The whole area was an embarrassment for most of those who lived on the hills, something they ignored as much as possible. Some had likely even forgotten it existed. While it was technically the very heart of Nihlos, it was now the domain of the commoners, and with commoners came crime and violence. Once, when Nihlos was younger, the Nobles had walked freely here, even at night, unafraid. Of course, half of them were Meites at the time. Caelwen was uncertain which was a worse plague, commoners or sorcerers. Both were sources of chaos that made life more difficult for anyone charged with maintaining order.
In the end, it hardly mattered. This was his reality, and it was best simply to deal with that, rather than waste energy imagining ‘what if.’ The reality was that Nihlos was permanently divided between those on the ground and those in the sky. Most of the lower entrances to the great towers had been sealed long ago, leaving access only by the bridges above. There were entire networks of roads in the spans between buildings, and the roads below lay forgotten and in disrepair. It was only natural that the prison entrance was here; this was where the criminals were.
Caelwen knew what they were up to in there, and counted it despicable, but he had no power to change it. He could only watch and wait.
At last, the iron doors swung open, and a tall, hooded figure departed, moving quickly. What is his hurry, I wonder?
It was another half hour before a second, smaller hooded figure exited the prison. She was addled, weaving in a drunken stupor as she made her way along the darkened, littered street. With a sigh, he fell in behind her at a discreet distance.
She could have ascended to safer levels simply by climbing within the walls of the prison, avoiding trouble altogether, but she had taken it into her head that this must all be played like some cloak and dagger farce, which led to her wandering these dangerous streets alone. You are damned fortunate I take my duty seriously, Empress. It was the better part of a mile to the nearest public access to the upper levels. Guards would be posted there to keep the rabble out, but between here and there, he was her only defender.
As he expected, she quickly drew unsavory attention. A dirty, grinning fool emerged from an alleyway as she passed, stroking his tangled beard. He drew his weapon and set in behind her. Caelwen dispatched the man quietly with a single thrust of his blade to the side of the thug’s neck, pleased with himself that he drew no attention whatsoever. Not that even an explosion would have necessarily gotten through to Kariana, but the man might have had companions who would come running had he cried out.
A troublesome thought buzzed in his mind like an insect. Perhaps it would be better if she were to fall victim to some wretch. Nihlos would be better served with a competent ruler, would it not?
Wasn’t everything she had done since the Southlanders arrived proof of that? I promised they would be treated fairly! But she had taken things out of his hands, and hidden it all from the council by invoking security protocol. The council would never permit this if they knew. My father would not tolerate this.
Perhaps it would serve some higher duty if he simply let her go on her way alone.
It was a tempting thought, but he only entertained it a moment before putting it out of his head, cursing himself for his weakness of character that such things even occurred to him. It was excuse-making, shirking of duty for personal reasons. Perhaps Nihlos would be better off, but it was not for him to say. Wishing her dead was nothing noble. It was simply a personal hatred, a deep disgust with her. It was shameful for a soldier to think of such treachery.
Duty demanded he follow her, protect her, even die for her if need be. But love her, even like her? Duty asked nothing there, save that he hold his tongue.
Narelki had just begun to undress for the night when there came a knock upon her private chamber door. She cursed under her breath, and called out in a stern voice, “What do you want?”
Slat’s voice, muffled by the door, called back, “A visitor, mistress.”
Narelki scowled and immediately regretted it. Her face scowled back at her from her vanity mirror, showing far too many lines. It was considerably more youthful and regal when she showed no expression at all. “Send them away. It is late.”
Slat persisted, his voice strained. “Madam, it is the Empress.”
Narelki frowned at this news and saw more wrinkles at the corners of her mouth. Mei! This can’t be good. She forced the frown away with some effort, banishing the wrinkles for the moment. They will return soon enough. “See that she is comfortable in the library and tell her I will be out shortly.”
“It will be so, madam.”
