Fragile Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Does anyone in the capital know her?’

  ‘Several claim to have heard of her,’ Dyam said, ‘but I think they’re full of shit. My guess is that they’re just trying to get in with her, hoping some gold might fall their way if they do. But then again, I’m suspicious of everyone.’

  Karalyn nodded.

  ‘So,’ Dyam said, ‘any suggestions?’

  ‘We need to remove the barriers from her eyes.’

  ‘That might be tricky,’ Dyam said. ‘We can’t exactly pin her down on the floor of the imperial court, and anyway, we need to read her without her knowing she’s being read. She’s surrounded herself with followers that she picked up in Rainsby, so she’s difficult to get to.’ She stood. ‘Let’s go, she’ll be arriving about now.’

  Karalyn stubbed out her cigarette and rose. She followed Dyam out of the office and past a pair of guards who jumped to attention. Dyam opened a door at the end of the hall, and they entered the imperial state room, where the Empress met those who had come to the palace to petition her. Armoured soldiers in polished breastplates lined the walls, while courtiers and officials stood at the base of the throne, where the Empress sat.

  Dyam and Karalyn bowed before the Empress, who nodded at them, then they took their places by the others next to the throne. Karalyn gazed out over the hall, where a small crowd was standing, waiting their turn to speak. Her thoughts drifted as the citizens made their appeals, and each was answered by the Empress. The main doors opened wide, and Dyam nudged her.

  Karalyn glanced up as a new group entered, dressed in the finest robes and bearing jewels that would have fed a village. In their midst strode the young woman she and Nyane had seen in the Old Town harbour. She was wearing a long, sweeping sapphire-blue dress, trimmed in gold thread, and her hair had been piled high above her head. Karalyn went straight for her eyes but was blocked again, in the same way as before. She caught Dyam’s gaze and shook her head.

  The new party approached the throne, the Empress watching them with a smile. A courtier stepped forward.

  ‘Your Imperial Majesty,’ he proclaimed, ‘may I present Lady Belinda of Fell Grange.’

  The woman stopped before the throne and performed a low curtsey.

  ‘Welcome to our court,’ said the Empress. ‘We have heard much about you, Lady Belinda.’

  ‘My thanks for seeing me, your Majesty,’ Belinda said. ‘I have come to offer my family’s gratitude for so many years of peace, and for the fine stewardship of the Empire under your reign. I also bring a token of my family’s appreciation and loyalty.’ She gestured to two of her retinue, who came forward carrying a large chest. They set it down and opened it, displaying the masses of gold bullion and coins within. Many gasped, while the Empress’s smile remained fixed.

  ‘I present this gift to your Imperial Majesty,’ Belinda went on, ‘in the hope that the empire will find some charitable use for it.’ She bowed low.

  ‘The empire is grateful for this gift,’ the Empress said, ‘and will appoint a responsible official to ensure it is spent wisely. Will you be staying long in the capital?’

  ‘I have secured quarters in the New Town, your Majesty,’ she said. ‘This is my first visit to Plateau City, and I hope to stay until Autumn’s Day, at least. Coming from such a small town, the prospect of living in this magnificent city delights my heart.’

  Karalyn frowned.

  ‘Enjoy yourself,’ the Empress said, ‘and feel free to attend court whenever you wish.’

  ‘I shall, your Majesty,’ Belinda said. She curtsied again, then backed away, leaving the chest sitting on the carpet, its contents dazzling in the sunlight coming through the tall windows. The group around Belinda also began to withdraw and, with the gazes of the nobles and officials upon them, they left the hall. As soon as they were gone, the whispering started, as the folk in the hall all turned to each other to talk about the new arrival at court. Dyam walked forward to the chest, and nodded at a couple of soldiers by the wall.

  ‘Take this to the treasury,’ she said to them, before turning to the Empress. ‘Your Majesty,’ she said, ‘I’ll make sure Lady Belinda’s gift is secured, counted and entered into the treasury accounts.’

  ‘Thank you, Herald,’ the Empress said.

  Dyam bowed. She gestured to Karalyn, and the two of them followed the chest-bearing soldiers out of the hall.

