by C S Vass
“Oh? And what opportunity should I seek out of the ruins of my home and dead bodies of my allies?”
Kent leaned closer. “Black Wolf was never an ideal home for the Shigata, Yaura.”
Yaura wrinkled her brow. She had not expected that. Eyes widening, she realized the direction that the conversation was about to go.
“Blake Wolfbane is incompetent,” the steward continued. “Surely you see that. If the man had the brains the gods gave a pig, then he would have never allowed sun warriors to set foot in his domain. King Boldfrost, though it pains me to say it, is not much better.”
Yaura folded her hands and took a slow breath. They were moving into very dangerous territory, and she had no faith that there were no rats in the walls. “I did not know treason was spoken of so freely in Lord Shade’s halls.”
“It isn’t,” Kent replied quickly. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that this conversation never happened. All the same, what I’ve said is true. The times are changing. Demons are overflowing Valencia. The center of the wheel is breaking. Perhaps it is time to consider new alternatives.”
Yaura was beginning to grow frustrated with the constant sidespeak coming from Kent. “What would you do, Kent? Move the home of the Shigata to Valencia?”
“Yes.”
Yaura blinked. She was not entirely surprised, but she had not expected Kent to come out with it so bluntly. “I see. Then you’ll understand that I’m so far from the levers of power required to make that decision that I can’t even see them.”
“On the contrary, Yaura, you are the only one,” Kent said. “You have to face facts. The Sages are gone. Nobody is going to bring them back. They are dead. If not dead, they are in a Tarsurian dungeon having their fingernails ripped out by madmen. If you really care about your order, then you will do whatever possible to fill the leadership vacuum and consolidate your strength. You could do that by digging through the frozen mud littered with the bodies of your friends on Black Wolf, or you could do it here where the Shigata are actually needed.”
Yaura’s voice became so low it was almost a whisper. “And why would I want to do it here?”
“Because we will give you everything you need,” Kent said. “Lord Shade does not wish to control you, Yaura. The Shigata will still be an independent organization. But for the logistical advantage of rebuilding the Shigata here in Valencia, we will bestow upon you builders to construct a new castle, the safety of our walls while you gather your people, and nearly endless coin on which to use on whatever you see fit. Recruiting new members. Buying arms and armor. Stocking your pantries or hiring servants. Lord Shade will pay for it all.”
“Nearly endless coin for the simple pleasure of our company,” Yaura scoffed. “Why does it sound like you’re leaving out part of the bargain?”
“Because you’re missing the point. Having the Shigata in the city would benefit us enormously. I don’t pretend otherwise. But it’s a win for you as well. Endless demon contracts to fulfill right at your home while your build back your order. Coin, resources, anything you want. We simply get the convenience of your presence. What’s to lose?”
What’s to lose? Yaura almost laughed right in his face. Our independence. Our integrity. Our souls. Still, it would be foolish to pretend that Kent didn’t have a point. Endless coin was not exactly something to scoff at. But who am I to make such a choice?
“You’re the one that is here,” a croaking voice said.
Yaura turned, frightened. She had not even heard the witch come in. Ashaela stood before her, stooped over and cloaked in the shadow of her hood.
“Destiny is a crucible from which the strong emerge like tempered steel,” the witch continued. “You foolishly ask yourself who you are to decide such things. You are the one who is here! You are in the crucible, and now is the moment to decide if it will break you like shoddy iron or forge you into something the world has never seen.”
Yaura stared in amazement, barely aware that the witch had read her mind.
“Decide quickly, Shigata,” Kent said. “Your order is on the edge of a cliff. I am not unaware of the violence that ravages this city. I am not unaware of the problems that plague our streets. I seek to end that as quickly as possible. The best way is for normalcy to return to the kingdom. The quickest way to get there is with a strong and stable Shigata that can handle demons while we turn our attention to the Tarsurians who invade our shores. You don’t have to join us in all things. But join us in this endeavor to make a safer, more prosperous Western Gaellos. All other roads lead to death.”
