‘The worst is behind me. It is far to Euda. I have time to recover. I will be strong enough to deal with Poltamir when we arrive. You can be sure of that.’
‘Ah. Do you not think we should stay longer and ensure the situation here is resolved? Eudan reinforcements could arrive from anywhere at any moment.’
‘They could, but we will not stay. Let the Koians deal with such matters themselves. They are more than capable now Prithamon and his sorcerers have been removed. If the rebellion has succeeded here, it will gather momentum across the country. The Eudans have no particular desire to rule here. They simply want to live. It was Prithamon who dictated the laws to Pradmet, so in effect by killing the sorcerer we have freed the Eudans from tyranny as well. That brings me to you, Lady Wind,’ he said, glancing up from his plate. ‘Will you be staying here?’
‘I will,’ she said with a solemn nod.
‘And you, Commander, I assume you will remain with your wife.’ Riggadardian stuttered nervously. ‘So be it,’ the magician said decidedly. ‘You can stay—if Leopold agrees, of course.’
‘I could not possibly—’ Riggadardian argued unconvincingly.
‘Please, stay,’ Leopold pleaded. ‘I would not separate you from your dear wife. You have fulfilled your duty to the letter, Commander. You have brought us to Koia and helped save a nation. No Turian hero could have done more, and as such, you deserve just reward for your service. You are a free man. I relieve you of your duty.’
The commander was dismayed, leaving Samuel to roll his eyes and interject once again. ‘Leopold, no Turian would willingly leave the service of his Empire. That would be like you leaving the service of your legs. Have you not learnt by now? Perhaps the Commander could be posted to Koia and assist with the interests of the Empire?’
‘Ah … I don’t follow,’ Leopold stated, perplexed by it all.
‘Use your brain, Leopold. Turia and Koia need an alliance. There are all sorts of agreements and paperwork to see to. You would need an ambassador to remain here and take care of all that important ... stuff.’ He said the last word with a flourish of his hand. Evidently, it was the least abrasive term he could offer.
‘Ah,’ Leopold said, finally catching on. ‘Of course. So be it.’ He reverted to his best emperor’s voice. ‘Commander Riggadardian, I appoint you to the position of Turian Ambassador to the empire of Koia. How does that sound?’ he added, looking expectantly between the magician and the commander.
Riggadardian sighed a great breath of relief. ‘Thank you, Your Majesty,’ he said. ‘I am sure Captain Merryweather will do a fine job in my absence. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Fillius died defending the Farstride, but Mister Chapman will make up for it, I’m sure, and there are other fine men who can assist them both. I only hope you don’t—’
‘Don’t speak of it, Commander,’ Leopold said, waving off the man’s attempts to be apologetic.
‘Ambassador,’ Samuel corrected him.
‘Ambassador Riggadardian,’ Leopold amended.
Samuel dabbed his chin delicately with a napkin. ‘Now that is taken care of, let us be away. I assume our supplies have been replenished and the ship readied?’
‘Not quite,’ Merryweather said. ‘The city has been in some turmoil throughout the rebellion. The men are ashore now, seeing to it. We also had some damage to mend, which I believe has been dealt with—as well as can be under the circumstances. It should hold out for another few weeks, but our good ship will need a long rest after all this, and some extensive maintenance in dry dock.’
Samuel accepted the report without objection. ‘So be it. Then let us depart as soon as possible. By the morning. I assume it will not take long to finish loading those supplies. There seems to be hardly any crew left, so keep light on the provisions.’
‘Aye,’ Merryweather responded.
Samuel then turned to Leopold. ‘What of Jessicah?’
Leopold swallowed. ‘She is quieter. There has been no further sign of Rei, as far as we can tell, but we thought it better to wait for you before releasing her.’
‘That was wise,’ Samuel said.
‘She is very upset, but we just couldn’t be sure ...’
‘I understand. You did well not to give in to her. Where is she?’
‘Locked in her room,’ Leopold replied. ‘With a guard on the door.’
‘Fine,’ the magician said. ‘I will see to her immediately.’
