The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (15 page)

Senoshesvas and Velstorbokkin War

Bodrin met Saxthor on the road just beyond the hills surrounding the valley where nestled Engwaniria. The emperor, escort, and horses were all covered in dusty sweat.

“I’m warned there’s a war brewing in the west,” Saxthor said. “Whom does it involve? Is some combatant trying to embroil the empire in it?”

“We just got word that King Nindax is invading Velstorbokkin through the mountains. He’s crossing through the northwestern most imperial province but, apparently, doesn’t wish to entangle the empire in the war. He’s hoping you will stay neutral. Chatra Boktorian has sent men to the border fortress to evaluate the situation. They should return any day now.”

“I wish to avoid another war anytime soon. The empire is still weak and unstable from the Great War and the dynastic change. Has King Nemenese requested assistance in repelling the invasion? If he does, I shall have no choice but to go to his aid. He is my grandfather-in-law. We must see what the situation is. How is the empress?”

“She’s miffed, being in her present state, but otherwise quite well. She seems to have had another falling out with the dowager. The empress is worried about her mother’s increasing involvement with King Nindax and still furious that you left her. We’ve not told her about the invasion of Velstorbokkin for fear the shock will cause her to miscarry.”

Saxthor stared wide-eyed at Bodrin. “King Nindax?”

“Yes, apparently the latest court gossip is that King Nindax is wooing the dowager from afar.”

“What?”

Bodrin just nodded affirmation. The men then rode on to Engwaniria and Ossenkosk Palace. Still muddy and exhausted, Saxthor went at once to Empress Tottiana.

*

“How are you, my dear?”

Tottiana rose with some effort and rushed to Saxthor, embracing him as best she could in her condition. “I thought you’d never return.”

“Are you well? How’s the baby?”

Tottiana rubbed her hands over her tummy and smiled up at Saxthor. She took his hand and put it on her baby bump. He snatched back his hand, gaping at her.

“Is he coming now?”

Tottiana laughed and shuffled back to her divan. “Not now, but very soon.” Tottiana cocked her head with raised eyebrows at Saxthor. “I thought he’d make his appearance before you got back. You’d never have heard the last of that.”

“Do you need anything?”

“No, just having you back is enough. When the time comes, there will be enough ladies of the court swarming around. Just remain close by for a while. Why did you send for that Countess Vicksnak? I know she and the count are your closest companions, but that woman is a tyrant. She gives me no peace, practically force feeds me.”

Saxthor laughed seeing Tottiana’s theatrical pouting face.

“She’ll take the best care of you. She’s brought a few of her own into the world, you know. She is tough, no doubt about that. She endured a lot with us through the adventure and the war.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re back now to defend me from her.”

“You do as she says, and you’ll be fine. I must clean up and meet with the councilors now. It seems there is a war brewing, but don’t you trouble yourself with that.”

“I’ve heard mumblings about a war, but no one will tell me what’s going on. They just look at me and break up their gossiping clusters, the old hens. What’s wrong, Saxthor?”

“I’m not sure I know yet. Let me go find out. You remain here and rest and we’ll have our afternoon stroll if you feel up to it.”

Tonelia was coming into the room, followed by Belnik with a tray of healthy snacks, as Saxthor turned to leave.

“Well, look who’s here,” Saxthor said to Tonelia.

The countess rushed to hug him. “It’s been so long, Saxthor,” Tonelia said. “How was your tour?”

“It went as well as could be expected except for one minor incident. I’ll tell you about it later. For now, I must clean up and meet with the Diem.”

Belnik put down the tray and followed Saxthor out the door. Over his shoulder, Saxthor heard Tottiana fussing. “Do I have to eat all this fruit? And boiled chicken again…”

“Thank goodness you’re back,” Belnik said in a hushed voice, glancing back over his shoulder.

“What’s wrong,” Saxthor asked. He turned to his devoted cousin.

“That woman is a terror; she’s taken command of the palace.”

“Tottiana?”

