The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (28 page)

“The other five legions are to march north with me. Nindax will be crossing the border into the empire at Shinnadda, unless I miss my guess. He’s anticipated we’d rush to reclaim Mendenow. Nindax must know now that our legions are in the far south. I can’t reach Shinnadda in time to save it. I doubt we have enough of a garrison there to forestall Nindax’s legions long. He’ll overrun that castilyernov. It will be a race to prevent him from overrunning Engwaniria before we can return to defend it. The two inexperienced legions training there are all that stand between Nindax and the capital.”

“We can’t reach Engwaniria in time unless Shinnadda can hold out longer than anticipated, Majesty,” the general said.

“We’ll proceed under forced march. We did that once before from the Helgenstat to save Konnotan. We must make it in time to save the capital. Let’s get underway; there’s no time to lose.”

The general nodded and motioned for his commanders to follow. The remaining legions turned north, marching to save Engwaniria. Saxthor drew the spy aside.

“Ride with all speed to Engwaniria and Ossenkosk Palace. Say nothing to anyone in the city, but tell the empress to get the imperial family out of the city. She’s to travel east and not stop until she reaches Konnotan in Neuyokkasin where she can take refuge in my family’s Helshian Court Palace there. Do you understand? They must not be taken captive and held as hostages should Nindax take the capital.”

The shocked spy’s enormous eyes stared at Saxthor before he recovered and saluted.  “As Your Majesty commands.” He smacked his fist to his chest.

“Say nothing to the citizens. Do not create panic in Engwaniria. The empress will know how to approach the generals to prepare for an attack and siege without alarming non-combatants.”

The commanding general bowed. “Nindax won’t wait out a siege, Majesty. He knows you’ll return with all the imperial might to relieve the capital. He’ll throw all his army’s strength against the city to overthrow it before you can return to relieve it.”

Saxthor turned to the messenger. “Ride now, no delays. You must get the imperial family out of Engwaniria before Nindax can surround the city and close off escape.”

The spy galloped off at the head of a billowing trail of dust as Saxthor and his five legions marched back north to Engwaniria.

* * *

At Ossenkosk Palace, the messenger found his way past the guards to the empress, insisting on a private audience per the emperor’s instructions. In her own reception hall, Tottiana sat on the delicately carved throne with Tittletot standing at her side. The messenger strode up and bowed. His boots clacked on the marble floor striking as harbingers of doom.

“We’re told His Imperial Highness has sent you with a message,” Tottiana said, opening the conversation as court convention demanded. The messenger stands erect, resolute, Tottiana noted.

“There is no one else listening is there, Majesty? The emperor insisted my message was for your ears only.” He looked at Tittletot, who struck an artificially prominent pose in response.

“Proceed, Tittletot here is our advisor and is privy to any such messages from the emperor.”

“Emperor Saxthor insists that the imperial family move east at once to Helshian Court Palace at Konnotan in Neuyokkasin. You’re to travel light, and tonight, with only two cohorts of palace guards to escort you. Tell no one where you’re going or why.”

Tottiana jumped up from the throne. The messenger dropped to one knee.

“What are you saying? Why should we pack up the imperial family and flee in the night to the eastern-most province? This is the imperial capital; it’s never been besieged or even threatened. What’s happened?”

“Majesty, you must not repeat this to anyone, but the invasion at Mendenow is a diversion. The emperor now believes Emperor Nindax has misled and tricked him. The main force of his legions is most likely marching at this very minute around Castilyernov Shinnadda in the northwest. If he can pin down the defenders at Shinnadda and by pass it with the bulk of his army, he’ll race here unimpeded. With next to no opposition, he can seize the capital and all its resources. He’ll proclaim himself master of this empire from this high position.”

“But that’s unthinkable. Saxthor will return and stop the barbarian.”

“Majesty, the emperor is marching north now with five legions to confront Nindax, but even under forced march, the emperor doesn’t believe they can beat Nindax to Engwaniria. He’ll be outnumbered if His Majesty’s suspicions are correct, in any case.”

Tottiana gasped and slumped back onto the throne. “Unthinkable… unimaginable… how could this have happened?”

