Fate of an Empire (Talurian Empire Trilogy Book 1) (25 page)

Thandril stood
to his feet and faced the crowd. “Talurians, get to work on setting up for
nightfall, separate into groups and get this place in order.” He looked to
Arteus. “Make sure everyone pulls their weight.” The captain nodded and moved
from the walkway. “And, to the rest of you. We are done here. Go to your lands.
Kiss your wives and children. Look to your leaders, if they still live. Go, and
be mournful of this day.”

He turned away
from them. “Now, for my Master…”

Shaymesh had
done as ordered and carried the Prince far into the foothills.

His pace
proved to be more than a match for the shadow. Fayeth and Dageros were already
in the field when he arrived, both carrying their own emotional burdens. He scavenged
some nearby equipment and put together a makeshift tent for Kaillum. Then, he
told Fayeth to go around and intercept any Merkadian forces that were leaving
the area and point them in their direction. She did as told, and soon, strung
out groups of soldiers filtered into the campsite.

Dageros held
his father’s sword close to his chest. Once he found his brother’s unconscious
body, he laid it next to him and stayed at his side. Shaymesh returned to the
tent and relieved Dageros, telling him to go get some sleep. The moon had been
out for four hours now.

Between the
blow to Kaillum’s head and pure exhaustion from the battle, he didn’t wake for
two days. The morning he did, there was hell to pay for anyone who tried to
communicate with him.

He heard of
his father’s death and had hidden away in his tent for
another
three
days.

*
* *

Light crept in
through the seams of the tent. Kaillum was crouched in the corner, running his
hand down the blade of his father. He looked over at his battle-soiled armor.
Blood still splattered its crest. He was a soldier, not a leader. There was his
proof.

“This is the
third day, my Lord.”

Shaymesh stood
guard outside his tent, day and night.

“Does my Lord
wish for some food?”

Every day he
asked and every day Kaillum assaulted him with words of violence.

If he had
taken father away, our King would still be here. It was Shaymesh’s fault! No,
that’s not right. He did what his King wanted and succeeded in following his
orders. This day would be different.

He cracked his
neck and stood to his feet. “Yes, your Lord wishes for food.”

“Right away,”
Shaymesh said, in a nonchalant way—as if he hadn’t been abused for the last two
days.

Kaillum
reached for a mirror. He stared at his reflection. His features flickered and
softened. He put on the face of his father.

How could
you leave me right now?

He changed his
face back. “Damn it!” He threw the mirror to the ground.

“Brother?”

“Fayeth?”

“Yes, brother,
it’s me.”

Fayeth pulled
back the door flap and ducked into the tent. “I’ve been very worried about you.
I saw Shaymesh getting you food. That’s good.” She smiled. “I like that you are
getting your hunger back.”

Kaillum tried
to form a smile.

 “He knew it
was not our time. He wanted us to continue on,” Fayeth whispered.

Kaillum’s half
smile faded. “Get out.”

“But, Kaillum—”

“No!” He
shouted, rising to his feet. “It was not his time either! Get out!”

She jumped at
the outburst and turned away so quickly that she fell over her own feet. Sobs
started to grow and tears streaked her face.

Kaillum
softened and rushed to her side. “I’m sorry.”

“We miss him
too you know!” She hissed at him.

“Hey! What’s
going on?” Dageros burst through the entranceway, followed by Shaymesh, holding
a platter of dried meats and bread. “Don’t yell at her!

Dag saw his
sister crying. “Why can’t you grow up?” He shoved Kaillum. “Do you think
everything is about you? Are you afraid to rule? Are you afraid to not live up
to our father? Don’t worry. You won’t!” He pushed past the druid and thrashed
out through the tent door.

Fayeth glared
at him and followed suit. Kaillum was once again alone with Shaymesh.

“They are in
pain.”

Kaillum kicked
at the dirt. “They don’t have to put aside their pain and lead a Kingdom!”

“It’s true.
They don’t. But, if I may,” Shaymesh said, “You’re father didn’t make his
decision lightly. He was a man of Kingdom above all. If he knew that you
couldn’t take the emotional burden of the aftermath of his choice, then he
would not have made it.” He set the plate next to Kaillum. “If he thought that
you were not the right choice to lead, he would have pushed past his feelings
and sacrificed you for his survival. He always put his people before himself.
He knew you could do this. And, he knew you could do this,
right now
.”

