Kya had
missed her beautiful castle. She missed the fragrant flowers in delicate vases
scattered around the many rooms, she missed the birds that would chirp her
awake at her window each morning, and she missed the exquisite food served at
each delectable meal.
What she
didn’t miss were the people.
The royals
were all pompous little pricks who felt that their title made them the
equivalent of a god and their spawn were raised to think the same. The council
was made of old lords and scholars who were too old and senile to properly
understand the world around them. Many didn’t even believe that there was a war…
The only
people Kya truly liked were the clerics that used to roam about the castle.
They were friendly and gave good advice regardless of whom they gave it to.
When Kya was a child she used to think their hats look like large, inflated
saucers with funny little tassels, but the sight of them now was comforting.
Most were gone, though. Liore had told her that the King had dismissed most of
them before he fled.
Kya wondered
where they went. There were other sanctuaries in the country, other houses of
worship, but the Salvation of Serenity had been the center of their religion.
Every member of the order had been trained there and many made pilgrimages
yearly. It was difficult to imagine the Order dissolving before her very eyes.
There was
one person left, Kya reminded herself: Master Silae. The Master had been the
leader of the Order for nearly half a century. Just before King Odin died,
Master Silae was appointed to the head of the Council in an effort to join the
religious efforts with political ideals. The seat was permanent; not even Yaro
could strip him of that title. Silae would have to die before another could be
appointed.
Silae was a
good friend. He had been the one to comfort her as she learned of her father’s
death, and then again when she was stripped of her title. He consistently did
all he could to support Kya while metaphorically jabbing a fork in Yaro’s eye.
He was old, and age had not been kind to the weary man.
At least Kya
would see him this last time. He had been heartbroken to see her volunteer for
this mission. The healers had to sedate him with poppy serum and willow milk.
Kya could still his face across the hall as she announced her plan to kill
General Hilt.
If only
Silae knew what she had wrapped herself into now. She had become a fly trapped
in a spider’s web with no escape in sight.
“Try to at
least smile. You’re supposed to be the first person to return alive from Beinn,”
Hilt teased.
Kya ignored
him as they wandered through the long and empty passages. It took a moment to realize
how odd the situation was. The Third General was leading her through her own
castle to meet with the Council.
“How do you
know the route?” Kya asked, trying to match his brisk pace.
“I explored
the castle and memorized the layout in case of a quick escape.”
“Escape from
what?” Kya asked.
Hilt looked
at her as if she were a fool and ignored the question.
“Now
remember that here I have the authority and you do not. It would be best if I
spoke,” Kya said, trying to reaffirm her position. She hated feeling like a
child around him.
“I won’t
speak unless you say something stupid,” Hilt said in defense.
“You will
not speak at all,” Kya corrected.
Hilt only
rolled his eyes and smirked.
The pair
finally managed to navigate the catacombs of halls and stairs before coming
upon the large ash doors to the Audience Hall. They were at least ten times
taller than Hilt was with hundreds of carvings, most of which were of roses and
thorny vines. There were two guards in front of it and one slipped away to
announce their arrival.
“You look
nervous,” Hilt whispered under his breath as Kya tugged at her skirt and
adjusted her gloves.
“I thought
we discussed the speaking thing,” Kya snapped.
Hilt
shrugged and pulled back just as the doors were swung open and a booming voice
announced them. Kya could only feel the vibrations in her body but couldn’t
understand the words. It was almost as if her ears had turned off. Why was she
nervous? Probably because she was bringing the most hated man in the country
before the council and not as a prisoner.
The council
was small; there were fewer than a dozen that remained in the Capital. The King
truly was afraid of something, wasn’t he? They were organized in tall benches
that wrapped around the hall. The ethereal waterfalls pounded behind them yet
no mist or sound would disturb them.
“Lieutenant
Kya,” said a familiar voice. The craggly frame of the old Master stood up, his
cleric’s hat wobbling and the tassel swaying precariously. “We are so pleased
to see you in the flesh. We had been informed of your success in your mission
by Princess Liore but were uncertain of the authenticity.”
Kya smiled,
not missing that he still gave Liore her proper title. ‘My proper title,’ she had to remind herself.
“The encryption
must have been misread,” Kya said calmly. She played with Liore’s lie for fear
that she would face severe consequences if it unraveled. But first, the
formalities. “I am honored by the presence of the council and would like to
introduce Damien of Vawl. He was brave enough to rescue me in a time of need
and has been my escort since.” Her teeth were clenching but she forced herself
to relax.
“Vawl? I
thought you were to go to Beinn?” Silae asked. Many of the councilmen were
eyeing the dark skinned lad beside her.
