The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (25 page)

“How would Nindax bring the Senoshesvasian army to attack the empire?” Saxthor asked. “There’s only this narrow pass through the mountains or else Nindax would have to pack his entire army on Velstorbokkin ships and sail around the mountains to enter the empire.”

“There’s that narrow strip through which Nindax marched his army to overwhelm Velstorbokkin before anyone knew what he was up to.”

“Very well, put the legions in the western and northwestern provinces on alert. Move additional legions west to support them, just in case. See what the army commanders recommend as to troop movements. Present a consensus to me as soon as possible. I’ll cancel the tour of Tixos and send my regrets to Queen Chillola.”

“There’s the sorcerer to consider, Saxthor,” Memlatec said.

“Yes, the wizard. You may go Boktorian.” The chatra bowed and withdrew.

“Are you sure the Dark Lord’s essence is behind the sea monster?”

“That beast was no natural aberration. It was created, or more likely, grown. The Dark Lord is without his own body, but he is controlling another wizard, I’m sure of that. He can no longer create wraiths, and he hasn’t the power to create dragons by sourcing his own being. He was able to grow that sea snake into what you encountered. He’s been gaining strength too. I’ve seen it in the drain on the energy gradients. They’re warping toward the west under a powerful strain.”

“You can’t get to him?” Saxthor asked.

“He’s well entrenched behind the mountains in Senoshesvas. Nindax has no idea what he is harboring. The Dark Lord will come for you again, Saxthor. For now he is manipulating Nindax to try to destroy you. He knows you’ll not call upon the Crown of Yensupov or Yamma-Mira Heedra as yet. He’s trying traditional methods to destroy you unless he feels threatened again himself. The crown and dragon may only be used to confront raw evil, not to promote the plans of men.”

“Well, we’ll have to deal with the Senoshesvasian army first. Perhaps when Nindax learns we’re strengthening the western border, he’ll back down and demobilize,” Saxthor said.

Memlatec nodded. “Meanwhile, I shall travel to the Abysmal Pass and see if I can discover anything more about the wizard lurking behind those mountains.”

* * *

Emperor Nindax fumed in his audience hall some weeks later. In the dimly lit hall, the messenger from King Nemenese bowed low before the self-crowned emperor. The massive, crudely-finished stone arches overshadowed the great hall, casting their own gloom over the mood. Subdued courtiers moved away from Velstorbokkin’s habitual harbinger of bad news. Xthilleon stood in the shadows opposite the chatra but close enough to the dais to hear anything said.

“King Nemenese reports his agents overheard merchants restocking supplies at Soondaree. They spoke of new legions marching toward the Powterosian Empire’s western border, the Senoshesvasian border,” the messenger said. He looked about at the courtiers’ responses then continued. “They chattered about military exercises at Shinnadda. King Nemenese inquires if Your Imperial Majesty has knowledge as to why there should be such a substantial increase in military activity near the border?”

“Chatra! Send a messenger to our garrison commander at the fortress south of Shinnadda. I want a full report on Neuyokkasinian activities near that castilyernov. I want to know of any changes in legion strength and if the chatter at the local alehouses mentions anything unusual.”

“It shall be done, Majesty.” The chatra rushed from the dais and out of the hall.

“Why haven’t I heard any of this before now? How could that conniving Emperor Saxthor have moved legions to the border before I heard about it here?”

“Your Imperial Majesty knows getting information behind these mountains about the Powterosian Empire beyond is difficult and slow,” a general exclaimed, wiping his face with a handkerchief.

“Xthilleon seems always to know what’s going on in Engwaniria before my chatra and the generals,” Nindax grumbled. He glared at the general. The officer backed away from the dais slinking back toward a massive column’s shadow.

“Emperor Saxthor didn’t overthrow Emperor Engwan or topple mighty Dreaddrac being stupid. He plots long term and uses stealth,” Xthilleon said. He stepped out of the shadows. His tone was low and dark and he held his stare on the messenger. “He’s had years now to restore his forces.”

