The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3

by Christina Ochs

  “Open the door.” By now it was dark, and someone brought a torch forward to cast light on the lock. The door swung open and Landrus blinked at the torchlight. “Unfasten his chains.” The same man held the key for those as well. He was nervous and fumbling and took an eternity.

  Kendryk looked back to see a riderless horse brought up. “Can you ride?” he asked Landrus, who was rubbing his wrists rubbed raw by the chains.

  “I can, Your—” he caught himself before giving Kendryk away yet again.

  His chains removed from his ankles, Landrus stood up unsteadily. His legs had likely fallen asleep, bolted as they were to the bench in the wagon. Kendryk grabbed him by the hand and pulled him out. Before letting go, so he could mount his horse, Landrus looked Kendryk straight in the eye and said, “Thank you.”

  “I’m sorry I took so long to do the right thing.”

  Landrus swung stiffly into the saddle. “There is nothing to be sorry for. All of this is happening how the gods ordained it.”

  “I hope so.”

  Kendryk’s efficient captain bundled the guards who were still standing into the wagon and locked the door. He flung the key into the woods, but they’d break the door soon enough. It was time to go.

  They rode out of the camp in all haste. By now, word had spread, and there were shouts and hoofbeats in the distance. With such a large party, they couldn’t make a silent escape and would have to rely on speed and their ability to lose themselves in the woods.

  It was dark, but they extinguished all torches. Kendryk hoped they’d be able to find the path back into the woods. They came upon the spot soon since they were now at a gallop. Mikus leaned from his saddle and pulled the piece of cloth from the branch. “Just where we left it,” he said, grinning.

  “Thank the gods.” Kendryk turned on the path, Landrus at his side. They would go first, with the bulk of the men guarding their rear. “And thank the gods for you too, my good man.”

  Mikus grinned some more. “We’re not there yet, Your Grace. Finding our way will be tricky.”

  “I imagine we can light torches in a while.”

  “Perhaps. But we want to be leagues away from any pursuit.”

  Moonlight glinted through the trees, lighting their path. Kendryk was grateful for it. Without it, he wouldn’t have dared to follow this little trail at night. They moved at a good pace at first so that all the men would be off the road and in the trees as quickly as possible. At some point, they heard shouting far away, and even spotted the gleam of a few torches on the main road. Everyone stopped and held their breaths, but it seemed their pursuers never noticed the forest path. This would buy them at least a little time.

  They rode in silence for a time, the moon rising higher. Finally Landrus asked, “What comes next?”

  “I don’t know,” Kendryk said. “First, we see you safe to Terragand.”

  “Back to the castle?”

  “You’re no longer a prisoner, so I’d prefer to have you as my guest at Birkenhof.”

  “That is kind. But I have much work to do and don’t know how much time I’ll get to do it.”

  “We’ll find a quiet room in the palace for you to work as much as you like, though I’m sure Gwynneth will insist on having you join us for dinner.”

  “Did I ever tell you I like your wife very much?”

  Kendryk grinned. “Who doesn’t?” Then his mood shifted. “I don’t know what will happen after we get there. Teodora has her hands full right now, but if she dislodges Korma and renews the Zastwar treaty, I imagine she will stop at nothing to get you back.”

  “I expect she will,” Landrus said. “But just as all of this has happened as it should, the gods will continue to guide and help you. You will not be alone in this fight.”

  “So you think it will come to a fight?” Even though Kendryk had trained for battle since he could stand and could acquit himself well in a tournament, he’d never thought he would have to use those skills. Today was the first time in his life he’d used a weapon with intent to harm.

  Landrus nodded. “I believe it will. Any other ruler might have been willing to negotiate. But you’ve injured Teodora’s pride, and she will not forgive you for that. I am sorry for anything I have brought down upon you.”

