The Spirit War

by Rachel Aaron

  Josef gritted his teeth with a growl of frustration. “That’s a very annoying weapon you have there, Dela. Does your Empress fight all her battles so cheaply, or am I the exception?”

  “The Empress fights for victory,” Adela said. “Anything else is merely the conceit of prideful swordsmen. ” She tapped his shoulder with her blade, forcing him to turn and face her. “You are defeated, Prince Thereson,” she crowed, beaming down at him. “Your wound is bleeding as it should now that I’ve separated you from that hunk of iron you call a sword. Give up. As it stands, I can still save your life, but you will be dead for certain if you persist in fighting. ”

  “Why should I give up?” Josef said, sitting back on his heels as he pressed both palms against the hole in his shoulder in a futile attempt to hold in the blood. “You think I believe you’ll let me live? After everything you’ve admitted to me?”

  “Of course,” Adela said. “With the duke dead and your mother soon to follow, you are next in line for the throne. If you die here, the succession will be broken completely. ”

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  “What do you care about the succession?” Josef wheezed. It was getting hard to sit straight now. “I’m not about to make you queen, if that’s what you’re after. ”

  Adela’s lips peeled up in a sneer. “Why would I want to be queen of this pit? Osera is a savage place, even by the standards of this savage, backward continent. To be honest, I don’t think this island is worthy of the Empress’s conquest, but my lady is more forgiving than I am. ”

  Adela lowered her sword and leaned down, bringing her head to Josef’s level. “The people of Osera are stubborn brutes,” she whispered. “Even without a king, they will throw themselves at the Empress’s soldiers, breaking like waves on the wall of her palace ships until the sea is red with Oseran blood. But there’s no reason the Empress’s coming has to be a massacre. Think, Thereson. If you live, you will become king of Osera with the power to make your people surrender. Since you came home when your mother raised the bounty, I can’t believe you’re as indifferent to your homeland as you pretend. It’s true that nothing you do can save Osera now, but there’s still a chance you can save your people. Pledge your loyalty to the Empress, and she may be merciful. ”

  Josef stared at her for a moment, and then he started to laugh. Each seize of his chest sent a wave of pain that nearly knocked him out, but he couldn’t stop. “You actually think…” He gasped. “You actually believe Osera would listen to me?”

  Adela scowled. “If you don’t like the terms, I can always stand here and watch you die. ” She straightened up again, flicking her sword until the point was level with Josef’s throat. “What will it be, Josef Liechten Thereson Eisenlowe? Life for you and your people at my Empress’s mercy, or certain death for every soul on this island? Choose quickly, we’re drawing a crowd. ”

  Josef glanced down. Sure enough, the square in front of the castle was packed with people. Some were pointing up at the prince and princess; others were simply staring dumbstruck at the cratered roof and shattered buildings. The crowd was entirely citizens, no guards or military, and Josef turned away to focus on the more important matters of Adela’s sword and his bleeding shoulder. But, just before his eyes left the crowd, he caught a pair of familiar faces.

  A second later, a cool breeze ruffled Josef’s hair.

  “Can’t we go faster?” Nico said, leaning out the carriage window.

  Eli clung to his seat for dear life. He’d been making the most of his first nonthieving-related arrest when Nico had come charging out of the shadows by the door and told everyone Adela was their traitor, that she’d killed her own guards and broken the queen’s Relay point, and that Josef was fighting her as they spoke. That was five minutes ago. Now, thanks to a few well-placed scares from Nico and Eli’s quick hand with knots, they were in a requisitioned military cart hurtling over the rutted streets of east Osera toward the palace.

  “Any faster and we’d end up flat against a building,” Tesset answered from his perch on the driver’s seat, holding the horses straight as the road veered and dipped. Tesset had come along without being asked, but Eli hadn’t complained, as the Council man had offered to drive. He was starting to regret that decision. Tesset made him nervous. Despite the plunging horses, the man’s expression never changed from interestedly neutral, as though this was all nothing more than a play he hadn’t quite decided he liked yet.

