The Complete Empire Trilogy

by Raymond E. Feist

Released from protocols, Jiro glanced smugly at Incomo, who radiated intense annoyance, but who at this moment was powerless to intervene. ‘Thank you,’ murmured the Anasati son. ‘My Lord Desio is kind to welcome an unexpected visitor. I apologize for my rudeness, but I chanced to be in your area and I felt it would be useful for us to speak.’

  Something clawed at the crate slats, and the slaves on the barge shifted nervously. Desio twitched from foot to foot: the moment had come to invite his guest inside for refreshments, or turn him away at once. The irritation of honouring an enemy’s son was balanced by fascination.

  While Desio dithered, Jiro seized the initiative. ‘Please, Lord, I had not intended to presume upon your hospitality. I have live creatures on board that dislike the motion of the barge. It is well for me, and best for them, if we may speak here.’

  Perspiration made Desio’s face itch. If Jiro could do without a cool drink, the Lord of the Minwanabi preferred not to. He waved magnanimously to his guest and the entire Anasati honour guard. ‘Come in and sit where we need not hasten our talk.’ As his visitor darted a concerned glance at the crate, Desio added, ‘I’ll have servants move your beasts into the shade so they will not suffer.’

  Jiro hesitated. Indelicately caught between refusing the kindness of a superior, or acknowledging fear of an enemy’s hospitality, an implied shame, he fingered his shell and lacquer belt. ‘My Lord is generous, but the beasts I transport are too vicious to be left in strange hands. I would not risk an injury to any of the servants in your household.’

  A strange, deep light touched Desio’s eyes. ‘Then bring the beasts along; they sound interesting.’

  Jiro bowed. To the servant who lingered on the barge, he ordered, ‘Leash the hounds and bring them. And as you value your honour, make sure no hapless Minwanabi servant stands too close and takes harm.’

  The servant paled at the comment, Desio saw. His own palms grew moist in excitement. As Irrilandi formed the Minwanabi honour guard into ranks for the march indoors, he could not resist a look back. On the barge, the white-faced servant donned a heavy pair of gloves. He then gathered two thick braided leashes and signalled the slaves, who hesitantly dragged the cover off the cage. A strident bark and more growls answered the unveiling and the slaves jumped back in fright. Then the servant raised a bone whistle to his lips. He blasted a single note, and two muzzles poked through the opening, followed by wide-set slanting eyes, and ears trimmed short into points. Two dogs of ferocious aspect braced long forepaws on the cage; the slaves cowered back, and every warrior in the Anasati honour guard surreptitiously touched his weapon.

  ‘Magnificent,’ Desio breathed, as the servant stepped in and looped the leashes through two jewel-studded collars. The dogs flowed out of their prison with sinuous grace. Massive of shoulder and jaw, and brindled in light tan and black, the creatures sprang over to the dock, then sat as regally as if they owned it.

  ‘My Lord would be wise to stand back,’ murmured Jiro.

  Desio did so, too rapt to notice that an enemy had told him what to do. ‘Magnificent,’ he repeated, and he stared at amber eyes that were passionless in their canine ferocity as Tasaio’s out on the archery field. Then, annoyed by the reminder of the cousin who had failed him, and made aware by Incomo’s quiet hiss that he stood gawking like a farmer, Desio motioned for his honour guard and adviser to follow, and strode off toward the entrance to the great hall.

  ‘What sort of hounds are those?’ he asked as he crossed the hall and mounted his cushioned dais, his First Adviser a half-step behind.

  ‘They are hunters without peer.’ A gesture from Jiro, and the servant led the dogs to a safe corner, out of reach of passing servants, and set back from any doors. The animals sat, too poised for relaxation, their eyes restless and hungry.

  By now, Incomo’s headshakes had drawn notice. Desio understood that his eagerness set him at a disadvantage. As he sat down, he sniffed with intent to diminish. ‘We have fine tracking dogs.’

  Jiro rebutted him quietly. ‘None like these, my Lord. Perhaps when our conference is over I could offer a demonstration?’

  Desio brightened. ‘Indeed, perhaps you should.’ He sighed in restrained anticipation, then waved for his guest to choose a cushion. ‘Come. Let us be refreshed.’ Slaves rushed in with laden trays of food and drink. Keeping his bearing erect and proper, Desio resisted the urge to turn to look at the dogs, who were offering low, menacing growls to everyone that passed. At Desio’s gesture, Irrilandi withdrew the Minwanabi honour guard a discreet distance away; Jiro’s Strike Leader did the same, and across the vast chamber came more slaves with bowls and towels, to assist both nobles to wash.

