The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3

by Christina Ochs

  “There’s also a financial aspect. The empress requires you reimburse her for expenses incurred due to your invasion. We’ve decided two hundred thousand Taler will be sufficient.”

  Arryk laughed heartily. “I can’t pay that back in a hundred years.”

  “I expect not,” Livilla said, a glint of amusement in her eye. “You’ll sign an agreement to pay it in annual installments. Between you and me, it’s understood that some years you won’t be able to pay the full amount, if at all.”

  Arryk stared. “Did you just tell me how to cheat the empress?”

  Livilla smiled. “I’m telling you whatever I must to make you sign this agreement. How you adhere to it after doesn’t interest me right now.”

  “If only the empress were as reasonable as you.” Arryk decided to get this over with. “If I sign right now, when will Mattila leave?”

  “Within a month.”

  “Not soon enough.” For the amount Teodora wanted, Arryk felt he ought to demand faster results.

  “I understand, but you must also understand that she has a force of some size scattered all over your country and limited ships to take them back.”

  “She can use my ships if it will make her leave faster.”

  “Kind of you to offer, but you shouldn’t trust her with them. She’s more likely to sell them to Zeelund than return them to you.”

  “Thanks for the warning. Still, I’d like her to leave as soon as possible.”

  “So would we all. And she will, though it will take a few weeks to complete the withdrawal.”

  He could live with that if there was an end in sight. “Where do I sign?”

  “Elektra darling, can you hand me that pouch?” Then Livilla turned back to Arryk. “There’s one more thing. I must return to Atlona with a hostage. Someone of high rank and close to you.”

  “No,” Arryk said. “Isn’t my word good enough?”

  “It is to me,” Livilla said. “But the empress requires assurances.”

  “The empress can rot,” Arryk said, angry now.

  Livilla sighed. “Without a hostage, there can be no treaty. You have my word, and the empress’s that they will be treated as befitting their station. After five years’ time, if your behavior has been exemplary, the treaty will be revisited and the hostage most likely returned.”

  “The empress’s word is worthless to me,” Arryk said, surprised that his voice shook. “I don’t wish to insult you Maxima, but it’s hard for me to trust anyone associated with her.”

  “I understand.”

  “Do you?”

  “I know what happened at Kersenstadt and I am sorry,” Livilla said. “The empress has a temper and often does things she regrets later. If it would help, I’m sure I can persuade her to offer formal condolences.”

  “You must be joking. No, it’s impossible.” Arryk stood up suddenly.

  “There is another possibility,” Livilla said. Arryk had to admire her calm. But then anyone who dealt with the empress regularly would have to be.

  Arryk sat back down. “I’m listening.”

  “Instead of a hostage, there might be a marriage.”

  “Whose marriage?” Arryk had a bad feeling about this.

  “Yours, of course. To the archduchess.”

  The girl gasped and Arryk realized she hadn’t expected this any more than he had. He almost laughed, wondering who believed he would ever accept Teodora as his mother-in-law, but he didn’t want to insult the girl, who looked ready to cry. Arryk was sure he didn’t look like anyone a young girl would want to marry with his rough clothing and the shaggy beard he’d let grow all winter. He took a breath, then said, “Impossible.”

  Livilla raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

  Arryk went on. “No offense to you, Archduchess.” He paused until he caught the girl’s eye and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring nod. “But it’s impossible for me to marry, now or ever.”

  “I see,” Livilla said. “I hope you can change your mind one day, for both yours and your country’s sake. But I had to ask. It would have been a tidy solution.”

  Arryk caught Elektra’s relieved sigh and winked at her. It was hardly fair for a young girl to be hitched to a wreck like himself. There was no question in his mind it would have ended badly.

  “That brings us back to the question of a hostage,” Livilla said. “Without one, I’m afraid there can be no deal.”

  Arryk wondered if he ought to send Norvel Classen, though it seemed rather cruel.