  ‘Five million,’ Dyam said, sitting at the table where the coins had been sorted into piles. On the floor beside her sat the chest, half-full with gold bullion. She snapped her fingers. ‘Just like that, she gives us five million. Do you have any fucking idea how much this is?’

  Karalyn shrugged. ‘A lot?’

  Dyam laughed, the noise echoing off the walls of the cellar under the palace. An accountant was kneeling by the table, writing in a ledger, while two soldiers kept watch at the door.

  ‘What are you going to do with it?’ Karalyn said.

  ‘Not sure,’ Dyam said. ‘What we’re not going to do is build a grand monument to her vanity. There will be no Lady Belinda University, or any other such nonsense.’

  The door opened and the Empress walked in. The accountant sprang to his feet and held open the ledger for her to read. Her eyes scanned the page, and she nodded to him and the guards, who bowed and left the room.

  ‘Well?’ the Empress said, turning to Karalyn. ‘Did you read her?’

  ‘I couldn’t,’ she said.

  ‘Same reason as Isobel,’ said Dyam.

  The Empress nodded. ‘What did you think of her?’

  ‘I don’t trust her,’ Karalyn said.

  The Empress smirked. ‘Aye, I think that goes without saying for all of us. But what’s she up to?’

  ‘I don’t think she’s working for the Rahain government,’ Dyam said. ‘They’d never waste that amount of money. They’d use it on more attacks.’

  The Empress frowned. ‘So it’s probably just power and influence, the same old vain rubbish. Well, she’s welcome to the attention. I’m sure she’ll be invited to every party in town.’

  ‘I’ll set a watch on her,’ Dyam said.

  ‘Keep it subtle,’ the Empress said. ‘She hasn’t done anything wrong.’

  ‘But she’s shielding her eyes from being read,’ said Karalyn.

  ‘Not a crime,’ the Empress said, ‘though it’d be interesting to know exactly how she’s doing it. Might try it myself. Fine. Get the gold secured. I have to meet delegates from the Amatskouri Mission, to commiserate over their loss. Compared to the massacre that happened today, Belinda’s gold is the least of my worries.’

  She turned to leave.

  ‘What shall we spend it on, your Majesty?’ Dyam said.

  Bridget shrugged. ‘I don’t want it. Give it to the poor.’

  Chapter 19

  Strangers

  Silverstream, Rahain Republic – 15th Day, Last Third Spring 524

  Ravi relaxed, a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He dangled his feet off the back of the stationary wagon, gazing up at the high ridges of the Grey Mountains. His sister sat next to him, her eyes wide with the view.

  ‘This is so beautiful,’ she said. ‘I love the mountains, well these ones anyway. The Forbidden Mountains are bleak and ugly, and I never want to go back there again.’

  Ravi smirked at her. ‘So you agree we should have come on this trip, then? About time.’

  ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘It’s Kerri who’s been miserable. When did you last hear me complain?’

  ‘That’s what I like about you, sis,’ he said. ‘You’re always up for trying out new things.’ He glanced at the path. ‘I wonder when Sable will be back.’

  ‘She said she wouldn’t be too long,’ Yanin said. ‘Do you want to hear something funny? When we first started travelling with her, and she told us she was an imperial agent, I thought that she might be one of those Holdings mages, you know, the ones who can see things from far away? I was getting a bit carried away with the whole
idea, but then when she had to keep going off for hours to scout the way, I realised that she was just ordinary, like us.’

  ‘I’m not ordinary,’ he said.

  ‘Yeah, I meant like me and Kerri.’

  ‘Good,’ he said. ‘Remember that me being a clay mage is the only reason we’re here. You two are just on the meal ticket.’

  ‘Have you forgotten whose fucking money got us to Anamindhari in the first place? Ungrateful asshole.’

  ‘Calm down,’ he said. ‘Your negativity’s ruining my mood.’

  ‘My negativity? You cheeky little bastard. I was the one…’

  She paused as Kerri emerged from the woods near the little stream where they had camped. Her hair was tied back and wet, and her face had a freshly-scrubbed look to it.

  ‘Feeling better?’ Yanin said to her.

  ‘I suppose.’

  ‘You shouldn’t smoke so much,’ Ravi said. ‘It’s making you grumpy in the morning.’

