Needs of the Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  The deacon ignored her. He fell to his knees, and reached out his arms in supplication.

  ‘It shames me to beg, but the true faith is worth more than my vanity or pride. Please, Chief Killop of the Severed Clan, allow me to spread the word of the Creator to your people, allow me to save their souls.’

  ‘Their what?’

  ‘Their souls, Chief,’ Millar said. ‘The spirit that remains after the body dies.’

  Killop laughed. ‘Nothing remains after death but dry bones and dust.’

  ‘You’re wrong, Chief,’ Millar said. ‘Have faith in the Creator in this life, and he will reward you in the next.’

  Killop frowned, and glanced at Bridget and Koreen.

  ‘Well, Chief?’ Millar asked.

  Killop nodded to a guard standing by the door .

  ‘Fetch a couple of militia,’ he said. ‘For his own safety, Deacon Millar will need an escort out of Slateford.’

  The guard nodded and left.

  ‘You’re making a mistake,’ Millar said, getting to his feet. ‘I will have to report this to my superiors in the church.’

  ‘Go right ahead,’ Killop said. ‘Tell them I’m not going to tolerate their religion here.’

  Two guards appeared at the door.

  Bridget glanced at them. ‘Take this gentleman to the borders of the estate,’ she said, ‘and inform the guards there that he is not to be re-admitted.’

  ‘Aye,’ said one. Millar walked forward, and the three left the room.

  ‘That was a bit harsh,’ Koreen said, sipping from her mug of beer. ‘I thought you’d be more relaxed about that sort of thing. Isn’t your girlfriend from the Holdings? She won’t be too happy if she can’t practise her religion. Is she religious?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Seems like quite an important thing not to know, boss.’

  ‘Truth is,’ he said, ‘I don’t know that much about her.’

  Koreen glanced over at Bridget. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘About Daphne or about religion?’

  ‘Daphne. Is that her name?’

  ‘Aye,’ Bridget said. ‘As far as I know, she’s not religious. She never mentioned it to me anyway.’

  ‘You’ve spoken to her?’

  ‘Twice.’

  Koreen frowned. ‘You’re basing a lot of hope on a girl you hardly know, boss. A foreign girl as well. How does the rest of your council feel about this?’

  ‘That’s a touchy subject,’ Bridget said. ‘I’m the only person apart from Killop that’s met Daphne, nobody else knows her at all. And most of the council are still pissed off about Larissa leaving.’

  ‘Larissa?’ Koreen said. ‘Who’s she?’

  Bridget groaned. ‘I’m going to need another drink for this.’

  Chapter 5

  Not a Date

  P lateau City, The Plateau – 13 th Day, Last Third Summer 506

  Sami picked up his glass, and eyed the contents.

  ‘What’s this?’

  Shella looked up from the pile of letters on the table in front of her. ‘Apple juice.’

  ‘But I always have wine for lunch.’

  ‘Yeah, well we’re out of wine.’

  Sami frowned and turned to Daly, who stood nearby in attendance.

  ‘Can you get me some Kellach ale?’ he said. ‘I can feel a headache coming on.’

  ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ Daly said, ‘but I’m afraid we currently have no alcohol left in our stocks.’

  ‘Well why don’t you go and get some?’

  ‘Don’t get snippy,’ Shella said. ‘It’s not his fault.’

  ‘But sis,’ Sami said, ‘we are going to get more, aren’t we?’

  She picked up a slice of beef with a fork and took a bite. ‘Tell him, Daly.’

  ‘Tell me what?’ Sami said.

  ‘First thing this morning, sir’ Daly said, ‘the Lord Chamberlain announced that the empire will be strictly enforcing the prohibition on all intoxicants. From now on, only Kellach Brigdomin will be allowed to drink alcohol, and only within their city quarter. Any Holdings, Rahain or Rakanese will be fined or imprisoned if caught intoxicated, or in possession of any banned substance.’

  ‘But we have diplomatic immunity!’

  ‘Not any more, I’m afraid, sir. The orders were quite explicit that there were to be no exceptions.’

  ‘Then we’ll have to send someone to the Kellach quarter…’ Sami spluttered.

