The Peasant

by Scott Michael Decker

  “How could Castle Security insure she's clean of implants if they can't probe her?” Lurking Hawk muttered. “Of course, Lord! If no one can probe her, no one can implant her, eh?”

  Flying Arrow nodded, finding no fallacy.

  “She might even have a Wizard-status talent, Lord Emperor,” Lurking Hawk added.

  “I'll just have to ask if she's pregnant.” Flying Arrow sighed. “How long until she'll know?”

  “I can't say, Lord Emperor, but the Imperial Medacor would know.”

  “Yes, he would.” Flying Arrow turned toward the Jaguar Camp. “Is everything ready for tomorrow?”

  “Yes, Lord Emperor. Security arrangements kept me up all night last night, but everything is ready.”

  “Get your lazy apprentice the Lord Illusion to do the drudgery, by the Infinite! Delegate, Hawk! I do.”

  Like the Imperial Medacor, the Sorcerer trained apprentice Wizards in the final stages of their certification. Unlike Soothing Spirit, however, Lurking Hawk attracted few applicants and helped even fewer get certified.

  “Yes, Lord Emperor.”

  Too bad I can't get him to train his own replacement, Flying Arrow thought. “On the morrow morning, the Lord Bear begins at his new post, and—”

  “Lord Emperor, forgive me for interrupting. I must object again to your appointing the Usurper to a post within the castle, especially one as sensitive as Security Commander. Besides, he's insane!”

  Flying Arrow looked over his shoulder. “Listen carefully, Lord Hawk. The Usurper is less dangerous with a post than without one. The Usurper is less dangerous in a closer post than in a distant one. Furthermore, a person without office may perform certain acts without penalty. Those same acts as Security Commander are malfeasance of office. Having the Lord Bear near at hand will be much easier, especially in a position without real political influence.

  “You will not question my decision again, Lord Hawk,” Flying Arrow ordered, his voice low. He turned back to the brightly-lit city. “I agree, though. The Infinite must have addled his brains for him to act that way. The insufferable peasant! If he hadn't drunk the poison, I'd have ordered him to fall on his knife and kicked his corpse across the Empire.” Since kicking that first corpse the day his father died, he'd kicked a thousand more. Flying Arrow smiled at Lurking Hawk. “What courage the Usurper has, eh? How did it feel when he told you to kill him?”

  “He's crazy! Why did he do that?” Lurking Hawk picked at the bandage.

  “Infinite knows. You're the psychologist—don't you know?”

  “No, Lord Emperor, I don't. He's not like us.”

  “No, he isn't. He's not the same person as when he retired, either. Anyway, as I was saying, the Usurper will be acquainting himself with his new position. I order you to give him all the help you can. You two will bury your hatred for each other until he's completely familiar with his new position. A personal animosity is poor reason for lax security, eh?”

  “Yes, Lord Emperor.” Lurking Hawk's tone didn't agree.

  “Any further information on the spies?” Flying Arrow abruptly changed the subject with the ease of a competent administrator.

  “The four spies weren't, uh, skinned by the Lord Bear, as we'd presumed, Lord Emperor. A boy was responsible.”

  “The boy's name?”

  “I don't know yet, Lord, but I'll find out.”

  “The Lady Water said a boy cured her daughter of your malady.”

  “A boy, Lord Emperor? A boy removed the implant? That's preposterous, Lord. A boy might soothe the symptoms, but only a certified psychological Wizard could have removed the implant.”

  “Oh? I thought you checked my cousin after the guards separated her from her mother.”

  “Of course I did, Lord Emperor.”

  Flying Arrow raised an eyebrow at him. “Imbecile! What did you find?!”

  Lurking Hawk winced. “Someone had removed the implant, Lord.”

  Nodding, the Emperor smiled. “Well, then, the boy might be useful for his talents.”

  “Indeed, Lord. If he cured the illness I devised, he must be powerful. With skill like that, he might also know who implanted the infant. I tried to erase traces of my signature, as you suggested. We both know that covering all trace is impossible. All manipulations keep some signature of the psychologist. I've tried to find the boy, of course, but he vanished.”

  A wicked smile appeared on Flying Arrow's face. “If the Lord Bear finds the boy and produces evidence you implanted his daughter, I'll have to disavow any knowledge of your actions, Lord Hawk. I'd lose a valuable asset. I suggest you redouble your efforts.”

