The Invisible Chains - Part 1: Bonds of Hate (20 page)

Ehandar was a bundle of nerves. It was four days now since Gorth had taken the road to Soranza, and still he hadn't talked with Anaxantis about his plans.

“I can't put it off much longer. Why not talk with him about it this evening? It is a perfectly sensible plan and he will see that. I'll make him see that. He's bound to have objections. What with his friends? What with our responsibilities? What with his mother? I'll have to debunk them one by one. Maybe it is best to begin with showing him that we can't win this. However the situation turns out, we will be either dead, or the scapegoats of a disaster. Any sensible man who understands this, cuts his losses. And better now than in the spring, when the Mukthars are at our borders. Now we still have time to meticulously organize everything, to make and revise plans, and to execute them without extraneous interference. But what Gorth said is also true. Anaxantis can be headstrong. I couldn't bear leaving without him. It's just one reason more to bring it up as soon as possible. The Gods know how many hurdles I will have to get over.”

At that moment Anaxantis came in the room. He seemed preoccupied and while he took off his mantle, he said:

“Ehandar, we must talk.”

Trying to repress his dark thoughts of foreboding, Ehandar smiled.

“Good, I have a few things myself I would like to discuss with you. We have the whole evening before us.”

He motioned to the rug before the hearth, but, after ungirding his sword, Anaxantis sat down at the table.

A moment later Ehandar felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach, and all air was forced out of his lungs. There was a rushing sound in his ears, and it seemed that suddenly all his muscles cramped at the same time. To prevent himself from falling, he had to lean on the big chair near the fireplace. Then the words Anaxantis had spoken finally sank in.

“Ehandar, I'm moving out by the end of the week. I can't do this any longer.”

I know that it is an awkward place to stop, Mandigaill the Hunter, but the hour is late and you have a long way to go.

...

Yes, I know. You would have preferred it otherwise. I saw your reaction when I told you about their first night together. Should I have ended it there? Don't forget that I also saw you when I told you how Ehandar took what was not his to take. And you were not indifferent.

...

No, Friend of Wolves, it most certainly was not just the way I told it and the fact that you are blushing and protesting bears witness to that.

...

Yes, that is the question, and indeed, I was deliberately obfuscate. The downfall of which prince? Remember that the story is far from finished. I didn't invent it, I only tell it and I tell only true stories. So, when I'm finished, you be the judge.

...

Yes, you can return, but no earlier than in three days. You know the price.

...

I bid you a safe journey home and interesting dreams, Wolves' Friend.

Chapter 10:

Friends in Low Places

“The food was excellent, Mandigaill the Hunter, and since the price is now paid in full, I shall continue the tale of Anaxantis and the Invisible Chains. Go, undress and sit upon the stool.”

...

“No, it is not the same stool and yes, this one has a knob in the center of the seat.”

...

“Yes, I suppose it resembles a phallus. A small one, barely four inches long and not thick.”

...

“No, it is not difficult. Just sit over it and it will find its place all by itself. The knob is smooth and well oiled.”

...

“See, you soon get accustomed to it.”

...

“Why? The short answer is, because it pleases me. You don't want to know the long answer. Now, where was I...”

Ehandar heard ‘I'm moving out by the end of the week’ echoing around and around in his head.

“No, no, you can't leave me just like that. I love you, damn it. I need you. I can't lose you so shortly after I've found you. I know you love me too. Don't do this. Do not do this... Don't panic. Don't panic. It's just the strain we're under. He doesn't mean it like that.”

“Why?” he managed to ask relatively calmly.

“It's becoming too dangerous. Have you considered what would happen if anyone found out that... that we're not just brothers sharing the residence of the lord governor? We would lose all authority, and right at the moment we should be thinking about strengthening the army too.”

“And so, just like that you're moving out? Where will you even go?”

“Lorseth can house six thousand troops, so almost half of the barracks are empty. I've requisitioned some of them for my personal use. I'm having one of the barracks that was meant for a general made ready for me.”

Ehandar tried to think rationally and come up with reasons why Anaxantis shouldn't go. There was one, the real one, but it would sound too pathetic.

“Have you even asked Demrac?”

“Asked Demrac? No, why should I?” Anaxantis raised his eyebrows. “I have informed him of my decision, though.”

“The secret charter gives him a higher authority than ours over the army.”

“Ehandar, Ehandar, you're really not cut for this, are you? Yes, the secret charter gives him greater authority over the army, but as long as he keeps the charter secret, he can't use it. For all practical purposes it doesn't exist. We're not even supposed to be aware of it. So, is he going to show his trump card over some old barracks? I don't think so. He's far too clever for that. And furthermore...”

“His authority may be higher than ours as far as the army is concerned. Lorseth however, with all its grounds and all its buildings, is a royal domain and doesn't resort under the army. As such it squarely falls under our authority. I can see no problem.”

“You can see no problem?” Ehandar asked bitterly. “It's as easy as that, is it?”

“Easy? Easy? Do you even know that it is almost more than I can do to prevent myself from falling in your arms in public and damn the consequences? Have you any idea what it costs me to have to keep this a secret? How I long to show you off to my friends? The truth is that it is almost unbearable. It is too painful. No, it is better we see each other only in an official capacity. We have a shared responsibility after all.”

Ehandar sat down in the chair next to Anaxantis. He took one of his hands and placed a light kiss on it. He took a deep breath. Maybe simply stating his true intent, bringing it all into the open, was his best chance.

