Needs of the Empire

by Christopher Mitchell

  ‘Should we make preparations to leave the city?’ Jodie whispered as they resumed their way.

  ‘It’s our job to stay,’ Shella said. ‘We leave when the embassy is overrun with hairy ape-men from the west.’ She raised her right hand. ‘If that happens, remember to stick close to me.’

  Jodie gulped, then her eyes narrowed.

  ‘Stop worrying,’ Shella said. ‘I’ve been practising. My mage powers are ready if need be.’

  ‘If I may ask, your Highness,’ Jodie said, ‘what have you been practising on?’

  ‘Rats, mostly.’

  Jodie nodded, while failing to hide a grimace.

  The scale of the damage increased as they neared the square where the great cathedral sat, half-complete. The houses and shops that lined the road showed signs of subsidence, with cracks running down the height of several blocks, from the tile-stripped roofs to the buckled and broken pavement slabs.

  People were gazing up at the damaged buildings, while a squad of Kellach labourers were loading the backs of wagons with the charred remains of a block of houses that had burned to the ground. Corpses were being brought out of the collapsed ruins of the tenement by the entrance to Cathedral Square. Shella had to stop walking, as the road ahead was crammed with people. Jayki began to push his way through, and Shella followed.

  ‘No further,’ shouted a warden from the One True Path as they reached a line of shields and batons, blocking the way into the square.

  ‘This area is out of bounds for all citizens,’ the warden cried.

  Shella looked around. There was an uneasy gap of about a yard between the swaying crowd, and the four-deep line of wardens. Beyond them, Shella could see nothing of what was happening in the square, although plumes of rising smoke were visible over the wardens’ heads .

  She jostled her way towards the nearest warden. ‘I need to speak to the Lord Vicar.’

  The warden raised his baton and prepared to strike her. Jayki pushed in front, and as he was putting up his arm to protect her, received a blow to his shoulder. Other wardens lashed out, and Jayki was struck on his back and head.

  ‘Get away from him,’ Jodie yelled, as he went down.

  The crowd roared in anger, and Shella pulled Jayki away as other skirmishes broke out. He groaned as they laid him on the cobbles, the other guards in her entourage forming a tight circle around them as the mob pushed the wardens back.

  ‘Jayki,’ Shella cried. ‘You stupid bastard, what the fuck were you doing?’

  She checked his injuries. The left side of his head was covered in blood from a cut above his ear, and his eyes were closed.

  The sound of horses’ hooves rang through the square, but Shella took no notice. She felt a rage within her, and stood. She scanned the street and raised her hand.

  She focussed on a warden that was beating a man lying curled up on the ground. As she was about to strike, a troop of horses charged through the crowd, and they parted amid screams. As the flanks peeled off to either side, the central column stopped right before Shella, the lead horse rearing.

  Shella stood her ground, her fists clenched.

  ‘Your Royal Eminence,’ said Arnault from the saddle of the horse. ‘I saw that you were in need of some assistance.’

  He jumped off the horse, and the Lord Vicar’s cavalry formed a line across the street, clearing the square of civilians, and pushing them back, leaving Shella’s party isolated deep with the ranks of church wardens.

  ‘My humblest apologies that you were mixed up in this unpleasantness,’ he said.

  ‘This mayhem was caused by the One True Path,’ she cried. ‘They’re out of control. ’

  ‘They’re under orders to prevent the public from approaching the cathedral, for their own safety.’

  ‘So it’s still unsafe?’ she said. ‘Whatever you were up to, it obviously didn’t work.’

  Arnault stared at her, his expression growing colder, until she thought he might snap in fury.

  ‘The research at your institute,’ she went on. ‘I assume that was responsible for the events of last night? How else could an earthquake have occurred?’

  His face steadied, but his eyes remained narrow.

  ‘Let’s talk somewhere more private,’ he said. He turned and signalled to a pair of officers, who wheeled their horses about to form an escort. He re-mounted his own horse, and held his hand out for Shella to join him.

  ‘I’d rather walk,’ she said.

