The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3

by Christina Ochs

  “On your knees, bitch, and surrender.” Teodora snapped. “Now.”

  Karsten spit a gob of blood onto Teodora’s breastplate. “Never. You might as well kill me because I won’t surrender to you.”

  “Oh, I will kill you,” Teodora smirked. “But you’ll surrender first.” She nodded at the officer who’d brought Karsten. “Captain, make her do it.”

  The officer’s metal-clad fist struck Karsten on the left cheek. There was a loud crunch. Her looks wouldn’t recover from that one, if they weren’t ruined already. Karsten staggered, but didn’t fall.

  “I doubt King Arryk will want you back after this.” Teodora was enjoying herself. “In fact, if you don’t surrender right now, I’ll let these fine gentlemen have fun with you until morning, or until you die, whatever comes first.”

  “Your Highness,” Demario whispered in her ear. “I’m sure the king will take her back in exchange for concessions.”

  “I don’t want his concessions!” Teodora screamed. “I want him dead, and I want all of his people dead.”

  She was in such a rage, she didn’t notice Karsten coming at her until it was almost too late. The girl had no weapons, but her fingers were strong, and long enough to fit around Teodora’s throat. Teodora staggered back, but didn’t fall. She still held her sword and it slid into Karsten’s body easily enough.

  Her fingers loosened and she fell back. Teodora pushed her until she fell onto the cobbles of the square. It was hard to say if she still lived. Blood spread all over the front of her dirty white shirt. Teodora slashed at her throat until it she’d opened it completely, just to be safe.

  After the excitement so far, it was oddly unsatisfying.

  Janna

  One warm evening, Janna had just put Iryna to bed. Baby Braeden was already asleep. He was not as quiet a baby as Iryna had been, but he balanced active days with long naps. Janna needed the rest. She feared she wasn’t eating enough to provide him with milk, but he seemed to be growing and didn’t act hungry.

  She went back into her parlor and lit the candles on the little altar she had created on a side table. There were no icons, but the candles reminded her of quiet prayers with her sisters in a Kaleva temple. But now she no longer prayed only to Vica. Out of habit and comfortable familiarity she started with Vica, but then she prayed to the other three in turn.

  She begged Vica for the wisdom to be resourceful enough to survive whatever lay ahead, and to guide the city’s leaders. She asked Ercos for strength and most of all to keep Braeden safe, wherever he might be. She also prayed for strength for the Norovaean defenders. She hoped Ercos understood if she prayed for both sides. She begged the Mother to watch over her children, no matter what happened to her. And she asked the Father to breathe new life into an earth become violent and corrupt.

  Janna’s prayers finished, she went to bed, though the summer sky was still light. She was awakened much later by shouts in the street and sat up in bed listening, then heard the pop of musket-fire. It sounded far away. Without thinking, she jumped up and snatched the baby.

  Birgid grabbed Iryna by the arm and dragged her out of bed. “We must go downstairs right now,” Birgid said. Iryna started crying, but followed along, clutching her rag doll. The kitchen was empty, but the other women were already in the cellar.

  “Does anyone know what’s happened?” Janna asked.

  “Some Norovaeans ran by just before we came down, shouting that the city has fallen,” Hilda said.

  “Oh Holy Mother, what’s to become of us?” The young maid burst into tears.

  “It’s all right, “ Janna said. “We’ll hide down here. I’ll check the doors.” She felt cold inside, and shaky, but this was her house and her responsibility. Hopefully she’d have time to double-check the back doors and make sure the bolt on the front door was secure.

  Back on the ground floor, the gunfire sounded closer and there were screams and shouts coming from some of the houses around hers. Surely the empress’s forces hadn’t already come this far? Of course, Janna didn’t know how long they’d already been in the city.

  She felt the smallest bit of hope under her fear. Perhaps Braeden was already inside the city. Surely he would be near, once he had known she was trapped inside the city. But if she locked up and went into the cellar he wouldn’t have a way into the house. She knew he had a key for the front door, but a heavy iron bolt barricaded it from inside.

