Blades of the Old Empire

by Anna Kashina

  They stopped in front of the castle gate, the carved ornaments along its top clearly outlined against the night sky. This wall was not as tall as the one down below, but it was hewn much smoother, making it harder to climb. Just like at the city entrance, there was a small door at the base of the gate, tightly shut.

  “Shouldn’t be a problem,” Kara said after a pause. “Unless, of course, there’s a large force waiting for us on the other side.”

  “The way to scale this one is on the side, over there.” Mai pointed. “The wall’s lower in that place, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Once you’re up there, you’ll get a good view of the entire yard before they have a chance to see you.”

  Kara nodded and took out her grappler hook again. But before she had time to do anything, the door at the base of the gate screeched and slowly swung open.

  Mai and Raishan closed in, shielding Kyth and Ellah with their bodies. Kara, in front, tensed up for action.

  A lonely figure came into view, clearly outlined against the doorway. A young woman with pale skin and flaming red hair, dressed in a deeply cut green dress with a golden trim.

  They all stared.

  “Lady Celana Illitand?” Egey Bashi asked.

  The royal lady nodded as she ran her eyes around the group, pausing in turn on each of the faces. Then she walked forward and stopped in front of Kyth, dropping a deep curtsey.

  “Prince Kythar.” Her voice was clear, and its ringing timbre had a way to reach its listeners without obvious effort on her part. “I’m so glad you are finally here. I was waiting, so that I could be the first in this castle to offer help in setting King Evan free.”

  Kyth stared. “Why?”

  Lady Celana straightened out and gave him a look, in which the outward shyness of a young maid was greatly outweighed by a chilling intelligence that made Kyth feel instantly alert.

  “I am afraid, my lord,” she said, “that both our fathers have fallen victim to a very powerful enemy. While I know the impressive force you bring would normally be sufficient to break the King out, this time we are dealing with something out of the ordinary. These men can kill a Diamond Majat. They’ve killed Aghat Han.”

  There was a shocked silence.

  “What did you say?” Egey Bashi demanded.

  She shook her head. “It was an unfortunate incident, for which I am afraid my lord father will be blamed, even though he had nothing to do with it. We sent off a funeral procession to the Majat Guild days ago. But since then Kaddim Tolos and his men have taken over the castle.”

  “Kaddim Tolos?” Kyth echoed.

  Lady Celana met his gaze. In the darkness her green eyes acquired a velvety touch that made them look like two bottomless pools of water.

  “He is a powerful man, who bent my lord father to his will and made him do things that, to my regret, may challenge the good standing of our house. That’s why I am here, Prince Kythar. I wish to redeem my family’s honor as much as possible under the circumstances. I will do whatever is in my power to aid you. I will give you my life, if need be. I am yours to command, my lord.” She bent down in another deep curtsey and stayed, head lowered.

  Kyth gave her an uncomfortable glance. “Rise, my lady,” he said.

  She straightened out and stood, holding his gaze. Her face was calm, but Kyth had a feeling that she had more control of the situation than he did. He threw a hesitant glance at Egey Bashi.

  The Keeper nodded, taking the cue. “From what I heard, my lady, your house and especially your lord father, have done a lot of harm to the King. Why should Prince Kythar believe you?”

  Lady Celana moved her gaze around their group and fixed it on Ellah. “You are a truthseer, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” Ellah said slowly.

  “Tell the Magister – do I speak the truth?”

  Ellah held a pause, then nodded.

  “All of it?” Egey Bashi demanded.

  Ellah slowly turned to him. “Since the lady met us here, she hasn’t told a single lie.”

  Lady Celana’s face remained calm, but Kyth noticed a brief expression of relief that echoed in his own heart. She was being sincere. She was really here to help.

  He took a breath. “Thank you, my lady. We will gladly accept your help.”

  She smiled, her porcelain face for a moment acquiring a glimpse of warmth. “We must move. We have very little time.”

  She turned and walked back inside the courtyard. Kyth wanted to follow, but Raishan blocked him and moved in first, Kara after him and Mai, beside the doorway, kept his hand up, signaling for the rest of them to pause. After a moment, he lowered his hand and stood back, letting everyone through.