  ‘Church wardens are searching everyone coming out of that part of the city,’ Shella said. ‘They’ve already raided a dozen drinking holes, and arrested everyone who isn’t Kellach.’

  ‘Why are those big bastards allowed it?’ Sami yelled, his face red. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘They’re allowed it for now,’ Shella said, ‘but the Emperor’s put up their taxes, and promised to close down any establishment caught selling to non-Kellach. He’s tightening the screw. Eventually I reckon he’ll ban it for them too.’

  Sami got to his feet, knocking over the apple juice with his elbow. He stared at the puddle soaking into the tablecloth, then stormed off.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Shella asked.

  ‘I think I have a hip-flask under my bed.’

  Shella watched him take the stairs up to his apartment.

  ‘He’s going to have a hard time of it,’ she said to Daly. ‘Keep an eye out for him. I don’t think he’s gone a day without a drink for thirds.’

  ‘Of course, your Highness.’

  Shella put down the fork and picked up a paper from the top of the pile.

  ‘Another ordinance from the chamberlain’s office,’ she muttered, scanning the document, ‘informing us that the Holdings cavalry is to be converted into a new imperial army, open to all five peoples. They want us to advertise this, they’re after volunteers from Arakhanah.’

  Daly nodded, taking notes in his little book .

  She put down the paper, and opened a large pouch, stamped with the insignia of her home government.

  Her eyes widened as she looked at the first document to emerge.

  ‘Holy shit.’

  ‘Your Highness?’

  ‘Read this.’ She passed him the paper. ‘Fuck, I need a drink now.’

  Daly gasped as he gazed at the paper in his hands. ‘I thought you would be pleased, your Highness. This is a tremendous honour for you.’

  ‘The fuck it is. Why now? Why have they decided to recognise that I’m a princess now? It goes against the whole idea of democracy.’

  Daly pursed his lips.

  ‘You know what I reckon?’ Shella went on. ‘The Rakanese government was thinking, “the Emperor keeps demanding things, what can we give him that won’t cost us anything?”, and the answer was me. They’ll bite down on their pride, and start calling me your Highness, and hopefully buy some time with the empire.’

  Daly said nothing.

  ‘I know what you think,’ Shella said. ‘You dish out the fancy titles, but deep down you know all that stuff is horseshit. Well, so do I. I never asked to be a princess, it’s not my fault my crazy sister was a fucking megalomaniac.’

  ‘Quite, your Highness.’

  ‘Pass it back here,’ she said, reaching out her hand. Daly held the document out for her.

  ‘There’s no mention of Sami,’ she said, reading it in more detail.

  ‘None, your Highness,’ Daly said. ‘Perhaps Arakhanah City deems one royal quite enough.’

  ‘And,’ she went on, ‘I’m to be heirless, and without any statutory powers.’

  ‘A figurehead, your Highness.’

  ‘And… fuck me, I have to go back to Arakhanah for a coronation.’

  ‘So you may view your loyal subjects…’

  ‘Don’t get smart,’ she said. She put down the paper and lit a cigarette. ‘At least they haven’t banned these. ’

  ‘I wish they would, your Highness,’ Daly said, ‘but seeing as how most Holdings are addicted to the things I don’t se
e much likelihood of that.’

  ‘I’ll need you to stay here while I’m gone,’ she said. ‘You can look after the place, and keep a leash on Sami.’

  ‘When will you be leaving, your Highness?’

  ‘They’ve scheduled the coronation for the last day of the first third of autumn. I’ll have to be off within a few days to comfortably make it. Shit. I hate travelling.’

  ‘I’ll cancel the rest of your calendar, your Highness, and send out word of the news. We have a lot to prepare.’

  ‘Hey, at least I’ll be able to get a drink in Arakhanah.’

  ‘Will you be visiting your family, your Highness?’

  Shella frowned. Before she could answer, there was a knock on the door, and one of the embassy staff entered.

  ‘Ma’am,’ she said. ‘There’s a visitor for you downstairs in reception.’

  Daly turned. ‘Does this visitor have an appointment, Jodie? Her Royal Highness is rather busy.’

