by J J Moriarty
“Your Royal Highness”, Tsy nodded to Safia. “And sir, that’s quite alright. I can stand.”
“We’ve heard word from the Pharaoh?” Hyzou said.
“Yes, and it turns out there’s a reason he took his time to reply to our offer”, Tsy said.
“What’s that?” Hyzou asked.
“He had forty Piqueans killed, and had their heads pickled for our messenger”, Tsy said.
Hyzou grimaced.
“Gods. That’s gruesome”, Hyzou said.
“Why, what did you offer him?” Safia said.
“He was informed that we would execute the Nobility we had captured unless he surrendered, ma’am”, Tsy said.
“Hyzou told me about that”, Safia said. “Standard practice in war.”
“Well the Pharaoh said he would not negotiate with us”, Tsy said.
“So he’s called our bluff. Can we get moving again now? I want to see my son”, Safia said.
Tsy fell quiet.
“What?” Safia said. “What’s going on?”
“I wasn’t bluffing”, Hyzou said.
Safia’s jaw dropped with shock.
“Leave, Tsy, go and prepare the executions. When can you start?” Hyzou asked.
“Within several hours at most”, Tsy said.
“No! Tsy, don’t go, we need to talk about this”, Safia said.
“Tsy. Leave, begin the preparations”, Hyzou said.
Tsy looked at Safia, an awkward expression on his face.
“I’m very sorry, ma’am, but I must obey my Emperor”, Tsy said.
Safia’s face curdled. Tsy bowed and left the tent.
“You”, Safia whispered, her voice shaking in anger.
“Safia it makes…” Hyzou said.
“I thought we were partners. You said that. You said we would do things together”, Safia said.
“I’m sorry Safia, you weren’t around for it”, Hyzou said.
“Murder, Hyzou? Cold blooded mass killings? Why?” Safia said.
“The Pharaoh did the same. You heard!” Hyzou said.
“So what? What does that have to do with you?” Safia said.
“I can’t be seen to be weak”, Hyzou said. “If I threaten this and then don’t complete it he won’t believe another threat of mine again.”
Safia shook her head.
“Who are you?” Safia said.
“Don’t look at me like that”, Hyzou said.
“Like what? Like I’m disappointed in you? Like I’m angry with you?” Safia said. “Because I am. Very.”
“This needs to be done. I can’t bring sixty thousand men with me”, Hyzou said.
“Wait. You said you were killing the Nobles”, Safia said.
“I can’t bring sixty thousand men with me. I can only bring thirty at the most”, Hyzou said.
Safia buried her hands in her face.
“What are you planning?” Safia said.
“To kill one in two”, Hyzou said.
Safia lashed out. She struck him on the shoulder.
“No!” She shouted.
“What do you mean no?” Hyzou said.
“Why would you do that?” Safia said.
“I can’t let those men return to the Pharaoh”, Hyzou said.
“They’ve just seen their friends be helplessly butchered by a group of sorcerers, I think most of them won’t be returning to war”, Safia said.
“How do you know?” Hyzou said.
“I can’t believe you’re even thinking of doing this. Have you gone insane?” Safia said.
“It’s the best solution”, Hyzou said.
Safia grabbed Hyzou’s hand.
“I know you can’t be serious about this. Deep down. You’ve killed a lot of people in the last few days. So have I. It’s easy for us to take this kind of thing easily. But Hyzou, you can’t do this. It’ll ruin you. It’s madness. It will end your reign”, Safia said.
“End my reign? All it will mean is that my enemies will fear me. That’ll help me rule”, Hyzou said.
“No. Hyzou can’t you see? What will the ordinary Servant think? They’ll see you murder thirty thousand ordinary men and think that they could be next. People follow those who they fear, but not those they hate. Anyone who hears about this will hate you, Hyzou”, Safia said.
“Will they?” Hyzou said.
Safia nodded.
“These are the choices of a tyrant. Not of you”, Safia said.
“Why did I order it then if it’s that bad? Am I a tyrant?” Hyzou asked.
