Fall of the Tower
Part One
Cecelia Isaac
Copyright © 2019 by Cecelia Isaac
All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-1-7344185-3-8
This is a work of fiction. All names and characters are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual organizations, events, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Visit Cecelia Isaac's website at CeceliaIsaac.com. And please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Mattias
"—think they have a Fade working for them."
Mattias started at the word. A Fade? Impossible. Surely they were the stuff of ghost stories. He had no desire to square off against one of those creatures.
"Falling asleep, Freas?"
The sound of his fellow guard's voice drove all thought of a Fade out of his head. He shot a startled look across the gilt double doors at her: Cleo Jawego. He hadn't realized she knew his name.
They were alone in front of the grand entrance to the royal suites. Ahead of them, plush carpeting rolled down the hall in rich shades of red. He'd personally always thought it a waste of space, but what did he know of royalty?
Flushing redder than the carpeting, he made a noncommital sound and quickly looked away from Jawego. They shouldn't be conversing anyway, not on duty. Of course, he shouldn't be eavesdropping.
They were near the top of the tower. The wizards lived on the very top floors, while the royal family and nobility took up the next few floors. A few minutes earlier, Sorcerer Amadou had swept in, and had not waited to be seen into the inner chambers before beginning his earnest conversation with the prime minister. Normally, Mattias was not privy to such conversations-- he was young and ranked quite low on the hierarchy of palace guards. His position at the royal doorway was thanks to his higher-ranking sister. It was a mostly ceremonial posting anyway.
"I'm a bit tired myself," Jawego continued. "My father sent me a new manuscript, 'On the Use of the Pike Against a Mounted Assailant', and I dared use a bit of my off-duty candle to examine the plates."
Mattias looked at her. She was the picture of professionalism, back straight, eyes forward, one hand on her spear. Beneath her red-and-gold helm, she had deep black skin and deep-set eyes. He knew from seeing her around the mess she had hair braided tightly to her scalp, running in neat lines and bound by a leather thong at the base of her neck. With their full ceremonial kits on though, there was no sign of that hair.
"Turn your head," she said in a businesslike fashion. "We can talk, so long as we stay alert."
He faced front awkwardly.
"—much bigger problems, Amadou! Or have you not noticed we're under siege—"
The prime minister finally cut through Sorcerer Amadou's words.
Finally, some sense, thought Mattias. Who cared about some smugglers who may or may not have a Fade? Forget the ghost stories. They had some real, actual problems, and they could be summed up pretty easily: the walled city of Carnate had been under siege, for almost a year, by the Hji. Mattias would take this boring door duty any day over being on the wall, or worse, dealing with the unrest of the citizens of Carnate. He didn't know why the wizard cared about a little smuggling when there was hardly enough food to go around.
"How are you with a pike?" Jawego asked. "I find the manuscript quite enlightening. I will certainly have to take it to the practice grounds and try the forms."
"Manuscript?" he asked.
"'On the Use of the Pike Against a Mounted Assailant'," Jawego prompted.
Mattias frowned. "But you are already excellent with the pike."
He heard a gentle scrape of armor. Jawego must have turned her head to look at him. That was surprising. He'd never seen her be anything but the model guard. He thought back. Yes, her father was an ambassador. That might've been enough to explain her placement at the royal chambers, but Mattias suspected she'd earned the honor fair and square. Though they ranked the same, she had joined the guard several years earlier, and she was proficient with every weapon, as well as wrestling. Based on the times he'd seen her spar, she could trounce him in no time flat. Yes, he was certain she was already very good at the pike, and would no doubt rise through the ranks of the guard quickly enough. He, meanwhile, could use the practice.
"—surely economic stability is top of mind, so we may weather the Hji invasion—"
"Economics is hardly your area of expertise, Amadou. I can't imagine this is more important than–"
"Well, if you'd like to borrow the manuscript, I can bring it to your barracks once I've done with it."
"Oh, sure," said Mattias. Was she insulting his abilities? Had she seen him when he tripped and landed face-first in the mud? It was one time! Right when he'd first arrived for training. He hadn't been used to the gear, not to mention the regimented style of the guard. Oh, his sister had tried to drill a bit of order into him, but it had been slow to take. He'd made it into the guard nonetheless, on the basis of his sister’s influence, his general knowledge of fighting, and his skill with horses. That, he thought mildly, was a lot harder to gain than learning to follow the strict rules that made up life in the guard. Anyone could learn to run or fight or sleep on command. Horses were a different thing altogether, and plenty of new recruits rode like a sack of rocks, or worse, with their nerves so taut they were stiff as boards.
"Have you read any manuscripts of interest lately?" Jawego continued doggedly.
He tried desperately to think of anything he'd read before. Why did he spend so much time out playing dice? If he'd know an accomplished guard would be asking him questions, he would've prepared.
"Just...Kally's Ode..." he said lamely, of the very old text. Hardly very impressive, though he'd read it many times.
"On horses?" Jawego asked.
"Yes," Mattias said with embarrassment.
"The descriptions of the plains of Quan are truly lovely, just the way they look in real life."
