by JC Kang
It was like a Levanthi sultan’s harem, to breed a pool of potential heirs. Each consort would be discarded and replaced after they bore a son, to avoid tempting the prophecies of the end of the empire. The boys would never know their own mother. Yet unlike the Consuls, who were elected by the Prospecti—or the First Consul, who was elected from the Consuls—the next emperor would be personally chosen by Geros from one of his future sons.
Unrepresented were the Eldaeri, who falsely claimed to be the chosen tribe of Solaris, and thus deserved extermination for their blasphemy; the chocolate-skinned Aksumi, despite Geros’ efforts to secure their females by diplomacy and other means; and the Bovyans themselves, who had no females. The fourth, the Cathayi—well, Geros knew very well who he wanted to bear his son, even if it meant inviting prophetic doom.
The Keeper placed a circlet of silver on each of the consorts’ heads; and they, in turn, knelt before Geros and kissed the back of his hand.
Once the rituals ended, an honor guard escorted Geros out of the temple, to lead a grand parade back to the Iksuvi Palace. Typical Bovyan disdain for flamboyance was momentarily forgotten. Teleri soldiers marched in perfect formation, holding black banners with the nine-pointed sun of Solaris aloft. Each of the consorts was afforded her own litter, curtains open to the chill autumn air to further boast the grandeur of the empire. Geros himself rode astride a Kanin black stallion, waving to the crowds who threw autumn flowers in his path.
Geros wore a smile, even if he didn’t feel it. There was still the matter of Princess Kaiya, tarnishing what should have been a crowning moment. She’d be his. She would suffer for her treachery. But for now, she was out of reach.
The steward Jonynas, the Nothori man who had previously served the Iksuvi king, greeted him with a deep bow at the palace gates. “Your Eminence, your bed chambers have been prepared for your long afternoon. Which of your consorts will honor you with her visit?”
Geros snorted. “I want the Cathayi handmaiden.”
A look of confusion bloomed on the steward’s face. He looked back towards the litters, then opened his mouth to say something.
No, there were no Cathayi among the consorts. Geros scowled, silencing his unspoken words.
Jonynas turned back towards a servant. “Bring the Cathayi girl to His Eminence’s bed chambers.” He offered Geros a weak smile and bowed.
Geros pushed past him, taking his time as he made his way towards the king’s former suite.
A servant met him halfway, his face pale and dripping with sweat. The man fell prostrate. “Your Eminence, the Cathayi girl is…gone.”
CHAPTER 34:
Orc Gods and Flaming Chariots
After their confrontation, Kaiya tried her best to be civil to Tian, even rebuffing his suggestion to break away from Brehane’s group without criticizing the stupidity of the idea. Even if the madaeri was acting suspiciously, they were lost without him.
Over the next three days, the weather was cloudy and chilly. Frigid nights forced them to huddle close together. Altivorcs seemed to be everywhere, but Fleet had taken them off the main path and through a wide stream, higher into the hills. Cold, wet feet put a damper on everyone’s mood, tempered only by the miracle of avoiding their pursuers.
At dawn on the day before the Autumn Equinox, Kaiya unwrapped a pack of herbs prescribed by the enigmatic Doctor Wu. Cyrus watched with wide eyes as she soaked the twigs, roots, and dried flowers in Fleet’s copper bowl.
Kaiya’s nose scrunched up as she sipped the bitter draught, but she couldn’t contain a laugh at Cyrus’ contorted face after he insisted on tasting it. Tian offered her a mysterious look, but no rebuke for her laugh, which any altivorc within five li could hear.
Cyrus choked on his words. “What do you drink this for?”
“Poor Cyrus.” She giggled, deflecting the question. “My doctor tells me that adding dawn-blooming everblossom would improve both the taste and the effect. Unfortunately, there was a shortage in Cathay because of the exceptionally hot summer.”
Fleet grinned at her. “There’s plenty around here. I’ll point it out if we come across it.”
After they at last set off, the day dragged on as they seemingly wound in circles. Throughout the day, Kaiya would swear she had seen a boulder or tree or other landmark that they had passed earlier. Fleet, however, was resolute in saying that they were headed more or less south. By nightfall when they set up camp under a large rock outcrop, they had encountered no enemies.