  Of course, if this was a play, Eli didn’t like the way the plot was going one bit. Clinging to the vibrating carriage, he glanced up at the rapidly approaching palace. It looked fine from this angle, but they’d heard the enormous crash a few minutes ago. From here, Eli couldn’t see what had caused it, but whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. Nothing good ever came of noises that loud.

  “We’re turning,” Tesset said. “Hold on. ”

  The carriage careened sideways, nearly sending Eli and Nico tumbling into the street. Nico was back in her seat a second later. Eli took significantly longer to pull himself upright.

  “What was that about?” Eli groaned, clutching his bruised shoulders as he watched the palace fly by on his left. “Stop! The palace is right there. ”

  “The fight’s on the western wing,” Tesset said. “We’re on the wrong side. If we stop here we’d have to walk through the palace. Better to drive around. ”

  Eli grimaced. “Just don’t take us into the front square. That’s where every—”

  He cut off as Tesset careened the cart again. “Would you stop that?” Eli shouted, holding on for dear life.

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  If Tesset heard him, he gave no sign. They were darting through the rich neighborhood just below the palace now, weaving in and out of the growing traffic. But as they turned down a street that led to the palace square, Tesset reined the horse to a skidding halt, forcing Nico and Eli to hold on or be thrown.

  “Didn’t I tell you?” Eli cried. “Not the square!”

  Tesset ignored him and hopped down. Shaking and cursing, Eli followed, leaving the cart and the panting horses standing in the middle of the street. As Eli had predicted, the entrance to the palace square was blocked by a mass of people crawling over each other to see what was happening.

  “I told you,” Eli said again, pointing disgustedly at the wall of backs. “We’ll never get through now. ”

  “What’s the matter, thief?” Tesset said. “Afraid of a little crowd?”

  Eli started to tell him exactly what was wrong with that question, but before he could get a word in, Nico and Tesset stepped up to the edge of the crowd and began pushing people out of the way. Fortunately for all involved, the crowd in the square was too preoccupied to care about a little pushing. They were all staring up at the palace roof. Some were pushing toward it, but more were trying to get away. Eli didn’t blame them. The western side of the palace was a wreck. The palace watchtower was half gone, its northern side blown out completely, which explained the boom from earlier. Fallen hunks of stone littered the square and the buildings around it, especially the elegant building at the castle’s northwest corner, which seemed to have lost a large chunk of its roof. Eli was still wondering what could have caused such massive destruction when Nico grabbed his arm and pointed up at the palace roof.

  Of course, Eli sighed. Who else?

  Josef was on his back on one of the castle gutters with Adela standing over him. Even at this distance, Eli could see it was bad. The stone beneath Josef was dark with blood, and the Heart was nowhere to be seen. Adela’s mouth was moving, but this far away her words were lost in the noise of the crowd and the endless wind.

  “It’s a bad position. ”

  Eli glanced at Tesset, who had stopped pushing the crowd and was now eyeing the battle with professional interest.

  “Liechten should be able to take a girl like that,” he continued. “She must have a gimmick, and he must have
fallen for it hard if he’s on his back, especially considering how he took Sted. Still, won’t be long if he keeps bleeding like that. ”

  “Josef will win,” Nico hissed.

  “I’m with Nico,” Eli said. “I would be an old man by now if I let myself panic every time I saw Josef at death’s door. He’ll win, I’m sure. Our problem is what comes after. ”

  Nico shot Eli a furious look. “What do you mean?”

  “Listen,” Eli said, dropping his voice.

  Nico and Tesset obeyed, falling silent as the noise of the crowd rolled over them.

  “Go on, princess!” an old man shouted. “Kill the traitor!”

  “Thereson is a murderer!” someone else shouted behind them. “He killed the duke! Avenge Finley!”

  “He’s no prince of ours!” a woman cried. “Kill him! Kill the traitor!”

  And on and on and on.

  “I see what you mean,” Tesset said at last.

  “They’re all idiots,” Nico said at the same time. “How dare they—”

  “Nico,” Eli’s voice held a sharp warning. Nico glared at him, but shut her mouth. Eli smiled apologetically at Tesset and grabbed Nico’s shoulder, turning her around and leaning down so that their heads were together.

