***
Despite having spent so much time in Haven over the past few years, General Bremen had barely set foot inside the Assembly of the Six Gods. When the Empress had first constructed it after the war, he had obviously been opposed to it, both as a political entity and because of its foolish homage to Edeh the Betrayer. Then once he’d led the assault on Turesk and been forced into effective exile, he’d never been welcome inside its doors.
He wasn’t welcome today, either, which is why he wore a thick tabard and cloak over his armor as well as a closed helmet. It was the appropriate attire for any member of the royal guardsman, and as long as he kept a low profile, he wasn’t worried about being caught. Most of the other soldiers were already loyal to him, so all he had to worry about was the other diplomats and their aides scurrying about the Assembly like so many insects hungering for carrion.
“Just in time, General,” one of the guardsman said as Bremen approached a massive set of double doors. Behind them rested the offices of most of the representatives, including one Senator—and Assemblyman—Veltar.
Bremen nodded. “I trust everything is in order.”
“Yes, sir,” the man said, opening the door. “Good luck.”
He made his way across the wide corridor and tried not to balk at the ostentatious decorations. The entire building was meant to be a demonstration of the “wonder” of diversity, but instead it came across as a jumbled mess. The Edehans could talk about cultural blending all they wanted, but it was patently obvious that some cultures were superior to others in art just as much as military strength.
At least the walk-ways weren’t as crowded as he expected; most of the staff must have already moved to the atrium where they could all sit together and watch the Empress’s speech from a distance. She should have already been en route to the plaza and would probably be speaking within the next twenty minutes or so.
Bremen moved up to Veltar’s door and started to knock, but it opened just before he reached it. The Senator’s bodyguard, Gralis, stepped outside and gave Bremen a once over. Something odd flickered briefly across the man’s face, and for a moment Bremen thought the man might recognize and confront him. But then the bodyguard turned and continued down the corridor without a word.
Bremen let him move twenty paces away before stepping inside the room. The chamber was a large half-circle, and Veltar sat scribbling something at his desk. The only other person in the room was a Faceless guardian standing stoically just off to the side.
The man’s beady eyes glanced upwards. “What do you want? I didn’t request any additional guards.”
“Perhaps you should have,” Bremen said, closing the door behind him.
“General,” the Senator murmured, not bothering to hide his surprise. “What in Abalor’s name are you doing here?”
Bremen slid off his helmet. “I trust you’re prepared to deal with the Assembly.”
“Of course, Gralis is moving into position now,” he said. “Aren’t you supposed to be guarding your prize?”
“I will return to that shortly,” Bremen replied coolly, “but first, you and I have some unfinished business to attend to.”
Veltar snorted. “Let me guess: you’re still upset about being sent to Jehalai. I would have thought a man of your reputation would be beyond petty grudges.”
“Venar demands that we hold ourselves accountable to the truth whenever possible. He also demands punishment when that pact is broken.”
The senator sighed and rubbed at his forehead. “I warned Kastrius many times that your fanaticism would come back to haunt us. I’ve already explained to you why all of this was necessary.”
Bremen stepped all the way up in front of his desk. “Yes, you did. I wasn’t convinced.”
“So instead you try to be clever and sneak your way in here right on the eve of our ultimate victory,” Veltar sneered. “Tell me, General, what do you think Abalor would say if he saw you threatening to ruin our plans like this?”
“Abalor doesn’t abide traitors,” Bremen said flatly, reaching to his scabbard and drawing free his sword. “And neither do I.”
The senator laughed. It was a bitter and hollow thing, completely devoid of compassion. “You’re supposed to be this great tactician and military genius, and this is really the best you could come up with? Did you lose your mind when the Empress exiled you? Perhaps regret has eaten away at any last shred of creativity you had left.”
Bremen extended his blade. “Kneel and face your judgment, or I shall cut you down where you stand.”
“You really have no idea, do you?” Veltar asked, shaking his head. “You can’t even comprehend the power you’re dealing with here.”
The old man stood with a grand gesture, and suddenly Bremen was flying across the room. He smashed hard into the opposite wall, the sword hurling from his grip. Veltar stepped in front of his desk, and a swirling cloud of violet energy gathered at his fingertips. The air hissed as if it were burning.
“Even if you were a mage you couldn’t hope to stand against me, and you’re nothing more than a krata with a sword,” Veltar growled. “Your usefulness ended the moment you walked back through that gate, General. It’s almost a pity you were too stupid to realize it.”
“Venar demands justice,” Bremen whispered as he pulled himself to his feet. “And today, he shall have it.”
Veltar started to laugh again, but then the point of a sword burst through his chest. His eyes widened in horror as he looked down at the blood-soaked blade, then glanced behind him to the Faceless standing over his shoulder.
“What…?” he croaked.
“Loyalty, Senator,” Bremen told him. “It’s almost a pity you’re too arrogant to understand it.”
The blade slid out of his chest, and the Senator’s corpse collapsed to the ground. Major Thorne reached up and tore off her helmet, then spit on the body.
“Abalor take you,” she hissed.
Bremen smiled and retrieved his weapon. Given time, he just might make a believer out of her yet. “We need to leave.”
She nodded, then slid the helmet back on. His people had even managed to get the fearsome glow from the visor just right. “After you, sir.”
He turned on a heel just as the sending stone on his bracer began to glow. He held up a warning hand before activating it. “What is it?”
“General, our team at the Farglow warehouse hasn’t reported in.”
Bremen took a deep breath and nodded. He had known this wouldn’t be the last battle they fought today. The most satisfying, perhaps, but definitely not the last.
“Rook’s people are on the move. Major Thorne and I shall return shortly to join you. Hold your position.”
“Yes, sir.”
He glanced back to Thorne. “Come. Our Lord has more in store for us yet.”
The Last Goddess Page 74