Tian sprang to his feet, sword sheath in hand, as a shout tinged with pain jolted him from sleep. He peered around the campsite, barely lit by the slivers of the White Moon and nearly-closed Blue Moon. The dark shapes where Chen Xin and Ma Jun had settled down for the night pushed themselves into seated positions. Sameer, Cyrus, and Brehane stirred on the ground. Where was Fleet?
And the princess?
“Wake up! Altivorcs!” Zhao Yue’s voice mixed with the clang of metal on metal.
Tian shook off the tight grip of sleep as Chen Xin and Ma Jun rose. At the head of the path to the outcrop, Zhao Yue was fighting off altivorcs, even as his left arm hung limply at his side.
Pulling a saber free of its sheath, Tian charged over to help the embattled guard. He stopped in his tracks. Arrows darted in front of him, shot from dark shapes by the trees. With his left hand, he took hold of two biao from his forearm strap and hurled them toward the attackers.
Behind him, Zhao cried out. Tian turned to see an altivorc yanking a broadsword out of him. Yet Zhao fought on, swinging his saber.
Brehane uttered a guttural syllable, and the area flooded with bright light.
Tian squinted as his vision adjusted. The altivorcs seemed even more blinded. Behind him, metal weapons clanged, and Cyrus’ distinct voice called on his gods.
With everything now clearer, Tian worked his way toward Zhao. Drums rumbled somewhere to his side, but stopped mid-sequence. The altivorcs, no longer shading their eyes, swarmed in again. He shot a quick glance behind him. His companions were backing under the outcrop, with Sameer striking and retreating with inhuman speed.
Saber in hand, Tian deflected an incoming hack that would have finished Zhao Yue. He grabbed the guard by the shoulder, fighting off attackers as he dragged him back to the relative safety of the outcrop.
A sea of altivorcs surged around them, broadswords bared. Behind them, a new line formed with bows trained on them.
Brehane held Sameer back. She barked foul words in the language of her people’s magic.
The altivorcs loosed arrows at her as she chanted. Tian leaped forward. He should be able to catch at least one. Instead, they slammed into a spot in the air and ricocheted harmlessly to the ground. More altivorcs shot from all around the semicircle now, with the same results.
A single foul syllable from behind the line of altivorcs carried over Brehane’s chant. The barrage of arrows stopped. What now? Tian tightened the grip on his saber.
The lines parted and a tall altivorc, in a black tunic and with a golden circlet on his head, strode forward. He resembled the altivorc prince from the Teleri Embassy, though he was even taller and more handsome. When he spoke, it sounded like honey spilling out of his mouth, in perfect Arkothi. “How long can you maintain your shield, Mystic? Even now, you are weakening. If you want to live to see your child again, surrender now.”
Tian turned to Brehane. Her face contorted. Sweat gathered on her forehead and trickled down. The strength in her voice faltered.
So this was the end of their ill-advised journey. Tian bent down towards Zhao Yue. “You were on watch. What happened to the princess?”
Zhao choked on his words, blood pooling around his lips. “She and Fleet left camp, half an hour ago. Said they would be back by sunrise.”
Tian looked up. The star-speckled blanket of night’s black gave way to deep blue on the horizon. Where had they gone?
The altivorc leader drew a wand from a sheath at his hip and lowered it at them. He uttered
a hideous word and a bolt of red lighting sizzled forth, outlining a flickering dome between their groups.
In the instant that Brehane collapsed, the leader barked again. Another energy bolt struck Sameer. The Paladin buckled to the ground, writhing as his eyes rolled upwards.
The leader twirled the wand on his finger and shoved it back in its sheath. He grinned, baring his fangs at Cyrus. “Now, Acolyte, tell me where the Eye of the Pyramid is.”
What? Tian lowered his weapon. They weren’t looking for the princess?
Kaiya strained her eyes in the predawn dark, waiting for the everblossom to burst open. They would be the most potent if harvested in that instant. Fleet leaned up against a tree, yawning.
Deep altivorc drums rumbled in the distance. Heart leaping into her throat, she looked up. Fleet’s ears twitched and his forehead crinkled.
