by J J Moriarty
The Supreme Commander began to point to a spot on the stage beside him, but he stopped, his arm halfway extended. Everyone in the room had stopped moving.
Hyzou knew he was strong, but only now did he truly understand the depths of his power. There wasn’t a man alive who could use his Qi to impose his will on another human being. Here was Hyzou, controlling every movement of seventy men.
Hyzou reached down, beneath his robes, and drew his sword. He walked forward and struck down the first two Lamyblans he could find. They both fell to the ground, bleeding out to a quick death.
“I lied, Supreme Commander”, Hyzou said.
There was no reply, because Hyzou was controlling the Supreme Commander’s jaw muscles. Hyzou slit the throats of two other Lamyblans.
“I don’t hate Piqueans”, Hyzou said.
With a flourish, Hyzou carved his way through four mandarins.
“My sister was a Piquean, my betrothed was a Piquean, my home was Piquea. I am Piquean”, Hyzou said.
The next Lamyblans Hyzou came to were seated on a bench. This made them a simple height for Hyzou to slit their throats, and he did so, cutting each one from ear to ear.
“I was happy once, and I had a life, a family, a home. Then men like you came and ruined it. Lamybla brought death, hunger, pestilence and poverty to Piquea”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou brought heavy blows from his sword down on defenceless men. These were no mercy kills, or even an execution. These were the slashes of a wild beast.
“And that wasn’t enough. When ordinary life could have resumed, you took our resources, made us into slaves and recluses, not allowed to live in our own city. And even that wasn’t enough. I visited Aheb recently, saw the piles and piles of charred bodies”, Hyzou said.
When he mentioned Aheb, Hyzou brought a particularly harsh blow down upon the neck of an old man. The decapitated head was cut loose and flew across the room.
“But it’s ok, I understand. I understand, because after I was pulled from the ash you made of my home, I was put in a chariot with Kyrios Nuya. He explained it to me. He explained how men like you work”, Hyzou said.
He’d left at least twenty-five dead now.
“He told me that the way of the world was that the strong treat the weak how they will. Now, it took me a while, but I realise now what he meant”, Hyzou said. “And I understood what the creed of this city has become.”
Hyzou was coming close to Kyrios Lysimachus.
“I am strong, and you are weak. You shall suffer me, and remember that blood always begets blood. What’s sown in the soil in winter will be revealed in the summer sun. I want you to remember that it’s the role of the strong to hurt the weak. Remember it, because after tonight, there won’t be a Lamyblan left in Piquea”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou grabbed the young man in the far-too-ornate outfit.
“Remember your creed when your children have their skulls dashed against Piquean stones. Remember when your women are taken as slaves by whatever man will have them. Remember, when your brothers and fathers are boiled down and fed to the hungry. Remember that the strong take from the weak, and today, Lamybla looks pretty weak”, Hyzou said.
Holding the side of the young man’s face, Hyzou drove his head into the wall with all the force he could muster. The skull broke, and blood exploded across the room. Hyzou cut another down, and finally came to Kyrios Lysimachus.
“My Kyrios. I will enjoy this particularly”, Hyzou said.
Kyrios Lysimachus’ eyes were alight with fear.
“I hope Thanatis lets you take some of your wealth with you to the underworld. It would be a shame if you were to have spent your whole life amassing a fortune, only to have it end with nothing”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou cut him down. He cut them all down, one after another. Almost seventy men, until only the Supreme Commander was left. Hyzou was tired now, but it had gotten easier. With each man he killed, the number of Qis he had to control reduced.
Out of breath, he stood before the Supreme Commander.
“Don’t worry Supreme Commander, I only mentioned Lamyblan children for effect. I’ll see to it that they’re not harmed as best I can”, Hyzou said. “Some will die, but that’s not my fault. You made this happen, by pouring rice wine on dry kindling.
Hyzou walked up onto the stage and got down on his hunkers beside the Supreme Commander.
