by J J Moriarty
Hyzou stepped through the crowds, and as they parted before them, he remembered that he had feasted in this room before. Spent the meal with a court consort by the name of Pepi.
Where is she? Hyzou thought.
Hyzou walked to his table at the very head of the room. The Pharaoh’s throne had been here once; on an altar at the top of twenty or so steps. The throne was missing, something had happened to it during the sack.
Hyzou climbed, the applause ringing in his hears.
At the top of the steps was their table.
It was reserved for the House of Nuyin. The toddlers were strapped into their chairs. At the right of Hyzou’s throne there sat Iset. On the furthest left there sat Marrea. Finally, Safia sat in a throne just to the left of Hyzou’s.
She was beautiful.
She had found some clothes that had come from CaSu and was dressed now in the CaSuan style. The light from the flickering flames dotted throughout the giant hall were reflected as sparkles from the jewels around her neck. Hyzou walked over to her and placed his hand upon her shoulder. He placed his forehead against hers and kissed her, then he turned to the crowd.
The applause died down.
“We. Are. Victorious”, Hyzou said.
The applause and the cheering started up again. The men and women were quite drunk.
Yan had seen to it that no weapons were brought into the Royal Court. No one was armed, but Hyzou and Iset.
“So we celebrate our victory. But we do more than that. Tonight, we remember the men who died. We honour the thousands who laid down their lives for our cause. This feast recognises their glory”, Hyzou said.
The applause was particularly loud now. Cheering and screaming. It all led to a chant that rang out against the walls.
“GLORY THROUGH DEATH! GLORY THROUGH DEATH!” They shouted.
Hyzou waited for it to die down. Then he spoke again.
“We eat in their honour”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou sat.
The cheers started up again and lasted until the food began to be served. Most of those serving were locals, and Hyzou made sure to thank each of them in Lamyblan.
The food was still wartime fare. There was plenty of rice and little else. Hyzou got meat, and as much as he could eat of it, but there wasn’t enough to go around. For others, butter and chick peas would have to do.
For them, it did. They had their beer, and their victory, and that was all that was needed.
Hyzou turned and looked at Safia. Tears were running down her cheeks.
“Safia”, Hyzou whispered. “What’s wrong?”
She took his hand.
“Don’t mind me”, Safia said.
Hyzou took her hand up and kissed it.
“We can speak later”, Hyzou said.
“We have forever”, Safia said.
The courses passed, and Hyzou sensed people outside the giant bronze doors of the Royal Court. Some were Hyzou’s men; the scarved troops Iset had gathered for him. But others, he didn’t know. Men and women of the flesh, more than likely.
Everybody ate.
Two hours into the feast, Hyzou decided it was time. He looked to Safia, then to Iset.
“It’s time”, Hyzou said.
Safia nodded, her face still tear stained. Iset didn’t even recognise that he had said anything.
Hyzou stood and began to clap. Silence fell in the hall.
He knew what they expected. Word had gotten out, and the rumour of Hyzou’s planned abdication spread through the force. They knew that tonight was the night.
Hyzou jumped. It was a clean jump, over the table, onto the steps below. The applause began again, the cheering and the whooping.
They’re so nice because it’s my swansong. I’m a player to them, performing one last poem. Hyzou thought.
He had specifically asked Yan that soldiers at all levels be invited to the feast, especially those who had shown devotion to him and his cause.
“How often have we faced destruction?” Hyzou asked. “How often have those tyrannies shown us by Ganymedes threatened our very existence? I know you, I can see your faces. You are soldiers, yes, but you’re also so much more. Farmers, launderers, merchants and potters. You’re fathers and sons and sisters and daughters. And in the face of fire. In the face of a suffocating fire, none of you ever abandoned me. Your loyalty is a bond. A bond I owe each of you, that will never be severed. You never once abandoned me.”
Hyzou began to walk down the remaining steps. He stopped nearest the tables. Here, most of those sitting at the tables were senior members of Hyzou’s force. Members of the War Council, captains and other important dignitaries.
