by D N Meinster
Doren's heartbeat slowed as the tense atmosphere in the chamber dissipated. Simma had taken out a tenacious assassin without aid. She had even asked Rikki not to get involved. It was an immensely impressive feat, and Doren realized he had not taken his eyes off of her since the engagement ended.
Stepping away from Simma, Emperor Luewen turned his attention to his guests. "I apologize for that, my friends. It is the third attempt on my life this season. I thought we had taken enough precautions to prevent another. Surely, we must do better. Lady Simma, you will be in charge of all security arrangements from this point forward. You may dismiss Lord Gaines from his post."
Simma graciously bowed. "I will protect your life as if my own."
"You always have." The Emperor returned her bow. "Now, it would be most pleasing if our guests introduced themselves. I have been told you are from Kytheras, correct?"
Rikki, who was nearest to Luewen, answered first. "Yes, Lord Emperor. I am Rikki Nasem, Grand Mage of Kytheras."
The Emperor did not reply, waiting for the next visitor to speak.
Doren, moving his eyes off Simma, looked at the Emperor. "I am Doren Tunsev, son of King Halstrom and Prince of Kytheras." He did not bow but wondered if it was customary to do so.
When Aros failed to say anything afterward, Doren poked his shoulder. "Go ahead."
"Oh," Aros said, startled. "Aros Asilias, Guardian of Kytheras." He scratched the back of his head and then gave an abrupt bow.
Luewen brushed a finger against his mustache. "So, we really do have a prince, a mage, and a guardian here in Faunli. I must be the first Emperor in ages to greet such an envoy." He returned to his throne but said nothing as his eyes darted from guest-to-guest.
It was strange for so many people to be so silent. They all seemed entranced by the appearance of three Kytherans. Doren slipped his hand into his pocket and felt for the scroll his father had given him. This was probably the best time to present it.
Doren stepped forward, but it was Aros that spoke first. "What was that noise from outside? What did they try to kill you with?"
The Emperor was amused by such a question. "Do you not have explosives in Kytheras?"
Doren's hand was still as he tried to recall if he knew of any explosives in Castle Tornis. He was not familiar with the term and doubted such a weapon could be hidden away.
"No, of course not," Luewen said, answering his own question. "It was dynamite. Set it aflame and throw it. Then watch it destroy all that you hoped it would. They tried to get me with arrows and swords before. I will be fascinated to find out what they try next."
"Who is trying to kill you?" Rikki asked.
Luewen glanced at Simma before answering. "My brother."
Halstrom had told them that Faunli was at war with itself. But he left out the specifics. Doren held up the scroll his father had given him, more curious to read it himself than hand it over.
"What's that?" Luewen asked, noticing the parchment.
"A message from my father." Doren handed the scroll to the Emperor.
"Why is your brother trying to kill you?" Aros asked as Luewen unfurled the letter.
"Simma," Luewen called on her to explain as his eyes dashed over the note.
"Lord Luewen is the oldest son of our father, Emperor Boramo, who passed away fifteen seasons ago," Simma began. "It is tradition for the eldest son to take his father's place, not just here in Radite, but across our kingdom. My brother Kuwain respected our traditions and showed no misgivings when Lord Luewen became Emperor. But he grew jealous of my brother. I never thought Kuwain would but – " The warrior's facade failed for an instant, giving only a brief hint of internal anguish. "At first, he waged a silent war against Luewen, winning the pledges of noble families and soldiers. And then, he tried to kill him. I did not allow that to happen. After he failed, Kuwain fled and has been fighting us ever since."
Simma and Doren locked eyes, and for that moment he felt like all of her misery was his own. When she broke away, he was left with only lingering agony and a reminder that he may one day face such unpleasant choices.
"Our civil war is but a trivial matter now," Luewen said, rolling up the letter. "If your king's words are to be trusted." He held out the scroll for Doren to retrieve. "Tell me, Prince Doren, is your father an honorable man?"