“But the women and the children, I’ll make sure they’re not among the hurt. I’ll put them all in a giant wagon and send them north. See, I’m not like you. I’m not like you at all”, Hyzou said.
The Supreme Commander’s breath was quickened, but without any other tell, Hyzou couldn’t tell if that was fear or anger.
“With regards the men that run your empire though, I can promise no such leniency. See, we both know I’m not like you. You promised to eradicate the Piqueans from Sira Su, and you’ve failed”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou leaned in an began to whisper.
“I promise that Kyrios Lysimachus was only the first Lamyblan Noble I’ll kill. The first of many. I’ll kill them all. And when I make that promise, you know it’s the truth”, Hyzou said.
Murder was in the Supreme Commander’s eyes. Hyzou didn’t mind.
“The riots have already started. They’re not like anything you’ve seen before. Your forces will be overwhelmed soon. Your rule ends, and Piquea becomes independent, all in one night. I tell you this because I want you to understand what a failure you are, I want that to be the last thing you think before I end you”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou plunged his sword into the Supreme Commander’s heart. The old man fell from his chair.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“It was a lot easier than I thought it would be”, Gardem said.
Hyzou looked up at the old man.
“Once they’d heard that the Supreme Commander was dead, the soldiers’ morale broke”, Hyzou said.
“It went just as you said it would”, Gardem said.
“Just like I said, yes”, Hyzou said.
They were both sitting on the steps of the Great Stairs. Beneath them was a line three hundred people long. They were waiting for some rice and some jerky. They were patient, despite their hunger.
“They wait in line because you ordered them to”, Gardem said.
Hyzou shrugged.
“I still think we should keep them”, Gardem said.
“Who?” Hyzou asked.
“The Lamyblans”, Gardem said.
“We’ll see”, Hyzou said. “The few who are useful hostages, of course. Maybe some of them will want to stay, and they can stay too. The others, I don’t see why we would. But that’ll be the Council’s choice.”
“This city needs to be ruled”, Gardem said.
“That’s what the Council is for. You ran the lower three levels of Piquea, and now you rule the city”, Hyzou said.
“We’ll be meeting very soon. You should come”, Gardem said.
“Why?” Hyzou said. “My part in this is over.”
“Just come, will you?” Gardem said.
Hyzou shrugged.
“If you want that”, Hyzou said.
He stood and took use of the vantage point to look all around the city. Everywhere there were lines of the hungry, being fed by the supplies that had been found on the sixth level last night.
“We’re meeting in the Palace. Come with me”, Gardem said.
The old man began to walk up the stairs. Gardem moved slowly. Hyzou stood and followed.
“How are you anyway?” Gardem asked.
“Not a scratch on me”, Hyzou said.
“I wasn’t asking about your physical wellbeing”, Gardem said. “It’s no easy thing to kill a man, and to kill as many as you did last night.”
“Are you judging me, Gardem?” Hyzou said.
“No. I’m concerned for you”, Gardem said.
“Don’t be, I’m fine”, Hyzou said.
Gardem looked at him.
“Reall
y, I am. I’m just the same as I was yesterday and the day before that”, Hyzou said.
Gardem nodded.
“That’s good”, Gardem said.
They walked the Great Stairs in silence. As they passed through the upper levels, the carnage of last night became more and more evident. Ruined buildings, looted houses, and surgeons tending to the injured.
Then there was the Palace, in the courtyard of which a large bonfire burned.
“Don’t look Archaier”, Gardem said.
“I’m going to look”, Hyzou said.
They passed the huge billowing flames, and Hyzou stared at them. The seventy or so bodies had been piled with dry wood this morning and set alight.
He climbed up the ramp and entered the Royal Court. The room seemed much more empty today, there were only ten people inside. Though the bodies had been removed, the Court hadn’t been cleaned properly and patches of the floor were still slick with blood. All ten stood when Gardem entered.
“Gardem”, they said.
“Sit. All of you. This is Hyzou of Nuyin, no doubt you’ve heard of him”, Gardem said.
