Arrows of Revolution (Kingmakers Book 3)

by Honor Raconteur

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Out of all the things that Riana had done, up to and including sneaking into the Royal Treasury, she considered tonight to be the most dangerous mission of them all.

  They had been summoned to help Prince Hendrix.

  The prince had been busy, going from one end of Iysh to the other, setting new land speed records while doing it. If not for the fact that he had spent the last five years traveling about the country, he likely wouldn’t have had the stamina necessary to do it again in under two months.

  Now he had clandestinely come to Kremser to secretly meet with several of the nobles. Riana and Woelfel had put together the meeting, as they needed Hendrix there to reinforce his alliance with the nobles willing to side with him. It was critical at this stage to do so, as Riana could only do so much. Hendrix needed to make personal connections with these people or all of their efforts would be for naught.

  To that end, she of course had to be there, as she was the organizer of it all. Hendrix had sent a single message to them of when he would be in Kremser and where they could send him a response in return. The message he had sent was beyond cryptic as well—nothing more than a time, place and date.

  Woelfel was again left behind as they didn’t dare risk him, too. Ash took the precaution of a few glamour spells so they could move through the city while being in disguise, just in case. Between that and the cover of darkness, Riana hoped that they would arrive without anyone the wiser.

  The meeting place was actually quite well established and popular among the nobility. It was known for its discretion—a necessity, considering what services it offered. When Riana had been told what the place was for she found the choice of venue both amusing and logical.

  After all, who would think a political rally would happen in a well-known gambling den?

  The building was not at all attention grabbing or imposing in any way. It was a three-story, red brick, with a wide front porch so that patrons could come and go with some cover from the weather. Two men stood on either side of the door in a nondescript livery that could have belonged to anyone and no one. Ash stopped and leaned forward slightly to give the man a discreet tip and a name: “Vanlandingham.”

  “Of course, my lord, my lady, please enter,” the man replied, pocketing the money.

  They strode through the double doors without a hitch. Riana couldn’t help but wonder, ::Are we supposed to enter that easily?::

  ::I borrowed the face and name of a derelict noble that has a gambling addiction,:: Ash explained cheerfully. ::That’s why he didn’t bat an eye.::

  ::Oh.:: Riana thought that over for a moment. ::Wait, how did you know that he wouldn’t be here tonight?::

  ::I also happen to know that he’s currently in hiding from his creditors.::

  ::And how do you happen to know any of this?:: Riana asked in bewilderment. She was the spy, supposedly, and she had never heard of this man!

  ::Well, what do you think Mrs. Pennington and I do all day while you two are out spreading rumors?::

  Mrs. Pennington. Of course. Riana felt like smacking herself in the forehead. That woman likely would put Troi to shame, she knew so much about the inner workings of Kremser’s society.

  The gambling den was not the smoky, dim interior that Riana expected. In fact, quite the opposite. It boasted vaulted ceilings, several massive chandeliers, thick red carpet and gaming tables set up in every possible location around the room. People were dressed brightly, chattering loudly and laughing even louder. They were clustered around the game of their choice, calling out numbers and bets, and either laughing or groaning when the outcome was clear.

  Riana had to earn every coin she had with hard work and no small amount of danger, so she didn’t understand gambling at all. Why risk anything on a game of chance that was more than likely rigged against you? It was more than nonsensical—it was insane.

  Ash perhaps sensed her thoughts as he gave her a wry quirk of the brow. “You don’t want to try?”

  Giving him quite the look for that question, she drawled, “Does it look like I’ve taken leave of my senses?”

  “You know, there’s no safe way to answer that.”

  “There isn’t,” she agreed affably.

  “Why don’t I just assume we’re here to meet my future brother-in-law and then leave immediately after?”

  “Splendid thought,” she congratulated.

  Ash wisely left it alone and kept walking. “The note suggested a back room that had been booked for this. I wish I knew what he wanted.”