Doren's mouth went dry, and every screaming match he had taken part in with his father bounced around his mind. Honorable was never a word Doren had used to describe the King. He was out of touch with his son and the kingdom at large. He was a fool that took the advice of lesser fools. He was a widower in constant grief.
But there was another side to him, that he had shown only in the last few days. There was compassion, and even understanding, deep within. Whether Hatswick's duplicity had roused him or forced the depression from his mind, the King had stepped up as both ruler and father. Doren suddenly realized he missed him. He barely got a chance to know this better man.
Still, honorable? This was not a commonly used word in Kytheras. Honor came from battle, and there just wasn't much of that in the kingdom these days.
"You may place faith in his words," Doren told the Emperor. "And we will confirm all that he has written, if you wish."
Luewen moved the scroll toward Simma. "Read this, sister." She took the scroll as the Emperor aimed his attention at Rikki. "When Hatswick was here last, he was still Grand Mage of Kytheras. I find it curious that now you are using that title."
Rikki held herself high as she addressed the Emperor. "Hatswick is a Thalian. A sin mage cannot be the Grand Mage. And there are no other mages left in Kytheras."
"Hatswick was the only Kytheran I'd actually met until today. The only mage as well. There has not been one mage born in Faunli since the Liberation." Luewen sighed. "Can you explain why the man that helped defeat Neanthal now serves him?"
"For the same reason your brother betrayed you," Rikki answered. "Hatswick was jealous of Amelia's power, so he turned against Magenine and to the only one who could grant him what he lacked."
"He told you this?" Luewen asked.
"Yes. When we stopped him."
The Emperor considered her words. "I am a student of Ghumaic history, among other things. It is because I am so learned that I am able to directly communicate with you now. I know of Hatswick's accomplishments. And when I met him, he seemed no weaker than when he was able to take on the Beast with only one other. So tell me, how exactly were three youths of Kytheras able to stop him?"
"Do you think we would lie?" Doren asked, furious at the implication.
"It would not be wise of me to blindly trust the words of Kytherans. Our people have had a rivalry since our kingdoms were founded. This could be a deception conjured up by your king or even my brother." The Emperor stood. "Is it coincidence that an assassin arrived at the same time as you? I think not."
"Brother," Simma called out to him. "You're jumping to conclusions without allowing them to speak."
Luewen remained standing. "Are we really expected to take a Kytheran's word on Neanthal's imminent return?"
"You should," Rikki stated with fury. She grabbed onto her staff with both hands, as if preparing to use it on Faunli's ruler. "Do not allow your bias to blind you to what is happening in our world."
"But still you do not reveal how you defeated the true Grand Mage of Kytheras," the Emperor bellowed.
"I am the Grand Mage of Kytheras!" Rikki slammed her staff down onto the floor and the chamber shook as if an even worse explosion went off outside. "I am Amelia's heir. We defeated Hatswick with the help of the Goddess, and She will not let you stand in Her way."
Simma placed a hand on Rikki's shoulder before stepping between her and her brother. "I see no deceit in this letter."
Doren's eyes returned to Simma, and he hoped she would be able to alleviate the situation. Rikki was clearly ready to unleash her magic upon the Emperor, and Aros' hands were already on the hilts of his blades. They might be at war with Faunli t
hemselves within moments.
It had never crossed Doren's mind that he and his friends might have to force Faunli's leader to turn the Key over to them. He expected reason and unity upon the revelation made in Halstrom's letter, not obstinance.
Then again, he had never encountered a Faun before.
The soldiers at the fringes of the room were already on edge. They moved to encircle the trio as Simma pleaded with the Emperor to place faith in their visitors.
"We only have their words," Luewen argued, before switching to his native tongue. There was a back-and-forth between them that was incomprehensible to Doren and his friends.
"Are we going to fight now?" Aros asked, with an obvious note of glee in his voice.