There were nods all around. Gardem walked over to the table and sat. Then he pointed over towards an empty seat for Hyzou to sit in. It was at the head of the table.
Once Hyzou was seated the meeting began.
“Once we’ve fed urchins, my friends, we’ll have to start to move them out to the countryside. The rice seeds are in the ground and they’ll start to bloom soon. The rains can’t be more than a week away, and we will need that rice”, one of the councillors said.
There were murmurs of agreement around the table.
Gardem coughed lightly then spoke.
“There’s an even more pressing problem. The city may have been liberated, but a lot of Piquea still has Lamyblan soldiers present. How many fighting men can we raise to liberate the countryside?” Gardem asked.
Everyone turned to a small man. This man was young, but he must have seen a lot in life. He was missing his right eye, and his right ear. Scars covered his neck, and he had lost a chunk of his nose.
“I can raise a thousand fighting men”, the scarred man said.
Around the table were nods. Hyzou felt an alarm raise in his stomach.
“May I speak?” Hyzou said.
“Of course, Archaier”, Gardem said.
“A thousand men? How many will you be able to raise once you’ve liberated the countryside?” Hyzou asked.
“I can’t know for sure”, the scarred man said.
“Give me an estimate”, Hyzou said.
“Two and a half thousand probably. Maybe three, if the illnesses haven’t spread too far in the countryside. There are too many weak men throughout the nation, they’re hungry and sick. They can’t be trained for war”, the scarred man said.
“Three thousand men?” Hyzou shouted. “The Pharaoh will send fifty thousand to crush us.”
Shocked expressions crossed the faces of the councillors. Hyzou put his head in his hands.
“You need Uqing. Piquea needs Uqing. Doesn’t it? It won’t survive without an ally”, Hyzou said.
“There’s still hope from elsewhere. The south Piqueans will come when we tell them we’ve crowned a new King of Piquea”, Gardem said.
Hyzou felt his spirit lift. He had forgotten about the soldiers living far off in the south.
“How many are they?” Hyzou asked.
“Seven thousand men”, Gardem said.
Hyzou sighed.
“Seven thousand? We’ll be outnumbered five to one”, Hyzou said. “Without Uqing, Piquea is doomed.”
“Who’s in charge of Uqing?” The scarred man asked.
“Two Protakyrios. Protakyrios Yan and Protakyrios Vorska”, Hyzou said.
“Send word to them, perhaps they’ll send aid”, the scarred man said.
Hyzou shook his head.
“Not likely. I’ll need to return to Uqing and convince the Archai myself”, Hyzou said.
Around the table the eyes of all the councillors widened.
“But you must stay”, the only female councillor said.
“Why?” Hyzou asked.
“To rule”, she said.
Hyzou was about to ask more, but Gardem intervened.
“I actually haven’t asked the Archaier yet”, Gardem said.
“Oh”, she said.
“Ask me what?” Hyzou said.
Gardem sighed.
“We need you Hyzou. The council can’t run Piquea, the South Piqueans will only answer the call if a new King has been crowned”, Gardem said.
“Does Imhotep have any relatives left alive?” Hyzou asked.
“You are his successor”, the woman said.
For the first time in a long time Hyzou was lost for words. Gardem spoke again.
“There’s no one else. You struck the blow that led to the rebellion, and already every Piquean in the city is associating your name with the new supply of food. You’re the only one with experience ruling and experience in military matters together. No one here knows how to fight a war”, Gardem said.
“I don’t want to be King of Piquea”, Hyzou said.
“You said he would…” the scarred man began, but Gardem raised his right hand.
“Archaier, Hyzou. If this city is to survive there’s only one man who can make that happen. This isn’t about ambition or desire. This is about duty. Your city needs you, and we need you. You can say no, but you doom Piquea to dust if you do so. Do I even need to explain why we need you? Surely it’s obvious”, Gardem said.
Hyzou sighed.