  “We’ll see soon enough.” It had better be dire. Anyone mixing with Hendrix in Kremser had a death threat hanging about their necks, ready to strangle them. Riana wasn’t quite sure of the reason, but apparently Zelman was using his youngest son as the scapegoat for all problems. He hated Hendrix with a passion and Riana entertained no false hopes for anyone that dared to speak with the prince. They would be immediately executed.

  Riana hadn’t been sure on how they would find the back room Hendrix was squirreled away in, but as it turned out, it was easy to find. One of his retainers stood guard outside the door and upon seeing them, waved them inside.

  The room was lush with reds and gold trim, like the rest of the place, but the sound more muted here. It could comfortably entertain perhaps fifteen or twenty people but fifty people must have been crammed in there. Riana took two steps inside and then came to a dead halt as she had no more room to maneuver. The air was hot and stifling with so many bodies pressed into such a small room.

  “He couldn’t find a bigger space than this?” Ash muttered, a little exasperated. Raising his voice, he called out, “Where’s my future brother-in-law?”

  From somewhere on the opposite side, Hendrix laughed. “Back here!”

  “Can we meet in the middle?” Riana asked rhetorically, trying to shove her way through. If they tried to fight their way to Hendrix, and then back out again, it would take them most of the night.

  Perhaps the prince realized this, as he called to them, “Stay put!”

  Riana gratefully did just that even though she had to wait a small eternity for him to force his way through. People were trying to shift to give him a clear path, but the confines of the room made it very difficult to do so.

  Hendrix popped in front of them with little warning, clothes somewhat askew and a bemused smile on his face. “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting this many people.”

  “Clearly,” Ash drawled, but even he wasn’t put out about this. More people meant more support, after all. “I’m glad to see this. We’re sure there’s no spies in this lot?”

  “As sure as we can be. We do take precautions about this sort of thing of course.” Taking them in front head to toe, he asked in a lower tone, “Are you wearing a glamour? I can somehow see who you are but there’s this shadowy over-layer that makes it difficult to read your expression.”

  “We are, security precaution.” Ash shrugged as if this was to be expected. “To those that know who we are, they can identify us. Otherwise we look like someone else completely.”

  “Wise of you. Ah, then, let’s go to another room so I don’t ruin your efforts. What I need to speak with you about will be a dead giveaway to your identities.”

  Riana was grateful just to get out of the room. She had grown accustomed to Estole’s crowded conditions, but being in here was claustrophobic and she didn’t care for the sensation.

  They went out and directly across the hall, into another room guarded by a retainer. As the door closed behind them, Hendrix explained, “I’m actually staying here, as it’s the safest place to be in Kremser until night falls. The owner was kind enough to prepare a separate room that I could rest in. Now, Ash, Riana, I’m a little out of touch. How are things going?”

  Ash gave him the short, succinct version, ending with, “We haven’t been able to determine whether Iysh is actually bankrupt or if the money has been hidden elsewhere.”

  Hendrix kept shaking his he
ad, back and forth, eyes incredulous. “There’s no other safe place to put it, legally speaking. Unless my father has lost what is left of his mind and put the money into one of his lackey’s bank vaults, the money should all be in there. Lugh’s hands, did Edvard actually get his wish? Did we bankrupt Iysh?”

  “Perhaps? I’m not sure as it’s hard to prove anything. We got a partial copy of the Royal Accounting and according to it, Iysh should have plenty of funds available.”

  “It suggests to us that someone has been manipulating the books,” Riana added, “but we haven’t been able to figure out who.”

  “We have to figure it out,” Hendrix stated, more to himself than anything. “If I take over the country only to have no funds to work with, then we’re not making much headway.”

  “We’ll continue to investigate it,” Ash promised. “In the meantime, what did you want from me?”

  “Ah, that. I’ve made my circuit, so to speak, and am almost ready to return to Estole. However, with an army hovering outside, I don’t wish to try and enter the city. Too dangerous and it will make it difficult to leave again, if I need to do so. I was wondering, do you have one of those permanent callers that I can use?”

