Chapter 21 - Seduction and Scheming
"The Empire marked its establishment 2,042 years ago. Amidst the chaos of the rule of the Sorcerer-Kings, the Undying Queen looked upon the world and the despair and suffering of its people and decided that it needed to stop. The next day she raised the banner of the Eagle and the Sun for the first time. From then on the days of the Sorcerer-Kings were numbered. No more would the common people, and even the nobleborn, live subject to their capricious whims. Instead Her Eternal Majesty offered a new vision, a life of peace, prosperity and justice. The first of the Seven to fall was Maldrak of the Veil. His foul experiments weakened the barriers between the real and the Weiryd, causing concern among even the maddest of his peers. Her Eternal Majesty’s wisdom was matched by her cunning and she was able to convince two others of the Seven to work with her to strike a blow that reverberated through the ages. Of course her alliance with Talia Miral and Alphar Likuta would not last, for their betrayal was inevitable.”
Two Thousand Years of Empire by Jahangir Amini
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As Velxe nattered on, Ester resisted the urge to groan. She had forgotten how uncomfortable a horse could get after hours of riding. She couldn’t show her discomfort though. She’d thought she’d just be going with Velxe and perhaps a couple of his retainers, but it seemed like the nephew of the lord of a Great House warranted more than that. A squad of guards rode them, supervised by a couple of knights and leading a whole array of servants and packhorses. It was ridiculous, but she didn’t want to show any weakness in front of them.
After a moment she pushed her attention back to Velxe, who fortunately hadn’t noticed her discomfort. Or if he had, it hadn’t stopped him talking. At least he had nice eyes. “So you see, the big question was, why did the Republic choose to attack the Empire? They must have known that they were outmatched, but they still launched a surprise attack deep into our territory.”
It was an interesting question. Ester couldn’t claim to know much about the relationship with the Republic. She’d read plenty of history at the Academy, but the Republic’s decision to turn against the Empire was rather more recent.
“Perhaps they thought that they could do enough damage to achieve victory before the Empire could fully respond?”
Velxe shrugged, “Perhaps they did. However, that is a strategy towards victory, not a reason to start a war in the first place.”
He had a point, although his tone was rather unimpressed. Ester gave herself a mental shake. She was just letting herself be affected by recent events. Velxe was nice and also very interesting, he wasn’t patronising her, she was sure.
“The Republic have their beliefs do they not? I would think that would make them see the Empire as their enemies, regardless of the military situation. Perhaps they wished to bring their ‘people’s revolution’ to the Empire.”
“Maybe.” Velxe’s tone carried over how little credence he gave the idea. “However, their fanaticism can be exaggerated. They…”
“But is it not true that their whole ideology is opposed to the Empire?”
Velxe frowned at Ester’s interruption. “Of course, but even their populist belief system has nuances. Their government was considered much more moderate prior to the Itrian War. It is only since then that they have reached their current heights of madness. One might almost say that their defeat led directly to their current government.”
“Why would that be the case?” Something flickered across Velxe’s face and Ester glanced away, ignoring her own spike of irritation. “Would their defeat not encourage them to see the error of their ways?”
“Is that how you react to defeat? If so you are less stubborn than most.”
Ester felt her face heat. She wasn’t going to let herself get angry with him. Not least because he had a point. He didn’t need to sound quite so patronising though!
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Velxe could not say that he was enjoying the first day of his trip with Ester Mazar as much as he might have liked. ‘Take her on an adventure and talk to her like a scholar. Chances are she will love you for it.’ Those had been his grandmother’s instructions, but it just did not seem to be working. Everything he did just irritated her more. With an internal sigh he pushed down his worry and pressed on. It would not be the end of the world if he failed. His grandmother would be disappointed, but no more than that.
“You have to understand though, the tension on the border has a much more complex interaction than you would think because of the trade links. Peaceful trade will come up the Karan for example, but that does not stop incursions across the border in other places or minor conflicts from occurring.”
The hint of a frown marring her forehead grew and she looked away from him for a second. He could tell he was irritating her, but just could not work out why.
“Yes, I understand that that is the case. What I do not understand is why.”
Velxe resisted the urge to sigh. Modesty aside, he knew he was intelligent and well-read. Most of the women he had interacted with did too. Some of them had no interest in intellectual pursuits of course, but those that did were almost always delighted to hear his thoughts on matters of import. Why, only a few weeks ago Ramutha Sepria had been hanging on his every word. It was a pity she was only the daughter of a Baronet, she would have made a far more agreeable match.