  “Listen,” he whispered. “Josef’s going to win this fight, but it’s our duty to make it count. ”

  Nico nodded. “What have you got in mind?”

  “We’re going to clear his name,” Eli said. “But first, I need you to find me a wind. ”

  Nico gave him a skeptical look, but she didn’t question him. Instead, she looked up, her eyes darting across the sky. “There,” she said, pointing up.

  Eli followed her finger with his eyes. “You!” he cried, layering just a hint of power into his voice as his finger shot out, pointing at the same spot in the sky as Nico. “Can I ask a favor?”

  He felt immensely stupid yelling at the empty air, but he hid it with a confident smile. Thankfully, a few seconds later, a strong breeze ruffled his hair.

  “Good guess,” the wind whispered in his ear. “I’m impressed enough to hear you out, wizard. ”

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  “You’re too kind,” Eli said. “I have a bit of an odd task for you, but I promise I’ll make it worth your while. ”

  His shirt fluttered as the wind turned in a circle. “I’m listening. ”

  Eli glanced at Nico with a wry smile and launched into his plan. Beside him, Tesset listened with growing interest. By the time the wind agreed and blew away, he was grinning as wide as any of them.

  “Never boring with you, is it, Monpress?”

  Eli flinched at the mention of his name, but he hid it flawlessly, turning on Tesset with a winning smile.

  “I should hope not, Mr. Tesset. ”

  He would have said more, but Nico smacked his arm and put her finger to her lips. Eli nodded and turned back to Josef, who was still lying on his back looking at Adela, who wasn’t talking anymore. The seconds crawled by, and then, without warning, a great wind picked up around them.

  That was his cue. Eli cleared his throat and cupped his hands over his mouth. A small, thin flow of air whistled through his curled fingers. Eli licked his lips as the wind brushed over them and very softly began to speak.

  High above the crowd on the palace roof, Josef held Adela’s gaze, his lips pursed in exaggerated consideration as he made a show of thinking her offer over. But his attention was on the wind in his ears and the familiar voice it carried.

  “Josef,” Eli’s disembodied voice whispered. “If you can hear me, give a sign. ”

  Josef shifted his knee, nudging a chunk of broken stone so that it clattered down the roof.

  “Good enough,” Eli said. “I’m guessing Adela has come clean as a traitor by now?”

  Josef nodded without thinking, and then froze when Adela’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  “Powers, don’t do that,” Eli hissed in his ear. “Listen, before you roll out whatever you’re planning, I need you to follow my instructions to the letter. ”

  It took all his willpower not to roll his eyes, but Josef stayed still, listening to Eli’s plan. Adela tilted her head at his silence, obviously growing impatient, but by the time she got mad enough to show it, Josef knew exactly what to do.

  “I grow weary of this,” Adela said, edging her sword a little closer to Josef’s neck. “Which will it be, Thereson? Die here and doom your island, or surrender and spare yourself and your people?”

  Josef leaned back. “You tell me. ”

  Adela paused. “What do you mean?”

  “This is the day you’ve been preparing for all your life, right?” He jerked his head to the east. “Your Immortal Empress is finally coming, and you’ve dutifully done everything you could to pave the way for her. You killed Duke Finley and his son, poisoned the queen, probably burned the clingfire stock too, now that I think about it. Doesn’t really matter anymore, I guess. ”

  Adela’s hand tightened on her sword. “What are you playing at?”

  “I never play, princess,” Josef said, his voice deadly serious. “It’s no secret I’m a terrible prince to Osera. I don’t even know what’s going on half the time. Now you’re standing there asking me to make decisions about the country’s future?” He shrugged as far as he could with his wound. “How should I know? Traitor or spy or whatever your true colors, the sad truth is you’ve done more as Osera’s princess than I ever did as her prince. This is your moment, Dela, not mine. So you tell me, what should Osera do?”

