Death

by Rosie Scott

  “I don't like being a victim, and that's always what it felt like we were. So I stopped. I stopped being a victim, and I gathered my forces and headed north with as many corpses as I could find in those sands, and the more I fought with Chairel, the more corpses I collected. For the first time ever, I saw fear in my enemy's eyes that I put there. In T'ahal, Chairel feared Eteri's reinforcements. We gave them a hell of a fight, but we were still defeated until the Vhiri showed up. But at the border? No, that fear was of Nahara. It was so satisfying seeing it, sister, and it's part of the reason why I couldn't wait to meet you here.

  “I was once one of your skeptics, Kai. My father allied with you and without Chairel and I thought it was the stupidest decision he'd ever made. I was thirty-six when I became king, and I'd spent my whole life up to that point fearing Chairel and hoping to become its equal. I had some semblance of political power. I had an army at my beck and call. I had the resources I needed to make a stand. But I didn't. It took me until I saw Nahara prosper and Chairel attack to bring us down again to finally act. But you? You fled Chairel with less than you started with. They'd wronged you in more ways than one, but you had no political power, or army, or resources. You had skills, intelligence, and crazy determination, and somehow that was enough to bring us to where we are today. Sitting in a tavern in the capital of the strongest country in the world, a capital that now belongs to you and is defended by tens of thousands of your supporters. This is why I wouldn't miss aiding you for anything. There is no person in the history of Arrayis I admire more.”

  Hasani's words swirled lovingly around my head, and I grabbed him into an embrace as we sat beside one another. “That means a lot coming from a man I admire greatly myself,” I told him, my voice muffled against his armor. “I wouldn't be where I am today without your support.”

  “I appreciate the sentiment, sister, but that's a lie,” Hasani replied as we separated. “Nahara was nothing but trouble and problems for you. This is why I pray our support makes a difference for you here, and in the time of peace that will hopefully follow when we have open trade and travel. As long as I live, I will try to repay you for the fortune you've brought my country.”

  “I would tell you that you don't need to, but you wouldn't listen to me,” I replied.

  Hasani laughed. “No, because I'm a bastard, as you once pointed out so long ago.” The king leaned forward, searching my eyes intensely for a moment. “You have a buzz, sister. Perhaps if I ask you to dance now, you will accept.”

  “This is how he kidnapped his wife, Kai,” Cerin commented in dry jest. Hasani and I laughed.

  I stood, pushing my chair back against the table before I held a hand out to the king. “I don't need a buzz to accept an offer of dancing with you, brother.”

  Twenty-four

  87th of Red Moon, 430

  The northern grasslands of Comercio waved in sheets of green and the gold of reflecting sunlight. The skies above were the brightest blue, and thick white clouds were so abundant that they appeared more like layers of rolling hills. The view made it seem like early High Star, but the chill in the air revealed such lies.

  Somewhere over that horizon, Sera awaited. I couldn't see it, but I could feel its foreboding promises. One of my greatest concerns was losing Comercio to the Seran forces while we focused on Narangar. Given the set-up of settlements in Chairel, there was no way we could leave Comercio to attack another city without taking that risk. But attacking Narangar was a long time away. Comercio needed tending to, and I didn't wish for my army to travel or fight in the severely cold weather of upcoming Dark Star.

  From where I stood on Comercio's northern wall, I oversaw Marcus and the other giants lounging on the grasses near to where Rek and his orcs went through the corpses from the last battle. Rek had been immensely helpful to our victory here. Because he considered himself as more of a follower of mine than an ally, he didn't expect much of me in return. Nonetheless, I was uncomfortable accepting aid from the orcs and having to isolate them without offering something, so I'd had a few thousand corpses moved to the north for them to loot freely from. Rek didn't loot from them himself, but he watched the others do so while shaving the sides of his head around his mohawk with a straight razor.

  “The orcs don't have access to a forge,” I murmured to Azazel beside me. “They need to repair their weapons and armor.”