With a mental shrug he refocused himself on the task at hand. “It is quite simple really. Borderlands are always a relatively lawless area and the public face of both governments does not always match their private intentions. For now they profess peace, but both the Empire and the Republic will be testing each other’s boundaries. That will never be allowed to be a barrier to making money though, obviously. So you have the tension between the two, you really should try reading ‘On Polities and their Relationships’ by Sergo Alharan, it provides a wonderfully accessible, basic introduction to these kinds of things.”
Ester’s frown deepened further. “Thank you, I shall be sure to do so.” Her tone of voice was as cold as he had heard from her though. Perhaps she simply was not interested in such things? She truly was a conundrum. He was sure she was intelligent, his grandmother certainly seemed to think so, but she seemed almost shockingly naive. He would just have to do his best to help her with that and see what else he could do to impress her. At least she was pretty. This would have been practically intolerable if not for that.
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Metli took a slow sip from her porcelain cup, enjoying the subtle taste of the tea. An import no doubt, the Empire did not produce tea of this quality, but there were benefits to being the daughter of a Count.
“I am so glad you could find the time to visit. It must be so exciting going off into the wilderness to serve Her Eternal Majesty.” She allowed herself to simper a little at the man sat opposite her. It was not too difficult. Mohsen was more than good looking, despite his unfashionably short, brown hair. Well-muscled of course, but her eyes were drawn to his strong jawline and prominent cheekbones. The black leather that he wore, adorned only by the silver crossed-lightning bolts on the collar, accentuated his physique very pleasingly too.
“Of course I am happy to spend time with such a beautiful lady as you. Especially when we are related by marriage. I heard so much about you from your cousin at the Academy. Family is important after all, even for those of us that have had to leave it behind.” Metli had barely known the boy before he was sent off to the Academy, but she supposed the minor branches of House Velia would always be seeking to take advantage of the glory of their betters.
Instead of sneering she gave Mohsen her sweetest smile. The kind that made men want her and underestimate her at the same time. “You are far too kind Lord Deljou.”
“Please, call me Mohsen.” He returned her smile. He really was a handsome man, one of good breeding too. If not for his status as a Mage he might make a good marriage prospect, although his family were not from Vass Karan. As it was, she could see the arrogance oozing off him. Like most Mages. Although he at least had reason to be proud of himself and his birth.
“Mohsen,” Metli’s smile widened. “You must of course call me Metli then. There is no need for excessive formality.”
“Of course,” his eyes flicked over her again. Of course they did. He likely thought she was seeking a discreet liaison with the dashing new Battle Mage. More fool him. “It must have been frightening to learn that both a Weiryin and a necromancer were running free in the city.”
Metli made herself look down. “Of course, we were all terrified,” she lied. “Especially when we heard of the Inquisitor’s death, but it was his sacrifice that has kept us safe. His and the work of Mages like you.” She should have been one of them. She was strong enough, probably stronger than Mohsen was.
“Do not worry, the city is safe now. It is fortuitous that we were in the area and able to assist. I must confess though, I am shocked that these threats were allowed to exist for as long as they did. Thank the Throne that they were discovered when they were.” He did not directly criticise anyone of course, but he had come close enough.
Metli nodded emphatically. “Yes! We were very lucky.”
“A Mage from the Watch found them, is that right? They do not tell us new initiates all that much. Half the time it is like being an apprentice again.” He chuckled as if he had made a joke.
“Lady Mazar, yes.” Metli resisted the urge to let her lip curl. That girl was too far below her to warrant a visible reaction.
“Lady Mazar… You do not mean Ester Mazar do you?” He actually knew the girl? Metli took a moment to think. Of course, he was likely only a little older, they must have overlapped at the Academy. This was excellent! Suddenly a tedious encounter that she had been unable to avoid offered all kinds of potential.
She blinked a few times as if in confusion and let just a hint of the contempt she felt leak into her voice. “Why, yes. The Watch’s newest Mage, in bonded service I believe. Do you know her?”
“Ha! You have Killer running around your city looking for problems, no wonder there was such a mess!”
This time Metli’s confusion was genuine. “Killer? What do you mean? Was she that powerful?” She knew that the girl had reacted rather explosively to being attacked, but surely a Battle Mage would not be impressed by her uncontrolled outbursts.
Mohsen grinned and stretched langorously, no doubt trying to attract her attention to his body as he did so. “No not at all. Let us just say that she did not quite fit in.”
