A Sellsword's Hope

by Jacob Peppers

  “None of your damned business, is what it is. Anyway, you ought to just be glad I ain’t in the business of openin’ gates that need openin’, otherwise I reckon you’d be out of a job. Now, are you gonna let us through, or are we gonna keep standin’ here jawin’ until we die of old age?”

  The guard’s jaw clenched, and he turned to look at one of his companions—this one older than the rest and, judging by the way his expressionless face revealed none of the disgust of his fellows, not as inclined to suicide. The older man gave a terse nod. “Alright, let them through.”

  “Bout damn time,” Urek grumbled, and the older man shot him a look that told him he was pushing his luck, so he waited in silence while they swung the gate open.

  “This way,” the older guard said, motioning for one of the others to follow as he led them into the castle proper.

  Urek took a slow, deep breath, savoring it, and reasoning that there were better than even odds that the guards would decide there were a few more spots in the dungeons that needed filling, and he might not get another breath of fresh air for some time. Inside, the castle walls were adorned with portraits and paintings, the floors practically gleaming. Men and women—servants by the harried look of them—hurried past as the two guards led them down the hallway.

  “Oh, Urek,” Beautiful said beside him in a voice filled with awe as she tried to look at everything at once, “isn’t it wonderful?”

  “Sure it is, lass,” he said. He noted even the servants wore clothes much finer than any he himself owned, and as they followed the guard past paintings and ornate sculptures, he started to feel like nothing so much as a tick clinging to the ass of a particularly expensive horse. His clothes—that had always seemed fine enough for the back rooms of taverns and dark alleys—now felt woefully inadequate, and he felt his shoulders slumping with each step he took. His ears perked as he listened for the inevitable shouts of the guards as they came charging at them, intent on exterminating the pests that had dared to venture into their midst.

  Nothing of the sort happened, of course, but instead of putting Urek at ease this served only to increase his anxiety, some part of him thinking they were waiting until he and Beautiful were too far into the castle to have any chance of escape. As they walked, the palms of his hands began to sweat, and while Beautiful stared at everything they passed, remarking on each painting or sculpture as if she were at some art show, Urek’s own eyes were roaming the area in search of the guards who must surely be lying in wait.

  By the time the one leading them stopped at a door, Urek’s nerves were stretched so tight that a bard could have strummed a tune on them, if he had a mind to. The guard looked back, as if to ensure himself that the two criminals were still behind him and also, Urek suspected, to make sure there weren’t any new bulges in their pockets to indicate they’d liked some of the things they’d passed so much they’d decided to borrow them. “This way,” he said, walking through the door, and leaving the second guard standing outside in the hallway.

  Urek swallowed hard, turning to Beautiful. “Well. Ladies first, eh?”

  She smiled, taking the offer at face value, and gave him a curtsey. “Thank you, kind sir.” And with that, she followed the guard. Urek hesitated, glancing through the door, but he could see little more than Beautiful’s wide shoulders and back, and he turned to the remaining guard, giving a laugh he didn’t feel. “Ain’t no man holdin’ an axe and wearin’ a black mask in there I should know about, is there?”

  The guard only stared at him, not bothering to respond, and Urek sighed. “You oughta learn not to talk so much, fella. Nobody likes a man won’t stop waggin’ his tongue.”

  Still the guard said nothing, and Urek grunted. “Well, piss on you anyway,” he said. Then he walked inside.

  The room was small, looking as if it served as an office, and Urek—used to the tight corners of back alleys—immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Queen Adina sat behind a desk, rising as they entered. Of course, Urek had seen the queen before, though always at a distance, and now, close up, he could see why she was the object of so many drunken fantasies. Not ones that he himself shared, of course. She was Silent’s woman, and he figured there were plenty enough ways for a man in his profession to catch his death without deciding to piss that man off.

  “Urek, isn’t it?” Adina asked.

  “Err…yeah,” he stammered. “Yeah, that’s right.”

  “And, forgive me, but if I may ask, who is your friend?” she said, turning to Beautiful, and to the queen’s credit, her expression betrayed none of the shock or revulsion the guards had shown.

