The Unwaba Revelations

by Samit Basu

  ‘What of our agents, our troops, our spies?’

  ‘All missing. I have never seen anything like it.’

  ‘If you could describe what has happened to Mantric here,’ said the Civilian, ‘he might be of assistance.’

  Askesis sat at the feet of the statue of wise Antikytheras Inventing a Thingie That Wasn’t Used Until Two Centuries Later and heaved a weary sigh.

  ‘Very well. A week ago, we suddenly stopped getting reports from the east. All except for one enchanted bird from Srijon the enchanter in Ektara five days ago, telling us he needed help; that magic-users were being attacked by mobs all over the city. He had, he said, barely escaped with his life. He had returned home late from a visit to his lover’s house, and found his own house in flames, and a group of local youths with bows and flaming arrows making no attempt to hide. This had happened to every other magician in the city, he heard. In disguise, he had attempted to speak to people, but they had all seemed confused, as if they had no clear memory of their actions. Maharaja Aloke’s palace had been burnt to the ground, and Srijon’s attempts to seek shelter at our other agents’ homes had failed – they had attacked him, and he had been forced to kill them to escape. We sent in some of our best secret operatives immediately to get Srijon out – but they did not return, and we have not heard from Srijon since either.’

  ‘Ravians,’ said Mantric sharply. ‘Eliminating magicians from a distance to strengthen their own control over peoples’ minds. But surely it is impossible on so large a scale.’

  ‘Not at all. Consider how much our own methods of warfare have advanced in two centuries,’ said the Civilian. ‘Pray continue, Askesis.’

  ‘On receiving this message, we sent messages to all our agents in Avranti immediately, but there was no response at all. We sent more envoys and messengers. None returned.

  ‘We sent in troops from Potolpur, led by Hero school magicians. This led to startling revelations. The villages on the western fringes of Potolpur and the eastern sector of Avranti were completely deserted. No sign of man, woman or child – except for certain burnt houses or huts, which contained the corpses of magic-users – witches, ascetics, wizards, ojhas, shamans, even healers. In some cases, if they had managed to escape the siege of their homes, they were found some distance away, with arrows in their backs. But otherwise, empty villages, untended fires, howling pets. In north Shantavan, Rabin of Oodh reported that his forest realm had not been disturbed in any way, but his men had seen people, lines of villagers moving to Avranti at speed. Entire families, with strangely happy expressions on their faces. Among them had been chieftains he knew worked for me, but they had seemed uninterested in conversation with his men.’

  ‘Could the ravians be using some means of mass mind control to build an army of villagers?’ asked Amloki, looking as troubled as he felt. The khudran homelands were within the borders of Avranti.

  ‘It would seem so,’ said the Civilian. ‘But why would they not make one attempt through diplomatic channels?’

  ‘Kol is still recovering from their last effort at diplomacy,’ said Mantric. ‘Clearly they feel strong enough to not delay things further. They are ready for war. If they are indeed able to successfully control the minds of thousands of people at once, it would be silly for them to negotiate with humans.’

  ‘What do you propose, Askesis?’ asked Temat.

  ‘Since our envoys were detained or killed, the only option left is to send in an army,’ said Askesis. ‘To rescue Maharaja Aloke if possible, and restore peace to Avranti. Unless you have a single hero who can somehow resolve the situation.’

  ‘She doesn’t. But it is far too delicate a business for armies,’ said Amloki. ‘The Silver Phalanx can get to the core of the matter far more swiftly.’

  ‘We had at least a hundred spies all over Avranti,’ said the Civilian, shooting an icy glance at Amloki. ‘If they have been eliminated, I will not risk the Phalanx. The scale of this event calls for other measures. I am forced to agree with Marshall Askesis. A formidable peace-keeping force is what is needed. March to Avranti, help the Avrantics fight off plague or invasion, and return.’

  ‘Invade Avranti and take charge, in other words,’ said Mantric.

  ‘If you wish to see it thus. If it took them five days to conquer all of Avranti, there is no time to sit and think. Have you ever seen me be unnecessarily hasty?’

  Mantric knew better than to say anything.

  ‘”Invade Avranti and take charge,” indeed. Would you rather be governed by fellow humans, regardless of their allegiance, or by ravians who would treat you as a little pet?’