There was a distinct rhythm to the beats. Signals. They seemed to be coming from the direction of their camp. She exchanged glances with the madaeri.
The beating stopped short.
“The altivorcs found our campsite,” Fleet whispered. “And there are a lot of them, too many to fight. We need to get as far away as possible.”
An emptiness crept into Kaiya’s chest. It was her fault that the Southerners were facing capture. “No. There must be a way that we can help our friends.”
“Your Highness, you should be more concerned about your own safety.” The madaeri had never looked so serious, even when their journey had taken turns for the worse.
There had to be a way. Joining her music with Brehane’s, they could put dozens of altivorcs to sleep. She shouldered her pack and started heading back towards camp.
Fleet darted in front of her, holding his arms out. “No, Your Highness. That would be foolish. Your men would want you safe.”
Kaiya moved to brush him aside, but he deftly avoided her hand every time and managed to stay in her path. She glared at him. “If you aren’t going to help me, at least get out of way.”
He grinned, sending a wave of anger rushing to her head.
“Back off.” She sang the words, using the power of her voice. Tiredness crept into her limbs.
Fleet yawned. “Save your energy for running. Come on.”
Kaiya poked him in the chest. Heavens, that was rude of her. “Brehane and the others might just be clients to you, but I care about my people.”
The madaeri sighed. Loudly. “You don’t understand. Once I get you to a safe place, I’m going to go back and help them. There are much greater stakes here than a princess fleeing a tyrant. Even greater than wars between nations. When Brehane, Cyrus, and Sameer’s story is told, you will be a footnote.”
“What are you talking about?”
The usually jovial madaeri’s jaw squared, his eyes intent. “Do you know how the saying ‘when the Orc Gods return on their blazing chariots’ means something will never happen? Well, there are those who would very much like to see that happen. I, for one, don’t want to go back to the time when my people were slaves to the altivorcs. When I decided to help the Southerners, it wasn’t because I needed the money.”
The madaeri’s sincerity was surprising, but what was he talking about? She crossed her arms. “What do they have to do with the Orc Gods?”
Fleet offered her a bitter smile. “The pyramids. If the orcs ever control all of the pyramids again, they can summon their gods.”
Kaiya listened in disbelief. “I’m well-versed in the history and lore of Tivara. I’ve never heard of such insanity.”
He laughed. “Tall folk don’t remember like we do, nor can you seem to put together all the small images to see the big picture. What was the last episode in the War of Ancient Gods?”
Kaiya shrugged. “Easy. The dwarves stormed the Temple of Tivar—”
“No, afterwards. The Elf Angel Aralas’ Last Command.”
The madaeri spoke in thousand-year-old riddles. Kaiya forced the impatience out of her tone. “Keep well the Pyramids, reminders though they may be of your enslavement.”
“Exactly.” He gave a triumphant nod. “What do you think that means?”
She sighed. They were wasting time, debating folklore and long-departed Elf Angels. “How should I know? I will ask him next time I see him.”
Apparently, her sarcasm was not lost on him. Fleet threw up his arms. “Never mind. You don’t have to believe me or my people’s lore. Just know that I will find a way to free our friends, because it’s that important.”
Kaiya shook her head at him. “I can help.”
Fleet scrutinized her, eyebrows furrowed. “All right, follow me. Tread as quietly as you can.”
They picked their way back through the woods, the only sounds being bird chirps. When they came within eyeshot of the outcropping, the morning sun revealed their ransacked camp. A single body lay among the ruffled bedrolls, while several others sprawled in a disorderly circle around the camp. Kaiya’s heart lurched into her throat. Who was it? Kaiya started forwards, but Fleet grabbed hold of her sleeve.
“It might be a trap,” he whispered. “You wait here, I will investigate.”
She nodded and he disappeared into the brush. Even her keen ears couldn’t tell where he went. She kept her focus on the body.
It flinched. Still alive.
Kaiya fought every nerve that screamed for her to run to whoever it was.
After what felt like an eternity, Fleet appeared at its side. He looked towards her and beckoned.
