The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3

by Christina Ochs

  She didn’t see Kendryk again until the next evening when he stopped into the library to say good night. She yawned. “I’ll come too. I’ve had more than enough tonight.”

  Kendryk took her hand as they went up the stairs. “You needn’t keep up this pace, darling. You’ve already written to everyone at least once. I imagine if they intended to reply they already would have.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not that simple. Many are wavering and just need persuasion. I’m sure that the moment you act, they will join you. Until then, some ought to come around if they hear from me often enough.”

  If he caught the barb, he ignored it. “You might be right, but I worry about you. You work much too hard.”

  “I don’t mind.” She stopped at the door of her dressing room. “I want to help.”

  “You do,” he said, kissing her cheek.

  He was waiting when she crawled into bed next to him. She snuggled up under his arm and he said, “I don’t quite know how to bring this up.”

  “Bring what up?” She looked into his eyes. Their troubled look was nothing new.

  “Father Landrus has concerns about Arian.”

  “What?” She sat up and turned toward him. “Whatever is he worried about?”

  “Nothing specific,” Kendryk said, though he was frowning. “He’s just apprehensive about him.”

  “That’s ridiculous. How can he think that about the only person who has offered to support you and his cause in a concrete way?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s about his character, or something like that.”

  Gwynneth took a moment to slow her breath. “You know what I think? He’s jealous. Since Arian has come, you’ve spent a lot more time in the field and a lot less time with Father Landrus.”

  Kendryk opened his mouth to protest, but she continued. “He’s not even conscious of it. I’m sure Father Landrus doesn’t mean to be possessive, but he must miss the time you used to spend with him. I can sympathize.” She kept her tone light.

  “Now I feel guilty.”

  “I’m sorry.” She snuggled back into his arms. “You have a lot of demands on your time and that’s fine. It’s part of who you are and what you are trying to do.”

  “If only I knew what I was trying to do.” Kendryk chuckled into her hair.

  “Funny. At any rate, it’s likely that Landrus resents you being pulled away from him, and by someone who doesn’t always agree with his way of doing things.”

  “You might be right. I find it difficult to distrust Arian. As you said, he’s the only person who’s come through with meaningful help, and his behavior has been exemplary. You have spent little time with him, but he’s not been inappropriate in any way?”

  “Oh heavens, not at all,” Gwynneth said, with more conviction than she felt. “He’s the perfect gentleman. Not like that horrid Schurtz fellow.” She shuddered.

  “All right then.” He kissed the top of her head. “As usual, you’ve made me feel better.”

  Braeden

  As they rode across the countryside, Braeden made a point of checking on his hostage from time to time. Karil still looked unhappy and clung to Zoltan as if he feared falling off at any moment. Braeden hoped he’d get used to it. A few hours later, he looked again, and saw Karil on the pack horse that Janna had been riding. She was on Zoltan, looking wary, but resolute. Braeden smiled to himself.

  When he looked again an hour later, they were still riding side-by-side and talking. There were traces of tears on Karil’s face, but now Janna was making him laugh.

  They followed a wide road into the interior of the country. The hussars rode in full armor with weapons at the ready. The Marjatyan rebels were forward about attacking forces of any size. Those remaining here were disorganized and desperate, but determined.

  The land had flattened out with long grass rippling all the way to the horizon. Settlements and farms were visible from a distance, which meant they were usually deserted by the time the hussars arrived. Braeden preferred this to having to evict everyone first. Their only trouble that day had been an obstinate farmer who refused to leave.

  “Take what you can load in that cart,” Braeden urged. “We’ll burn the rest.”

  “I’ll take no orders from the likes of you,” the old man spat. “No empress will tell me what to do. I’d sooner die.”

  “And at this rate, you will,” Braeden said.

  The man stood his ground. “You’ll have to kill me.”

  “We won’t kill you.” Braeden motioned to a few troopers, who bodily removed the man from the barn, led out the few livestock and set the place afire. Braeden let him keep his livestock.

  He was weary. They’d burned four villages and a half dozen farms with no further resistance, but it was dirty, unpleasant work. When they made camp, Braeden could taste the ash in his mouth and see the soot on his skin. Everyone around him had blackened faces, so he was sure he looked no better.

  In his tent, he called for water and set to cleaning himself. He wiped his face and hands until the water was black. He stopped once the rag he was using came back only a little gray. There were noises around the cook fires outside, but it would be awhile before any food was ready.

  He didn’t want to lie down because he would fall asleep, and he didn’t want to talk to anyone, so he paced the floor. He missed Novitny, Franca, Miro and the others. That, combined with the work he did here left him restless and dissatisfied.

  There was a slight rustle outside the tent, then a cough and a faint “hello?” He wasn’t sure if it came from outside his tent or another one, so he waited. There was another “hello,” louder this time. He poked his head out the flap. Janna stood just outside, looking nervous. “I wanted to knock,” she said, “but … well, tent.”

  “We don’t bother with knocking here,” Braeden said. “If it’s not tied off from the inside, just come right in. Did you need to speak with me, Mistress Kronek?”

  “Yes. Oh, and please call me Janna.”

