An Elegy of Heroes

by K. S. Villoso

  “Please do not let me throw wine at you right now. It is too early in the morning,” Sapphire sighed. She turned to the girl. “Did you send that message?”

  “Yes. My master does not wish to meet in public. He brings sensitive information.”

  “A note sent in the middle of the night, waiting in an establishment with bad wine, and then an attractive female messenger—an obvious ploy to get you to make bad decisions,” Sapphire snorted.

  Enosh folded his arms. “Funny enough, I do not disagree. Who is your master, girl?”

  The girl flushed. “He thought you would be more compliant if he sent me instead of my brother. If you want, I could…”

  “Which means he knows you,” Sapphire said. “I don’t like the sound of this.”

  “Maybe he just wants an arranged marriage, maybe one involving me and his lovely daughter?”

  She snorted. “That didn’t turn out very well for you last time.”

  “Tell your master,” Enosh said, to the increasingly uncomfortable girl, “that despite the fact I have not seen my lovely wife in years, I am still unfortunately married under Gasparian law. If he wants to meet somewhere else where that law doesn’t apply, however...”

  “Eastern Jin-Sayeng has some lovely beaches,” Sapphire interjected.

  “A point! A goatless, by-the-sea wedding would be much appreciated.”

  The girl looked at them blankly. Sapphire cleared her throat. “We have confused her,” she said.

  “I can see that.”

  “I’m wondering what Sume will do to you when she finds out you have frightened a hapless girl out of her wits.”

  “I don’t think she appreciates how you use her name to control my behaviour.”

  Sapphire shrugged. “It works.”

  “Anyway, you said this sounds suspicious. So what do you expect us to do?”

  Sapphire paused, wine halfway between her lips. “If this master of her knows you, then it would be safe to assume he knows you won’t easily fall for a trick like this if his plan is to hurt you in some way.”

  “I am shocked,” Enosh said, “that you would dare suggest that someone out there wants to hurt me.”

  She ignored him. “If it was me, say, I would’ve poisoned this wine we’ve been drinking since midday. Easy enough to accomplish...just sneak into the kitchens, and then, knowing that you prefer the tart, slightly sweet ones...”

  “You, er, seemed to have thought this through.”

  “Making plans to kill you is a hobby I occasionally indulge in.”

  “Duly noted.” He glanced at the girl. She seemed unable to decide how to react. He gave his sweetest smile. “Lead the way.”

  It was raining when they stepped outside. The smell of the air always carried a tinge of rust when it rained, which Enosh attributed to the iron-rich soil. It was one of the many qualities that did not endear Gaspar to him; the scent reminded him a little too much of blood.

  He retrieved his cloak where he had left it on the porch and methodically put it on before following the women out on the street. The girl strode ahead of him. Out of habit, he found himself staring at her back and down her legs. Sapphire cleared her throat.

  “I know what you’re going to say, Sapphire.”

  “So now you’re a mind-reader?”

  He smirked. “Sume doesn’t care.”

  “You are aware that you are the one who keeps bringing her up?”

  They crossed a stone bridge and followed the narrow streets that led to upper part of town. His eyes strayed again, and he chastised himself. And then he had to think about why he felt like doing that. Why did it matter where he looked, or whether Sume cared or not?

  The girl led them into an alley. He glanced at Sapphire. She didn’t seem worried. He was relieved to notice that she had one arm outstretched, her bracelets gleaming in the dark; it was convenient that she could cast a spell faster than he could draw his sword. They turned a corner, past a low, stone gate, and stopped in front of a door, one of the many in the cluster of stacked houses where the working class usually resided.

  She knocked. After a few moments, the door opened, revealing a toothless old woman who coughed into her hand before allowing them in. They entered another alley that was darkened by the shadows of the roof eaves and which contained a ditch that smelled of urine. Enosh tightened his cloak and conceded that the iron-scent was a little better.

  Sapphire snapped her fingers. A small flame hovered over her hand.

  “Impressive,” the girl murmured.

  “I need light to see,” Sapphire said.