  One of the dogs whined. Jiro paid it no mind, but dipped his fingers in the scented water and held them out to be dried. ‘You have an impressive home, my Lord. When I imagine this hall filled with grand entertainment, I deeply regret that I missed attending the Warlord’s birthday celebration.’

  Incomo froze, caught in the motion of sitting down at his master’s right hand. He looked urgently at Desio, and by the hardness of the Lord’s expression, knew that he need not take action; the reference to the event when Lady Mara had trapped the former Minwanabi Lord into dishonour and ritual suicide had not escaped his master’s notice.

  The vast hall was silent. Desio reached out and took a glass of fruit juice from the tray; that he eschewed stronger spirits showed his inner anger. He sipped, pointedly withholding permission to eat from his guest. No fascination with dogs could ease the Anasati’s current danger. Desio was a powerful Lord, seated within his own hall; the silence would stretch to eternity before he stooped to ask what this upstart second son might wish.

  Jiro let the stillness extend enough to show he was not cowed. With sudden brightness, he said, ‘Splendid news from Dustari. Now the desert men and their allies are routed, the Empire shall enjoy peace on the southern border for many years to come.’

  Desio flicked a glance to his First Adviser, who signalled a discreet warning. By his reference to allies, Jiro either guessed the desert men had acted under Minwanabi influence, or else the Anasati had spies as cleverly concealed as Mara’s.

  A dog whined; its attendant whispered frantic reprimand.

  The Minwanabi Lord said nothing.

  ‘Except for the fabled Acoma luck, this triumph would never have come to pass,’Jiro finished, then proved also that he could wait.

  In leisurely fashion, Desio drained his glass. He listened to a few whispered words from his Adviser, then answered in faultless form. ‘Any action undertaken in defence of the Empire is to be applauded. Or do you think otherwise?’

  Jiro smiled without warmth. ‘The duty of every ruler is to serve the Empire. Naturally.’

  Conversation faltered to a halt; Incomo’s shrewdness rescued the issue from stalemate. ‘I wonder how Tecuma views Lady Mara’s brilliant victory.’

  Given the cue he had sought for, Jiro gave the skinny old Adviser a polite nod. ‘We Anasati find ourselves bound to a difficult course, since blood relation to Mara’s heir forces adherence to goals that occasionally align with Acoma interests.’

  ‘Go on,’ Incomo encouraged, with a sidewise glower at his master to recall courtesy and offer refreshments. Desio complied with a sulky wave.

  Jiro accepted a fruit drink, the same variety the Minwanabi Lord had chosen. He took a sip, shook back burnished brown hair, and stared off into the distance. ‘That such condition should endure is unnatural, of course.’ His manner turned disarmingly offhand. ‘I share concern for my nephew, well enough, but let me speak forthrightly.’ He delayed for another drink until Desio once again leaned raptly forward on his cushions. Jiro resumed. ‘Ayaki’s mother has too few friends to warrant such a dangerous course for the Anasati.’ He allowed a suggestive pause. ‘So if harm comes to my nephew, I would understand. My father is less given to bending with the whims of fate, but my brother and I see things differently.’

  Here Incomo had to touch his master
’s arm to remind the young Lord not to show his interest; but where Mara’s name was at issue, tact was lost on Desio. ‘If fate should remove a nephew from this life –’

  Fine crystal clanged and raised echoes as Jiro set down his glass. The dogs whined in unison, as if they sensed tension in the air. ‘I must correct you,’ the Anasati son said coldly. ‘My brother and I honour our father as dutiful and loving sons. As long as Tecuma lives, his wishes are to be obeyed-instantly!’ His emphasis word made clear beyond doubt: Jiro was not dissembling. If his father so ordered, he would fight and even die in Mara’s defence. ‘But,’ Jiro qualified delicately, ‘should the woman come to misfortune, and the boy survive, my Lord father need not be bound to reprisal.’

  Desio’s eyebrows rose. He looked at his guest, and saw in Jiro an abiding, bitter anger. A thought struck him, and he leaned toward Incomo. ‘He really hates the bitch, do you see?’

  The Minwanabi First Adviser gave a fractional nod. ‘A personal feud, it would appear. Go softly. I would hazard the boy is here without his father’s knowledge.’