“No Hyzou. There’s no way you’re a tyrant”, Safia said. “You risked your life, your reputation, your everything to help the people of Piquea. You risked everything to help me.”
Hyzou shook his head.
“I don’t know why I’d kill so many. I can’t quite remember now”, Hyzou said.
“It was Tsy. If you only surround yourself with military men they’ll tell you the only solution to any problem is war. But there’s a reason why you’re Emperor and Tsy is only the head of your Servant army”, Safia said.
“By the gods, you’re right”, Hyzou said.
Safia grabbed him and pulled him into a hug.
“It’s alright. We all make mistakes”, Safia said.
“Do mistakes kill thirty thousand people?” Hyzou said.
“Just don’t listen to Tsy now”, Safia said.
Hyzou laughed.
“I don’t know why I was wondering about what to do. I can just send the infantry away into the West Country. Send the lowly ones away. I only really need to execute the Nobles and Captains”, Hyzou said. “That shouldn’t be more than two thousand.”
Safia pulled away from him.
“You just said you were making a mistake”, Safia said.
“In executing the prisoners I could just have sent away”, Hyzou said.
“You’re still going to murder them. They’re defenceless”, Safia said.
“The battlefield isn’t a place for peace Safia”, Hyzou said.
“You’re really going to do this”, Safia said.
“Yes”, Hyzou said.
“And I won’t be able to change your mind?” Safia asked.
“If I don’t, the army will just regroup under a new general”, Hyzou said.
“Murderer”, Safia said.
“Safia, it doesn’t have to be this way”, Hyzou said.
She turned away from him, began searching through her things.
“Safia, please”, Hyzou said.
He reached over and touched her shoulder. Kissed her neck.
“Don’t ignore me, please”, Hyzou said.
She threw her grey cloak over her shoulders, then pulled her boots on.
“What’s wrong with you?” Hyzou asked. “Don’t be angry, the decision makes sense.”
Dressed, Safia stormed out of the tent.
“Where are you going?” Hyzou shouted. “Come back.”
She ignored him, and Hyzou had to watch her leave and walk outside into the camp.
Hyzou sighed and began to get dressed. He’d need to be in his proper uniform to oversee the executions.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Only a week’s travel left, sir”, Yan said. “You’ve led us well.”
“Thank you”, Hyzou said.
“I hope you sleep well, sir”, Yan said.
“Me too”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou began to walk away.
“You know, Vorska and I will be drinking together for a while before we sleep. Sharing rice wine. Do you want to join us?” Yan said.
“Are you feeling sorry for me because I’m sleeping alone?” Hyzou said.
Yan shrugged.
“You do look like you could do with some friends”, Yan said.
Hyzou laughed.
“I could. This travelling is exhausting”, Hyzou said. “And stressful.”
“Come with me”, Yan said.
Hyzou shrugged and followed her.
“You can a
lmost taste the air, it’s coming soon”, Yan said.
“The rain? This ground needs the rainy season”, Hyzou said.
Yan’s tent was large, held up by two separate large wooden poles. They entered.
“Your Majesty”, Vorska said.
She jumped to her feet.
There was another woman in here too. Yan’s handmaiden.
“The Emperor will be joining us for a drink”, Yan said.
“What would you like to drink, sir?” The handmaiden said.
“What’s your name?” Hyzou said.
“Meres, sir”, the handmaiden said.
“Have you a wide selection of drinks?” Hyzou said.
“No, sir. Only beer and rice wine”, Meres said.
“What’s everyone else drinking?” Hyzou asked.
“Rice wine, Hyzou”, Yan said.
“I’ll drink rice wine then. Get me a cup”, Hyzou said.
“Yes, sir”, Meres said.
“May I sit?” Hyzou asked.
“Of course. Take a chair”, Vorska said.
Hyzou sat down across from Vorska. Yan sat down beside him.
“Hyzou looked lonely”, Yan said.
“Thank you, Yan”, Hyzou said.
“Safia still isn’t speaking to you?” Vorska asked.