“This win was your win, and I am proud to have gotten the chance to lead you through this brutal war. No matter how dark it may have seemed, I never doubted our victory. Ganymedes’ force may always have outnumbered us, but I always had the greater army”, Hyzou said.
They cheered him some more.
“If I were to mention one facility that aided our victory the most, it was understanding. I understood our enemy and understood ourselves. What we were strong at and what we fought for”, Hyzou said. “And I understood myself too.”
Hyzou walked until he was standing just behind Tsy. His commander smiled at Hyzou, and Hyzou nodded back.
“I understand myself, and know why I wear this crown”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou drew his sword. Another cheer went up throughout the hall.
“I am a military leader, and my sword is a powerful part of that”, Hyzou said. “Can that transfer to civilian life?”
Silence fell. They were waiting for it. Throughout the hall they knew that this was the second that he’d say it, abdicate, leave the throne to another.
There were hungry faces among the crowd, those who had already started their plan to take Hyzou’s throne. There were sad faces too, those who were with Hyzou, who had truly followed his leadership. Most were just drunk and hoping for a rousing speech to cheer and cry to. For most, Hyzou’s succession was a particularly interesting theatre, a play that was all the better because it was real life.
Hyzou moved. When he moved, he moved quickly. Possibly the quickest he had ever moved in his life. He had to. Even drunk and unarmed, Hyzou knew that Tsy was quick, and a formidable warrior too.
Hyzou swung, and the side of his blade buried itself in Tsy’s throat. Tsy tried to flinch but he noticed the blow too late. His eyes widened with surprise, as blood spurted out around the iron.
Hyzou pulled his sword out, then jabbed again into the meaty centre of Tsy’s throat.
Iset stood and pulled her sword out from under her robes. Hyzou nodded to her, then moved.
Tsy was the one who was meaning to commit the act of assassinating Hyzou, and for that purpose he had trained five skilled warriors from the mercenary corps. The five were a combination of blindly loyal to Tsy, and crazily ambitious for the honours that would await one who killed Hyzou.
But they had agreed to try and kill Hyzou while he was asleep and drugged, not fight him sober. So, when Hyzou leaped over the tables and rounded on them, two abandoned all pretence and tried to run.
Hyzou quickly overpowered the three that stood and fought and left them bleeding out on the ground. Those two who ran were cut down by the black scarved soldiers who were now entering the Royal Court.
Hyzou jumped up onto a table. Confusion had hit and everyone was getting up now, scrambling for safety, running to the walls.
There were many conspirators in the Royal Court and Hyzou saw them running, panicked, trying to find a way out of the giant room. The black scarves were moving through the hall, killing any Iset had marked for death.
“DON’T FEAR!” Hyzou bellowed.
The noise made everyone pause and look up at him.
“If you have been loyal to me, you may return to your seat and finish your meals” Hyzou shouted.
All eyes held their gaze on Hyzou.
“There has been a plot. Many
rich Nobles, and greedy, grasping soldiers don’t agree with my land policies. I wish to share the land out among all those who fought for me. Every soldier who fought for me will be given a parcel of land which they will own themselves”, Hyzou said.
Confusion spread through the hall, as everyone tried to digest what Hyzou was saying.
“You stayed with me. Believed in me. Fought for me. Never abandoned me. Now I shall give it back to you again. Each of you will own land”, Hyzou said.
The cheer responding was the loudest of the night.
“Archaier Tsy here has tried to assassinate me, he and some friends are guilty of treason. They will learn why knives in the dark won’t bring down the House of Nuyin”, Hyzou said.
“GLORY THROUGH DEATH! GLORY THROUGH DEATH!” The chants went.
Hyzou knew tonight the only thing spoken about throughout Lamybla would be the land. No one would be talking about Hyzou’s purge. The scarved men were on their way to Piquea and by the morning Gardem and his allies would be dead too.
