by John Marco
He stopped himself abruptly. Crewmen were looking at him. Biagio steadied himself, taking a breath.
"Yes," he said calmly. "You are right. I must prepare myself to meet this witch." Very slowly he rubbed his hands together, trying to think. "The Lissens will insist that I go ashore alone, but I will not. You will accompany me, Kasrin. This business cannot take place without you."
"Me?" blurted Kasrin. "Biagio, I think you should listen to them. Go alone if that's what they demand. No sense in making it tougher for yourself."
"You don't understand. There are things I will be discussing with Jelena that concern you, like the Fearless. She will want to know what my plans are for dealing with Nicabar. I'll need you there."
"Come to think of it, I was wondering about that myself. What are our plans for the Fearless? You haven't told me and I think I should know."
"You'll know soon enough," said Biagio. He turned and looked back over the prow. "Just be ready to go ashore."
Kasrin went silent, leaving Biagio to ponder the wreck of his mansion. The Dread Sovereign let the schooners escort her closer to shore, surrounding her with their cannons and staying close to starboard and port, leaving the dreadnought no room to maneuver. The closest schooner, the one commanded by the Lissen named Greel, steered them directly toward the beach where they could take a landing dingy ashore. Already Biagio could see figures gathering on the sand waiting for him. He didn't bother looking through his spyglass to find out who they were, because he knew from the long platinum locks and flowing peacock dress that one of them was Jelena.
The child queen, thought Biagio wryly. From here she hardly looked more than a girl.
Eventually the fleet of schooners led the Sovereign close enough for her to drop anchor. There was no harbor on this side of Crote, just the endless white beach that Jelena and her Lissens had marred. He would go ashore by rowboat, Biagio knew, and so watched passively as Kasrin's officers traded orders with their Lissen captors, dropping anchor and waiting for a boat to come alongside. As Biagio suspected, Laney delivered the anticipated news.
"The Lissens are sending over a launch. They want you to go ashore, Lord Emperor. You're to go unaccompanied."
Biagio nodded. "I understand. Please tell them that Captain Kasrin will be going ashore with me."
Laney stared at him. "Lord Emperor . . ."
"Do it," ordered Biagio, "or I will not go ashore. Once you explain that to them, they will capitulate."
With Biagio's certainty to buoy him, Laney turned to his task. He waited long minutes for the rowboat to come alongside the Sovereign, then shouted down Biagio's conditions. The Lissen sailors reddened at the news demanding that Biagio board their tiny vessel alone, but Biagio wouldn't budge from the Sovereign, not even when the crew lowered the rope ladder for him.
"They won't change their minds," said Kasrin. "If the queen says she wants you alone--"
"Be quiet, Captain," Biagio said.
Enough was enough, he decided, and so he went to the railing where Laney was negotiating and stared down at the Lissen rowboat pitching on the waves. "I am Emperor Biagio," he called. "I won't come aboard unless my captain comes with me."
The Lissens were astonished to see the emperor.
"You'll come aboard on our terms, butcher," one of them shouted back, "or we will blow you out of the water!"
Biagio shook his head. "Do not make idle threats. If your queen wishes to speak to me, she will agree to my terms. Or would you prefer to tell her yourself that you lost me, and my important news?"
As Biagio expected, the Lissens in the dingy fell silent, pondering his words.
"I'm tired of this," Biagio growled. "Give me your answer, or go ahead and fire. I'll leave it to you to explain things to Jelena."
Finally, the Lissens relented. Their leader called up, "Bring your captain aboard. But no weapons. And no tricks, either. We know you, Biagio."
"Do you? How gratifying." He turned to Kasrin, gesturing toward the rope ladder. "Captain? After you."
"Thanks," said Kasrin dryly. Then, like the expert sailor he was, Kasrin vaulted over the rail and began descending the rope ladder. When he had gone down three rungs, he looked up at Biagio. "Coming?"
From her place on shore, Jelena watched as the little rowboat approached, apprehension growing in her with every stroke. She could see several men in the launch, most of them Lissens. But there were two strangers on board, one with the remarkable hair and skin of Cretan gold, the other dressed in the indigo uniform of the Black Fleet. Jelena frowned at the sight of them, upset that her instructions had been ignored.