“Perhaps his announced tour of Tixos was a ruse to lull you into complacency before a surprise invasion,” the chatra said.

“You think he’ll invade Senoshesvas?”

Xthilleon smiled his oily smile. “I think he may well do so. After all, you’ve failed to marry Helgamyr. Without that alliance, Nemenese’s daughter and granddaughter may be plotting to rescue Nemenese and free Velstorbokkin from your control. We know Helgamyr is a vain woman. If she feels spurned, she could be prodding the emperor to war.”

“Yes, I’d hate to have married that stupid, vain woman. She’s always scheming, but it would’ve at least prevented her plotting to free her father.”

“If Saxthor is moving an army west for invasion, what will stop him from not only snatching Velstorbokkin from Your Majesty, but additional territory as well?” Xthilleon asked. “Indeed, if an army gets around the mountains and onto the Senoshesvasian plain, it could force your abdication and turn Senoshesvas from your glorious new empire into two more Powterosian provinces.”

Nindax jumped up from his throne; his face was scarlet. The Velstorbokkin messenger hunched low, backing away, down from the dais toward the main aisle leading out of the hall without waiting to be dismissed.

“Generals, mobilize the armies north and south. Move the northern legions to mountains west of Shinnadda and distribute the southern legions to the three southern most coastal cities in case the Powterosian army should attempt invasion by sea from Mendenow. Though we’ve heard nothing from Hedrak, we can’t trust his loyalty either. Commandeer all available food stuffs and other supplies the military might require throughout the empire and store them in the fortresses. Xthilleon, use whatever powers you have to reveal what Emperor Saxthor is up to.”

“As Your Majesty commands,” Xthilleon said. “You will need more than the armies you have to defeat Emperor Saxthor should he invade Senoshesvas. He has far more resources and more than twice the military might Your Majesty strains your empire to support. We shall need something more to repel an invasion, much more to defeat him.”

“And what’s that?”

“I think it best not to discuss that at present.”

Nindax’s face puffed up with the stare, but he said nothing. The Velstorbokkin messenger cringed in the shadows; his stomach churned. After a long silence in which Xthilleon didn’t bow or back away from the dais, Nindax responded, his tone cautious and conciliatory.

“See what you can create to aid in the war effort.”

Xthilleon turned and retired without bowing. The Velstorbokkin messenger crept out of the hall unnoticed and fled back to Nemenese, feeling lucky to have survived the encounter.

* * *

Back high in his tower’s great sanctum, Xthilleon’s smirk grew more pronounced in the flickering candlelight, making Morphenius tremble in a dark corner. The sorcerer stood over the roughly finished gray granite pedestal topped with a thick stone basin and embellished with deeply chiseled runes. He watched Helgamyr in the silvery moon water. Nemenese had smashed the medallion Xthilleon had made for him in a fit of rage when Nindax invaded. Helgamyr again wore her broach in hopes Nindax might still seek her out for his empress.

* * *

“They’re chattering about war everywhere,” Helgamyr complained to Endaquac who sat in her corner stitching then pulling out her threads. “That’s all they talk about at court, legions moving here and there. No one knows for sure if my Emperor Nindax is really going to invade the empire. I’m tired of hearing about it.”

“Perhaps Nindax will overthrow Saxthor and Your Majesty will return to the throne as empress over both empires,” Endaquac suggested. Helgamyr saw the edges of a sneer though the maid didn’t look up from her embroidery.

“I’d hate to displace Tottiana, of course, but I wouldn’t be able to save her position. She’s sided with Saxthor against me.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

“Father’s last message hinted that Nindax has ordered him to prepare the Velstorbokkin war fleet to attack the imperial fleet at Malledar as a preemptive strike. He wants to prevent Saxthor from using it to move his legions by sea. Saxthor has transferred his legions to the northwestern border fortress. If war comes, he’ll march into Senoshesvas by land at Shinnadda.”