  Janna stood frozen in the corridor, trying to think of what to do when there was a great pounding on the door. She listened for Braeden’s voice, but the shouting sounded like Maladene. The door shook, but held. Janna decided it was best to hide in the cellar until they had gone. She came back through the kitchen just as there was a tremendous blast from a pistol very close by. Janna shrieked as the back door burst open. She looked straight into the dark eyes of a grinning musketeer. “Your house?” he asked, in heavily accented Olvisyan.

  Janna nodded, though it might have been the wrong response. She couldn’t think.

  The man shouted at a few others still outside and four Maladene soldiers trooped into her kitchen. Janna shook all over, but she raised her chin and said, “My husband is a personal friend of your general, Demario Barela. Take me to him right now.”

  Teodora

  “Damn the bitch.” Teodora wiped blood from her face. It wasn’t hers. “I wanted to take my time, after everything she put us through.”

  Demario shook his head. She couldn’t read his eyes, and it frightened her, though she would never show it.

  “Ah well.” Teodora sheathed her sword. “Shall we see how the rest are doing?”

  “Certainly.” Demario’s voice was tight. It appeared he wasn’t having as much fun as she was.

  The city was in chaos. There were no Norovaeans in sight and imperial troops streamed in from all directions. By now, invaders had entered the other gates, eager to get their share of the spoils, and something else. Teodora felt as though her anger had radiated out from her, spreading to all who entered the city. Rage at its citizen’s defiance, at being miserable for so many months soon turned into a mass frenzy of retaliation.

  “How long should the sack go on?” Demario’s voice was in her ear.

  “A while, I should think. Why not? They’ve earned it after the horrid summer they’ve had.”

  “Perhaps. But if we let them run wild too long, it will be hard to gain control of them again. Especially if they start drinking.”

  “What of it? Are you worried about Arryk surprising us?”

  “It’s unlikely. But in my experience, one should never be caught unprepared, for any reason.”

  “You are probably right.” Teodora sighed. “How about giving them until mid-morning?”

  “I must round up troops now so I can enforce it later.”

  “Do that then.” She felt she should do something to make him happy, because he clearly wasn’t.

  He turned away to shout orders and Teodora felt someone plucking at her elbow. It was the youngest member of her guard. The girl looked terrified, even though they had won. Perhaps she found the sight of so much violence disturbing.

  “What?” Teodora snapped.

  “There’s a priestess here who wants to speak to Your Highness.”

  “What kind of priestess?” These days, one needed to ask.

  “Says she’s from the big temple in the east of the city.”

  “I’ll speak to her.”

  A small, blond young woman stepped forward. “I am Mother Ilsa, head priestess at the East Temple, Your Highness.” She curtsied correctly enough.

  “Are you a Quadrene heretic?” Teodora doubted any League members had survived.

  “I serve the true faith and the Holy Family, Your Highness.” The young woman’s voice shook, but her pale eyes looked straight into Teodora’s. She had a sudden unpleasant recollection of Edric Landrus’s piercing gaze and shuddered.

  “What do you want, heretic?”

  The priestess swal
lowed. “I would beg Your Highness to stop the violence now. The Norovaean soldiers are dead and now only the innocent are harmed.”

  “Innocent? How can any person who listened to your heresy and believed it be innocent?”

  “Your Highness, your soldiers are raping young girls, they are killing babies still at the breast. Surely those little ones cannot be considered heretics. Please make them stop.”

  “I think not. These rebels must suffer the consequences of heresy and disobedience.”

  “Please, Your Highness. The gods will look kindly upon any mercy you show.”

  “The gods look kindly upon me killing heretics.” Teodora’s patience was at an end. Her sword whipped back out and the false priestess slumped to the ground, her throat cut. “No more petitioners,” she snarled at her guards.

