The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (29 page)

“Saxthorwittlewat!” Tittletot said. The crown knows I come to protect it. It’s assisting me with the key, he realized.

The lock opened, and Tittletot approached the wall niche with caution. He hesitated, then someone pushed his arm and he jumped with a surging heartbeat. He jerked around.

“Get on with it, we’ve not got all day,” Belnik said.

“I told you to go get the children ready to leave. Time’s running out. Go take care of your duties, and I’ll take care of this.”

“But I can help.”

“You’d be killed getting near this thing without Saxthor’s protection; you’re human…well, something like human,” Tittletot said, “Do you think I want that on my head?”

“I’m sorry. Yes, of course, but if you were to…”

“Do you understand the term,
Get Out
?” Tittletot asked. He regretted his harsh tone.

“I just wanted to help,” Belnik mumbled, slinking back out of the room. “Now if you were to …”

Tittletot cast him his best frowning stare, and Belnik disappeared out the door. Tittletot turned back to the lock. Here goes…

Tittletot grasped the lock and a shock wave went through him. In a moment it dissipated, and Tittletot took the lock off the door, putting it on the nearby table with near reverence. He opened the door and stared at the copper chest that held the crown.

“Wizards of old who fashioned this crown and container, spare my disturbance,” Tittletot said. “I must move this chest to a safer place to protect it for Saxthor, who is away and unable to do so himself. Permit me to move this and I shall not open or disturb the crown within.”

The chest’s slight green glow ceased. Tittletot used his magic to levitate and move the container out from the niche and down the tower stairs to the cellars beneath the palace, undetected. There he opened a trap door and descended into a tunnel under the palace. He secured the chest in the shaft floor and covered it with the soil, noting the sixth torch above to find it later. Then he returned to the cellar and used an elfin spell to disguise the trap door. He rushed back upstairs to help Belnik prepare the family.

* * *

“Majesty,” Boktorian said, rushing into Tottiana’s audience chamber. “What’s happened that you’d summon me in the middle of the night?”

“Saxthor has been deceived by the invasion at Mendenow. While he’s led the army south, he now believes Nindax has brought the bulk of his legions to the northwest border. He’ll attempt to bottle up the defenders at Shinnadda and lead the bulk of his army around it. If successful, he expects to race down through the empire to capture Engwaniria before Saxthor realizes the deception and can return here to defend the city.”

Boktorian’s jaw dropped. His fingers, clutching his staff, turned white.

Helgamyr continued. “Saxthor can’t reach Engwaniria in time to prevent the attack. There are only the untested and inexperienced legions at the fortresses guarding the passes into the valley. Saxthor has ordered the imperial family to move east so Nindax can’t use us as hostages should the capital fall. While we do not wish to vacate the capital, we believe His Majesty is correct in wanting us to avoid being pawns in this struggle. Thus, we’re preparing to travel east to a safer location while this war plays out. For your own safety and ours, we’ll not name our refuge in case Nindax captures you.”

“Captures me? Majesty, what may I do to help?”

“We ask that you remain here to coordinate the city’s defense and, if possible, to forestall Nindax to give the emperor time to get here to break the siege.”

“I shall be glad to surrender my life to defend the empire and this dynasty, if need be.”

“Thank you, Boktorian. You served my father as best you could. You’ve supported my husband, helping to make the transition between them as smooth as possible. We shall forever be grateful for anything you can do at this juncture as well. We would appreciate it if you would arrange two details of palace guards to accompany our carriages and baggage carts. Determine a safe route through back streets for our departure from the city such that it draws the least attention.

“I shall arrange everything, Majesty.”

“For now, we must say thank you again, good-bye, and good fortune.”

Boktorian bowed as Tottiana rose and left the audience hall, glancing back around its elegant interior one last time. Then she rushed off down the hall to the family’s private quarters to check on the progress there with Delia close beside her.

*

Two hours before dawn, with one cohort of palace guards leading and one following, two coaches carrying the imperial family and Delia, and three baggage carts, rolled through the gates of Ossenkosk and traveled down back streets under lamp lights, heading for the city’s gate and the imperial road heading east. The sound of the iron wheel bands rolling over the cobblestone streets strained Tottiana. I should have had those wheels covered in animal skins to muffle that noise, she thought.

They were two thirds the way through the city when the lead carriage slowed to turn a dark corner. Curled up on the seat beside the empress, Delia’s head popped up with ears raised and focused on the door. Already uneasy, Tottiana’s body tensed. She drew back the curtain edge and peeked out to see what Delia sensed.

“What’s the matter, Tottiana?” Helgamyr asked.

The empress shook her head, saying nothing. She smoothed Augusteros’ hair as he slept with head in her lap.

Delia’s hair bristled; she growled.

Tottiana caught a glimpse of a man entering the street from the shadows. Her heart pulsed then skipped a beat. The man’s crazed eyes focused on her in the flickering lamplight. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over Augusteros in her lap. She doubled over as the man leapt onto the carriage foot-rail and thrust his dagger-wielding arm and head through the window. Helgamyr screamed. Delia lunged at the man’s arm, knocking it upward. The dagger flashed beside Tottiana’s head, skewering her hat, and slammed into the carriage’s front wall with a dull thud. Delia bit down hard on the man’s arm. Tottiana reached out and shoved the man’s face, reeking of garlic, out of the carriage.

The captain of the trailing guards was suddenly at the carriage’s side. He thrust his sword through the man’s torso, killing him before he could get out of Delia’s vice-like grip. His foot slipped from the foot rail and he hung limp from the window by his arm. The carriage jolted when the driver stopped the horses.

The captain jumped off his mount and pushed the lifeless body aside. He opened the carriage door, looking at the empress, who observed the officer.