  ‘Piss off,’ Kerri muttered.

  ‘Kinda proves my point, no?’ he laughed.

  Kerri clambered up onto the back of the wagon and sat next to them.

  ‘I smoke so much,’ she said, ‘because I get sick of the way you two fawn over Sable.’ She shook her head. ‘You’re as bad as each other. Could you make it any more obvious that you both fancy her?’

  ‘I do not!’ Ravi and Yanin cried together.

  Kerri rolled her eyes and poured herself a coffee from the small pot.

  ‘Are neither of you at all suspicious?’

  Ravi shrugged. ‘Sable’s been true to her word. She levelled with us after we left Anamindhari, so we know where we’re going and why. And how much we’ll be paid. She’s kept us supplied the entire journey – food, wine, smokes, coffee. I don’t see what your problem is.’

  ‘Is it not weird that she’d spend so much money on strangers?’ said Kerri.

  ‘She told us,’ Ravi said, ‘Silverstream needs a clay mage, and the empire will pay what it takes to get one.’

  Kerri laughed. ‘And she just happened to find one travelling in the same caravan as she was?’

  Ravi glared at her.

  ‘And then,’ Kerri went on, ‘she just happened to let you see an open crate of crossbows? What, she’s this perfect agent and she makes a stupid mistake like that?’

  ‘Come on,’ Yanin said. ‘Do you think she was sitting in the back of the wagon for hours with the open crate, just hoping that Ravi would come round?’

  Kerri narrowed her eyes. ‘She was expecting him. Isn’t that right, Ravi?’

  ‘No,’ he said.

  ‘And did your sister tell you what Dana said about Sable?’

  He shook his head and glanced at Yanin.

  ‘It’s not important,’ Yanin said.

  Kerri snorted. ‘It was Sable’s idea,’ she said, ‘for the travelling girls to come and visit us. Sable told Dana and the others that there were two girls looking for work at the rear of the caravan, and that we needed their help.’

  ‘Sable told them that?’ Ravi said.

  ‘Are you getting it now? Sable’s been playing us the whole time.’

  Yanin shook her head. ‘All that dreamweed’s made you paranoid.’

  ‘And the sight of Sable in her tight little outfit’s made both of you blind to the fucking obvious.’

  ‘Alright then,’ Ravi said, ‘if you’re so smart, why don’t you tell us what’s going on?’

  Kerri looked away, frowning.

  ‘See?’ he said. ‘Your imagination’s gone haywire. The reality seems pretty clear to me. Sable is an agent for the Empire, and to get a clay mage to agree to go to Silverstream she’s used every trick she’s got: money, promises about our family, supplies, and yeah okay, her looks too. She knows how beautiful she is. Now all of that might make her a little dubious, morally speaking, but…’

  His sister started laughing. ‘Are you giving us a lecture on morality, dear brother?’

  Kerri turned to her. ‘Now him I can believe. But you? I thought you had more sense, Yanin.’

  ‘Despite my brother preaching at us,’ she replied, ‘he’s mostly right for once. Sable could have robbed us, killed us, sold us to bandits, whatever, but she hasn’t.’

  ‘And why would I do that?’

  They turned. Sable was walking towards them, a broad smile on her lips. Ravi gazed at her. Kerri was right, it was a tight outfit.

  The Holdings woman looked up at Kerri as she approached.

  ‘I know you don’t trust me,’ she said. ‘I just hope that when we get to Silverstream you’ll see I’ve been telling the truth.’

  ‘Is the way clear?’ said Yanin.

  ‘Yes. The path is guarded after a few more miles, and I checked in with the soldiers there. A scout’s been sent down to the town, to let them know we’re on our way.’

  Ravi smirked at Kerri.

  Sable walked round to the front of the wagon, and took hold of the reins.

  ‘My turn,’ said Yanin, and scampered through the back of the wagon to join her on the driver’s bench. Kerri and Ravi pulled their legs into the wagon as it set off, and settled down into the cramped interior. Sable turned her head to face them.

  ‘It’s only a couple of hours to Silverstream,’ she said as she flicked the whip. ‘Remember, everyone apart from a few in the town council thinks I’m just an arms trader. Let’s keep it that way.’