Oh. Metli perked up. This was going to be golden. She had been looking for ways to put the girl in her place without going against her father’s commands and it seemed that the Undying Queen was smiling on her today. She matched Mohsen’s grin.
“Oh really? Do tell.”This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
He shrugged and looked down. “I should not say anything, I would not wish to be rude.” Mages did like to put on a public face of unity, but like most public faces it was only skin deep. He certainly was not fooling her.
Metli reached out, almost touching his hand and then pulling hers away before their chaperone could comment. “Come now, you cannot tease me so. Perhaps a story for a story, I certainly have some interesting ones about what Lady Mazar has been doing here.”
Mohsen hesitated for a second, likely pondering whether to make any further show of protest, then shrugged. “It was just a bit of amusement. When she started at the Academy she made a show of telling everyone how she was going to be a hero and go on adventures once she became a Mage.”
“How sad.”
“Yes, it was rather. She could have done better if she had kept her position in mind I suppose, but she refused to accept it.” He smirked.
“Still, why Killer? Was she dangerous?”
“Great Spirits no!” Mohsen laughed. “As I said, she went on far too much about wanting to learn combat magic. As if. That was bad enough of course, but no she got the nickname after some arguments she… No.” He suddenly shook his head, “I should not be talking about this, she remains a fellow Mage.” Metli clamped down on the swell of disappointed anger within her. He was just playing hard to get.
“Most interesting. I understand of course, but I was curious because of her… erratic behaviour here. Of course I would not question a Mage’s right to do as they will, but there have been incidents.”
He leant forward, a hint of concern in his voice. “Incidents?”
Yes, she had him. Metli lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Do you know that she demolished a whole swathe of the road outside the Starfall Palace running after some common thief because one of them snuck up on her and dropped a sack on her head?”
Mohsen snorted. “Really? That does sound like something Killer would do.”
He sounded almost amused. That was not the reaction she had wanted.
“She could have killed people. Many important nobles live in this area! It cost my father a not inconsiderable sum to repair the damage she had caused. Why he even helped her like that I do not know!” With an effort she brought her temper back under control. She would not get far if she allowed herself to express her true feelings about Ester.
“Hmm, yes I think she did have a temper.”
“So was that why you called her Killer?”
“I suppose so. As I said, she had an unfortunate fixation on combat and adventure. However, I think people were calling her that after she started challenging people to duels over one imagined slight or another.”
“She challenged people to duels?” Metli gasped dramatically. Another illustration of her unsuitability to be a Mage. If Metli had been able to go to the Academy, she certainly would have known to have kept her mouth shut about any desires for adventure and she was not even some upjumped commoner.
“Well I know that she fought two. I did not know her well, I joined the Academy a year ahead of her, but for a while she was the talk of the place. Let me think…” Mohsen leant back and tapped his chin. “Yes, there was one with Jarad over… I am not sure. I think he made a comment that she interpreted as an insult and so she challenged him.”
“What happened? Did she win?”
“Great Spirits no! He was a year senior to her and was being considered for training as a Battle Mage. He showed admirable restraint, I do not believe she had any visible injuries afterwards, although I was not there.”
“A good man then.” She would not have worried about that if Ester had been foolish enough to challenge her.
“Mmm yes indeed. More tolerant than he maybe needed to be.”
“Why would losing a duel get her the nickname Killer though?”
“Well it did not seem to discourage her. She had another duel shortly afterwards with another apprentice of her age. What was his name…? Ergan? Erfan I think.”
“Did she lose again?”
Mohsen shrugged. “I assume so. The professors put a stop to it after that, presumably she was threatened with severe punishment. Silly girl, but why would a 14 year old commoner know better.” He winced slightly as soon as he said it and then spoke faster, as if he could undo his own indiscretion. “Anyway, her aggressive reaction to negligible slights and inability to follow through got her the nickname. I cannot say I paid much attention beyond that. I was too busy with my own training after all.”
“Of course, no doubt she was beneath your notice. It is a pity that she still seems to think she is some kind of fighter, the number of deaths around her has been shocking. Watchmen, the Inquisitor…” Metli trailed off at Mohsen’s frown. Had she pushed too far?
“Indeed that is concerning, I shall have to look into it further, but surely there are more entertaining topics to discuss.” Yes, she had pushed as far as she could. All she could do now was hope that what she had said had some impact.