Doren looked at Aros, as if noticing him for the first time. "Do not draw your weapons until the last possible second," he ordered.
If Rikki were to strike the Emperor, they would need to move hastily to take out the soldiers. Simma would have to be their focus, as she was the most dangerous person in the room. Doren hoped he wouldn't have to battle her, or worse.
Luewen sat back on his throne, and Simma backed away, returning the scroll to Doren.
The Emperor's crossed arms and sour face suggested pouting, and he remained silent before commanding his soldiers to step back. "I apologize. It is not becoming of a Faun to treat his guests so poorly. And to doubt their words without basis."
Doren stuffed the scroll back in his pocket, and Rikki eased up on her staff. There was not going to be a need for violence after all. Only Aros remained tense as the Emperor continued to speak.
"You see, your king requested I turn over our key to you. Lady Simma reminded me that you would not realize what that means. The Key has taken on new meaning since it was given to us three hundred years ago. It has been worn by every emperor since the Liberation; imbued with their spirit and protected like it was their child. It is a symbol of leadership in our dynasty. I could not fathom turning it over to anyone, not even to save all of Ghumai."
Doren's eyes searched around the Emperor's neck for the Key, but he saw no sign of it. There was not even a bulge beneath his robes that might hint of its presence.
"You don't have it," Doren said.
"No, I do not," Luewen replied. "Even if I was willing to part with it, I could not turn it over to you. My brother took it on the very day he tried to take my throne. As far as I know, he still has it."
"Where is he?" Aros asked.
"His camp's outside Fair Forest. He amasses an army to seize this city for himself. He will never claim it."
"If we take it from him, we cannot return it to you," Rikki told him.
"I know," Luewen answered. "It is much easier to give it to you now, when I do not have it, then it would have been if I did. Take Faunli's Key, and stop Hatswick from releasing Neanthal back into Ghumai."
Rikki gave him a bow, and Doren followed her lead.
"We are most gracious for your gift," Rikki said.
"Simma, take our guests to the wall and point them in the right direction. I truly hope Magenine is with you, as you say." Luewen stepped down from his throne and made to leave the room. Trumpeters appeared out of nowhere to play for him as he departed.
"This way," Simma shouted, attempting to speak over the music. She led the trio out of the chamber, to the front steps of the palace.
In spite of the late hour, men were working just outside. The explosives had morphed an extensive chunk of the staircase into a crater, which was already being cleaned up and repaired. If Simma had not ejected the assassin, he may have killed everyone in the chamber in addition to the Emperor.
"I can fix this for you," Rikki suggested.
"Let our men do it," Simma replied. "We cannot get used to having a mage fix our problems." She led them toward the periphery of the staircase. "Just watch your step."
Doren took note of the long way down. The crater was some yards away, but the integrity of the stairs could have been undermined. He followed Rikki and Simma, hopeful that if the stairway collapsed beneath them, Rikki could keep them airborne.
Doren let out his breath when they touched the ground, and Simma smiled at him. "Was the Prince nervous?"
"No," Doren blurted out, obviously lying. His heart sped up as he noticed how genial her expression was.
"Don't worry, Doren. I would've caught you before you turned into a crater," Rikki teased, playfully jabbing an elbow into his gut.
"You know just the right thing to say," Doren mocked.
There were fits of giggles coming from everyone, except Aros. He stood, unamused, waiting to move on.
Simma studied Aros as they started toward the wall. "Why did you choose to bring this guardian?"
"We didn't choose," Rikki replied. "The Goddess did."
"What do you mean?"
"She's been talking to Aros," Doren told her.
Aros glowered. "Not recently."
"Is that why he carries the Key?" Simma asked. She pointed to the key-shaped lump beneath his pants.
"You can see it?" Aros asked as he pulled it back out into the open.