  “I’ll go,” Aksel said, coming into the room behind him.

  Arryk turned to him. “Are you mad?”

  Aksel shrugged. “Probably. But I don’t mind doing it if it helps you out.”

  Arryk found himself unable to speak while Aksel turned to Livilla and Elektra and introduced himself. He could play the charming prince when he wanted to.

  “I can’t let you go,” Arryk said, thinking he would have no one left in the world if Aksel went.

  “Why not? I’m not useful to you here.”

  “You helped a great deal while I was in Kronland.”

  “Barely. I can’t keep it up.” Aksel turned to Livilla. “Maxima, do you suppose I might bring my scientific equipment with me and set up a laboratory in Atlona?”

  “I don’t see why not,” Livilla said.

  “You’re a scientist?” the archduchess asked. It was the first time she’d spoken and Arryk didn’t miss the interest in her eyes.

  “An amateur.” Aksel flashed her a smile. “But it passes the time well enough.”

  “I don’t want you developing explosives for the empress,” Arryk grumbled.

  “Don’t worry. There are many other things I can work on. I’ll send you all my useful results, if I come up with any.”

  “I don’t know,” Arryk said again.

  “I do,” Aksel said. “Please, let me do this. It means we’ll get our country back before summer, and I’ll have an adventure.”

  Arryk didn’t know what else to do. “All right,” he finally said. “Let’s sign this treaty.”

  Anton

  The count was still in bad shape and the long voyage hadn’t helped. He would probably live as long as infection didn’t set in, but it was hard to say if he would walk again, let alone ride or fight. Most worrisome to Anton was his attitude. He felt very sorry for himself and rather hopeless, not at all like his usual self.

  “No woman will ever look at me again,” he said glumly, sitting up in bed in his fancy chamber in the Maxima’s palace in Allaux. His empty eye socket looked dreadful and an ugly scar ran down his cheek.

  “But the patch looks good,” Anton said, and it was true. With the patch and the scar, he looked rather dangerous and even more dashing than before. But he needed the posture to match and he was so dejected he couldn’t manage it. Even Princess Gwynneth’s visit didn’t help.

  Anton had been sitting outside the count’s chamber, cleaning his pistols. It wasn’t as though he needed to guard his door, but it was an old habit. Besides, the count didn’t want visitors and this way Anton was able to keep them out. He had scrambled to his feet when he saw who it was.

  “I need to speak to the count alone,” Princess Gwynneth said, her voice soft, but firm. She was very beautiful and Anton remembered to close his mouth and not stare too hard. She seemed used to it, though and gave him a kind smile. “You’re Maryna and Devyn’s friend, aren’t you? They told me how you helped them escape before the battle. And of course you were so brave during Prince Kendryk’s rescue. We’re very grateful.”

  Anton nodded, his mouth dry, and let her into the count’s chamber. It didn’t occur to him to keep her out. He pressed his ear to the door, but the princess spoke so softly he couldn’t make out any words and the count said little.

  She didn’t stay long, and gave Anton another dazzling smile when she left.

  Anton poked his head cautiously inside the door. “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “No,�
�� the count said, slumped back against the pillow. Anton was glad to see he was wearing the patch, though he guessed the princess wouldn’t have flinched at the sight of worse. For all her pretty softness, she seemed rather tough.

  Anton moved quietly about the room, picking up a few dirty cups and putting them on a tray, since the count now drank more than ever. Sometimes he wanted to talk and sometimes not.

  “Well, that’s it then,” he said after a while. “I did as she asked, even though it took years. But now what? She has her husband back and is happy. Naturally, she’s most kind and grateful and so on, but that doesn’t do me any good.”

  “First you need to get better,” Anton said. “Get your army back together. Then you can go fight for that king that’s coming from Estenor. “

  “I don’t want to fight,” the count said. “For the first time in my life, but there you are.”

  “You will when you feel better.”