  He frowned, then kicked his heels, and his mount began to trot towards the cathedral complex.

  ‘Wait,’ she said. ‘I need some help.’ She pointed at Jayki, who was lying unconscious in Jodie’s arms.

  Arnault smiled. ‘Of course.’ He glanced at his escorts. ‘Organise a stretcher for this man, have him seen by the company doctors.’

  ‘Yes, Lord Vicar,’ they saluted.

  ‘Now,’ he said to Shella, ‘if you and one other would like to accompany me, your Royal Eminence?’

  Shella nodded at Jodie. They left Jayki in the care of her guards, and followed Arnault into the square.

  Shella sipped her water and tried to calm her nerves. They were in a dark windowless room, deep within the cathedral complex, clustered on chairs around a small table. Arnault was silent, as if lost in thought, and Shella tried to keep her mind empty. She thought back to her dream of lobster claws, and Arnault frowned .

  ‘Excuse me, Lord Vicar,’ she said. ‘You’re not trying to read my mind, are you?’

  Jodie gasped, and Arnault looked away, his handsome features twisted in anger.

  ‘I don’t like you,’ he said.

  ‘Oh boo hoo,’ she said. ‘Do you reckon you could turn my brain to mush before I stopped your heart? Would you like to find out?’

  ‘Cease the games,’ he hissed. ‘What do you know and what do you want?’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she said. ‘I’m merely here to enquire after the health of the four Rakanese citizens whom I left in your care.’

  ‘I’m not at liberty to disclose any information regarding the workings of the institute, or of its inhabitants.’

  Shella snorted. ‘You’re the fucking Lord Vicar. You could tell me if you wanted to.’

  Arnault shrugged. ‘But I don’t. What I really want to know, I guess, is what you will do if the Sanang arrive at the walls. I harbour some doubts regarding your loyalty to the empire.’

  Shella frowned.

  ‘Do you really believe,’ he went on, ‘that the savages from the west would make better rulers of the world? Are you going to stand by as Keira, the murderer of your people, is proclaimed empress? Imagine the Sanang hordes loose in the streets of the city. Of course, our rule hasn’t been perfect. We have failed at many things, but we are not like the wild barbarians that are on their way to attempt to destroy us.’

  Shella took another sip of water, while Jodie sat in silence.

  ‘The catastrophe at the frontier wall,’ Arnault said, ‘has cost us dearly. Every family in the Holdings and Plateau City knows of someone who fell. The Kellach community here in the city may never recover from the grievous blow it suffered on Winter’s Day, and every regiment of the old alliance force that we’d withdrawn from Rahain was annihilated.’

  He stared at her. ‘Where will you stand when Keira arrives? ’

  ‘It depends,’ she said. ‘Where are the four mages?’

  His eyes lit in anger. ‘Do you understand that I have the power to arrest you and hand you over to the institute? Do you think your royal status and diplomatic position will save you if the church has need of your skills?’

  ‘Try it.’

  Arnault rose from his seat in fury.

  Shella smirked. ‘You’re acting like a crazy man,’ she said. ‘One minute you’re threatening me, the next you’re begging for my help. Why don’t you sit down and have a drink? I’m sure you have a secret stash hidden away somewhere.’

  Arnault sat, glowering and drumming his
fingers on the table.

  ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’ he said. ‘You’re addicted to false pleasures of the flesh, intoxicating your mind and corrupting your soul. Rotting your very being from within. Deprived of them you’re like a cripple without a stick to help them walk.’

  ‘I always knew your charm was just a front,’ she said. ‘I prefer you like this, unhinged but honest. Now, tell me the state of the four Rakanese mages. Are they alive at least?’

  Arnault said nothing, his face distracted as if pondering something.

  ‘You can go now,’ he said after a while.

  Shella opened her mouth to say something, but Jodie pulled at her sleeve.

  They rose, and Shella gave a brief nod to the Lord Vicar, who was continuing to stare at the table.

  Shella turned, and they headed for the door.

  ‘What was all that about?’ Jodie said, once they were clear of the cathedral and walking across the deserted square. ‘It was like he was mad. I didn’t think he was going to let us go.’