  ‘I would rather be free.’

  ‘Very well. Consider this. Would you want to sent in our troops, who are at the peak of their training, to engage the enemy in the east while he is still preparing to assault us, or would you wait for him to grow strong and come to us, here in Kol, with a plan as well laid as the one he recently carried out in Avranti?’

  ‘I would prefer to meet my enemy and persuade him to leave me in peace.’

  ‘That is exactly what I intend to do,’ said Askesis. ‘Your aversion to war is both noble and well-known, good Mantric; much like my own abhorrence of all things magical, of any mumbo-jumbo that makes one kind of person inherently more powerful than another. Perhaps I am blind to the brutality of my profession, and you to the injustice of yours.’

  ‘I do not want lives to be lost unnecessarily, that’s all. And they will be, if you fight ravians. As I have, in this very palace. They are very deadly, Marshall Askesis. How do you propose to defeat them?’

  ‘We will drive the rakshases of Shantavan eastwards, and see how the ravians deal with them. Along with this, using a large number of magic-users well distributed amongst our own troops, Hero school magicians and my own army warlocks, we will dispel the ravian sorcery from the minds of the Avrantics and overwhelm the ravians through our sheer numbers. This is not intended to be a battle of annihilation in any case. In the Age of Terror, the ravians were our allies – they did not use humans so. But legend has it they used entire armies of asurs against Danh-Gem’s warriors, which is why rakshases were sent to fight the ravians instead, and the asurs were unleashed on humans. This time, they seek to use humans as their shields – we will respond with magic, and see how they like it. I am quite sure the number of ravians in Avranti is not overwhelmingly large. This is a new sort of warfare they are attempting; with a little luck, we will persuade them to stop.

  ‘If we suffer large casualties, we will withdraw and rebuild. Even if we succeed, it is not as if we will have vanquished the ravians forever – they will merely abandon the humans and flee to Asroye. This conflict is merely a paving ground for diplomacy – to show the ravians that humans cannot be taken lightly.’

  ‘Well put, Marshall Askesis. But do you have all the magic-users you need?’ asked the Civilian.

  ‘We have my army warlocks, a number of Hero School magicians among our officers, a few spellbinders formerly from Enki University, and every conjurer that the Free States and Durg can spare. But we need more, many more. How I wish I could conjure up rakshases and dragons!’

  ‘Mantric, don’t you think some students from Enki could be sent with the Commander? They wouldn’t be required to fight, just dispel ravian auras,’ said the Civilian, her face a mask of warm concern.

  ‘They would be protected well,’ said Askesis. ‘I’m sure some would volunteer to help their city if asked.’

  Mantric shook his head, his mouth a grim line. ‘I thank my stars I’m not the Chancellor,’ he said. ‘If I were, I would have had to be the one turning both of you down, which is not a pleasant prospect. Thankfully, Ombwiri has a flowing white beard, and will have something to hold on to while telling both of you to boil your heads. Trained spellbinders may opt for the path of paid butchery, but you will not ask the children to be killers.’

  Askesis’ eyes narrowed to tiny slits, and the Civilian intervened.

  ‘I will f
ind you more magic-users, Askesis,’ she said. ‘A number of the city’s heroes will have both training and skill sufficient to serve you. Besides, there are sorcerers in Elaken and Psomedea you have probably not counted.

  ‘Mantric, we shall detain you no longer. I would like you to carry a message to Chancellor Ombwiri for me. Tell him I have built a secret underground library in the suburbs of Kol where every book in Enki University can be hidden if there is a war. Tell him that the responsibility of actually moving the books is his. Take Roshin with you, and see to this.’

  Mantric rose, smiled uncertainly at everyone, and left quickly, followed by a smouldering glare from the Chief Commander.

  After the door clanged shut behind him and the security minotaurs stomped back into position, the occupants of the room took simultaneous deep breaths and plunged back into the mire.

  ‘Enki will always be overwhelmingly against the war, Askesis. We’ve always waited until afterwards to recruit spellbinders,’ said Temat.

  ‘I will still speak to Chancellor Ombwiri,’ said Askesis. ‘And possibly address the students later today. There must be quite a few eager to throw in their lot for their city, for their world.’