Samuel then pushed back his chair, much invigorated, and left the room without so much as a goodbye.
****
‘Phoenix,’ Leopold greeted, approaching the young woman by the handrail. Kali and Destiny were by her side. He was eager to speak to Kali, but with the other two present, he dare not offend them. ‘I assume this is goodbye.’
The newly appointed Ambassador Riggadardian and Lady Wind were climbing aboard their longboat, about to leave the ship with their belongings.
‘No,’ Phoenix replied. ‘We will come with you. We will assist you and the magician to the end of your quest.’
Leopold was delighted, fighting down the urge to smile. ‘Why is that?’
‘We are in debt to you, Emperor Leopold,’ the sullen Phoenix answered. ‘You have set the wheels in motion. Koia will soon be free. Nothing can stop that now. It is only fitting that we should aid you in return.’
‘It may be difficult to bring you back,’ Leopold told her bluntly. ‘I am not even sure where we are going.’
‘We will do our duty,’ Phoenix said. She might have been strikingly beautiful, if not for her fiery temperament. With that and her judgemental manner, Leopold could not bring himself to find anything attractive about her. ‘Is there something else?’ she asked, noticing Leopold lingering.
‘Oh ... No,’ he said and took one step away.
He let his gaze linger upon Kali, hoping she would return his advances, but she turned with her sisters to watch the longboat in its squeaking descent.
Toby was also on deck, leaning over the side, waving and laughing to those in the boat as it was lowered away. He had not seemed to notice that Salu was gone and still played all about the ship as before.
How wonderful it would be to be so carefree, Leopold thought. Death and pain and loss are unknown to him. He turned with a sigh and spied Samuel—a tall, black crow with his robes draped over him—standing further away and went to consult with the man. ‘Did you have something to do with this?’ he asked.
‘With what?’ the magician asked flatly.
‘Bringing the Koians.’
‘No. It was their decision. Lady Wind was about to order them away before Phoenix suggested it—perhaps a fortunate turn of events for you.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘Don’t worry, Leopold. I will not spill your secret. I can see your interest in the girl. Kali is her name, is it not?’
‘It is. Ah ... it’s true I have noticed her, but she is cold towards me. I have no idea how to court women, and even if I did, I am not sure I would be successful with her.’
‘Don’t worry if she feels icy now, Leopold. Such frozen hearts can be thawed—if not in this life, then another.’
The young Emperor scowled. ‘I am not interested in waiting for another life.’
‘Then bide your time. It is certainly possible to undo the damage done by magic to a human heart, once the magic has been removed, but it takes time.’
‘Is it her skills that make her like this?’
‘Aye.’ It was not a word the magician used often—a word more associated with sailors and far-flung farmers than magicians—but it slipped comfortably from his tongue on this occasion. ‘There is a dash of magic around every blow the Koian warriors deliver. It affects them similarly to magicians after a time.’
‘Then it is hopeless. She will not give up who she is for my sake. Why should she? She has no interest in me.’
‘She may not have any choice, Leopold. Wait and see. Magic is leaving the world piece by piece and if I get
my way it will never come back. If her feelings return, there is a chance she may fall victim to your charms—what little I have seen. I cannot promise it, but all things are possible.’
‘I can only hope,’ Leopold said. He did not wish to broach the next subject, but there was no avoiding it; better to have it said and done. ‘You have not said anything about my behaviour, about me abandoning you and leaving you for dead, about all the terrible things I have done. Are you not upset? Is there no punishment in store?’
‘What should I do, Leopold?’ the magician replied. ‘Killing you would upset the men; beating you would bruise my weary hand. Besides, that cowardly boy ran away when I needed him, so good riddance. An emperor returned to save me, and I would have it no other way. You saved the ship and you saved us all Leopold. You should be proud of yourself.’
‘Are you really not angry?’
‘Oh, I rarely get angry, Leopold. I simply take note and eventually, when it suits me, I entertain myself by taking revenge.’ There was no hint of amusement on his lips.
