Akiri could immediately see how such an item would be invaluable to a man in Geridia’s profession. The holder would possess a huge advantage over others when negotiating business deals. Not that any of this mattered right now. “I’ll tell you one more time,” he said. “Remove the pendant.”
“If you would please allow me to say one last thing. After which, if you still want it, it is yours.”
Akiri’s eyes flashed to the door. He could hear most of the guards gathered immediately outside, muttering fiercely amongst themselves. “Be quick.”
“I can feel you are a man with tremendous power and desire. You want something returned to you – something that you have lost and is most dear to your heart. It is an unfinished mission and nothing will stop you. So I ask you to think for a moment. If you hope to continue on this course and attain your dream, there are two things you should consider. Firstly, you have no way out of here. The grounds and the halls are filled with my men. Alone and with naught but a dagger, you have no hope for escape. Secondly, whatever Geridia has offered to pay you, I will double his price. And if it is not gold you are seeking, I will provide whatever else it is you may require. There is nothing that Geridia can give you that I cannot.”
Akiri stepped forward. “You have said your piece. Now remove the pendant.”
Reluctantly, Barsyn pulled the chain over his head and held it out. “If by some miracle you manage to make it out alive, tell Geridia this is not over. Once I report this theft to the magistrate first thing tomorrow, he is finished.”
Akiri snatched the pendant from his hand and shoved it into the pouch on his belt. He then shook his head. “I’m sorry. I'm afraid I cannot allow you to make that report.”
Faster than a striking snake, he rammed the dagger up through Barsyn’s chin. Such was the force that the blade passed easily right through the man’s mouth and into his brain. He died almost instantly, letting out only a muffled grunt before his legs collapsed. Akiri caught him as he crumpled and laid him gently to the floor.
He then raced to the window. In the garden below, only two men were waiting. With the securely locked iron gate barring his way, they obviously considered it most unlikely he would be able to exit this way. He smiled. They did not know whom they were dealing with, or have any idea of the strength he possessed. He yanked open the balcony door and kicked at the gate with all the force he could muster. The first kick was enough to smash open the lock; a second sent the gate flying from its hinges and crashing down on to the lawn below.
The commotion this created was more than sufficient to galvanize the guards in the hall. The bedroom door flew open, and this time there was no hesitation on their part. At least six of them charged into the room with swords drawn, but Akiri was already in mid-air after leaping from the balcony.
He landed lightly on the grass and set off instantly. The two men waiting there moved in to engage him, but having jumped back in opposite directions to avoid the falling gate, they were badly positioned. Akiri ran straight between the pair of them before either could get near enough to strike. By the time he reached the edge of the grounds, he had already put enough distance between himself and his pursuers to comfortably scale the fence and disappear into the night.
He paused briefly a couple of streets away to listen. There were no further sounds of pursuit; he could now slow to a walk. A sense of satisfaction settled over him. He had managed to acquire the pendant without killing a single guard. And though it was unfortunate he’d been forced to kill Barsyn Bartone, given the circumstances, he had done the right thing.
He threaded his way back to Geridia’s manor, avoiding as many people as possible along the way. Only a few pedestrians took any notice of him, and none were close enough to give any kind of description beyond that of a tall dark man dressed in black.
Two guards were on duty at the main gate of Geridia’s home; a different pair to those he had seen when leaving early that morning. Akiri halted and asked to be admitted. They eyed him suspiciously.
“Wait here,” said the older of the two. He went inside and returned within a minute. A sharp gesture indicated for Akiri to proceed.
The front door was opened by a young woman in a blue house dress. A gasp slipped from her lips as she suddenly found herself confronted by a large, intimidating-looking man dressed completely in black and with his hands and face covered in soot. She quickly regained her composure and gave a formal curtsy. “My master awaits you in the main parlor. Please. This way.”
She led him through a door on the left side of the foyer and down a short series of hallways. Upon reaching the parlor, she curtsied once again and hurried away.
Just like the rest of the house, the room was elegantly decorated with fine tapestries and masterful works of art. A fire burned cheerfully in the hearth, while nearby a comfortable sofa and four matching chairs were placed around a low mahogany table. Geridia was lounging in one of the chairs, while sitting close by was a man in his mid-fifties wearing a blue satin jacket and smoking a long, thin gold pipe.
Rena was standing in the opposite corner, flipping through a leather bound book.
“Ah, Akiri!” Geridia exclaimed, clapping his hands together with anticipation. “I am so happy you have returned. And unhurt, by the look of you.”
“A touch dirty, isn’t he?” remarked the other man, with biting understatement.
“Now, Marshum,” Geridia scolded. “Don’t be rude to my new friend.” He waved Akiri over to join him.
While moving across the room, Rena gave him the courtesy of a sharp nod, and then immediately returned her attention to the book.
Akiri settled into a seat facing the two men. “I have what you wanted,” he said without preamble, removing the pendant from his pocket.
Geridia’s eyes danced with excitement. “I knew you could do it.” Reaching over, he took his prize and held it aloft. “Here it is, Marshum. I told you he’d get it for me, didn’t I?”