  The Civilian did not comment. Askesis spoke with the air of man who had no idea that the things Enki’s spellbinders liked throwing, a lot, at army recruiters were eggs, fruits and other less nourishing but equally squishy objects.

  ‘But what about the vamans? They’re ravian-proof,’ put in Amloki. ‘And their armies would help tremendously.’

  ‘The vamans have agreed to defend Kol, Amloki, not invade other countries for us,’ said the Civilian. ‘They do not want to display their full arsenal to the ravians at this stage. I suspect the vamans will join us in an attack only if it is on Asroye itself. It is only because the vamans are watching over us that we dare send Askesis on what might be a very dangerous campaign.’

  ‘With or without the vamans, I am assembling the mightiest army seen on this world since the Age of Terror,’ said Askesis with a certain quiet satisfaction. ‘Unfortunately, it is far weaker than it could be; there are several garrisons in the Free States that must remain there, to counter the threat of Imokoi. We cannot leave the north unprotected.’

  ‘Which brings us to the reason Amloki is here. There is good news, Marshall. At present, Imokoi is not a threat,’ said the Civilian. ‘The treaty has been signed. This does not, of course, mean much, but they will be far too worried about the ravian invasion themselves to consider invading Kol at this point. Tell them, Amloki.’

  ‘When we realized the Silver Dagger’s identity had been compromised, Lady Temat sent me on a diplomatic mission to Imokoi,’ said Amloki.

  ‘And diplomatic means, what, fewer than ten corpses?’ asked Askesis.

  ‘Twelve, but they started it.’

  ‘We digress,’ said the Civilian.

  ‘The fault is mine,’ said Askesis. ‘Did you meet Dark Lord Kirin?’

  ‘Kirin was not at the Dark Tower when I reached it, and I only stayed three days,’ said Amloki. ‘But I did meet several rakshas nobles, including one Aciram, who legend has it is the cousin of Danh-Gem himself. He was actually in Kirin’s form when we met – when I told him I knew Kirin well, he turned back into a rakshas. Nice fellow. You look at him, you can tell he’s personally killed at least a thousand people.’

  ‘I presume you looked around for the real Kirin at some point.’

  ‘No. Word of my other identity reached Imokoi well before I did. I was under surveillance day and night, and couldn’t find out whether Kirin was at the Tower, or even alive. Spikes wasn’t there, though, which indicates there’s a fair chance Kirin is alive, and elsewhere.’

  ‘And what were the terms of this treaty?’

  ‘A formal truce between Kol and Imokoi, and a commitment to work together in the future for mutual economic benefit,’ said the ex-Dagger. ‘Essentially, if they attack us now, we help the vamans destroy them, and don’t let any of them come south of Danh-Gem’s wasteland ever again.’

  ‘Imokoi agreed not to attack us? Charming. Does that mean anything?’ asked Askesis.

  ‘As long as the ravian threat exists, and Kirin’s among those in charge, it does. Aciram seemed fairly decent too – he’s been around, obviously, and knows what he’s doing. The other rakshases seemed fairly predictable monsters. We’ll need to take charge of them before Artaxerxia does.’

  ‘I would like a few legions of rakshases, or any magical monsters of your choice, and I would like them right now, Amloki,’ said Askesis. ‘Could that not be arranged?’

  ‘The question of military co-operation came up, but was dismissed for the present, at least until the world turns sane again. A few thousand rakshases and dragons would have been very convenient now, but they are afraid to lend them to us – what if the ravians have another army coming from the north, or over the Grey Mountains? And don’t you think our troops are far from ready to fight side by side with Imokoi’s prettiest for a while? Many of our soldiers will not take kindly to knowing that we are in league with the Dark Tower, and fighting the ravians and our friends in Avranti.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Askesis, standing up, ‘If Imokoi is not an immediate concern, I will summon additional troops from the western Free States, Psomedea, and the centaurs. That should cover our magical needs. What of Artaxerxia? They are shielded from the ravians by Imokoi to the north and the Free States to the east. It is very unlikely that they will choose to sit demurely and watch when there’s land to be had.’