Leopold floundered to find a response. ‘Ah ... I think I would prefer angry,’ he ventured.
‘Oh no, Leopold. You’ve never seen me angry. You would not prefer it, let me assure you.’
‘So what have you been up until this point?’
‘Slightly annoyed,’ Samuel assured him.
‘Ah, then I believe you,’ Leopold said solemnly. ‘So what would you have me do to make it up to you? Assuming, of course, that would save me from retaliation.’
Samuel smiled and Leopold felt relief wash over him. ‘Survive, Leopold. Live, so I do not break my word to your mother. That is all I want from you.’
‘I will do my best.’
The magician cleared his throat and was serious once again. ‘I wanted to thank you for telling me about my son. You did not have to, but you did.’
‘Thank me?’ Leopold asked incredulously. ‘Should you not be scolding me for not telling you earlier? For keeping it from you all that time?’
‘Of course not. You are a child, Leopold—although I mean no disrespect by that. It is simply the truth, from my perspective. All people are children in one way or another, trying to grow into something else, something greater. When you revealed what you had learned, it was a coming of age for you, Leopold. You grew; you bettered. I am proud of you. Of course I knew long ago that Poltamir had lost my son. I read it from your mind right after you met Lomar. He knew I would, hoping I would do all the work of searching and save him the effort. We still had to come here to check the temple. I still have to defeat Poltamir. It made no difference.’
‘Then where is he? Where is your son and what could he be doing if not destroying the world?’
‘I have no idea,’ the magician stated with a shake of his head. ‘Perhaps he is simply seeing the sights ... taking in the wonders of the world before devouring it. Such time is negligible in the scale of things. Unlike us, he is in no particular hurry.’
‘So how will you find him?’
‘I am trusting he will find us. With my growing power I am hoping to appear a tasty treat to any demon with an empty belly.’ The magician looked thoughtful, lost in his pondering. ‘Come!’ he then said with vigour, quite surprisingly. ‘I want to speak with Jessicah again and I want you to come with me.’
‘Why is that?’
‘To see how she reacts.’
‘Very well,’ the Emperor agreed.
The activity continued around them—all the shouts and calls and thuds of movement on the enormous main deck that meant they would soon be setting away.
They climbed the aftcastle stairs and went into the passageway to Jessicah’s cabin, beside Samuel’s. Nodding to the two guards, they unfastened the freshly added bolt-lock on the door and went in to find Samuel’s cousin upon her bed, tied by hand and foot to the bedposts. No one spoke, and Samuel and Leopold drew their chairs and sat facing her; and waited.
‘There’s no need to make me feel so guilty,’ she said finally, turning her head to observe them.
She looked so miserable. Leopold wished they could find another way to keep her safe; to strip the witch from her entirely.
Jessicah continued. ‘I know what I did. I’m sorry, but you both know I couldn’t help it.’
‘We know,’ the magician replied. ‘We just want to be sure who we’re talking to.’
‘Of course it’s me, Samuel. Can’t you tell?’
‘She’s telling the truth,’ Leopold added, sure of his words. ‘It’s her—Jessicah. I’m sure of it.’
‘I know,’ Samuel said, ‘but I also know that Rei is waiting patiently, listening to everything we say and ready to take advantage of us if we let down our guard. I’m sorry, Jessicah. We will find a way to solve this dilemma as soon as possible, but for the time being, and for your own safety, we need to keep you in here. Rei is devious and there’s no telling what she would do to get back at me and young Leopold here.
‘Oh, believe me,’ he added, noting Leopold’s surprise, ‘she has been after you since you were born, Leopold, and after crossing her this time you will have moved up a notch on her list. She must be at pains to decide if she hates you or me more at this stage.’
‘I know,’ Jessicah said. ‘I can feel her now. She sometimes lets me see when she is in control, to make me feel all the worse. She made me remember everything she did while she was in Cintar. It was so awful! I can barely contain it!’ She shuddered as she spoke. Tears welled in her eyes. ‘Honestly ... what will become of me? How can I go on like this?’ She could persevere no longer and wept openly, unable to wipe away her tears, bound as she was.
