A: Ch. 5.3

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. 

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