*

“That’s right, dowager, tell me Saxthor’s war plan,” Xthilleon mumbled. “Morphenius, we must create something unexpected to strike at Saxthor. That fool Nindax thinks he can defeat Saxthor with legions. Don’t I know well enough Saxthor will win any such battle? No, we’ll require something unusual and unexpected to defeat that experienced warrior. ”

“Something unusual yes…yes,” the oaf said.

“Unusual and unexpected.” Xthilleon’s cruel leer scared Morphenius and he began dusting his way to the door, not wanting to know more.

* * *

News of the massive mobilizations on the western continent reached Emperor Grekenbach and Empress Dagmar at Graushdemheimer.

“Dagmar, if this war does breakout, the two western empires will exhaust themselves in the struggle. This might be the perfect time to snatch Talok Province or even both Talok and Lemnos from Neuyokkasin. Those rich provinces would add substantial resources to our empire. Saxthor will concentrate his forces in the west; we’d take possession of Talok-Lemnos without a struggle and have it fortified and secured before he could respond. What are those two provinces to the Powterosian Empire, anyway?”

“Grekenbach, what can you be thinking? Saxthor is your friend, your former brother-in-law. He’d never forgive such treachery.”

“Yes, and you’d never sanction stressing Saxthor.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Grekenbach, I married you and have the interests of our empire at heart, but to seize Talok-Lemnos while Saxthor is distracted in the west would be unscrupulous. The treachery would enrage him. You don’t know his sense of dynastic responsibility. His honor, and that of his ancestors, would require he retake the provinces. Talok-Lemnos was an old kingdom. Saxthor’s grandmother was its last independent queen. It passed to his mother, Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin. It was incorporated into Neuyokkasin as a sacred trust. Saxthor would fight to the death and the destruction of the empire to hold onto anything related to the Neuyokkasin he inherited. He considers his stewardship of the kingdom his most sacred responsibility. He owes that to his ancestors, his dynasty. He’d never relinquish those provinces. You’d bring the whole of the Powterosian Empire down on us.”

“Perhaps you’re right; the risk of his retaliation is high.”

“I’m surprised that you’d even have considered such a thought.”

“I must put the interests of our empire ahead of personal feelings for Saxthor.”

“Well, if you want to retain this empire, you’d better not pinch the dragon,” Dagmar said.

“I’ll consult Tolalo about the situation in the west. Perhaps the wizard knows more about it than what the scant messages we receive reveal.”

* * *

High in the wizard’s tower, Grekenbach found Tolalo studying a reference book at his desk amid scrambled stacks of books, scrolls, and papers. The wizard was even frailer, never having completely recovered from the war that drained him so. Still, his eyes were bright as he read a book brought to him from the Wizards’ Hall library.

“Tolalo, what do you know of the war brewing in the west?” Grekenbach asked.

The wizard jumped in his chair, looking toward the source of the question. “Majesty, you startled me. You have more knowledge of the political developments than I, but I’ve seen alarming energy fluctuations all across the continent. There is something powerful again stirring beyond the western mountains separating Senoshesvas from the Powterosian Empire. I suspect it relates to the Dark Lord in his new manifestation that Memlatec warned me about. It’s slowly but steadily growing in strength. That’s all I know about it at present.”

“You know nothing of a war brewing?”

“I know the powerful energy concentration in Senoshesvas is growing. I have no vision of a war that distant.”

“Bring me any information you have concerning a war in the west.”

* * *

The Flinik

Saxthor had ordered the imperial governors to call up and train legions to support the impending war, having retired the oldest and longest serving legionnaires after the Great Dreaddrac War. The mobilization rumors on both sides spurred both Powteros and Senoshesvas to reactively reinforce their armies in the following months. Each escalated in response to successive rumors. Each action spurred additional reaction from the opposing empire, moving both to the brink of open war. As newly created legions marched to Engwaniria for advanced training, Saxthor received the governors’ representatives at the court audiences with updates on war preparations.