  Ash shook his head. “I don’t, but I can make something for you if you can give me about an hour and some sort of gold jewelry. Why, have you run out?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. I’m amazed at how quickly I used them up.” Hendrix made a face. “Even though I was trying to be careful with them. Does it have to be gold?”

  “Not necessarily, but gold works best and holds onto the magic longest. Silver and platinum don’t do as well for some reason.”

  Hendrix pondered that for a moment. “I think I have a ring that’s solid gold, will that work?”

  “Certainly, it doesn’t matter what type. You just have to hold it up to your face to use it.”

  Hendrix held up a staying hand. “Give me just a few minutes.” He left the room and was back again before Riana could do more than find a chair and sit down. “Here.”

  Ash took the ring, gave it a quick look, and nodded in satisfaction. “This is fine. You shouldn’t wait on me, though, as it really will take at least an hour.”

  “Just give it to one of my retainers before you leave,” Hendrix requested. “I can’t ignore my guests that long. Some of them are giving me some very interesting information.”

  “Information you’ll pass along to us before you leave Kremser?” Riana prompted.

  “Yes, of course, I’ll make notes and send it to you via courier. Expect them in the morning.” Hendrix paused with his hand on the door knob and gave them both a genuine smile. “I know it’s been a long road, but we really are succeeding. I’m glad to see both of you well.”

  “We’re relieved to see that you are too,” Ash assured him. “We’ll have a proper celebration when all of this is over.”

  “It’s a promise.” Hendrix gave them an analyst’s salute and let himself out, closing the door behind him.

  Ash gave her a quirked eyebrow, silently asking what she was going to do while waiting on him.

  “I’m taking a nap,” she informed him bluntly.

  “Lucky,” Ash moaned. With a sigh, he dutifully turned his magical attention to the ring.

  Riana put both feet up on the couch, head resting on her arm, and took advantage of the quiet and security to just unwind a little.

  Considering her anxiety in meeting up with Hendrix, it turned out to be almost anticlimactic. They left and returned without any sign that it had been noticed by the spies in Kremser. Riana was just as glad, truly, but she did have to wonder at how effective Zelman’s spies actually were. If his own son could hold a meeting in the capital without tipping anyone off, what was happening in the world at large that the spies failed to report?

  They entered through the back door, Riana doffing hat, gloves, and cloak as she moved inside. Mrs. Pennington rushed toward them, for once looking frazzled. That expression stopped Riana dead in her tracks, which made Ash stumble into her back. “What?” Riana demanded, not at all sure she wanted the answer to that question.

  “The barrier around Ganforth has fallen!”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The inevitable happened three weeks after the Iyshian army started their siege.

  The barrier protecting Ganforth failed.

  It happened early in the morning after the first onslaught, and it cracked with an audible sound, like glass on the verge of shattering. The noise was such that it penetrated the air, everyone in Ganforth and on the docks of Estole hearing it. Broden had been heading toward a minor emergency on the docks when it happened, and when he realized what it meant, he did a sharp about-face and sprinted for the nearest caller. It was fortunately only one street behind him, so he reached in a flat minute, and frantically called through it, “Ashlynn! ASHLYNN!”

  “If you’re using my name, the world is on fire. How bad?” she demanded.

  “The barrier around Ganforth just cracked.”

  There was no swearing, just a deadly silence that said more than words could ever convey. “Are you sure.”

  “Lass, it be visible even from here, and every creature known to man heard it.”

  “You say cracked, but has it fallen?”

  “No’ as yet, but belike any moment now.”

  “Report to Edvard then meet me in Ganforth.” The connection abruptly ended.

