The Crown of the Usurper (22 page)

  "So what could be so important, I wonder?" said Anasind.

  "The king said I were to answer any questions what you might have, general, and if you have a mind, I could tell you what's been happening. Before you read the letters, I mean."

  "Go ahead. Sit down, if this is going to take some time."

  Caaspir sat on the opposite side the table, the cup of mulled wine clasped in both hands. He fixed Anasind with a sincere look.

  "King Ullsaard's son, Urikh, has taken the Crown for himself. The king's holed up in his villa at Menesun, in Ersua. Well, he was when I left. Before that happened, he gave me the letters in that package and said you was to read the one with your name on first. The other is for the Salphorian, Aegenuis."

  "Why would he write to Aegenuis?" Anasind wondered aloud, unbuckling the strap that held the packet together. Two waxed parchment envelopes slipped out onto the table, one with his name on it, the other marked for the former Salphorian king.

  "I don't know, but King Ullsaard said it was important that you fulfil his wishes as outlined in his writing to you," answered Caaspir.

  The letter began:

  
If you do not receive another message from me in five days' time, I am probably dead or a prisoner, so here is what you must do.

 

Aegenuis had to read the first lines again. His spoken Askhan was coming along well, but his people did not have a history of writing. It was unfamiliar, because in writing Ullsaard had a fluid, rounded script and his words were less functional than when he spoke. Some of them Aegenuis had to guess at the meaning, but the context made the message clear.

 
 I find myself short of friends. Oddly, of all the people I have known, there is only one I have taken a nation from and yet I hope to count you among my allies. I have no other choice but to trust you. If you are reading this letter, it means that General Anasind has received no message from me to rescind his orders.

  
Urikh has tried to oust me from power and I have no legions to fight him. I have never been anything than forthright and honest with you, and though I have Salphor blood on my hands, a river of it, I have never held any malice towards you as a person or towards your people. Urikh will be a despot, and he will be corrupt. He is able to usurp me because he has unleashed the full power of the Brotherhood. The Brothers will be heartless. They will take what they need from your people and crush everything that remains of your culture and traditions. I grew up in its wake in Enair, so I know of what I speak. If you trust me and wish no extra woe upon come to Salphoria, please cooperate with General Anasind. He will tell you what I need you to do.

  Shocked, Aegenuis looked sharply at Anasind, who was standing by the fire, watching the former king carefully.

  "You know what this says?" asked the Salphor. The general shook his head. Aegenuis grunted and rubbed his bearded chin, thinking through the possibilities. He sat down at the end of the table and reached for a beer jug. Taking a mouthful direct from the ewer, Aegenuis reached a decision. "You know that Urikh has kicked out your friend?"

  "Yes, he told me that in his letter," said Anasind.

  "If word of that was to get out, it could spell the end of your occupation of Salphoria. News like that spreads quickly. Winter's a bad time to be in a hostile land."

  "Ullsaard likes you," Anasind said, half-turned towards the firepit, eyes reflecting the light of the lamps hung from the beams overhead. "That is why I have given you that letter, five days after receiving one myself. Because I like you, I'm going to tell you another of the things the king has instructed me to do today. I am to stay by your side, day and night, from this moment forward. If I think you are betraying Ullsaard, in any way at all, I am to put my sword in your gut or slit your throat. He leaves it entirely to my judgement. If you choose to make a veiled threat again, I will kill you. The situation is too serious for niceties."

  "Well then, looks like I don't have much choice," said Aegenuis. He raised the beer jug in toast to Anasind. "For better or worse, it seems I'm Ullsaard's friend. What does he want us to do?"

 

A look from Allenya parted the two black-crested soldiers standing at the main doors to her sister's apartments. One of them growled something and the door opened, swinging inwards to reveal a mosaic-floored entrance hall and a Maasrite serving maid with head bowed.