  Urek opened his mouth to answer, but Beautiful beat him to it, dropping down into a curtsey so low his own knees ached in sympathy. “Queen Adina, Majesty,” the big woman said in a voice filled with an adoration he’d never heard from her before, “it is my distinct pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Nallia.”

  Urek knew that he was staring, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d known, deep down, that surely Beautiful had a name, but neither he, nor anyone he’d ever met, knew what it was. Still, it wasn’t just the name that surprised him, but her manner. Beautiful was many things—fatal not least among them—but never before had he seen the look of worship that now filled her eyes. “A pleasure to meet you as well,” the queen said, returning the curtsey and with considerably more grace than Beautiful, if Urek was any judge. “Nallia, is it? A wonderful name.”

  The thickly-muscled woman blushed, grinning like a child given a treat. “You are too kind, Majesty, and…” She hesitated, nervous for the first time Urek had ever seen. “If it pleases, you, Queen, my friends…they call me ‘Beautiful.’” She blushed even more furiously, her face growing a deep shade of red.

  The queen smiled pleasantly. “Then ‘Beautiful’ it shall be,” she said, and Urek decided, watching her face betray not a hint of disbelief or doubt, that he could see why the woman was a queen.

  “Please,” Adina went on, gesturing to the chairs sitting in front of the desk, “have a seat and get comfortable. There are some things I’d like to discuss.”

  The trip through the castle coupled with Beautiful’s uncharacteristic behavior had left Urek unsteady on his feet, and he was thankful for the offer, walking to the nearest chair and sinking into it without preamble. Beautiful did the same, the awe and adoration in her expression as she gazed at the queen so great that a man might have been forgiven for thinking that one of the gods themselves had come down to speak with her.

  The queen made her way around the desk to the chair she’d been occupying and waved at the guard. “Thank you, Guardsman Blake. You may leave us.”

  The guard hesitated. “Majesty?” he asked, glancing at Urek and Beautiful. “Are…that is…are you sure?”

  Adina’s smile was pleasant enough, but when she spoke it was in a voice that expected to be obeyed. “I am. You may go, and I wish not to be disturbed until my companions and I have finished our meeting.”

  The guard bowed his head. “Majesty,” he said, then he gave a final suspicious glance at the two criminals before walking out of the door.

  Once the door closed behind him, the queen turned back to Urek and Beautiful. “Thank you both so much for coming, and I apologize for the urgency of the summons.”

  “Of course not, Majesty,” Beautiful said, “we serve at your pleasure.” And Urek suspected that, just then, if the queen’s pleasure would have been her boots being cleaned, the big woman wouldn’t have wasted the time it would take to get a rag, only would have gone down on all fours and started licking.

  “What can we do for you, Majesty?” he asked.

  “You are both aware, of course, of the dangers facing the city, and that we’ve spent the last several days trying to root out all of Grinner’s loyalists before we begin our march on Baresh.”

  Urek was too aware, as far as he was concerned. He’d been sitting and staring at reports for so long that he figured the chair he’d used had a perma
nent imprint of his ass on it, but he didn’t think saying such a thing would be proper, so he only nodded. “Yes, Majesty.”

  “Of course you would be, though, wouldn’t you?” Adina said. “After all, it has been in no small part thanks to your efforts that we have been so effective. Thank you for helping to coordinate our men and showing us where we might find Grinner’s loyalists. You have been a great help.”

  Despite his anxiety at being in the castle and Beautiful’s uncharacteristic behavior, Urek felt his own face flush in pleasure at the compliment. “Happy to help, Majesty.”

  “And you’re both aware of the damage Grinner caused by spreading rumors of myself and Aaron, as well as the others? Painting us as traitors and turning much of the city against us?”

  Urek grunted. “In my experience, folk’ll believe just about anythin’, you serve it to ‘em with an ale or two. They make it a competition of sorts, takin’ a story and addin’ to it, seein’ just how many lies their listener can swallow with his drink.”

  The queen smiled. “I hope you’re right.”