Kaiya picked her way through the brush and dead altivorcs. It was Zhao Yue, face pale and lips wan. He opened his eyes a crack and offered her a frail smile. “Dian-xia, you should not have come back… flee… while you can.”
She looked at Fleet, who shook his head. Another person to die because of her. Her chest constricted and she fought back tears. She had to be strong, for him.
She forced a smile at Zhao and clasped his cold hand. “I release you from your duty to the Tianzi. Rest.”
“I will watch over you until I die and am reborn,” Zhao answered. “It would be my honor to serve you in the next life.”
Fleet patted Zhao on his bald head and looked at her. “You stay here; I’ll track the altivorcs. Pay attention to your surroundings. If there’s any sign of danger, flee back to the everblossoms. If you aren’t here, I’ll look for you there.” With that he disappeared.
Zhao did not linger long. Kaiya held his hand until his soul drifted from its corporeal bonds.
Alone, Kaiya cried freely as she went to look for stones to build a cairn. Through her tears, she caught sight of a hip drum under an altivorc body. An idea began to coalesce. She kicked at the corpse to make sure it was truly dead; then, with some hesitation, pushed it over to retrieve the drum.
Fleet returned an hour later. “Our friends are being held uphill, at an altivorc campsite. I counted about thirty of them.”
Kaiya showed the madaeri the drum. “How well do you know their signals?”
A devious grin formed on the madaeri’s face. “Well enough.”
Tian subtly worked at the ropes which bound his hands behind his back, even as an altivorc guard glared at him. His companions all sat in a circle with their backs to each other, with the exception of Cyrus and Brehane.
Though he couldn’t see them, their screams emanated from the rocky clearing behind him. Brehane repeated the name Fassil over and over again.
Sameer’s unconscious form slumped against Tian’s back. Their weapons lay out of reach, but tantalizingly close, amongst their packs—which the altivorcs had emptied and now rummaged through. On occasion, the sounds of the Southerners’ torture were broken by an unintelligible tirade from the altivorc leader, followed by one of his minions beating out some pattern on the large drum. Try as he might, Tian couldn’t decipher the code.
Escape, though unlikely, was still possible. With the bulk of the altivorcs already departed, probably to search for the princess, the imperial guards and Sameer might stand a fighting chance…
if only they could break loose and get to their weapons before the altivorcs hacked them to pieces.
A break in the screams was followed by the altivorc leader’s heavy footsteps coming up behind him. Tian twisted and caught a glimpse of Cyrus and Brehane. They stood about thirty feet away, their hands bound above their head, suspended from a tree limb.
The leader kicked at Sameer’s feet. Then he stomped around to face Tian. “So, how did you come to join the Southerners?”
Tian licked his lips, feigning fear, even as he loosened the bonds a little more. “We were just travelling and ran into each other. It is always nice to have company on the road.”
The leader laughed, pointing at Chen Xin and Ma Jun. “Don’t lie. These two wear signets of the Cathayi imperial guard. You were protecting your princess.”
Tian kept a straight face, even as he let a stream of curses explode in his head. “We split up. To draw you away from her.”
“So she is with the meddling little halfling?”
Maybe Tian had misjudged Fleet. “You’ll never catch her.”
The leader laughed. “She’s inconsequential, beyond being bait to dangle in front of my friend Geros. Tell me which way she went, and I’ll let you go. I’ll let her go, too, even escort you through our cities into Rotuvi. That’s close to home.”
Tian gauged the possibilities. Even if he didn’t trust the altivorcs—he and the guards would be dead the second she was captured—he could at least pretend to comply. He let his features soften. “They fled towards—”
A beating of drums from the south interrupted him, and the leader held his hand up. “Oh, too bad. It sounds like my men are already on her trail.” He unleashed a barrage of harsh-sounding syllables. An altivorc beat on the big drum, while several others formed up.
The leader grinned at him. “Well, duty calls. Savor your last breaths. It won’t be long now.” With another snarling command, his soldiers followed him out of the camp.
The leader was gone. Tian craned his head to see that a dozen altivorcs stood guard. Their chances of escape began to improve, albeit just slightly. He continued to fiddle with the ropes. If only Sameer would awaken.