Alutar: The Great Demon (52 page)

“No offense, Prince Samuel,” Strangler replied, “but those are just words. Why should I believe them?”

“Because I have no need to state them to you,” answered the prince. “I could just go to the Royal Palace and end General Vladin’s search. I would be crowned King of Spino. Your support is not needed for that to happen. The only thing I need your support for are the very things I just mentioned. If I did not truly want to help the poor, why bother saying it to a thief?”

Garth smiled as he watched the prince and the thief duel with words. He knew that both of them wanted the same thing, and he was sure that they would help one another. After a few minutes, he interrupted the conversation.

“I need to speak to Luke Stanford and the other Rangers,” Garth stated. “Can your man bring them here?”

Strangler nodded. “They are in the city today. Just ask him to get them and bring them here.”

Garth nodded back and stepped out into the alley. He made his request of the thief and told him not to worry about the horses because they would not wander off. The thief’s face showed that he was more concerned about someone stealing them than the animals wandering off, but he acceded to Garth’s request. Garth returned inside and saw both the prince and the thief smiling.

“Are we all getting along now?” Garth asked as he crossed the room.

“Better than you can imagine,” smiled Strangler. “I think the future of Spino has arrived today.”

“Excellent,” replied Garth. “I am going to introduce Prince Samuel to the Rangers. They are going to be his bodyguards until things settle down. If you need to contact us, we will be staying at the Greystone Inn. Tomorrow we will visit the Royal Palace.”

Colonel Taerin walked eagerly towards the shore, hoping to find Colonel Donil on the bench. When he got within sight of the bench his hopes rose. He saw Colonel Donil watching the sun rise over the Sea of Tears. He hurried to take a seat next the A Corps colonel.

“Any word from General Forshire?” he asked impatiently.

Colonel Donil nodded. “It was a scale model of the Imperial Palace,” he said. “Colonel Jurgon helped him with it.”

Colonel Taerin nodded with satisfaction, knowing that his family was still alive.

“Taerin,” Colonel Donil said hesitantly, “you must realize why this lie has been allowed to flourish. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“What do you mean?” puzzled the Baroukan heir.

“I have been giving this problem a lot of thought,” answered Colonel Donil. “The lie was obviously spread to encourage the emperor’s son to go to Jaar and commiserate about their loss.”

Colonel Taerin frowned. “Are you saying that someone is still controlling the emperor?”

“No, Taerin,” answered Colonel Donil. “I believe the emperor to be an imposter, the same as General Forshire believes. Jaar is incapable of identifying his son, so the story has been allowed to spread to make the heir come to him.”

“I told General Forshire,” scowled Colonel Taerin, “and I will tell you. There is no proof that the Emperor is not himself.”

“I could prove it to you,” frowned Colonel Donil, “but it would cost me my life.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I could walk into his office and ask him what we do now that our loved ones are dead,” explained Colonel Donil, “but I would die for that deception.”

“You wouldn’t even be allowed into his office,” scoffed Colonel Taerin.

“I have to disagree with you, Taerin. I think right now the lowliest of people would be given free access to the emperor’s office. It has to be so in order to flush out the heir. If they turned anyone away, they could possibly be turning away the heir. Trust me. They will let anyone in until they discover the heir.”

Colonel Taerin frowned deeply as he stared out to sea. He recalled the conversations that he had with General Forshire about his father, and Taerin had his doubts about the emperor, but he still clung to the hope that Jaar was still alive. Now as he pondered Donil’s words, a thought sprang to mind. If Donil was right, the A Corps colonel would be freely admitted into the emperor’s presence, but he was unwilling to sacrifice Donil to learn the truth.

“I have a different idea,” stated Colonel Taerin. “I would like to see if you are allowed to see the emperor, but I do not wish you to claim to be the heir. We need a different reason for your visit, one that will not cause you harm.”

Colonel Donil thought for a moment and then chuckled. “I could ask for permission to be relieved of duty for a day,” he posed. “Other than my trip to Alcea, I haven’t been off the grounds of the Imperial Palace for a long time. I could tell the emperor that my orders are to stay here, but that I have not seen General Forshire in ages. I will ask him to grant me permission to go into town.”