"You've been?" he said with interest.
He saw her smile out of the corner of his eye. "Yes, when I was younger."
He remembered her ambassador father. "Did you see the emperor's Quan Ge breed?"
Jawego latched onto the subject. "Yes! Hundreds of them, running across the plains."
"Hundreds?" he said in fascination, his voice rising just a bit. "I've only seen one, and that one was illegal."
"The emperor likes to show them off for visitors," Jawego explained. "Some of Quan's common people have never even seen them, except for state affairs."
"Amazing," Mattias effused. "Maybe someday—"
He paused, the way all of them did now, ever since the siege began. He knew when he'd signed up to be a guard that war may come, and that he may fight and die. But he'd never expected it to come right up to the walls of Carnate, cutting him off from his family. He never expected the waiting of it all, the whole city holding its breath. It was so hard to talk about the future, when one could feel the press of the enemy. Could ascend the tower, look out the window, and see them at all times.
"We've got limited options now." Jawego addressed his hesitation and brushed it aside at the same time. There was nothing they could do, anyway. "But you like horses, then? We should drill together some time. I'm a fair hand myself. We can practice handstands on the saddle."
He smiled at the memory of practicing handstands with his sister when he was younger. "I can already do a handstand."
"Really?" she said. "While riding?"
"Slowly, of course," he said, not wanting to brag. Though he'd been happy to show the trick off to the other new recruits a couple months ago.
"Well, then I can teach you to backflip off then."
"You can do that, too!"
Mattias shrugged. "Well, I'd still like to see you do it. Perhaps there's more I could learn."
"I can't do one!" said Jawego, a little exasperated.
"But you just said you'd teach me?" Mattias said, confused.
"I lied!"
Mattias couldn't help it, he laughed. Jawego pressed her lips together to contain the sound as she laughed too.
The doors banged open. Mattias and Jawego leapt to attention. For a moment, Mattias was sure they were about to be punished. They were the first line of defense if an attack came, and getting distracted like that would surely result in demotion. His sister would be furious.
But it was only Sorcerer Amadou, storming out. The man wore the black robes of the wizards, his skin pale, his hawklike features framed by black hair, dark eyes, and a severe mouth.
Prime Minister Hestia Letteres stood in the doorway and watched him go. She shook her head and hooked her thumbs in her beaded belt. "My apologies," she said to Mattias and Jawego. He liked Prime Minister Letteres; she always greeted the guards, rather than acting as if they were invisible.
"Not at all, Madam," said Jawego deferentially. Mattias, as the less senior of the pair, remained silent.
Hestia Letteres returned to the royal chambers, and Mattias and Jawego closed the doors for her.
"Problems above our pay grade," Jawego noted.
He nodded in agreement. Personally, he'd be happy if he never had to work closely with a wizard. Not that Amadou and his people needed guards. He really shouldn't be afraid. It was Amadou who made the charms currently protecting him and his fellow guards. Amadou certainly worked nonstop to defend the walls against the Hji wizards.
Still, there was something wrong about being about to command that much power.
"Though maybe someday they'll be our problems," Jawego continued.
Mattias didn't know how she could still want to converse. He'd nearly jumped out of his skin when Amadou had flown out of the room. Still, he was curious. "You want to move up the ranks?"
"Don't you?"
"I suppose," he answered. Gaining a higher rank would have benefits, like more free time, higher pay, a room all his own instead of the barracks...
"With your riding skills, I suppose you could always quit and join the traveling circus," teased Jawego.
He pretended to consider. "Would I be able to wear a bejeweled outfit?"
"Of course, that's part and parcel to the performance."
"Well then, when can I start?"
Jawego giggled.
"Oh, look."
Their replacements rounded the corner. All four guards straightened and saluted once the distance had been closed. Mattias knew the younger of the pair, but this was hardly the place to chide her over the amount she'd lost at dice a few nights ago. He settled for a simple head nod.
He walked companionably with Jawego down the long, long staircase to the bottom of the tower. When they finally left the tower and passed through the gates of the nearby guardhouse, both of them relaxed.
"I'm due to meet my squad for saber practice," Jawego said as she removed the formal helm they wore for tower duty. "I'll see you later, then?"
Pulling off his own helm, Mattias enjoyed the cool air over his head and neck. His wispy black hair was matted against his skull from spending all day under his helm. "Yes, definitely."
She smiled, and he noticed it lit up her whole face, crinkling her eyes and lifting her ears. "Great. Bye, Freas."
She clapped him on the shoulder and moved toward the barracks.
"What are you doing, Freas?"
Mattias turned quickly upon hearing the voice of his friend, Piong. He pretended to adjust his kit. "Just off shift. You as well?"
"Keeping order at the market," said Piong, peering behind Mattias. "Was that Cleo Jawego?"
"Tower duty together," Mattias said shortly, suddenly wanting to keep his time with Jawego to himself.
Piong whistled. "Why are our best fighters on tower duty? We need Jawego on the wall."
"Hm," Mattias said noncommitally. "Well, I suppose the king needs the best." He puffed out his chest.
