The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (23 page)

* * *

Xthilleon and Morphenius had sailed through the rough Western Sea, then weathered the storms off the southeastern Senoshesvasian coast. The weather improved as they sailed into the warm waters off the imperial province of Mendenow. Unexpectedly, the sea monster caught a small barge on the open ocean before Xthilleon could restrain her. She snatched and devoured most of the crew before the last few scrambled to safety below decks.

“If them mens gets away, they gonna warn them as is on shore. You won’t have no surprise,” Morphenius said. Xthilleon nodded and gave direction to the sea snake. She shot out of the sea like an arrow. In the air, she pulled her body together as if to coil so that she landed across the ship with the full weight of her enormous body. The mast snapped; the deckhouse and bridge crumpled. Morphenius heard an ominous cracking sound. As the serpent slipped back into the sea, the ship bobbed once or twice then split in two, her spine broken. The bow plunged into the deep. The stern floated for a moment as if watching the bow die. Then the stern slowing slipped beneath the waves with only a few ripples. The great snake circled the concentric ripples, looking for survivors then returned to the master’s boat.

“I observe shipping traffic is increasing as we approach Mendenow,” Xthilleon said. “We must risk discovery and sail closer to the rocky shoreline. I must find a sheltered cove where we can hide the boat close to, but out of sight of, Mendenow’s harbor.”

They found a large cave recessed under the volcanic cliffs where the sea monster could be restrained temporarily and the boat be hidden.

“How you gonna make that snake go find the emperor?” Morphenius asked.

“Pity I didn’t give the empress a broach. I could see where they are and what they’re up to,” Xthilleon said. “I guess I’ll have to send you into the city to discover where the imperial family is, assuming they’ve arrived by now.”

“Yes, yes,” Morphenius said, nodding his head up and down. “I’z can do dat.”

“Let me see, you’ll steal some farm goods and cart them into the city as a peddler.

“Steal stuff? What if I gets caught?”

“Don’t bother me with trifles, you idiot. If you want to survive, you won’t get caught.”

Morphenius crept over the rocky cliffs inland until he found a small cottage, domestic animals, some grazing free, and others in stock pens near the house. Then there was the vegetable garden and a small stone barn.

“Master says to steal some vegetables. No one cans know their vegetables,” he mumbled to himself. He laid back among the rocks and snuck in that night. The farmer’s dog began barking and Morphenius retreated back and hid in the rocks. He watched from his hiding place as the farmer came out and investigated. He found nothing and returned to the house. Again Morphenius crept up to the house and again the dog barked. The oaf retreated the exercise. The farmer appeared again and again, found nothing, and finally took the dog into the house with him. Morphenius rushed for the garden and filled a bag with various vegetables. He fled back to the cove and Xthilleon.

The next morning the oaf went into Mendenow and walked among the farmers selling their goods at the local market. He asked about their produce and stock, compared his and then would get to his point. “Somebody said the emperor is coming to Mendenow.” He thumped and sniffed a new mellow.”

“The whole imperial family is at their palace at the western end of the city. You can see its towers from here,” a proud farmer’s wife said, pointing to the palace’s grand towers on a knoll overlooking the city. “It’s been such a long time since we’ve had an imperial visitation. Well, there was that quick trip the emperor made touring the provinces, but he was attacked by rogues and left before reaching Mendenow City. I can’t remember when the emperors last spent time here.”

“The emperor and his family is at that palace there?”

“Yes, look there on the knoll, the emperor, empress, little Engwan and that adorable baby. They came to the market on their second day here and toured the city, but since then they send their servants to shop.” She frowned.

Morphenius returned to his master with the news.

Xthilleon seemed preoccupied. “I brought Saxthor’s hair the maid stole for me. I’ll give the sea monster its taste and scent and send her on her way,” the sorcerer said.

Xthilleon and Morphenius had waited at the cove, watching the banded sea snake’s progress through her eyes. The wizard could indicate yes or no by sparking receptors he’d planted in her brain and so encouraged her to swim through the sea to the palace. He knew it at once when he saw it through her eyes, and there in the water by the beach was Saxthor, whom he recognized. He triggered the snake to attack at once and she almost got father and son before Saxthor lopped off her head, ending his vision.

“What’s wrong, master?” Morphenius asked when Xthilleon stumbled backward from the moon water basin.

“Saxthor has lopped off the sea snake’s head.”

“She’s huge. No ones could kill her.”