  “Yes, Lord Emperor.”

  Flying Arrow faced the glowing lights of the city, turning his back on the Sorcerer. Guarding Bear might be insane, the Emperor thought, but he also has incredible courage.

  Lurking Hawk turned to go.

  Flying Arrow stopped him with a question: “Is the Lord Bear recovering from his 'inebriation'?”

  “Yes, Lord Emperor. If I may, I wish to express my opinion that letting the Usurper live at all was ill-advised.”

  “You may not. How often must I say it, Lord Hawk? A known enemy is sometimes better than the unknown enemy who'll fill his place.” Flying Arrow sighed. “I don't know why I espouse the arts of statecraft to such an inept pupil. Your former Emperor, that rat Lofty Lion, obviously extirpated what little ability to learn you might have once possessed.”

  “Obviously, Lord Emperor,” Lurking Hawk said dryly.

  Flying Arrow glanced at the other man. “Have you seen your former Emperor lately, Lord Hawk?”

  The Northerner put his palm on his chest, a picture of innocence. “I, Lord Emperor? Not in fourteen years, thank the Infinite. Why do you ask?”

  “My spies can't keep him under surveillance. I thought you might know the reason. He moves around much too well with the help of that staff. Thankfully, everyone believes he died during the interrogation of his people.”

  “He was always a furtive man, Lord Emperor.” The Sorcerer stroked his silver bracelet.

  “Yes, blast him. Where did he hide the Northern Heir Sword?” I have to find it! Flying Arrow thought, looking toward the city. His frustration with his fruitless, fifteen-year search was an open sore. Lofty Lion has to know where it is. Even my torturing and executing his every citizen didn't force the information from him.

  “He didn't tell me, Lord Emperor.”

  “Perhaps you know, Lord Hawk,” Flying Arrow said.

  * * *

  Lurking Hawk watched the Emperor carefully. He's so full of venom tonight, the Sorcerer thought. “We both know I detest him for killing my father, Lord Emperor. He wouldn't trust me with a lock of his mane.” Lurking Hawk sighed, the conversation so familiar he could have repeated it word for word. He knew the next words so well that he mouthed them as Flying Arrow spoke: “Skulking Hawk shouldn't have…”

  “Skulking Hawk shouldn't have trafficked in talismans like that. Stupid to do something so blatantly illegal. He deserved to die. How much will the Lord Bear remember?”

  “Nothing, Lord. Do you think I'd bungle so important an erasure?”

  “What of activity at the Bear residence?”

  “I soon hope to have a fix on what I think are Bear-allied insurgency cells in Emparia City, Lord Emperor. Twice in the last two days, Arrow counter-insurgency units detected a signal followed by widespread mobilization. The signals corresponded to two events: Your summoning the Usurper and the Whore's leaving the castle. I'm not sure, but I think that's when she realized we'd lured her mate here.”

  “Oh, she realized, Lord Hawk. She reared me and knows me too well, eh? Surely, the Lord Bear told her you implanted her daughter. Care to wager when the Whore makes the information public?” Flying Arrow smiled that wicked smile.

  If he hadn't needed Flying Arrow, Lurking Hawk would've shoved him off the balcony. “No, thank you, Lord.”

  “Insurgency cells, eh? Time to clean out accumul
ated trash.”

  “Yes, Lord Emperor, but I wouldn't entrust the task to the Usurper.”

  “Nor would I. I'm not an idiot!” He snarled, rubbing his arm. “What of people coming and going from the Bear residence?”

  “A psychological Wizard entered earlier this evening, Lord.”

  “Did you think to interrogate him?”

  Lurking Hawk sighed, feeling badgered. “Of course, Lord Emperor. I haven't failed to learn that tool of statecraft. The psychologist didn't restore the memories, but he did remove the implant I installed.” Flying Arrow had told Lurking Hawk to implant Guarding Bear to lose control of his bowels during the negotiations.

  “Blast! Now the Usurper won't shit on himself tomorrow evening. If that meddling Wizard hadn't removed the implant, he'd have besmirched his own face so much he'd have fallen on his knife in shame.”

  “Yes,” the Sorcerer said, “how unfortunate.” Blast! the Northerner thought, now the Usurper won't attack the barbarian Emperor under the Inviolate Insignia and bring destruction upon the Eastern Empire. If that meddling Wizard hadn't removed the implant, I'd have avenged the murder of my people.