  Kendryk shook his head. “No, I believe it had to come to this. You saw what the mood was in Kronfels. I hear it’s that ugly everywhere in Kronland. Teodora is at her weakest and someone had to act. I was hoping it wouldn’t be me, but here we are.”

  “Here we are, indeed.” Landrus smiled in the dark.

  Gwynneth

  The rescue party traveled quickly, but so had Gwynneth, and they all arrived at Birkenhof on the same day. After moving into the palace, Landrus was very eager to get back to work and he and Kendryk headed to the study they’d set up for him right after breakfast the next morning. Gwynneth also had much work to do, so she settled in the library where Halvor was scribbling away.

  She wrote letters until noon, explaining what had happened at the trial and how this translated into a severe overreach of imperial authority. Technically, Teodora should not have intervened at all, let alone have any say in the conduct of it.

  “The lines between Temple and empire have become blurred,” she wrote. “This contradicts our holiest teachings and traditions. The Kronland rulers received authority over Temple matters in their own lands because it became clear long ago that the empire shouldn’t be involved in these matters. That the empress now feels entitled to intervene is at best, worrisome, and at worst, illegal.”

  She set Halvor and her ladies to making at least five dozen copies, which she sent to every political and Temple leader she knew. With each copy, she sent a note of her own. She didn’t think it wise to come straight out and ask for direct aid, but she hinted that anyone supporting Kendryk now would benefit when he prevailed against Teodora.

  They worked right through luncheon, eating cold meat and bread in the library. Gwynneth felt exhausted, but couldn’t stop until she’d dispatched every letter.

  A footman interrupted her mid-afternoon. “It’s Julia Maxima, Your Grace. She wants to see the prince.”

  “I’m sure she does.” Gwynneth stood. “Show her into the drawing room and I’ll see her.”

  “Shouldn’t Prince Kendryk speak with her?” Linette asked.

  Gwynneth shook her head. “No. He’s much too intimidated by Julia. She’ll try to get him to agree to something, and then he’ll feel bound. It’s better if I handle her.”

  “Your Holiness,” Gwynneth said, entering the drawing room. “I didn’t expect you to be back already.”

  Julia had come straight from the road though she looked unruffled as always. “I hurried as soon as I heard of your husband’s escapade. I don’t suppose he’s here?”

  “Not at the moment, though I expect him to return soon. Won’t you be seated and take refreshment?”

  Julia sat, then said, “I wish only to clear this up.”

  Gwynneth sat across from her. “Nothing needs to be cleared up. It should be obvious.”

  “The only thing that’s obvious is that Prince Kendryk has declared himself a heretic right alongside former Father Landrus.”

  “We don’t believe that Father Landrus is a heretic.”

  Julia pursed her lips. “I can see you don’t take this the least bit seriously, but perhaps you should. If your husband doesn’t hand Father Landrus over to the Temple authorities, he will follow Landrus into excommunication, and you and the children will join him.”

  “I’m not interested in remaining part of a faith that has such antiquated views. In Norovaea, we already believe the things Father Landrus teaches and I can assure you, they are not heresy.”

  “We are not in Norovaea.” Julia restrained her temper with obvious effort. “By the Mother, I knew I should not have given in to the prince when he insisted you understood our ways. It is clear you do not, and now you have pulled him into error with you.”

 
“Or saved him from it.” Gwynneth looked her straight in the eye. “I have no quarrel with you, Your Holiness, but my husband’s actions speak for themselves. I’m sure you know him well enough to realize he did not take them lightly. He spent untold hours in prayer and study and took them with great reluctance when he saw there was no other way.”

  “Praying and studying under the influence of that man.” Julia spat the last words. “And that man knows exactly what he is doing.” She stood. “He has your husband bewitched and is leading him down a path that will lead to war and the ruin of everything.”

  Gwynneth stood up and faced her without flinching. “I don’t believe it needs to come to that.”

