Clen’s mouth gaped open, then he said, “A group of you?”
Ranell nodded.
Clen examined the contents of the pockets in his belt pouch, and then finally patted it. “I should have enough coryphant… but I’m low on aonium… Can you obtain some from the college?”
General Luascar grunted. “I don’t know what in the gods’ name you’re talking about, Sardan, but I can reliably inform you the college is closed and barred due to the unrest.” He looked sideways at Ranell. “There’s a strong fear of magic being used against the populace.”
“In that case,” Clen replied, “I’ll have to obtain it from Choe Kalan, a noted herbalist. It will take me a short while only.”
Ranell slapped Clen’s back. “And then you can do it?”
Clen’s features creased into concern. “I can cloak about three or four…”
Ranell released a sigh of disappointment. “I think for the ploy to work we’d need more – up to ten.”
“Ten…” Clen closed his eyes and chewed his lip, adding hesitantly, “I can only manage ten for a very short time, I think.”
Ranell eyed the baron. “Do we try?”
“Yes. And you should lead. It’s important that we get Thand out now.”
“Very well,” Ranell said. “We’ll bring eight others.” Gripping Clen’s arm, he added, “Go get your herbs!”
***
Second Dekin of Darous
Second City, Lornwater
The Lord-General with nine armed men approached the Long Causeway gate to the Old City, and ordered, “Open up, and be quick about it!” The reason for the urgency was evident: behind them was a mob of civilians shouting and brandishing fists.
“Good to see you, Lord-General,” said one guard, opening the tripdoor within the gate.
“Stall the niceties and let us through. I have urgent matters to attend to with the king!”
A second sentry whispered, “I understood the Lord-General was in Endawn.”
“Hush, man, or he’ll have you in chains. I’ve seen plenty of his messenger birds fly out!”
The Lord-General and his men passed through and the small door was slammed shut.
***
Old City, Lornwater
Clen continued chewing on the herb, sweating as he moved forward. He peered over his shoulder. Yes, the distraction of the mob at the gate was working. We’re forgotten in the excitement. Good!
Cobrora Clen led his group round a corner, immediately on their right, out of sight. If they don’t see us walking the Long Causeway, they may assume we’re going to the Lord-General’s palace. Once round the corner, the Lord-General shimmered and again became Cobrora Clen. He already felt drained. “When we get to the Nemond palace, I will cloak us again,” he told the others whose disguise had also dissipated.
It was a short walk, strange and unusually quiet, compared to beyond the walls in the Second City. All the doors were shut. And this particular street was deep in shadow from high walls on each side. Next left and they were in sight of the Nemond palace.
“Keep close,” Clen whispered. “I am cloaking you now.”
Boldly, as became a Lord-General, he walked up to the entrance.
A watchman marched forward. “Lord-General, I have instructions not to let anyone past.”
“Watchman, if you wish to retain a career, I advise you to move aside and permit our entrance. I have business with the king’s cousin. Prime Watchman Zen-il will hear of your diligence – I trust he will not also hear of your obstructive attitude?”
“Yes, Lord-General. Thank you, sir!” He moved to one side.
They all climbed the steps. Standing at the studded door, the Lord-General turned to the watchman, an eyebrow raised. “Well?”
The watchman ran up, unlocked the door and opened it.
Without a word, the Lord-General strode inside.
Once within, they decloaked.
Cobrora Clen was now shivering. He searched his pouches, confirmed the remaining contents. “Enough – just for ten. One of you will have to be left behind. I’m not happy about that, but it’s only until Nemond Thand succeeds.”
One man reluctantly agreed. “You can act as one of the staff in the meantime,” Ranell suggested.
At that moment, Tantian rounded a corner and entered this part of the corridor. She was immediately taken aback and seemed about to raise an alarm. But then her eyes met Baron Laan’s and she visibly relaxed. “Baron? How did you get in here – and with so many!”
“My lady, it is a clever subterfuge,” Laan explained without going into details. “We need to take your husband out of the old city – now that Haltese is dead.”
“Prince Haltese is dead?”
“Yes. Your husband is next in line, after Saurosen is deposed.”
“We haven’t got much time,” Ranell urged.
“But I must go with my husband.”
Cobrora Clen hesitated, eyeing the baron.
She gave a beseeching look. “Baron Laan, you know I have to be there when my lord is troubled.”
Laan glanced at his men. “Another volunteer to stay?”
“I’ll volunteer, my lord,” said a short soldier.
But Tantian hadn’t finished yet. “And we must go with Sister Illasa.”
Cobrora Clen ran a hand over his angular thin face. “My lady, I respect Sister Illasa and the sisterhood, but is she necessary?”
She pierced him with her obsidian eyes. “The future king of the three cities requires the Sardan gifts of Sister Illasa. As a Sardan, you should appreciate that.”
Cobrora Clen’s eyebrows lifted. “How did you know I was Sardan?”
“Sister Illasa told me you would come to us.”
Cursing under his breath, the baron said, “Very well.” He gestured at another man. “You stay.” He glared at Tantian. “Go and get Sister Illasa at once!”