Chatra Boktorian stood beside Saxthor. “All the imperial governors have contributed legions except Hedrak of Mendenow and Otaqua of Challula. Governor Otaqua’s representative begs Your Highness’ patience and insists the legion requested shall be forthcoming within the month.” The envoy from Challula stood before the chatra. He dropped to his knees, prostrating himself before the emperor.

“No need for that. Why the delay?” Saxthor asked from the throne.

Boktorian turned to the messenger, who glanced back and forth between the emperor and the chatra. Boktorian thrust forward his staff of office. “Speak.”

“Unusually violent storms ravaged the farmlands across the province in the last three months, Majesty. The governor begs Your Majesty’s indulgence while his citizens struggle to save their meager crops before answering Your Majesty’s call for service in the legion.”

“Boktorian, we’ve read the reports on late and diminished tax revenues from Challula. Why haven’t we heard of these unusual storms that created the economic crisis? Send an imperial administrator to assess the provincial damage and determine if additional resources are necessary in their recovery. We suspend the levy of legionnaires until we receive the report on the state of the province. This messenger will notify Governor Otaqua of the commission and that he is to put any resources requested at the disposal of its members. This is to be given immediate attention.” The grinning governor’s aide bowed and left the hall, grinning, to return to Challula with the merciful news.

“What of Mendenow?” Boktorian asked. “We’ve not heard from Governor Hedrak.”

“Send a representative…no, a general to Mendenow. Demand a reason for the delay. We’ll know why the delay; it had better be a good one. We’ll know precisely when Governor Hedrak will deliver his levy of troops.” Saxthor turned to his senior general. “All experienced legions are on the western border now, are they not, General?”

“Yes, Majesty. The legions are deployed and concentrated at Castilyernov Shinnadda and the Abysmal Pass.”

“And on the southwestern border at Mendenow?”

“Senoshesvas has no fleet sufficient to move troops around the mountains to attack Mendenow.” The general said. Only Saxthor and Boktorian noted a figure in the shadows slink away through a side aisle.

“Expect the unexpected in war, General. Nindax has the Velstorbokkin fleet under his command now. Though, it would entail sailing around the entire western end of the continent, Senoshesvas has coastal cities that could provision such a fleet. We have no intelligence as to the fleet’s movements.”

“Fleet Admiral, have there been any reports of Velstorbokkin fleet movements?”

“Majesty, you commanded the imperial fleet should not venture beyond Malledar lest we provoke a war. Since the mobilizations, the merchant ships no longer sail northwest to Velstorbokkin to re-provision for fear of being caught in a sea battle. We no longer have access to the alehouse rumors. We don’t know the whereabouts of the Velstorbokkin fleet.”

“The dowager empress insists she knows nothing. She assures us her father, King Nemenese, reveals nothing of the political wrangling to her,” Saxthor mused.

*

Several weeks passed and Saxthor was reviewing the new legions’ training exercises when Chatra Boktorian, with the general he’d sent to Mendenow, rushed into his presence without the general even changing his dusty, disheveled uniform.

“What’s happened to you, General?” Saxthor questioned. “You look as though you’ve been attacked.”

The general gasped. “Majesty, Mendenow is in open rebellion!”

“Rebellion?”

“Governor Hedrak received me sitting on his garish new throne, surrounded by several Senoshesvasian officials he openly referred to as his ‘ministers and advisors.’ He declared that Mendenow is now an independent kingdom allied with, and under the protection of, the Senoshesvas Empire. There were generals and at least one admiral at his side. Senoshesvasian soldiers stood guard in his palace, blatantly wearing Senoshesvasian uniforms. That arrogant peacock, Hedrak, even showed me the Senoshesvasian troops disembarking from a fleet anchored just beyond the harbor.”

