The Unconquered Mage

by McShane, Melissa

  2. I intend to gain the support of the other Lords Governor, starting with Granea, because they all remember Alenik Daressar and will like the idea of putting his daughter on the throne. (Not totally sure about this, but Crossar (ugh) says it’s plausible.)

  3. If he decides to raise his own standard to take the throne of Balaen or of a combined Balaen and Castavir, he’ll be without support, and he needs that support. (Not totally sure about this either, but I don’t have to believe it, I just have to sound convincing about it.)

  4. If he throws in his lot with us, and turns the Black and Brown Armies over to us, we promise him the viceregency, or whatever we call it, of one-fourth of the Empire when we win. (We won’t be keeping the traditional borders of the Castaviran Empire, but dividing the new Empire into four pieces, five if you include Viravon, but no one’s talking about them yet, makes sense.)

  I’m still not sure this is going to work. A lot depends on the power of a name, and we didn’t have time to gather the support of anyone but Granea. But I’ve had plenty of time to think about this, and over the last eight days I’ve become increasingly convinced they’re right, and I’m the only one who can do this. Somehow that doesn’t frighten me—it makes me feel strong. Domenessar is powerful, and smart, but he’s not omnipotent and he has no better right to rule this Empire than we do. And I refuse to be intimidated by him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  5 Shelet

  Well, I wasn’t intimidated by him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t intimidated by me either until it was too late. The only good thing that came of this is Crossar isn’t going to get what he wanted. Domenessar is never going to follow us.

  We reached Barrekel a few hours before sunset, having sent our envoy ahead of us to request a meeting with Domenessar. While we were making camp (on the side of the city away from the Barrekellian forces, to show good faith) the envoy returned with the message that Arron Domenessar welcomed us to Barrekel and invited us to wait on him at Dessani Manor in one hour. That irritated me, him thinking he had a right to order us around, but Cederic, calm as always, sent back our acceptance and told everyone who would be going to be ready to go into Barrekel in an hour. When I got Cederic alone in our tent, I said, “What are we going to do if this is a trap?”

  “I am certain it could become a trap if Arron Domenessar chooses to make it one,” Cederic said, “which is why we are bringing so many Balaenic mages skilled in the offensive pouvrin. We do not know if he has any mages of his own, but even if we cannot take him by surprise, our mages are almost certainly more skilled fighters than his. And if he chooses to assault us, you and I, my love, are not exactly helpless.”

  “It’s still a huge risk,” I said. “We should have insisted on a halfway camp.”

  “It’s unlikely he would have agreed to that, since he wants to display his power over us,” he said. “Better to allow him his pride, since we are about to pull his support out from under him.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I said. We changed our clothes and went to meet with the others. Thistle makes a good show of being glad to see me these days, but I’m not letting my guard down. Mattiak and Bronnok were dressed in their formal uniforms (Drussik and Kalanik were staying behind in case Domenessar got ideas about cutting off the head of our army) and Crossar was wearing something that actually fit, though it wasn’t as fancy or formal as I’m sure he’s used to. I don’t spend any more time near him than I have to, but tonight I was going to pretend I liked him so Domenessar wouldn’t think we weren’t completely united.

  Cederic and I were in simplified versions of our Imperial garb, less ornate and easier to fight or run in. We looked elegant, and fierce, and completely competent. Not that any of that mattered, in the end.

  Our progress through Barrekel drew a lot of attention of the muttering type. Mostly they all watched us as if they didn’t know what to make of us, which made sense. Cederic behaved as if they were warmly welcoming. I kept my eyes open for assassins.

  This time, our heralds didn’t announce our identities, and the attention didn’t turn ugly, and we reached Dessani Manor with no incidents. Again we followed a liveried man through the manor and into Domenessar’s audience chamber, and again Domenessar faced us from his seat at the far end of the room, with soldiers standing at attention against the walls (outnumbering us, I saw). He looked as handsome, and as irritated, as ever.

  “Arron Domenessar,” Cederic said before Domenessar could speak, “thank you for your invitation. We hope this means you have changed your mind.”