  It was hard for Anton to believe the count wouldn’t want to fight. Still, he understood a little of what the count was going through since he’d just fallen in love for the first time and had already lost the girl.

  It had happened quickly once they were on the ship. There was nothing to do on the long voyage around the Cesiano peninsula but sit and talk. So that’s what Anton did. He got to know Karil, but he was already friends with the prince and Braeden, so Anton and Lora spent a lot of time alone together. At first, she didn’t take him seriously.

  “You’re so young,” she said. “At my age, I need a real man.”

  “I am a real man,” Anton insisted. “I’ve killed people and been in battle loads of times. I can also hold my liquor better than most fellows.”

  “I can still drink you under the table.”

  “I know; that’s why I love you.” He caught her eye and held it, even though his face turned so hot he thought he might explode.

  She narrowed her eyes as if she were challenging him. “Have you even been with a woman?”

  He wasn’t sure if she was mocking him, but he stared straight back at her. “No I haven’t, though girls have liked me.”

  “What’s stopping you then?”

  “I’m picky.”

  Lora laughed. “I’ll bet you are. You’re an arrogant bastard with your pistols and your lace and that walk of yours. You learned some bad habits from the count and you want to be just like him, don’t you?”

  “Well, yes, though I’d never be stupid enough to fall in love with a princess who couldn’t marry me.”

  “Ha,” Lora said. “That just shows what you know.”

  “I don’t care about princesses anyway. I like real girls who can fight.”

  “Like me?” She was suddenly very close, and they were alone at the starboard rail, the ropes and sails creaking in the wind.

  “Exactly like you.” Anton decided to be bold, slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her toward him. She was a little smaller than he was and didn’t resist. She even laughed a little before he kissed her. Her lips were chapped and salty from the sea air but Anton reckoned his were no different. He was a little surprised when her tongue pushed into his mouth, but it felt wonderful, so he pushed his back.

  After that, they kissed a lot, whenever they had some privacy, which wasn’t that often. Anton wanted more, but he was a bit scared too and the stolen moments were perfect. He refused to think about the future because he couldn’t picture life once they got off the ship.

  It all fell apart when they reached the first big Maladene port.

  “I need to go home,” she said, the night before they sailed in.

  “Why?” Anton asked. “You should come to Galladium with me.”

  “And do what? You’re stuck there until the count gets better. If General Barela is dead, I must get home and find another prospect for myself. My mother’s dead, my father can’t work, and I have two little brothers. I need to make money to send them.”

  “I don’t want you to go.” Anton was determined not to cry, even though he had a terrible pain in his chest.

  “I don’t want to. But I must. I’m sorry. You can come to Maladena with me.” She grinned at him. “Plenty of cavalry officers there need a good page. There’ll be war with Zeelund again soon; perhaps even with Galladium.”

  “I can’t leave the count.” Anton knew the count would tell him to go to Maladena, but he couldn’t leave him alone while things were so bad for him. “I’m sorry too.”

  Then they kissed a lot more, almost all the way into port, and he was able to hold back the tears when she left.

  Gwynneth

  Gwynneth hadn’t been so happy since the early days of their marriage. And with Kendryk recovered from his ordeal they needed to go to Zeelund soon to arrange funding for Lennart’s invasion.

  “It’s best if it comes from you,” Natalya said. “I’m having enough trouble with Teodora as it is. The last thing I need right now is to look like I’m supporting Lennart in any way.”

  “I’d like to see Gauvain before I go,” Kendryk said. The king was with the army trying to prevent Teodora from taking back the Dallmaring provinces. He had provoked a stalemate until they reached further agreement.

  “He wants to see you too,” Natalya said. “I received a message this morning that he’s on his way back.”

  Kendryk’s face brightened. “We’ll go soon after.”

  Gwynneth looked forward to traveling again now she was going with Kendryk. They would leave the children here so they could travel more quickly. With Arryk besieged by Mattila, they needed Lennart to distract her at the first possible chance. And that would only happen when he received enough money to launch an invasion.