“Well, he just did!” Xthilleon screeched, jerking sideways, staring at the oaf. Morphenius said nothing but groveled and slinked back into the dark cave.

“They’ll know someone sent that monster. They’ll begin looking for us. Quick, load the boat and leave nothing to indicate we were here.”

Morphenius grabbed what possessions they’d brought with them and tossed them into the boat without even packing. He heard a tinkle on the rocks and saw a silver, wizard’s-rune pendant tumbling along the rocky ledge beside the boat. “That must have fallen from one of the sorcerer’s garments I just threw in the boat. He started to fetch it when Xthilleon yelled.

“Morphenius!”

The oaf dropped a bundled cloak and rushed to his master. Xthilleon carefully poured the moon water back into its pottery vessel and capped it securely, carrying it himself. He pointed to the basin for Morphenius to bring. The oaf grabbed the remaining possessions, but forgot the wizard’s silver rune. They sailed out of the cove just after dark and straight out to sea beyond the visual distance of the coast then west to Senoshesvas, tacking against the prevailing wind.

* * *

Fedra flew to the palace amid the chaos, rubble of the seventh tower, and soldiers dismembering the monstrous serpent. He flew down and landed on the keep’s battlements, watching until he saw the members of the imperial family at the center of the scurrying servants. Flying again in an expanding circle from the palace, Fedra saw a sizable, seagoing boat sailing west. The great eagle then returned to the coastline and examined the shore line until he saw something glimmer in the sunlight. He landed, took the silver rune in his claw, and flew back to meet Memlatec.

*

When Memlatec spotted the rune, he took it carefully, releasing a small static spark resulting from its negative charge and Memlatec’s own wizard’s positive energy.

What has happened to Saxthor? Memlatec thought.

Saxthor and flock alive; huge snake dead, Fedra thought in response.

Snake!

Twenty-five eagles long, I saw.

“Twenty-five eagles, that’s seventy or eighty feet long!” Memlatec blurted out. He stared at Fedra who bobbed on the wizard’s shoulder. Looking down at the rune, rubbing the cool silver between thumb and fingers.

Fedra flew overhead as Memlatec galloped on to Mendenow and the palace. When he reached the still bustling scene, he went at once to Belnik, who was overseeing the preparations for departure.

“Pack the imperial family’s trunks into the baggage carts first. The supplies for the journey back to Engwaniria go in last for easy access,” Belnik instructed the palace steward, who bowed, glanced at the approaching wizard, and left. “Memlatec! Wonderful to see you here. We’ve just had quite a scare.”

“Yes, so I understand. What happened?”

“The family was enjoying the warm water and the beach when a storm, an unnatural black storm swirled up out on the western horizon. It rolled in straight at Saxthor and Engwan playing in the surf. I spotted it first and tried to warn him. He didn’t see it behind them and the surf must have prevented him from hearing its approach.”

“Yes, do get to the point.”

“Well a monstrous black and yellow banded sea serpent, grown to a hundred feet, came out of that swirling black cloud and almost caught Saxthor running, carrying the crown prince just ahead of it. It tore into the palace through a back tower you must have noticed coming in and down to the hall.”

“Anyone hurt?”

“It killed several guards. It struck at Saxthor and just missed him, only because Saxthor deflected the blow with his shield. I nearly fainted it was so close. Before I knew what I was doing, I rushed straight for the beast with my dagger and slashed its throat. Yes I did!”

“You rushed and slashed it? You’re very brave, Belnik.”

Belnik bowed with an enormous smile prominently displayed on his usually reserved face. “No beast is going to harm the imperial family while I’m around to defend them.”

“Yes indeed, I can see that,” Memlatec said.

“It was Saxthor who whacked off the beast’s head after I delivered the mortal wound, of course. I have no such blade as Sorblade.”

“It came from the sea, you say?”

“Yes, in the strangest, blackest swirling storm I’ve ever seen.”

“A sea snake grown to such monstrous size, in a freak storm, and attacking Saxthor directly, it’s wizard spawned.” Memlatec looked at the silver rune again. He left the palace and followed Fedra’s lead to the rocky cove.

Ship sailing west from here, a wizard grew this monster, brought it here, and sent it directly to attack Saxthor and the family, he surmised. Now I know the Dark Lord has assumed the physical being of a wizard for sure. He’s again actively trying to destroy Saxthor and maybe the whole imperial family. Nindax is his pawn.

When Memlatec returned to the palace, Lord Governor Hedrak was prostrate before the emperor, babbling profuse apologies for the ‘incident.’