  Azazel dug his thumbs in his pockets. “It's taken care of, Kai. Their gear was repaired first.”

  I frowned. “Since when?”

  “Since last week.”

  “I don't remember requesting it.”

  “You didn't. I handled it.”

  I switched subjects, pointing to the guard towers on either side of the wall. “Have these been restocked?”

  “With arrows, yes,” Azazel replied. “I also gathered both archers and mages for our guard force there. I think Chairel missed an opportunity when they only used archers.”

  “They used archers because the windows in the towers aren't large enough to safely throw magic out of,” I replied. “Mages will be wasted there.”

  Azazel jerked a thumb to the tower on his right. “You'll notice some windows on the lower levels are widened. I asked Maggie to do this in her free time. I will situate mages on the lower floors with archers at the top since arrows travel farther than magic.”

  I considered this for a moment. “I appreciate that idea, but if we widen the windows it gives enemy mages the ability to easily throw magic through them at us. Possibly elemental bombs that could kill all defenders on one level. If—” I stopped talking when I noticed Azazel hold up a finger.

  “I thought of that,” he said. “Before I had Maggie widen them, I told her those concerns. She installed wires around the windows leading to chargers. Much like her ship shielding systems, we can guard the windows. If a mage extends a hand out of the window and through its protection, they can cast magic into the field beyond. If someone throws magic back at the shield, it will reject it until it's out of energy.”

  I sighed, but it was due to overwhelming relief. “What would I do without you? Sometimes I just want to shower you with gold.”

  “Sometimes?” Azazel chuckled. “You want to do that all the time. That's your problem.”

  “Do you know how much I appreciate you?” I asked.

  “Yes. You tell me. You show me. I didn't grow to be this loyal to you without having reasons for it.” He hesitated, grinned, and added, “My liege.”

  “Stop calling me that,” I warned him, though I smiled.

  “Does it make you uncomfortable?”

  “A little, coming from you.”

  “Why me, of all people?” he questioned, sounding a little anxious.

  “I don't like the idea of you looking up to me like a leader.”

  “You are a leader,” Azazel replied. “And now that we've taken Comercio, I consider you a ruler.”

  “...I know,” I admitted hesitantly. “But I'd rather you refer to me as just Kai. I may be a leader, but I couldn't do all of this alone. I think giving me such a title downplays your importance, and I don't know that I'd be in the same place today if it weren't for you. You've been a lifesaver to me in more ways than one.”

  “You give me too much credit,” he replied stubbornly.

  “In all my readings of military history and the interpersonal relationships that war generals and leaders develop, do you know what subject I find the most fascinating?” I asked him.

  “I assume all of them,” Azazel replied. “You find most things about war fascinating.”

  I chuckled. “Yes, but something that remains consistent throughout history are the relationships between leaders and their right-hand men. Any historical figure of any importance has them, and if they're lucky, these people are skilled and loyal. When I was a child, I would read about these relationships and wonder what it was like to have one. I've always had the mind of a leader, Azazel. I risk my life for goals and ideals. But these right-hand
men, they selflessly risk their lives for the people they follow. In many cases, these men and women accomplish just as many things as their so-called leaders, but their names are hidden or not as prevalent in historical texts.

  “When we left the underground together, I cared for you, but I had no idea how important you would become to me. Out of all the Renegades, I've grown the most with you and because of you. You're supportive of me in my darkest moments. In my brightest moments, you applaud me and share in my joys. You continually encourage me to do better and be better, and it comes from a place of love rather than criticism. I finally know what it's like to have a right-hand man, and it is one of the most rewarding relationships I've ever had. I don't feel like your leader. I feel like your partner. So I'd rather you consider me an equal, and no, I don't give you too much credit. When it comes time to tell the Chairel scribes of our journeys, I'll let them know about every little thing you've ever done. You will accept this without complaining or downplaying your achievements, or may the gods have mercy on your soul.”