  “Then you don’t understand power, and you understand Teodora Inferrara even less. She will not rest until you and your family are destroyed. If you want your children to survive this, you should send them to your father without delay.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  Julia chuckled though her eyes were cold. “Oh, you needn’t worry about me. I can deplore the prince’s actions as much as I want, but I cannot force him to my will. The empress is another matter.”

  “The empress has her hands full.”

  “Right now she does. But if you think she will forget about this once her other problems are solved, you are mistaken.” She swept to the door and turned to Gwynneth before opening it. “You can tell your husband I’ll see him any time he wishes to speak with me. He knows where to find me.” She continued into the hallway and out the front door without another word.

  Gwynneth clasped her hands behind her and walked to the window. It was hot and humid and the entire bank of front windows stood open. In the distance, she could hear the shouts of the children playing in the garden. She wondered if she should send them to Norovaea, although the wrong people might misinterpret that as cowardice.

  The best thing now was to stay resolute and show no fear. There was nothing to be fearful of anyway. Teodora had her hands tied with her capital besieged and Gwynneth’s sources told her that Zastwar would demand serious concessions before agreeing to a renewal of the treaty. Knowing Teodora, she would never give in, and Zastwar would soon march on her eastern frontier.

  In the current climate, she wouldn’t receive speedy help from Kronland, and least of all from Terragand, which supplied the largest number of troops. With any luck at all, she’d be deposed or killed, or both. Gwynneth smiled to herself. At that point, it would be easy enough for Kendryk to step into the breach, secure a peace, send Zastwar home, and then who knew? He might be seen as the savior of the empire.

  Braeden

  Teodora pushed them hard, so they didn’t stop to make camp and the messenger didn’t catch up to them until after midnight. Both she and her horse looked exhausted. “Your Highness,” she gasped. “It’s the priest. He’s gone.”

  Teodora wheeled her horse around, forcing Braeden to a sudden stop. “What do you mean he’s gone?”

  “They took him.”

  “What are you on about woman? Who took him?”

  “A large group of armed men. No one is completely sure who led them though a few of the guards say they might have recognized Prince Kendryk.”

  “Tell me precisely what happened.” Teodora held her temper in check with visible effort.

  The messenger hadn’t been present, but recounted what she’d heard. Someone had swooped down on the baggage train, overpowered the guards and taken the priest away.

  “Surely you gave pursuit?” Teodora asked.

  “Oh yes, the guards went after them, but they’d disappeared into the woods.”

  “They’ll make for Terragand of course,” Teodora said. “Terris, get your troops ready. You’re going to catch Prince Kendryk and retrieve the prisoner. If you happen to kill the prince in the process, I’ll be very grateful.”

  Braeden turned to give orders, but Count Solteszy said, “Just a moment, Your Highness. I’m not sure this is the best course of action.”

  “What do you mean?” Teodora’s tone was dangerous. Braeden expected her to blow at any second and he didn’t want to be there when it happened.

  “It might take the hussars several days to catch Prince Kendryk and bring him back.” Solteszy seemed to be the only man immune to Teodora’s tantrums and never failed to give his opinion. For such a gray little fellow, he had nerve.

  “I don’t care.” Teodora spat. “I want him right now, preferably dead.”

  “You won’t get him right now. It will take days at best, and those are days Andor Korma will use to dig in. We can’t hope to stop him without the hussars.”

  “I can’t let Kendryk get away with this.”

  “Of course not. You will deal with him soon enough. But getting your capital back is far more important than dealing with an insubordinate prince.”

  “This is intolerable.” Teodora fumed. “I can’t believe that ridiculous little boy had the nerve to do this. I had him completely intimidated. Don’t you agree, Terris?”

  “Yes Your Highness, I believe you did.” Braeden had seen the alarm in Prince Kendryk’s eyes when faced with Teodora’s temper, but he’d also noted his devotion to the priest.