  Domenessar ignored him, focusing with some surprise on Crossar. “Caelan,” he said. “They told us you’d been executed for treason.”

  “I escaped Venetry before that could happen,” Crossar said.

  “What are you doing here, with these people?” Domenessar said, in a tone of voice that clearly said what he thought of “these people.”

  “I have decided Cederic Aleynten is the best choice to rule our combined countries,” Crossar said.

  Domenessar looked even more surprised. Then he laughed. “Caelen, you’re not a fool,” he said. “This man has no chance of ruling Balaen.”

  “I disagree,” Crossar said coolly. “I’m here to ask you to throw your support behind him.”

  Domenessar laughed harder. “Throw my support—” he said, then couldn’t speak for laughing again. I started to think seriously about circling him with fire. I don’t like being laughed at. “Oh, Caelan,” he finally said. “He’s got no support and barely any army. Why are you backing him? Join me, and be part of the winning side.”

  “You have no more support than he does,” Crossar said. “And we have something that will convince the Lords Governor to support Aleynten over you.”

  That killed his laughter. “I already have the support of Lirilla and Garwin,” he said, “and in a few weeks I’ll have the northern cities. Nothing you can say will convince them to follow a foreigner, especially since I’ve already demonstrated my leadership.”

  “I wonder how long you’ll have their allegiance once they know the future Empress-Consort is the daughter of Alenik Daressar,” Crossar said.

  I hate Crossar, but I had to admit it was perfect drama. Domenessar didn’t register his words at first. Then he snapped his gaze to me. Fortunately, I was ready for it, and didn’t flinch. “That’s a lie,” he said. “You expect me to believe this fishmonger is anything but a wharf rat? You’re making this up to support your claim.”

  “Do you call me a liar, Arron Domenessar?” Crossar said. The coolness of his voice had gone icy. Domenessar went pale. “I guarantee you the Lords Governor will take my word for it. Aeleen Vrenssar was witness at this woman’s sanctification. She knew Alenik Daressar. Garwin’s support for you will vanish when she learns the truth.”

  “Irrelevant,” Domenessar said, looking at me again. “You may be his daughter, but you know nothing of ruling. Your presence on the throne would be a disaster.”

  “I know who I am, Domenessar,” I said. “I’ve traveled this country for years, learning how to be something other than a wharf rat. I’m capable of leading others and I know how to judge fairly and impartially. Cederic and I together are committed to bringing our countries together peacefully. We want you to be a part of that.”

  “Do you,” Domenessar said, leaning back in his chair. “As your servant?”

  “As viceroy of the southeast,” I said. We hadn’t actually decided what we’d call it, but better to sound as if we had an actual plan. “You support us as Emperor and Empress-Consort. You give us command of the Barrekellian forces. You help us gain the allegiance of the other Lords Governor. And you get to rule a quarter of the Empire.”

  “What makes you think I’ll be satisfied with that?” he said.

  “Because you can’t take this kingdom—these kingdoms—alone,” I said. “You need the support of the Lords Governor, and we’re going to take that away from you.”

  Domenessar regarded me with narrowed
eyes, as if he were considering something. “You think you can make promises like that?” he said.

  “We are sworn rulers of this new Empire,” I said. “You just haven’t accepted that yet.”

  Domenessar stood and strode toward us, stopping inches from me. I could almost feel Cederic tense. “You challenge me in my own hall?” he said.

  “I doubt you’d have been willing to meet us on our own terms,” I said.

  He was close enough that I felt his breath on my face. It smelled nasty. “Brave words,” he said.

  “An Empress-Consort who’s afraid of her own subjects is a poor ruler,” I said. And it was true, I wasn’t afraid of him. Maybe that was the confidence of the surname, maybe it was realizing I could defend myself against him, but I just wasn’t afraid.

  And then everything went to hell.

  Domenessar shouted a command, and the soldiers came alert and moved on us so quickly there wasn’t time to do more than draw weapons. They stopped about a foot away from our group, forcing us to draw closer together, and I looked to Cederic for direction, but he had his attention on Domenessar. “Arron Domenessar, you are making a mistake,” he said.

