by J J Moriarty
“Where are we going?” Tsy asked.
“You’ll see”, Anchev replied.
Hyzou looked down at the crown that was in his hands. It was well crafted, much nicer than his own. Silver, with thirty tiny rubies encrusted upon the front. He hooked it onto his belt.
The wide mango trees were spread out over the sky. Hyzou followed Anchev between the trunks, where a series of dead bodies were laid out on the ground.
“What is this?” Hyzou asked.
“When night fell, we attacked. I knew we wouldn’t be able to take Aheb alone, we needed your support for that”, Anchev said.
“And we came”, Hyzou said.
They were in the middle of the copse now. A body before them was lying on the ground alone. This man’s throat had been slit, and his naked body was soaked in blood. A thick beard coated his face. Something about him looked familiar.
“And we won. Together”, Anchev said.
“Who is this? He looks so familiar”, Hyzou said.
“You’ve lived in Lamybla then?” Anchev said.
“I have”, Hyzou said.
“We knew we couldn’t take over Aheb, so what we did was disrupt the enemy the moment darkness fell. We lit the spikes on fire, it made it easier for your Servants to cross, and we attacked and killed the men around us, forming a Drascian zone in Aheb”, Anchev said.
“That’s good”, Hyzou said.
“There’s more”, Anchev said. “I knew which blow would fall the hardest on the Lamyblans, and I knew how to strike it. I had some of my best soldiers disguise themselves as Lamyblans and walk to the Pharaoh’s accommodation. They unleashed themselves and attacked the Pharaoh and his guards”, Anchev said.
Anchev kicked the corpse. Hyzou then recognised where he’d seen this man before. He hadn’t had a beard back then, and his skin had been fresher from years of living in a Palace. The campaign hadn’t been kind to the Pharaoh, much as it hadn’t been kind to Hyzou, no doubt.
But the Pharaoh was in a worse state than Hyzou, in any case.
“Dead. How?” Hyzou said.
“One of my men jabbed him in the stomach with a spear, then used a dagger to slit his throat right open”, Anchev said.
Tsy laughed. A laugh of relief.
“Victory. Emperor Hyzou, we’ve won”, Tsy said.
Hyzou shook his head.
“Not yet”, Hyzou said. “Lamybla is big and we haven’t even invaded yet.”
Tsy frowned, unsure why Hyzou wasn’t happier.
“But the Pharaoh is dead”, Tsy said. “So is Prince Menes.”
“He has a court full of Nobles though, one of them will step up someday soon. But come, we need to hold a war council. Anchev, come”, Hyzou said.
The Viceroy followed in Hyzou and Tsy’s wake, taking three guards with him.
It took them an hour, but finally Hyzou managed to gather the council together behind the burned wreckage of what had once been a cowshed. The air was ashen, and the grass around them was dead. Tsy wanted to wait for stools or chairs to arrive for everyone, but Hyzou made everyone sit down on the ground. Safia joined them, and at her side was Iset. The others looked curiously at Iset, but no one spoke up against her, once it was clear that Hyzou wanted her there.
“The Pharaoh is dead”, Hyzou murmured with just enough volume that everyone could still hear him.
Whoops broke out among the circle.
They all think we’ve won. Hyzou thought.
Iset, however, was entirely still.
“Iset, you’re the only one among us who knows the Pharaoh’s court intimately. Am I right in saying that this doesn’t mean much? That the war is still going ahead”, Hyzou said.
“The war going ahead? The Pharaoh is dead!” Gardem said.
“A state is not one man”, Hyzou said. “We haven’t even set foot on Lamyblan soil. If wars were won by the death of a leader, then everyone would do away with armies and just hire assassins instead.”
“They won’t keep fighting. Will they?” Gardem said.
“They will”, Iset said.
“Why is she here?” Gardem asked.
“What?” Hyzou asked.
“She was the Vizier to the Pharaoh when the Pharaoh starved the entirety of Piquea. She’s as guilty as he was for that”, Gardem said.
Iset looked at Hyzou.
“Iset is innocent of any wrongdoing, and a loyal servant to the Imperial crown. She is on this council because she is a crucial part of our war effort”, Hyzou said.