  ‘He insisted it couldn’t wait,’ Jodie replied.

  ‘Who is it?’ Shella asked.

  ‘A priest, ma’am,’ Jodie said. ‘Said his name was Father Rijon.’

  Shella’s expression fell.

  ‘Ma’am?’

  ‘Okay,’ she muttered. ‘I suppose, if I must. Tell him to wait there and I’ll be down soon.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’ Jodie said, and left the room, closing the door behind her.

  ‘Do you know this priest, your Highness?’ Daly asked.

  ‘Used to.’

  ‘If you don’t mind me saying, your Highness, you don’t appear to be very happy about the prospect of renewing your acquaintance.’

  ‘He’s a dick.’

  Daly inclined his head. ‘Perhaps, your Highness. But his name is known to me, though I have never met the man. It is said that he’s a powerful vision mage, one of the most powerful after the Lord Vicar himself.’

  Shella pushed her plate away. ‘I’m going upstairs to change. Might as well look the part.’

  ‘What about the rest of the papers, your Highness?’ he said, pointing at the still considerable pile of documents and correspondence lying untouched on the table.

  ‘They’ll have to wait,’ she said. ‘I’ll do them later.’

  Father Rijon looked older than she remembered. Or maybe he was just gaunter, his cheeks more hollow than they had been before. He stood when she entered the small reception room, his long black robes trailing on the rug by the fireplace.

  ‘Greetings Princess Shella,’ he said. ‘May I say how good it is to see you?’

  ‘You may,’ she replied, walking over to him, ‘but you’d be lying.’

  ‘Not at all, princess. When the Lord Vicar asked me to come over to relay his message, I felt glad of the opportunity.’

  ‘Next time tell him to send me a letter.’

  ‘Ah,’ he smiled. ‘I remember that about you. Your caustic wit, covering up your insecurities and fears. It’s most endearing.’

  ‘At least I have something to cover up. You’re just an empty shell. No conscious, no heart, you’re barely a man at all.’

  ‘I must protest,’ he smiled. ‘I do possess a heart. It merely happens to be focussed on the end, rather than the means. But the end, my dear princess, will be worth it.’

  Shella frowned. ‘I’m not going to pretend to know what the fuck you’re talking about.’

  ‘And I’m not here to lecture you on the holy purpose of the church. I have come to offer you the Lord Vicar’s congratulations on your forthcoming royal investiture.’

  ‘You know about that already, eh? ’

  ‘Of course. The Lord Vicar is pleased that the Rakanese government has at last seen sense on this matter.’

  Shella sat by the fireside. ‘Frankly, I struggle to see why he’d care.’

  Rijon sat down by her, and took a silver cigarette case from a pocket in his robes. He offered one to Shella, and lit it for her.

  ‘I understand that you’ll be returning to Arakhanah City for a while.’

  ‘Yeah, so?’

  ‘The Lord Vicar is of the opinion that this trip will afford you the perfect opportunity to see that your government fulfils its sworn duty to the empire.’

  ‘He wants me to recruit soldiers for his new army?’

  ‘Well, naturally,’ Rijon said, flicking ash into the fire. ‘But that, as I’m sure you’re aware, was not the duty I was referring to.’

  Shella said nothing.

  ‘Mages, Shella.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Go to Arakhanah,’ he said. ‘Have fun, get crowned, visit your family. You can even get drunk if you want to, I doubt our laws have reached every inch of swamp in your homeland. Yet. But when you return Shella, you will be accompanied by volunteer Rakanese flow mages, each of whom will be delivered to the institute the moment you set foot back inside the imperial capital.’

  ‘Or what?’ she said, leaning forward.

  ‘It’s simple,’ he replied. ‘If you return without mages, then you yourself will be selected for the institute. You’re a decent enough mage, I’m sure the deacons will find a use for you. And we’ll be keeping a close watch on your brother while you’re gone, in case you think about not returning.’

  ‘You touch Sami and I’ll kill you.’

  Rijon shook his head. ‘You can drop the tough act. I see your mind. I know you’re frightened.’

  ‘Are you in my fucking head? ’

  ‘My dear,’ he said. ‘If only you knew how often I’ve read your thoughts, seen your deepest fears, and felt your innermost desires.’