Marshum was far less impressed. He shrugged. “And now that you have it in your eager little hand, what will you do next?”
“Put that hog of a bastard Barsyn Bartone out of business, of course,” he replied. “Oh, how I am looking forward to that.”
“Bartone is dead,” Akiri told him.
Marshum gasped, covering his mouth. “You… you killed him?”
Geridia sat back, disappointment now clouding his previously bright aspect. “Was that absolutely necessary?”
“He saw my face and stated that he knew you had sent me,” Akiri explained. “He also said he intended to go immediately to the magistrate and would see you ruined. As you have yet to fulfill your part of our bargain, I saw no other choice.”
Geridia considered this for a moment and then nodded. “I can see you did the right thing. What about the guards?”
“I disabled two. But killed none.”
A little of Geridia’s cheerfulness returned. “That is good news indeed. It will be bad enough when the magistrate learns of Barsyn’s murder, but at least the bloody Hunari won’t be involved.”
“I’ve done what you asked,” Akiri stated. “Now it’s your turn.”
Geridia turned to his bodyguard. “Rena, please show our friend where he can get cleaned up, and then prepare my carriage.” He switched his attention back to Akiri. “It would be unwise for you to remain here any longer, but I will do as we agreed without delay.”
Akiri stood and nodded politely. “Then after tonight our business is concluded.”
“This is true,” he agreed. “But I still wish you would reconsider. A man such as you could do very well for himself here in Vurna. Especially with my patronage.”
Akiri did not waste his breath making a reply. Instead, he simply turned away and followed Rena from the room.
There was only one way of life for him. And it certainly did not involve being a merchant’s lackey.
Chapter Seven
Akiri washed away the soot and grime and then rejoined Geridia an
d Rena in the main foyer, where he retrieved his sword. A carriage awaited them at the front of the house.
“I hope Marshum wasn’t too abrasive,” remarked Geridia as they climbed in. “He speaks his mind far too often. That’s why I’ve never allowed him to move in with me.”
Rena sniffed. “That, and you don’t want him to catch you seeking out young men in the taverns.”
“Ah. But that’s how I encountered Akiri here,” he chuckled. “So you must admit that my little vice yielded something good this time.”
Their path through the city took them near Barsyn’s manor. Here they saw dozens of armed guards walking the streets, stopping pedestrians to ask if they had seen anything.
“You seem to have caused quite a stir,” said Geridia, smiling.
Rena was less amused. “Are you certain no one can identify you?”
“Absolutely,” Akiri assured her.
They stopped in front of a two-story building, a little smaller but otherwise similar in appearance to the place Geridia had taken him the night before. A young man scurried to open the carriage door for them. After handing the lad a copper, Geridia led Akiri toward the entrance. Rena remained in the carriage.
“She doesn’t much like this place,” Geridia explained.
Akiri was about to ask why that was, but then the door opened and his question was answered. A young woman in a sheer silk robe stood just inside. Beyond her lay a spacious common area furnished with elaborately upholstered sofas and chairs. Occupying most of these were well-dressed men and barely dressed women talking in hushed whispers and quiet giggles. A few more were gathered beside a small bar in the corner.
“You bring me to a brothel?” he asked.
Geridia shrugged. “You said you wanted a way into the palace. This is the only way I know.”
A tall, ebony-skinned woman wearing an elegant white silk gown and a colorful headscarf sauntered up to them.
“I’m afraid all my boys are currently engaged, Geridia,” she said, flashing a welcoming smile. She regarded Akiri. “That is, unless you have need of privacy for you and your friend here. In that case, I think we can accommodate you.”
Geridia followed her gaze and gave a sorrowful sigh. “If only… But no. I need to speak with you privately, Quarra.” He pointed over to the bar. “You should wait over there, Akiri. I won’t be a moment.”
After watching the pair disappear down a hall, he took a seat at the bar and took in his surroundings. This was no soldiers’ brothel. This was a place where only the very wealthy came to live out their fantasies. The women were likely trained from a very young age in how to best please their customers. Many in society looked down upon them, but a successful prostitute in this type of establishment could earn enough gold to make herself even wealthier than the men who paid her.
Several of the women gave Akiri appreciative stares, though none actually approached him. This was not altogether surprising. He did not have the appearance of a man whose purse was filled with gold, and in their eyes, he would be a waste of their valuable time. He smiled to himself. In truth, he still had much of Killian’s gold and could well afford a night of pleasure if he so wished. In fact, many of the beauties here did stir his hunger. But this was not the time.
After a few minutes, he heard raised voices coming from down the hall where Geridia had passed, and the merchant soon appeared once more, striding to the bar looking none too pleased.
“I hope you can appreciate how much this has cost me,” he said, dropping heavily into a seat beside Akiri. “Quarra was not happy when I told her what I wanted. Not happy at all.” He ordered a glass of wine and downed it in a single gulp. “But you will be pleased to know I have now fulfilled my end of our bargain.”
“So this Quarra woman will get me inside?” Akiri asked.
