Of Dawn and Darkness (The Elder Empire: Sea Book 2) (28 page)

And of course he knew the Consultant’s name as well…or he thought he did. He wouldn’t want to use the man’s name and then get it
wrong.
He’d look like an idiot.

Lucan stared up into the crack at the sky, seemingly undisturbed. “Calder Marten, twenty-six years old. Tried before the Emperor for counts of sabotage, theft, destruction of Imperial property, instituting a jailbreak, and conspiracy to commit fraud. Sentenced to forced labor in the service of the Navigator’s Guild.”

Calder didn’t think he’d actually been
tried
for half of those crimes, but that didn’t make them any less accurate. “That’s…not exactly the list I remember, but it’s impressively comprehensive nonetheless.”

“You tried to attack the Emperor, and I helped to hold you back. It was a test of our reaction speed.”

Calder whistled through his teeth, as though he’d just placed a memory. “That
was
you. I’d thought…you know what? It’s not important. Serving the Emperor at such a young age. You must be even better than I thought you were, Lucan.”

The effect was as good as he’d hoped. Lucan went stiff, staring at Calder with eyes slightly wide, surprised at the sudden use of his name. A second later he regained control of himself—no doubt remembering that he’d introduced
himself
only days before—but even that much was enough of a crack in the façade. It reminded Calder that the man was more than an assassin and a Gardener. He was human…and all humans could be beaten.

Even, in the end, the Emperor.

Out of what Calder could only imagine was petty spite, Lucan didn’t respond. He only watched as the orange-eyed captain gathered a group of Guards and surrounded the Consultant, leveling crossbows at him.

She knelt behind Calder, sawing at his bonds with a knife. Calder made a mental note to see what he could do about promoting her. “Are you hurt, sir?

“I think Foster’s poisoned,” he responded. “Get him to an alchemist as quickly as you can. Any casualties?” Lucan’s attack had been focused on Calder and his crew, but it had bruised half a dozen nearby Guards.

“No dead,” the captain responded, to which Calder let out a breath of relief.

“Admirable restraint.” When the ropes left his arms, the blood started to flow, leaving an irritation like an itch just beneath the skin. Calder rubbed at his wrists. “So, Lucan, would you mind telling me why you decided to linger?”

Lucan looked from one Imperial Guard to another, half his face covered, seemingly deciding which to kill first. “Curiosity. I thought I’d have a word with the Guild Head in charge.”

Anger and frustration flickered through Calder before he would suppress them. He’d thought he was past people overlooking his authority, at least here in the palace. “And what makes you think I’m not in charge?”

Lucan answered immediately and with brutal honesty. “Ex-criminals and Navigators don’t get set up as the next Emperor. No offense intended, but I expect the Guild Heads proposed you as a disposable alternative. Bait for the Elders, and something to keep the common people happy.”

Disturbingly true, and Calder realized he’d been half-squatting to face the sitting man at a more even level. He straightened, feeling a flash of pain in his injured leg. “That’s true enough, but no one holds my leash at the moment.”

“Trust me,” Andel said, from the floor nearby. “It’s not a job anyone would want.”

Calder wasn’t sure if the quartermaster was trying to irritate him, or trying to defuse a dangerous situation with levity. Either way, he could play his part. He turned to the Guard captain.

“You can feel free to leave him tied up a little longer. Good for discipline.” To Lucan, he added, “So you can tell me what was so important that you risked execution or capture for the chance to say it.”

Lucan met his eyes calmly, and Calder caught a brief impression of the man’s Intent. He was absolutely at peace, ready to die if he accomplished his mission.

Calder shivered.

“My life is the least of what’s at stake,” the Consultant said. “I’ve already inspected the Optasia, with every intention to sabotage it so you couldn’t use it. Now, I’ve changed my mind.”

And I’ve got Nakothi in my bathtub,
Calder thought. “Have you?” he said.

“Yes. You have to destroy it.”

Calder spotted his hat where it had fallen to the ground, picked it up, and placed it on his head. If nothing else, the gesture gave him time to think.

Lucan could easily be lying, but the timing was too good. Jerri had spent significant effort trying to persuade him to sit in the Optasia, and all the Guild Heads seemed to agree. The only argument he had against it was a vague unease, along with the desire to prove he wasn’t dancing to some Elder’s tune.