  Ravi nodded, while Kerri scowled.

  He shook his head at her. ‘You worry too much.’

  ‘You don’t worry enough.’

  He gazed at her. She had stopped wearing make-up many days previously, and her baggy, loose travelling clothes hid her figure from his eyes. He couldn’t remember the last time they had shared any intimacy, and the gulf since they had last slept together was too vast for him to bear thinking about. Were they even still a couple? He had given up on Sable. Although she flirted and looked, well, gorgeous all of the time, she had been firm in that regard. Kerri hadn’t seen any of his attempts, but she wasn’t stupid. Was it too late for him to make amends? Did he want to?

  He took Kerri’s hand, and she glanced at him, blinking.

  ‘I still love you,’ he said. ‘I’ve never stopped loving you.’

  She smiled. ‘You finally realised that Sable’s pants are staying on?’

  ‘I’ve been a fool.’

  ‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘You have. You got any reasons why I should believe you’re not going to carry on being a fool?’

  ‘This time it’s different,’ he said. ‘I’ll change. I have to, because you’re the one I want to be with. You’re the only one that makes me happy.’

  Her expression altered, and he could see that his words were having some effect.

  ‘Do you mean that?’

  ‘I do. Look, things have been messed up ever since we left Amatskouri, and it’s no wonder that we’ve all been a bit crazy. I mean, a couple of thirds ago, would you have believed how much our lives were going to change? And now we’re heading to this Silverstream place, to help the empire! It’s mental. I need you, Kerri. With you by my side, I feel like I can do anything. I’m nervous about this job, I’ll admit it, but knowing you’re there makes all the difference.’

  ‘Do you promise you’ll be faithful?’

  He squeezed her hand. ‘Yeah, I do. I don’t want anyone else, just you.’

  She leaned forwards and they kissed, and everything felt better.

  Silverstream was nestled in the folds and ridges of the foothills of the Grey Mountains, hidden from every approach. Guards stopped the wagon twice on the way, and each time Ravi heard Sable speak to them. By their greetings they seemed to recognise her, and Ravi felt a sense of relief. He sat on the crates next to Kerri, and they both gazed out of the canvas opening as the town came into view. It was larger than he had been expecting, and stretched out on both banks of a river. The ground had been flooded and the buildings had been constructed on stilts above the water, with wooden walkw
ays connecting the houses. Rakanese people thronged the streets, wearing clothes that Ravi would charitably describe as utilitarian. It stank of rotten fish.

  ‘That smell,’ Yanin said as the wagon slowed.

  ‘Fish sauce,’ Sable said. ‘A Silverstream delicacy. The locals put it on everything.’

  ‘But it smells disgusting.’

  ‘You’ll stop noticing it in a few days,’ said Sable. ‘Who knows, you may even start eating it.’

  Yanin laughed, blushed and looked away.

  The wagon was steered into a large parking area, lined with merchants’ offices and stabling yards. Soldiers by the entrance waved them through, and Sable drew the wagon up by a row of others.

  ‘Stretch your legs,’ she said to her three passengers. ‘But stay close to the wagon and don’t let anyone into it. I’ll be back in a few minutes.’

  She jumped down from the driver’s bench and strode off towards the offices. Ravi got up and clambered down from the rear of the wagon. He lit a cigarette as Kerri joined him. She took his hand, and he almost withdrew it, but remembered how he was supposed to behave. His eyes scanned the people working in the yard, and with practised habit he located the best looking young women within sight. He smiled. He would be faithful to Kerri, but it wouldn’t stop him looking.

  ‘So they know Sable here, then,’ Kerri said.

  ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Told you everything would be okay.’

  Kerri frowned. ‘Why are those people staring at us?’

  Ravi glanced over. A few wagon handlers were gazing in their direction.

  ‘We look out of place,’ he said. ‘Have you noticed how everyone’s wearing those awful, drab overalls? They’ve probably never seen anyone looking smart before. And their accents! Did you hear them on the way in? This place is weird.’

  ‘Hey, you two,’ Yanin called to them and they turned. A large group of soldiers was approaching, crossbows slung over their shoulders. Sable was in their midst, chatting to an officer.

  ‘These are my friends,’ she said as they got close, pointing to the three passengers.