“I did reach
the capital city of Beinn and I was able to locate the position of Third
General Noden. I was unsuccessful in my mission as he slipped from the city
without me seeing. This was no failure, though,” Kya continued. “I have
valuable information, though most of it was accumulated after my escape.”
“Speak, my
child,” Master Silae said, giving her a sweet, smile, despite having lost all
of his teeth.
“I have
learned the fate of our previous assassin, Sir Lorant.” A ripple of whispers
fluttered through the small handful of councilmen.
“We assumed
his failure nearly a year ago. What information could you have?” asked Master
Silae.
“Sir Lorant
remained a prisoner in the city since his capture. I happened to be in the city
during his execution. Apparently they had been saving him as the General had
not seen an assassination attempt in some time and didn’t want to disappoint
his spectators.” Kya felt her voice grow cold and could feel Hilt’s eyes
burning into her. She ignored it.
Master Silae
seemed troubled by this news, but he did not speak of it. “What else, my child?”
“While in
the city I learned that many of the Generals had been sent on various missions,
one of which is to further explore the Far East Island.”
“But why? It’s
impossible to reach,” said another councilman, a fat, balding man with such
impressive chest hair that curled out of his collar.
“I do not
know. Apparently they have found a way to climb its walls. The concern is how
close they are to our islands and waters. Their technology is advancing faster
than we ever predicted. I heard rumors that they have dedicated an entire city
in their desert to create new weapons of warfare.”
Again, there
was more mumbling, but this time many were laughing. They thought she was
lying! Flushing, Kya tried to keep her face stoic.
“Tell us of
how you escaped,” Silae said, silencing the other men.
“Leaving the
city was easy as the uniform we had stolen gave me the authority to access
nearly all parts of the city. Unfortunately I was separated from my party long
before the rendezvous point. They appeared to have assumed my failure before
the agreed time limit and left without me. Without a horse or any gear, I was forced
to travel north on foot.”
“The
soldiers have not returned, and neither has young Cress,” Silae informed her.
Kya only assumed as much. Cress wouldn’t have arrived before they did.
“I finally
made it upon the city of Vawl whose people were kind enough to give me food and
shelter.”
“They are
good people,” said a tall, thin man with a beard long enough to touch his toes.
“Yes, they
were.”
Kya paused
as her statement permeated the oblivious barrier of the council.
“I do not
understand, Lieutenant,” Master Silae said slowly.
“The town
was ransacked by a squadron of Nibhein soldiers led by the Fifth General. I can
only assume they came in from coast because their numbers were too few to have marched
through Cauntin or Eirain. I may be wrong, though. I do not know the status of
either city. I assume they are safe because of their unsteady loyalty. They may
very well have simply joined Nibheis without a fuss.”
This time
there were no mumbles. Instead, every man in that room was roaring and yelling
and arguing and turning purple with anger.
“Silence!”
Master Silae ordered, but people were still speaking.
“This sounds
like a lie fed from the south,” growled the fat man who had spoken before. “What
proof do we have that any of these things are true?”
“We are
supposed to believe this woman who
was too craven to even enter Beinn and attempt her mission?” snapped a
thick-waisted man with a neck like a wild turkey’s.
“I told you
what occurred,” Kya insisted, feeling the heat form on her cheeks. “How was I
to capture the Third General when he was not there?”
“Coward!”
cried the same man, leaning over his rail to point his bony finger at her. “All
of these stories you tell are nothing but a jumble of lies! First we hear of
your success through this phantom letter, which you admit to be a lie, then you
arrive without any escorts save for a bloody southerner on your arm—“
“He is no
southerner!” Kya growled.
“—who
probably doesn’t even know the common tongue, and then you expect us to believe
that you not only escaped with your life from Beinn when all others have failed,
but that you also managed to escape from another
General in Vawl? Even if that is true, it is your duty as a soldier to
never abandon a city in need!”
Others were
nodding and agreeing with him and Master Silae did all he could to quiet the
rowdy bunch.
“I had only
a dagger on my person and I was weary from travel. The only reason I escaped
with my life is because of this man beside me,” Kya insisted.
“And with
that dagger you should have been able to kill a hundred of those filthy
southerners!” croaked the smallest of the men. He was a head shorter than Kya
and could barely see over the railing.
“Yes, if
anything, this farmhand—“
“Smith,” Kya
corrected.
“—is a
better soldier than you! If anything you should be discharged and learn your
proper place: keeping the bed warm of a decent man!”
Kya was
fuming. Her fingers clenched at her sides and her eyes darted from person to
person. They were all laughing and agreeing. One even offered his bastard son
as a suitable husband which sparked even more jeering. These were all Yaro’s
men, Kya knew. They were loyal to him and him alone. Only a couple knew of her
true title—Silae included—but they all knew of the hate King Yaro had for her.