  “That doesn’t matter right now,” Solteszy said. “What matters is defeating Korma and dealing with Zastwar. Once that is done, you will be able to throw all of your force at whoever has done this. We need to verify it was Prince Kendryk and not another Kronland ruler. There’s a small possibility it was Bronson or Ossian, so we must be sure before acting.”

  “Get away from me, all of you!” Teodora shouted. “I can’t stand the sight of you.” She suddenly spurred her horse into the forest.

  “Best keep an eye on her,” Solteszy told Braeden. “But keep your distance. She’ll settle down before long. We don’t want to lose her in the woods in the meantime.”

  Braeden followed Teodora until he watched her dismount and demolish several small trees and bushes with her sword. She only stopped when it got stuck in the bark of a large oak tree. Then she yanked on the hilt until she slumped against the tree in exhaustion. When it seemed safe, Braeden rode up and pulled it out, then helped her back on her horse. She was silent all the way back to the road.

  By the time they reached Atlona, it was too late. Andor Korma had a good six thousand troops well dug in behind impressive fortifications. No one had expected him to be so efficient. Braeden and the hussars might have done some damage, but the odds were long even for them, since Korma had his own hussar unit, the only cavalry in the empire who could give the Sanovans a serious fight.

  Stymied, Teodora found a stout castle twenty leagues to the east. It belonged to a Countess Rabatin who had no choice but to offer her hospitality for an indefinite period.

  Once settled in, Teodora called for her advisers and military officers, including Braeden.

  “Write to Beatryz Inferrara,” Teodora said to Count Solteszy. “Ask her if she has any troops going to Floradias, or coming back. I know they’ve just signed a truce there, so she should have soldiers at loose ends.”

  “It will take too long for them to reach us,” Solteszy said.

  “I know,” Teodora snapped. “But there might be an army in transit over the mountains right now. They could be here within a few weeks.”

  “Are you sure you wish to ask for help from the queen?” Solteszy asked.

  “I don’t like to. Beatryz is an idiot and the wrong person to rule Maladena right now. But there’s nothing I can do about that. She’s very good at squandering all of that gold, so she might as well spend some of it helping me. You know how to ask so she’ll agree.” She waved at Solteszy who was already writing.

  Braeden prepared for weeks of boredom while awaiting a reply.

  Kendryk

  Kendryk rode between the ragged ranks. Their disorganization wasn’t the real problem; it was a mere symptom of their complete lack of training. It had been over thirty years since Terragand had mustered a significant number of troops, and non
e of these recruits had ever seen military service.

  “The equipment should arrive soon,” Count Faris said, riding next to him. “They will look much better in proper uniforms and armor.”

  “I’m sure they will,” Kendryk said. “Though I’m more concerned about how they wield the weapons we still don’t have.” One of the first orders of business upon returning to Terragand had been to place a large order for firearms, swords, halberds and pike from Zeelund’s largest armorer. Aside from being shockingly expensive, the time required to put together and ship such a large order was worrisome. If Teodora or anyone else attacked before they arrived, he would have no way to fight her.

  “They can practice with farm implements,” Faris suggested. “I’d be happy to drill them.”

  “Please do. I don’t know what to do about the muskets. Those take the most practice.” Kendryk was an excellent shot, but practiced several times a week and went hunting often, and had been doing so since he was five. Most of these recruits had never even seen a firearm.

  “I’ve asked the Zeelunders to send the muskets first. But we can drill with what we have and borrow from your household troops. They can help with the instruction, too.”

  It still didn’t seem like it was enough. Kendryk continued up and down the rows, smiling at the soldiers and greeting those he knew by name. But with about twenty thousand here, most were strangers. They all recognized him though, and were happy to be there. For many, it was likely to be the greatest adventure of their lives.

  As he came to a new unit, a cheer went up. This lot were to be grenadiers, but they had no weapons. Kendryk sighed. In the meantime, they’d have to be fed and housed. Faris had set up a large encampment on a field near Birkenhof with strict sanitation. So many people packed into close quarters often led to epidemics.