Empress's Endgame (Book 5 and final of the Death Incanate Saga)

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  “Travelers!” Cage called back. “From Vin’re. Open up please.”

  “Business or pleasure?” the same soldier asked and knew Jormon’s hand at work because once in a private conversation none knew about, he asked for a phrase that could be used.

  “Both. Bounty hunting is fun.”

  The soldiers all gave a nod that this was who they were meant to allow it without further question. “Open the door.”

  Below, next to the gate, inwardly slid on silent hinges was a steel door more than a foot thick. A soldier waved them in and in private whispered “The way is clear, My Lord and Ladies.”

  Brooke put a finger over the man’s lips and touched Cage’s pointed ear. The soldier smacked his own head and mouthed ‘Sorry.” She simply nodded, passed him her torch and drew both tomahawks. Meeka did the same with her twin daggers and followed her love into the darkness, Daku’s tiny form blurring past to disappear in the town.

  Tohka took her whip out and also her knife as she shadowed her man.

  Cage and Tohka casually strolled in and found the first dirt road that ran north to south and waited in the shadows for nearly a minute before he heard Daku’s birdlike chirp signaling all was clear. The two of them moved north, down five houses that lined either side of the street. To the right was a rowdy tavern and left was a moderate looking house dark to all inspection. And just as was described, it was a red door with a blue painted door handle. Before Tohka could ask where to go, Cage signaled her to duck down behind a barrel in front of the tavern.

  By the time he approached the seeming vacant house, none could be seen except the small form of Daku looking like a white rat on the gutter. He knocked twice and kicked the door and his heightened hearing picked up movement that stopped right behind the door, waiting. In an instant, like flipping a switch, he took on the personality of the man who tried killing the king. Even his voice and mannerisms were copied. He whispered “Now you are who rules.”

  The window brightened with candlelight too quickly appeared to make it seem life was inside the safe house. The door cracked and one blue eye peered through the crack. She then looked around and said “And where is your partner?”

  He raised an eye, knowing she suspected him to say something to incriminate himself. He said nothing, but shifted and hunched his shoulders just enough to sell what he learned of who he copied.

  The moments of silence made the woman sigh in relief and his hearing so close picked up her heartbeat slowing. She smiled and let him in. Her head peeked out and saw the tavern as lively as ever and the rest clear. She then stepped inside and bolted the door.

  Cage scanned the room in an instant to find a small armory lining the wall for a coup here in Apala. His suspicions were confirmed as three large men suddenly appeared, all third class sorcerers, while four burly men with glazed eyes came downstairs, all looking broken as slavery had made them submissive to these five mages. The woman was blonde and revealed a shapely figure very much like Princess Amy, but a round face and pert nose on a too fair complexion would not ever make them pass as sisters. The rest of the residence appeared like a modest home where a family who didn’t care about material gain would live. It was a simple place easily overlooked as an enemy nest.

  The woman asked “Where is Keeliy?” as her face glowed blue and began to reshape. Higher cheekbones, thicker lips, longer eyelashes and a small nose soon transformed the woman’s face to a near perfect copy of her topic.

  “Mendau, that isn’t her name and you know it.” Cage shifted his weight and his words placated the magic he saw gathering in the two sorcerers behind them. His words made them relax.

  “Had to make sure.” She said while altering her voice to resemble the woman she thought to replace.

  “Good, but she won’t be coming.” Cage said as he already knew the woman who King Tate killed didn’t want a name, as she was a tool and nothing more. “And we were right.” He said to the other mages in the room as one man erected a barrier of privacy. “King Tate and those in Vin’re have been hiding something monumental from our beloved empress. They are conspiring with dragons.”

  “What did you find out?” One of the sorcerer’s asked.

  “That they are planning to coordinate an attack on our empire from the north and south. The dragons are going to Jump to Vrooq while King Tate is going to send half the Vlaran navy fleet to Iron Mines and free our slaves in three weeks time. I was there when Rex Semek spoke of a preemptive strike, against the wishes of the other Rex’s. Already the king’s men have sailed and cannot be contacted to be stopped. And when the slaves are taken, they will attack Eeroan before sailing through Ert Swamp and Oak Tree River to make a base at Araa. While the dragons attack our neighbors in Division Mountains, they attempt to cripple us from marching south and retaking what belongs to our empress.”