Hyzou looked up to the high table. Safia wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she had taken the three children and was huddled against a wall to protect them. He looked and saw Marrea’s fearful face. He saw the House of Nuyin.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Hyzou shut the door slowly so it didn’t make a noise. The room was dark but Hyzou could sense that Safia was awake. He slipped inside. She had the three children all asleep in the bed near her.
“Safia, are you awake?” Hyzou asked.
Safia made a noise.
“I know you’re angry with me”, Hyzou said.
He took off his clothes and left them on the floor. In the corner of the room there was a small jug with water and a basin. Hyzou began to clean the blood off his skin.
“Safia?” Hyzou asked.
“What?” Safia said.
“I know you’re angry with me”, Hyzou said. “Aren’t you?”
“No”, Safia said.
Her voice was strange, spoken at a very high pitch.
“You’re not angry with me?” Hyzou asked.
“No”, Safia said.
Hyzou kept washing.
“Are you sure?” Hyzou said.
“Yep”, Safia said.
“I know I should have explained it to you”, Hyzou said.
“No”, Safia said.
“No what?” Hyzou said.
Safia didn’t answer.
“See, you are angry with me”, Hyzou said.
“I’m not”, Safia said.
“I should have told you, but I wanted to tell as few people as I could”, Hyzou said.
“That’s ok”, Safia said.
“It’s not”, Hyzou said. “I’m sorry.”
Hyzou sat down on the edge of the bed. The snoring of his children ran through the room.
“So it was all a game? You were saying it to fool Tsy?” Safia said.
“Saying what?” Hyzou asked.
“Moving to Uqing and…”, Safia said.
Safia’s voice broke, and Hyzou realised that she was crying.
“No. No. And we can still have that. No I meant it when I said it. I wanted it, I still do”, Hyzou said.
“Why didn’t you abdicate then?” Safia asked.
“I couldn’t. This throne, this role. It’s my duty”, Hyzou said.
Silence.
“I’ll show you. Wait until we return to Piquea and I’ll show you. Our family will be a family together”, Hyzou said.
“I thought you meant it”, Safia said.
“I did”, Hyzou said. “I did.”
Safia was silently crying, and Hyzou sat there, unsure what to do.
“Do you need a bath?” Hyzou asked.
Safia nodded.
“I can do it myself”, Safia said.
“Are you sure?” Hyzou asked.
Safia got up. Aliya began to cry, which woke the other two up.
“I’ll look after them”, Hyzou said.
But Safia was ignoring him.
She stepped into the light and he realised that she hadn’t changed from the meal. She had just taken the children and lay out on the bed, even though the feast had ended hours ago. Morning was coming soon.
Has she been awake all this time? Hyzou thought.
“Safia. Wait”, Hyzou said.
She turned back to him, but she wasn’t looking at him. She was still crying and staring into the space above his head.
“It’ll get better. Just like before. We’ve fought before but every time it’s gotten better. The war’s over, so just give it time and you’ll feel better”, Hyzou said.
“Yes”, Safia said.
She took her dress off slowly. She left it in a pile on the floor. She walked away, dim shadows flickering over her naked form.
Hyzou had a meeting soon.
He had, in passing, explained to the Council what had happened, but this morning he knew he’d gather all the War Council together and present the evidence of Tsy’s treachery.
The next few days would be vital, handle it correctly and the House of Nuyin would be secure.
But, for now, he needed to care for Aliya. The baby wailed, so Hyzou took her up into his arms and began to rock her.
He rocked her side to side for twenty minutes until she slept again. She wasn’t looking for anything, she wasn’t hungry or wet. She had just woken in the dark and was frightened. Hyzou let her know she was safe before he put her back to bed.
Hyzou dressed and left the room. The Sun Tower’s stairs were something he wouldn’t miss when he returned to Piquea. His new Imperial Palace wouldn’t be so difficult to get around.
Ganymedes had used a litter carried by slaves to move everywhere inside the Sun Tower, Hyzou would walk himself around the Imperial Palace.
Downstairs, in a normal room that Ganymedes had used for who knows what, Gyar was waiting for him.
“Your Majesty”, Gyar bowed.