"Who's that with him?" asked Timrin. "Jelena, I swear I gave orders that only Biagio was to be brought ashore."
"I believe you, Timrin. Apparently Biagio hasn't changed."
Jelena herself had changed though, trading her filthy work outfit for a stately gown of blue that danced around her sandaled ankles and trailed in the sand as she walked. Occasionally the surf threatened her, nearly reaching her as it foamed up the shore. Jelena didn't bother to avoid it. She didn't want to appear afraid of anything, not the water nor the infamous man coming ashore. Next to her were a gaggle of advisors and bodyguards, all of whom had volunteered to protect her, but Jelena knew they just wanted to get a glimpse of their legendary enemy.
"I've heard he's quite tall," one of them observed.
"Wait until he's seen what's been done to his mansion," snickered Timrin.
"Oh, he's already seen it," said another.
"Quiet," Jelena scolded. "Let's carry ourselves like Lissens. I don't want Biagio thinking we're barbarians. Today we're diplomats, remember."
Her people fell silent. They watched with their queen as the rowboat reached the shore and two Lissen seamen climbed out to beach it, dragging it up the shoreline until its hull was buried in sand. The rest of the sailors piled out, splashing into the surf. Jelena steeled herself. Suspiciously, she eyed the one she knew was Biagio, curious about the way he fretted over the water.
A fop indeed, she told herself.
Finally Biagio got out of the boat, helped by the Naren officer he'd brought along. Jelena gaped at the sight of them. Biagio was indeed tall, and as he sloshed toward shore his long legs carried him like a spider. And the other one, the young officer, had that familiar Naren arrogance about him, reeking of superiority and misplaced confidence. He was shorter than his emperor but only by a little, with dark hair and ruddy features that contrasted Biagio's softness. As they came ashore guided by their escorts, each looked around suspiciously, their eyes finally coming to rest on Jelena. The young queen squared her shoulders. Biagio gave her a polite though serious smile.
"Queen Jelena, I presume." He paused a few paces before her, inclining his head as he spoke. "It's my honor to meet you."
Jelena was shocked. She had heard that Biagio was extraordinary looking, but the vague description hardly did him justice. He was astonishingly handsome, with delicate features that belied his masculinity, making him seem like both a woman and a man. His voice was musical, tuned like an instrument, and his golden hair was silky, pulled back in a long tail that fell down his back. When he looked at Jelena his eyes were bright, an ocean green that surprised the queen. She had heard his eyes were blue, the narcotic sapphire of all the Naren lords. Yet they were as clear as gems and remarkably animate, full of humor and danger. He took another step toward her, offering a cautious smile.
"The honor is yours alone, Biagio," said Jelena icily. She turned toward the Naren officer. "Who is this?"
Before Biagio could answer, the officer stepped forward. "My name is Blair Kasrin," he said. Then he pointed out over the water. "That's my ship, the Dread Sovereign. I'm her captain."
Jelena didn't acknowledge him. "You were supposed to come ashore alone," she said to Biagio. "Why did you disobey me?"
"Because I have important business with you, my lady. And Captain Kasrin is part of that business. I knew you would let him come ashore, just as I
knew your schooners would not open fire on us. Now . . ." He looked around, stopping when his gaze fell upon his villa. He sighed. "I'm tired of playing games with your people. We must talk."
"First I want to know why you're here," said Jelena. "We won't move an inch until you tell me."
But Biagio was still inspecting his former home, clucking his tongue unhappily. "What a waste. It was so beautiful, and now you've ruined it. Have you any idea what you've done?"
"Watch your mouth," warned Timrin, stepping between Jelena and Biagio. "You're talking to the Queen of Liss, you Naren pig."
Biagio peeked around him, saying to Jelena, "You're expecting an invasion, aren't you? It isn't coming."
"What?" Jelena blurted it out too quick to catch. Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Biagio grinned at her. "Queen Jelena, I have important news for you. Now we can stay on this beach all day, arguing and getting nothing accomplished, or you can let me come inside and explain things to you. It's up to you of course, but I think you'll be interested in what I have to say."