Yaura’s mind was spinning. None of this was even possible, was it? How would she go about gathering the Shigata in Valencia when they were already having such great difficulty simply bringing them home to Black Wolf?
“Decide quickly, Yaura,” Kent repeated. “But you needn’t decide this moment. You have much to ponder. Think on it as you rest. I eagerly await you making the right decision.”
The steward took the witch by the arm and both of them turned to leave. Before they reached the door someone was pounding urgently from the other side of it.
With a wrinkled brow, Kent called, “Enter!”
A panting soldier burst into the room. He quickly looked around and then proclaimed, “I was sent to inform all of you immediately. There is bloodshed in the streets. The Skullgardens are rioting. We need to to organize a counterattack.”
Kent took the news solemnly. Turning to Yaura he said, “Every moment counts, Shigata. I pray you make your decision soon.”
Chapter 5
Silver tobacco clouds drifted around the prince’s shoulder-length hair billowing in soft waves over the hill’s edge and into the evening air. Benjiko did not smoke often, only a handful of times in his entire life, but something about it seemed appropriate on that starry moonlit night. It calmed his troubled mind while the rustle of wind through the leaves whispered behind him.
He had left Logun and Brett a short way behind at the campsite. Brett of course had wanted to follow him, but Benjiko had insisted on some alone time and after all, well, he was the Prince. The Shigata and the captain had been arguing non-stop since they had left Bantheor’s village, and preventing them from drawing swords on each other was all Benjiko could hope to do.
The thought made him shudder. It was no mere conjecture. As they made their perilous journey down the coast of the South Shield, towards the city of Frost, Brett and Logun’s arguments had become increasingly heated. Brett was determined to maintain his authority over Logun, which of course elicited the exact opposite result from the Shigata. On top of that, Logun’s mood had become increasingly grim as the realization that his younger brother Paetrick was fully cooperating with the Temple of Ice and Shadow in Iryllium.
Looking at the full moon throned in the cloudless sky, Benjiko cursed. What was his father thinking? First he summoned the nation’s Dragons, their elite Star-blessed who could summon the power of fire with neither wood nor oil. Then he moved them to some secret location for some secret purpose. Away from even the normally all-seeing eyes of Nicolai, Benjiko’s closest confidant and advisor to the king.
It was hard to overstate the madness of that decision. Throughout Western Gaellos, the Dragons were widely considered to be the most valuable of the Star-blessed. They served elite roles in direct service to the lords of major cities. They acted as bodyguards to the titans of the Gaellean banking system in the leadership of the Hall of Copper. And of course, as Benjiko would never allow himself to forget of any of his subjects, they were people with lives and families that had been disrupted because of the summons from the king.
“Why, father?” Benjiko whispered. “What purpose do you have in mind for them that you would do this? Or is it not you at all? Are Logun and Brett right? Are you a mere puppet controlled by the monks?” There was no answer to his question save the voiceless stars that rotated above him.
That also boded ill, Benjiko realized as he stared at the heavens. The guardia
ns had recorded times throughout Gaellean history where the stars became more turbulent, shifting ever more quickly and causing all sorts of mayhem on earth. But never in all of his late-night research in Iryllium’s castle library did he come across descriptions that matched the turbulence in the sky that had become commonplace.
As the last of the tobacco turned to ash in his pipe, Benjiko realized that he had stayed away from the camp longer than he meant to. Brett would be worried. If he wasn’t too preoccupied bickering with Logun, that was. Standing and dusting himself off, Benjiko turned away from the hillside and towards the woods to follow his path back to camp.
A sudden unease crashed over the prince as he gazed into the darkness. A demon? he wondered. Or something else?
The crunch of snow under feet put Benjiko on his guard. Calming himself with a deep breath, he drew the long steel sword as his side. Within moments they appeared.
A group of men, at least ten of them, emerged from the curtain of shadow and into the moonlit hillside. “Well, well,” one of them sneered. “What’s this? Black hair. Silver eyes. I think we may just have found our lost pup.”