  Trying to sound disinterested, Desio spoke around a mouthful of sweet roll. ‘Your ideas are intriguing, but not feasible. My house has sworn oath to the Red God, that the Acoma bloodline must perish.’

  Jiro took a slice of cold meat. He did not eat, but fingered the morsel thoughtfully. ‘I had heard of your vow of sacrifice. Of course, if Mara were dead, and her natami were broken and buried, the little heir would be a Lord with no resources.’ He tore his titbit in two with his nails. ‘Lacking a house and loyal warriors, Ayaki would have only his father’s family to shelter him. Perhaps he would be called to swear loyalty to the name of Anasati.’

  So this was the ploy that had brought Jiro into the house of an enemy! Desio considered, searching for duplicity in his guest. ‘The boy would swear?’

  Jiro twisted on his cushions and tossed the meat toward the dogs. Obedient to command, they did not arise, but snapped the snack out of the air with a clash of strong jaws. ‘Ayaki is a boy. He must do as his grandfather and uncles instruct. As Lord of the Acoma, he can release anyone from house loyalty, including himself. Should he bow to the Anasati natami, Acoma blood would cease to exist. The Red God must be satisfied.’

  ‘That is a bold presumption,’ Incomo interjected. He looked askance at his Lord. ‘Perhaps too bold.’

  ‘But enjoyable conjecture, none the less.’ Desio arose from his cushions. ‘This discussion has its merits. Well, Jiro, should the gods look favourably upon the demise of Mara and her house … we will hope for the sake of goodwill that events transpire as you suggest.’

  ‘For friendship’s sake,’ agreed Jiro, rising also, and taking his cue to depart. ‘For it would be poor judgment for any house, no matter how mighty, to think they could bloody themselves upon the Acoma and emerge with strength enough to withstand my father’s rage.’

  Desio’s face darkened so swiftly that Incomo almost could not rise fast enough to touch his master’s sleeve. In a whisper he said, ‘The point to remember, my Lord, is that without the backing of Tecuma, the Acoma are just another small house. Consider this also: the Lord of the Anasati is aging, and Jiro has taken risks to let you know that his brother, the heir, may not share the father’s sentiment for a nephew born to Mara.’

  Desio turned toward Jiro, his face composed and smiling. ‘I will take up your offer to see your dogs hunt, now.’ He stepped down from the dais.

  The Anasati son repeated his courtier’s bow as Desio passed. ‘As you wish, Lord Desio. For the display, we will need your practice field, and a dummy dressed in man’s clothing.’

  Desio’s interest sharpened. ‘Your beasts course after humans?’

  ‘You shall see.’ Jiro snapped his fingers, and the servant with the leashed dogs nervously commanded them to heel as Desio led them back out of the hall. ‘They are bred from herd dogs in Yankora. But these I call Mankillers.’

  At the first scent of fresh air, the dogs growled and barked. They strained at their leashes, yellow eyes quick to follow the movement of any passing human. Slaves and servants backed away in fright, and the Minwanabi honour guard marched close on the heels of their master, lest some trickery be in play.

  Only Desio and Jiro seemed unfazed by the beasts’ ferocity as they reached the wide practice field where Irrilandi customarily drilled his soldiers. Two slaves were sent across a small gully to dismantle an archery target, and stuff the old robe of a slave with hwaet straw to make a dummy. Desio watched, eyes glittering, as his guest explained how such dangerous beasts should be handled.

  ‘Do you see the gloves and the whistle?’ Jiro pointed to the servant who managed the hounds, tugging now at their restraint, the muscles under their brindled hides quivering in high-strung eagerness.

  At Desio’s nod, Jiro continued. ‘The leather has been soaked in bitch urine. These particular hounds have been trained to recognize that odour as belonging to their master. These dogs were trained as a gift, so they answer only to the whistle. Once in the hands of their owner, they will come to know his personal scent as the smell on the gloves wears away, and eventually mind only his voice. The gloves and whistle allow them to be controlled in the meantime.’

  ‘An admirable system,’ Desio observed enviously.

  Jiro did not miss the note of longing. He motioned magnanimously to the servant. ‘Would my host care to course the dogs himself?’

  Desio’s face lit. ‘I would be honoured, Jiro. And grateful.’

  One at a time, the Anasati servant relinquished the gloves. Desio shoved large hands inside, and grasped the leashes. The magnificent dogs now eyed him with expectancy, and tugged against his hold. He laughed in a rush of elation. Recklessly he stroked one brindled head.