Her apple cheeks inflamed russet. “You cannot address me so!”
“This Sardan is weakening while we prattle.”
“Cannot the two Sardans work together?” Tantian queried.
Ranell was impressed at her grasp of the fundamentals.
“Alas no, my lady,” Clen replied. “Each Sardan is gifted differently.”
“Enough,” berated the baron. “We must leave now!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
MIND-SNATCH
“Never cry over spilt wine. It may have been poisoned.”
- Creed of the Disbelievers
Oquar II forest
Trusted Captain Lue-ka Golavil led the advance guard of the sixth toumen, and was greeted by General Nhev of the fourth. “General Yordine Edural keeps his promise while fence sitting, I see,” General Nhev observed.
“He is loyal to the Black Sword,” the captain said, and then added, shrugging his shoulders, “though it may prove difficult to determine who actually holds that weapon at present.”
“I take your meaning, Captain Lue-ka. As far as I’m aware, King Saurosen has our allegiance.”
“So be it.” He cocked his head. “We could hear the din of fighting from several launmarks back.”
“It is a messy affair. Though it quietens at night.”
Night fell.
***
Old City, Lornwater
Although physically and mentally weakened with the sustained effort, Cobrora Clen led the group of ten to the Long Causeway gate. As he moved, he could feel the faintest shimmer of dissociation. The glamour will not hold for much longer, he thought.
His heart thrummed and his legs felt weak, while his stomach lurched and heaved.
In the guise of the Lord-General, he ordered, “Open the gate! We have much work to accomplish for the king!”
This was the moment of truth.
The sentries hastened to open the gate and made no comment as the group passed through into the night.
***
Second Sidin of Darous
Nemond palace, Old City, Lornwater
>
When Adama and Dori discovered that Thand, Sister Illasa and the bitch-wife Tantian were no longer in the palace, they railed loudly, gnashing teeth. Servants gave them a wide berth.
“How’d they get away?” Adama asked.
“It must be Illasa’s doing,” her mother replied in an acid tone.
“I thought you were going to get the witch on our side?” Adama stormed.
“I – I asked her, but she just gave me one of her knowing smiles and walked away!”
“Well, curse her as well! Now Tantian’ll put him on the throne – so she can be queen.”
“Yes, my daughter, and when Thand succumbs to his tragic ailments she will rule in his stead.”
Adama’s liver-spotted complexion darkened. “We must get away – before he ascends the throne. She’ll manipulate him, have us imprisoned, I fear!”
“I’m too old to go to prison.”
“Me, too,” Adama said. “We’d better pack.”
***
Red Tellar Inn, New City, Lornwater
There was a great deal of jubilation over the remarkable rescue of Nemond Thand from the Old City, but none from Tantian or Thand himself, Ranell noticed as their new very important guests were guided to a private room upstairs, next to the now vacant Haltese suite. His thoughts dwelled on Tantian and Sister Illasa as they settled Thand in his bed. He wondered if they were making the right decision, fighting to enthrone an ailing or at best demented man. He knew the talk about Thand, and he wasn’t alone. Who would really wield the power? And how would it be employed? For whose good?
When Ranell returned, Clen asked, “What’s the matter with him? We broke him out of a mortal siege, he should be ecstatic.”
“Thand isn’t quite himself. For now, he has to be cossetted. His wife and the witch will see to him. To improve morale, we need to spread the word that Thand has escaped the Old City.”
Clen gave a dubious nod. “They need good news, true enough.”
***
Second Dloin of Darous
Reports arrived at regular intervals. From street and avenue, the rebels received the news of the escape with laughter and merriment.
It seemed that all support pledged to Haltese had now switched to backing Nemond Thand. Fighting was perfunctory this day, ground lost and then regained, with few deaths.
Clearly news of the escape from the Nemond palace had reached the king’s royal guard as well, and they appeared crestfallen, perhaps ascribing the event to witchcraft.
General Luascar faced a singular predicament. As the toumen under his command owed allegiance to Haltese, the son of the king, it was still possible those left beyond the city would side with the king rather than the king’s cousin. “I will send a saptor to Commander Uldern Rubon who is with the remainder of the eleventh toumen, informing them that their allegiance is now to Nemond Thand.”
“What about Haltese’s other toumen – the tenth?” Ranell queried.
The general grimaced. “Perhaps General Jaray’s fence-sitting has paid off. He didn’t commit to fighting the king or even supporting the prince.”
“Where is he now?”
“To the dunsaron, doubtless waiting to see how the bodies pile up…”
“But that is–”
“Treachery!” General Luascar grimaced. “He will get his comeuppance in time, I’m sure. For now, we can’t rely on him. It may be of small consolation that Jaray is unlikely to side against us either!”
“The coming prospect is toumens must enter the three cities. And that will likely be accompanied by indiscriminate slaughter and rape…”
“Aye, once an army’s blood is up, there’s no holding them, no matter how much the commanders threaten with hangings for rape, looting and cold-blooded murder.”
***
Second Sufin of Darous
Oquar II forest
Immediately after the saptor reached Uldern Rubon, the eleventh toumen’s commander ordered the remainder of General Luascar’s troops to break camp. They were soon in combat with the fourth toumen in the forest to the manderon of the city. This additional pressure concentrated the fourth’s efforts there.