  Allenya strode through the door, paying no attention to the servants that were gathering like a flock of hungry starlings. She headed down the hall and then took an archway on her right, which brought her into a dining hall. Passing through this, the queen walked briskly into a lounge, where a stretch of coldwards-facing windows showed a view out across the capital city. It was mid-afternoon, the sun touching the peaks of the mountains to duskwards, leaving much of the city in shadow. Lights from windows and torches illuminating the streets were spreading out from the dawnwards gate, bringing light back to Askh as the darkness of winter's night crept from one side of the city to the other.

  "What is Urikh up to?" she demanded of her sister, Luia, who was sitting in one of the chairs by the window. Luia was staring thoughtfully out of the window, her long black hair obscuring one side of her face, reddened lips pursed. Slowly the king's mother turned, as if in a daze.

  "Whatever he wants to do, I'm sure," said Luia, not looking up at Allenya. "He is the king, after all."

  "There are legionnaires all over the palace, and he's ordered that Ullnaar be brought back from the colleges." Allenya stood over Luia, arms crossed, glowering at her sister. "It feels like I am being kept prisoner. What is he afraid of?"

  "Nothing," Luia said, sharpness returning to her voice and her eyes. "The palace has always had guards. Why does it concern you so much, sister? He just wants to make sure we are protected."

  "The task of guarding the royal palace is for the First, not the thugs of the Brotherhood. And it reminds me of Magilnada. You were not there sister, but you would feel the same if you thought for a moment you were being held hostage. I wanted to visit Pretaa, but Urikh has informed me that I should not travel to Enair, or leave the city at all. He would not even see me, he sent me a letter!"

  "So it is your pride that has been bruised?" Luia swivelled in her chair to look at Allenya properly. The queen knew what her sister saw; the grey ash of mourning daubed on her cheeks and forehead still; dishevelled clothes and unkempt hair. Luia gave Allenya a look of pity and stood up, one hand reaching out. "It is the middle of winter, sister, now is not the time to head coldwards. In the spring, we will visit Ullsaard's mother and pay our respects. Meliu can come too. It will be just the three of us; Urikh can stay here with his musty Brotherhood friends and we will be able to forget about what has happened."

  Allenya saw empathy in her sister's face, though she was not convinced it was wholly genuine. As comforting as Luia's words were, they did not answer Allenya's question, so she spoke it again.

  "Why does Urikh feel he needs to increase the guard of the palace? And why has he brought in these Brotherhood blackcrests?"

  "Why do you assume I am party to the reasons for all of his decisions?" replied Luia. She shrugged. "The empire has been in a fragile state since Ullsaard killed Lutaar, and this latest disruption has been unsettling for many people, especially the nobles. I am sure my son is doing his best to protect his family, and his position. I am grateful for his diligence."

  Though there was bravado in Luia's words and tone, Allenya knew her sister well, and could tell when she was perturbed. There was a shadow around Luia's eyes that testified to sleepless nights, and not caused by the procession of lovers Luia invited to her bedchambers. Hearing the scuff of feet, Allenya looked over her shoulder and saw a black-robed figure entering, his face covered by a silver mask inscribed with delicate swirls, patterns and sigils. She felt Luia stiffen beside her, then unconsciously step slightly back to stand behind the eldest sister.

  "Brother Aalek, I was not expecting a visit today," said Luia, regaining her stern demeanour. "I do not recall saying that you could enter my apartments."

  "Apologies, my queens," said the Brother, though he made no bow or gesture to back up his words. Bright blues eyes regarded the two sisters from the rectangular slits in the mask. "It is fortunate that you are both here. I sought Queen Allenya in her chambers and was disturbed to find that she was not present."

  "I am at liberty to go where I wish within my own home," said Allenya, though as the words departed from her lips she could feel the force of the Brother's stare and knew the emptiness of them. She continued defiantly. "I am entitled to visit my sister whenever I wish."

  "No injunction was intended, my queen," said Aalek. "I meant merely that I have disturbing news to deliver and I feared I would not deliver it properly before you heard a dangerous rumour."

  "Rumour? What rumour?" said Luia.

  "An imposter has entered Greater Askhor, claiming to be the previous king," said Aalek. He clasped his hands in front of him and gazed down at the floor. "This man attempts to rally an army against King Urikh, asserting he is your dead husband."