  This news fell on eager ears. “Did you learn their numbers, sailing to Iron Mines?”

  “Unfortunately no.” Cage shook his head and sat down to bury his head in his hands. “King Tate was suddenly called by his personal mage as we were walking through the hall. Somehow that bastard realized I wasn’t that damn warlock. I managed to rub this on the king’s skin and ran, but I watched him clutch his chest just as my accomplice jumped from the princess’s open window to her death.” Cage said and laid down the poisonous stick that causes a heart attack when applied to the skin and is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream. I managed to hide and not get caught, but my hearing picked up distressed soldiers speaking on what to do as both the king and princess are dead.” He met everyone’s hungry gaze. “It was why I was late. And they were shutting the gates just as I was leaving.”

  One said “Captain, permit me to inform General Adair on our enemy’s plans. It will take time for Mandau to reach Vin’re to take over. By that time we’ll be under attack.” Cage nodded and watched the man Jump out in a beige light.

  “And our plan’s here? Has anything changed while I was gone?”

  “No, Captain.” Mandau answered. “By morning our men here will kill Lord Mallek and take his place too.” The woman’s gaze turned on the three broken men. “Go to your stations and see him dead as he comes out on his morning tour of Alapa.” The four men grabbed their crossbows, enchanted to kill a high ranking man able to afford protective crystals.

  “Did you hear that?” Cage suddenly straightened and held a finger over his lips. The other sorcerers cocked their heads as he whispered “There. At the window. I just saw a man’s head duck down.” He stood and slowly walked to the curtains beside the two sorcerers. “He cannot hear anything, but you idiots forgot to hide your presence. Four mages in robes could cause trouble… Good, he hasn’t left.”

  Cage finally managed to get in range of these men, luring them into a false sense of an easily overpowered spy. A tiny thought to his diamonds sent the message to Tohka’s topaz necklace, Meeka’s bracers and Brooke’s hidden emeralds.

  Right as Cage jumped and brought a heavy kick to both of the men’s heads and the impact sent them face first into the windowsill. The impact made them crumble. His other leg bent and twisted as he gave a mighty thrust to do a back flip just as Tohka’s heavy kick blew open the front door. Princess Amy’s lookalike was so shocked at the suddenness that shock held her immobile as a dark, silvery whip wrapped around her neck and sliced through her wards from the wand in her hand. Tohka’s twist and tug threw the woman off balance just as Cage gave a quick chop to the four startled men’s necks and watched as their eyes rolled up and crumpled into unconsciousness. Tohka jumped and drove her knee in the woman’s soft middle, knocking the wind out of her. Then she went about wrapping her whip, as she had been practicing for weeks, around the woman’s neck, arms and legs and locking it all in place. A well placed elbow strike knocked the woman out completely.

  Outside, Tohka’s break in didn’t go completely unnoticed. A scout was idly watching from inside the tavern. He grabbed a marble size gem and got up to leave. And as he stepped
out of the tavern’s lights and noise, he stopped as a haunting voice said “One move and you’re dead, Stupid Man.” He went rigid as he felt cold steel of a razor sharp hatchet come up under his chin and its bite allowed him to feel warm wetness travel down his cloak and tell it was blood, his blood. Then before he could do anything, a blow struck his temple and he dropped.

  Brooke broke his knee while he was falling, making sure he couldn’t get away or fight back. He didn’t rise, even from the pain of her kick to the side of his knee.

  No one else came by or saw what was happening.

  Jormon arrived at the dark alley with Gaz and a small squadron of ten soldiers. They shielded their eyes as Meeka created a blue flame in the palm of her hand and said “We got them all. Go tell my king we’ll arrive at Vinre tomorrow night. The easterly winds are still with us. And tell him also that my man’s plan went off better than planned. Did you get the other one?”