  Lady Celana led the way to a small group of Illitand guards gathered in the center of the courtyard.

  “The prisoners are kept in the throne room under heavy guard,” she said. “They’ve been there for hours. And worse, they’ve just sent for Princess Aljbeda. I am afraid it will all end badly if we don’t do something right away.”

  The three Diamonds exchanged glances and Kyth saw quick hand signs go between them.

  “We must split up,” Raishan said. “Ellah. You’ll go with Kara to the Princess’s quarters.”

  “I’ll send a guard to show you the way,” Lady Celana said. “If you hurry you can probably get there before they do.”

  Kara nodded. Ellah glanced at Mai, who wasn’t paying any attention to her. Kyth could well relate to her fear. He didn’t like the idea of being separated from Kara any more than Ellah from Mai. But he wasn’t about to interfere in the Majat’s plan. He reached forward and patted the girl’s arm.

  “Be safe,” he said quietly.

  Ellah gave him a quick nod and hurried to catch up with Kara and one of the guards, already halfway up the stairs to the castle. Kyth watched them go, praying they were going to be safe.

  “The four of us are going in together,” Raishan went on. “Prince Kythar, you’re covering me. If I get wounded or disabled, you must immediately switch to protect Aghat Mai. One of us must be able to fight at all times.”

  Kyth hesitated. “If you get wounded and I stop protecting you, they’ll kill you.”

  Raishan’s gaze became cold. “This isn’t about me. We’re here to rescue the King. If some of us die in the process, this is the way it has to be. Let’s keep our goals clear, shall we?”

  Kyth turned away. He didn’t like this, but he had to admit that Raishan was right.

  “You should stay behind, my lady,” Raishan said to Lady Celana. “It’s not safe for you to come.”

  She nodded. “My guards will show you the way. May Lord Shal Addim protect us all.”

  48

  A VISION IN LILAC

  Evan peered into the faces of their captors. In the past hour they had barely said a word to each other, but there was considerable movement in the room as more hooded men streamed into the chamber, flooding the space around the prisoners. Each had a weapon in hand, a spiked metal orb hanging off a chain.

  When the movement in the room ceased, Kaddim Tolos addressed the assembled troops. “I think it’s time to invite Her Royal Highness to join our gathering.”

  Evan looked up. He was tired of the pointless argument with their captors, but he also had a strong sense that someone had to offer resistance, and none of his fellow prisoners seemed eager to do it. Daemur and the Tanad had fallen into apathy more than two hours ago, and Mother Keeper was exhausted after a long and intimidating exchange with Kaddim Farros, who turned out to be more proficient in politics than his looks suggested.

  “There seems to be no point in bringing the Princess here,” Evan said. “None of us have signed your document.”

  Tolos smiled. “Exactly, Majesty. Somebody has to start, don’t you think? I am sure Her Highness would be just the right one to help all of you to overcome your fits of stubbornness.”

  At his signal a large group exited through the back doors of the chamber, the sound of footsteps receding down the hal
lway.

  “There’s hardly any glory,” Evan said, “in bending a five year-old child to your will.”

  Tolos’s smile became wider. “I admire you, Sire, for your incessant courage. You find it worth your while to fight even the losing battles, don’t you?”

  Evan didn’t feel the need to respond as he calmly held the man’s yellow gaze.

  “As for your question,” Tolos went on, “this isn’t about glory at all.”

  “Actually,” Evan said, “it wasn’t a question. Merely an observation.”

  Tolos glared. Evan calmly returned his gaze. He was past caring what would happen to him, and he wasn’t about to give in to the man’s intimidation tactics.

  After a while they heard footsteps at the back door and a group of people entered the hall. The little princess walked between the robed guards with a dazed expression of a child taken out of bed past her usual sleeping hour. Her pale golden hair looked like it was combed and arranged in a hurry, leaving small wisps sticking out of the loose knot at the back of her head. Her chocolate skin was paler than usual, and her bright violet eyes shone like gems, surveying the large gathering around her with wonder.