“I wouldn’t recommend you linger, friends,” Benjiko said. “There are all sorts of foul things in the woods at night.”
The rogue who appeared to be their leader stepped forward. Moonlight glistened off of his bald head. He pulled his lips back into a smirk that revealed a head full of oversized teeth. “True words, boy. Excuse me. My liege.”
Benjiko decided not to stoop to denial. They knew who he was. The question was, who were they?
“Custom dictates that common rabble bow before royalty,” Benjiko said, narrowing his eyes. He did not want to use his power. Not if he could avoid it. If he did, he would have to kill them all just to be safe.
“Now isn’t that a scary look,” the leader sneered. “Doesn’t suit you at all, boy. A Star-blessed Seducer in the countryside at night. You should have a harp, not a sword.”
“I’m warning you,” Benjiko said as another gust of wind blew through the trees. “Get back.”
“The little prince is getting angry,” one of the men snorted. “Be careful Turuk. He’ll use his magic eyes and make you drop your trousers.” The group erupted into harsh laughter.
“Who are you?” Benjiko demanded loudly. “What business do you have with me?” Nothing about their clothes or accents indicated what city they were from, or even if they were westerners at all.
“No friends of your father, if that’s what you’re wondering,” the man called Turuk said. “But no friends of yours either, Prince. You shouldn’t be so surprised. You drew first blood, after all.”
Benjiko forced himself not to take a step backwards. He would have to be careful not to let them push him downhill and gain the high ground. “And when exactly did I do that?”
“He doesn’t remember,” Turuk snapped, a vicious light coming into his eyes. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. We’re just common rabble, after all. Ants to be crushed under the mighty prince’s boots.”
“Killed our mate to save the elf-bitch,” one of the men yelled.
Memory immediately flooded Benjiko’s mind. It had been weeks ago, in Iryllium. The report from one of his spies came shortly after dawn. Another Dragon, Faela, had arrived in the city. Benjiko had immediately arranged for Nicolai to situate her in one of the lesser defended rooms. He knew assassins were in the city searching for the Dragons. He had wanted to draw them out and find out exactly why they were trying to foil his father’s mysterious plans. But when the moment came to capture the man, he had panicked and killed him. It was a grievous mistake. One he knew would haunt him for many nights to come. It seemed now he had an opportunity to make up for it.
“I see,” Benjiko said. “So tell me. Why are you killing Dragons? What do you know about my father’s plans for them?”
“The little prince thinks we’re about to talk things out over a bottle of wine. Isn’t that amusing? I’m afraid not, my friend. This is the end of the line for you.”
“If you’re truly against my father, then we may not be enemies!” Benjiko cried. “I implore you, tell me what it is you know. We may be able to help each other!”
Turuk chuckled darkly. “No, Prince Benjiko. I’m sorry, but the old adage about the enemy of my enemy just doesn’t apply here. You see, we won’t be happy until all the Boldfrosts are dead and that blasphemous silver paw is struck down for good.”
Benjiko steadied himself. Avoiding conflict would be impossible. And there was no way he could take them all without using his power. In the blink of an eye, a memory of his childhood flashed over Benjiko’s mind that brought a smile to his lips. It was one of the first experiences he could recall. He was just a boy, no older than three or four. He was outside playing in the snow. The sun was setting in the distance…
“Come on, Ben!” Mauro, one of the other little noble boys shouted at him. “We gotta get back.”
Rain mingled with snowfall and rested heavy across the landscape. Benjiko had not been outside in days, and the cold refreshing snow sent happy jitters up and down his spine as he danced on its fluffy surface.
“He will come get us,” Mauro continued. “We can’t be out at dark.”
Benjiko felt a pang of despair in his stomach at Mauro’s words. Thoughts of Ralph, the fat guard who wobbled after him making sure he never had enough fun came to his mind. He had been cooped up with dusty scrolls and nagging teachers for so many days. He couldn’t go in yet. “No!” he shouted defiantly.
“I’m going,” Mauro shouted. “I’m not getting in any trouble for you.”