  The thought of someone masquerading as Ullsaard filled Allenya with horror and disgust, and Aalek's warning served as a further reminder that her husband had been killed. Lightheadedness threatened to make Allenya faint. Noticing her sister's distress, Luia took her by the arm and guided her to a chair, pushing gently but insistently until Allenya sat down. Brow furrowed, Luia turned her attention back to Aalek.

  "How could anyone claim to be Ullsaard? It is ridiculous."

  "Any man with a few soldiers can claim to be a king, my queen," replied the Brother. "Who would dare to argue otherwise? The common folk, even many captains in the legions, do not know what your husband looked like. They have only the coins minted during Ullsaard's reign to judge the imposter, and any passing resemblance would satisfy doubt. If a man acts like a king, he is likely to be believed by the ignorant and ill-educated."

  "This imposter cannot be too clever himself, if he thinks he can topple my son with such a laughable ploy," said Luia.

  "Indeed, the threat is minimal, but King Urikh wished that you be made aware of this plot, lest word of it came to your ears by less sympathetic means. I would not wish to raise the hopes of my queens, to see them rudely dashed when the bald truth is revealed."

  "Your consideration for our feelings is noted," murmured Allenya. She looked out at the roofs of Askh, the mix of grey slate and red-grey tiles slicked with moisture. Looking at the dismal scene and thinking on the words of Aalek, she felt a sudden chill and pulled her shawl tighter around her body.

  "Bring hot tea," said Luia, and a moment later two silent handmaids left the room. She laid a hand on Allenya's arm. "Do not worry, my sister. Urikh will not throw away the legacy bequeathed to him by our late husband. This charlatan will find that his support grows thin once word is spread of his treachery."

  Allenya stood up abruptly, pulling away from the grasp of her sister. The queen looked at Brother Aalek and clenched her hands into fists at her sides.

  "Find this man who pretends to be Ullsaard, and punish him for his insolence," Allenya said, her voice and fists trembling. "I want him to know pain for the insult he visits on the memory of my dead husband, and for the hurt he causes to me and my sisters. Kill him, Aalek, and make him pay."

  The silver mask hid the Brother's reaction, except for the sudden widening of his eyes betraying surprise. He collected himself in a heartbeat and bowed his head.

  "It will be a pleasure to do the queen's bidding," said Aalek. "This villain will be apprehended and he will be made to repent the error of his decision, of that you should rest assured, my queens."

  After Aalek had departed and hot honey-sweetened tea brought in, Allenya walked to the windows and stared down at the city. The largest houses clustered around the Royal Mound like piglets suckling at a sow, eager to share in the wealth, power and prestige of those who lived in the palace. The dwellings became less grand the further they were from the mound, gradually giving away to the homes of traders, then shrinking further and mingling with industries such as tanneries, until the least desirable dwelt in the shadow on the walls, wedged in the spaces between the towers and the barracks and the training grounds of the First Legion. The curtain wall of the city was almost lost in the dim light, seen only by the braziers and torches that lit the stones.

  "Ullnaar will return soon," Allenya said eventually, as servants closed the shutters to keep out the raw breeze. "I should return to my rooms, Meliu will be looking for me."

 

Watching her sister depart, Luia had a lot to think about. She paced back and forth across the chamber while servants banked up the logs in the fire and brought in an incense-burning brazier to lighten the smell. Luia barely registered their presence as they dodged and sidestepped from her path.

  The arrival of the Lakhyri – the queen paused in her step for a moment as she thought of that etched, withered creature – had coincided with the news of Ullsaard's death. At the time she had thought it fortuitous that Urikh had such an experienced aide on hand to take care of the ascension to kinghood, but now the convenience of the situation was beginning to nag at her credulity. She suspected that perhaps Urikh was being manipulated by the High Brother in some way that she had not discerned. Part of her even wondered if the Brotherhood had somehow been complicit in the death of her husband. It was not the first time such thoughts had occurred to her, but the strength of the Brotherhood was in Greater Askhor, and their reach did not stretch far into Salphoria yet. It would be unlikely they could engineer the attack that had slain Ullsaard, as much as they might have desired it.