The Reach Between Worlds (The Arclight Saga, Book 1) (21 page)

The Will of the Sun King

Taro wished he’d changed into something more suitable before trying to enter the palace. The warder at the gate wouldn’t even entertain letting him pass.

“You let me in just a few weeks ago,” Taro said. “I’m a friend of Kyra.”

“Sure you are, kid.”

It was only through a stroke of luck that Axel was leaving at that very moment. Taro reached through the wrought bars of the courtyard wall and waved to get his attention. Axel’s first reaction, as you might expect, was to hurry off as fast as possible, however he soon recognized Taro under all the grim and dirt.

“Gods above,” he said, approaching.

The warder grabbed Taro by the shirt and was prepared to yank him from the bars. “Can you please tell these gentlemen that I’m a friend of Kyra?” Taro pleaded.

Axel gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m afraid he is. I don’t understand it either, but you’d better let him in.”

The warder released and Taro smoothed out his shirt. “Thank you.”

“Kyra was studying in the palace library last I saw,” Axel said. “I’d better escort you, or your liable to get thrown out again.”

Taro may have thought of Axel as a snob, but that wasn’t exactly fair. Axel could’ve chosen to ignore him, or even have him arrested (again) if he wished. Axel’s manners may have been lacking, the fact that he did neither of these things spoke to his character.

As they neared the library, Taro spoke up. “Thank you for helping me.”

“It’s little bother,” Axel said. “I was only fetching His Majesty’s medicine, not exactly a long journey.”

“Is he doing any better?”

Axel shook his head. “I don’t understand why he’s deteriorating as he is, he’s not that old.”

“You people really don’t have much experience with illnesses, do you?”

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen one in person. Are they especially common in the rest of the world?”

“Fairly common.”

“How dreadful.”

Axel paused with his hand on the library door. He glanced through a crack, then whispered to Taro. “I see her. Be exceptionally tactful, she’s not in the best of spirits.”

Kyra was the only person inside. She sat at an old desk with her nose buried in a huge genealogy book.

She’d been crying recently, but when she saw him she seemed genuinely happy. She pushed her book aside and picked at his clothes. “You’re trying to give Axel a heart attack, aren’t you?”

“Sorry, just got out of jail.”

Kyra gave him a crooked look she wasn’t quite sure if he was joking. “I’m not even going to ask.”

“Studying?” Taro asked.

“Not quite. Just reading up on some family history.”

“Sounds... interesting?”

“It’s boring as all hell, actually. I’m just trying to keep my mind off... well, you know. I really want to be with him right now, but he doesn’t like me seeing him as he is.”

Taro was happy that he didn’t have to bring up the subject of her father first. “My parent’s are very ill too.”

“Both of them?”

Taro nodded. “For almost a year now. Believe me, I know how it feels.”

Kyra scooted her chair closer to him and slide her arm around his back. She then slumped her cheek onto his shoulder. “Does it get any easier?”

“A bit. But it’s a lot like this—” He motioned towards his mechanical leg. “—you get used to the pain after a while.”

“You stop feeling it?”

“No, you just stop fearing it.”

“When Magister Ross leaves I think I’ll go read to him,” Kyra said, closing the book on the table. “He’ll hate it, but I can be quite persuasive.”

“Ross talking to your father right now?”

“She might be gone by now. They seemed pretty upset with each other when I passed by earlier.”

“Why don’t we take a walk and see?”

Kyra laughed. “You can’t help but eavesdrop, can you? Didn’t I yell at you for this very thing during admissions?”

“I prefer to think of it as being exceptionally curious. Besides, that was completely different.”

“How so?”

“Number one, we’re not in the Magisterium. And number two, you’ll be with me.”

It didn’t take too much coaxing to get Kyra to come with him. As they neared the Sun King’s chambers, Taro could already hear raised voices echoing through the wide halls. The door was cracked just enough for Taro to see Magister Ross standing at the Sun King’s bedside with her arms clasped behind her back. The Sun King was propped up on his bed, sweating and shaking.

“Out of the question,” he said, cutting the air with his hand. “I won’t allow you.”

Ross spoke firmly. “This is a threat unlike any we’ve ever face. We must respond accordingly.”

“Sealing off the lower city would spark chaos.”

“Chaos is coming whether we want it or not. The lower city is infested with Vexis’ supporters, not to mention a hideous disease. You yourself can see just how devastating it is.”