  “Of course.” That was a good sign. Maybe she wasn’t as frightened as before. Several servants and two troopers cleaning their armor stared at her with frank curiosity.

  “Let’s go inside.” Braeden didn’t want the others unnerving her.

  She went in ahead of him. He tied one flap back, so it didn’t feel like a closed door.

  She found a chair and sat down, working her hands in her lap. He wondered what in the world had got to her.

  He sat across from her, but not too close. “Now, tell me what’s going on.”

  “It’s Karil Andarosz,” Janna said. “The little boy we took along this morning.”

  “How is he doing? I saw you’d traded mounts with him. That was good of you, though I’m surprised you don’t mind riding Zoltan.”

  “He is rather enormous, but well-behaved. I was all right as long as I didn’t look down.”

  “We’ll make a hussar of you yet,” Braeden said, hoping she realized he was joking.

  “I doubt that.” She almost smiled. “But since I’m around horses so much, I must learn to be braver.”

  “That’s the spirit. Horses behave when they realize you’re in charge.”

  “That’s what everyone says, so I’m trying.” She twisted her hands some more. “I wanted to ask you about Karil. He’s sure you’re taking him to the empress to be tortured for information about Korma’s army. I told him I didn’t think that would happen, but I’m not certain. I hoped you might reassure him.”

  Braeden hoped he could, too. “The empress is not a kind woman, but she wouldn’t do anything terrible to a child. She has children of her own.”

  “That didn’t keep her from sending people to kill mine,” Janna burst out. She clapped her hand over her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.

  “It doesn’t make sense.” Braeden pretended he didn’t notice her distress. “But whatever happened to your children wasn’t personal. Just like the work we’re doing right now. The empress doesn’t bear the
se people any ill-will.”

  “I can’t believe you’d defend her,” Janna said in a small, tearful voice.

  “I hate the way she does things, but I also understand why she has to do them that way.”

  “I’ll never understand it.” Janna dropped her hands, letting the tears run down her face. “And I can’t understand why anyone would work for her. You seem like a kind person; you’ve helped me so much and been kind to Karil. Yet today, you’ve made several hundred people homeless. You might as well have killed them.” That was the most he’d ever heard her speak at once.

  After a few sobs, she continued. “I’m so sorry. You must think me ungrateful.”

  “I don’t.”

  “It’s wrong of me to be disapproving when you’ve saved my life and helped me so much.”

  “It’s not wrong.” This conversation was far too awkward for Braeden’s liking. “You can feel grateful and be angry at what we’re doing, all at the same time. I don’t like what we’re doing either, but my job is to follow orders.”

  “Even when they’re wrong?”

  “If I were too picky, I’d never find work. Besides, I don’t work for the empress directly. I work for Prince Novitny, who saved my life many years ago, and I do whatever he says.”

  “I can understand that.” She dried her eyes on her apron. He noticed her dress was too big; it was probably one of Cara’s old ones. He’d have to get her something better when they returned to civilization. “I’m very sorry I shouted at you. Seeing all of those farms and villages on fire reminded me, well, it reminded me of something awful not too long ago. But that was different. The people there never had time to get away.”

  “That’s not right. There are some who work like that, but I don’t.” He thought of Tomescu and what stopping her had cost him.

  “So what can I tell Karil? What will happen to him?”

  “He’ll be a hostage,” Braeden said. “He’ll be kept as a prisoner, but a privileged one. Teodora wants his father to surrender and he won’t, if he thinks she’s killed his son. He might not be too comfortable, but he’ll be sheltered and fed well enough.”

  “How long will he be there?” Janna asked.

  “No idea. With any luck, the empress will negotiate something within weeks. If not, she’ll try to defeat Korma on the battlefield.”

  “What if she does? Then she won’t need him anymore.”

  “I don’t know what happens then,” Braeden admitted. “He might be kept to assure his mother’s good behavior, or sent home when there’s no more threat from Marjatya. He’s in no danger of being killed or hurt.”

  “I’ll tell him that then. It’s not wonderful news, but it’s better than his fears.” She stood up and smoothed her apron. “Thank you so much. He’ll sleep better tonight knowing this. Is it all right if he stays in the Torresia tent with me? I’m sure he won’t run away.”

  “All right,” Braeden said. “But his guards will be right outside. And no helping him escape.” He was half serious.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, I wouldn’t do that. It would be a dreadful mistake.”

  “Aye, it would be. You’re a sensible woman, Janna.” He found he liked saying her name.

  “Sometimes.” She nearly smiled. “I’ll leave you now and thank you again.”

  He showed her outside, then saw that supper was ready, so he joined the others at the fireside.

  Gwynneth

  One morning, after she’d been at work for several hours, the footman announced Father Landrus. Gwynneth looked up in surprise. “Show him in,” she said, rising from her desk.

  The priest came in and bowed to her. Since his defrocking, he no longer wore the traditional robes, but simple, everyday clothes in black. They suited him. Perhaps when he and Kendryk were in charge of the new version of the Faith, they could create a new uniform for the clergy. “Please sit down, Father,” she said.

  “Might I speak with you alone?”