“Another attempt on our life and family,” Saxthor said. “How is it that Mendenow is so poorly secured? You have adequate imperial troops here.”

“Your Imperial Highness, I had no knowledge of this attack. I have informers, but no one reported anything unusual or any threats.”

“Were you not a distant relation of Engwan with the empress’ support? We should replace you at once. As it is, you’re on probation. Any further problems within Mendenow, or any disturbances that are found connected to Mendenow, and we shall remove you as governor and detain you until we determine your involvement. Make no mistake, we have no hesitation in executing traitors.”

“Majesty, I assure you, I had nothing to do with this attack.”

“That’s all. You may withdraw. We require a full report on the incident on our desk by the time we reach Engwaniria.”

I sense a certain malignancy in Hedrak’s energy, Memlatec thought, watching the audience. It’s troubling, but I can’t tell if it’s related to his general fear for his life or if he’s hiding something related to it.

Still puzzling over the silver rune pendant, the wizard accompanied the imperial family back to Engwaniria.

The Powterosian Empire prospered under Emperor Saxthor. Trade flourished with the Graushdem-Sengenwhan Empire, Zenobia, and with the island kingdom of Tixos.

On Tixos, old King Kious died and his daughter ascended to the throne as Queen Chillola. Saxthor sent Neuyokkasinian agricultural experts to the queen’s court. Working with her people, they opened up the island’s interior, bringing water from the Highback Mountains to new terraced fields through an extensive irrigation system. That made it possible for Tixos to export new agricultural products for the first time. Five years had passed when Saxthor received an invitation from Queen Chillola to visit the island again. This time she planned a state tour emphasizing the wondrous changes his suggestions, generous financial contributions, and Neuyokkasinian advisors had made.

“We should go, Saxthor,” Bodrin said. “Neuyokkasin is growing drastically; everyone is prospering. The farms have all been restored, houses and barns raised and painted, the irrigation ditches are clean and flowing, poor lands have been planted in timber forests, and richer lands are well fertilized with the manure of great herds of cattle, sheep, datangs, and pigallettas. We export fouls of all varieties to the empires on both sides. The merchants are fat and prosperous, though it does worry me that the younger people are leaving the farms, moving to the cities, and becoming industrialist. Here in the empire, you’ve restored all the old institutions and it’s as prosperous as in its best days before corruption and decadence debilitated the economic system. Now’s the time for you to travel and see the fruits of your labors.”

“Bodrin, there’s still so much to do here.”

“Saxthor, there’s always going to be more to do. You have your chatra to take care of the day to day operations here. He’s proven trustworthy, though he had a resentful, arrogant beginning. Let’s go and see Tixos again. We’re not getting any younger. It would be wonderful to see where old General Socockensmek lived, finally retired to, and died. We can walk the interior again and see the great mountains.”

“Yes, and the Highback Mountain that held Yamma-Mirra Heedra’s lair.”

Bodrin saw a strange, very peaceful hint of a smile. He’s seeing a memory, he thought. He rolls the dragon ring on his finger as if he were stroking the golden dragon.

“Perhaps you’re right, Bodrin. I’ll have Boktorian arrange the trip and send acceptance to Queen Chillola. It will be a relief to get away from the court intrigue here.”

* * *

King Nemenese sat in his private sitting room reading a secret letter from an informant in Engwaniria. A servant took away a breakfast tray as the Senoshesvasian imposed chatra entered with a packet of papers for the king to sign. Nemenese glared at the chatra, who cautiously placed the papers on the desk, bowed, and stepped back.

“Leave us,” Nemenese said.

“Emperor Nindax requires your signature on these documents as soon as possible.”

“We said, leave us! We shall attend to the documents in our own good time. Get out and send us our valet.”

The chatra gave but a slight bow, hesitated a moment, and retreated. Nemenese settled back in his chair and reread the secret letter as his last confidante entered.

“I’ve endured five years of that insufferable worm of a chatra. I’ve waited for something that would draw Emperor Saxthor, and the Powterosian Empire, into a war that would weaken or overthrow Nindax and free Velstorbokkin. This bit of news might be parlayed into just such an incident,” King Nemenese said to his old valet, who was tucking a throw around his king’s lap. “I’ll send a message to Nindax. In it, I’ll casually mention the imperial fleet is initiating war games in the Tixosian Sea. It’s reported that Emperor Saxthor is sailing to Tixos to meet with Queen Chillola. I’ll play stupid and ask, no … hint, to Nindax that Saxthor might be making an alliance with Tixos. Could this lead to their combined fleets invading Velstorbokkin to wrest it from the Senoshesvasian Empire? It must be delicate, just hints to lead his suspicious mind to that conclusion.”