“Troops disembarking? What has happened to the legions stationed at Mendenow?”

“Perhaps the enemy secretly landed enough troops to overwhelm our forces and imprison them before Hedrak revealed his treachery. It seems Your Majesty had a valid prediction. The Senoshesvasian army has sailed south around the western continent and is now preparing to attack from the south through Mendenow. They’re already established there or Hedrak would not have display the invading army to me. He as much as dares Your Majesty to respond.”

“He knows our legions are concentrated far to the north,” Boktorian mumbled. The general glanced at the chatra nodding his head affirmatively.

Saxthor began pacing. “How many legions are disembarking at Mendenow?”

“I don’t know. Hedrak was evasive about that.”

“You returned with no idea of what we’re facing?”

“Once he’d satisfied his ego in telling me about the rebellion, a Senoshesvasian general silenced him. I asked about the strength of their forces. The general dismissed me.”

“So we don’t know if this is a full scale invasion from the south or a diversion.”

“Diversion, Majesty?” Boktorian asked.

“If we pull our legions from Shinnadda and the Abysmal Pass in a forced march south to counter the rebellion and invasion, it would leave the northwest open to a much larger invasion. If this is a diversion, and the majority of the Senoshesvasian forces are waiting in the north just beyond Shinnadda, we’d be caught between two pincers with our army worn out from marching before we ever engaged their troops.”

Boktorian gasped. “I’d not thought of that.”

“Summon Memlatec,” Saxthor said.

“Majesty, High Court Wizard Memlatec is away on an unexplained excursion to the Abysmal Pass if you will remember.”

The agitated general stepped forward, “Majesty, the road from Mendenow is open to the capital. We’ve no substantial fortifications between here and there and few natural defensive points. We have only raw recruits here to defend the capital.”

“Perhaps we could induce a diversion of our own,” Saxthor said.

Boktorian and the general looked at each other and then at Saxthor, who said no more.

* * *

“How delightful,” Helgamyr chattered, dancing around her reception room when Tottiana told her of Hedrak’s rebellion and the enemy troops landing. “Don’t you see, my dear? Emperor Nindax is coming to depose that upstart and restore me to the throne as his empress. Of course, I’m sorry about the loss of your position, but then, you did turn your back on your family and marry your barbarian king. You may have to accept exile with him if he even survives this conflict.”

“Mother, the empire is being torn apart by war. How can you be so gleeful at the prospects of so much devastation for your own personal gain?” Tottiana asked.

Helgamyr turned and stood erect, facing her daughter; she pinched and hardened her features. Her cheerful face transformed to glare at her daughter. “I’ve born the devastation of grief and humiliation at the loss of your father. I’ve suffered the contempt of the court and even your own abandonment. Now it’s my turn again to reign supreme over this court. The empire will survive and be greater than ever when Nindax takes the throne and makes me empress to guide him in its administration.” She stared angrily at Tottiana for a moment.

“You’re delusional, Mother.”

Helgamyr projected a slight smile. “Perhaps Nindax will allow you to remain at court. For the moment, he has no heir. If we’re married, you would again be princess imperial, at least until I give His Imperial Majesty an heir of his own.”

“How can you champion Nindax who tricked and humiliated grandfather in subduing Velstorbokkin?”

“How can you defend Saxthor, who murdered your father?”

“You disappoint me, Mother. I don’t know how you can be so happy at the loss of life in the empire to advance your own position.”

“It’s a matter of political survival. I intend to survive and prosper at whatever the cost,” Helgamyr said bluntly. “Nindax offers me that opportunity, and I’ll never have another to return to the throne.”

“What do you know of this army building at Mendenow?” Tottiana asked.

