by J J Moriarty
Hyzou sat forward.
“Leave my post?” Hyzou asked.
“It would be best, I think, if Uqing sent an ambassador who better understood the law”, The Supreme Commander said.
Hyzou thought things over.
“In the first instance, Supreme Commander, Uqing chooses who its diplomats are, not you. I can assure you, if you actually try to make me leave the city, I’ll go, but there won’t be a replacement sent in my stead. You’ll have expelled Uqing’s presence from the city in its entirety”, Hyzou said.
The Supreme Commander gritted his teeth.
“But all this is a bit rushed. See, I’m just back from war. I rode straight from the battlefield to my new post. You’ve fought in wars, haven’t you?” Hyzou asked.
“Of course”, The Supreme Commander said.
“Then you understand me, and the mistakes I’m making. I’m still in the frame of mind of a soldier. I look for fights everywhere, and refuse to back down when threatened or reprimanded. You know how it is, don’t you? Returning to normal life after war. It’s difficult, isn’t it?” Hyzou asked.
The Supreme Commander’s face softened slightly.
“It is”, he said.
“So I’ve broken the law, in my inability to adapt. I speak now as a soldier who’s talking to another decorated veteran of the battlefield. Please excuse my wrongdoing. I’ll obey the law from now on; I’m sorry”, Hyzou said.
The Supreme Commander’s face softened further, and finally he nodded.
“You must understand, I wasn’t acting arbitrarily. I need to keep discipline in the city”, The Supreme Commander said.
“There’s no ill will from me”, Hyzou said.
The Supreme Commander nodded.
“And you won’t undermine the authority of the city again?” The Supreme Commander asked.
“I won’t, I promise”, Hyzou said.
“Then my visit here is done”, The Supreme Commander said.
“Wait, Supreme Commander, I must ask you about the famine. Just, on a personal level”, Hyzou said.
The Supreme Commander stood.
“It’s quite simple. The land can only grow so much rice, and so populations can only get so large. Of course, the peasant will keep breeding regardless, and every few decades the peasants and slaves become too numerous. They become the natural surplus. One herd of deer can only feed one pack of wolves, if two packs try to survive off one herd, then some wolves are destined to starve. The same principle applies with peasants and slaves. This hunger is entirely of their own making, and they’ll be all the better for it. Give them a few years and soon there won’t be any hungry peasants and slaves, because the natural surplus will have seen to that”, The Supreme Commander said.
Madness. Hyzou thought.
But he hid anything he felt, as he stood and ushered The Supreme Commander out.
“Are you well, sir?”
It was Gemenfkon, waiting in the hallway.
Hyzou sighed.
“No. All of this death and hunger. It makes me sad. It makes me angry”, Hyzou said.
“Me too, sir”, Gemenfkon said.
Hyzou turned to his cupbearer.
“Do you get used to it?” Hyzou asked.
“Not if you’ve any worth as a man, sir”, Gemenfkon said. “But it seems there are few enough worthy men in this city these days.”
“I can’t intervene”, Hyzou said. “I think that’s the worst part. I intervened today to let a little girl use the road, and I shouldn’t have. It was pointless, and I know it was pointless.”
“No, sir, you can’t. I’ve served Uqing for a long life now, and I have met many Servants who have reached your position. Sadness, and anger, are rational reactions to a mad world. But those Servants, they got through it”, Gemenfkon said.
“How?” Hyzou asked.
“Remember your vows, Hyzou. The one thing of worth in this world. Through your vows to Uqing, you will help shape the world into a better image”, Gemenfkon said.
Hyzou sighed.
“You’re right. I think I’m going to go to bed”, Hyzou said.
“That might be for the best, sir. Do you need anything?” Gemenfkon said.
Hyzou began to climb the stairs.
“No. Thank you. Goodnight Gemenfkon, I’ll see you in the morning”, Hyzou said.
But he saw Gemenfkon a lot sooner than that. It was in the middle of the night that Gemenfkon grabbed Hyzou’s shoulder and shook him awake.