“No”, Hyzou said. “I sent a messenger, but word came back an hour ago telling me that Safia was too sick to see me, that she’ll see me when she feels better.”
Vorska whistled lowly.
“How long has it been since you’ve spoken to her?” Vorska said.
“Oh, we speak. I go to her tent. I ask her questions and I try and talk to her”, Hyzou said. “She answers with one word and doesn’t make any effort. Then I leave.”
“And when we’re riding?” Vorska said.
“I’m too busy, I have to help steer the army”, Hyzou said.
“And you don’t sleep together anymore?” Vorska asked.
“Not since our fight”, Hyzou said.
“A month of it”, Yan said.
“It’s been longer”, Hyzou said. “Six weeks, I think.”
Meres handed Hyzou a cup. Hyzou took a sip of the bitter rice wine.
“Poor you”, Yan said.
“How are you two?” Hyzou said.
“Tired”, Vorska said.
Yan nodded.
“Tired too. It’s been a tough few months”, Yan said.
“When we return to Piquea we’ll be able to sit in and defend ourselves. Defend our line”, Hyzou said. “You’ll be missing the openness of the West Country after a few months of that.”
“Any news from the east?” Yan said.
“I heard yesterday, Phatmose is still holding the line”, Hyzou said.
Vorska raised her cup to him.
“You know, I thought you were a mad man when you first came to power. But we could win this war”, Vorska said.
Yan nodded.
“We could”, Yan said.
Hyzou was beginning to reply, but then a Servant rushed into the tent.
“Your Majesty”, he said.
The Servant looked panicked.
“What?” Hyzou said.
“It’s the Queen. She’s sick”, the Servant said.
Hyzou jumped to his feet. Vorska raised her brows in concern, but both she and Yan were silent.
“I’ve to go”, Hyzou said.
“Of course, Your Majesty”, Vorska said. “Go.”
Hyzou left. The messenger walked along beside him.
“Sir, I can show you to her…” He began.
“I know where her tent is”, Hyzou growled.
Hyzou began to sprint. He leaped over obstacles and stepped between tents. When Hyzou made it to the Safia’s residence, he reached out with his Qi and was alarmed to see that there were nearly twenty people inside the tent. She was lying on the bed.
Panicked, Hyzou sprinted inside.
He didn’t need to ask to know what was happening. He didn’t need his Qi. He could tell by the scent. It was the same scent as that when his sister was born so many years ago. The same scent had permeated the same house anytime one of their goats had given birth. Just a short while ago Hyzou had smelled the same thing, when Hetep was brought into the world.
A physician was tending to Safia, while two midwives waited with her. All were Servants. Hyzou looked around the tent, and recognised friends of Safia among the others. However, as best he could tell, they were just watching and waiting.
“Everybody who isn’t helping, GET OUT”, Hyzou barked.
They leaped and did his bidding, filing out of the tent by the flap Hyzou had just entered through. Hyzou rushed forward and kneeled by Safia’s side.
“You came”, she whispered.
Hyzou hugged her tightly and kissed her neck. She was coated in a shiny sweat.
“I’m here”, Hyzou said.
“Hyzou, they need to…”
Safia was cut short by a series of deep coughs that forced her to begin convulsing.
“What’s happening?” Hyzou asked.
“We’ll have to sever, Your Majesty”, the physician said.
Hyzou looked at her.
“Why?” Hyzou asked.
“The children are in each other’s way. They cannot find a route out of the womb without being cut from it”, the physician said.
Hyzou placed his head against Safia’s.
“It’s ok”, Hyzou said. “Just own your envy and you won’t feel the pain of it.”
“No”, the physician barked.
“What?” Hyzou said.
“She can’t own her envy. This will hurt too much, it may shatter her Qi. Her body will stop functioning for several seconds if pain pulls her from her Qi. That will kill both the children”, the physician said.
Safia began to sob. Hyzou took her hand.
“I’ll be here. I’ll be right here”, Hyzou said.
“It already hurts”, Safia said. “Just do it.”