“No, Countess Vicksnak. She was, shall we say, independent during the war, I knew that, but now she’s tyrannical. Orders around all the servants, and the court too, if she encounters anyone.”

“Well, she’s concerned for Tottiana’s first child.”

“I tell you, that baby will be marching with the palace guards as soon as he can stand up if she has her way. She has no mercy.” There was a sudden sound of pitter patter coming up behind the men, who looked around. “And where have you been?”

Chuckling, Tittletot pulled arms and legs to his body and, as a ball, rolled around Belnik. Then grinning, he jumped up with arms and legs extended in front of Saxthor. “Tad-da! I was entertaining Tottiana when I heard the tyrant and you coming, Belnik. I’m no fool; I hid. I slipped out the door behind your large carcass when you lumbered into the empress’ presence.”

“Large carcass is it!” Belnik repeated. “What do you mean, lumbered? Just like you to abandon me to her despotism.”

“Well, some sacrificial lamb was needed, and she already had hold of you.” Tittletot grinned and winked at Saxthor.

Saxthor laughed as the three entered Saxthor’s quarters to prepare the emperor for the meeting with the Diem.

*

When the emperor met with the Diem, the council of advisors made up of the former kings and princes of states absorbed into the empire, in the council chamber, the mood was somber.

“Greetings to you all,” Saxthor said to open the meeting. He took his place at the head of the table, but a cacophony of voices arose before he could sit down. Saxthor raised his hands and all fell silent.

“Chatra Boktorian, what’s your evaluation of this war of which we’re hearing bits and pieces?”

“It’s war for certain, Majesty. King Nindax is invading Velstorbokkin as we speak. First, a formal letter with the king’s seal arrived addressed to Your Highness and me. In your absence, and entrusted with governmental affairs, I opened the correspondence.” The chatra handed the parchment to Saxthor.

“Yes, do give us the abbreviated version.”

“It says that Velstorbokkin has insulted Senoshesvas by seizing two of their merchant vessels attempting to sail through the Tixosian Sea. Nindax insists he must declare war on Velstorbokkin. He says the only route into Velstorbokkin is through the small corridor in the mountains that requires his army to march nine miles through imperial territory. The king begs Your Majesty’s pardon and intends neither insult nor invasion, but requests permission to pass through without provocation.”

“Requests permission!” Saxthor repeated. “He’s not waited for permission or approval; he’s already on imperial territory if what we hear from rumors is true.”

“Indeed, we think by now he has already passed and is now within Velstorbokkin. He will soon lay siege to the capital, Nenjiya.”

“I say we move the imperial army to the border,” the minister of war piped in. “Nindax will have to pass back through the empire to return to Senoshesvas. With our army there and his army exhausted, he won’t be able to withstand our attack.”

“May I speak?” Prince Nordam asked. He was the dynastic heir of the former ruling house of an eastern province.

“We welcome your thoughts, Prince Nordam.”

“Majesty, this war does not concern us. We should overlook the trespass so long as Nindax only passes through the territory and compensates the empire for any damage done to the provincials whose lands he crosses. To escalate this would only embroil the empire in another struggle without any benefit to us.”

“We cannot trust King Nindax,” Boktorian insisted. “Majesty, the kings of Senoshesvas have been bitter enemies of the empire since the Powteros Empire rose out of the ashes of the Occintoc Empire. Should Senoshesvas conquer Velstorbokkin, the oldest kingdom on the continent, it would strengthen Nindax’s position immensely. His current revenues now barely cover the enormous cost of his defenses. The whole kingdom is paranoid. They have feared imperial invasion since the beginning of time. Velstorbokkin is rich. The added trade wealth of Velstorbokkin would finance King Nindax’s ambitions.”

“And let’s not forget that King Nemenese is Your Majesty’s grandfather-in-law,” another ranking member of the council said. “It’s likely King Nemenese will call for your aid any day now. How will we respond to such a desperate request for help?”

“Do we have a treaty of alliance with Velstorbokkin?” Saxthor asked.