Gardem looked like he was swallowing something unpleasant, but swallow it he did. Hyzou tried to catch Safia’s eye, but she wasn’t interested in looking at him.
“But I won’t pretend that the Pharaoh’s death isn’t very good news. Lamybla may not fall, but Yobo might. The Divine Master of Yobo swore his allegiance to Pharaoh Ganymedes. He may want to reconsider. Iset”, Hyzou said.
“Yes sir”, Iset said.
“You lived in Yobo until you were fourteen. Do you know this Divine Master?” Hyzou said.
“I do”, Iset said. “I grew up with him.”
“Find a way to reach out to him and get him to join us”, Hyzou said.
Iset nodded.
“We must move with urgency. Our enemy is disoriented and so open to an attack. Yan, how long can our current supply lines run at a fast pace for?” Hyzou said.
“Fifty miles before they have to slow slightly”, Yan said.
“Anchev, Phatmose, Tsy. I want all of you to take your respective forces and carve out forty miles of territory for me in each direction. Strike hard at the enemy and force them to retreat. Don’t push beyond the limit for our supply lines though. The land is scorched to the north of here”, Hyzou said.
“Yes sir”, the three said.
“Sir”, Yan said.
“Yes?” Hyzou asked.
“I may be able to speed those supply lines up”, Yan said.
“Very well, if that happens I’ll see to it that word is sent to each of you to strive ahead. This war isn’t won but we’re entering the summer. The grounds will dry eventually, and our enemy is retreating before us in the heat. We can make phenomenal ground, this war could be nearly won by the winter”, Hyzou said.
A cheer went up with that.
“The goal is no longer numbers. Until now we’ve tried to kill as many enemy soldiers as we could, hoping to win the war through attrition. Things have changed now. I don’t care if we don’t kill another enemy. This war will be won by seizing territory. I want all the Piquean lands back, and then I want Lamyblan land. Sparrow should attack from the north too. Open a whole other front for the Lamyblans to fight on. I’ll send him word of that myself”, Hyzou said.
Tsy and Phatmose bowed. Anchev saw them bow and copied them.
“And I want one more thing”, Hyzou said. “Vorska?”
“Yes sir?” Vorska asked.
“Send word to Lamybla. Tell them the Pharaoh is dead. Tell them I’ll accept an unconditional surrender”, Hyzou said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The child took a spoonful of Hyzou’s rice and swallowed it. Hyzou watched him, tried to sense how the child was.
“See, the food is fine”, Iset said.
“If I’m poisoned now, they’ll blame you”, Hyzou said.
“That’s why I’ve put so much effort into making sure your food isn’t poisoned”, Iset said. “And my methods are a bit more sophisticated than just feeding the food to a child and seeing if he dies.”
Hyzou shrugged.
“I prefer screening for poison the traditional way”, Hyzou said.
“He’ll be here soon”, Iset said.
Iset hadn’t thought it necessary to retrieve Divine Master Vanev herself. She just sent him a message, something only she would know, that would force him to come.
“I sense trepidation”, Hyzou said.
“In me?” Iset asked.
Hyzou nodded.
“Why are you afraid of meeting this
Divine Master?” Hyzou asked.
“I’m not afraid of Vanev”, Iset said.
“Vanev is a Drascian name”, Hyzou said.
“And Vanev is a Drascian”, Iset said.
“He is?” Hyzou said.
“I thought you knew”, Iset said.
“Well I don’t”, Hyzou said.
“The Divine Master Yakareb signed a peace deal nearly fifteen years ago with the Drascians. As a part of it he adopted one of the children of the King of Drascia”, Iset said.
“And that child is now the leader of Yobo?” Hyzou asked.
Iset nodded.
“Why am I only finding out about this now?” Hyzou asked.
“I thought you knew”, Iset said.
“Then Viceroy Anchev must be this Divine Master Vanev’s brother”, Hyzou said.
“He is, by blood. But the Drascians consider adoption a sacred thing. Anchev won’t greet Vanev as a brother”, Iset said.
“So he took over after the Divine Master Yakareb?” Hyzou asked.
“He assassinated the Divine Master”, Iset said.