  “Did the psychologist determine who implanted the Usurper, Lord Hawk?”

  “Uh, I don't think so, Lord Emperor.”

  Flying Arrow looked at him. “Don't you know?”

  “Uh, no, Lord, I, uh, I don't.”

  Flying Arrow stepped toward the psychological Wizard. Looking into the man's face, he asked, “What happened, Lord Hawk?”

  Lurking Hawk felt a trickle down his back. “I, uh, must have been weary, Lord. I couldn't find a way past his shields. I nearly fainted from trying, Lord Emperor!”

  “A boy cures a malady induced by your implant, a consort resists your probes, and another Wizard's shields prove impervious to you. Lord Hawk, this emerging pattern alarms me.” Flying Arrow guffawed. “You still have your uses, Lord Hawk. What did you do with this Wizard after questioning him?”

  “He's still in the dungeons, Lord.” The Emperor usually doesn't question what I do with my victims, Lurking Hawk thought. “I'll probably station him at the worst post possible.”

  “At Burrow Garrison, eh?”

  “Indeed, Lord Emperor.”

  “Since it's just across the border from the fortress, Scowling Tiger and the other bandits can do your killing for you.”

  “Yes, Lord Emperor, how perceptive.”

  “What's your opinion of this Wizard's abilities?”

  “Formidable. He killed quite a few warriors before one thought to turn on a damper. Even so, he lacked a spine. He wouldn't be able to endure a post requiring real responsibility.”

  “What's his name, Lord Hawk? I'd be prudent to keep him in mind if ever I need another Sorcerer, eh?” Flying Arrow smiled that smile at Lurking Hawk.

  “Prudent, yes, Lord Emperor,” Lurking Hawk said, hating the other man.

  “I want his name, imbecile!” Flying Arrow spat.

  “Forgive me, Lord Emperor. Spraying Egret, I believe it was.”

  “Investigate him fully, Lord Hawk. Submit the report in writing.”

  “Yes, Lord Emperor.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Not that I know of, Lord Emperor.”

  “Begone, Lord Hawk.”

  Lurking Hawk made his obeisance and retreated.

  * * *

  The Emperor turned to contemplate the city aglow below, kneading his aching left arm.

  Is my consort pregnant or not? Flying Arrow wondered.

  Infinite help me if I have to arrange a similar insemination. Blast you, Father, you deliberately insured I'd never sire a child. May the Infinite roast your balls for all eternity!

  I must have an Heir!

  Chapter 12

  The social and legal forms that developed during the supremacy of the Swords show us the many ways that the societies tried to check their tyranny. Listen to the list of examples: The matriarchies, receivership, the Inviolate Insignia, the Council of Physicians, the title of Wizard, the Imperial Ruling Councils, the Southern Satrapies, the Eastern Prefectures. We need not look far to see that the struggle against the Swords was deep, pervasive and lasting.—From a lecture by Keeping Track, historian and author of The Fall of the Swords.

  The worst successions aren't even successions. They're interregnums, periods between reigns when Empires are torn asunder in the struggle between rival claimants. Interregnum successions occur when an Emperor doesn't appoint an Heir or has no Heir apparent. Sometimes the Imperial Sword kills the Heir, usually because he hasn't wielded the Heir Sword long enough. Ironically, the Heir Sword's primary function is to assure the succession. Even the Swords, however, cannot assure that the people will approve of the successor. When power changes hands to an unknown or unpopular Emperor, migrations often follow, sometimes civil wars.—Interregnums: Desperate Times, Tumultuous Times.

  * * *

  From the amphitheater ceiling hung the Inviolate Insignia, a map of the continent on the silk tapestry. Three quarters of the map bore the emblem of an Imperial Family. One quarter of the tapestry was empty of emblem, the northern lands empty of Empire. Fifteen years ago, Guarding Bear had conquered it, and Flying Arrow had massacred its peoples.

  Everyone in the four Empires—whether bandit or citizen, peasant or noble, poor or rich, young or old—regarded the Insignia as sacred. During war, the Insignia might enforce a truce in the midst of battle. During peace, the banner might lend inviolacy to the participants in negotiations, as on this occasion.