The Sun King pressed his hand to his chest like he was having trouble breathing. His veins were inflamed. “Find another way.”

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid I must insist.”

The Sun King glared at her with furious eyes. “You would defy me?”

“I’d rather us appear united, but I won’t allow this infestation to continue. I don’t need your permission to command my magisters and artificers.”

“The Magisterium will follow my orders,” the Sun King said.

Ross clenched her fist behind her back. “Is that a path you want to go down? Their king telling them one thing, and their Imperator telling them another? You spoke of chaos a moment ago, what sort of chaos will that bring?”

“I’ll do what I must,” the Sun King said. “And if you continue down this route, I will be forced to convene a Curial meeting to remove you from power.”

“You’d rip the Magisterium apart for your own stubborn pride?”

“How dare you speak to me in such a way. You swore an oath to serve me. I am your king.”

“You...” Ross held on the world for a long moment. “Are a sick, old man. Sick for a long time now. Your mind and judgement aren’t what they used to be. Now that your condition has advanced to this manic stage, I’ll have them move you to the Magisterium infirmary for closer attention.”

Ross turned to leave, and the Sun King reached towards her. “Amelia, wait.” There was desperation in his voice.

Ross paused at the door. “Convene your meeting. By the time you do, the situation will be handled.”

_____

The orders to secure the exits to the lower city came within hours. The artificers were broken into groups of twenty, and a magister placed in charge of each group. Magister Sullen was in charge of Taro’s, and ordered it around with his usual military efficiency. Ven was in his team as well, miserable the entire walk to Lower.

“Can’t they have warders do this?” Ven asked as they drudged through the snow.

“It’s not your place to question it,” Sullen said. “You are a soldier, and will follow your orders.”

“They’re just a bunch of civilians, we don’t need every magister and artificer to keep them in line. And since when is that even our job?” Ven countered.

Sullen’s voice wasn’t as confident as it usually was. “It is our duty to defend Endra.”

“From our own citizens? Something’s not right here.”

It began to snow as they approached Lower. Already hundreds of artificers and magisters were gathered, herding civilians. The sight seemed to unsettle Magister Sullen considerably.

“We must trust in the Imperator,” he said.

Passing the Midway

Vexis felt a charge run over her skin as the carriage she sat in passed the Midway. Carriages from Crissom Foundry were the only objects that could pass through the Midway without auroms. Vexis sported a wry smile the whole way through the Magisterium courtyard.

Mr. Crissom sat across from her, looking nervous. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“You’ll do fine,” Vexis said. “Take a deep breath and relax.”

There were fourteen docks on the Magisterium, and they ran day and night. Some were for receiving metals and materials, others for exporting advanced bits of artificery.

The carriage shook as it pressed against the side of the tower. Crissom stood, smoothed the sides of his shirt, and marched confidently into the docking bay where a warder met him. Vexis peeked through the tarp and listened.

“Mr. Crissom?” the warder said with some surprise “We weren’t expecting you.”

“I have a meeting scheduled with Magister Ross.” He tapped his pocket watch.

“I’m afraid the Imperator is away on other business.”

Crissom feigned annoyance. “We planned this meeting over two weeks ago. Of all the insulting, childish...”

“I’m sure it was just an oversight.”

“I demand speak to someone in authority. Who’s the ranking magister?”

“I’m afraid all the magisters are away. I could send a courier to—”

Vexis stepped out of the carriage. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”

The warder’s face went gray, and fumbled to draw his sword.

Vexis crossed her arms and let him get his weapon. “You don’t think that’s going to help, do you?”

Sweat trickled from the warder’s forehead. “You’re under arrest.” He stepped closer and touched his sword to her neck.

“You look familiar,” Vexis said, pushing a bit closer.

“I was there when you broke out of the Blocks.” He sounded pathetic.

She snapped her fingers. “That’s it! Sorry, I meet so many people. What’s your name?”

The warder sniffled. “Willin.”

“That’s a nice ring you’ve got there,” Vexis said, pointing out the silver band on his wobbling sword hand. “You’re married?”

“Yes.”

“Children?”

Willin nodded. “Three.”

Vexis sighed and stretched. “I’ve got a lot of people to kill today, Wil. People who actually deserve it. So, I’m not going to sugar-coat this. You have absolutely no chance of harming me. Think long and hard about your wife and beautiful kids, and whether you want to see them again.”