“Of course, it must be so exciting going out into the wilderness and protecting us from the Republic. I would be much too scared to do something like that.” Metli allowed her eyes to widen at the thought. She would do a better job than him, she had no doubt. If she had only been allowed to try.
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The first night out of Vass Karan they settled down to camp in a small hollow. Ester was feeling more than a little grumpy at the way the day had gone. Velxe was interesting and knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about his favoured topics. But he was also arrogant. If she was going to keep being patronised for the next few weeks she might not be able to stop herself from doing something mean and petty to him. It was with that on her mind that she swung herself off her horse with a wince.
Before her feet had touched the ground servants were already swarming, gathering firewood and preparing to set up tents. Ester handed the reigns of her horse, Sundancer or some other pretentious name, to one of the servants and turned to look at the hustle and bustle of the group working to set up the camp.
It didn’t take long for the servants to unload the tents from the packhorses and get to work on unfolding them. She should really be helping, but it was probably considered inappropriate for a Mage to lower themselves to that sort of thing. Something like that anyway. Ester felt her lips turning down, despite her best efforts at keeping her face impassive.
A minute later Velxe came bustling over to her, practically overflowing with solicitousness. “Are you well Lady Ester? Where would you like your tent to be set up? We will have a fire soon enough for you to warm yourself by, as soon as the servants have gathered enough firewood. One of the knights has enough Talent to light it too. I am sure he would be honoured to do it for you.”
He was watching her intently as he spoke and Ester found her irritation rising further. She wasn’t some porcelain doll to be coddled or a simpering girl to be impressed by his lecturing. If he thought she’d throw herself at him for that then he’d soon find out the error of his ways.
She opened her mouth to tell him that she had no need of his help and then closed it again. There was a certain tension in the way he was holding himself. One of his hands was clutching at his coat and he looked like he wanted to bite his bottom lip. Was he nervous? Just as nervous as she was? Ester closed her mouth, words unspoken. Maybe she didn’t need to be quite so harsh to him. He was younger than her, if only by a year. Not everyone had to be trying to assert dominance over her all the time. Still though, she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. Suddenly it wasn’t so difficult to make herself smile politely.
“Thank you Lord Velxe,” she kept her tone warmer than she’d originally planned. “However, I have one or two tricks of my own. Perhaps I can save your men some work.” Sod propriety, she was a Mage.
“What do you…” Ester didn’t give time to finish his sentence.
“Basch laobh’fa.” She focused on a nearby tree, visualising the effect she wanted. With a sudden crack one of the larger branches separated from it in a flare of runes visible only to those with the Talent. Immediately afterwards an invisible force sliced the branch into smaller chunks.
Unable to resist a smug smile and ignoring the stares of the servants and guards, Ester looked at Velxe, the chunks of wood still floating in the air. “Will this do or do you think they would like them smaller?”
“They…” His mouth worked for a second. “They might need the wood to be drier.” Ester’s lips thinned, she should have remembered that.
“Seaach.” She didn’t bother fully voicing the spell. A series of loud cracks rang out through their camp. It was good to see some of the guards flinch at that, although Velxe stayed impassive as a shower of water fell from the floating wood.
Ester hesitated for a second to see if anyone said anything, but she seemed to have stunned them all into silence. So with a thought she sent the wood over to the area that had been cleared for the fire and lowered it into a pile. She was about to set it on fire when Velxe coughed.
She glanced at him and he mouthed, “Not all of it.”
Ester felt her face flush, in hindsight that would have been a rather large fire. With exaggerated casualness she gestured. Her mind did the hard work to lift most of the wood off the pile, to drop it a safe distance away. A glance out of the corner of her eye caught a tiny nod from Velxe and she focused again. There was no need to annihilate the wood, she didn’t need to speak a spell to start a small fire. It took a fraction of a second of focus for smoke to start to come from the bottom of the much-reduced pile. Then a moment longer for the warm glow of fire to appear at the bottom.
Satisfied, she released the spell. Now to find out if she could put her tent up without actually touching it. A bit of showing off and also a useful exercise in fine control. Hopefully she could even do it without speaking any spells. She shot Velxe a smile with just a hint of smugness and turned towards the servants who were unpacking the tents.
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When Abiel had delivered his team’s latest prize to Thucer, a task commissioned for an anonymous customer, he’d expected to be paid and sent on his way. Instead he’d been practically dragged off to this damp, dingy room and left to wait, without even the courtesy of an explanation.
