Leopold dropped to his side. ‘Lord Samuel! Are you injured?’
The magician was alive. His eyes were open, and he was whispering to himself. Leopold put his ear to the man’s mouth, but the sounds were unintelligible. Then, the whispering stopped and Samuel uttered one word that Leopold could understand.
‘Salu.’
‘What about him?’ Leopold asked. ‘What about Salu?’
‘Save him,’ the magician croaked. ‘Quickly.’
Leopold jumped up and ran back to the old man on the steps. He shook him by the arm and shouted his name. Then, putting his head to the man’s breast, he listened. He was alive but would not respond. His mouth was wide, his eyes staring up at the sky.
‘Is he dead?’ Orrell called to him.
‘No. He’s not dead,’ Leopold said. ‘His heart still beats, but he will not move.’ He turned back to the old man, calling him and squeezing his hand. ‘Salu! Salu, wake up!’
Someone was then beside him, and Leopold was surprised to find it was Samuel. The magician was stiff and shaky, moving with sawdust in his joints, and he scooped up the old man into both of his arms, cradling him like a baby.
‘Samuel!’ Leopold said with surprise and stood to face him. ‘You’re alive.’
‘Yes. I am,’ the magician replied without hesitation, although he looked emaciated and weak. ‘Sorry to disappoint you. There will be more chances to kill me yet, but not now. Come, we must get him back to the ship before it is too late.’
The woman in Captain Orrell’s hands jumped forward, nearly breaking free of his grip, and she shouted, between her efforts to claw and bite the captain. ‘Kill him, Leopold! This is your chance! He is defenceless! Kill him now and the demons within him are banished from this world! Do it, you stupid boy! Kill him now and save us all!’
‘What—what is she doing?’ Orrell asked, aghast, as he held her at arm’s length, keeping his face out of her reach.
‘That is not Jessicah, Captain,’ Leopold explained, following Samuel down the stairs. ‘Remember, it is the spirit of Rei inside of her.’
‘But ... how is that possible?’ The man was beyond exhaustion, hollow and withered, wavering on his feet.
‘It’s too hard to explain, but we cannot trust anything she does or says until Lord Samuel has a chance to heal her. Just don’t hurt her or let her harm herself.’
‘So Lord Samuel now is it?’ Samuel said, coughing as he spoke.
‘I’m sorry,’ Leopold confessed. ‘I didn’t know I would cause all this trouble.’
‘Don’t give me your apologies, Emperor. I told you to come back for us and you did. Our agreement remains unbroken. Just keep an eye on Rei. I see she is no longer too timid to show herself. She does not have any magic, but she is still capable of mischief.’
‘Samuel, can you help her?’ Orrell pleaded. ‘I … I don’t know what to do.’
‘Not now. Just hold onto her. That will have to do. We have to stop her from causing us any further grief until I figure out the rest. Now follow me.’
‘Where are we going?’ Leopold asked.
‘Back to the ship.’
Leopold regarded the old man in the magician’s arms. ‘Can you save him?’
‘He cannot be saved, Leopold. Salu is gone.’
‘But ... he is still breathing.’
‘His body persists but his soul has departed. I saw him. He came to me and he found me in the darkness. He plunged himself into the fire and he fought against my demons; he gave me the strength to find my way home, at the cost of his own life. His heart will continue beating for a short time, for his soul left so quickly his body has not had time to run itself down. I need to get him into my casket before it does.’
‘If we get there in time can you bring him back?’
The magician shook his head. ‘I cannot, Leopold. Dead is dead. Only gods can step across that boundary, and I am certainly no god ... not yet.’
‘Then why do it? I don’t understand.’
‘Salu has saved us all and left me with a parting gift.’
‘What gift is that?’
‘His body. There is no time to explain now, but once his heart beats its last, it will be wasted.’
‘Do you know the way?’
‘I know the way,’ the magician replied soundly. ‘Only it’s best if we avoid any trouble. I’m not in any state to protect us. Here, you will have to carry him.’