  “You have no right to rule this country, foreigner,” Domenessar said. “I’m not going to let your fishmonger wife, whatever her surname, sway the rulers of Balaen to your side. Caelan, I’m sorry about this, but if you’ve chosen to follow him, you’re a traitor to Balaen and I can’t allow you to live. Kill them all.”

  The soldiers lunged. Mattiak threw himself in front of me. Cederic swept three soldiers away to go flying into the wall. The mages behind me began to work the offensive pouvrin. And I brought up a great sweep of fire to circle Domenessar and shouted, “Stand down or he dies!”

  It still took a minute for them to figure out what was going on, but then soldiers were backing away, lowering their swords, some of which were stained with blood. A few men lay motionless on the floor, but no one could look away from the fire long enough to tend to them. Domenessar himself stood motionless, his handsome face distorted with fear. “Sorcerer,” he said.

  “Mage,” I said, “and you’re going to tell your soldiers to move well away from us or you’ll find out just how hot I can make this burn.”

  Domenessar made a signal I thought was abbreviated thanks to the confines of his fiery cage, and the soldiers backed away until they were ranged against the rear wall, behind the dais. Cederic said, in a low murmur, “They will attack us when you extinguish that fire, and you are not to stay behind here to protect our escape.”

  “I have a plan,” I murmured back. “Walk forward,” I told Domenessar. His eyes widened with fear. “Just do it,” I said. I began moving the fire forward so he was forced to do as I said. “Everyone else, out the door,” I added, and heard them moving behind me. Cederic took hold of my elbow and guided me so I could keep the fire in view. Domenessar was sweating from the heat and taking very short steps, and I sped the fire up so he had to walk at a normal pace. I was sweating myself, not from heat but from exertion. I’ve gotten better at maintaining fire without fuel as I’ve improved at making bigger fires, but it’s still difficult and exhausting. I really, really hoped I wouldn’t collapse before we all got out safely.

  We made a terrifying group, soldiers bristling with weapons in case Domenessar’s men decided to follow us, mages prepared to work pouvrin, Cederic guiding me, and Crossar, for some reason, walking behind Domenessar with this smirk on his face I couldn’t understand. Still don’t understand. I had Domenessar walking fast enough the floor couldn’t actually ignite, but the whole hall smelled of burnt wood, and the air looked hazy from the smoke rising up from the scorched floor. By the time we reached the door, I was lightheaded and needed Cederic’s support.

  The man who’d led us to the audience chamber was at the door, too terrified to move. “Please ask someone to ready our horses. We intend to depart,” Cederic said, and the man fled.

  “You’ll never get out of the city,” Domenessar said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

  “You’re not coming with us, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” I said. “You’re just a temporary hostage. A good one, too.”

  He swore at me. I ignored him and said, “Cederic, he’s helpless, and his words can’t hurt me, so please don’t kill him.”

  That shut Domenessar up—well, that and he could see Cederic’s face, which I couldn’t, but I could guess how he looked. He really doesn’t like people insulting me. It’s sort of romantic, even though he knows I can defend myself. Especially since I was proving it right then.

  Eventually the horses were led to the front door, and everyone mounted. I backed toward Thistle, hoping someone would help me mount, but instead Cederic lifted me onto his horse, where I perched awkwardly and tried not to faint. “Arron Domenessar, this is your last chance,” Cederic said. “We will not hold it against you that you wanted power. Join us, lend us your support, and we will give you that power.”

  “The bitch is almost unconscious from keeping me captive,” Domenessar snarled, “and when I’m free, I’ll set my soldiers on you and we’ll see how far your power will protect you.”

  Cederic raised his hand, and Domenessar flew backward through the fire and into the stucco wall of the manor, so hard it knocked him unconscious. “Ride,” he said. I let go the pouvra and sagged into his arms. I didn’t fall unconscious, but I don’t remember much of the ride, just being jostled along sideways in front of Cederic, and then Mattiak lifting me down from the horse, and I found I could stand well enough that no one had to carry me to my tent. About halfway there, though, I tried to pull away from Cederic, who was supporting me. “We need to discuss this,” I said.