He was acting like he still owned the place, and Jelena seethed at his behavior. But he had come a long way, and at great personal risk, so the young queen finally surrendered.
"Follow me," she ordered, then turned and stalked up the beach. Biagio and the navy man followed her dutifully. It was a long way up to the house, but they traversed the distance without a word. Biagio did nothing threatening, only muttering occasionally as he noticed some new change to his villa. Surprisingly, Jelena felt a creeping embarrassment about his dismay. She was the one who had ordered all the defenses built and all the valuables sold off, and it seemed to her that Biagio blamed her for the desecration of his home.
The hell with you, Biagio, she thought.
Inside the rambling house at last, Jelena and her advisors led their guests to the west side of the mansion, a sun-filled corridor marked by numerous, expansive rooms and once boasting a gallery of priceless paintings. The walls were bare now and Biagio noticed their nakedness with a groan. Jelena half expected him to start weeping. But the emperor remained silent, letting her lead him to the destination he had probably already guessed--his former study, an intricately designed room that had once housed valuable antique globes and writing implements from around the Empire. Jelena hesitated before crossing the study's threshold. All that was left of Biagio's fine furnishings were the desk and a few simple chairs.
"Timrin, join us," said the queen as she entered the chamber. "The rest of you, wait for us outside."
The Lissen bodyguards remained in the corridor while Timrin, Biagio, and the captain followed Jelena into the room. The queen closed the door, watching Biagio as his eyes skidded across the stripped walls and empty shelves. He shook his head in disbelief.
"Even my books are gone." He leveled a scowl at her. "Why?"
"To pay for your war against my country," said Jelena. "All the things you collected were quite valuable. They've been sold off to black marketers for whatever we could get for them. The gold and precious metals were melted down." She grinned, loving his shocked expression. "You've been quite helpful to us, Emperor. I doubt we could have accomplished so much without your fortune backing us up."
"And my people?" asked Biagio sharply. "Are they well? Or did you sell them off, too?"
"Your Cretans are sheep, Biagio. They were easily tamed." Jelena gestured toward the spartan chairs that had been brought in for them. There was no wine in the room, no food, no luxuries of any kind. She didn't want Biagio to be comfortable. She took a seat in the chair behind the desk. It was wing-backed and far more impressive than the simple wooden ones used by Biagio and his officer.
"Now," said Jelena, leaning forward. "I've been very patient with you, but I won't wait a moment longer. Tell me what you're doing here."
The emperor spread his hands in a gesture of peace. "As I told you outside, I have important news for you, Queen Jelena. But before I go on, I think I should assure you of some things. I am not here to threaten you, and my visit isn't deceitful. I've come here out of sheer necessity. But what I need is equally important to you."
It was a riddle, and it irked Jelena. "None of your double-talk," she warned. "What is it you want?"
"The same thing you do," replied Biagio. "Peace."
Jelena leaned back, trying hard not to look startled. "Peace? With you?"
"Peace between the Empire of Nar and the Hundred Isles of Liss," said Biagio. He looked her straight on, not even blinking. "That's what I've come to offer you, my lady. And please, let's not bother with verbal fencing. I know how desperately you need peace. I know how badly stretched your resources are, and how much your people have suffered."
"Do you? Do you really?"
"Yes, I do," replied Biagio. "You forget, I ran the war against Liss. Your islands were under siege for ten years, and it was only our fight with Lucel-Lor that stopped us from crushing you. Don't try to lie about your strength, because I know it's not as grand as you claim." Then, remarkably, Biagio laughed. "But I am in the same predicament, you see. I need peace as much as you, and that's the reason I'm here."
Jelena was intrigued. So was Timrin, whose eyes were wide, waiting for Biagio to explain.
"Go on," bid Jelena. "We're listening."