Using the breathing space that the eleventh toumen supplied, the first toumen beat back the reduced force of the fourth outside the city’s varteron gate. Within an orm or two, the men of the fourth fell to the first toumen. General Accantey and his officers rode into the New City, the first toumen to enter Lornwater.
“Be warned!” stormed General Houran Accantey at the front. “All looters and rapists will be held to account and dealt with summarily!”
The general’s words were repeated by commanders and officers, so that their entry was welcomed by many onlookers. The men of the toumen rushed along the Long Causeway; some of them unfamiliar with the three cities, now agog at the tall structures and the length of the main tree-lined thoroughfare.
Yet not all of the populace were happy about this turn of events.
“It started as a civilian uprising with a just grievance,” one onlooker observed angrily, “but now it’s army against army, in our city streets!”
***
Second Durin of Darous
The royal palace, Old City, Lornwater
From their high vantage point in the palace, the king and queen perceived the extent of the conflict. The diversionary gamble did not pay off for the eleventh toumen to the manderon, though.
The combined force of the sixth and fourth toumen beat them back and entered and recaptured most of the manderon sectors of the First City and then the Second City, crying “For Saurosen!” Equally loudly, the fourth shouted, “For the Black Sword!”
The main concern of the commanders was to secure the palace – and the king and queen.
Once their positions were secured, with a protected supply line from the Old City gate through the manderon gates of the other two cities, only a limited squad from the fourth toumen was left, while the rest returned to the forest. It was up to the sixth toumen under Captain Lue-ka Golavil to occupy and hold the ground so bloodily won.
“Death and destruction on an epic scale!” Saurosen announced.
“Are you content now, Sauri, with all the yet uncounted dead?”
He swung round on her. “What do you mean by that?”
“Your stupid edict was the last straw. You invited this.” She jabbed a finger at him. “You!”
“As Daqsekor is my witness, I did not. I wanted none of it!”
This latest onslaught put into the hands of the king’s men sectors ten through seventeen in the New City, and once again all of the Second City. The toll had been terrible, but considered worth it to safeguard the Old City and the palace.
The rebel forces combined with the first toumen held sectors eighteen to thirty-three of the New City.
He pointed beyond the varteron gate of the Second City, to the rooftop of the Red Tellar Inn. “There, see, the traitor General Luascar with that uppity innman! They are to blame!”
Jikkos turned away from him and let the tears stream down her cheeks. She mourned the death of her son. No mother and wife should have to make that grim choice, she thought. The arguments had whirled in her head for a long time. She was bound to her husband, the king, and countered with the thought: I gave Haltese life and I can take it away. Haltese brought misfortune on Sauri, the only man I love… Finally, she’d come to the decision that she couldn’t countenance her son deposing her husband. She’d crossed a line. She had summoned Nostor Vata.
“You are sure about this, Queen Jikkos?”
“Regrettably, yes.”
“On two earlier occasions I have been in contact physically with the eunoch Masteef,” Nostor said. “Therefore I have a psychic link, so a mind-snatch should be feasible.”
“Mind-snatch?”
“I can suborn his mind for a few fleeting moments and instruct him to obtain the poison and then to administer it to the food. He will not flinch about eating the food before your son, since he
will not be aware of his actions.”
An uncontrolled sob had left her throat. “His death will be fast? I wouldn’t want him to suffer…”
Nostor shook her head of long black hair that draped over shoulders. “It will be very quick, your highness.”
Jikkos had closed her eyes but could not block the tears. “Then make it so, and soon.” She’d given the witch those instructions on the first Durin of Darous. Her son died the following day.
Now, she turned back to her husband, the king at risk. She loved him, despite everything. But she knew that she must take to her grave her secret arrangement with Nostor Vata, or Sauri would surely kill her. What other punishment was appropriate for depriving the man of an heir?
“I believe you, Sauri,” she said. Because he was in denial. “Unintended consequences of our actions can spread far and wide, like the ripples in a pool, my dear.”
“Just so,” he said, nodding. “Ripples in a pool.” His eyes gleamed as he watched a good portion of sector eighteen burn, a thick black pall of smoke rising.
***
Second Sapin of Darous
Red Tellar Inn, New City, Lornwater
General Accantey rode up to the entrance of the inn, slid awkwardly off his steaming mount. His hauberk was covered in gore. “I am here to see Nemond Thand, our king in waiting!” he announced to the sentries.
He was led to the door of the room occupied by Nemond Thand. Here, he met General Luascar and Ranell and they clasped hands in welcome.
“I recommend that Nemond Thand, accompanied by his wife, should leave Lornwater to join his toumens,” said Accantey. “It’s important he is seen at the head of his toumen when entering the city to claim the crown.”
“It would be symbolic,” said Luascar, nodding. “Thand leading instead of cowering in the palace.”
“We’ll have to put it to them,” Ranell said.
“Them?” Accantey queried.
Without responding, Ranell knocked on the door and entered. The two generals followed.
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