“Let's leave this mess behind us. You know as well as I do that we were set up. If we stay, one way or another, it will be the end of us. I have a friend who, at this very moment, is investigating the conditions under which we could seek asylum in the city state of Soranza. We will be safe there. Safe from the Mukthars and safe from father and our brothers. Bring all those of your friends who want to come with us. We could be happy there, I know it. I can make you happy...”

Anaxantis looked in his eyes and kissed him softly on the lips.

“Yes, you could. But I can't leave. We have a responsibility, Ehandar. Twelve years ago more than fifteen thousand civilians lost their lives, and I am not going to let that happen again. Not as long as there is a single breath left in me.”

“And
our
lives? What with
our
lives, Anaxantis?”

“Our lives were never our own, from the moment we were born, Ehandar. Don't you see that? That was long ago decided,  in 1414, when Portonas III climbed over mountains of dead bodies to ascend the throne. Whether we want to or not, we live in function of the kingdom. Once our family grabbed the Devil's Crown it was impossible to relinquish it again, and it's curse extends to all of us. Besides, the people depend on us to protect them. The most we can hope for are some stolen hours.”

“No, no, it is me who depends on you, me,
” Ehandar thought feverishly.
“The people are not even interested in their own defense. The people will weather the storm as it comes, just as they did twelve years ago and there's nothing we can do. I know. I tried.”

“However,” Anaxantis smiled timidly, “speaking about stolen hours... I am not leaving this evening.”

The Senator looked at his visitor with an impassionate face.

“Two princes and a nobleman. Trachia? No, there is but one prince left and nobody is too sure where he is now. Lorsanthia? Unlikely. Ximerion maybe? Yes, probably. They have three or even four princes. Now, that could become awkward, what with the queen of Ximerion already having been granted asylum.”

“I hope the parties involved understand that they will have to pay their own way,” the Senator said evenly. “If we grant them asylum it is as citizens, not as, eh, high nobility.”

“Oh, the princes have their own independent assets and I am assured that it will be easy to transfer them to Soranza.”

The Senator handed a parchment to Gorth.

“These are the conditions and the rules the concerned parties will be expected to adhere to, were we to grant them asylum.”

“Could you give me any indication of the likelihood of that happening?”

“Well,” the Senator hesitated, “if I had an idea of who we're talking about, I could maybe hazard an estimation.”

Gorth thought about this for a moment.

“The parties involved are the princes Ehandar and Anaxantis of Ximerion and myself, Gorth of Sidullia. I am not important, I am just a personal friend of one of them.”

“So, I was right. Those are the youngest of the lot, if I remember correctly. You can't blame them, I suppose. In that barbarian kingdom the struggle for the succession is merciless. All the more so now that there are four contenders. Strange though, Queen Emelasuntha is the mother of the youngest. How come that she hasn't arranged for asylum for him? Well, no matter, provided they bring ample funds they are welcome.”

“You understand that the final decision is not entirely mine. In the end a committee decides, but I can see no objections at first sight. I'll have a definite answer for you by the beginning of next week. You're welcome to visit me again then.”

Back on the great marketplace Gorth looked around.

“Too early to go back to my lodgings and Ehandar has given me a small fortune. So, first a good meal and then to the girls, the real girls and not those middle aged hags that hang around the camp at Lorseth. All seems to go well, and Soranza is a nice city. Much cleaner and lighter than Ormidon. I think I'm going to like it here. Tomorrow I'll take a ride into the countryside and look at some domains. I even have time enough to inquire if Soranza needs cavaliers.”

The two men had traveled the distance between Lorseth and Soranza as quickly as they could. It was after midnight when they stopped at the gates of a vineyard. The night guard asked them a question, and the men gave the expected response. They were immediately led to the main building on the hill. A servant guided them into a tastefully decorated room, bade them to be seated and brought them wine, asking them to wait while queen Emelasuntha was informed of their arrival.

Ten minutes later they saw a tall, striking woman, with a strong, beautiful face, and long golden blond hair flowing behind her entering the room. She was followed by a short, thickset woman. They both sat down in elegant, comfortable armchairs.

“Have you been taken care of? I see they gave you wine.”

“Thank you, Your Highness, we have ridden practically day and night, and we are tired and hungry. But it can wait until we have delivered our message,” one of the men said.

“Please, proceed.”

The man told all he had learned from Renda. When he had finished Emelasuntha remained silent for a while. Then she asked some questions, mainly to confirm that she had understood everything correctly. She looked at Sobrathi who nodded that she had no further questions. Emelasuntha clapped her hands and a servant silently appeared.

“Prepare a warm bath for these gentlemen. Wake the cook and let him make a hearty meal. See to it that their horses are taken care of and show them their room in the guest house. And give them plenty of wine.”

She stood up and took two gold pieces out of her pouch.

“Thank you, men. You are my guests. Sleep as long as you like and then, before you return, go visit the fair city of Soranza. I hear it offers many entertainments for young men such as yourselves. Here is a rioghal each to pay for them.”

“Most generous, your highness. Thank you.”

The two men bowed and followed the servant out of the room. Emelasuntha waited a few moments. Then she grabbed an intricately ornate vase and threw it forcefully against the wall.

“Argh. Have you heard that,” she roared at her friend while getting hold of a chair and smashing it on a nearby little table. “They tried to poison my son.”

She took a statuette that stood upon a cabinet and threw it in a wide arc through the room. It shattered with a satisfying sound in a dozen pieces.