  Gwynneth slipped her arm through Kendryk’s as they walked back to their house from Natalya’s palace. “Can I have you for the next hour?”

  “Certainly, though I told the children I’d come get them after their lessons.”

  That much hadn’t changed. Kendryk still spent as much time as he could with the children and she no longer minded. At first she worried they would be strangers to each other, especially after parting under such difficult circumstances.

  And when she first saw him coming off the ship, she’d been shocked at how much he’d changed. He no longer looked soft and boyish. The planes of his face had sharpened and his eyes were sadder. His hair was longer than she’d ever seen it with a few streaks of gray. That alone made him seem older than his twenty-five years.

  He also moved like someone much older. That was because of the wound that hadn’t perfectly healed, although it was a miracle he walked at all. She shuddered when he described the wound to her.

  “I was sure you were dead,” she confessed.

  “I came very close to death and was lucky that Teodora’s physician was so committed to keeping me alive. She did far more than she needed to, not just to heal me but give me encouragement. I don’t know why she did it.”

  “Perhaps she was an instrument of the gods, or perhaps she came to love you, just as everyone who knows you does.”

  “Teodora would disagree,” he said, grinning.

  “But she’s the only one.” Even the young Marjatyan boy imprisoned with him seemed to regard him as a father. And Braeden, the big Sanova Hussar who had rescued him, also seemed fond of him. Gwynneth rather envied the bond between those who’d taken part in the escape and then shared the long voyage together.

  Now they saw a lot of Arian’s page, Anton. Kendryk had insisted that he attend Natalya’s school with their own children and Maryna and Devyn never stopped talking about him. Gwynneth worried just a little. Maryna was still so young, but there was no mistaking the adoration in her eyes when she talked about Anton. There was nothing wrong with a girlish crush, but Gwynneth would soon have to tell Maryna that the future Princess of Terragand must make a political marriage. With any luck she’d be like her parents and find a husband she also loved, but he would have to be a prince, or a duke at the least. Falling in love with a commoner
of any kind needed to be discouraged, even at her age.

  “What are you worrying about now?” Kendryk grinned at her. She must have been frowning to herself.

  “The children of course. The situation is still so unstable.”

  “I’m sure it will come right before Maryna is an adult. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done. Getting Lennart to help was a stroke of genius.”

  “It was Natalya’s idea.”

  “But you made it happen. You made my escape happen too.”

  “That was mostly Natalya,” Gwynneth said. “I was astonished that she had both the empress’s lady-in-waiting and General Barela in her pay. What I wouldn’t give for a network like that.” She was more than a little envious of the resources Natalya had to spend on spies, though she’d now have to replace those Teodora had killed.

  “I disagree.” Kendryk slid an arm around her waist. “Nothing happened until you came to Galladium. I can’t imagine where I would be without you. And now that you believe in Edric’s teachings, you’re even more perfect than before.”

  “Believing in his teachings has shown me how imperfect I am.”

  “Just right for me, though.” Kendryk pulled her in for a kiss.

  Gwynneth was glad they still had time before the children appeared. She also decided to wait to tell him she was pregnant since she didn’t want him to keep her from traveling with him. She knew it would be all right. Now they were together and believed the same things she was certain the gods would bless all of their actions.

  Braeden

  “I can’t pay you as much as you’re accustomed to,” Kendryk said. “But I’d be honored if you’d work for me.”

  Braeden didn’t know what to say. He liked Kendryk and who wouldn’t want to stand around and stare at Princess Gwynneth all day? But he felt restless, and attending a non-fighting prince would be boring. He’d had enough of bodyguarding. Besides, after everything they’d done, Teodora still lived. Braeden couldn’t really relax until he’d found a way to kill her. After hearing what she’d done to Barela, he was even more certain he needed to do it.