Narelki sighed and began dressing again, thankful that her hair was still proper. The timing was a nuisance, but it could have been worse. She checked her appearance in the mirror one last time, then, satisfied, made her way toward the library, her mind filled with questions about what might have led to this unannounced visit.
Nothing she imagined compared to the truth. Kariana was a wreck. What is she wearing? It looks like something Aiul would use for surgery. The Empress was slouched over the arm of the couch in a most undignified pose, covered in blood and sobbing. Has she been raped?
Slat stood by, stiff-necked and obviously irritated. Narelki was pleased to see he had, as usual, thought ahead, and covered the couch with a sheet. “She is quite inconsolable, Mistress. I can offer her no comfort. She only spoke once, when she asked for you.”
Narelki waved him away. “Leave us.” Slat moved to obey, but she changed her mind. “Wait. Bring water. And liquor.”
“What sort?”
“I don’t care. Just do it quickly.”
Slat nodded and went to do as he was bid, closing the doors behind him, and Narelki turned to her visitor. “If it is something you would not speak of in front of a man, he is gone.”
Kariana opened her mouth to speak, but choked on the words as she sobbed. She blew her nose into a rag she held clutched in her hand. Please keep any bodily fluids to yourself!
Narelki was uncertain which was more revolting, the filth or the wretched weakness. “Stop this mewling and tell me what has happened,” she commanded. “Were you raped?”
Kariana shook her head. No.
“Robbed, then?”
Again, no.
“And you still don’t see fit to vocalize your problem? Has your tongue been torn out, or are you really this pathetic?”
That seemed to have the desired result. Kariana’s eyes flashed with rage, and she slurred, “It’s your son who’s pathetic!”
Narelki blinked in confusion momentarily, struggling not to reveal her shock. Aiul? What could that even mean? And at any rate, the problem was clearly drunkenness and not assault. “You’re wasting my time. If you have something to say, then say it, or I shall return to bed.”
“Wretched hag!” Kariana cried. “I am Empress! You dismiss me like a whore?”
Narelki felt the edges of her lips tremble as she struggled against laughing out loud, but she managed to keep her face fairly serene. “Really, dear, you are quite the little whore. I should think you would be used to it by now.”
“I’ll kill you for talking to me like that!”
That was simply too much. The laughter burst forth from Narelki’s lips, a series of cruel barks with no real humor. “You are welcome to try any time you like, child,” Narelki told her, her words hard and sharp as the edge of a blade. Kariana quailed, the fire in her eyes fading, replaced by fear. As it should be.
Narelki pursed her lips in disdain. She’s as bad as Aiul, though much easier to intimidate. “Is this really what you came here to talk about? It matters not a whit to me who you fuck. I’m hardly likely to marry you. Not that anyone else is, either.”
That got to her. Kariana began to bawl again. “He’s already told you, and you mock me!”
Narelki raised an eyebrow, allowing her genuine surprise to show just a bit. “No one has told me anything. And as for mocking you, House Amrath has ever given true, honest counsel to
House Tasinal. Calm yourself and explain.” She clapped her hands and looked about in annoyance. “Slat! Where are you?”
The old slave opened the library door and entered immediately. “Awaiting your call, madam.”
Narelki nodded approval. “Serve us and leave again, please. I’ll call for you if I need you.”
Once Slat had closed the doors behind him once again, Narelki turned an icy stare upon Kariana. “You have something to steel your nerves. Get on with it.”
Kariana swigged vodka, grimaced, and cast her eyes down in shame. “I offered him everything.” She turned pleading eyes toward Narelki. “Everything! And he turned me away.”
Narelki massaged her temple with her fingertips, wondering just how well she could hide her growing frustration, both with Kariana and Aiul. “And you’ve come to ask for me to intervene? Mei, you really are confused.”
“You’re his mother! His House Elder!”
“And I have had this very discussion with him before, for all the good it did.”
Kariana’s face lit up with hope. “About me?”