Samuel sat unmoving, passionless. Leopold went to her side, sitting beside her and squeezing her hand to comfort her. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and gently dabbed at her tears.
‘Don’t worry, Jess,’ he said. ‘We’ll find a way to get rid of her.’
‘You know,’ Samuel began, ‘I once named a horse after you, just so I could look forward to the time when I told you—to see your face when you chided me for being so silly.’
‘And I would have,’ Jessicah replied, blinking through her tears and trying to smile.
‘Oh, you’re very good,’ Samuel stated assuredly.
‘What’s that?’ she asked, sniffing.
‘I always knew you were an expert of deception, but you use her so well. Every gesture, every motion delivered with the sole purpose of deceiving us, to goad us into believing you, but I know it is you, Rei, pulling the strings. Why don’t you let Jessicah out for a while so I can speak with her?’
The woman changed her expression at once, sneering at Samuel. Leopold felt her fingers—clasped gently within his palm—stiffen with rage and he stood away from her, unsure of what was happening.
‘What’s this?’ he asked.
‘You will never get her back, Samuel!’ the woman declared. ‘I told you I would make your loved ones suffer, and I will—for all time. I will keep her awake within me, tormenting her as I flay the innocent. I shall gut countless children before her. She will not be able to keep their screams from her ears. She will never be able to close her eyes. I shall torture every god-forsaken soul in this world and I shall make her feel it with her own hands!’
‘It’s Rei?’ Leopold peered at the woman with disbelief.
‘Only you have been forsaken by your god, Rei. Lin has abandoned you. And it’s only a matter of time until we free Jessicah. Once I defeat Poltamir I’m sure I will have more than enough power to remove you. You are only a shadow of your former self, and soon, you will not even be that. Jessicah is all that will remain.’
‘You’ll never get me out of her!’ she declared viciously. She struggled against her bonds, but Samuel gave her a warning glare that had her abandoning her efforts before he saw fit to punish her.
‘Don’t try anything foolish,’ he told her. ‘We can gag and blindfold you if need be. Captain Orrell is especially displeased with you. He had grown q
uite fond of Jessicah and you have upset him badly. He’s put his best men on your door. One wayward sound from you and they will be in here with their batons. If you co-operate, it will be easier for all of us.’
‘I’ll kill her!’ she hissed.
‘And kill yourself? You have no power, no spells. You are part of the legacy no longer, so there is no being reborn for you. Once you die, it will be for good. Being mortal can be quite a shock. Still, I suppose I wouldn’t put it past you to kill yourself just to spite me. As such, we’ve made sure there’s nothing in here to harm you, unless you plan to dash your head against the bedhead until it breaks. I think the guards can cope with that.’
‘Damn you!’ She turned to Leopold. ‘And damn you, too, young fool!’ She spat beside his feet. ‘You could have had everything you wanted. You could have killed him. You could have had me. He was defenceless and you were too weak to act! Now you have squandered your chance and Samuel is still alive!’
Leopold did not feel guilty in the least as she outed their plans. He knew now that Samuel had known and would always know whatever was in his head, and after what they had been through, he had decided to see Samuel’s quest to its end. He would never forgive the magician for killing his father, but he had come to realise the pointlessness of pursuing his bitter revenge.
‘I was not too weak,’ he told her. ‘I have found my strength. I am sorry that you are punishing Jessicah, because she is a wonderful woman. And I apologise to her too, for what I put her through. She does not deserve this, but we will free her soon, and then I will be glad when you are gone, Rei. You are poison to everyone. There is nothing beautiful about you.’
‘Bah!’ she declared.
‘Come, Leopold,’ Samuel urged the Emperor. ‘Let us go. We will get no sense from her. Jessicah, do not fear. We will save you. Hold tight.’
Samuel went out first while Leopold lingered in the doorway, unable to believe that the gentle woman he had known was gone, entrapped within this deplorable beast.
****
The Ancient Ones (The Legacy Trilogy Book 3) Page 41