Kaillum sat
quietly, taking in the man’s words. After a while, he reached for the food and
pulled a chunk of bread from the loaf. “Maybe…”

“Right now,
outside that door, there is a wounded, demoralized, and leaderless army
awaiting some word of hope—some showing of restore among their people.”

Kaillum
nodded. “Yes.” He straightened his posture. “You are right. My father would
want it.”

Shaymesh
grabbed the young man’s shoulder. “I’ll be right there with you.”

Kaillum put
his food down, attached his father’s sheath to his side, and moved to exit his
tent. The sun was still low, the air was brisk, and the men’s fires smoked in
their pits. The moment he appeared, all sound stopped. Every face looked to
him.

“I will make
this quick,” Kaillum started, “You deserve a strong leader. You deserve a man
who does not shy away from problems—who does not put his well being before
yours. I struggled to learn that lesson. I will not slip again. We will heal
these wounds, which we have so grievously been had. I swear on my father’s
throne, I will be a King of his standard—a King of his likeness. Today, we
rest. Tomorrow, we prepare. And, the next, we go home. This war is over.

“There has
been no victor but darkness. What is left of the tribes of Kilgar, Targa, and
Chargon have scurried to their lands. We will do the same, but not with our
tails between our legs—we march with an air of
pride
. We are a people of
might
. We are a people of
honor
. We will rebuild, and, in time,
these wounds will turn to scars, to remind us of what we will have overcome.”

Dageros and
Fayeth moved from the crowd and took their places at his side. He smiled to
both and took their hands.

“I will also
need a champion—a warrior leader. We mourn the death of General Vyker. He was a
great leader and an irreplaceable confidant to my father. But, we must also
move on.” Kaillum motioned for Shaymesh. The druid took his place in front of
him and knelt down on one knee. “Shaymesh, you have proven yourself time and
time again, to my father, and to myself. With my utmost confidence, I name you
General of Merkadia. You may rise.”

Shaymesh stood
to his feet, and a chorus of cheers spread through the crowd. Dageros and
Fayeth congratulated their friend.

“Thank you.
Thank you,” Shaymesh hushed the crowd. “I humbly accept this great honor, but
the real ascension today is not for me. We must look to Kaillum, eldest son of
Melidarius—heir to the throne. Our new King!” Shaymesh shouted the last part
and bowed low to the ground.

Like a ripple
through the crowd, one by one bowed before Kaillum.

“All hail,
King Kaillum,” Dageros started to chant.

Soon the
hillside echoed with those words, spoken by the tongues of every Merkadian. Kaillum
looked over his people—
his people
. This was his father’s last, and
greatest, gift.

Thandril
gently shut the door behind him. The room was dim, lit by a single candle that
burned low from lack of attention. The stillness was void of the destruction
outside. A lone figure lay asleep against the back wall.

“You slept
through it all,” Thandril said to himself, looking down at the cot.

He waved his
hand over Saris’ body, and his sleeping enchantment started to deteriorate.
Then, he took a seat and waited. Another candle had burned before the General
woke.

Saris groaned.
He rubbed his hands over his face. “Hello? Is there someone here? What the hell
is going on?”

“Quiet. You
are weak.”

“Thandril?”

Thandril
leaned forward into the light of the candle.

“Ah! My
friend!” Saris attempted to raise himself onto his elbows but failed.

“I told you.”

“Right, you
did,” Saris chuckled, “What has happened?”

“You were
being deceived.”

Thandril
explained the sickness that had fallen upon the Talurians, and how it had been
Balar’s doing. He told of the battle between Balar and Taverous, the alliance
formed with the Merkadians, and the final attack that destroyed the majority of
both sides, including King Melidarius.

“That’s about
it.”

Saris nodded.
“So, we are victorious!”

Thandril
cocked his head. “I…I guess, but at a heartbreaking cost.”

“No matter the
cost.” Saris seemed to be filled with energy and had managed to sit up. “No
matter. We have sent the Merkadians fleeing and the other tribes are in
disarray. Emperor Tymedious will be pleased. We’ll have the run of the island
in no time.”

“I need to
shave.” Saris looked at his reflection in a nearby mirror. “Go find me my
uniform. I need to speak to my men. Then, we will be off to Talur! The Emperor
will want to honor us in our victory!”

*
* *

They set out
mid-morning the following day and now had been on the road for close to a week.
Saris recovered from his hibernation and was anxious to be home. He ordered
Captain Arteus to stay behind and get the city back in order.