  Her soft purple dress accented her eye color, not as elaborate as what she usually wore to court, but undoubtedly chosen with care to make the Princess look fragile and adorable. Such a trick would have possibly worked to soften the hearts of their captors, had they happened to be normal people and not obsessed maniacs that worshipped the Cursed Destroyer, but Evan still admired the Princess’s caretakers who hadn’t spared any effort to give the child her best chance.

  The usual Princess’s retinue of twelve Olivian ladies, which Evan had come to think of as a natural addition to her wardrobe, was absent. Only two ladies walked beside the child, both dressed in lavish silk gowns whose lilac color provided a proper accent to the rich shade of the Princess’s garb. Apparently the ladies didn’t have a chance to think carefully about their own appearance, directing all their creativity to the Princess’s outfit. Their dresses seemed much more fit for an intimate candlelight evening than for an armed gathering in a gloomy stone hall. Low cuts left the necks and shoulders bare, exposing enough cleavage to make a focal point for all gazes thrown in their direction. To ward against the night chill, they also wore light silk cloaks with hoods on, clipped at the neck in a way that, instead of covering up the exposed flesh, made it even more obvious. The effect was compelling. Even in his sad situation, Evan couldn’t help but stare.

  He knew that one of the privileges of the Olivian ambassador consisted of hand-picking the ladies for the Princess’s suite, and that Tanad Eli Faruh exercised this privilege to the full. It was clear from the display in front of them that he had spared no effort in choosing the best the entire kingdom of Shayil Yara had to offer.

  Both ladies looked familiar. Evan was fairly sure that the one with a sensationally tall neck, whose full breasts threatened to escape from the low opening of her dress, was Lady Lavinia. Her delicate oval face, partly hidden by the folds of the hood, was framed by luscious golden hair, cascading in carefully arranged ringlets down one side of her neck onto her bare shoulder.

  The other lady was slimmer, and her breasts were a bit too small for what Evan believed to be the Tanad’s taste. The dress she wore was perfectly designed to expose them just enough to make one wonder if the rest was as gorgeous as the small bit visible to the eye. She had a special refined quality of movement, so that as she walked across the floor, holding the hand of Princess Aljbeda who seemed anxious to keep by her side, Evan found it difficult to look away. He peered at her face, but the deep folds of her light hood made it hard to see. He had surely seen her at court, but he couldn’t recall her name.

  Evan glanced at their captors, wondering if they were also impressed by this display of Olivian beauty, but the four Kaddim Brothers remained calm. Nimos’s dark eyes glinted as he watched the newcomers, stopping just short of the ladies’ faces and lowering down to the Princess.

  The child stopped before the circle of chairs, clutching the hand of the lady by her side.

  “Welcome, Your Highness,” Tolos said. “Won’t you join us?”

  The Princess drew closer to her lady in waiting.

  “I already joined you, sir,” she said in a clear voice that carried easily through the hall. She spoke without any of the speech impediments of a small child, or the southern accent that dominated the speech of some of her countrymen, including Tanad Eli Faruh.

  The child and the Kaddim stood for a moment facing each other.

  “I don’t think I know you,” Princess Aljbeda said. “If you wish to talk to me further, you must first introduce yourself.”

  Evan was amused to see Tolos’s eyebrows rise as he stared at the Princess with a bewildered expression.

  “I am Kaddim Tolos,” he said.

  “Kad-dim?” The princess stretched the word as if trying to feel its taste. “This title is unfamiliar to us.”

  Tolos exchanged hesitant glances with his companions. Evan silently cheered the Princess on, but he knew that despite the admirable way she held herself there was no possibility of a good outcome to this conversation.

  Nimos stepped up to Tolos’s side. His gaze was cold.

  “We summoned you here, Princess,” he said, “to sign a very important document. Perhaps we should stop wasting time and get down to business, shall we?”

  The child grasped the lady’s hand tighter. “I don’t sign very important documents, unless I have first had a chance to discuss them with the Lord Ambassador.” She looked at Tanad Eli Faruh for support, but her trusted advisor didn’t offer any. He sat very still, eyes darting between the Princess and their captors.