“I’m not a King. I’m not made for it, I’m no royal”, Hyzou said.
“You’re an Archaier. That’s enough for us”, Gardem said.
Hyzou was shaking now.
“You’re all serious”, Hyzou said.
They nodded, each of them.
“But to survive, I need to go to Uqing to get aid”, Hyzou said. “I can’t stay here to rule.”
“The Southern Piqueans are led by a former captain of King Imhotep’s army. His name was Phatmose. He’ll ride north and prepare the city for the siege in your absence. And the council can manage the domestic minutiae. But you’re the only one who can successfully marry both together, and secure aid from the north. What’s more, if we survive Ganymedes’ initial probe, you know that that won’t be the end of it. You’re our only hope”, Gardem said.
Hyzou sighed again. He looked around the room, at the blood-stained floors. He remembered the years he’d spent here as a child, listening to the proceedings in the Royal Court. He wondered what his father, for years a loyal Scribe to King Imhotep, would say about this.
“If I take this role, it’s only to win a war. If we win, the moment the war ends, I’m going to abdicate”, Hyzou said.
“That’s agreeable with us”, Gardem said.
“Tell me there doesn’t need to be a crowning ceremony”, Hyzou said.
Gardem shook his head.
“No, I’ll just make sure word goes through the city that you have been named the new King of Piquea”, Gardem said.
“Very well then. I’ll accept”, Hyzou said.
Silence settled on the room.
“Speak, King Hyzou, for your word is our command”, Gardem said.
Hyzou stopped, trying to think things through.
“We’ll need to liberate the countryside first. But it doesn’t need to go as far north as the old border. About fifteen miles north of Aheb there’s a shale quarry several miles long, do you know it?” Hyzou said.
There were nods around the table.
“What’s your name?” Hyzou said to the scarred man.
“Kheti, Your Majesty”, he said.
Hyzou shook his head and tried to get over being described as a majesty.
“You have some military experience?” Hyzou asked.
Kheti nodded.
“I served as a soldier under Phatmose, and I was separated from the rest of t
he force when we were flanked by Kyrios Nerikare during the invasion. Two years ago, I returned here. As far as we know I’m the most senior soldier in the city, Your Majesty”, Kheti said.
“You’ll have to gather some men and take all the lands from here to that quarry to the north. The quarry will make a good spot to begin a defensive stand”, Hyzou said. “Have a trench built there, enough to slow Lamyblan carts at the very least.”
“Yes, Your Majesty”, Kheti said.
“Word must be sent to the south, if the city is to hold out the rebels will need to join us”, Hyzou said.
“I can see to that”, Gardem said. “Phatmose comes if the King of Piquea summons him.”
“Send messengers to him, tell him to liberate all the lands to our south of Lamyblan troops. We need to be one unified country if we’re to hold off Pharaoh Ganymedes’ charge”, Hyzou said.
Gardem nodded.
“I can see to that”, Gardem said.
“How long will this grain last?” Hyzou said.
“A year at least, if we’re feeding everyone in the countryside too”, Gardem said.
“There are seeds in the ground, aren’t there?” Hyzou asked.
“They will sprout come spring”, Gardem said.
“I need someone in charge of this, making sure all the farms take in as much rice as they can. People should be happy to work when we tell them there isn’t a quota and they can feed their families before selling the rest to us”, Hyzou said.
“I can do that, Your Majesty.”
It was the only woman at the table who spoke up. Hyzou glanced at Gardem, who nodded.
“What’s your name?” Hyzou asked.
“Satiah”, she said.
“Satiah, you’re in charge of food supplies then. We need a good harvest this year if we’re to have any chance of surviving”, Hyzou said.
“Certainly, Your Majesty”, Satiah said.
“The road to Lamybla must be blocked off, at the stone quarry would be best. Destroy it”, Hyzou said.
“I’ll see to it”, Kheti said.
“Only after you’ve taken back all the lands to the north”, Hyzou said.
“I’ll do that, Your Majesty”, Kheti said.