  ‘Something’s rattled him,’ Shella said, ‘and it’s not just the Sanang. When Agang invaded last year, the Lord Vicar was as calm as anyone could be.’

  As they neared the barricade closing off the square to the street where they had entered, Shella gazed back at the institute. Smoke was seeping up from the building’s shattered and blackened windows, and part of its outer wall had collapsed. Dozens of One True Path were guarding it, with more inside.

  ‘Do you know what they’re doing in there, your Highness?’ Jodie said.

  ‘No, but whatever it is, it went wrong last night, and I reckon Arnault’s feeling the heat.’

  ‘Maybe they’re trying to make a weapon,’ Jodie said, ‘to defeat the Sanang.’

  ‘Then they’re going about it the wrong way.’

  ‘I was confused by some of the things you said to the Lord Vicar,’ Jodie said. ‘Do you know more about what’s happening than you’re letting on, your Highness?’

  ‘What kind of ambassador would I be if I didn’t?’

  Jodie gazed at her. ‘I thought I’d earned your trust. How do you expect me to help you if you won’t keep me informed?’

  ‘Because the truth is a lot worse than you think.’

  ‘Like what?’

  Shella paused for a moment. ‘Okay,’ she said, ‘for starters, the mages in the institute are being held chained up in cells with hoods over their heads.’

  Jodie said nothing, her mouth open.

  A warden spotted them, and a detachment broke away from the main group of One True Path and started walking towards them.

  ‘Come on,’ Shella said. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

  They turned and made for the barricades, slipping between the overturned carts, where wardens let them through. On the other side the crowd had been dispersed and the street was littered with debris. There was no sign of the embassy guards or Jayki, but more wardens were positioned by the boarded-up shop-fronts. Each were dressed in thick black leathers, with helmets, shields and batons. They eyed Shella and Jodie with suspicion as they passed, but none made any move towards them.

  ‘Get off the road!’ one yelled. ‘This quarter’s under curfew.’

  ‘We’re walking home,’ Shella cried back, ‘unless you fancy giving us a lift?’

  The warden glared at her. ‘Get a move on.’

  Shella and Jodie put their heads down and picked up their pace. They passed through the deserted street and reached another barricade, which bordered the main boulevard leading to the palace. The wardens let them pass, and they emerged into the busy thoroughfare.

  ‘Your Highness!’ came a cry from among the masses of people.

  Shella turned and saw her guards from the embassy. She waved, and they pushed through the crowds towards her.

  ‘They wouldn’t let us wait for you, your Highness,’ said one.

  ‘Where’s Jayki?’

  ‘They told us he’d be dropped off at the embassy, your Highness, once a healer has attended to his wounds.’

  Shella nodded. ‘Let’s go back and wait for him there.’

  There was no Jayki when they got back to the embassy. Shella consulted Daly, and told him what she had seen while they waited. As evening fell, and there was still no sign of her guard, Shella went upstairs.

  Benel and Kalayne were in the old Kell’s room, teaching Thymo dice games. Shella got a glass of cold water and stood, watching them.

  ‘I hope neither of you are using your weird mind powers to cheat,’ she said.

  Kalayne stared at her.

  ‘Would I cheat?’ he smirked. ‘I have, however, just used my weird mind powers to look inside your head, to save you the effort of telling me about your day. ’

  Benel shook his head. ‘You’re a very rude man,’ he said. ‘I don’t like you reading her mind without asking first.’

  Kalayne shrugged. ‘Why not? You’ve done it.’

  Shella frowned.

  ‘Wait!’ Benel cried. ‘No, no I wouldn’t…’ he stammered. ‘But how could you possibly know?’

  The old man grinned. ‘I didn’t until now.’

  ‘Is this true?’ Shella said.

  ‘Umm,’ Benel muttered, his eyes wide.

  ‘Come with me,’ she snarled, and strode off to her bedroom, the Holdings man following.

  She closed the door behind them.

  ‘How many times?’ she spat.

  He shrugged, looking at the carpet. ‘I don’t know. A few.’