“About anyone of some decent birth, but he would hear none of it. And, yes, your name was mentioned. He was quite clear that he would not even consider the matter.”
Kariana’s face fell once again. “But why? We loved each other before!”
Narelki rolled her eyes. It’s not an act! She really is this stupid! “I believe it was the ‘whore’ thing.”
Kariana leaped to her feet and hurled her disgusting rag at Narelki. It flew far wide and landed, miraculously, in the trash bin. “Fuck you!” she shouted.
Narelki allowed herself a slight smile at the serendipitous failure. How fortunate. Now even Slat won’t have to touch it. “I shall have to decline that offer. I prefer my partners have some discretion.” She suppressed a scowl of disgust as Kariana began weeping loudly once again. It wouldn’t do to completely alienate her. This was important after all, and it behooved House Amrath to tolerate this nuisance for the moment.
Narelki felt a dull anger begin to creep into her mind as she listened to the Empress of Nihlos blubbering like a school girl. Even now, these long years past since Narelki’s fall from grace, she still thought in old ways, still looked upon such behavior as pathetic, worse than useless. Aiul was right about Kariana. He was far too good for this creature, no matter whose blood ran through her veins. Was it any wonder he refused her?
How unfair the world was, that a beautiful, proud, brilliant man like Aiul should be condemned to the periphery while a toad like Kariana sat upon the throne. And for what? Tradition? She spat upon the notion. Tradition was a crutch for weaklings and fools.
Even as the thought occurred to her, she felt ill, knowing the source of her own deep philosophy, but unable to deny it. It was a part of her, even if she was no longer a part of it.
Her anger notched higher as Kariana prattled on. The Empress of Nihlos was on her knees, offering Aiul the throne, and he, blinded by an infatuation for a commoner, was fool enough to throw it all away. Why could he not see that once he had power, he could rid himself of this creature and take any woman he wanted? She was but a stepping stone to his destiny.
Narelki knew all too well how emotion could blind one to necessity, make one hesitate at a critical moment. And such hesitation was like a loose thread on a fine garment. Time would work at it, unravel it until there was nothing left.
She realized that she could not permit this to occur. She had ruined her own life with such idiocy. Now, these long years past, she was watching history repeat itself with Aiul, but there was a crucial difference. She had not had the benefit of a wiser soul looking out for her. Aiul did.
I am his mother. I must protect him from himself.
Kariana’s memory of the trip home was as blurry as her vision. She wasn’t quite certain just how she managed to find her way to her private chambers, but that is where she suddenly found herself, desperately trying to fend off wave after wave of nausea. She had just begun to master it and undress when there came a knock upon the door. “Fuck off!” she shouted.
A woman’s voice, muffled by the door, answered. “Kariana? Are you all right?”
Kariana recognized the voice, and her anger fled from her in a flash. It was Marissa, her one true friend. She hurried to the door and opened it, not bothering to cover her breasts. “Oh, Marissa! I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you! I’ve had such a dreadful day! Come in.”
Marissa was a fat, mousey girl, not the sort that anyone would call pretty, though hardly hideous. She stood in the hallway, her uncombed brown hair dangling over her hunched shoulders, hesitant. Her eyes, magnified by thick-lensed glasses, seemed uncertain as to whether she had heard correctly. After a moment, she gave Kariana a crooked-toothed smile and shuffled forward to embrace her friend.
“I heard terrible things,” she sighed as she embraced Kariana. “I was so worried about you!”
Kariana felt more tears begin to well in her eyes. What a wonderful feeling it was to hear such things, to feel such regard, after all she had been through. She hugged Marissa tightly for a moment, then stepped back and took a seat on her bed, gesturing for Marissa to follow.
Kariana felt a sharp pang of guilt as Marissa joined her. She had always regarded the girl as a sister, if an ugly, ungainly one. The girl moved like a zombie at times, and Kariana had harbored any number of selfish, cruel thoughts about her. She had often counted on Marissa to make her look so much better by comparison. I’m the ugly one, to think such things.