  Broden knew without her saying anything that she intended to call for help even as she ran toward the colony. He ran himself, huffing and puffing as he plowed through people. Such was his reputation that when people recognized him, they instantly made way, as they knew that he would not be running unless it was a true emergency. As he ran, he stopped any guardsman he saw and demanded the king’s whereabouts. Most did not know, but a few had seen him, and pointed him in the right general direction.

  It took far too long to find Edvard, who was doing his usual rounds among the guard stations, and Broden did not even try to wait before getting the man’s attention. “EDVARD!”

  The king’s head snapped around, detecting the panic in Broden’s voice. “How bad?” he demanded, not even sure what the emergency was, but knowing there had to be one.

  “Ganforth’s barrier is failing,” Broden reported, his words nearly tripping over each other. “It cracked visibly no’ twenty minutes ago.”

  So much had happened in such a short time, and Edvard had received so many warnings that the makeshift barrier around Ganforth would not be as strong, that the king just closed his eyes in a fatalistic manner. “How long before it fails completely?”

  Broden shook his head and spread his hands helplessly. “I’ve no notion. Ashlynn knows and be heading that way. I will order the civilians either to come across or hole up in the academy. We can no’ waste magic trying to protect the whole place.”

  “Bless you for your common sense,” Edvard responded, weariness and frustrations battling across his face. “Do that. Do it quickly, before my people are caught in the crossfire. Draft anyone you need. No, tell me what you need, I’ll send people to you. I want you as a first responder.”

  “All ye can spare,” Broden responded, honestly not sure how much help it would take to evacuate Ganforth. “Call on Larek of Dahl, the man’s got a good head on his shoulders and a work crew already organized for this sort of thing. He can take on the evacuated people.”

  “I’ll seek him out. Go, Broden, go!”

  Not knowing what else to say, and feeling time pressing hard against him, Broden whirled again and ran straight back the way he had come. As he ran, he caught the guardsmen he had seen before and passed on the message: Ganforth was being evacuated to Estole, get ready to receive people. By the time that Broden reached the docks, he was panting for breath. Sprinting around a city while talking at the same time was a bit of challenge for a man of his age.

  Word must have somehow come ahead of him, or the people at the ferry were able to anticipate wha
t needed to happen next. There was a boat ready for Broden and they launched as soon as he had both feet inside. He quickly had to sit before capsizing them.

  “Master Mark,” he panted, drawing in air like a leaking pair of billows, “did ye take Ashlynn across already?”

  “I did, and barely came back in time to fetch you.” Mark was an old sailor, past retirement age, that worked the ferry just to whittle his time away. Now he used every trick he knew to get more speed out of the dinghy to make the crossing as quick as possible. “Took her and two other wizards at the same time, Master Gerrard and Miss Kirsty.”

  Broden sent up a word of thanks. Three wizards were much better than Ashlynn trying to shoulder the workload alone. Of course, that meant Lorcan was now in charge of the southern barrier, him and whomever he could grab. “Did they speak of a plan?”

  “They did, although it was all in magical terms, and I didn’t understand more than one word in five.”

  Even if Broden had been in the boat he likely would not have fared much better. Being around Ashlynn almost a year had taught him more about magic than he had ever known, but that was not much of a measuring stick, either. He realized that whenever she spoke directly to another wizard, much of it went straight over Broden’s head. He would have to ask those three when he caught up to them what plan they had concocted.

  “King Edvard said to evacuate however many we could afore that barrier failed completely. How many can ye take, man?”

  “Top load is fifteen,” Mark told him bluntly. “Any more than that, it’ll sink her. Am I taking any baggage?”

  “No’ a piece,” Broden decided on the spot. “We’ve no’ the room for it. Whatever they need, it will be supplied in Estole. Tell them to save their lives first, things can be replaced.”

  “It’s sensible, what you’re saying; I just know I’m going to get arguments from people.”

  “If they argue, take someone else first, or toss it back on shore. Do no’ waste time arguing, move.”

  Mark gave him a solemn nod. “I will. I’ll instruct the rest to do the same.”