Helgamyr turned away from her daughter and went to her mirror. “How do you like my hair, my dear? You haven’t even noticed, I’ve now swept it up more loosely and allow these lovely curls on each side to frame my face. Don’t you think it’s elegant? The court will now follow my lead again, don’t you see.” She twisted the large curls, watching Tottiana in her mirror.

“You didn’t answer my question. What do you know of this army building at Mendenow?”

Helgamyr swung around, frowning at Tottiana. “Who are you to demand answers from your mother, the real empress. I don’t answer to you anymore than I answer to your husband.”

“Saxthor has been here?”

“That traitor Boktorian came in his name demanding to know what I know of Emperor Nindax’s plans. I told him nothing either. Soon I shall be in charge in Ossenkosk, and perhaps I shall decide your husband’s fate. You had better watch your tongue; I may decide your fate as well. As for Boktorian, that traitor’s head is soon to be spiked on the city gate.”

“And Hedrak, what do you know of his involvement?”

“Hedrak is an incompetent, but he is your cousin. He’s proving to be the means through which Nindax will seize the throne. I don’t think the poor fool will have much of a future, no matter who rules in Ossenkosk. He cast his lot with Nindax and proclaims his imperial connection for the moment. But enough said about that. You may withdraw.”

Tottiana left. As the door closed behind her, Helgamyr drew a letter tucked in a secret pocket hidden in her gown. She was about to reread it when she noticed Endaquac and Engwan come out from behind a curtain. A chill ran through Helgamyr seeing Engwan’s cold stare. She stuffed the letter back in its hiding place and rushed to embrace Engwan, but he squirmed out of her grasp.

“There now, my precious, you’ve nothing to worry about. Helgamyr will look out for and protect you,” Helgamyr said to the boy walking away from her toward the door.

Engwan turned back to her. “You might restore your place as empress under Nindax’s rule, but he’ll have no love for me, both son and grandson of his enemies. What happens to me if your Nindax crushes Saxthor? Just last week Endaquac was teaching me about lions and how a new male taking over a pride kills the offspring of the former, defeated male.”

Helgamyr stared at the boy but had no response. Engwan’s mouth twisted in a sinister smirk beneath his cold, dark eyes. The door closed behind the crown prince with a bang, contrasting the room’s deathly silence where Helgamyr and Endaquac looked at each other.

* * *

In the emperor’s private sitting room, Saxthor sat listening to Tottiana as she paced the floor, wringing her hands, discoursing her fears about Hedrak, his disgrace, and the danger to Saxthor.

“I’m so sorry, Saxthor; I should have told you,” Tottiana moaned. “I just never thought that fool cousin would endanger the throne and empire for his own hopeless aspirations. Hedrak is a distant cousin, you see. No one considered him seriously in line for the throne. Most dismissed him as an arrogant fool. Certainly, no one could have anticipated he would commit treason and rebel against the empire that has nurtured him. His whining wore down Engwan until Father finally gave him the governorship of Mendenow to get him out of Engwaniria. Who would have suspected his ambitions could reach to the throne itself. To have turned his back on his own dynasty, well, it’s unimaginable. His greed and lust for power will destroy him.”

“Yes, indeed, his treason will be his death,” Saxthor said, but he didn’t stir from his chair.

“Saxthor, I’m not involved in any way with this treachery.” Tottiana stopped and looked at her husband. “Mother conspires, but she’s harmless. You must believe me; neither Mother nor I had anything to do with this.”

Saxthor rose from his seat and embraced Tottiana. She pushed away slightly to protest her innocence further, but Saxthor pulled her to him and smoothed her hair with his hand. Feeling his steady, calm heartbeat, Tottiana relaxed a bit and, in his strong arms, finally succumbed to his reassurance.

“I never thought for a moment that you were conspiring against me, my dear. It would be against your own interest as well as those of our children should Nindax defeat me and seize the throne. Now, your mother, yes, I’m sure she knew of the plot. She’s done her best to harm me, but as you say, she’s harmless. You mustn’t trouble yourself further about this.”