  ‘In theory, Askesis, the world is at peace with Kol now with the emergence of a rather convenient external threat,’ said Temat. ‘Unfortunately, the world is also aware of the beauty and nobility of our enemies, and the treachery we indulge in every day around teatime. What of Artaxerxia? The powers that contend for the Sultan’s throne in Amurabad secretly serve either us or Imokoi. I cannot imagine that the new treaty will bring anyone in Artaxerxia joy, but such is life. The Sultan, for one, will not dare to do anything. His son Omar, who lurks about the Dark Tower, is a different matter. These equations will, of course, be further mangled by the arrival of a rebel army from Elaken, for which funds have already been allocated.’

  ‘You have taken care of everything,’ said Askesis. He bowed, and smiled. ‘Thank you, Temat. We have never been friends, but, truth be told, the only reason the army has not contemplated taking over Kol these last two decades is because we would never have managed to run it as well as you do.’

  ‘In that case, I have wasted a lot of money in bribes,’ said Temat, returning his smile.

  ‘I need a favour,’ said Askesis.

  ‘Go on,’ said the Civilian, her face not betraying any sign of satisfaction.

  ‘If it turns out to be a question of fighting unarmed villagers, children, ravians, and Avrantics, morale will be an issue, to say the least. The Free States’ troops can be persuaded, but if we run with centaurs, Psomedeans and Durgans, I will need a hero.’

  ‘We have heroes to spare,’ said the Civilian. ‘A whole league of them.’

  ‘I want Arathognan.’

  The Civilian sighed. ‘Not Arathognan,’ she said. ‘If the city has to be defended, he will be needed. Choose any of the other former Champions Leaguers. Choose all.’

  ‘There are no real heroes among them, no one who is known outside Kol,’ sighed Askesis, waving a dismissive hand. ‘We have entertainers enough among our troops. No, Temat, I need someone they can look up to.’

  ‘Amloki is out of the question, then,’ said Temat, smiling.

  ‘Yes. While he would be of great use in any kind of fight, certainly, I do not see him leading armies into battle.’

  The ex-Dagger tried, unsuccessfully, not to look offended.

  ‘You already have Rabin of Oodh,’ said Temat. Askesis nodded. ‘He will help. But I need more. It will be a very large army. Where is the Hero of Simoqin?’

  ‘We do not know.’

  ‘Then give me Ara
thognan,’ said Askesis. ‘It will not hurt you to have him outside the city for a while. His presence weakens your authority.’

  ‘And so I should give him an army, and a general, and a shot at glory?’ asked Temat, innocently.

  ‘I did not come here to fence, Chief Civilian. There will be enough of that in the days to come.’

  ‘I meant what I said about Arathognan being needed in the city, Chief Commander. Had I been worried about him, the city would have forgotten he existed by now. You want a hero? Very well. Queen Rukmini of Durg will join your army. I had persuaded her of the need to stay at home and protect her people, but this is more important.’

  Askesis considered this for a while, and nodded.

  There was a knock on the door; another minotaur entered, huge and eerily red in the light of a passing Red Phoenix guard’s flare. The newcomer bore a scroll, which he brought to Askesis.

  As Askesis pored over the scroll, his jaw tightened. ‘A message from Rabin of Oodh. Shantavan is under attack,’ he said. ‘Villagers and civilians, unarmed – and there are children among them. Rabin will not attack unarmed innocents. He is falling back, with his men, to Durg, where he will stay until we send for him.’

  ‘Only the ravians could treat us with such disdain,’ said Temat, her face grim. ‘Driving children before them to make villains of us.’

  ‘I must go,’ said Askesis, shaking his head. ‘I have a war to plan, and no time to plan it in.’

  ‘Good luck, Chief Commander. This is our greatest challenge yet, and I am sure you will prove, as ever, worthy,’ said Temat.

  Askesis nodded farewell to the Civilian and Amloki and strode out of the hall, his boots clattering loudly over the marble floor. Amloki watched the Marshall walk away, shoulders sagging slightly, a world resting heavily on his tired shoulders.

  ‘Danh-Gem at his worst, or even the ravians during the Age of Terror, would never have sent human children into battle to be slaughtered,’ said the Civilian.