  She stood, backing away, her right hand half-raised.

  ‘Oh, such anger,’ he smirked. ‘Ha. You kill me, your life ends. All those embassy staff that you imagine are conspiring against you? You’re not paranoid, they are. Most of your own people loathe you, and would betray you for no other reason than to boast about it. From the quantity of evidence they have already submitted to us regarding your activities here in the embassy, I would say that a narcotics and alcohol conviction would be ludicrously easy to obtain. So there you have it. Bring back mages for us and your life will be as easy as it was before. Don’t, and, well…’

  ‘Get out, Rijon. Now.’

  He stood, and smoothed down the front of his robes.

  ‘Of course, princess,’ he said, striding for the door. ‘It’s been a pleasure, as always.’

  Shella stood frozen as he passed her. Her flow powers tingled through her fingertips, but she forced her hand down.

  He turned at the door, and smiled. ‘Have a lovely trip.’

  ‘Fucking bastard!’ Shella screamed, as the glass vase she had thrown shattered off the wall.

  Kalayne sat crossed legged on her bed, watching, a smokestick balanced on his lips.

  She turned to face the old man. ‘I want to kill him.’

  ‘Perhaps you will one day,’ Kalayne said, exhaling smoke.

  Shella squinted. ‘Have you had a vision of it?’

  ‘Oh you believe me now, do you? So, who was this man?’

  ‘A Holdings priest.’

  ‘A mage?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Did he see into your mind? ’

  ‘Yeah,’ she said, taking the smokestick from him as she slumped back onto the bed.

  ‘May I take a look?’ he said.

  ‘Why the fuck not?’ she spat. ‘Every other freak’s had a go.’

  He stared at her for a moment, his eyes bulging.

  ‘Rijon,’ he said.

  She leaned up on an elbow. ‘You can tell it was him?’

  He snorted. ‘They’re like clumsy children given an expensive toy, but without the first idea of how to use it.’

  ‘And you’re so much better than them, are you?’

  ‘Of course,’ he frowned. ‘A giant among infants.’

  ‘And is Daphne an infant too?’

  He gave a faint smile. ‘Not any more. She’s a head above the rest of them now. I’m an
excellent teacher.’

  ‘I don’t suppose you could teach me how to stop those bastards getting into my head?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Those without vision powers have no real conscious lucidity. It’s almost like they’re all sleeping, completely unaware of the world of true sight.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘What did you expect? Do you think I have any inkling of the wonders you perceive when you use your flow powers? I cannot even begin to imagine. Nor would I want to, to be honest. I prefer looking at bodies from the outside.’

  She smiled. ‘Blood is quite beautiful.’

  ‘You are very odd. Though you’re not as stupid as I thought you were when we first met. In fact, I am sufficiently pleased by your company. You know, there is something I can do for you. Rijon’s traces are still fresh, and I could, well, persuade your mind to block him, if he ever tries it again.’

  Shella grinned. ‘Yes, please.’

  She sat up, and crossed her legs, sitting opposite the old Kell man, who towered a foot over her.

  He stared at her again, and she felt a hazy sensation behind her eyes.

  ‘All done,’ he said. ‘Should last a while.’

  ‘It’s not permanent then?’

  ‘People’s minds change all the time,’ he said. ‘To make something permanent I would have to cut a lot deeper, and trust me, it would not be pleasant.’

  ‘Good enough,’ she said. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You can repay me in sex if you like.’

  ‘Read my mind again.’

  He squinted at her, then raised an eyebrow. ‘Such hostility.’

  ‘I’d repay you in booze,’ she said, ‘but you appear to have drunk it all.’

  ‘With ample assistance from yourself.’

  ‘And now we’ve none.’

  ‘We could always get some.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘The Kellach quarter. I could take you.’

  ‘You’d be fine, but I wouldn’t get past the wardens.’

  ‘Don’t worry about them,’ he said. ‘I know all the back ways, and bars where no one will ask any questions. And remember, I can make people forget they have seen us.’

  Shella bit her lip, wondering what would happen if she were arrested.