“Yes, I see. If Nindax thinks Saxthor might invade, he will certainly mobilize the army. We need only pass that information on to the Neuyokkasinians through Dowager Helgamyr and thus the empress. The Neuyokkasinians are certain to verify Nindax is mobilizing his army. Saxthor will have to mobilize, suspecting an invasion. Whom else would Nindax attack?”

“This is most convenient,” Nemenese said. “Get word to Admiral Tenius at Soondaree. He’s still loyal. I want his best sailors for a clandestine mission. If we can sneak a ship, a merchant ship, into Tarquinia and sabotage the imperial barge so that it’s discovered just before Saxthor boards it to sail to Tixumemnese, it will be blamed on Nindax.”

“Excellent, Majesty.”

“Tell Tenius… only volunteers he’s selected for their loyalty as well as their valor. They must be the best but, should they fail, they must be wearing Senoshesvasian paraphernalia. If discovered, they must not be taken alive.”

“Understood. I’ll leave through the hidden hallway; the chatra will be watching the door to have me followed, I’m sure. I’ll send our intermediary and return to leave through the main door so the chatra will never know I left the room.”

* * *

Two weeks later, Helgamyr, with Endaquac’s assistance, was again practicing her magic after she had given it up for several years. She’d been frustrated with her inability to master any crippling spells. The two had concentrated their time on raising Engwan and carefully implanting the notion that the boy was the true heir to his grandfather. To encourage him, they catered to his every whim. The spoiled heir became very dull without interest in anything except his eventual ascension to the imperial throne.

The ladies were in the imperial garden’s forest, trying to cast a spell to raise a demon, when a messenger appeared.

“Who are you?” Helgamyr asked, gasping from her fright. “How dare you come upon us without being announced?” Endaquac moved close beside the dowager, patting her hand. The messenger seemed unaffected by the outburst, but bowed low and handed a letter to Endaquac.

“King Nemenese sends his warmest regards, Majesty,” the messenger said. He bowed again, backed up, then disappeared in the very forest that hid the dowager from prying eyes.

“What does the envelope say?” Helgamyr asked Endaquac.

The maid looked at the letter on fine paper meant to dissolve into nothingness when cast into water.  “It’s addressed to you, Majesty.”

Helgamyr snatched the letter and glared at Endaquac. “Of course it’s addressed to me. You don’t think Father would be writing you, do you?”

Endaquac bowed and stepped back. Helgamyr ripped open the letter and read it.

“War, Father thinks that Nindax is mobilizing for war.” She looked up at Endaquac then continued to read the letter. “Just when things were going well between Nindax and me, along comes another war and estrangement. I could have been Empress of Senoshesvas. As empress, I’m sure I could have convinced Nindax to release Velstorbokkin, with a treaty of alliance, and father would have been a sovereign king again. I suppose Saxthor has done something to stir things up.”

“Maybe the empress knows something about this?”

“We’ll return to the palace and have a little chat with Tottiana. First, we must test out this spell on the little citrix here.”

Helgamyr cast the spell over the rodent she’d brought for the experiment. The little rodent poofed into a creature ten times its former size, sporting huge fangs that it ground like boar’s tusks. It glared at Helgamyr and growled.

“Oh my!” Helgamyr exclaimed. “I didn’t expect this.”

“Poke it,” Endaquac suggested from behind her. Helgamyr poked the citrix with her wand. It snapped at the stick, shattering it into splinters. The citrix crouched down, stared into Helgamyr’s face, and growled. Snapping its jaws, its teeth displayed and the menacing tusks clacked.

“You ungrateful beast!” Helgamyr said.

She leaned forward and glared at the monstrous rodent with hands on her hips. The citrix failed to cower. It took a cautious, threatening step forward, hunched down with its front left paw hung forward, poised for an instantaneous leap. The beast flexed its inch long claws. Staring red eyes focused. Its hot breath of decay stung her nostrils. Helgamyr jerked upright even leaning backward. The citrix leaped at the dowager, who barely managed to jump backward, narrowly dodging the attack. Crouching again, the citrix crept toward the startled women. The ladies retreated into the underbrush. Keeping her eyes locked on the fearless, stalking beast, Helgamyr spun around stepping on Endaquac’s foot. A twig snapped behind her and the dowager’s last nerve with it. She bolted back toward the palace with Endaquac close behind. When they broke free of the forest just before the garden wall, Helgamyr noticed her heart pounding. They turned back, watching the bushes at the edge of the wood.