Colonel Taerin shook his head. “Such questions should be directed to Grand General Kyrga,” he said. “The emperor will become suspicious of you, and I do not think General Forshire wants you to be noticed.”

“General Forshire did ask me to be inconspicuous,” agreed the A Corps colonel, “but I could hardly seek permission from Grand General Kyrga when my superior officer does not report to him. Do not forget that General Forshire is the Imperial General of the Federation.”

Colonel Taerin gasped. “I had forgotten,” he admitted. “You are correct. Emperor Jaar is the only person who could give you leave to abandon your post. Still, it does bring your presence here to the notice of others.”

“Agreed,” nodded Colonel Donil, “but I think General Forshire would approve. He is certain that a mage has taken over the emperor’s body, and he wants you to realize that.”

Colonel Taerin frowned again. “Did Forshire tell you about me?” he asked.

“If you mean your relationship to the emperor,” Colonel Donil replied, “no. In fact, he does not even know that I am aware of the truth. I never even suspected until you posed the question to Janay. I always wondered why the general was so concerned about a mere colonel at the Imperial Palace, but after getting to know you, I assumed it was because he liked you.”

“I do think his concern for me was one of friendship,” sighed Colonel Taerin, “at least in the beginning. We had known each other for quite some time before he discovered the truth. You cannot imagine how nervous I am about others knowing what you know. I have successfully hidden the truth for many years.”

“No one will learn of your identity from General Forshire or me,” smiled Colonel Donil. “I can promise you that.”

“Are you sure that you are willing to risk yourself by seeing the emperor?” asked Colonel Taerin.

“I do not think the risk is great,” shrugged Colonel Donil. “The worst that can happen is they throw me off the grounds of the Imperial Palace. It is worth the risk.”

Colonel Taerin smiled and nodded. “Give me ten minutes before you enter the palace,” he instructed. “If I sense you getting into trouble, I will try to distract attention from you.”

Colonel Donil nodded, and Colonel Taerin rose from the bench. He made his way into the palace and up the stairs. When he was sure that no one was around to see his movements, he slid into the servants’ corridors and made his way to the narrow corridor near the entrance to the emperor’s office. He waited with his back to the wall and his ears alert. Minutes later, Colonel Donil approached the door to the emperor’s office. Colonel Taerin listened closely.

“I need to speak with the emperor,” Colonel Donil stated. “It is a personal matter.”

“Leave your weapons here,” demanded one of the guards while the other guard entered the office.

Colonel Donil nodded and removed his sword and belt knife and placed them on the floor. The guard inside the office opened the door wide and waved the colonel in. Colonel Donil entered the office and started to close the door.

“Leave the door open,” commanded the emperor. “I have no secrets from my guards. They are like family to me.” The emperor waved for the colonel to approach the desk.

Colonel Donil started sweating. He knew that the door had been left open so that the guards could easily slay him if he said the wrong thing.

“I have a personal matter that only you can help me with,” Colonel Donil began, “but first I would like to offer my condolences on the loss of your family. The word has spread throughout the palace, and many of us grieve with you.”

Emperor Jaar’s jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed as he stared at the colonel. He waited for the admission of truth to come from the colonel’s lips.

When the emperor said nothing in response to his words, Colonel Donil continued, “I have been confined to the grounds of the Imperial Palace by my superior officer for a long time, but the news of your family has made me yearn to see my own. As my superior officer has not been in Despair for a long time, you are the only one who can give me leave for a day to go see them. I was wondering if you would do so.”

“What?” scowled the emperor. “This is not a matter to be brought before me. Why are you not talking to Grand General Kyrga?”

“My superior officer is General Forshire,” answered Colonel Donil. “As the Imperial General of the Federation, he reports only to you. Grand General Kyrga does not have the authority to give me leave.”

“Imperial General?” echoed the emperor. “What is that? What are you talking about?”

Outside the office, Colonel Taerin had heard enough. He casually walked out of the servants’ corridor and approached the open door to the emperor’s office so that he would be seen.