Their convoy
consisted of a single wagon carrying Saris and Thandril, along with a new,
six-man group of handpicked bodyguards on horseback. The General didn’t want
Harmite slaves with them. He was convinced they would slow him down.

“Sir, we are
approaching Dartholme,” said one of the guards, acting as a driver for their
wagon.

“Hmmm…let’s
stay there for the night. If I’m not mistaken, there is a very,” Saris grinned,
“How do you say it?
Hospitable
inn that I used to frequent as a cadet.”

Thandril
didn’t respond.

“Agreed!”
Saris clapped his hand on his knee. “We will stay there!” He stuck his head out
the window. “You did hear, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now
hurry!”

In no time,
they pulled up in front of the Pink Lady Inn and exited their wagon.

“You,” Saris
pointed at one of his guards. “Go reserve a room for us tonight. Wait! Two
rooms. I am going to need privacy.”

The soldier
nodded and ran inside ahead of them.

Saris tried to
put his arm around Thandril’s massive frame, with no success. “Come on. Let’s
get some refreshment and maybe some food and drink while we’re at it!” He laughed
all the way inside.

*
* *

Thandril kept
an eye on everything in the room while his master took in some of the
pre-hospitality. Two very attentive and very curvaceous, young ladies were
fawning over the graying General. They fed him fruit, and kept whispering, no
doubt, very improper advances in his ear.

The dining
room was mostly empty, save for a group of seniors from the military school
playing a game of marbles and a cuddly couple sitting far back in the corner of
the room. Saris’ bodyguards had taken position around the common area and one
to each of the bedrooms. He wanted a carefree night of enjoyment.

The front door
swung open, and a draft blew in, accompanied by a lone stranger—a robed and
hooded figure. A female by their movement, Thandril thought. She took a seat a
few tables over from them and waved off the waitress without ordering anything.

This could
be trouble
. Thandril was used to watching out for his Master. He had killed
often enough, dispatching quarterly assassination attempts. The man would not
win a popularity contest, even if the world’s lives depended on it.

Things
continued on for nearly two more hours.

A few people
came and went, but the stranger stayed in place—nothing ordered and no words
spoken. Finally, the dining area was closing for the night, so the seniors
finished one last game and the couple that stayed in the shadows must have agreed
on a price for the night, finally retiring to the man’s room.

Saris flashed
Thandril a smile and rose to his feet, each arm around a different woman.
“Don’t wait up.”

Thandril
ignored him, watching the stranger, waiting for a reaction to his departure.
Saris made for the stairs and clumsily ascended to the second floor with a
great deal of support from his groupies.

The stranger
stood to their feet, which Thandril swiftly matched, but, instead of moving for
Saris, they headed straight to the door. There was something going on, and
Thandril couldn’t figure out what.

He looked back
at the balcony of the second floor and saw Saris fumbling for his room key.
“Just a moment, ladies.”

The guard posted
at that room helped Saris and then moved out of the way for the party of three
to enter. Once the door was closed, he stood directly in front of it. A moment
later a second soldier came to stand guard alongside him. Nobody was getting in
there easily, Thandril thought. He decided to go check the perimeter of the
building, before buckling down for the night.

Outside, he
looked for footprints that would match the mysterious stranger, but the ground
was too well traveled for that. Whoever the person was, they had probably seen
the futility of their mission. He walked the grounds, scanning every direction.
At the back of the inn, Saris’ window was visible. The curtains were drawn, but
candlelight from inside gave a preview of what the General’s night would be
filled with.

Thandril abandoned
his suspicions and went back to the dining area. He would watch for anyone who
might enter during the night.

*
* *

The woman
watched from the roof, as Thandril walked back around to the front of the inn.
She eyed Saris’ window and measured the length of her rope. A man was also with
her, robbed and hooded as she. They waited for two hours, till the noise died
down below, and the last of the street ruffians quieted. All was silent. All
were asleep.

She motioned
to the man, and he tested the rope before handing it to her.

“Should be
good.”

She nodded and
lowered herself over the side of the roof.

*
* *

“Don’t make a
sound.” A cool whisper tickled at Saris’ ear. He felt the cold edge off steel
pressed to his throat.

“Alright. I’m
listening. For you must want something, or I would be dead already.” Saris
said.

The two women
wiggled in their sleep next to him.

“Is this anyway
for an engaged man to be acting?”

“What?” Saris
popped his shoulder forward, moving the blade from his throat. He pulled at his
assailant’s wrist and brought them down onto the bed.