Now, it seemed like the Consultant was offering him exactly what he wanted: a reason not to trust the Emperor’s ancient artifact.

“Consultant Lucan, we might have something to discuss after all.”

~~~

Before taking Lucan into the Emperor’s chambers, Calder had a quick, quiet discussion with the Guard captain.

“He’s not going to attack us,” Calder insisted. Not only did the Consultant’s Intent suggest that he was perfectly content helping, but he’d had a chance to kill Calder in cold blood. He hadn’t taken it. Lucan had earned a measure of trust.

“We’re at war with his Guild,” the captain said stubbornly. Her orange eyes flared. “We were encouraged to ignore even the Emperor’s orders in the interest of keeping him safe, and as far as I’m concerned, this is directly relevant to your security.”

From what Calder had read of the man, the Emperor was not used to being ignored. “Did you ever actually ignore him?”

“Of course not. He was the Emperor.”

With that, the captain proceeded to disregard Calder’s wishes and have Lucan searched and bound. The Guards took his shears, the veil over his mouth, and an impressive array of smaller weapons secreted all around his person. Everything from his handkerchief to the lint in his pockets was confiscated, in case it might possibly be invested; which, in normal circumstances, Calder would have applauded. In this case, he insisted they hurry.

He wanted to find the truth about the Optasia as soon as possible.

Finally Lucan was ready, absolutely unarmed and hands bound. Before taking him into the Emperor’s old room, Calder pulled the Guard captain aside once again. “Please send someone to retrieve my wife. Don’t bring her in yet, but keep her close. I may have some questions for her.”

This time, he was thankful that she didn’t raise any objection. She only nodded and passed the orders on to a lesser Guard.

Together, Calder and Lucan stood before the Optasia. Though the room around them had been ruined in the confrontation between Teach and Jerri, the throne itself was spotless. Its matrix of steel bars sat polished and gleaming, and Calder felt a vague sense of readiness radiating from the device. As though its Intent was receptive and eager, ready to be used.

“It enhances your perception,” Lucan said. “The Emperor had a network of relays built all around the world, statues that look like him. When you connect to the Optasia, it’s like your own Intent separates from you, but magnified a thousandfold. Sitting on this throne, you can Read a building on the other side of the planet.”

“No wonder he controlled the world,” Calder muttered. He couldn’t help a little flash of jealousy. He understood better than most how powerful the Emperor actually was, but the man also had access to
this?
It was a wonder he’d ever died.

“Well, he didn’t rely on this. He sealed it away from himself.
Rumor
has it that he even employed…watchers, to make sure he never used it. And if he did, to kill him if it drove him insane.”

Calder stared at Lucan, sure he’d caught the Consultant in a lie. “He had this device, but he never
used
it?”

Lucan faced the Optasia while emitting sadness and regret, as though remembering his own execution. “One time, that I know of. I gathered that he used it more often when it was built.”

“Because of the Great Elders?” If there was one weapon the Elders would have feared, it was this throne.

“Have you tried Reading it?” Lucan asked.

Calder thought back to Jyrine, insisting that he join his Intent with the device as soon as possible. “You might say I was warned not to.” Anything Jerri wanted that badly, the Great Elders must want as well. And it pained him even to think that.

“I did,” Lucan said grimly. “It’s like staring into the eyes of Kelarac himself.”

“Kelarac doesn’t have any eyes,” Calder responded, deliberately casual. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Lucan’s reaction.

Between the Consultant’s Intent and minor flickers in his expression, Calder was able to piece together his emotions. He was confused at first, and then suspicious. Not the reaction of someone who had met Kelarac before.

It was good to be sure.

“It’s common knowledge,” Calder explained. “Haven’t you read Fisher’s
Treatment of the Aion Sea
?” He wouldn’t have, as Calder had made up the title on the spot, but Lucan brought the conversation back to business.

“Feel free to Read this for yourself. It’s a conduit straight to the Great Elders. The Emperor was afraid to use the device, lest he draw too much attention, but now…anyone who sits in that thing might as well feed themselves to Kthanikahr.”

Might as well feed themselves to Kthanikahr.