Leopold took the body of Salu as it was hefted to him and slung it over his shoulders. The old man felt like skin and bone.
A handful of Eudan guards had chosen that moment to come running into the courtyard, but on seeing the devastation, the bodies and blood, their sorcerers and ruler slain, they turned tail and went back the way they had come.
Samuel led the way up the steps and through the Harmony Chamber, leading them back into the tunnels. Rei was screaming and kicking all the while, and Captain Orrell dragged her along as gently as he could. At one point he became fed up and dropped her roughly to the ground, binding her hands and feet with his bloodied shirt torn in two. After that she was not nearly as much trouble.
They moved through the tunnels, with Samuel moving quickly, somehow knowing the way, bypassing the sections that had collapsed from the battle. Leopold paused on passing Empress Moon’s cell, but Samuel seemingly read the thoughts from his head.
‘Not now, Leopold,’ he said. ‘We have enough to contend with as it is. She will not suffer by remaining in her prison a few hours longer.’
So they left the old woman behind, silent in her cell.
They traversed the Temple of Shadows, where the statue now waited forlornly, bereft of its decorations. They too had gone up in smoke, leaving charred marks on each emerald wrist.
‘Your hand!’ Orrell declared, for ghostly fire was once again issuing around Samuel’s fingers, shining in the dim chamber.
‘There is time,’ Samuel responded, noting their alarm. ‘If I rest soon they will not be a problem. At least now we have something to light our path.’ Indeed his devilish light flickered upon the floor and walls, guiding their way.
They came out into the tunnel mouth, back into blinding daylight, where the Farstride remained waiting. Daneel was standing tall on the railing and shouted at once for the plank to be sent across. As soon as it was in place, they each hurried to safety.
‘Here,’ Samuel said to Leopold. ‘I will take him from here.’
The magician took the body of Salu from Leopold’s arms and went directly to his cabin, with Leopold dogging his steps. They ignored the questions and comments from everyone as they passed, for Leopold could sense the increasing urgency in Samuel’s pace, and the fire around him was growing. It was much dimmer in the daylight, but it was there, flickering subtly upon the magician’s skin, licking along the cloth of his robes.
‘Open it,’ Samuel commanded, standing beside the casket in his cabin, and Leopold quickly did as he was told, flicking open each sprung buckle.
Samuel placed the old man inside, closed the lid and locked each clasp in turn. With that, his strength left him and he turned around and slid to the floor, his back against the box, and sighed.
‘There. It is done.’
‘But what about you?’ Leopold asked. ‘Are you not going to get inside?’
The magician shook his head. ‘No. There is not the room for both of us. Salu’s body must stay inside or it will degrade. I will persevere out here.’
Fire simmered upon his sweaty face, but Samuel took a few deep breaths and the flames subsided, drawing into his flesh, leaving red-hot spirals snailing about, fading under his skin. Only tiny remnants of flickering remained.
‘Can you do it?’ Leopold asked with concern. ‘Can you keep them inside?’
The magician shook his head gravely. ‘Leopold, I need to ask you for something ... something I need to take from you.’
‘What is it?’ Leopold responded nervously.
‘You are like your father in ma
ny ways, Leopold. There is magic inside of you. It is dormant, but it exists. I would ask you for it now, to sustain me, to keep my demons at bay.’
‘Magic? In me?’
Samuel nodded, closing his eyes a moment as if gathering his strength. ‘Don’t act surprised. I know you know about it. I know everything, remember? Your father worked to keep it subdued, but it is there. Truthfully, that is another reason I have kept you beside me, to access that power should the need arise. I can think of no better time than now.’
‘What—what will happen to me?’ Leopold asked.
‘Nothing. You will remain as you are now.’
‘Then take it,’ Leopold stated, eager to make up for his prior failings. ‘I do not want it.’
‘Come closer,’ the magician instructed and hesitantly, Leopold did as he was told. ‘Take my hand.’ Samuel offered his palm, struggling to raise it.