“Mmm…are we
ready to go again?” One of the girls said, groggily.

“Quiet, whore.
Go back to sleep.”

“Whatever,”
She hissed and turned the other way.

Saris pried
the blade from his attacker, and now their positions were reversed. “Who are
you?”

“Why, I’m your
lovely fiancé.” Amira pulled her hood back.

“You!” Saris
dropped the dagger. “Why are you here?”

“Surprised are
you?” She smiled. “Doesn’t look like you were worried about our coming vows.”

“Hey, come
here.” Saris let go of her wrist. “They mean nothing to me. I was only having
some fun. I think they may have drugged me. This could be an elaborate ruse to
steal my possessions. Thank you, darling, for bringing this to light.”

“Oh shut up!” Amira
said in a harsh whisper. “I don’t care what the hell you do, as long as you
listen to me and do exactly as I say.”

“What did you
have in mind?” Saris winked at her.

“Wow. You’re
hideous.”

“Well, that is
not nice at all.”

“Shut your
mouth and listen.” Amira steadied her gaze on him. “There has been some
complications back in Talur—things involving your son.”

Saris lost all
playfulness in his face. “I will draw that blade back off the ground in a
second if…”

“No, he is
alright. I wouldn’t let anything happen to him.”

“Then what?”

“There is
another child. In a very public way, this child has been accused of being
Harmite. And, in an equally public fashion, he was defended on the stance that
he was also your son.”

Saris’ eyes
narrowed.

“Since your
wife had twins in Hillsford,” Amira added.

Saris laughed,
“I don’t know for whom, or why, you are going to such lengths to protect this
child, but I will have no part of it.”

“That’s what
you may think, but, by certain circumstances, if you deny my story you will be
publicly disgraced. You couldn’t even control your own fiancé, nor have the
competence to realize a Harmite traitor in your own entourage.” Saris gritted
his teeth at each word. “Not to mention, Drokel would have your office in no time.”

“Drokel!”
Saris snapped. “He is a part of this?”

“I believe he
orchestrated it. There were two different attempts on mine and Archaos’ lives,
during our trip back. If you don’t back my story, he will have his goal. He
will win—you will lose.”

Saris was
speechless. He didn’t know what to say to such venomous, yet logical words. He
actually found her manipulative ways very attractive.

“There is
more.”

“There always
is.”

“Rurik, the
Corporal you sent with us, has been arrested.”

“Oh, I am
putting it together now. There is some truth to the Harmite traitor accusation,
and Rurik is the bringer of it.” Saris searched her face. “How very
interesting. And, you seem to have feelings for him.”

“That is not
important.”

Saris slammed
his hand on the bed. “
I
decide what is important!”

“If you go
along with what I suggest, there will be no resistance on my part with the wedding.
I will become your wife and mother to your
two
sons.”

“You have
really complicated things.” Saris tapped his fingers to his forehead.

“And the real
finishing blow is that Lord Hyle can’t wait for you to come straighten this
out, so he can stop worrying about the wellbeing of his grandsons.”

Saris dropped
his head. “And the checkmate. You really have woven yourself into this whole
façade quite ingeniously. You have protection from a House Lord, falsified
blackmail against your husband, that I can’t contradict, and a sweet, little
Harmite fling on the side.” He looked deep into her eyes. “If I do this—Rurik
will be gone. Do you understand? He will disappear from the province and not
return. For if he does, I’ll not be made the fool. He’ll pay for his disloyalty
tenfold!”

A knock on the
door came. “Sir? Everything alright in there?”

Amira looked
at the General. “Agreed.”

“Yes, everything
is fine!” He shouted back and then lowered his voice back to a whisper. “Then I
guess we need to break Rurik out of jail before they get a case against me.
Fetch me a piece of paper and my signet ring, from the desk over there.”

She did as he
asked and mentioned Klaric’s presence in the jail; he too would need to be
released to wipe clean the allegations.

He wrote a
quick letter and sealed it. “Give this to the doorman at Furlow’s. It is a
small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant down in the lower city. He will take care of
everything.”

Amira took the
note. “Thank you.”

As she turned
to leave, Saris reached out and grabbed her hand. “You know, I now expect you
to honor your vows of our marriage, and
all
that entails after the
ceremony. Don’t make me change my mind about our arrangement.”

Amira didn’t
respond. She pulled her hand free and made for the window. Gleb waited on the
roof and helped pull her up.

“We can go
now.”

He nodded, and
they both disappeared into the night.