Not that Thucer had ever been much of one for explanations. He didn’t know how long he’d been sat in the room, but it felt like at least an hour and irritation was starting to be replaced by fear. He didn’t think he’d done anything to offend Thucer, but you could never know with that man. Perhaps he’d just decided to sell them out to some of their victims. Or maybe it was one of the others who’d done something and Thucer wanted Abiel for leverage. Whatever it was, he doubted he was going to like it.
Abiel flinched as the latch suddenly clunked up followed by a low creak as the door swung open. With a great effort he kept his face impassive and stayed in his seat. If Thucer wanted him dead, all he could do was face it with dignity, but if this was something else then composure could be important.
From where he was sat he couldn’t see out into the corridor, so all he could do was listen. There were no words from outside, just quiet footsteps that seemed to almost swish across the stone floor. Then an apparition entered the room. No, not an apparition. Just a gigantic figure shrouded in robes. The flickering torches mounted to the walls didn’t provide the best of light, but he could see that the robes were as black as night. The man’s face was hidden by a hood, but as he sat he laid his hands on the table, revealing thin, almost skeletal fingers that were ever so slightly too long. Abiel carefully didn’t glance towards the door. There were guards outside, running would do him no good.
There was a long pause and then the man spoke. “You are the leader of the Golden Shadowss.” It was a statement not a question, but Abiel nodded anyway.
“Yes. My lord.” Always better to flatter someone.
“Good.” The man’s voice was a sibilant hiss. Abiel felt like the syllables were crawling across his skin as he spoke. “I am told that you are the besst and so I hired you for your lasst theft. I am pleased with the resultss.”
So much for an anonymous customer. Still, Abiel allowed himself to relax slightly. This was going to be a business negotiation, not a murder. However disturbing or dangerous the robed man might be, that was something he knew how to deal with. “I’m glad to hear it my lord. I don’t understand why I’m here though.”
“I doubt that.” Was that a hint of amusement amidst the menace? “Did you have any difficultiess with the theft?”
“No my lord, it took time of course, but we truly are the best.”
“Perhapss you are. You and your… minionss,” Abiel ruthlessly clamped down on his annoyance at that description of his friends, “have passsed my tesst.”
“That was a test my lord?” They’d nearly died when a guard had happened upon them in the middle of their work!
“Yessss. Now I have the real work for you. If you are capable.” The last thing Abiel wanted was to have anything more to do with this man, but a job was a job. Thucer didn’t give him the luxury of turning much down.
“Of course, for the right price.”
“Mosst excellent. Duke Marcni hass…”
Abiel interrupted him without hesitation, his voice completely flat. “No. Absolutely not.”
“You would deny me?” He sounded more surprised than angry.
“My lord, I’ll take any reasonable job, but I’ve no desire to die screaming.” The Duke was well known for holding grudges and the resources he could bring to bear were far beyond those of any of the other Great Houses. Velia had been bad enough, but Marcni was a step too far.
“I could have you killed for thissss.”
Abiel kept his face impassive and shrugged. “You could, but stealing from the Duke is likely to be suicide anyway and at least the rest of my team might escape.”
The man seemed to shiver, letting out harsh breaths, and after a second Abiel realised he was laughing. “Very good. Your loyalty is to your credit. I shall not kill you, I wish for willing sservantss, they are more… efficient than other methodss.” He tried not to think about the implications of that.
“Thank you my lord.” If he got out of this in one piece he was going to get blind drunk at the first tavern he could find.
“Neverthelesss.” Abiel’s heart sank. “I undersstand you owe Thucer a conssiderable amount of money, yesss?”
“That’s between us and Thucer.” The last thing he wanted was to get between this man and Thucer. If Thucer made them do it, they’d have to take the job, but even Thucer must realise it was a bad idea.
“Perhapss. However, I believe there iss ssomething to be done here. Without me your debt will always be there. He will make promisses, but ssomehow there will alwayss be more. Do thiss ssservice for me and your debt sshall be gone on your return.”
Could this man actually offer that? Abiel hesitated. It was tempting. Very tempting. He’d need to check with Thucer, but if it was true, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. In a fraction of a second he came to a decision.
“What exactly is it you need from the Duke? I’m not agreeing to do this mind, but we can discuss it.”
“Of courssse.” The smug edge to the man’s voice said he knew just as well as Abiel that he was hooked. “It iss a Ssschema. In the form of a gold chain, allowing a man to take control of creaturess near him.”
As the man talked Abiel’s mind was racing, already forming the outlines of a plan. It would be difficult, but if they were lucky…