The emperor remained strikingly calm. He began to tell his remarkable tale, looking perfectly comfortable despite the hostile audience. Jelena listened, enthralled, as he explained his reasons for coming to Crote. He told of the awful strife in the Empire, spoke of genocide and war and assassinations, and how chaos reigned throughout his land. He confessed his weakness as emperor, an impotence that he claimed made him unable to deal with the various threats to his throne. Then he told of the long war with Liss, and the terrible toll it was taking on his own people, sapping the wealth of his imperial coffers and wasting resources desperately needed elsewhere. He wanted peace with Liss, he repeated. More importantly, he needed it. Then, when the emperor had finished, he leaned toward Jelena.
"I've come here at the risk of my own life," he said. "I took that risk because I know you need peace as much as I do. There are threats against Nar that are too great for me to deal with alone. I need allies. I also need fewer enemies."
A suffocating silence engulfed the room. They all stared at Biagio, stunned by his admissions. Even his companion, Kasrin, seemed awed by his statements. He looked at Biagio curiously, and Jelena wondered suddenly how well they knew each other. How much had Biagio told the captain? She reminded herself that the emperor was a man of secrets. Expecting too much from him might be dangerous. Then she noticed that Biagio was watching her, waiting for an answer.
"I wish you would say something, Queen Jelena. Your silence makes me nervous."
"I don't know what to say," Jelena confessed. She didn't like the idea of being honest with Biagio, but his very presence had stunned her. As had his incredible plea for peace. But she didn't feel Biagio was lying. She didn't trust him precisely, but she believed that he wanted what he claimed. "You have startled me by coming here," she said finally. "I keep asking myself why you would risk your life like this, and the answer is always the same. Yet I cannot believe it."
"Believe it," said Biagio. "I know that you can kill me easily. Or, if I go back to Nar and my enemies learn that I've been here, they will kill me themselves and save you the trouble. The effort will only have been worth it if you believe me, Queen Jelena."
"Why should we?" growled Timrin suddenly. "If Nar is as weak as you say, we can defeat you ourselves and have our revenge."
The Naren captain laughed. "Do you really think so? By all means then, go ahead."
"Stop it," demanded Jelena. She locked eyes with Biagio, trying to gauge the depth of his honesty. "Why did you come on your own? If you want peace so badly, why not just declare it yourself?"
Biagio blanched, warning Jelena that she wouldn't like his answer. "Because I am weak," he admitted again. "Certain things are out of my control." He
pointed at his officer. "Kasrin is the only Naren fleet officer loyal to me now. The rest follow Nicabar."
Jelena and Timrin traded glances at the mention of their nemesis' name.
"Yes," said Biagio. "You understand me, don't you? Nicabar will never call off his war against Liss. He is beyond my influence."
"Believe him," urged Kasrin. "I know Nicabar as well as anyone. Biagio is telling the truth. Nicabar is obsessed with defeating Liss, and so are many of his captains."
"And you?" asked Jelena curiously. "Aren't you obsessed with killing us, too?"
The Naren captain bristled. "I am not. It is Nicabar's war, not mine."
"I don't believe that," said Timrin. "You're all butchers. The Black Fleet only employs murderers."
"Perhaps that's why Captain Kasrin is no longer employed by them then," countered Biagio. "Kasrin refused to join Nicabar's war against Liss. For that he was ostracized and called a coward. It's up to you, my friend, but I think you should show this man a little respect."
Timrin colored. He looked away from Biagio, glancing at his queen for support. Jelena was fascinated. Finding a Naren seaman who didn't hate Lissens was like finding a lake in the desert--it just didn't happen. But she still had so many questions left unanswered. Again she began pressing Biagio.
"When you saw our defenses you knew we were preparing for an invasion, but you said no invasion was coming. Explain yourself."
Biagio smiled. "I have very little to offer, but this is one of my gifts. I've never ordered Crote to be retaken. No plans have ever been drawn up to attack Crote and win it back, and Nicabar has no intentions of invading here." He laced his fingers. "My old friend Danar has other plans."
"What other plans?" asked Timrin.
Biagio ignored him, looking straight at Jelena. "Liss. Even now Nicabar is on his way to Casarhoon, to rendezvous with some other ships. He's hoping to find a weakness in your islands. When he does, he will strike."
"Oh, but that's madness," said Jelena. "The Black Fleet tried for a decade to find a way into Liss, and never did. He won't succeed."