  “We will, when you are more comfortable,” he said.

  “Not the two of us, I mean our staff,” I said. “We need a plan because Domenessar is certainly going to send the troops after us in the morning.”

  “You would fall down if I were not supporting you,” Cederic said. “You should rest for an hour or so, then join us. Sleep if you can.” He steered me through the tent door and to the bed, where he gently pressed me down onto it. “I will return for you soon. Promise me you will rest.”

  “If you promise not to make any decisions without me,” I said. He nodded. So I lay down, but discovered I was tired but not sleepy, so I got up and wrote all this down. I know I did the right thing, because Domenessar was never going to agree to our plan, but there’s a part of me that wishes we—I—could have found a way to persuade him, if only because everything would have been so simple. As if any of this has been simple. Radryntor, Domenessar, even Crossar…I just wish people could see Cederic is the best man for the job and follow along. But, again, that would be too simple.

  Cederic’s not back yet. I’m giving him five more minutes and then I’m going to the command tent myself.

  6 Shelet, morning

  I can’t believe it. We have the Black and Brown Armies.

  No. What I can’t believe is that they were willing to follow me.

  Cederic came almost exactly five minutes after I wrote that last and we went to the command tent. It looked as if people had been arguing. I sat in my chair and said, “Somebody please sum up the arguments for me, because I’m still tired and angry and not interested in listening to the actual arguments.”

  They were quiet for a bit, looking at each other like they were all waiting for someone else to speak first. Finally, General Drussik said, “Your Majesty, we need to move the Army quickly to surround the Barrekellian forces. The Gray Army will remain here to protect you and the Emperor, and the Blue and Green Armies will flank the enemy—”

  “They are not the enemy, Drussik!” Mattiak shouted. “Those are my men you’re talking about, and we are not going to attack them!”

  “We have no alternative!” Drussik shouted back. “You think Domenessar won’t order them to turn on us the moment the sun hits the horizon? It’s either that or run away with our tails tucked und
er our asses!”

  “Leaving to gain a better tactical position isn’t running away, Drussik,” Kalanik said.

  “We’re never going to have a better tactical position,” Drussik said. “General Tarallan, you know what we have to do.”

  “Leaving is what we have to do,” Mattiak said. “We’re going to strike camp and head for Teliarne. If Soessen and Roebart follow us, we need those Castaviran troops even if half of them don’t speak our language.”

  “Are you certain there is no way to reason with them, General Tarallan?” Cederic said.

  “If I could speak to them, maybe,” Mattiak said. “They weren’t willing to listen to me before, but maybe if they know the missing Daressar heir was with us…Roebart and Soessen both knew Alenik Daressar. Roebart was head of the Hasskian detachment before he was promoted. It might make a difference.”

  “It’s too bad the Daressar heir can’t talk to them directly,” I said. Excitement started bubbling up inside me.

  “If we could get to them…but Domenessar’s given orders. They’d only attack us before we could explain what we were there for,” Mattiak said.

  “That’s true,” I said with a grin. “If only the Daressar heir could turn invisible and walk through walls. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

  Mattiak stared down at me, then looked at Cederic. Cederic raised one eyebrow. “She has a point,” he said.

  “Aleynten, are you actually going to allow your wife to walk into an enemy camp to talk to a couple of men who may not even believe she is who she claims to be?” Mattiak shouted.

  “I don’t think ‘allow’ is the word you’re looking for,” I said.

  “Sesskia,” Cederic said. I sobered at the serious look on his face. “This is a tremendous risk. General Tarallan is correct that these men may not believe you. You will be in great danger and we will not be able to rescue you.”

  “I’ll go with Jeddan,” I said, “just in case, and I’ll be very careful. You know I always am.”

  “I know you think little of your personal safety when you are in pursuit of your goal,” he said, “and while you may be the only one who can do this, you are also our only Empress-Consort. And my only wife.”