This drew a sharp "Ha!" from Piong, who punched his arm.
"Come on, let's eat something."
Mattias followed his friend toward the mess, only looking back once to see where Cleo had gone.
Moon & Renat
Moon peeled an apple with a knife. Sitting on a barrel, her boot heels tapped against the wood. When it was peeled, she cut slices and handed one to each child waiting around her. Their parents were likely nearby, clamoring at the market shop doors. As soon as they opened, the food would be sold out, and for exorbitantly high prices at that. Those who didn't get what they needed would eventually come to her. She happened to have plenty of food.
A sound went up near the market, drawing the attention of Moon and the children. Damn. The crowd must've gotten too rowdy, for the guard – the soldiers of the city of Carnate – were clearing people away.
Or trying to. The crowd had grown angry, and a few refused to be hustled off.
"Best be off," Moon said to the children, quickly handing the remaining apple slices out. The children scattered, some to their parents, others to wherever they lived on the streets of Carnate.
Moon considered heading back. But Renat wouldn't expect her for a while yet, and she wanted to watch. In the eleventh month of the siege, the city's mood had gone from fearful to angry. She pitied the guards, who were likely on half-rations themselves. Her gaze went to the tower, visible in the distance over the wooden homes that made up this part of town. The only people not suffering lived in that stone monolith.
Though when she considered the Wolves of the Hji breaking through the city walls, there was a chance she'd survive. If they caught the king, there was no doubt he'd be executed, along with every other noble and minister.
So she considered herself rather lucky. That, and, of course, she had plenty of food.
The ruckus looked like it would continue, and so Moon kept her spot to observe, ready to report back to Renat. No guard flashed their weapons to hurry her off. In fact, even if they looked directly at her, they could not have seen her. Moon was a Fade, and if she so chose, she was invisible to anyone with djinn blood. At the most, Moon had to pull her foot out of the way as a citizen was dragged off.
The guard took care of the growing problem with their larger numbers and larger weapons. They were nothing if not dependable, those city guard. By the time the hour chimed in a nearby temple, the crowd had been forcibly dispersed.
Moon fluttered back into sight, still on her barrel. Interesting, but not surprising. Tensions were high. That's why her business was booming.
With the square deserted, she ought to be off herself. Despite her ability to become invisible (or perhaps because of it), Moon preferred to dress well. Renat despaired of her brightly-colored jackets, jingling jewelry, and painted nails, as if he didn't also appreciate how her body looked in them.
Her body warmed at the thought of her husband. One year of marriage and he was still the sexiest man in Carnate. Maybe he could be persuaded away from his paperwork this afternoon. She found that he could often be persuaded from his paperwork.
What had she been doing? Ah, yes, the square was deserted and she, in her eye-catching outfit, should head home. This was the border of Renat's territory, and their rivals would not appreciate her pushing at them.
She jumped off the barrel, flicking her hair back and leaving the rest of the food she'd meant to hand out to the children.
Just then, sounds of a scuffle caught her ear. With the crowd dispersed and the guards off to other corners of the city, she didn't know who could possibly be about. Moon faded into invisibility, and followed the sound.
Around the corner, cast into shadow by the buildings around it, ran a short alleyway. Two figures in black cloaks pinned a third person to the ground.
Renat
would rescue the poor soul. Moon, on the other hand, made to leave. Then she caught sight of something. The two black-caped assailants had the red mark of the Demon's Breath stamped onto the fronts of their cloaks.
She couldn't pass up a chance to meddle in the affairs of her and Renat's biggest competitors. Coming up quietly behind the pair, she delivered two quick kicks. One doubled over as she hit his midsection, the other groaned as she connected with her knee.
This was all the time the woman on the ground needed. Without a 'Thank you' to Moon, she rolled up and away, and in no time was sprinting down the alley. Well, judging by the woman's dark outfit and face mask, she had likely not been up to any good.
"Nice to meet you, Moon."
She turned around in surprise. Damn. Demon's Breath crew had poured into the alley. Though they couldn't see her, they blocked her way out. She turned back – more blocked off the other side. She didn't see the woman anymore. Had she escaped? Or had she been part of the plan all along?
"Can we talk? Face to face?"
Moon didn't see any other option. She couldn't climb the walls, and didn't see a way to get through the crowd. At least no one had started shooting. She flickered into visibility.
The speaker was a woman with grey hair cropped close to her head. Her skin was dusky brown. She wore the same cloak as the others, with the same demon head with long teeth stamped in red at the breast.
"Loviva, I presume?"
Loviva, head of the Demon's Breath, bared her teeth in what could hardly be called a smile. Her teeth were filed into sharp points. Moon suppressed a grimace at the distasteful sight.
"If you want to speak with my husband, I'm afraid this is not the way to go about it."
"I do not want to speak with your husband. In fact, I hoped we might keep this meeting between us."
Moon arched an eyebrow, cool and annoyed.
"I'd like to propose a partnership. Your husband and I used to share this city. But he has been eating into my territory since the siege began. I want to even the field again."
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