“Begging your pardon, Majesty, but there is no time to delay. You must pack the imperial family immediately and flee east. If you were captured and held as hostages, the emperor would be forced to abdicate and surrender the empire. For the sake of the empire, you must travel east at once to avoid capture, and without alarming the citizens, creating panic!”

“But Engwaniria… this capital is the splendid jewel of the greatest empire the world has ever known. What will become of it and our people here? This can’t be happening?”

“It’s happening, and now. You must go immediately to the ancestral Calimon palace in Konnotan where you will be safe while the emperor repels the invaders.”

“Thank you,” Tottiana said almost in a whisper. The shock left her weak and nauseous. She felt her lips quivering. It infuriated her that she publicly revealed her raw emotions in a court audience. “You may withdraw. Take your family and flee the city, but say nothing to anyone else. We must not create hysteria and chaos among the citizens. Nindax won’t harm the populace he hopes to rule if the city surrenders. He’ll be searching for us.”

After the messenger left, Tottiana rose and stumbled down the dais. She took Tittletot’s hand to steady herself. “I hope I’ll soon awaken from this nightmare.”

“We must do as Saxthor said and leave without delay, Majesty,” Tittletot said. “He’ll have his hands full trying to counter this unexpected move by Nindax. We must travel out of harm’s way so he doesn’t need to worry about you and the children.”

“Somehow I must convince Mother to accompany us. Should she remain, and Nindax take the city and marry her, he’ll have a claim to the throne.”

“She’ll not come peacefully.”

“No, and I don’t have much time to convince her. You go get Belnik and the two of you pack the essentials. Pack for the children too. Don’t wake or alarm them. We’ll leave as soon as preparations are complete. I must go wake Mother and try to reason with her.”

“What will you do if she refuses to go?”

“Kidnap Mother, I suppose. I’ve no time to argue with her.”

Tittletot nodded and left to find Belnik.

Tottiana sent a guard to summon Chatra Boktorian to her audience chamber then hurried on to her mother’s suite.

* * *

Tottiana took a deep breath and tapped on the dowager’s suite door. She noted the guards looked at each other, puzzled by the late night appearance of the empress, who seldom visited her mother. Tottiana knocked again but didn’t wait for an answer. She entered the suite, closing the door firmly behind her and encountered Endaquac coming with candle to answer the knock. Endaquac bowed, but Tottiana seemed not to notice, proceeding on to Helgamyr’s bedroom.

“Mother, I must speak with you,” Tottiana said.

“Who is it?” Helgamyr asked. Her voice was scratchy, awakening from a deep sleep. She cleared her throat. “Who dares to disturb my rest in the middle of the night? Is the palace on fire?”

“No, Mother, it’s me, Tottiana, and the palace isn’t on fire, but it may be soon.”

Helgamyr shot up in bed, rubbing her eyes, and glared at Tottiana. “Endaquac, go get us some tea.” Helgamyr waved her away. Endaquac bowed and left the room. “Come sit by me, my dear. It’s been a while since you came to hide under the covers with me in lightning storms.” She patted the bedcovers and fluffed up her pillows.

“Mother, something bad is happening. We must leave at once and travel east to Neuyokkasin.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, dear. Nothing is so bad as to make us take refuge in the usurper’s domain. Whatever has you so upset?”

“There’s an army marching on Engwaniria. Saxthor can’t get here in time to prevent it taking the city. We must get out before we’re captured and held as hostages, or worse.”

“You can’t be serious.” Helgamyr looked into Tottiana’s face then took her trembling hand. The dowager’s face grew pale. “You’re serious.”

“Yes, and we must leave Engwaniria in the night so as not to alarm the citizens.”

“What could have happened?”

“Nindax has tricked Saxthor with the southern invasion. While Saxthor marched south, Nindax has apparently invaded from the north with most of his legions. If he gets past Castilyernov Shinnadda, the road is open to Engwaniria. Saxthor can’t get back here in time to save the city. Nindax must not take us as hostages.”