  The dog he fondled flashed him an impatient look, then resumed watching the men, servants, and soldiers who stood well clear on the practice field. ‘Very soon, my beauties,’ Desio soothed. He glanced across the gully, where the servants seemed slow in tying the robe to the dummy. He quivered, just like the hounds.

  Incomo noted, and felt consternation. Thus had the past Lord, Jingu, appeared, when he pursued unwholesome pleasures. Jiro also saw, and the barest hint of distaste marred his veneer of courtesy.

  Desio fingered the bone whistle. ‘You,’ he called to the slaves. ‘Don’t bother with those stupid targets. Run that way!’ He gestured across the practice field.

  The slaves hesitated, horror on their sun-browned faces. Then, more afraid of the hanging they would receive if they dared to disobey their master’s order, they let fall the robe half stuffed with straw and sprinted into the open.

  They ran as if all the demons of hell were behind them.

  A hungry smile curled Desio’s lips.

  With flawless politeness, Jiro finished his instructions. ‘My Lord, one long blast on the whistle will order the dogs to hunt. Two short whistles will recall them.’

  Desio savoured a moment of soul-deep anticipation. He felt the surge of the dogs against his hand, as they strained and whined to be cut loose. A moment longer he teased them, withholding them from their desire. Then he raised the whistle and slipped the leashes from their collars.

  The dogs bounded forward, dark shadows against sunlit grass. ‘Hunt!’ murmured Desio. ‘Hunt until your hearts burst.’

  The hounds surged across the ground, reaching full stride within seconds. Their tails streamed on the wind, and their savage baying echoed off the hills. They ate up the distance that separated their fleeing prey in long, elastic strides. The slaves flashed terrified glances over their shoulders, and suddenly the dogs were upon them.

  Wind brought back a human scream as the lead hound sprang stifflegged upon the trailing man’s back. He pitched forward, flailing desperately, but jaws closed on the nape of his neck. The cries ceased but only for an instant. The other hound overtook the leader, ripped out a hamstring, and the slave went down with a shriek. A chorus of harrowing wails and snarls rang across the practice
field. Desio licked his lips. He watched the thrashing victim with wide, fascinated eyes, and laughed at his feeble attempt to save himself. The dogs were clever and swift. They darted and circled, tearing exposed flesh, then dodging as swiftly away.

  ‘A man armed with a knife would not easily escape them,’ Jiro observed. ‘They were trained to kill carefully.’

  Desio sighed. ‘Magnificent, truly magnificent.’ He savoured every moment of the carnage, until the struggles of the slaves subsided, and the hounds closed in for a firm grip. One tore its victim’s throat out, and the last cry died away. Into uncomfortable stillness, Desio said, ‘Like the legendary battle hounds in the sagas.’

  Jiro shrugged. ‘Perhaps. The wardogs of legend might have been akin to these.’ As if he were bored by the topic, he bowed to Desio. ‘Since they please you, keep them as my gift to you, Lord of the Minwanabi. Hunt them, and as they kill at your command, think kindly on our afternoon’s discussion.’

  Flushed with delight, Desio returned the bow. ‘Your generosity enriches me, Jiro.’ Softly he added, ‘More than you will know.’

  Jiro could not match his host’s enjoyment; but the Lord of the Minwanabi barely noticed, absorbed as he was by the hounds’ bloodthirsty feasting. ‘Allow me to provide you and your men with quarters,’ he murmured. ‘We will dine and I shall see your every need is met.’

  ‘I regret to decline your kindness,’ Jiro returned, almost quickly. ‘But I am expected downriver to sup with a trade factor of my father’s.’

  ‘Another time, then.’ Desio whistled twice, and the dogs ceased worrying the mangled corpses. The beasts stood alert, scarlet, dripping muzzles trained toward their new master. Desio blew another shrill pair of blasts. As the beasts raced obediently toward him, he thought of Mara, and long white fangs rending her hated flesh. Then he laughed aloud. Unmindful of soiling his robes, he patted each square head before slipping the leashes on the collars. ‘Wonderful,’ he observed to the silent ranks of his honour guard, and the stiff-faced presence of his First Adviser. ‘A worthy gift for one of my lineage.’ Gripping the slightly larger dog’s muzzle, he said, ‘You I shall call Slayer.’ Stroking the other dog on its smeared nose, he added, ‘And you shall henceforward be Slaughter.’