  Adela lowered her sword with an exasperated look. “Leaving his country’s fate to her betrayer? You truly are a terrible prince, Thereson. ”

  She stabbed her blade point down into the roof and leaned on it, the loose strands of her dark hair blowing wildly in the strong wind. “You want to know the fate I would choose for Osera?” she said, smiling down at him the way she used to when they were kids. “Fine. I want it to burn. All of it. Do you know what it was like, growing up here? You people are barbarians, with your insistence on blood lines and noble houses. My mother grew up in the bosom of the Empire. She told me stories of a perfect land where everyone is judged on merit and loyalty. Where disobedient idiots like you are cast away while people like me become leaders because of our skill, not our birth. People still die of hunger here. Can you believe it? In the Empire there is no war, no famine, no natural disasters. Spirit or a human, everything there is clean, ordered, and perfect, and all the Empress asks in exchange for this perfection is obedience. ”

  She flung out her arm, pointing at the city below. “You can’t know what it’s like!” she cried in disgust. “To know that paradise exists while you are trapped in this pigsty. But my exile is over. ” She grabbed her sword and swung it back toward him with a mad, enraptured smile. “My mother and I have fulfilled our purpose. We have cleared every obstacle that stands in the Empress’s path and offered up this pathetic excuse of a kingdom to her like a peeled grape on a platter. When the Empress arrives, we shall be rewarded beyond anything you can imagine, and when I’m standing at her side, I will look down on the burning shell of Osera, and I will laugh. I will laugh and sing my Empress’s praises while her soldiers slaughter every last one of you ignorant, barbaric savages. ”

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  “Then you’re not sorry,” Josef said, leaning away from the quivering point of her sword. “Not about killing the duke and his son? Or about the years you’ve spent poisoning my mother?”

  “Of course not. ” Adela laughed, her voice echoing in the wind. “I’d kill Finley again if I could, the pompous bore. And Henry. I can’t tell you how happy I am that the Empress came quickly and I don’t have to waste my life being his queen and bearing his dull-witted children. As for Theresa, she deserves what she got for being so trusting. The only thing I regret is that I had to pretend to lose to you at the Proving, but
I intend to remedy that now. ” Adela smiled, her sword inching forward to press against the naked skin of his throat. “You should have been smarter, Prince Thereson, than to let your enemy choose your fate. ”

  “I don’t think so,” Josef said, tilting his head into the wind. “Is that enough?”

  “More than enough,” Eli’s voice drifted on the breeze. “We heard the whole thing. ”

  Adela’s eyes went wide, and she swung around, searching for the source of the voice, but the roof was empty.

  “Who’s there?” she shouted. “Show yourself!”

  Her only answer was the wind’s low moaning as it swept past her, blowing her voice down over the now completely silent crowd.

  “Well,” Josef said, pushing himself up. “If you’ve got all you need, we’ll finish it from here. ”

  Adela spun back around, bringing her sword right up to the skin beneath Josef’s chin. “What do you mean ‘we’? You are alone! No one can save you!”

  Josef didn’t move, not even to flinch away from the blade at his throat. “Wrong, princess. You were the only one who was fighting alone. ”

  Adela bared her teeth with a snarl and flicked her wrist, sending a wave of steel down her sword that would slice Josef’s neck in two. But before the wave was halfway down the blade, the Heart of War’s spirit exploded open, and the weight of a mountain fell on the palace.

  CHAPTER

  18

  Eli watched in amazement from his place in the equally amazed crowd as the corner of the palace where Josef and Adela’s drama had been playing out suddenly fell straight down. There was no warning, no crumbling, no falling stone. One moment Adela was standing with her sword at Josef’s throat, unknowingly incriminating herself to all of Osera, and the next the entire western side of the palace had flattened as though stepped on by an enormous, invisible foot.

  For three heartbeats, the people simply stared, and then the crowd turned as one and began to stampede out of the square. Tesset calmly retreated to the recessed entry of a nearby building as the tide of people surged past. Eli dove behind him far less calmly, pressing himself flat against the painted door as far from the panic as he could get. He was thinking about picking the lock when a wind’s voice giggled in his ear.