Leopold placed one hand into the magician’s and used his other to keep them propped up. Rei’s warnings sounded in his head, but Leopold pushed such thoughts aside. Now was not the time.
Samuel closed his eyes again, and a look of calm passed across his face, the sharp edges of his cheekbones and jawbone softened. The last of his mage-fire receded.
‘It is done,’ he said, and released his grip.
‘I feel no different,’ Leopold admitted.
‘It is only that hidden core of magic I took from you, Leopold. Suffice to say, you will never be a magician now.’
‘Thank the gods for that.’
Samuel laughed—a feeble attempt.
‘Is it enough? Can you make it?’ Leopold then asked.
‘I must. With Salu’s strength, and yours, I can do it. Now ... go out. I need darkness ... I need quiet. Let no one disturb me.’
‘There is one thing I must tell you.’ He paused, but the magician did not possess the strength to reply. ‘Lomar met me once, that night on the Spice Islands.’
‘I know,’ struggled the voice of Samuel, his head hanging down, hidden in his hood, his chin pressed against his chest.
‘He said Poltamir has lost your son ... that he is free. Lomar has been searching for him, but he is not here ... he is not in Euda. We have wasted all this time. Your son could be anywhere.’
‘Leopold,’ came the strained reply. ‘Don’t you think I know this already?’ A long pause. ‘There is no waste. We will find my son in the end.’
‘But ... but how did you know?’ Leopold asked with disbelief.
‘You told me. Now, Leopold ... get out.’
Leopold did as he was told, shutting the door and leaving the magician to recover.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Vessel
THE OTHERS WERE all waiting on the main deck for news when Leopold came out of the passage and descended the stairs.
‘What of Samuel?’ Captain Orrell asked. He was alive, but dishevelled and in desperate need of a bath, not too dissimilar to Leopold.
‘He lives, but he fights his demons. There is nothing we can do to help him, except leave him alone. What have you done with Jessicah?’
‘She has been taken to her room. The Koian women gave her something to help her sleep. We tied her to her bed. I didn’t know what else to do.’
‘When Lord Samuel returns, he will know.’
‘She doesn’t seem to know me anymore,’ the captain stated feebly.
‘She knows you, Captain. Do not fret. We will free her of the witch soon enough.’
‘What shall we do in the meantime?’ Captain Merryweather asked. ‘There is no telling how long Lord Samuel may take to recover. We can’t wait here.’ He looked around, for the Farstride remained anchored firmly beside the palace. There was a commotion on the far banks, although it was too far to see the details. The city on the near side of the river was hidden behind the bulk of the palace and the hill it sat upon, but plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky.
‘Move us into the bay,’ Daneel said. ‘It is evident that we are no longer invisible. We can defend ourselves better in the open.’
Some Eudan guards, those brave enough to venture out after the previous events, were leaning over the top of the palace wall at that very moment, shouting.
‘So be it,’ Riggadardian agreed and Merryweather stepped away, yelling to Mister Chapman and setting his crew to work.
‘What about the warships in the harbour?’ Leopold asked. ‘Will we fight past them?’
‘Let them see us,’ Lady Wind said. She was the only Koian present. ‘We shall strike fear into them. From what the captain tells us, they have no sorcerers left to defend them. The signal has already gone out. The retaking of the Heavenly City has begun. Bodhi is no more. That Eudan name will be purged from the maps before the day is done. Word will spread across the nation, and soon enough, Koia will be ours again.’
Shortly, the Farstride was readied and as the anchors rattled back into their homes, the ship pulled away into the wide river, readying to make the turn.
Captain Orrell retired to his cabin for a much needed rest, and Leopold called for a tub, hot water, soap, towels and a stiff brush. He sat there high on the aft deck, stripped down to his smalls and scrubbing the grime from his skin. A crewman brought a change of clothes and Leopold discarded his underwear. He kept scrubbing until every inch of him felt cleansed of crud and filth, almost rubbing his skin raw in the process.