  There was something about the way she was looking at him that set Urek’s nerves on edge. “Majesty,” he said, “what is it, you don’t mind me askin’, that’s got you callin’ us down here? I got to figure, between the guards and the thousands of soldiers out there, that you’d be able to find plenty of folks as’d be more than happy to do whatever you wanted.”

  “Urek!” Beautiful hissed in a scandalized voice. “How could you talk to her li—”

  “It’s quite alright,” Adina said, raising a hand, and to Urek’s astonishment Beautiful stopped talking immediately. The queen studied him for several seconds before speaking. “You’re right, of course, to question my motives. After all, as you say, there are plenty available who might perform most any task I would need. But there are certain things that need doing which I believe would be particularly suited to your…talents.”

  “We’ll do whatever you need, of course, Majesty,” Beautiful said.

  “Well,” Urek said, pretending not to notice Beautiful’s scowl, “most anythin’. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not serve as target practice for your executioner, if he’s in need of some.”

  Adina laughed. “No, no, it’s nothing like that, I assure you. Only, I thought that, seeing as how effective the rumors Grinner spread about the city were, we might use a similar strategy to our own advantage.”

  Urek frowned. “Can’t say as I see how brandin’ you and Envelar traitors all over again’ll do us any good.” He winced as Beautiful kicked him in the shin. “Err…Majesty.”

  “I suspect it would do us little good, you’re right about that. But, it seems to me, that where rumors might create traitors, they might also create heroes.”

  “Heroes, is it?” he asked, rubbing at his chin. “Well, I suppose the world likes heroes well enough, Majesty. Though, you don’t mind me sayin’ so, they like ‘em even more when they fall. Anyway, what exactly did you have in mind?”

  The two criminals sat in silence as Adina told them of her plan, and as she spoke, Urek’s respect for her grew, as did his grin. When she was finished, he barked a laugh. “Make a legend out of Envelar then?” he said, nodding as he thought it through. “Shit, truth to tell he ain’t all that far from it now.”

  “So you believe it might work?” the queen asked.

  He frowned, considering. “How long we got?”

  “The army will march in two days,” Adina said, “three on the outside.”

  “Not much time then,” Urek said. “News travels fast, sure, but I don’t know if it’ll travel that fast.”

  Adina nodded, obviously disappointed. “So you don’t believe it’s possible?”

  He glanced to the side at Beautiful who stared at him with a hopeful, almost desperate expression, then turned back to the queen, grinning. “Oh, sure, it’s possible. If I can be called to a castle for somethin’ other than my own execution, I reckon just about anything is possible. Though, knowin’ what I know of Silent, I don’t expect he’ll thank us for it.”

  “I’ll worry about Aaron,” Adina said.

  Urek laughed. “Oh, you mistake me, Queen. I’d do it for no other reason, but to see the look on Envelar’s face when he realizes he’s a livin’ legend. I imagine he’ll shit, when he finds out.” He turned to Beautiful, “Well. I guess we’d better get goin’—a lot to do and not much time to do it in.” He started to rise but hesitated as the queen held up a hand.

  “There’s one more thing,” she said, wincing as if the words pained her. “Something else I’d like to talk to you about.”

  “Oh?” Urek said, sitting back down.

  She nodded, taking a slow, deep breath, as if trying to order her thoughts. “Recently, a representative arrived from Avarest. A Councilman Arkrest.”

  Urek hocked, getting ready to spit before the furious look on Beautiful’s face reminded him that he was in a castle, and the thick carpet beneath his feet wouldn’t thank him for it. “That bastard, is it?”

  “You know of him?” Adina asked, surprised.

  “Sure I do,” Urek said. “Any man or woman livin’ in Avarest knows of that one. A bastard in truth, and as self-serving and cold-blooded as they come. But friendly enough, I guess, if a man’s got the coin to buy his favor.”

  “Do you mean to say that he’s known for taking bribes?” Adina asked.

  Urek barked a laugh. “Queen, Faden Arkrest don’t get out of bed in the mornin’, somebody ain’t payin’ him to do it.”

  “I see,” she said. “Well, Arkrest arrived in the city late last night with an armed escort. He claims to represent Avarest’s council, and it’s clear that General Yalleck, at least, recognizes him and the authority he bears. He has come to inform us that Avarest’s troops are to leave the city and return to their home.”