  Azazel chuckled, but it was weighty with emotion from hearing my praises. “Your words earlier made it sound like you were in disbelief over how these people could risk their lives for their leaders. By minimizing your own influence and actions, you fail to understand mine. You don't just risk your life for your goals; you sometimes risk your life and your goals to save and support those who follow you. That makes you worthy of such loyalty. I risk my life for you because you are my best friend, I believe in you, and I believe in what we're doing. Believe this is selfless if you want, but it comes naturally to me. I waited so long to have a friendship like the one we share and to have a purpose other than making it through each day alive, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let something take it from me.”

  I smiled at the strong conviction oozing from his tone. “I love when you spill your soul to me. You used to be so reserved and held-back.”

  “As I've said before, we influence each other. I believe it was Cerin who once said your fearlessness affected him. I sympathize with that. I know that no matter what I say or do, I will be supported and protected. Confidence grows from certainty.”

  “It does.” I patted Azazel on the back fondly. “I would love to spend all day with you feeding each other's egos with compliments, but I have to find volunteers to teach magic to our recruits.”

  Though Azazel turned to effortlessly go from a standstill to walking beside me, he said, “I took care of that yesterday.”

  “Oh, for gods' sake,” I blurted, and he laughed.

  “You can double-check my work, if you'd like."

  “Surely, there's something you haven't done.”

  “I did need to run a few things by you,” Azazel admitted, jogging down the steps of the wall beside me as we headed to the city streets. “For one thing, Maggie found a few volunteers to help her make the cannon shells, but we have a limited supply of metal. She wanted me to ask you about possibly having her work on upgrading the tower windows while the others handle the shells. She says they can do it alone.”

  “Yes, that's fine. If Maggie trusts their work, I trust her judgment. She's as much of a perfectionist as you are.”

  Azazel nodded. “Like I said, we have a limited supply of metal. At some point soon you'll have to decide whether you want to keep up the production of shells or weapons for the recruits.”

  “Depends on how many we have of both. We have thousands of weapons from the casualties. Over time as we clean up the battlefield we'll collect them.”

  “Yes, but you're counting on keeping many of the corpses here for Comercio's defense,” Azazel pointed out. “The corpses can't use the weapons if someone takes them.”

  I exhaled slowly, understanding his concern. “We'll compare our numbers of recruits to casualties. Recycle weapons wherever possible. If you could get the inventory numbers from Maggie on the shells, I'll make my decision on that tonight. I need to send Holter on a trip west to scout out Narangar's entrance. It's possible we can take the cannons with us there, use the shells on any walls or gates, and utilize Narangar's stock of metal for production of more ammo for Sera.”

  “Good plan,” Azazel agreed.

  Just as Azazel and I reached the bottom of the wall and took a few steps into the street, he slowed his pace beside me. I followed his gaze down the road where Calder strolled toward us with a purpose.

  “Hey, love,” Calder greeted. “You've been a hard one to find.”

  “I've been busy, slacker,” I retorted lightly, and he grinned.

  “I've been hard at work, I promise.” Calder came to a stop a few feet away, burying both of his hands in the pockets of his trousers and looking relaxed. “Recruitment goes well.”

  “Does it?”

  “Yep. A surprising number immediately say yes to my invitation, and many who don't are lured by our offers of teaching them magic. Others are sick or wounded and can't believe our offers to heal them for free. The ones who don't agree are just racist against necromancers.”

  “Cal...” I trailed off, as Azazel chuckled at Calder's wording. “Necromancers aren't a race of people. That's not how that works.”

  Calder shrugged lightly, humored. “Regardless, I'm doing my job.”

  “You're just taking an extended break from it, I see.” I motioned toward the street he'd walked down to get to us.

  “Actually, I have a special request,” Calder admitted. “Word has gotten around that I'm the one to see for recruitment, and I have someone with me who wants to join you. But there are two caveats. One, he's not much of a warrior, so he wants to be a part of your government instead of your army. And two, given his identity, he wanted to ask you in person.”