“In a manner of speaking… yes.” He looked across to see her approaching, anger burning in her eyes. “She will tell you all about it.”
On arrival, she did not choose to sit. “You need to leave, Geridia,” she told him firmly. Her gaze then switched to Akiri, appraising him carefully. “Well, at least it will be believable. He is more than suitable for the role.”
“I think this concludes our business,” Geridia said, rising from his seat. “I wish you well, my friend. I honestly do.”
He nodded curtly to Quarra and headed quickly for the door. Akiri shot to his feet.
“I suppose the little shit hasn’t bothered to explain to you how this is going to work, has he?” Quarra asked.
“We had an arrangement,” he stated flatly. “And if he has not–”
“He’s honored it well enough,” she assured him, her lip curling in disgust. “And perhaps doomed me in the process. I should have never become indebted to that man.” She started back to the hallway. “Well, come on, then. I need to get you ready.”
Akiri followed the woman until they reached a spacious bedchamber. There, an older man with a slight frame and a balding head was sitting at a table, sipping from a cup of wine and reading a book. He looked up over a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and regarded Akiri with a curious expression.
“And who have we here?” he asked. “A new addition to the family?”
“In a way,” replied Quarra. “I need him fitted. He will be visiting the palace.”
“Is that right? Then I suppose I should take a look at what I have to work with.”
Akiri stiffened. “Before you do anything, I would like to know how you intend to get me inside.”
A quick glance from Quarra sent the man scurrying from the room.
“What do you know about Queen Chelia?” she asked, once the door had closed.
“Nothing.”
“The let me enlighten you.”
She crossed over to a tall glass door cabinet and opened a bottle she retrieved from within. The aroma of strong brandy filled the air. “Our dear king is not exactly filled with youthful vigor any longer. So by way of compensation, the queen employs me from time to time to provide her with… entertainment.”
“So is that it? I am to be disguised as a whore?” asked an astonished Akiri.
Quarra frowned. “It will be more than a mere disguise. You will be admitted into the palace through a secret entrance and taken to the queen’s private bed chamber.”
“You are serious? You mean I am to actually pleasure her?” This was becoming harder than ever for him to take in.
“It is the only way that someone like you can ever hope to gain entrance to the palace.” She shook her head, rubbing her temple. “May the gods help me. Are you really going to try to see Tuvarius?”
Akiri felt a stab of annoyance that Geridia had told her of his intentions, even though revealing everything had probably been the only way for him to gain her cooperation. “I am,” he confirmed. “Do you know where in the palace he might be found?”
“No. But one thing I do know very well: If you are caught, they will castrate you, then let you live a while gelded before they kill you – if they’re feeling compassionate. Personally, I’d give serious consideration to abandoning this foolishness while you still have your balls.”
“I cannot.”
Quarra heaved a sigh. “Why did I imagine you might say anything else?”
She paused for a moment, looking straight into his eyes. “Queen Chelia is a highly passionate woman. If aroused sufficiently, she has been known to fall asleep very soon after attaining climax. Assuming you have the skill, this will be your opportunity. Because she fears the king will discover her infidelity, only a few of her most trusted men guard this part of the palace, and they all keep at a very tactful distance. The only one who will be close by is a personal maid. She will greet you and remain in a room opposite the queen’s chambers. You should be able to sneak out past her easily enough. As for the rest… well, I just don’t know.”
Akiri could hear the trepidation in her voice. “I will not implicate you should I be discovered,” he assured her.
; “I am the one who is sending you there,” she pointed out. “So I will be implicated anyway. But I will say that I had no idea of your intentions. So, once you leave the queen’s bed, you are on your own.”
Akiri nodded.
Quarra went to the door and called for the man to return. “This is Filo. He will be fitting you with appropriate clothing.”
Filo folded his arms and tilted his head. “A nice specimen.” He snapped his fingers. “Off with them.”
Akiri furrowed his brow. “Off with what?”
“Your clothes, of course. I need to see what I’m working with. The queen so loves a nice presentation.”
Akiri was not modest about his body; life as a soldier didn’t allow for it. This was different, though. He was far from comfortable with the idea of being looked upon as if he were livestock. Nevertheless, it was an indignity he would have to accept if his plan was to proceed. Expressionless, he did as instructed.
Quarra raised an eyebrow and grinned. “You’ve quite an asset down there, I see. At least you have that going for you. Let’s just hope you know how to use it.”
Akiri said nothing. He had been with many women. As far as he could tell, they had all been satisfied, though a few had remarked that he was a rather brutal and aggressive lover.
Filo set about his work, taking measurements and jotting them down onto a scrap of parchment. Several times his hands came uncomfortably close to Akiri’s penis, and once they even made a fleeting contact. Throughout all of this, the man appeared completely oblivious to any unease he might be causing, and on a couple of occasions actually seemed irritated that the appendage kept getting in his way.
Once finished, he hurried off, clutching his measurements.
“You will stay here and out of sight for the next two days,” Quarra told Akiri before leaving. “I will have food brought to you. Do not leave this room. No one can know you are here. Is that understood?”
Akiri: The Scepter of Xarbaal Page 12