“Taerin,” called the emperor, “come in here.”

Colonel Taerin marched into the office with a puzzled look on his face.

“What do you know about an Imperial General?” asked the emperor.

“That would be General Forshire, Emperor,” stated Colonel Taerin. “I am afraid that he has not been in Despair for a long time. I think he is in Olansk. Did you want me to get a message off to him?”

The emperor shook his head. “This man needs leave for a day. I will issue that to you, and you can handle the details. He will wait downstairs for you as I have something to discuss with you before you leave.”

Sensing his dismissal, Colonel Donil left the office. The emperor nodded towards the door and Colonel Taerin closed it before returning to stand before the emperor’s desk.

“I do not recall making anyone an Imperial General,” admitted the emperor as he issued leave for Colonel Donil and slid it across the desk. “I want you to find the proclamation and rescind it.”

“I am afraid that is not possible,” frowned Colonel Taerin as he picked up the piece of paper. “I remember the proclamation. It is irrevocable.”

“Irrevocable?” the emperor echoed with dismay.

“Yes, Emperor,” replied Colonel Taerin. “I remember thinking at the time that you probably issued it to keep Grand General Kyrga in line, but it is not my place to think of such things. Is there anything else you need, Emperor?”

The emperor gave an odd stare at the colonel and then shook his head, waving dismissively with his left hand.

* * * *

Karl Gree sat at the long table in the dining room of Sidney Mercado’s mansion outside of Ur. Captain Marez, Theos, and Balamor also sat at the table.

“I am happy to have some magical support,” frowned Captain Marez, “but couldn’t they have sent some mages who do not have red hair? The black-cloaks in the Old Keep are not apt to forget the mage who attacked them.”

“I think sufficient time has elapsed since the Theos incident,” remarked the Knight of Alcea. “Red hair is not that uncommon here in Tyronia.”

Captain Marez sighed anxiously. “And what if there is another incident before we strike?” he asked.

“I have learned my lesson,” Theos stated with annoyance. “I will not attack anyone until it is time to do so.”

“Hmmph,” replied Captain Marez before moving on to other things. “The arrival of the A Corps might help us in some way, but can all of Clint’s men be trusted?”

“If Clint trusts them,” replied Karl, “then that is good enough for me. He is a fine judge of character, and I understand that his men are fiercely loyal to him. They just got finished attacking a portion of the 31
^st
Corps. I expect that they will be just as loyal when it comes to attacking the 32
^nd
Corps stationed here in Tyronia. The only problem that I see is that many of our patriots wear the uniform of the 32
^nd
Corps. We don’t want the A Corps killing our own men. Any suggestions?”

“Can your patriots desert?” asked Theos. “That would solve the problem of identity and still allow you the use of their arms. They wouldn’t wear the uniforms of the Federation any more.”

“That is a possibility,” replied Captain Marez, “but that many desertions in a short period of time would alert the Federation of the coming attack.”

“Colonel Pfaff used a trick in Vinafor that might be helpful,” suggested Karl. “He had his men wear lavender scarves to identify them as patriots. When the A Corps attacked the column, none of Pfaff’s men were hurt. Perhaps we could have Althea organize a sewing ring to make something special to identify our men.”

“Where is Althea?” asked Theos. “I had expected her to be here.”

“I sent her away,” Karl replied sadly. “She was too distracting for me to concentrate on what must be done.”

Theos saw the sadness in Karl’s face, but it was the captain’s reaction that caught his attention. Captain Marez’s face showed a deep grief reserved for the death of a loved one, and his brow dripped with perspiration that wasn’t there a moment before.

“Where is she, Captain?” pressed Theos. “Tell us what you are hiding.”

Karl looked up and stared in confusion at Captain Marez. The captain shook his head and tried to speak, but the words would not come to him.

“Where is she?” Karl demanded menacingly.

“In the Old Keep,” the captain blurted out. “She has been there for days. She is as good as dead.”

Karl gaped at the captain, his head shaking with disbelief. “Why?”

“Because you are not free to love her as she loves you,” the captain replied. “She felt the only future possible for her was in helping her other love, Tyronia.”