She glanced furtively to the nearby guards. “Should I be concerned?”
He chuckled softly. “The general considers you a friend, and I think that’s enough reason for me to hear you out. Otherwise you wouldn’t have made it past the gates.”
So much for not being fugitives, Jason mused idly. He hadn’t sensed any overt suspicion from the guards at the gate. A week ago he could have read it in their faces; now, with this out-of-control power distracting him, he had missed it completely.
“We appreciate that,” Elade assured the man. “I’m not sure how much you know about the current situation, Colonel.”
“I command the most strategically significant outpost outside of Isen for a hundred miles, my lady,” Ectar replied coolly. “I’m fully versed on the situation.”
Jason eyed her for a moment, but she only smiled at Ectar. “Of course,” she said. “I’m continuing my investigation of the demonic infestation in Lyebel, and I’m also offering these people my protection.”
“I see,” he said neutrally. “So why exactly do you need to speak with the General?”
“We need his help,” Jason told him. “I’m an old friend, and I thought he was in the area. Was I mistaken?”
Ectar tapped his cheek for a moment as he mulled over something. “General Iouna has a great many ‘old friends.’ I’m going to need more than that, I’m afraid.”
“I’m part of a mission he supported and authorized in the Alliance Council,” Elade said. “I guarantee you he’ll want to speak with me. Has he not been informed we’re looking to meet with him?”
“General Iouna is a busy man. Reaching him is not as easy as tapping the shoulder of the nearest priest.”
“So that’s a no,” Jason said dryly. “Look, I’ll make it simple: we want to use the Garos portal to reach Celenest quickly. I figured he’d be willing to help us.”
Ectar raised an eyebrow with obvious amusement. “Mr. Moore, portals are expensive tools used only by the military for very selective situations. They are not a tourist attraction.”
“I’m not asking for a fast horse because I’m impatient, Colonel,” Jason said, allowing his voice to cool. “We’re trying to track down the source of this infestation, and we have reason to believe it is in Celenest.”
The man’s cheek twitched. “Really,” he murmured. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“The individual we believe responsible is clever and well-connected. We were hoping to avoid an information leak that would cause him to go underground.”
Ectar glanced to Elade. “Is this true?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “Highlord Dracian and I know there is a leak within the Alliance Council, and we suspect this individual is part of that network. I haven’t even informed my fellow knights for fear we could lose this opportunity.”
“I assume you aren’t going to want to part with any additional details, then.”
“No. I understand your position, Colonel, and I appreciate the type of schedule the General keeps, but I wouldn’t be asking you this if it weren’t important. You can save us the better part of a week on the road, and that might make all the difference.”
Ectar considered for a few seconds before sighing. “Very well. I have never been given a reason to doubt the word of a Knight of the Last Dawn, and I hope you will not be the first. Unfortunately, there is another issue: the portal is heavily guarded, and all Alliance troops have been given orders to keep a look out for you. No offense, but you do tend to stand out, and I doubt His Majesty’s priests will simply let you pass through unmolested.”
Elade pursed her lips. “Is there any way you could help us be more discreet?”
“Perhaps. It would be easier for the general. He’s scheduled to arrive tonight for an inspection.”
Elade glanced to Jason, then back to Ectar. “We can afford to wait a few hours.”
Ectar nodded. “All right. In the meantime, I suggest you get a room at the Willow Vale, an inn about two blocks away, if you want to wait comfortably.”
“Thank you, Colonel,” she said with a half-bow. “We appreciate it.”
The group stood and started heading for the entrance when Ectar spoke up. “You fought at Serogar, didn’t you?” he asked.
Elade glanced back over her shoulder. “Yes.”
“I thought as much. I was in command of the 3rd Talon Regiment when the warlocks first arrived…and I lost a lot of good people to demons that day.”
She nodded solemnly. “Far too many.”
“They say you’re the one who killed the warlock leader, Gaul Teroth. In personal combat, no less.”
“Highlord Dracian and I defeated him,” Elade corrected. “Fortune was with us.”
“I had never seen a Knight of the Last Dawn in action before,” Ectar replied with quiet reverence. “Your people exceeded all of my expectations.”
“I felt the same way at Isen during the war,” Jason commented.
“Yes,” the colonel murmured. “I will let you know when General Iouna arrives. Good day.”
He turned back to his desk, and the group left the room. Once they were out in the corridor, Tam allowed Elade to walk a bit ahead before he leaned in to Jason’s ear.
“I guess it was a good idea to bring her after all, eh?”
Jason smiled. “I never doubted it.”
***
Onar Tenel strode through the large double doors and into Sovereign Damir’s private chamber. As usual, she sat alone in her throne facing the strange crystalline mirrors arrayed along the opposite wall. He had probably come in here to speak with her on a dozen separate occasions over the past few weeks, but today was different. For the first time since he had been transferred here, he was actively trying to hide something from her—a dark revelation he’d come to late last night while filing through reports. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hide it from her forever, and for all he knew she might have stolen it from his mind already. But regardless, right now there was nothing he could do besides stand here and wait for her evaluation of the battle plans he had provided her.