Safia grabbed his shoulder tightly.
“We have to start”, the physician said.
She was holding a long bronze knife and had already cut Safia’s clothes to create the space she needed to operate. At either side of her the midwives were waiting.
Safia nodded. Hyzou took up the strip of leather and placed it between Safia’s teeth.
“Go”, Hyzou said.
He tried to look away. He couldn’t. He found himself drawn in by the violence of the act. The long bronze blade, glowing after having been heated in a fire, was placed against the skin of Safia’s stomach. Then the physician plunged, stabbing Safia.
Safia’s scream came from deep within her, her eyes lit up with horror. Hyzou looked down and saw the physician slowly draw her knife downwards towards Safia’s waist. Blood welled up around the blade, pooled on Safia’s stomach, then began to run off her onto her bed.
Safia began to get up, tried to intervene. Hyzou grabbed her shoulders and forced her back down onto the bed. Safia wriggled, but Hyzou held her. The pain had turned her wild, into something more like an animal, as she tried to force him off her. She tried to headbutt him.
“Stop! It’s killing her!” Hyzou said.
“I can’t. Once the cut is made it’s too late”, the physician said.
Safia tried to headbutt him again. Hyzou moved out of the way.
From the corner of his eye, Hyzou saw the physician take a bloody child from Safia’ stomach. A midwife rushed over and took the child, severing the chord. The physician reached in again and took out another baby, handed it over to the other midwife.
“Ok, you can own your envy now. Go”, the physician said.
“Safia you need to own your envy! Now!” Hyzou said.
Suddenly her screams, her flailing, her anger, her attempts to move him, they all stopped. Her eyes calmed, her muscles loosened, and she seemed to relax.
A loud cry rang out throughout the tent. The sound was deafening for a creature so small. The othe
r baby joined in, screaming loudly to join its sibling. The two screamed in a noise that went right through Hyzou’s ears and made him cringe with discomfort.
The physician was quick. Very quick. She had already staunched the bleeding and began to sow together the wound. Hyzou turned to the midwives.
“How are they?” Hyzou asked.
“Healthy. They're very healthy”, one of the midwives said.
“Two healthy girls”, the other midwife said.
“Did you hear that?” Hyzou whispered by Safia’s ear.
Her expression, however, was blank. She must have subsumed her hearing with her Qi too and couldn’t understand language. Safia dropped her Qi from her ears and turned to Hyzou.
“What did you say?” she rasped.
Speaking sounded painful for her. Her eyes were heavily lidded and bloodshot.
“I said that they’re healthy. They’re both healthy. Two healthy girls”, Hyzou said.
Safia’s mouth narrowed in what could have been a smile.
“I’m glad you came. I’m so glad you came”, Safia said.
“I told you. I told you I’d never leave you”, Hyzou said.
“I don’t want to fight anymore”, Safia said.
“Nor do I”, Hyzou said.
Safia reached up and brushed her finger along his cheek.
“Have you thought of any names?” Safia said.
Hyzou’s mind whirred, it was only instantaneous, but he realised he knew exactly what he’d call the two girls.
“Aliya”, Hyzou said.
Safia smiled.
“I like it”, she said. “She taught both of us, didn’t she?”
“And Marrea”, Hyzou said.
Now Safia beamed.
“What about your sister, don’t you want to name one after her?” Safia said.
Safia looked nearly delirious. Hyzou shook his head.
“It’s better if she stays in the old world”, Hyzou said.
“That’s ok, maybe sometime you’ll tell me her name”, Safia whispered.
Hyzou smiled. He knew he never would.
“Here”, the midwife said.
Hyzou was handed his daughters, one resting on each hand. On the right was a baby girl with eyes welded shut. Her skin had a yellowish tinge, and she was still, barely moving on Hyzou’s hand. In the other hand, he carried a baby whose eyes were wide open, staring straight up at Hyzou, trying to process what was going on above her. This child would cry every so often, letting out a thin wail. It was nothing compared to the cries of just a few minutes ago, but still loud in its own right.