“Gyar, how are you? I’m glad you came”, Hyzou said.
“It’s been a long night”, Gyar said.
“How so?” Hyzou asked.
“No one wanted to sleep, they were up talking about the feast. I found it hard to sleep myself. I looked up to Tsy”, Gyar said.
“It was… Unfortunate”, Hyzou said.
“It’s hard to believe it. A traitor”, Gyar said.
“Are you questioning me?” Hyzou joked.
“No, sir”, Gyar said.
“That’s ok”, Hyzou said. “I’ll be presenting all my evidence at the War Council meeting later.”
“I wasn’t doubting you, Your Majesty”, Gyar said.
“You’ll be at that meeting”, Hyzou said.
Gyar looked confused.
“You’ll be replacing Tsy”, Hyzou said.
“Sir”, Gyar said.
“Are you interested in taking that position?” Hyzou asked.
“Yes sir”, Gyar said. “I can serve.”
Hyzou reached out and touched Gyar’s shoulder.
“Thank you”, Hyzou said.
“Where will I be moving to?” Gyar asked.
“You’ll be following me and most of the rest of the Council. You’ll be living in Piquea. Did you like it there?” Hyzou said.
“I’ve only been there during the war”, Gyar said.
“Now you’ll see it in the peace. It’s the new Imperial Capital”, Hyzou said.
“I’ll enjoy it”, Gyar said.
“I’m hoping to build outwards from the hill, whole new neighbourhoods that grow out from the walls as they…” Hyzou began.
He stopped, because he heard the noise outside. A pitched scream that echoed through the Sun Tower.
“What’s that?” Hyzou asked.
Gyar stood and put a hand on the pommel of the sword. The scream rang out again.
“It came from above us”, Gyar said. “You should wait here, I’ll investigate.”
Hyzou ignored Gyar and left the room. He climbed the stairs war
ily. He’d investigate, not let Gyar figure out what was happening in his own Sun Tower. Hyzou climbed slowly, Gyar at his shoulder.
A crowd had gathered already upstairs, they were maybe two floors above Hyzou. It was four men and women, all of them slaves, gathered around the door of a room. One of them, a youngish girl, was screaming.
“What’s going on?” Hyzou asked, once he had reached the floor.
Two of the slaves looked back at Hyzou, but their faces were so horrified they barely noticed that their master had asked them a question. Hyzou pushed through the four slaves to see for himself.
The first thing he noticed, bizarrely, was that he’d been in this room before. There were about eight baths inside, and the ceiling was covered in religious art. It was where he had been taken after his duel with the Colossus, taken to be cared for and sown back up and cleaned.
It was strange because Hyzou, who had for so long been unflappable, found himself truly unable to understand what he was seeing. His mind refused to even accept it as fact. And it took nearly a minute before he was able to think the horrific thought.
She’s dead. Hyzou thought.
Only one bath was full, and the water within was a dark red.
Hyzou sprinted into the room and jumped in. He grabbed Safia and hoped to see a reaction. But she was dead, there could be no doubt - he hadn’t been able to sense her Qi.
“What did you do?” Hyzou shouted.
Safia’s lifeless body didn’t respond.
“What happened? What the fuck did you do?” Hyzou asked.
He lifted her from the water, looking for a wound. He found them soon enough. Gigantic, gaping cuts along the tracks of her arm.
“Safia”, Hyzou said.
He held her body close to her chest. He was crying now. Hot angry tears that rolled down his face while sobs wracked his body.
“SAFIA. PLEASE”, Hyzou shouted.
Somewhere nearby, Hyzou could hear Gyar giving orders, but he didn’t care. He just sat down in the bloody water, fully clothed, and let Safia rest against him.
When he had shook her, her eyes had opened a little bit and so, now, she looked like she could still be alive. She always looked that way when she was just waking up in the morning.
“Safia. Are you awake now?” Hyzou whispered.
He howled, a cry of pain that echoed around the room. He howled, emptying his lungs of all their noise. He left the body in the water then got out. Turned his rage against the walls.