  “If you really must, Highness,” Nimos said. “Just be quick about it.”

  The Tanad shrunk away under Nimos’s gaze. If the Ambassador had a chance to discuss anything with the Princess, Evan had no doubt about the advice he would give. But the Kaddim obviously didn’t have a big discussion in mind. They waited, staring the child down with their cold, unblinking eyes.

  Lady Lavinia stepped forward. “I don’t think it’s wise to frighten Her Royal Highness, my lord,” she said in a deep velvety voice, as luscious as her skin that gave off a warm glint in the flickering torchlight. “Her age is quite delicate, and if I may say so, it’s long past her bedtime.”

  Nimos gave her a cold look. “If you speak again, I’ll give you to my men waiting outside, to handle as they please. Think of it, my lady, before you decide to open your pretty little mouth.”

  She looked at him in stunned silence. Then she stepped back and lowered her gaze. Evan noticed a quick glance that went between the two Olivian ladies before both of them receded into stillness, looming protectively over their young ward.

  “That wasn’t very nice, sir,” the Princess said. “I’m sure you meant well, but I think you have upset Lady Lavinia. You must apologize at once.”

  Nimos held her gaze. “I don’t think so. But I could act on my threat, if Your Highness continues to be stubborn. My men are rough at times, but I’m certain your lady can keep them quite entertained before they finally do away with her.”

  Evan was sure the child didn’t understand what he meant, but the threat in his voice was obvious. Princess Aljbeda’s face twitched as if she was about to cry.

  “It seems that everyone here is afraid of you, sir,” she said. “I don’t think you are up to any good. I wish to go back to my quarters.”

  “You’re not leaving, Princess, until you sign the document.” Nimos stepped forward and stretched out a hand. “Come here, Highness, I’ll show you what to do.”

  The princess threw a helpless glance at the lady holding her hand and received an encouraging nod in return.

  “I will not go to you, sir,” she said. “You have evil eyes. I wish to stay with her.” She raised her gaze to the lady. “Except,” she added quietly, “we left my quarters so suddenly I didn’t have time to catch your na
me.”

  The Olivian lady raised her hand and threw the hood off her face.

  “My name’s Kara, your Highness,” she said.

  Evan’s astonishment echoed the gasps from around the hall. He stared. In all the times he saw her in a Majat outfit, he never imagined she would look like that in a dress.

  The Kaddim Brothers went very still as they surveyed the new menace. Kara used the pause to bend down and pick up the Princess. The child threw her arms around Kara’s neck and hid her face on the Majat’s shoulder.

  “You’re dead,” Nimos whispered.

  Kara measured him up and down with her eyes. “Strange, I haven’t noticed.”

  “Get her!”

  The men with orbens fanned around Kara. Evan’s heart sank. He knew how good she was, but she was also unarmed, with a child in her arms, facing a roomful of deadly warriors. His hand darted to his sword, but the two men next to his chair reacted faster. A hand grasped Evan’s shoulder and he felt steel at his throat. He eased back into his seat, the sharp metal tip pressing so hard he was sure it drew blood.

  Kara used her free hand to pull off her cloak, flinging it into the way of the orbens. Her arm moved so fast it blurred. There was a metal screech as a chain twisted around the cloth, the spiked metal sphere stopping just short of reaching her hand. She dodged an orben coming from the back and continued the wrist movement, giving the cloak a sharp tug. Cloth ripped. The attacker stumbled, overbalanced, and released the chain. She caught it, flicking it into a spin with a very short leeway.

  “Give me the Princess!” Lady Lavinia shouted.

  One of the men swept past, dragging her out of the way and leaving Kara alone with the Princess in the ring of enemies.

  “Hold on tight,” Kara told the child. “And don’t look.”

  Princess Aljbeda dutifully clasped on, burying her face deeper in Kara’s shoulder.

  Kara swayed the orben in a wide arch. The man at the end of the line stumbled and fell, blood gushing out of his torn neck. Kara edged back toward the door they came in from, but her way to safety was firmly blocked. She spun the orben, eyes darting between the men surrounding her. They looked determined, but no one seemed willing to attack first.