  Enosh snorted. “She just likes showing off.” He was tempted to ask Sapphire to throw fire at the ditch. If it didn’t cut down on the smell, it might at least cause them to explode, which would end his misery.

  They reached another wooden door. This time, the girl walked straight in. Enosh glanced at Sapphire again, who rolled her eyes before walking ahead of him. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate her hard work, but she was just so much better in a close-quartered fight than him.

  Even with the soft glow of the flame in Sapphire’s hand, his eyes took a moment to adjust. There was a man sitting cross-legged on the floor. “I didn’t think you’d come,” the man said.

  “Burg,” Enosh murmured. He stepped forward, one hand out, as if to reach for an embrace.

  Instead, he slammed his elbow into the man’s neck, pinning him against the wall. The girl uttered a low shriek. “Get her,” he snapped. Sapphire threw a spell. The girl fell to the floor.

  Burg made a sound.

  “No,” Enosh said, turning back to him. “I need to talk first. Didn’t you think I’d found out what you did, you son of a bitch? Conspiring with Azchai to kill the king and then frame me for it? After all I’ve done for you?”

  Burg gasped for air and he loosened his grasp a little. “Let me explain,” Burg said.

  “No, by all means,” Enosh hissed. “You know how I love letting a man have his last words.”

  “Enosh,” Sapphire broke in. “He could have something valuable to say.”

  With one arm still pressing against Burg’s throat, Enosh drew his sword and aimed it at the man’s eye. “You heard the lady. You’ve betrayed me twice now, Burg. I was imprisoned for over three years. That does wonders for a man’s patience.”

  “I have never betrayed you,” Burg said. “I walked away once because it was the right thing to do.”

  “Such a saint. And to think, I’m going to be cutting your eyeballs out very soon. Or maybe I’ll start with your tongue...”

  “Your arrogance, Enosh, there’s your traitor. I was hired to assassinate Zilfikar, it’s true. But I never got that far.”

  “You’re not making sense. My sources say…”

  “You really do think you know everything, don’t you? From whom did you get your sources? Makin?”

  Enosh slackened his grip. “Makin has always been straight with me.”

  “I have always been straight with you,” Burg murmured. He tugged at his collar. “Makin’s pockets are lined with gold from Barun’s coffers.”

  “I’m aware of that.”

  “And yet look at your ignorance!” Burg pushed Enosh’s hand away and rubbed his throat. “He lied to you. I didn’t kill Zilfikar. I never got that far—when I was going through the plan, it became clear that it was never meant for me to get out alive. I left before it was too late for me.”

  “If you didn’t kill him, who did?”

  “I can’t believe you don’t know,” Burg laughed. “And you know the best part? She replaced me with you, instead of someone more convenient, because she felt slighted that you ignored your wedding bed.”

  Enosh felt his mouth dry up. His wife, Reema, had not made her distaste for him a secret. But thinking that Burg had been the one behind all of it had distracted him. He must’ve been silent longer than he realized, because he heard Sapphire cough behind him.

  “So the bitch was the instigator it
all along. I could’ve told him that seven years ago. Is this what you brought us out here for?”

  “Well,” Burg shrugged. “He was trying to kill me.”

  “I don’t understand,” Enosh said. “The last time we saw each other, she wasn’t exactly...uncooperative.”

  The corners of Burg’s lips twitched upwards. “Please tell me you’re not this naïve about women.” When he didn’t answer, the man laughed. “By Agartes’ beard, you are! And after all this time, you’ve never realized it? The woman used you! That was their plan all along, that whole family! You may be nobody in Gaspar, but you’ve amassed a fortune bigger than Barun could’ve dreamed of. They needed you for their ambitions. But Reema’s pride got the better of her—you were imprisoned, and their plan took a backseat until you, bless your idiot heart, walked right back into their claws.”

  “I don’t understand. I left Reema…”

  “A present. By all the gods, you really don’t know?”

  “What is the fool babbling about?” Enosh snapped, turning to Sapphire.