As he watched the Key sway back-and-forth, Doren was reminded of how his father kept Aergo's sword on him at nearly all times. The emperors of Faunli did the same with Amelia's Key. These men clung to the past so fastidiously. Deep down, were they thrilled that they may confront the same ancient horror that ruled over Ghumai three hundred years ago? No longer would they grasp at history through trinkets; they would face it themselves.
"Be grateful my brother failed to notice it," Simma was saying. "If he had, he may have forced you to surrender it."
"Why would he do that?" Aros asked, wrapping his fingers around the Key to shelter it from this perceived threat.
"He told you what it means to Faunli," she answered. "Which is more important than what it can do."
"Why didn't you take it for him then?" Doren asked without making eye contact.
Simma searched the area to make sure no one was potentially eavesdropping. But there seemed to be no souls wandering about the glorious stronghold this evening. "I do what is in the best interest of the empire. Keeping Luewen on the throne was part of that. And keeping that key in your possession is as well."
"What was so bad about Kuwain?" Rikki said.
Simma pondered the question for the entire length of time she was escorting them. They walked on without speaking as that question hung in the air.
Was it more than jealousy that made Kuwain want to depose his sibling? As the quiet persisted, Doren realized that there was a lot about Faunli he was not being told. And maybe that was for the better. They had no reason nor intention to get involved in Faun affairs. They were here for the Key. Once they got it, they could leave, and let the civil war settle the important matters.
When they arrived at the wall, Simma spoke, but still did not answer Rikki's question. She ordered the gates opened in her language, and then inspected the trio with her starlit eyes. "Faunli is not like Kytheras. Every village is a community unto itself, with its own rules and beliefs. They are only united by deference to the Emperor. But now, we can't even depend on that.
"Between each village, there is more open space then you may have come across in your lives. It is the perfect environment for lesser men to prey on you. Or even lesser creatures. I trust you can take care of yourselves, but I felt I had to warn you. The empire is my home, yet each day I grow more ashamed of what it is becoming." She dabbed a finger at the corner of her eye. "Fair Forest lies to the south." Simma stepped beyond the wall and pointed where they were to go. "Head in that direction, and you should make it there in a matter of days."
She came back inside the city's boundary and bowed to all of them. "And when you reach my brother, do not ask for the Key. Just take it."
With that she left them, heading back toward the imperial palace.
"Is there any ruling family without issues?" Rikki wondered aloud.
Doren couldn't help but laugh.
Apparently not.
Chapter Four
Lineage
"Why are they called Lord and Lady?" Aros asked his friends as they moved further from the capital. Every so often, he glanced back at Radite, watching the night and distance diminish its stature.
"Schools in our kingdom must be terrible," Doren lamented. "Did you not go over Faunli's societal layout?"
Aros shrugged even though he doubted Doren could see him. He could barely see his companions this night. The stars just weren't bright enough, and the moons were almost completely lost behind the shadow of the clouds.
Aros didn't want to think back to his schooling. All that would do was remind him of her, and he was trying to keep those memories out of his head. Did they want him to break down? Anytime her face flashed before his eyes, he would nearly weep. Each phrase that recalled her voice made him lose track of the world around him. And the very mention of her murderer brought about uncontrollable venom. It was not getting easier to keep up appearances the farther they got from Kytheras.
"Lord and Lady are titles for landowners," Rikki finally answered him. "The Korona Dynasty owns Radite, while the Emperor is considered to own all of Faunli."
"There are many Lords and Ladies," Doren added. "But only one emperor."
"Or that's how it used to be," Rikki revised Doren's statement. "Now there are two emperors."
Aros no longer cared about the questions he had about Faunli. They became trivial as his emotions went wild within him. He had to focus. Keep them under control. She might not be here, but he was with his friends. He had to stay cool for them.
Fed up with walking in darkness, Rikki lit the channeling crystal on her staff. It glowed softly, just enough to see her friends at her side and a few feet in front of them. The light could make them all a target, and it would be challenging to see bandits and the like sneaking up. "How long should we travel at night?" she asked.