“He what?” Hyzou asked.
“You were still a slave then, fighting the Colossus in the Stadia. The Pharaoh invaded Yobo and was sure to win, the war was over. The city of Yobo was besieged and had barely a thousand men able to hold a spear. The Divine Master however refused to surrender. If the Lamyblans sacked the city, his people would be doomed to death, they’d be slaughtered by the thousands. Vanev intervened and assassinated Yakareb. He took Yakareb’s place, signing a peace deal with the Pharaoh”, Iset said.
“And he’s been the Pharaoh’s vassal since then?” Hyzou asked.
“Exactly”, Iset said.
“That peace deal between Vanev and the Pharaoh, who brokered it?” Hyzou asked.
“Me”, Iset said.
Hyzou chuckled. He began to sup on his beer. He was celebrating. This morning Tsy and his men finally reached the border of the old Piquea.
I’ve done it. Rescued Piquea. Returned it to what it was before the Pharaoh invaded. The Piquea I grew up in. Hyzou thought.
“And we’ve crossed into Lamyblan territory”, Iset said.
“Long may it continue”, Hyzou said.
Gemenfkon entered the pavilion.
“Your Majesty”, the cupbearer said.
“What is it?” Hyzou asked.
“A messenger has arrived for you”, Gemenfkon said.
“The Divine Master?” Hyzou asked.
“No, sir, just a Servant”, Gemenfkon said.
“Who?” Hyzou asked.
“Vak, is it?” Gemenfkon said.
“Ah, Vak, yes, send him in”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou sensed Vak approach. When he came before him, the Servant was coated in a sheen of sweat.
“The summer is getting to you?” Hyzou asked.
“It’s warm, sir”, Vak said.
“It gets a little colder the further north you go. Not much colder, but it can make it more bearable”, Hyzou said.
“Is this so?” Vak said.
“And we’ll be north soon enough”, Hyzou said.
“Not through surrender”, Vak said.
“No?” Hyzou asked.
Vak nodded.
“Word has arrived from Lamybla”, Vak said.
“What happened?” Hyzou asked.
“No surrender”, Vak said.
Hyzou sighed.
“Who’s taken over? Who’s the new Pharaoh?” Iset asked.
“There is no Pharaoh. Lamybla is led by Queen Tyti now”, Vak said.
“Princess Tyti, I’d never have guessed! Have you any other news?” Iset asked.
“No. That’s it. They plan to fight to the last man, from what the word from the north says”, Vak said.
Hyzou waved his hand.
“You’re dismissed”, Hyzou said.
“Yes, Your Majesty”, Vak said.
The Servant bowed and left Hyzou’s pavilion.
“Who’s this Tyti?” Hyzou asked.
“One of Ganymedes’ daughters. His second eldest”, Iset said.
“What kind of person is she? Will she be fighting in the field?” Hyzou said.
“Definitely not. Her husband though, he’s Kyrios Tumutu”, Iset said.
“Should I know him?” Hyzou asked.
“He was a deputy to Kyrios Nuya. He helped lead the army that sacked Piquea”, Iset said.
“Is he the Pharaoh?” Hyzou asked.
“No, he only gets the title of King, I believe. I don’t think he had much to do with Tyti taking the crown”, Iset said.
“How can you know?” Hyzou said.
“Tyti was always industrious. A mandarin through and through, she had friends in the court, I didn’t realise she had that many though. She was always shy, self-absorbed”, Iset said.
“Could she have been left in charge when Ganymedes and Menes ran off to war?” Hyzou said.
Iset’s face darkened.
“Oh, Iset, I’m sorry”, Hyzou said.
“Forget it”, Iset said.
“I sometimes even forget you were married to him. I’m sorry”, Hyzou said.
“I don’t”, Iset said.
“You don’t talk about him”, Hyzou said.
“I’ve owned my envy, haven’t I?” Iset said.
“You have”, Hyzou said.
Just a fortnight ago she had made the breakthrough. She’d been meditating with Hyzou when he had sensed her come alive, he had sensed her Qi come into awareness and understanding. Since then, she could summon her Qi on demand, whenever she wanted to. She was a Servant of Qi.