  Meeka stood alone as planned. Jormon and Gaz already knew Cage and the others were already on their way. The sorcerer smiled. “We’ve got him. Tell Cage I must learn this spell that made the enemy Jump to us rather than back to the empire. The fool was so shocked he appeared inside the garrison he literally pissed himself. Unfortunately he had a hollow tooth that killed him instantly through Zeether venom. He wouldn’t be captured by us and I wasn’t ready for him to do it. He’s a pile of mush right now. Still, altering destinations without arousing suspicion… What an ingenious spell.”

  The healer smiled. “My man has many new tricks, most he will not divulge even to me when I’m fucking him senseless.” Jormon and the soldiers blanched, unable to think after those words coming from someone so beautiful. Meeka smiled. “I guess I really am Utala now. Last year I would have been mortified to have said that, but Cage and my sister-mates really have no need for modesty. Besides, women aren’t dainty flowers at heart. I’ve come to see that. You boys need to make your wives see it my way too. We loves sex, as much if not more than you.” She lectured and enjoyed their expressions. “We are just less open. Try surprise sex. Take your wives out in the woods or on the kitchen table and let them find their wild side. If you do this I can guarantee you will like what they do spontaneously for you. Oh, Jormon, this is from Brooke.” She swiftly brought her leg up between his legs and stopped just shy of connecting. “I’m not as cruel as my woman, but next time do not interrupt her especially when she is making love with one of us. When you see her, hold your lance protectively. She’ll know I lied and will really kick you here if you don’t.” Her shin gently hit the family jewels and dropped her muscular leg. “And if you interrupt her having sex with me, I’ll kick you right after she does. This is your only warning.” Her innocently large eyes were dead serious.

  The sorcerer audibly gulped. “Then I gratefully accept your generous offer. Only under the most extreme situations will I risk such a devastating price.”

  She smiled beautifully, but the men all knew she was a trained warrior, better than all of them. A moment after she closed her eyes to mind-link with Poli a silver dome appeared and she stepped through and disappeared since she couldn’t teleport to a place she didn’t know.

  “Was that nearly naked woman serious?” a soldier asked.

  Jormon instead asked “The question you should be asking is why she spoke to us in such a way? Lady Brooke most certainly wanted to kick me in my scrotum, but not in front of the king. Lady Meeka is certainly much gentler. She meant what she said, every word.”

  “But never have I met a woman, let alone Lady who spoke like that.” Another has said.

  “Next you come to Vin’re, even you will see how women have changed. None of you were there at the Winter Tournament, but the Utala woman have rubbed off on our people. There have even been naked parties housed by Lord Kallerian as he supports Lady Meeka’s acceptance as a strong woman accepted by a war tribe from the Tribal Plains.”

  “Like that womanizer needs to throw naked parties.” One quipped and the group laughed.

  Jormon turned to the men seriously. “And would it help to tell you that in all my centuries that since Lord Cage arrived in Vlara, that his status and stance for equality has had women who see how he associates with his women and those of his tribe to explore their sexuality. Even down in Kote, the small town south of Miot, my last visit there a week ago has started something. Only the home guard wears trousers to hold their swords. Everyone else goes around completely naked. Women walk the streets without shame, emulating the Utala as a better way of life. And I can assure you, I was shocked. When I asked Lady Meeka’s father why, Mayo Cillian shrugged and asked me right back why not.”

  “But the gods say…” one began.

  Gaz growled and Jormon translated “He says your beliefs are proven false. No gods has as of yet been proven. Until they are, you’re being blinded. He has no need for clothes so why do we? Except in winter.” Jormon chuckled while his Familiar rolled his eyes. “You boys better take Lady Meeka’s advise. Soon Kote’s shamelessness will spread and your women will find they have power once more when they bind to our… friends. Besides, I find it refreshing seeing people as they truly are. And my wife has joined in Lord Kallerian’s party. It isn’t about sex, but freedom. And with the explosion of magic being widely used, clothes and armor will not be entirely needed. And I can assure you, when Lady Meeka said you’ll like it, she meant it. Making love will not be strict to the bedroom alone. My wife had me take her against the door to our room when she came home after the party. Very likely I’ll soon join her loss of modesty, but my robes are magic too so I’ll require them… Just be ready for the change coming. Men will no longer rule their women. It will be an equal partnership. Now, go inform Lord Mallek that the conspirators are en route to Vlara for questioning.”