  She suddenly felt very tired. Perhaps it was time to find lodging. She didn’t care to return to camp right now. She opened her mouth to order a search for a suitable house when there was a thundering crash at a distance. Another followed it seconds later. “What was that?” Teodora looked around. She couldn’t see because of the tall houses looming around her. “Someone go see what’s happened.”

  A guard ran off toward the noise. After a time, black smoke filled the sky above the houses, blocking out the gray light of early morning.

  The guard returned at last. “Exploding munitions magazines, Your Highness.” She gasped, between coughs. The smoke billowed across the rooftops and Teodora could taste it.

  “Damn it. I need those magazines. Who set them off?”

  “Hard to say. Several houses were on fire nearby and the flames might have spread.”

  “Who set the fires?” With the Norovaeans so fanatical in their resistance, Teodora wouldn’t be surprised if they’d set fire to the city themselves.

  “I don’t know.” The girl coughed some more.

  The smoke was becoming thicker, making it difficult to breathe. “We should leave.” Teodora had a sudden craving for the fresh air outside the walls.

  Demario appeared from somewhere at a run, followed by a large troop of soldiers. “You must leave the city now,” he gasped. “As fast as you can.” His face was black and streaked with perspiration.

  “What? I’ve just taken it. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “The city is lost.” He shouted an order to his troops and they made for the gate at a run.

  “Lost? Whatever are you talking about?”

  “Fire. There were at least eight magazines in the city, stuffed with munitions and powder. All of them have exploded. The warehouses by the canal are in flames along with that quarter of the city. Soon the fire will engulf all of it. Please go, Your Highness. The flames are moving faster than you can run.”

  Now the roaring sounded closer and a strong wind blew thick smoke and heat into her face. Teodora coughed and Demario grabbed her arm, pulling her with him as he made for the gate.

  “The troops inside the city?” Teodora choked out through her coughing.

  “Perhaps some can get out. Many will not. But we must.” He had shed his cuirass and helmet and she pulled hers off as she ran. Behind her the wind shrieked, although it might have been the screams of those left behind. The roaring, now very close, was the worst. A few guards disappeared, lost in the black smoke. Teodora’s lungs burned, but she kept running. She hadn’t realized how far she had come into the city.

  When she thought she could go no further, she saw the open gate ahead. Demario never looked back, but as they neared it, she yanked her arm away and turned around. Guards and a few infantry troops scuttled past her. The flames stood in a wall at the end of the street. Surely they would stop at the gates?

  Sweat streamed down Teodora’s face and her lungs ached. It became even harder to breathe, as though the flames were pulling away every last bit of air. Teodora gasped and fell to her knees. The gate was so close and yet she couldn’t move. Anger surged through her. An empress couldn’t die like this. There would be nothing left for a state funeral. With one great effort, Teodora used her last strength to struggle to her feet. The heat scorched her face and burning ash landed on her hair. Still no way to draw breath. She swayed and fell back to the ground.

  Janna

  The mention of Barela’s name seemed to take the men aback. They stopped in their tracks and huddled in a quick conference. One of them shut the broken door and another helped him slide a dresser in front of it. They didn’t act like they wanted to take her to their general.

  “Well?’ Janna asked, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. “My husband is expecting me.”

  After more muttering a man stepped forward. It seemed his Olvisyan was better than the others. He swept off his hat in a bow and said. “We are very sorry Madame, but you will remain our guest until your husband can make the proper payment.”

  “But he’s on your side.” Janna didn’t understand. There were stories of wealthy people being held for ransom during sackings and she realized these soldiers must consider her wealthy based on the size of the house and its furnishings. “He’s a commander in the Sanova Hussars. He won’t be pleased if you ask him for money.”

  “He won’t mind too much once he gets his share of the plunder. I’m sure the high officers will get so much he won’t miss a few thousand.”

  “A few thousand?” Janna didn’t know where Braeden would get an amount like that since soldiers were likely sacking the factor’s house right now.

  “It might take him a few days, but he’ll manage. They always do. Now, who else is in the house?”