  Urek sighed. “Sure, that sounds about right. Damn Council is full of cowards and fools, if you ask me. Not that anyone ever does, mind.”

  “Yes,” she said, hesitating. “But…the thing is, with the war that’s coming, we need every soldier we can get to have any chance of defeating Kevlane and his armies.”

  “Well, sure. But that Arkrest is like a dog with a bone, Queen, and whatever else he is—bastard the least among ‘em—the man knows how to get what he wants, and he ain’t too keen on changin’ his mind, once a deal is done. If he’s set his sights on seein’ the army returned to Avarest, there ain’t much short of killin’ him’ll keep him from it.”

  Adina met his eyes then, an intensity to her gaze he hadn’t seen there before. “Right.”

  Urek studied her, waiting for more, then when nothing else came, realization struck, and he leaned forward in his seat. “Queen, bear with me here, as I’ve got a criminal’s mind full of a criminal’s thoughts, but it seems to me that you’re trying to tell me that the good councilman would be better off—”

  “What I am saying,” Adina interrupted, her voice low, and he didn’t miss the meaningful glance she shot at the door, “is that I find it an unlikely coincidence that Councilman Arkrest decided to visit the city now, of all times, only days before we depart to Baresh.”

  “Sure, sure,” Urek said. “About as coincidental as somebody dyin’ with a knife in their throat, I suppose.”

  “Quite.”

  They studied each other in silence for several moments then, and when Urek spoke his voice was cold, hard, completely at odds with his normally jovial tone. It was the voice heard only by those who had wronged him or someone he cared about. The voice that was, for most, the last thing they heard. “You’re sure about this then?”

  Adina hesitated then finally gave a brief nod. “For what’s coming, there can be no half-measures. Perennia—and all of Telrear—cannot afford to lose thousands of troops on the eve of battle. I would ask,” she went on, her voice low, “that you determine whether or not Councilman Arkrest has been ‘bought’ or if he genuinely represents the will of the Council.”
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br />   “And if he does?” Urek said. “Represent the will of the Council?”

  Adina considered that, and for the first time Urek noticed the dark circles under her eyes, as if she’d gotten little sleep of late. “Then we must pray that he—and the Council through him—might be made to see reason. If not, I think that, sometimes, mistakes happen, do they not? Many have been imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.”

  “And if he has been bought?”

  A coldness entered the woman’s gaze. “Then I think it would be best for everyone involved if Councilman Arkrest disappeared. I—and the city too, I believe—have had enough of traitors to last a lifetime.”

  “And, just to be clear, by ‘disappeared’ you mean—”

  “I mean, Urek,” she said in a hard voice, “that if Councilman Arkrest is a traitor in league with Kevlane, then I want him to no longer exist. Find the deepest hole you can and bury him in it.”

  There was such intensity in her face, her voice, that Urek found himself easing back in his chair, but she wasn’t finished. She leaned forward, her eyes flashing. “And Urek? When you bury him—kill him first. Is that clear enough?”

  Urek stared at the woman, feeling more than a little awe. The princess was as kind as the rumors said, as pretty too, but what the rumors left out was that she was, in her way, just as cold-blooded as Beautiful, if not more so. “Yes, Majesty,” he said after several seconds had passed. “That I can do.”

  “Good,” she said, rising from her chair. “Will there be anything else?”

  Sure, he thought. A new pair of trousers, maybe. Still, Urek might not have been accustomed to sitting in fancy castles and wearing shirts with as much lace as he could find, but he knew a dismissal when he heard one, and he rose, shaking his head. “No, Majesty. We’ll see it done.”

  “Very well. Thank you. I am in your debt—on both counts.”

  Urek glanced over to see Beautiful still staring at the queen, and instead of diminishing her clear adoration, Adina’s anger and resolve seemed to have only strengthened it, and he didn’t think he was imagining the line of drool tracing its way down the muscled woman’s open mouth. He cleared his throat, but she didn’t so much as turn, and finally he took hold of her shoulder. “Alright then, lass. We’ve got us a job to do.”