  Sapphire smirked. “Come now, Enosh. You’ve been here before. Do you want me to bring Sume here to remind you?”

  He tried to keep his face blank. “Tell me this a joke, Burg.”

  “It’s not,” Burg said. He paused. “You got Sume pregnant, too? By Agartes’ balls, you must be trying to repopulate the continent with your seed.”

  “Where is the child?” Sapphire asked.

  “I don’t know. They’ve hidden him since birth. I don’t think even the rest of the Barun household knows he exists. I was told it is important that the mandraagars don’t find out, either. Do you see where I’m going with this, Enosh?”

  Sapphire made a sound. “The child is gifted with the agan.”

  “Perhaps. Or he has an extra nose and the family just couldn’t bear with the shame. There was no way for me to learn any more than what I did. But I thought it was important for Enosh to know that not only does Barun have the heir to Hertra Ferral’s fortune, but a powerful weapon in their hands.”

  “Please. It’s a child. Even the most agan-attuned whelp won’t be able to do much without proper training.”

  “Azchai has been eyeing the Gasparian throne for his family for years.”

  “That’s common knowledge,” Sapphire snorted. “Almost a joke, in these parts.”

  “They will use the child. Only Yohak knows what lengths Azchai and his family will go through. Tell me you’ll do something about it, Enosh. You are what you are, but even you won’t let your own son remain in the hands of these people.”

  “They won’t be able to do anything,” Enosh said. “Rosha came first.”

  “What was that?”

  He didn’t answer. “His daughter with Sume,” Sapphire spoke for him. “His accounts are secured in the Kag. By Kag law, Kirosha is his heir.”

  “I know the Kag law. They’ll consider that you married Reema and conceived the child within that marriage. You have enough coin to fund a small army in these parts. Was handing Barun a torch to burn down this kingdom part of your grand plans?”

  Enosh took a deep breath. “I didn’t know you cared so much about the state of Gaspar.”

  “I wish. Azchai knows I’m still alive. If he gains any more power, he might remember I know enough to jeopardize his dreams. I’ve failed in many things, Enosh, but I do want to preserve what little I have left.”

  “This...I can’t breathe,” Enosh snorted. “This is some cesspool you’re staying in. I need to talk elsewhere.” He tightened his cloak and headed for the door.

  “I’ll be with you, Enosh. I need to restore the girl’s circulation,” Sapphire said behind him. “It’s a simple paralysis spell, you see. Any mage could do it…”

  Enosh found a wall he could lean against and then, only then, did he let out a breath that seemed to rattle his bones. He closed his eyes. For a moment, he imagined what it would have felt like to have held his children as infants in his arms, to know them as more than mere information.

  “You’re upset,” Sapphire said.

  Enosh sighed, pulling himself away from his thoughts. “He has a point. If what he says is true, the implications could be disastrous for our operations. Since Yn Garr made it all but impossible for me to withdraw funds from my own accounts, I’ve had to use my assets as collateral and if Azchai somehow manages to…”

  “I meant,” Sapphire said, “about the boy.”

  “What about the boy?”

  She gave a thin smile. “Most people would find such news unsettling.”

  He waved a hand. “I’m more surprised that you’re not lecturing me about sleeping with that conniving, cold-hearted little bitch.”

  “Oh, it’ll come with inspiration.”

  “Something to look forward to.” He glanced at Burg, who was walking down the path to join them. “This was to be our last week here. We’re returning to Jin-Sayeng soon. I need you to find the boy for me. Learn everything there is to know about him and what that family is trying to accomplish.”

  “I don’t know. That sounds a tad dangerous, and I thought I heard something about your lack of funds…”

  Enosh glanced at him. “Don’t think for a moment that I believe this scared for your life nonsense. I know you too well. I’m here because you needed an employer...Agartes knows what you did to your last one, although I’m sure that the girl and that brother she mentioned may have to do with why you need another. I’m not in the mood to find out. And I know you know me well enough that learning I’ve been used twice in one day cannot mean well for the next man who irritates me.”