  Janna hesitated just long enough to know she wouldn’t get away with a lie. “My children and the servants are in the cellar.”

  The man barked something at the others and four soldiers headed for the cellar door. Janna barely kept her knees from buckling. She reminded herself that she was responsible for the well-being of the others in the house and must stay strong.

  She kept her head high and fixed her gaze on the man who had spoken to her. He smiled and shrugged as if to apologize again. She heard the children crying and a moment later Iryna ran to her and a man quickly put a screaming Braeden into her arms. Janna collapsed into a chair, pulling Iryna onto her lap.

  The other women were crying. “You must let the servants go,” Janna said as firmly as she could manage. “My husband will ransom them too.”

  “It doesn’t work that way,” the man said politely. “Money in a few days is nice, but the empress promised us some fun right now after all of these wretched months sitting outside your walls.”

  The soldiers dragged Hilda, Birgid and the maid down a corridor and a door slammed followed by the most dreadful screaming. Janna tried to cover Iryna’s ears with one hand and struggled for composure. For all she knew, she was next. She desperately tried to think of ways to help the servants, but realized it was too late. Now she had to concentrate on saving her children.

  “You’re in luck,” the man went on, showing off a mouthful of brown teeth. “We’ve found ransoms are paid more willingly when the family is left unharmed. You’ll of course tell your husband how well we treated you.” He took a step toward Janna so he loomed over her.

  “Of course,” she said tightly. “What happens next?”

  “We’ll take your servants along and what things we can carry. The general hasn’t been so good at paying in coin, so we have to make do. A few of us will stay here to keep you safe until your husband comes. He can find the house?”

  Janna nodded. She shut every other noise out of her head. If she stayed quiet and didn’t make a fuss, Braeden would be here soon. Even if the Sanova Hussars hadn’t been part of the besieging force, she was sure they would come as soon as they’d heard the city had fallen.

  After an eternity, the screaming stopped and Janna saw people going out the front door. She didn’t understand why they had to take the women with them, but didn’t want to think about it. Through the open kitchen door she saw most of her furniture coming
down the stairs and out the front door. Someone had brought a cart and was loading it up. It didn’t matter. Braeden would be here before long and take her away from this awful place.

  The baby cried and Janna fed him. Iryna cried from hunger too, but there was nothing to eat. “Papa will be here soon,” Janna said. It looked like daybreak was near and the streets were noisier than they’d ever been at midday. Soldiers were carrying off everything they could. Janna was glad she didn’t know what was happening in the houses around her.

  Both children fell asleep and Janna dozed in the chair, still holding them close. She awoke with a jolt. It was light outside and her leg had fallen asleep. She put both sleeping children on a bench and went to the window. Soldiers were running to the east, away from the direction they had come. They abandoned carts and dropped whatever they were carrying.

  The rising light was to the west. Janna frowned. It couldn’t be the sun. And then she smelled it. Smoke. It seemed some houses had caught fire, unsurprising considering the chaos. Even though the more expensive houses were stone, most in the city were half-timber and thatch.

  Janna took a deep breath and walked out into the corridor where two drowsy Maladene soldiers kept watch. “It seems there is a fire.” She hoped at least one understood. “Perhaps we should leave. There is a large stone temple to the east …” She had to get the children to safety.

  One of the men understood her well enough. He shook his head. “No. You stay here. This house is safe. Go in the cellar if you are afraid.”

  “I think I will,” Janna murmured, hoping they wouldn’t follow her down there. After what they had done to her servants she did not want to spend any more time close to these men. Perhaps the fire would frighten them off.

  She awakened Iryna and looked out the window one last time. The orange light filled the sky now, smoke rising in great black billows above it. Janna put her head out the window and jerked it back in when the hot gust of wind hit her face. It was almost unbearable. “Into the cellar,” she said to Iryna, giving her a push and picking up the baby, who was screaming again. When she glanced into the corridor the Maladenes were gone. Perhaps they’d run off after all.