“Do you think it’s still chasing us? Will it follow us out of the forest into the palace itself?” Helgamyr asked. She rubbed her throat with her hand.

“Unlikely, Majesty, I’ve heard they’re night creatures and normally very timid.” Helgamyr turned and glared at Endaquac.

“That thing was anything but timid! It would’ve torn my throat out in an instant. We barely escaped with our lives.”

“Yes, Majesty. You must be more careful next time.”

“Next time, indeed, I’m not sure I want to continue with this magic experimentation. We keep getting nothing, or something we’re hardly equipped to control.” She looked again at the shrubbery. “Let’s go talk with Tottiana about this Senoshesvasian mobilization. We’ll see what she knows.”

“What about the citrix?”

“What about it? I know nothing of a citrix.”

“It could hurt someone.”

“Well, that someone isn’t going to be me.” Holding up her now mud and grass stained gown, Helgamyr abandoned the garden and slammed the gate shut, rattling it to be certain the latch was secure.

*

Helgamyr looked over the tray of pastries and fruit in the nursery where she found Tottiana playing with little Augusteros.

‘You shouldn’t have these things around; they’re an irresistible temptation.” Helgamyr said, popping a fruit tart into her mouth and licking the honey off her fingers.

“It’s nice to see you come for a visit, Mother. You come so seldom. How have you been?”

“I’m fine, as always, Tottiana. You know nothing ever affects me. Where is Engwan this morning?”

“He took his bow and arrow to the archery field to practice. I think he’s too young, but Saxthor says he can’t hurt anyone there. The practice and exercise will do him good.”

“Archery, yes, going to be a little warrior like his father I suppose, kill everything in sight if his father has anything to say about it.”

“Now Mother, if you’re going to start attacking Saxthor again, you might as well leave now. I told you I don’t want to hear you slander him anymore.”

“I’m sorry, my dear, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Helgamyr came over to Tottiana, but she glared at little Augusteros playing on the floor. The child looked at Helgamyr and went to his mother. Helgamyr made no attempt to pick up the child as she always did with Engwan.

“Tottiana, my dear, I hear rumors that Emperor Nindax is mobilizing his army. Have you heard anything to that affect?” Tottiana put Augusteros back on the floor and stood up, her eyes bright and brows arched. Augusteros stood behind Tottiana, watching Helgamyr’s every move.

“Mobilizing his army?” Tottiana repeated. “Where did you hear that?”

Helgamyr looked away then moved back to the tray of pastries, eyeing each one as if a tray of finest jewels.

“Oh, I can’t remember. Must have been just some court gossip, I suppose.” Tottiana walked over to Helgamyr.

“Mother, you correspond with Emperor Nindax privately, we know that. Saxthor doesn’t want to interfere in your private life, so we say nothing, but if you know something about his mobilizing his army you must tell Saxthor.”

“I know nothing of the kind; I’m sure it’s just some mumbo jumbo among the bored court.”

“Saxthor will be leaving soon to tour Tixos with Bodrin and Queen Chillola. If there is a war brewing, he needs to know before he leaves the country.”

“Tottiana, you’re blowing this trivial gossip out of all proportion. I’m sure it’s just military exercises like those the imperial fleet is undergoing on the Tixosian Sea. I’m sorry I ever brought it up.”

Helgamyr motioned for Endaquac to follow her and the two ladies left the nursery. Tottiana handed Augusteros over to his attendants and left at once to find Saxthor.

* * *

“Do you think there is any truth to it, Saxthor?” Tottiana asked. “Mother isolates herself so much; it’s hard for me to believe she heard that from court gossip. She must have heard it from Father or Nindax.”

“I wish your mother could see Nindax is just using her,” Saxthor said. “Well, she’s vain and she still thinks he wants to marry her and make her Empress of Senoshesvas. She’s never gotten over losing the throne to me, I’m sure of it.”

“She’s my mother and I love her, but she is stubborn and resentful.”

“I suppose I must get to the bottom of this,” Saxthor said. He rang the bell pull. “Guard, have Chatra Boktorian meet me in the private audience hall and ask Memlatec to joint us.”