  “I pity that man, boss,” Burg said, without missing a beat. “How do I send word?”

  “A friend of mine owns a pawn shop in Sutan,” Sapphire said. “Eshro Sagakki. He’ll know how to reach us.”

  “I’ll get on it. Enosh, I…”

  “What?” He frowned. “I don’t care what you do with your life, Burg. And you made awful coffee. Not that she’s any better, mind you.”

  “You do not,” Sapphire said, “pay me to make coffee. Correction: you do not pay me at all, and haven’t for several years now. Just a friendly warning, Burg.”

  “I will keep that in mind.”

  They left Burg on the path and returned to the road. Enosh watched the dust around his ankles for a while, trying to gather his thoughts. “What will you tell Sume?” Sapphire asked.

  “Why would she care?” Enosh snapped. “For that matter—why do you care?”

  “I just want to make sure your little family dramas don’t compromise our objectives, at least no more than they already have.”

  “I have no idea what you mean,” Enosh said. “Sume and I have remained the picture of professionalism and decorum these past few years.”

  “So you say. Yet were it not for your brother Kefier—”

  “That had nothing to do with me.”

  Sapphire snorted. “In case you’ve forgotten, I was there in Shi-uin with you people. Being locked in a pen with buffaloes in rut might have only been a tad more uncomfortable. I was torn between asking what you were thinking...”

  “Torn? After you’ve taken every opportunity to lacerate me with your words?”

  “...and lecturing Sume about the perils of initiating romantic liaisons with brothers. I sometimes wonder if a brain resides in that pretty little head of hers.” She sighed. “The fate of the world, jeopardized by your gods-be-damned loins.”

  “Now, now,” Enosh said lightly. “We’re chasing after a mythical creature that can be harnessed into a powerful weapon. I don’t see how the fate of the world has anything to do with it. Millions of ril in several bank accounts, perhaps…”

  She looked at him blankly. “Please tell me you’re not serious.”

  “Look, Sapphire. I know when we branched away from Bannal’s death circle of mages or however he called it…”

  “They’re calling themselves the Enji-ar, now.”

  “That’s eve
n worse than the last name.” He coughed. “My point is that I know you think we’re preventing some big catastrophe, which is why you don’t think twice that none of us make any money from this endeavour and if it weren’t for Sume’s merchant connections—how’s that for a brain, by the way?—we wouldn’t even be able to make any progress at all. You think that Yn Garr’s plan is to destroy the beast in Dageis, destroying Dageis in the process. Tell me...what would that accomplish?”

  “The destruction of an empire, one whose downfall has been sought by many for centuries.”

  Enosh rubbed his nose. “You’ve been letting those books get into your head. Yn Garr would not rip a hole in Dageis, not without reason. The man is a merchant through and through. I would not be surprised if there are investors behind all of this, people with more coin than Yn Garr Industries and more ambition than the Province of Barun put together.”

  “It sounds like you want him to win.”

  “I want Dageis to lose ground, sure. But I like my life and assets even more, both of which remain at peril so as long as Yn Garr has his way. I’m all up for saving the world while we’re at it, Sapphire, I really am, but more than anything else I want the freedom to walk into my house in Hafod, sleep until noon on my big feather bed, and not wake up with an assassin’s blade at my throat.”

  “And the Gorenten Headland? Didn’t you want that restored to your people?”

  Enosh shrugged. “A distant dream, marred by the discomfort of all these years in Gaspar. I haven’t even spoken Gorenten in over a decade. Can we go, Sapphire? And not talk about Yn Garr or my loins for an hour?”

  “I need to make sure your priorities are where I need them to be.”

  “And you say I’m controlling. Hey, isn’t that Burg’s pretty apprentice?”

  “How can we not talk about your loins when it’s all you think about?” Sapphire drawled. She took two steps back down the path to meet the girl. She was running towards them, mouth open.

  “No,” Enosh said. “Sapphire, stop!” He grabbed her shoulder. An arrow appeared on the girl’s back. She fell face-first into the ground.