She had to
try a different tactic. “Vawl is destroyed and I know that Nibhein ships will
be coming from the east. We must take as many men as possible to protect these
coastal cities!”
“Protect
with what? An army? There is no more army in this city,” said the fat, balding
one. “Didn’t you notice it’s deserted when you arrived? Or is that head of
yours too filled with straw to look around! King Yaro took most of the soldiers
North with him. The few that remained were scattered about the country. We have
no force here.”
“And protect
from what? These all sound like lies created by the south,” insisted the short
one. “Her fragile, female mind was tainted with sweet words and she is too daft
to see beyond the fog.”
“Silence!”
Silae warned again. This time the whole room fell quiet save for the fat one
who was grumbling and tapping his thick, pointed fingernails on the arms of his
chair.
“Master
Silae,” Kya said, falling to her knees and bowing her head. “I promise you that
all I have said is true.” It was difficult to say such words to a man who had
been a loyal friend, but Kya had no choice. “We must unite our own ranks and
protect our people. Nibheis is on the cusp of controlling the entire continent.
It is only a matter of time before they reach the Capital.”
“The Capital
will never fall!” insisted the man with the turkey gobbler. “The Gods will
protect us from such heinous people.”
“Those Gods
you speak of are the same Gods who the King of Nibheis prays to each night.
What makes you think those Gods will favor you over them?” Kya growled.
The remark
startled many of the members. Apparently they hadn’t realized they were praying
to the same deities.
“The
Spirits,” Silae said quietly, “have helped us thus far. We have trusted their
wisdom through prosperity and ruin. Beliefs may have faltered, and many lives
have been lost, but their guidance cannot be questioned.” He gave a small
smile. “I believe you, child, though others may cast doubt. Unfortunately, the
King must have final say in all tactical maneuvers. Our eagles and hawks have
not been able to find his caravan so we can only assume he is deep in the
Fortress’ depth. It will be some time before we can communicate with him.”
“So we are
doomed to sit here like lame ducks?” Kya spat.
“Nibheis has
yet to cross the great Luisant River. We are safe for now until the King
returns.”
“That could
be months! Years, even! What about the cities that lie south of the river?”
“We shall
not forget about them, Lieutenant. We will protect them.”
It was an
empty statement. Silae knew just as well as she did that they had no cards left
to play. The only way to override the King’s rule was for the council to come
to a unanimous decision. Most of the council was with the King and what few
remained were firmly against any action. It was almost as if they wanted to get
killed! No, they just believed themselves invincible.
“May the
Spirits be kind to you,” Kya growled through gritted teeth. She quickly rose to
her feet and spun around to exit the room without waiting to be excused.
She heard
Hilt follow a half step behind her and could practically feel the questions he
was burning to ask. He bit his tongue and did not speak until they had long
disappeared into the hallways.
“That went
well,” Hilt teased, smirking broadly as he easily kept pace with her.
She ignored
him and tried to get to her room as quickly as possible.
“Don’t be
mad at me. I kept my end of the bargain; I didn’t make a peep,” Hilt said,
giddy as child.
“I don’t
want to speak about this,” Kya hissed, trying to focus on her breathing.
“About what?
The fact that both of your titles are completely worthless and you might as
well be a mouse living in the cracks of the castle? Or perhaps you don’t want
to talk about the fact that your country is in shambles and your King did the
one thing that will guarantee Nibheis’ victory?”
Kya could
feel the sting of angry tears in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
She did not cry anymore, about anything.
“I guess
they won’t miss you when you take me north to your Fortress. It will be simple,
really. They seem to be looking for a way to get rid of you and they’ll hope
you die in those nasty snows. And here I thought this would be difficult.”
“I swear, by
Aru’mat the Baleful, if you continue speaking, I will scratch out your eyes,
rip off your balls and sew them to where your bloody sockets. I will then chop
off your cock and shove it so far down your throat it will come out the other
end,” Kya threatened.
“Well, it
would take a bit of effort to do that, for you see I’m exceptionally gifted
down—“
“Don’t!” Kya
growled. She never wanted to hear the rest of the statement and certainly never
wanted to see him exhibit it. Ugh. The thought alone made her gag. Praise the
Spirits, though, they had just arrived at her room. She quickly marched to her
door and flung it open.
“Leave me
alone,” she warned as she stomped inside.
“What?” Hilt
asked, looking like a scolded puppy. “And here I thought I could help you out.”
Kya doubted
it. Without a response she slammed the door shut and collapsed on her bed,
praying that Velrin the Ephemeral would allow her to vanish into thin air.