“Then we don’t need any more honesty from me, I already understand myself. Let’s not talk about him”, Iset said.
“It’s not good to sit on your grief”, Hyzou said.
Iset scoffed.
“How often do you talk about your family? The one you lost in Piquea. You had a sister, didn’t you?” Iset said.
Hyzou frowned.
“Very well then”, he said.
“And I never will discuss him”, Iset said.
“Do you discuss him with Safia?” Hyzou said.
The two women had become friends recently.
“I’m not going to discuss Safia with you. Otherwise she won’t trust me”, Iset said.
Hyzou sighed.
“I just wish she’d stop ignoring me”, Hyzou said.
“She’s not really explained what happened. The last time you two fell out”, Iset said.
Hyzou saw his fist connecting with her jaw.
“It’s not so serious. We just fight”, Hyzou said.
“Well, to answer your question. Yes, there’s every chance that Tyti was ruling on behalf of the Pharaoh while the Pharaoh was at war. Looking after the day-to-day running of a city”, Iset said.
“The Lamyblan Gardem”, Hyzou said.
Iset laughed at that.
“Something like that, yes”, Iset said.
“They know they’re doomed. They are doomed”, Hyzou said.
“Who?” Iset said.
“The Lamyblan nobility”, Hyzou said.
“Why does Queen Tyti mean that?” Iset said.
“Because she’s the simple option. Where’s the young and hungry warrior to try and save the nation?” Hyzou said.
“The Pharaoh always set up Lamybla so that his son would be the only one who could take over”, Iset said.
“It must have been bloody. Wouldn’t it have been? The succession”, Hyzou said.
“I’d say so. The Lamyblan Nobility were pompous and sheltered. Unpleasant people in total. And the more meaningless a throne, the bloodier a succession is”, Iset said.
“Do you think they fear me?” Hyzou said.
“Before you kidnapped me, they thought you a madman”, Iset said.
“And now? How do you think they feel?” Hyzou said.
“A victorious madman”, Iset said.
“They know what’s coming, don’t
they?” Hyzou said.
“Coming where?” Iset said.
“Once we’ve won”, Hyzou said.
“They hope you’ll be merciful. That you’ll let them go into exile, maybe even with some comfort. But at least with their lives. Those that are optimistic think you might need them to run the country. They are talented some of them, and in return for their titles they’d gladly serve you”, Iset said.
“There won’t be any titles once I’ve won”, Hyzou said.
“Bar Emperor, of course”, Iset said.
“Of course. And what do you think will happen once I win?” Hyzou said.
“When I was growing up my tutor taught me all about animals. Panthers live in prides; did you know that?” Iset said.
Hyzou nodded.
“The pride has one male, and as many females as he can hold. All around Sira Su are thousands of male panthers though, that don’t have a pride. They search for a pride, one with a male that they know they’re strong enough to kill”, Iset said.
“I know all this”, Hyzou said.
“If a lone male manages to take over a pride, the first thing he does is kill all of the last male’s cubs”, Iset said.
“Quite the metaphor”, Hyzou said.
“It seems barbaric, but it’s natural, isn’t it? Taking over a pride means you must kill all the living cubs”, Iset said.
Hyzou had finished his meal. He pushed the empty plate away.
“It’s the way of the world”, Hyzou said.
“Lamybla exists through its Nobles, and their children. While they live, you can’t say you’ve beaten Lamybla”, Iset said.
“I agree. It’s the unfortunate reality. Once I’ve won, I’ll have to execute every Kyrios and Kyria in Lamybla. Their wives and handmaidens, their babies and their animals”, Hyzou said.
“Just like the panther”, Iset said.
“I can’t be seen to order it”, Hyzou said. “I don’t want to be known as cruel.”
“Clever”, Iset said. “I never thought of that.”
“My army, my army can’t do it either”, Hyzou said. “They can let it happen, but my army have to be loved, not despised.”
“I’ll see to it”, Iset said.
“Will you? How?” Hyzou said.
“A separate army, a private army. They’ll move around like bandits and mercenaries”, Iset said.
“I’ll deny I know anything about them”, Hyzou said.