empress. The only thing keeping them from their afternoon jaunt was Marina’s newest confidant. The young girl was sent away to deliver a message almost an hour ago. She had yet to return. Marina was beginning to think this new girl, whatever her name was, would not be her confidant for very much longer.
Finally, there was knocking on the door, but the knock on the door was not as timid as Marina had expected. Tyeche turned to open it. Kastor put his hand on his sword. The blade was ready to be released.
When the door opened Tyeche took a step back. He opened the door wide for their new guest. Forman stood in the doorframe. His shoulders touched each side. Kastor and Tyeche saluted their superior. Marina stepped forward to greet her friend.
“Forman,” she said, “What a pleasure. I was not expecting you. You haven’t seen my confidant, have you? She is supposed to be delivering a letter.”
Forman came into the room. His hand never left the butt of his sword. “I have a message from Heric.”
Marina’s smile tightened. “Wonderful,” she said.
Forman did not wait for her to say anything else.
“You are to no longer speak to any members of the Royal Council. They have duties with the Emperor, not with his wife. You are to remain in the palace living quarters. You may visit the gardens and take trips around the city under protection of Eluan guards.”
Marina’s smile disappeared. “Heric said this?”
Forman never flinched. He stared at Marina as coldly as Marina stared at him.
“You skirted danger with Aldrin, against all manner of thought for the rest of the people.”
“Aldrin is not as bad as everybody makes him out to be,” defended Marina.
“He is worse,” said Forman.
“Then why an alliance?” Marina asked him.
“He has only ever been a means to an end,” answered Forman.
Eluan Falls: The Tides of Utter Undoing Page 4