“Good morning, Admiral,” Damir said after a moment. Her throne slowly twisted about until she was facing him. “I trust you slept well.”
“Well enough,” he lied. In truth, he had barely slept at all
Damir smiled thinly. His battle plans rested in her lap atop a crossed leg, her hands folded neatly above them. “I’m sure it’s always strenuous to wait for your superior’s judgment.”
Tenel nodded but remained silent.
“Well, you have nothing to worry about,” she soothed as she picked up the parchment. “This is truly excellent work. I’ve conferred with my other advisors and we all agree. We’re making final preparations now.”
Tenel fought back a grimace. Never in over a decade of military service had one of his recommendations been so readily accepted. There was always some dissent, some small quibble over one detail or another. If she had conferred with her other advisors—whoever they were—surely they would have nitpicked at least something. Tenel couldn’t help but wonder if she had actually read the recommendations at all.
“That’s good to hear,” he said, his voice hollow.
Damir raised an eyebrow. “You don’t seem enthused.”
“Preparations only go so far,” he improvised. “When the battle actually starts, the situation will change rapidly. Even the best contingencies can’t predict the ebb and flow of battle. We will still require a strong commander on the field leading each force.”
“I’m not so sure about that, Admiral.”
Tenel frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You will be right here at my side during the invasion,” Damir told him, smiling. “High Sovereign Thelonius has placed our forces completely under my authority for the initial attack. I will be directly monitoring our soldiers in combat, and you will be here advising me.”
“I see,” Tenel whispered. In other words, he would have direct access to
all the unit commanders in three separate armies spread across half of Torsia. The thought was…overwhelming, to say the least. He had never had that much coordination with one of his fleets before. “You might not be aware of this, but I don’t have experience commanding any operation approaching that size.”
“By now you should realize that I have every confidence in your abilities, Admiral,” she told him. “You’ve proven to be even more of an asset than I’d hoped. Your reputation as the ‘Savior of Vienshel Harbor’ is truly fitting.”
“I’m pleased you think so, Your Eminence. I just hope our agents in Solaria come through for us.”
“They will. You don’t need to concern yourself with them.” She paused briefly. “I do have other news for you, which I believe you will like very much.”
“Your Eminence?”
She smiled again. He could tell she intended for it to be warm, but her hard-edged face couldn’t quite pull it off. “Our invasion forces will be departing soon, but before the war begins I know you would like to see your family. I’ve arranged expedient transportation for you to return home, and I insist you spend a few nights with them.”
“I…thank you, Your Eminence,” Tenel managed. “I haven’t spoken to them in many months.”
“I know. You have made great sacrifices in the service of your nation, Admiral. I appreciate that, and I want you to know it is not forgotten.” Her smile faded, but her expression remained light. “I intend for you to be here at my side during this war, and I want you to be clear and focused. I hope that comforting your wife and children will soothe your mind.”
“I don’t know what to say,” he breathed. “Thank you. I won’t tell them more than they need to know.”
“I trust you to be discreet,” Damir said. “Now, pack what things you need and an agent will show you to one of our portals. It should get you within riding distance of your farm.”
Tenel smiled. The expression almost made his face hurt; he didn’t remember the last time he’d had a reason to grin. “Thank you again, my lady.”
She nodded, and the doors behind him opened. He bowed and headed straight for his office. He didn’t have much to pack, but he wanted to do it quickly. The thought of seeing Chalandra again, and his children…
For a moment, at least, it shifted his mind from other concerns. But only for a moment. By the time he was back in his office the doubts had resurfaced, and he remembered why he had been so concerned about this meeting in the first place.
Over the last few days, he had gathered detailed reports on all their potential invasions forces—he had learned the names and identities of all the major officers from squad sergeants all the way up to regiment commanders. The task had proven surprisingly difficult, especially considering that he had wanted to be subtle, but he had been able to piggy-back some requests beneath other legitimate inquiries to High Command. The Green Coats Damir had assigned him as adjutants always returned with what he needed, and they never seemed interested in asking questions.
And so now he knew the disturbing truth: the Imperators in each of the three invasion divisions were all Bound to the High Sovereign. This wasn’t a joint operation at all; the troops had all been pulled from His Supreme Eminence’s personal defense forces, which under normal circumstances were spread throughout the Imperium to ensure the loyalty and unity of Crell forces. But now virtually all of them were gathered along the border in preparation for war.
This revelation raised as many questions as it answered. Ostensibly, this entire attack was the High Sovereign’s idea, and so it made sense that he would want his forces on the front lines…but that wasn’t how the army normally functioned. Most combined divisions were split between forces loyal to the various individual Sovereigns, and Tenel assumed they must have all been concerned about Thelonius’s sudden desire to “go it alone,” as it were. He couldn’t imagine they were happy about the fact that their supreme leader was about to start a potentially devastating war with a relatively small number of his own troops. Had High Command simply been kept out of the loop? Had the other Sovereigns?