When he was done, he towelled himself dry and changed into the fresh clothes. It took perhaps half an hour, but when he was finished, he felt like a new man. Three days of uninterrupted sleep would also accomplish wonders, but he could see to that once he knew they were safe.
He made his way down to the main deck, much refreshed. Lady Wind was there with her husband, and the tall Captain Merryweather stood beside Kali. All were looking across the bay.
Looking across the banks with his spyglass, Captain Merryweather noted that some altercations were under way.
As the Farstride made into the middle of the harbour, they could see that the city was in an uproar. The Koian slaves had rebelled and their Eudan overseers were thrown into chaos.
‘Where are your sisters?’ Leopold asked Kali.
‘In the city already,’ she responded, looking towards the shore. She had changed her clothes and looked refreshed. Her cheek was sporting a long thin cut and Leopold thought it looked somehow noble. ‘Spreading the word and assisting with the fight. The people will gain strength from seeing true Koian warriors. They will know the time has come to retake our homeland. There are many other warriors hiding across the land, posing as slaves. They will join the uprising. Our revolt is gathering momentum.’
‘I found Empress Moon,’ Leopold said, spontaneously recalling the fact. ‘In the dungeons. Should we go back for her?’
‘No,’ Lady Wind said decidedly, cutting in before Kali could comment. ‘She can stay where she is.’
They dropped anchor in the middle of the bay and waited. Minor battles and skirmishes continued through the afternoon, but by dusk the revolt was mostly over. Commander Riggadardian had sent a good portion of his men ashore to help, at the request of Lady Wind, and they now returned by the boatload, bringing news that the uprising was over. In a few short hours, The Heavenly City had been retaken. The city’s chain of command had been decimated and without sorcerers, the Eudan troops had floundered.
‘We helped a little, but the Koians seem to be doing well by themselves,’ reported Daneel on his return, for he had gone with the men to direct their efforts. ‘The Eudans have all but surrendered. Only a few holdouts have barred themselves indoors, awaiting the inevitable.’
‘What will you do with the Eudans?’ Leopold asked of Lady Wind.
‘We cannot send them back to Euda, for we simply lack the means. Neither shall we kill them. We cannot blame the majority for the actions of their leaders. We shall offer them peace, as long as they agree to maintain it. We shall allow them to coexist with us, if they can, and if they abandon their barbari
c ways. We will be their slaves no longer, but neither shall we make them ours.’
‘That is very noble of you, good woman,’ Leopold said.
‘I have learned much in my time away from my home,’ Lady Wind replied, with a contented smile. ‘Even you Amandian savages have taught me a few things.’ And she looked to her husband with a loving smile.
Commander Riggadardian, a changed man from earlier in the day, squeezed her arm. It was clear he wanted to throw his arms around her and hug her, but he was an upstanding Turian officer and such things were just not done in public.
Everything was in good hands, so Leopold announced he was going to retire. He strode back to his room, kicked off his boots and collapsed in his bed. The ship could have burned down after that and he would not have known or cared. His head had barely hit the pillow before he was already deep in the embrace of sleep.
****
It was another two days before Lord Samuel emerged, thin and emaciated. He came exploring out from his cabin and staggered to the commander’s quarters. There, the magician drank his fill of water and, surprisingly, requested food. He ate a plateful before demanding seconds, still ravenous. Lady Wind was in shock as he stuffed bread and meat and soup into his mouth, one handful after the other, grunting like a pig with its nose in the trough.
‘You live another day, Lord Samuel,’ Riggadardian said, looking pleased.
‘I do,’ the magician replied between swallows.
‘And what now?’
‘We move on—quickly. We have settled our affairs here and we must be on to Euda. Poltamir awaits and I am eager to have all this done. The final Ancient One remains, and I must find him and defeat him quickly. The matter is only made more urgent by our latest events.’
‘And what of your ... demons.’
‘My demons are again in check, Commander, but their thirst for escape has been accelerated. It is now only a matter of time.’
‘But you can barely stand, good Magician.’
The Ancient Ones (The Legacy Trilogy Book 3) Page 40