Willin lowered his sword. “The magisters will hang me if they find out.”

Vexis ran her hand along his face. “Don’t worry, after today there won’t be any magisters.”

She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled. Scores of men and women poured from the docks, including Mathan, Halric, and Rashkal’s boys.

“We need to secure the entrances first,” Mathan said.

“I’ll join you in a bit,” Vexis said.

Halric raised a wrinkled eyebrow. “You’re not coming?”

“I’ll catch up.” Vexis grabbed Willin by his sleeve and led him towards the door. “Will, I need your helping locating a friend of mine. He’s dreadfully ill and I wanted to pay him a visit.”

_____

The two warders at the entrance to the infirmary were much less willing to chat than Willin was. Vexis snapped their necks with her void magic and placed her hands on their broken bodies. Darkness enveloped them and two void apparitions emerged; their skin dripped with ichor and their thousand bulging eyes scanned their new surroundings.

Vexis petted their oozing flesh. “Off you go.”

She stripped the lock off the infirmary door and entered.

“You can’t come in here,” the nurse said. She was standing at the sink on the end of the room, washing out a mortar and pestle. “Visiting hours aren’t ‘till morning. The warders shouldn’t have let you pass.”

“Oh, I just sweet-talked them,” Vexis said. She sauntered over to the Sun King’s bedside. He was asleep and draped in a single thin sheet.

The nurse sighed. “Don’t expect him to know you’re here.”

When the nurse was out of earshot, Vexis hopped onto the hospital bed and sat cross-legged on the Sun King’s chest. The old man wheezed and groaned in pain as pressed her knee to his throat.

“I bet you never thought it’d end like this,” she whispered.

The Sun King mumbled something incoherent.

Vexis huffed. “This is just no fun.” She grabbed his vial of his medicine from the side table, touched her finger to it, and gave it a taste. “That’s interesting.”

She retrieved one of her own blood elixirs and fed it to him. His veins lightened, his breathing slowed, and his eyes popped open. He struggled against her and called out. The bed shook, and the nurse came running.

“Get off him this instant!” she shouted.

Vexis swiped her hand and the nurse went flying into a window so hard that the bars bent out and her broken body fell from the tower.

“It’s just you and me,” Vexis said.

“Guards!” The Sun King could barely speak, much less shout.

Vexis hollered at the doorway. “Guards! Guards! Anyone? They must be on break. That’s okay. I don’t want anyone interrupting this moment.” She touched her finger to his chin.

The Sun King noticed the empty blood vial. “You’re trying to poison me.”

“Poison you? Oh, you’ve got me all wrong.” Vexis slumped onto her elbows. “Okay, I suppose that’s kind of true.” She wiped his cheek with her hand. “I apologize for spitting at you in the Curia. Not very ladylike.”

“You’re insane.”

“You have so little breath left, you shouldn’t waste it on insults. See, I’ve gone from slum to slum, alley to alley. By now, the Corruption has spread like wildfire. Getting your people to rise up required more than just promises. I needed something more tangible.” Vexis held her hand up and a scalpel from across the room flew to it. She pressed the blade to Sun King’s throat.

The Sun King was defiant. “What are you waiting for? If you’re going to kill me get it over with.”

“Feisty.” She checked his pulse and then pressed a hand on his chest. “Your heartbeat’s through the roof. Your breathing is elevated. Either you’re just enamored with my good looks, or you’re so scared you’re about to piss yourself. Care to guess which one I think it is?”

She pressed the blade even harder to his throat and blood trickled down his neck. “You should be scared. I’m not just going to kill you.” As she spoke she ran her nails down his arm. “I’m going to show you how far pain can go. Not just pain of your body. Of your heart. Your soul.”

She shook the vial of his medicine in front of his face. “This, Your Majesty, is red wine.”

“I don’t understand.”

“One of your own people is trying to keep you sick.” She shuttered with delight.

“There’s no one who would—” Understanding swept over the Sun King’s eyes. “Amelia.”

“It’s amazing what desperation can do to a person. It can seep into the heart. Turn us into the very monsters we fight.” Vexis smiled at the Sun King’s panicked looks. “I’m not an agent of chaos, Your Majesty. Quite the opposite. I’m order. Balance. The evil that spawns from indifference. And I am here to collect my toll.”