Marissa looked at her in silence for a moment, then spoke. “What’s wrong, Kariana?”
Kariana opened her mouth to speak, closed it again and swallowed hard, then opened it again. The words began to pour from her, a stream of pain and humiliation. Marissa stroked her hair as she told her tale, saying nothing, judging nothing.
When, at last, it was done, Marissa smiled and announced: “He’s an idiot. He doesn’t deserve you.”
“I wish I believed that.”
“You will,” Marissa assured her. She smiled again and reached into her pocket. “I have something for you. Something that will help.” She handed a small packet to Kariana.
Kariana smiled sadly as she opened the package to find a small cache of crystallized powder. She licked the tip of her finger, dipped it into the powder, and put her finger back in her mouth. The powder dissolved against her tongue, leaving it slightly numbed. Warmth and goodness began to seep into her troubled mind.
“Yes,” she sighed. “I think it will.”
Marissa waited until Kariana’s eyes were dilated and her jaw slack then reached in her pocket again. “Kariana, will you do me a favor?”
“Of course!” Kariana mumbled. “Anything.”
Marissa lowered her head in a practiced pose of shame and reticence. She threw in a bit of fidgeting to boot. “Maybe it’s not such a good idea.”
“Don’t be silly. If you want it, I want it. What?”
Marissa pulled at her shirt and allowed her face to crease into a grimace. “Some of the guards….” She trailed off and let out a tiny sob.
“What?” Kariana’s eyes were large and concerned. “What did they do?”
Marissa lowered her voice to a whisper. “Last time, they made me do some things while I was waiting for you. They hurt me.”
Kariana’s face twisted in stupefied, drug-addled rage. Good! That’s just what I need! “Mei! Who? Who did it! I’ll have them put to death!”
Marissa smiled inwardly. “I spoke to my elder about it. She wrote a death warrant, but you would have to sign it. But I don’t know, now.”
Kariana’s eyes blazed with righteous anger, even dulled with drugs. “I’ll sign it twice! Do you have it with you?”
Marissa produced a document from her pocket, silently congratulating herself at her play. Now she thinks it is her idea. Kariana snatched the paper from Marissa, struggled to her feet, and staggered across to her desk. She flailed about briefly for a pen,
then smiled gratefully when Marissa pulled one from her pocket and presented it to her.
“Bastards!” Kariana hissed as she scratched her name on the document. “Scum! Elgar take them!”
Marissa took the signed death warrant and placed it back in her pocket, then gently guided Kariana back to her bed.
“You should rest now, Kariana.” Marissa stroked Kariana’s hair again as the Empress slowly settled back against her pillows. Before long, Kariana’s breathing grew steady and deep. Shortly thereafter, she began to snore.
Marissa pulled a blanket over Kariana, then went back to the desk and rifled through the papers there, but found little that she did not already know about. The Empress was poor at keeping secrets. It was fortunate for Nihlos that not every House was too self-absorbed to monitor what this incompetent was up to. Without us, the fool would have already run the city into the ground.
Marissa took the death warrant from her pocket and examined it. The signature was a scrawl, but verifiable. The three names marked for death were unimportant. They weren’t even real people, as far as Marissa knew. They would be replaced in short order with the real ones: eighty-some-odd guardsmen who knew too much for their own good.
With a self-satisfied smile, Marissa slipped the death warrant back into her pocket and blew out the candles. She would receive a commendation for this, she was certain. House Prosin always took care of their own.
Chapter 6
Conflagration
Narelki, seated at her desk in the library, tapped her foot on the floor, waiting for Aiul to finish his rant. This was not at all how she had planned to spend her morning, most especially after having been kept up late by Kariana’s idiocy. Yet here she was. The men she had hired had obviously failed, and she would have to deal with the fallout.
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