  The single prohibition of the Inviolate Insignia was simple and clear. The banner protected everyone at functions over which it flew. The penalty for violating this proscription was severe, the violators pursued more pitilessly than the makers and traders of talismans. The last time an Emperor had abused the Insignia was so far in the past that no one remembered the exact date. Everyone remembered the result, however. Three Empires had fallen on the offending fourth instantly after the violation, and within months had razed it.

  A strip of cold stone twenty paces wide divided the large, packed amphitheater. At either end of the strip sat a meditating rapathon who would broadcast the negotiations on the psychic flow to a watching Empire. Both were able to translate events without coloring their narrative with opinion or emotion.

  On either side of the empty strip sat a group of finely-dressed nobles. The members of each watched the group opposite.

  Hanging from the ceiling on one side of the amphitheater was a blue and white banner of a seven-arrow quiver. His right hand bandaged, Flying Arrow sat at the front of the Eastern delegation on a six-inch dais. Seated behind him on blue and white marble were his closest advisors. Among them were Lurking Hawk and Guarding Bear, glancing warily at each other. In the next row was the Emperor's personal guard. Behind them, ranked by lineage and station, sat the nobility of the Eastern Empire. Gathered was ninety-five percent of the wealth and power, and less than a half-percent of the people.

  Across the room, from the ceiling above Snarling Jaguar hung a brown and gold banner, on it a three-headed jaguar. The Emperor sat on a cushion at the front of his entourage, a single large sapphire adorning the Sword at his side. He watched the group opposite him and paid no attention to the activity behind. Among the Emperor's closest advisors were the Southern Sorcerer, Hungry Pirhana, and the Commanding General and Southern Heir, Stalking Jaguar, talking quietly with each other. Behind them, around a shielded, curtained palanquin, milled bureaucrats and sycophants of the Imperial Jaguar Entourage.

  From his seat between Soothing Spirit and Aged Oak, Guarding Bear looked closely at the Southern Emperor Snarling Jaguar, glancing away only to glare at Lurking Hawk.

  Like all the people behind him, Snarling Jaguar was a man of ebony skin. Tiny ringlets of midnight coil capped his head. Black irises punctured ivory eyes wise with years of difficult decision. His robes fit him like a second skin, made from the finest silks. Other than the Imperial Sword, not a baubl
e of jewelry adorned his person—except his hands. From his wrists to the ends of his fingers, a splendor of precious metal encased strong hands, an Emperor's ransom in silver, gold and platinum.

  “I hear you disarmed three assassins and gave them their weapons back,” Aged Oak whispered to Guarding Bear. Over the years the wrinkled man had unlearned the metaphor-laden dialect of Cove, the fishing port where he'd grown up. Now he spoke as well as most nobles.

  “You hear the wildest rumors, my friend.” Guarding Bear glared at the Sorcerer.

  Aged Oak saw the glare and smiled. “I also heard you gave the Traitor your sword and told him to kill you.”

  “Ludicrous.” Guarding Bear grinned at the Commanding General beside him. “It was only a knife.”

  Aged Oak's cheeks wrinkled up and puffed with stifled laughter. “Is the rest of that story true?” He'd taken command of the Eastern Armed Forces eighteen months ago, when Guarding Bear had retired.

  “Of course not,” the retired general said automatically.

  The General Oak smiled. The General Bear always denied the thousands of rumors about him. “Listen, my friend, if I had your face, I'd be Emperor by now.”

  “If you had my face, you'd just be ugly.” He returned his gaze to Snarling Jaguar. “Do you think he's uglier than me?”

  “That barbarian? Not with that scar on your nose.” Aged Oak chortled.

  The scarred General nudged the wrinkled General. “That's why I keep it.”

  “You'll need more than an ugly face today, my friend.”

  “A few ugly secrets will do.” Guarding Bear smiled as his old friend tried not to laugh aloud. The last nobles began to settle themselves. As always before a battle, the retired General thought through what he knew about his enemy, forgetting his promises.

  The second son of the Emperor Scratching Jaguar, Snarling Jaguar hadn't grow up a typical younger son. A quiet, studious boy, he never became the profligate prodigal everyone expected. Through his youth Snarling Jaguar lived in the shadow of his older brother, the Heir Leaping Jaguar. Scratching Jaguar virtually ignored him while grooming his older son for the throne. Snarling Jaguar grew up without limits but with the wealth of an Empire at his disposal.