“No treaty with either of those two kingdoms, Majesty, only the treaty with Zenobia you concluded recently.”

“Indeed, but when the dowager and the empress learn of this invasion, they will hound us to aid Nemenese.” Saxthor turned to the minister of war.

“Mobilize the troops in the northwestern quadrant of the empire. Move them to the border fortress before Nindax can return through imperial lands. Make no move to cross either border. Meanwhile, send word to Admiral Agros at Olnak to sail the Neuyokkasinian fleet west and join with the imperial fleet at the northern harbor closest to striking distance of Velstorbokkin. They must anchor there. Until I can get clarification from King Nemenese, I don’t want him to panic, thinking we’re joining Nindax to dismember his kingdom.

“Boktorian, send two messengers to Shinnadda. See if they can cross and make it to the capital with a message to King Nemenese asking if he requests our aid. Send a swift ship, only one, a merchant ship, not a warship, to his port at Soondaree. See if the same message can get through that way to the king.”

“By the time our messengers get there, Nenjiya will be surrounded and under siege,” the minister of war said. “We’d have to move at once to relieve the capital if, indeed, it can be rescued. Any imperial involvement in this war will enrage King Nindax.”

“We had hoped relations with Senoshesvas were thawing,” Saxthor said. “We’ve just heard bits and pieces of Nindax’s attentions toward Dowager Helgamyr. We had hoped we might put an end to the ancient animosity, but it seems there will be no peaceful solution to this quandary.”

“Majesty, if Nindax conquers Velstorbokkin, his power will double. He will become a viable threat to the empire,” the minister of war said.

“It seems we must put on a show of force for Nindax then,” Saxthor said. “Move the army to the border and send the war fleet north to anchor at Malledar. With our presence, we may persuade Nindax to withdraw his forces and return the status quo without having to go to war.”

“A show of force, yes,” Prince Nordam said. “Nindax only understands force and strength. We may be able to negotiate a truce without having to go to war if we can intimidate the mad king.”

“Send those messengers to King Nemenese assuring him of our support and not aggression, Boktorian. That will be all, gentlemen,” Saxthor said, and the meeting adjourned.

I wish I’d asked the seer about the outcome of this ‘war in the west’ she knew about, Saxthor thought while walking back to Tottiana’s suite.

“Be careful, Saxthor,” Bodrin said. “The ministers and princes all have their own agendas. They will draw you into a war if it benefits them.”

* * *

War rumors had spread from the emperor’s escort through the palace by the time Saxthor reached Tottiana’s suite. She had rushed to her mother to learn what she knew about it. Helgamyr was fluttering around here and there, calling for this and that and then forgetting what she wanted the items for before Endaquac could bring them to her.

“I see you too have heard about the invasion of Velstorbokkin,” Tottiana said.

“Yes, I suppose it’s true. Everyone’s talking about it. The servants have been whispering for days. Now I see what they were whispering about. I was going to write Father. Endaquac, where is that stationary?”

Endaquac pointed to the table Helgamyr stood beside.

“Oh yes, here it is in front of me.” She huffed in exasperation, fidgeting with the paper. “Boktorian won’t tell me a thing. I suppose your husband has instructed him to ignore me now that I’m without power.”

“Have you had any news from Grandfather?”

“Not a word. I hope he hasn’t been slaughtered in his bed. This just brings back the pain of Engwan’s murder. We shall all be killed in our beds.” Helgamyr fanned herself and returned to her divan. “What does your esteemed husband say? I hear he has returned from his grandiose excursion, avoiding you in your time of crisis.”

“Saxthor didn’t mention it.” Tottiana said, evading the attack on Saxthor. She’s not going to draw me into another squabble, she thought.

“I see, he just made some dramatic entrance, swept you off your feet, and pretended nothing was happening while savages murder your grandfather.”

“Now, Mother, we don’t know that Saxthor knows anything. I’m sure he’ll share what he knows with us in due course. We must trust to his good judgment.”