“I don’t care!” Benjiko shouted, suddenly angry. It wasn’t fair. Mauro got to go outside every day for at least an hour, but Benjiko was kept cooped up like a chicken and forced to read about faraway places with funny names in cities ruled by demons.
Mauro waddled off towards the castle. Though they were only in the courtyard, Benjiko would always pretend that the expansive castle grounds were a vast new country, some foreign land where he and Mauro would have to conquer evil monsters and save wailing maidens.
Only slightly disturbed at the thought of losing his traveling companion, Benjiko threw himself into the snow and started making a fortress.
“Come now, little prince,” a drawing voice said from behind. Benjiko’s heart sank. “Don’t pout now,” Nicolai said. “You don’t want me to call Ralph, do you?”
Terror swirled in Benjiko’s belly. “Just a little longer,” the prince begged.
“You have your duties to attend to, Benjiko,” Nicolai said more seriously. “Come along and—”
“I won’t I won’t I WON’T!” Benjiko wailed. Hot bubbles of rage poured over him as the tears flew from his eyes.
Nicolai sighed. “You brought this on yourself, little one. Ralph!”
Ralph appeared like a phantom, his kettle-hat helmet sending shadows across his dark jowls.
“Benjiko,” Nicolai said. “Last warning.”
But Benjiko couldn’t even begin to speak. He was shouting and crying in the full throes of a child’s temper tantrum.
“All right then,” Nicolai said. “Ralph, escort prince crybaby to his chamber.”
“NOOOOOO!” Benjiko wailed as Ralph leaned in with his meaty paws to scoop him up.
The bored looks on Nicolai and Benjiko’s faces turned to horror. Silver light glowed hot in Benjiko’s eyes. Screaming, the toddler prince punched Ralph hard in the stomach sending the man ten times his size to his knees where he heaved on the ground.
Nicolai quickly looked around the abandoned courtyard searching for any intrusive eyes.
“Star-blessed,” Ralph sputtered, containing himself. “He’s blessed by the Wolf. It’s the only way.”
Nicolai quickly urged Ralph to his feet. “A rather delicate piece of information for you to come by, dear Ralph,” he said. “I trust we will be able to rely on your discretion…”
Afterwards Nicolai had not bothered
with any of the deceptions or tricks he would later be known for. He told Benjiko plainly that it was clear he was born under the Wolf, and what such a blessing meant. He let the young prince know the importance of keeping such information secret, and when Benjiko came of age it was let out that he was born under the Seducer. Benjiko, as any young adolescent would be, was embarrassed to have to validate the lie. But even by that early age he understood the importance of listening to Nicolai. He trusted him.
So it was that standing before this menace Benjiko knew they thought him a Seducer. They did not understand the real power that lurked behind his silver eyes. Once he revealed it, he would have no choice but to kill them all to preserve the secret.
“Any last words, Prince?” Turuk laughed.
Benjiko felt the hum of magic stirring in his bones. He could not have said why, but using this power always came with a melancholy feeling, like watching storm clouds slowly darken the sky from afar before the wrath of a hurricane fell upon the shore.
“Lay down your weapons!” Benjiko shouted. “Or you’re all dead!”
They charged.
Vicious power seared through Benjiko’s nerves like electricity. He felt his face shift as his mouth protruded and his teeth lengthened. Hair ruptured from his body while his hands lengthened and grew claws. Blasting forward like a shooting star, he met Turuk’s face with the length of his own blade. The large man made a groaning noise and slumped dead while the others halted their advance.
“What the fuck was that?” one of the men shouted.
Benjiko put his foot to Turuk’s stomach and pushed the man off of his sword.
“His hands!” another shouted.
“His eyes!” yelled another.
“The bastard’s not a Seducer at all. He’s a Wolf!”
Benjiko did not give them more time than that to ponder their discover. Roaring, he fell upon them again. Moving faster than any normal man could hope to defend against, he slashed one across the stomach. Hot blood sprayed against the snow, further driving Benjiko’s battle lust and sending more of the men falling back.