“Are you hurt, Majesty?” the captain asked. His eyes were enormous. Now quivering, Tottiana noted the officer glanced over his shoulder, holding his sword up, ready for any follow-up attacks. She heard the clacking of many horses’ hooves on the cobblestones surrounding the carriage.

“We’re all right,” the empress said. She noted Helgamyr across from her had fainted, still clutching Engwan. “Drive on at once.”

“As you say, Majesty.” The captain closed the carriage door and stepped back. “Drive on!”

The captain disappeared to resume his place at the head of the reforming, trailing guards. Wide eyed, she watched left and right until the entourage passed beyond the great pylons at the city’s gate, passed the massive stone griffins that lined the avenue leading to the imperial capital, and headed toward the monumental fortresses at the top of the hill guarding the valley from intruders.

As the carriages traveled on in the predawn darkness, Helgamyr regained consciousness with Endaquac patting her hand. “What happened?” the dowager asked.

“Someone attempted to assassinate me,” Tottiana whispered. Helgamyr’s eyes swelled; her mouth dropped open. “The captain of the cohort following us killed him. Mother…only a few members of the household knew of our route. There’s a Senoshesvasian operative among the closest members of the imperial household,” Tottiana said, her self-control artificial.

“An assassin among us?” Helgamyr whispered.

Tottiana covered little Augusteros’ ears with her cupped hands and nodded her head, confirming the now undeniable fact. Only then did she notice Engwan’s partially open eye, staring at her from Helgamyr’s lap.

* * *

Emperor Nindax had strained his empire to build, train, and support the eight legions that waited in the valley just out of sight of Castilyernov Shinnadda. They awaited marching orders to cross the northwestern border and overwhelm the Powterosian fortress. Centered in stark contrast among the austere legionnaire tents, Emperor Nindax’s headquarters was lavish, garish even, with excessive purple fabrics and endless gold tassels and streamers. Nindax addressed his commanders there.

“I’ve just received word that Emperor Saxthor has left Engwaniria for Mendenow. He wouldn’t have personally headed south if he didn’t think the invasion at Mendenow was full blown. He has an army stationed somewhere to the south as he didn’t leave the city at the head of one. Shinnadda is on its own here in the northwest. The emperor doesn’t expect an attack here. We know he’s stated he’s moved additional legions to Shinnadda, but there are no reports of increased activity in the area. We should be able to overrun the castilyernov and advance on Engwaniria before Saxthor realizes his mistake.”

“How long will our army be able to keep the Powterosian army at Mendenow?” someone asked.

“Long enough, we sent six legions. Six legions in a defensive mode behind the city walls should be able to hold out long enough for us to overrun Shinnadda and Engwaniria. By the time Saxthor realizes his mistake, it will be too late for him to save his capital. With his supply lines cut, he’ll run out of support for his troops. So, gentlemen, you’re ordered to take Shinnadda within three days of the opening attack.”

“Three days!” one general said. “Shinnadda is an impregnable fortress. We can starve them out, but our siege machines will take more than three days to break through those walls. The foundation was built back in the Occintoc age by master dwarves that worked monumental stones. How can we break through that in three days?”

“You there,” Nindax said, pointing to a nearby major. “Take that general out and hang him for his cowardice. Leave him hanging where all can see and know how their emperor deals with weakness. Now, are there any more questions?”

No one else spoke. Another general looked side to side, then cleared his throat. “Imperial Majesty, when do we begin the attack?”

“Now that we know Saxthor is heading south, you’re to finalize your plans and begin at daybreak tomorrow. You’ve had adequate time to formulate a plan, so you need only finalize it among yourselves tonight.” As Nindax looked around the tent, he noted the various officers looking at each other, but none dared speak. “You’re to present your final plan for my review and approval before midnight. You are dismissed.”

The officers drifted out of the tent and back to their respective legions, having agreed to meet at the mess tent after dinner to resolve final details before presenting the plan to the emperor.

“Chatra!” Nindax called. The minister, who’d been standing in the shadows at the back of the tent, stepped forward. “Notify me at once when you hear back from the special envoy to Engwaniria. If the plan works, I may be emperor of the world before that Neuyokkasinian can even strike a blow to prevent it.”

* * *

One afternoon the week before, a Powterosian soldier from Shinnadda was picnicking with his girlfriend on the border mountain’s slope overlooking the castilyernov. They were playing hide and seek in the forest and unknowingly crossed the boundary. Stumbling through the forest, they came out at the forest’s western edge and looked down on eight Senoshesvasian legions marching into the valley below. Shocked, the two dashed back through the forest and down the other side to Shinnadda. The young soldier rushed to his sergeant, who took him to the commander, who took him to the commanding general in charge of the legendary castilyernov protecting the empire’s northwest frontier.

“What’s this I hear you saw enemy legions setting up camp in the valley just beyond the mountains there?” the old general asked.

“I tell you, we saw eight legions marching into the valley, General. You can ask my girl, she saw them too. We counted eight.”

“I’ve less than three legions here,” the general said to the major that brought the soldier to the general. “There’s another legion at Malledar I can summon, but it will take many days for them to get here even under forced march. They’d be exhausted. If they arrived amid a siege, they’d be no good to us then.” The general motioned for his aide.

“Send word to the emperor that Nindax is just over the border at the head of eight legions, about to pounce on Shinnadda. I don’t know that he can reach us in time, but he must be made aware of our precarious situation.” Hand on his sword hilt, the aide saluted and left.

“How long can we hold out, General?” the major asked.

“Depends on the siege machinery they have. It will be difficult to get those over the mountains. They’ll have to build them from the forest timbers. That will take a week. They know that Saxthor will bring forces to our aid as soon as he learns of this looming threat. The enemy must know they won’t have long to take Shinnadda before reinforcements arrive.”

“What preparations do you order for a siege?” the major asked.