“Archaier, you must wake”, Gemenfkon said.
Hyzou snapped to and owned his envy.
“It’s not morning”, Hyzou said.
“No, but there was a commotion outside. You must come with me”, Gemenfkon said.
Bleary eyed, Hyzou rolled from the bed.
“Bring your sword, sir”, Gemenfkon said.
Now Hyzou was really paying attention. He threw on some tattered clothes and picked his sword up from the ground by his bed where it lay. He unsheathed it.
“Just outside”, Gemenfkon whispered.
The old cupbearer led the way. He went downstairs and then opened the heavy front door. Hyzou used his Qi to sense around the embassy and found no one around them. But there were ways of hiding one’s Qi.
Hyzou opened the embassy’s door. There, smouldering on the step before him, was the burned carcass of a dog.
Grimacing, Hyzou jumped over it and ran out onto the street, sword at the ready to fight any ambush.
The street was empty.
Empty was perhaps the wrong word though. There were two people, but they were undoubtedly dead. Hyzou rushed over to the high wall opposite the embassy.
They were nailed to the high wall, the father and the daughter from earlier today. They’d been dead before being crucified, but that was probably little consolation. Before death they’d been scalped, and both had their eyes gouged out.
Hyzou reached up and gently brushed the cheek of the young Piquean girl who refused to move from the road to make way for a Lamyblan man, and so was killed.
That’s not exactly true. You killed them Hyzou. You know that, they’d still be alive if you hadn’t made a show of them. Hyzou thought.
“Oh, Archaier”, Gemenfkon said.
Hyzou didn’t feel angry or sad anymore. He didn’t feel anything, just a cold numbness in the pit of his stomach.
“Why would someone do this?” Gemenfkon asked.
“The Supreme Commander ordered this”, Hyzou said.
“Why would he do such a thing?” Gemenfkon asked.
“Because he’s afraid of me”, Hyzou said.
“Afraid of you? Sir, I don’t understand”, Gemenfkon said.
“It doesn’t matter. Come on, help me clean this up, and let’s give these two some dignity in their death”, Hyzou said. “We can take all night if we have to.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Hyzou put the tablet to the side and rubbed his hand over his head. He hadn’t shaved his head for a few days, and a layer of dark hair coated his scalp.
I’m no diplomat. Hyzou thought.
He sighed and reached over and picked up yet another tablet and placed the heavy creation before him. He tried his best to understand the report on fishing in Piquea, because he’d have to summarise it and inform Uqing.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to do those?” Abraxas said.
Hyzou smiled.
“Are you really volunteering for a job as tedious as this?” Hyzou asked.
Abraxas shrugged.
“I’ve done the reports for years, you seem to be struggling”, Abraxas said.
“I need to know how they work”, Hyzou said. “Don’t worry, soon I’ll give you all my work, and spend all day asleep.”
“I look forward to it, Archaier”, Abraxas said.
Hyzou returned to reading his tablet, but Gemenfkon soon appeared at the door to the room.
“Archaier, you have a guest waiting for you downstairs”, Gemenfkon said.
“Somebody important?” Hyzou asked.
Gemenfkon nodded.
“I should imagine so, sir”, Gemenfkon said.
“Abraxas, take over where I left off”, Hyzou said.
“I will, sir”, Abraxas said.
Hyzou followed Gemenfkon downstairs. For the second night in a row, he recognised the man seated in the meeting room from his nightmares.
The figure looked up, and Hyzou gave his best welcoming smile.
“Archaier, I’m sorry for intruding, I just wanted to come and wish my condolences”, he said.
“Did you?” Hyzou asked. “What for?”
“I’m Gardem, as an aside”, Gardem said.
Hyzou grasped his forearm in the exact same spot that he had grasped the Supreme Commander’s arm just the night before.
“Who are you? And why do I require consolation?” Hyzou asked.
“I heard about last night. An ugly thing, and I’m sorry you had to see it”, Gardem said.
“The poor girl”, Hyzou said.