And then there was the even more pressing question Damir had just revealed to him: why had the Sovereign of the Zarul been placed in charge of the war effort in the first place? And how was she supposed to “personally control” the invasion forces allegedly loyal to Thelonius? It didn’t make any sense…unless, of course, he accepted the only reasonable conclusion.
Sovereign Damir was in control of the Crell Imperium.
Tenel didn’t know how, exactly, but it was the only explanation that fit the facts. Had she slain Thelonius and taken control of his forces? Perhaps Thelonius had just been a puppet of the Zarul all along. That theory seemed especially paranoid, but Tenel couldn’t deny the possibility. Perhaps the political fallout from the Ishthare Rebellion and the failed Talishite Offensive had been more pronounced than anyone had let on; perhaps the tentative peace between the Sovereigns had evaporated altogether.
There was no way for him to know the whole truth, but at least now he finally had a working theory. The only lingering variable he couldn’t explain was himself. If Damir was in full control of the Imperium, that meant she had a full range of far more qualified military leaders to choose from. Even if she wanted to maintain the illusion that a shadow ruler truly sat on the throne, she could have chosen at least a few of them as her loyal aides, just as she had Tenel. So why him then? Why so much faith in his abilities?
Perhaps most pertinently, what exactly was he going to do about it?
He leaned on his desk and blew a thin stream of air through his teeth. He wasn’t going to be able to tell Chalandra any of this, of course. She would only panic, and probably wouldn’t be able to understand the technical details anyway. The worst part is she would sense how something was bothering him and worry about it. When he left, she would worry more. He needed to pull himself together before he returned home. His wife deserved to be able to sleep at night even if he could not. In the end, everything he did here was for her anyway. She and the children were all that really mattered.
Tenel finished packing, forcing himself to bury his doubt and concerns, and headed home.
***
The double doors sealed shut, and the Shadows stirred in the corners of the chamber.
He knows.
His doubts grow while his faith shrinks.
His family might be able to assuage his fears, Damir told them, tapping a finger to her chin. Men often draw strength from their relationships.
What if he reveals what he knows?
It doesn’t matter, she dismissed. We can easily deal with any problems that arise, and for the moment he remains necessary. We cannot win this battle without him.
And what then?
She grunted and spun her throne back to the crystalline mirrors. I chose him for his intellect. Wouldn’t you be disappointed if he didn’t eventually figure out the truth on his own? Tenel is a temporary solution, nothing more. In a week, we’ll have the Alliance falling back on their heels. In two, they’ll be gasping for breath.
Then we will need a replacement.
Even when they are defeated, others will rise against us.
For a time, perhaps, Damir conceded, but ultimately, no one will be able to stop us. The age of the Ascendants and their Bound servants is over.
She leaned forward and smiled. The age of the Unbound is about to begin.
Chapter Twelve
“Prophets are like drunks—they talk too much and never give you the right details.”
—Unknown
Jason stood atop the Garos battlements and gazed out at the blood smeared horizon. A mass of shapes formed in the distance, and the thundering hooves of heavy cavalry echoed off the nearby Avalon Mountains. Walls of infantry slowly became visible, marching in precise columns, their black armor shimmering in the dying sunlight and their crimson banners catching high in the breeze. Ahead of them filed a less organized but even more fearsome column of lumbering
groll and chagari slaves, at least a thousand strong. Above them, a legion of dark shapes blackened the sky. The manticores began their descent towards the fortress, heralding the end of a tenuous peace and the dawn of a new age of destruction.
The fortress remained silent. Jason glanced about in search of the ballista sergeants and archer captains, but none were to be found. A bitter cold winter wind rustled his cloak and chilled his bones, and he hunkered down behind the nearest wall. Garos was empty and defenseless. He stood alone against the marching Crell.
“You see the shape of what is to come.”
He turned to see Queen Malacross standing near him, her green robes fluttering in the wind. Her dark eyes fixed upon him, and it took a moment for him to realize he was dreaming.
“Is this the future?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
“It is a future,” she corrected. “One outcome of many.”
Jason swallowed heavily and tried in vain to convince himself that the cold air wasn’t real and he didn’t need to shiver. “Where are the defenders? Why are we alone?”
“Not alone.” Malacross nodded towards the courtyard, and he followed her eyes. Elade sat on an armored horse behind the main gate, sword drawn. Tam stood nearby, sheathed in an aura of orange flame. Both stood ready, but neither moved.
“I don’t understand,” he whispered. “Why are we the only ones here?”
“I do not know.”
“People have always believed the gods could see the future. I guess they were right?”
“I can only see echoes in the Aether, but some are stronger than others,” she said cryptically. “This one I have seen before and will likely see again. Perhaps soon you will understand, and then we can explore it together.”
A stinging in his head reminded him of why he was here in the first place. He had wanted to speak with her, and he figured maybe falling asleep would bring her back. Muttering to himself while he was conscious didn’t seem to reach her, and it had the added drawback and making him look crazy.
“I need your help,” he told her. “My head…it’s like it wants to burst. I hear everything, even if I don’t want to. I can’t focus…and I think it’s getting worse.”
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