Helgamyr snatched back her hand. In the candlelight, her face turned mottled red. “I’m not going. Nindax wouldn’t harm me. When he takes the city, he’ll make me empress to secure his claim to the throne. We’ll finally be rid of Saxthor.”

“Mother, I must be blunt. If Nindax was going to marry you, he would’ve done so years ago. He’s played you for a vain fool. If he takes the city and proclaims himself emperor, he’ll be glad to be rid of all of us. We now stand as a rallying point for the resistance to his rule. He may well execute us rather than have that happen. And even if you survive, there’d be no hope for little Engwan and Augusteros.”

“Execute us… Engwan?”

“Yes, now get up and gather only the essentials. Have Endaquac stitch some jewels in the hem of your gown in case we’re captured and held for ransom. Who knows what will happen riding across the empire to Konnotan with a minimal escort of palace guards.”

Helgamyr began to cry.

“Stop that, Mother, there’s no time for such. Get up, and get dressed. Be ready to leave the palace as soon as possible.”

Endaquac returned with a tray of tea things.

“Endaquac, put that tray down and pack Mother’s things for a journey. Only essentials, we must travel light. Sew the jewels there in that case into the hem of her gown, and be quick about it.”

“What’s happened, Majesty?” Endaquac asked Helgamyr.

“Never mind that now,” Helgamyr said. “Just pack fast. We’ll discuss it later.”

Tottiana rushed past Endaquac as if she didn’t see her and out the door to meet with the Chatra Boktorian, whom she had had summoned to her private audience hall.

* * *

“Wake up, you lout,” Tittletot said, poking Belnik. “We must pack and escape to the east.”

“Pack and flee east?” Belnik asked when Tittletot shook him repeatedly. “Have you lost your mind, little imp? You woke me up playing a trick, I suppose. I’ll speak to Saxthor about this.”

“Speak to anyone you like later, but for now get your carcass out of bed and get dressed. We must pack the family, essentials only, and be ready to leave Engwaniria as soon as possible. You must say nothing to any servants you encounter. If they press you, say the empress is taking the family on holiday at Tarquinia. Understood?”

Belnik took off his nightcap. “What’s going on, Tittletot?”

“If you must know, Saxthor’s been tricked. While he’s gone south with the army to expel the invaders at Mendenow, Nindax may have marched around Shinnadda and is racing down through the empire unimpeded to seize Engwaniria. Saxthor can’t make it back here in time to defend the capital. We must flee east to prevent the family being taken hostage.”

“Nindax, here in Engwaniria, that’s absurd,” Belnik said scratching his head.

“Well, while your brain is sorting it out, get ready and help me pack for the journey. Don’t wake the children yet, but get their things packed. Say nothing to their nurses.”

“What’re you going to do?”

“I’m going to attend to the Crown of Yensupov while you get started on the packing, if you can stay awake long enough to do that.”

“What of the Crown of Yensupov? It can’t be left here, yet only Saxthor can touch it.”

“We can’t risk its being captured. It would be too vulnerable with the coaches. I’m not so sure but may be dangerous around us without Saxthor. No…I’ll hide it under the palace so even if Nindax burns Ossenkosk to the ground, it’ll still be safe.”

“I’ll go with you,” Belnik offered.

“No man can touch the crown but its true owner. You’d be killed. I’m a tittletot, an elf. I have certain powers that might enable me to move it without touching it. It’s in a protective case if I remember right. You attend to the family.”

Tittletot rushed out and climbed the stairs to the high, forbidden tower’s top floor. He hesitated outside the door, took a deep breath, and used elfin magic to unlock it. On entering the room, he instantly felt an extremely powerful energy pervading the room. He hesitated. His skin felt dry and every hair seemed to stiffen, standing out from his body. Across the room was a small iron door in the stone wall. Again, Tittletot cast a spell on the door’s enormous lock. Sparks flashed as if the door had been struck by another piece of iron. The lock held.

A spell holds it; a spell must release the protective spell Memlatec’s put on it, Tittletot thought. I’ve no time to test various spells. Beads of sweat formed on the elf even though the room was chilly. A word, a word unlocks the spell. What word. Then it struck him, as if given by the lock itself.