“Her mother is distraught. To lose a husband and a daughter in such bloody circumstances”, Gardem said, shaking his head.
“Is this a common occurrence?” Hyzou said.
“There have been Piqueans executed in the middle of the night for a while now. Men come with swords and spears and the Piqueans are crucified and left out for all to see. But they’ve never laid a hand on a child before, and they haven’t scalped or blinded them before death either”, Gardem said.
Hyzou sighed.
“It’s my fault”, Hyzou said.
“These men are animals. They know they need to keep us afraid”, Gardem said.
Hyzou shook his head.
“She would just have been punished and then left alone if I hadn’t gotten involved”, Hyzou said. “I shouldn’t have intervened.”
“Why did you intervene, Archaier?” Gardem asked.
“They struck a child, I was protecting her”, Hyzou said.
“Really?” Gardem asked.
“Who are you?” Hyzou asked, although he already knew.
“Apologies Archaier, I should have explained my position. I am the head of the council, the people who oversee the lower three levels in Piquea”, Gardem said.
“You’re doing a great job.”
Hyzou couldn’t hide his sarcasm.
“It’s not easy”, Gardem said. “But I cannot feed people with grain that is not there.”
“Why isn’t it there?” Hyzou asked.
“Would you mind telling me why you interfered yesterday?” Gardem said.
“I told you, they struck a child and I was protecting her”, Hyzou said.
“You, the war veteran, were so moved by a child being hit?” Gardem said.
Hyzou frowned.
“Do you want something to eat?” Hyzou asked.
“What?” Gardem asked.
“We’ve just met. Why are you interrogating me?” Hyzou asked.
“I’m curious, everybody’s talking about you”, Gardem said. “And I’d like something to eat, yes.”
“Gemenfkon”, Hyzou said aloud.
The cupbearer appeared at the door to the meeting room.
“Yes, sir”, Gemenfkon said.
“Could you get Gardem here something to eat?” Hyzou said.
Gemenfkon bowed and left them alone.
“I’ve been wondering why you would intervene yesterday like you did. Does the notion of Piquean people having to step aside for Lamyblan masters make you feel uncomfortable?” Gardem said.
“The notion of striking a child makes me feel uncomfortable”, Hyzou said.
“Were you struck as a child?” Gardem asked.
Hyzou nodded.
“And your striker, do you hold him in ill repute?” Gardem asked.
“No”, Hyzou said.
Gardem came in with a bowl of rice and chick peas.
“It’s all we’re eating, rice and chick peas. Everything else goes to the hungry”, Hyzou said.
Gardem took a few mouthfuls of the cold dish.
“That too. You’re giving out free bitter vetch. Why?” Gardem asked.
“Uqing must do good deeds, it’s an obvious part of maintaining our power”, Hyzou said.
“Is that so? Well, I’ve gotten quite a different impression from what I’ve heard of you”, Gardem said.
“I’m not interested in playing politics in Piquea. I represent Uqing, what people think of me personally is irrelevant”, Hyzou said.
“The Supreme Commander ordered the murder of that little girl, you know that, don’t you?” Gardem said.
Hyzou didn’t reply.
“He did it because you scare him. Like no one has before. How do you think the Lamyblans remain in power?” Gardem asked.
“I’m sure you’re about to tell me”, Hyzou said.
“The might of their military. There’s nothing Piqueans could do, any rebellion would be crushed. And there have been rebellions”, Gardem said.
“There have?” Hyzou asked.
“When Piquea fell five years ago, King Imhotep still had armies left in the field. They fled before Kyrios Nerikare’s dogs. A hundred miles to the south of us is the fortress they formed. Too deep in the south for Nerikare to crush, they sit there. They man incursions into Piquea main, killing Lamyblans, disrupting supply trains. But they do not come out into the open. Not yet. They stay and wait for the heir of King Imhotep to come forward”, Gardem said.
“Why are you telling me this?” Hyzou asked.
“Because they are a rebellion, and the southern Piquean forces have been aiding any acts of sabotage and rebellion they can”, Gardem said.