  ‘Fucksake Benel. And I was just starting to trust you.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘That’s not going to cut it. Why did you do it? What were you looking for?’

  He stared at his shoes. ‘I just wanted to see if you liked me.’

  Shella tutted.

  ‘Sometimes I can’t help myself,’ he said. ‘It’s like an addiction. Having the power to see what others think. The temptation gets too much for me. Especially when we’re in bed.’

  She slapped him.

  ‘I’d kick you out if it didn’t mean they’d haul you back to the institute,’ she said. ‘I feel used.’

  ‘I never looked too deeply,’ he said. ‘I promise. I love you.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I said…’

  ‘I heard what you said,’ she cried. ‘I’m just having a little difficulty believing it. We hardly know each other, Benel. It’s been fun, but you have to admit, you are quite annoying.’

  He looked hurt. ‘I fell in love with you the first time I looked into your mind. I know it was wrong, but I saw the real you, the one behind all the cynicism and bitterness, the one…’

  ‘Enough,’ she said. ‘You’re back on the couch. I can’t handle this right now. Get out.’

  Benel stood for a moment, his eyes down, then turned and left her bedroom.

  She sat on the bed, anger and disappointment warring within her. She lay back and stared at the ceiling.

  There was a knock at the door and Thymo peered into the room.

  ‘Auntie,’ he said. ‘Mister Daly wants to see you.’

  She rose and went through to the living room. Benel and Kalayne had both disappeared, while Thymo ran at her side. She opened the door.

  ‘Hi, Daly.’

  ‘Your Highness,’ he bowed. ‘Jayki has been returned to us.’

  She smiled. ‘Great. About time. I’ll be right…’

  She tailed off as Daly’s expression grew grim.

  ‘Is he okay?’

  ‘I’m afraid not, your Highness. The wardens who delivered him claim that he was struck by a severe blow to the skull, and though he lives, he may never wake up.’

  Shella let out a cry, and began running down the stairs.

  ‘Where is he?’

  ‘We’ve put him in his room,’ said Daly, following.

  She stopped on the second-floor landing and raced for Jayki’s room. She burst through the door to see Jodie and a couple of embassy staff gathered by
the bedside. Jayki was lying on his back, his head bandaged, and his eyes closed.

  Shella rushed up to him and put a hand on his brow. She glanced at his chest, and stared at it until she saw the slight rise and fall of his breathing.

  Tears came to her eyes and streamed down her face.

  ‘Take him upstairs,’ she said, fighting back the sobs. ‘I want to look after him myself. ’

  Daly glanced at Jodie, who shrugged and nodded.

  ‘At once, your Highness,’ he said.

  Shella watched as embassy guards lifted Jayki off the bed and put him onto a stretcher. They carried him up the flights of stairs and into her quarters. Thymo got up from a chair and ran to her side.

  ‘Put him in my bed,’ she said.

  ‘Are you all right, your Highness?’ Jodie said, as Jayki was transferred onto Shella’s bed.

  She shook her head. ‘I need a moment.’

  Jodie nodded, and the staff left. Shella followed them to the door, closing and bolting it behind them.

  She turned, and sprinted to Kalayne’s room.

  ‘Come out, you old bastard,’ she cried. ‘I need you.’

  He poked his head through the door. ‘You called, my lady?’

  She ran to her own room. ‘Get in here.’

  Kalayne chuckled. ‘Demanding that I come into your bedroom? Is this going to be my lucky day, at long last?’

  ‘I will melt your brain if you don’t fucking get in here right now.’

  Kalayne entered her room and halted, his gaze on the bed.

  ‘Check his head,’ Shella said. ‘Now.’

  The old Kell approached, and stood over the prone body of Jayki. Benel appeared at the door to watch, but didn’t come in.

  ‘They said it was a blow to the skull,’ Shella said, ‘but I saw it, it wasn’t that bad. Have they been in his head?’

  Kalayne’s eyes bulged, and he looked up, his mouth a tight line.

  ‘Aye,’ he said, ‘they have.’

  Shella’s heart tensed, and she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.