  “And to spread Lady Meeka’s word for ‘Surprise sex?’” another joked.

  “I do not think she’d give you a choice. This Lord Cage must be something to make such a sexpot so vocal. Women who look like her, in my experience, be terrified to be caught in her small clothes.” Another scratched his head.

  “But between magic and those knives, she has no need for fear. I know my wife will take up her words if she was here.”

  “Oh, but I did.” All their heads turned to a group of women grinning from ear to ear. “we wives were all curious when all of the home guard were called, but no curfew was shouted for danger. Husband, she is right, as soon as you get home you’ll find the children with your mother. Your lance better be up to the challenge I’m going to put it though.” His comrades held their tongues as they saw their own wives in the mob, agreeing.

  “Since our husbands now realize we are just as capable as them,” Another woman of rather plump proportions and eager spirits voiced. “how about we show it’s too hot this night to wear such warm attire. Oh, and Husband, I’ll be waiting for you among the flower garden. Don’t make me wait or I’ll start without you.” She then pulled her dress over her head and wasn’t alone. The women laughed at the distressed men, especially as four stormed naked into the tavern, dragging their men out and running home or to a hidden locale to not wait.

  Gaz rumbled in a bear’s version of a laugh. “And so begins the revolution.”

  Chapter 5

  “Have at it, Men!” Brooke called out as she kicked her prisoner’s off Ulon’s back and down into the courtyard surrounded with soldiers and several mages. Despite it being a few hours before dawn by the time they eventually reached Vin’re, it was well lit by both torches and magic. She gleefully heard a bone in one of her captive’s leg snap and cry of agony, especially since he tried killing her to no effect. Soldiers slapped chains and gems onto the two sorcerers she dropped from three stories up while holding onto their staffs surrounded in a green nimbus she made so they couldn’t be reached, so long as she concentrated. The drop wouldn’t have hurt, but the pain was clearly heard and those few who looked at her could see she really didn’t care what happened to the two she kicked off l
ast. Nothing whatsoever.

  Brooke lithely and acrobatically dropped down, using Ulon’s spikes as a ladder and giving him a smile when she touched down. He smiled before moving away to go dive into the cave below the castle and speak with Rex Semek. She then walked passed soldiers, dancing around some and came up to Poli just as Tohka and her bound prisoner landed in the courtyard. Tohka carried the woman over her shoulder, bound with her whip, the hilt of which glowed a dark gold with power. Right before her and Meeka stood the king, his daughter gripping her wand studded with personal gems and around them were powerful soldiers and hired mages from the Adventurer’s Guild who were loyal only to Vlara and its monarchy, bound by oath and magic.

  Meeka bowed before royalty and moved her arms with flourish. “My King, I present to you Mendau.”

  Tohka unceremoniously dropped the woman down in the space between them, but held onto her whip’s hilt. The woman in the purple dress cried out, but many could not hold back a gasp of surprise as they saw a mirror image of their princess bound in the whip that was like thousands of razors that shredded whatever it touched. The woman was bloodied, raw and knew it was too late. Especially seeing a murderous rage in the king’s visage and a disgusted one on the princess.

  King Tate’s white knuckle grip on the hilt of his sheathed sword did not go unnoticed as he looked to the three ethereal beauties standing in front of the sleek silver one. In a tense voice on verge of yelling he said “Remove the imposter’s look of my daughter.”

  Tohka bit her lip nervously before shaking her head. “I do not know how, King Tate. My whip allows for no magic to be used on her nor can she use any herself when I have her bound this way. My mate said to give her to you like this.”

  “Then remove her binding. I want to see the face of this imposter who dared try taking my kingdom through subterfuge and tarnished my daughter’s blood.”