“They don’t seem to have been very successful”, Hyzou said.
“No. No they haven’t, not yet. It’s difficult. See they are outnumbered by the army of the Lamyblan settlers, and the people of Piquea are broken”, Gardem said.
“Broken? How?” Hyzou asked.
“They worry too much about finding food, they don’t have the time to become political. What’s more, just imagine how many healthy able-bodied Piqueans were taken to Lamybla to work as slaves”, Gardem said.
“I can imagine, yes”, Hyzou said.
“Were you there that day?” Gardem said.
“What day?” Hyzou asked.
“The day Piquea was sacked”, Gardem said.
Hyzou didn’t reply.
“That’s ok, it doesn’t really matter. But what does matter is that I think I have a proper understand of your actions. Piquea is your home, it must hurt so to see her people in such desperation and pain”, Gardem said.
Hyzou leaned forward.
“Look, old man, understand this, because I’m only going to say it to you once. Uqing is my home”, Hyzou said.
“They need help. There are babies starving, how can you turn your face away”, Gardem said.
“I haven’t. As we discussed, I’ve given everything I can to the hungry”, Hyzou said.
“That’s not a solution”, Gardem said.
“You’re starting to annoy me. What would you have me do?” Hyzou said.
“You cannot really be unaware of Piquea’s worst kept secret, can you?” Gardem said. “There’s no shortage of rice.”
Hyzou ground his teeth.
“Piquea is under a quota. It’s expected to feed the entirety of the Imperial army, and most of Lamybla too. At spearpoint Piquean grain is taken and brought north. There’s nothing left for the locals to eat. They’re being deliberately starved by the Supreme Commander”, Gardem said.
“Listen to me, Gardem, and listen well. My opinion on anything doesn’t matter. I represent Uqing and Uqing only. So find evidence of what you just told me, bring it to me, and I will pass it along to the Archai”, Hyzou said.
“But, Archaier…” Gardem began.
“That’s final”, Hyzou said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
There was darkness as far as the eye could s
ee. Then a fog began to form, and form coalesced into a shape. It was a human figure. The details were filled in further and further and it became an old man.
“Hello Hyzou”, Sparrow said.
“Master”, Hyzou said.
“I’ve been reading your reports, they’re exemplary”, Sparrow said.
“I’m troubled”, Hyzou said.
“I can see. What’s wrong?” Sparrow said.
“The famine, here in Piquea, it’s not real. I mean it’s not like there’s a shortage of food, it’s just taken by the Lamyblans to feed their army”, Hyzou said.
Sparrow nodded.
“Rumours along those lines have reached Uqing. How is it there?” Sparrow said.
“It’s terrible. They’re starving, everybody’s starving”, Hyzou said.
“Just like the Anarchy”, Sparrow said.
“But… Something’s changed. Just a few days ago, something’s changed”, Hyzou said.
“What’s that?” Sparrow asked.
“How can they get away with what they’re doing?” Hyzou asked. “The Supreme Commander I mean.”
“You don’t know if they’re doing anything. All you’ve done is send what you’ve heard back to Uqing, and it’s not evidence of anything. This Gardem man has told you that the famine is a deliberate choice, but who’s to know if it is?” Sparrow said.
“Well, maybe, yes”, Hyzou said.
“And is it at all possible that seeing such suffering in the home you adored has distorted your judgment? It would be a pleasant thought if someone were to blame for the famine, wouldn’t it? Easier to solve than a simple lack of rice”, Sparrow said.
“That could also be true”, Hyzou said.
“But there’s something else. Piquea is under the control of Pharaoh Ganymedes and Uqing recognises that. How he organises his resources within his Empire is his choice. We aren’t the watchman for Sira Su”, Sparrow said. “Even if you show that the famine is a deliberate policy choice the Archai won’t interfere - that kind of thing happened regularly in the Anarchy.”
“His new empire, do you really think he isn’t planning on invading Uqing?” Hyzou said.
“The Pharaoh? Of course not. Uqing and the Kheme Empire are allies”, Sparrow said.