Kthanikahr, the Worm Lord, was a monster even by the standards of the Great Elders. His body could be seen even now, a miles-long worm half-exposed where it had burrowed in and around a towering mountain. Myth held that Kthanikahr digested his victims alive over a thousand years.

And Jerri had tried to get him to sit on the throne.

Calder forced his anger back when he noticed the wince on Lucan’s face. If the man was a strong enough Reader to rock the stone outside like storm-tossed waves, he would certainly pick up on Calder’s anger. He was probably causing the Consultant a nasty headache.

“Thank you,” Calder said. “I don’t believe I need to do that. Let’s say I have every reason to believe you’re correct.”

Calder leaned over to the Guard captain. “Bring me the Consultant the alchemists have in recovery. Meia.” The captain saluted and left.

“Consultant Lucan,” Calder continued, “I would like your opinion of a small personal matter. Please observe, after which I have a few requests to make of you.”

Lucan glanced back at the mesh of silvery bars. “Will you destroy the Optasia?”

“I think you’ll find this discussion very relevant,” Calder said. Whether he destroyed it or not depended largely on Jerri’s behavior. Lucan didn’t seem satisfied with that, understandably, so Calder gave him a friendly smile. “As a show of our good faith, I’d like to introduce the newest addition to my crew. I believe you’ve met.”

The Guard captain returned in seconds, perfectly on time. Calder once again reminded himself that the woman deserved some kind of reward. Meia hung over her shoulders, clearly unable to support her own weight, and so close the two women really did look like sisters. Both blond, and if Meia turned her eyes orange, it would have been impossible to think they weren’t related.

Lucan showed more emotion than he had since he’d first appeared: pure astonishment. “Meia?”

Meia didn’t meet his eyes, for reasons Calder couldn’t quite figure out. “I was careless,” she said.

She’s embarrassed,
Calder realized. He forced back a budding smile. That was…cute, really, was the only word for it, but Meia wouldn’t appreciate the observation. Even weakened, she could probably tear his arms out of their sockets, so he should probably—

Even his thoughts were interrupted by the surge of frozen hostility radiating from Lucan. On the outside, he didn’t look any different, but his eyes were fixed on Calder and his Intent said that he was three seconds away from a bloody murder.

Calder put a hand to his sword, taking a healthy step back. “Meia, please convince your friend. Hurry.” If anything, the hostile Intent sharpened. “Hurry, please.”

Lucan pulled his wrists apart, passing through the ropes binding his arms together as though they’d rotted off. Calder couldn’t believe his eyes. He wouldn’t have been able to tear ropes like that without
days
of Intent and focus, while Lucan had seemingly done so in minutes.

The Imperial Guards reacted appropriately, seizing Lucan by the shoulders and slamming him to his knees even as they leveled weapons. Two grabbed Calder and pulled him back.

Then Meia limped up to her Guild-mate, shouldering aside the Guards, and smacked Lucan on the back of the head. “Calm down. If I wanted to escape, I could have done it anytime.”

Calder took a deep breath as Lucan’s Intent dissipated.
Escape? She’s not a prisoner.
He might have said something indignant if he wasn’t still worried about Lucan killing everyone in the room.

“He’s not keeping you captive?” Lucan asked Meia.

Meia shook her head. “He couldn’t. And I’m not a member of his crew, either.”

“
Provisional
member,” Calder put in. If he could recruit Meia fully to his side, that would be a coup for his authority as Emperor. Imperial Steward. Whatever they called it.

“I already have a Guild, thank you,” Meia said, but her attention was still fixed on Lucan.

A Guard pushed Lucan farther toward the ground, but he didn’t seem inconvenienced. “So what’s wrong with you?”

“More carelessness,” Meia said, which was better than saying she’d gotten on the bad side of Jarelys Teach. “When we get back, I’ll have to report myself to the Architects.”

When Calder saw Lucan’s answering smile, he realized that Meia had done exactly what he’d wanted: defused the man’s hostility. It had taken a little longer than he’d hoped, but had worked in the end. That was what counted. “You can let him up now.”

The Guards looked to the captain, but Calder outranked her. “Release him,” he repeated.

They did, taking a step back from Lucan but keeping hands on their weapons. That was probably wise, he had to admit. Lucan remained on his knees out of his own will. “What’s the assignment, Meia?” he asked.