  I flicked my eyes back up to the road, but I saw no one who stood out. “Where is he?”

  “So you're interested?” Calder questioned with a smile.

  “When you explain him in such mysterious terms, I have to be,” I replied, and Calder chuckled.

  “I'll fetch him, love.” Calder turned back toward the street, but he only walked down to the first alleyway and motioned into it. When he walked forward again, a man emerged from the alley behind him.

  Azazel didn't need to tell me about the newcomer's golden eyes, for he was close enough that I saw them for myself. The god appeared human with a youthful face and demeanor and stood a few inches below six feet. His skin was a soft tan with a golden sheen, and he appeared to be a lover of jewelry and metal, for he wore a lot of it. Copper and gold rings adorned his fingers, and loops of metal pierced both ears. A golden ring looped out of his right eyebrow. His hair was golden as well, and though he kept it back from his face in a lazy ponytail, it would have been just below shoulder-length if he'd worn it down. The god did not wear armor, instead choosing to wear clothing reminiscent of the traders of Chairel and Nahara. From one shoulder hung a hefty high-quality leather satchel.

  Though Calder came back to stand with Azazel and me, the god stopped some distance away. His golden eyes looked me over with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. Finally, he lowered himself to one knee as passersby looked on in confusion.

  “It's wonderful to finally see you in person, Kai Sera,” he greeted, his voice friendly and warm. “I am Chance, the god of trade and fortune. I offer you my service.”

  “From afar?” I questioned.

  Chance laughed joyously, and I found myself a little confused. He was immediately charming, and I hadn't yet met a god who didn't reek of pompous arrogance. “I approach you carefully, is all,” Chance finally replied, glancing up at me from his lower stance. “You have reasons to distrust other gods given your history with them, and I heard you had difficulties fighting Amora in your battle. Like Amora, I also have an aura, and I don't wish for you to view this as suspect.”

  “Like Amora, can you control it?” I asked.

  “I can,” Chance affirmed. “I kept it from affecting your recruitment officer there, and I can keep it from affecting you. I understand
you have access to the lesser magics as well as the elements; if you'd like to charm me to ensure I am honest with you, I welcome you to.”

  “What does your aura do?”

  “It charms, but not in the way you know. I cannot get people to fight; I can only get them to become friendly and agreeable. My powers pacify people and warm them up to making deals with me.”

  “Ah,” I said, understanding. “For trade. Get up, Chance. Speak to me as an equal. I trust you are being honest.”

  Chance stood up, though he asked hesitantly, “Can you mind-read?”

  “No,” I replied. “Why?”

  “You trusted me without using your magic. I figured you would only do this if you knew my intentions were pure, so I thought you read my mind.” Chance closed our distance, and I didn't feel affected by anything as he stood before me.

  “I read people well. It is a natural skill I've developed over years of meeting and befriending vastly different people from many cultures.” After Chance nodded at my explanation, I asked, “Is the aura your only power?”

  “No,” Chance replied, putting his hands casually in the pockets of his pants as if he were talking to an old friend. “As awkward as it sounds, my personality is part of my skill. I lower the guards of people around me because of my natural charm, and my powers of persuasion are unrivaled and need no magic, though I know alteration and illusion as well. I am fascinated by supply and demand, and thus, I know the markets of Arrayis well and can predict the needs of settlements before there are shortages. My knowledge of the economy also keeps my mind active with ideas for solving market problems with inventions for solutions. Finally, I can transmute any metal to copper, silver, or gold, and I can also reverse it back. If Chairel were ever to fall on hard times, I could replenish your gold reserves freely and fix the economy.”

  For the first time since I'd met Chance, I felt a tinge of suspicion. I raised one eyebrow and said, “I find you intriguing, but there is one flaw with what you offer. Surely, a man with knowledge of world markets would understand that transmuting metal into gold to solve a bad economy would just make the situation worse. Overwhelming an economy with coin would only deplete its value.”