  Gwynneth hoped he wasn’t bearing horrible news. She told Halvor and her ladies, “Go take a half hour in the garden.”

  Everyone left, and she motioned Landrus to a chair. She sat down across from him. “Can I send for anything?”

  “No, no. I shouldn’t be long.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  “More or less.” She had never seen him look this ruffled. “Something has come up that requires your attention.”

  “All right,” she said, with an encouraging nod.

  “It’s Arian Orland.”

  “Goodness, he seems to be all the topic of conversation these days.”

  “So the prince has spoken of him to you?”

  “He said you had concerns about his character.”

  “Yes,” Landrus said. “But I fear the prince doesn’t take me seriously. I was hoping you might influence him.”

  “Prince Kendryk always takes you seriously, Father. The problem is the lack of any specific reason you have to mistrust Orland.”

  “I worried that might be it.” Landrus sighed. “I wish I had something, but I don’t, at least nothing concrete. I’m also concerned at the attention Orland pays you.”

  Gwynneth felt a twinge of indignation. “Attention? He has said nothing the least bit inappropriate. As to anything else, I’m sure he’s just being polite.”

  “Perhaps. But one thing I know for certain about Arian Orland is that he has a bad reputation where women are concerned.”

  “Goodness, I’ve never heard anything about that.”

  “You are shielded from such talk, but men have different conversations amongst themselves.”

  “Even in front of priests?” Gwynneth hoped she could keep the conversation light.

  Landrus allowed a small smile. “They don’t hold back like you might expect. But, it’s just talk. I felt it best to tell you so you can take precautions.”

  “Precautions?”

  “Such as making sure you are never alone with him.”

  Gwynneth pushed down her annoyance. “Father, if you suppose I would spend time alone with him, you don’t know me very well.”

  “I am very sorry if I’ve caused offense. I have no reason to expect you would do any such thing, but I wanted to mention it. He’s so important to the prince, it would be terrible if there were any kind of incident.”

  “There will be no incident,” Gwynneth said firmly. “Thank you for your concern, but it is unfounded as regards my virtue. As to the other things, unless you have a specific reason, Arian Orland is far too important to Kendryk right now to act on a hunch. I’m sure you understand. I will be vigilant, so you needn’t be concerned.”

  “That will have to do.” Landrus took his leave, but she had the strong sense he was unhappy with the outcome of the conversation. What was she to do? There was nothing to worry about. And men like Orland always had rumors swirling around them. Most other men probably resented his success with women. Gwynneth sighed and sat back down at her desk after he had gone. These days, she scarcely had time to eat, let alone engage in idle flirtation.

  One evening, Kendryk, Gwynneth and Arian sat around a table in Kendryk’s study. “I don’t like to leave Birkenhof unguarded,” Kendryk said. “My uncle continues to make noises and he might take advantage of the situation if I’m gone.” Kendryk was leaving with the bulk of the militia to oversee their deployment along the border.

  “Attack us?” Gwynneth asked. “He wouldn’t dare.”

  “It’s unlikely,” Kendryk agreed, “but I still worry.”

  “I’ll stay close,” Arian said. “We’ll patrol the area, and I’ll leave at least two thousand in the near vicinity.”

  “But after Faris arrives with the rest of the troops, you’ll all march south to meet me.”

  “Once he knows you have that many troops, he won’t try anything,” Gwynneth said.

  “But if none of those forces are here …” Kendryk frowned.

  “Even after I go, I can spare a few hundred,” Arian said, “And
Faris can leave some. It shouldn’t take too many to make the duke hesitate before betraying you.”

  “He’s not brave enough to do it.” Gwyneth resented being treated like a helpless child. She was more than a match for Duke Evard.

  “We’ll leave next week.” Kendryk turned to Arian. “I’m glad you’ll be here. I won’t be the least bit worried about Gwynneth, the children and Father Landrus with all of your troops surrounding Birkenhof.”

  Gwynneth was glad too, for a different reason. If Arian left, she would miss the little thrill she got every time she glimpsed him. It wasn’t as though anything would happen, but it was a bit of excitement missing from the rest of her life right now.

  Her only concern was Landrus. Since being rebuffed by both Kendryk and Gwynneth, he had made a point of watching Arian and expressing his disapproval at every turn. It was growing tedious. Gwynneth wondered how she could get him out of the way while Kendryk was gone.

  When Arian had gone, Gwynneth asked, “Do you have time for us to talk longer?”

  “Certainly, though I promised Father Landrus I’d look in on him later.”

  “That’s perfect. I wanted to speak with you about him anyway. I think it’s time to do something about Julia. Who knows what she might get up to once you’re gone.”

  “Do you expect her to cause trouble?”

  “I’m sure she will. She’s been much too quiet, considering how badly Landrus has undermined her. It isn’t like her.”

  “True.” Kendryk frowned.

  She hated to cause him more worry, but a solution was at hand. “It’s important you do something before she gets help. She might be waiting for Teodora to take back Atlona.”

  “I can’t have her arrested for doing nothing.”

  “I’m not thinking of anything that dire. But it’s high time you put Landrus in her place.”

  To her surprise, Kendryk laughed. “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.”