by Tony Roberts
“But aren’t you upset for the empress? She’s your employer, after all.”
“True, and yes I am upset. But it’s one thing feeling something in here,” he thumped his chest, “and another saying it aloud. I know which side of my bread is spread, and I’m not going to throw that all away by supporting Burnas, of all people! Burnas! Pah, that insufferable gods-forsaken hypocrite. Loser.”
“Loser? The High Priest?”
“Former High Priest,” Demtro corrected her. “He lost his place at the top of the Temple, lost the favour of the ruling party, lost a fortune in treasure. Oh yes,” he nodded seeing Clora’s surprise, “he had a stack of jewels and gold at his former residence when he was thrown out of Kastan City. Illicit proceeds of his position as head of the Temple. Astiras pumped that back into improving the infrastructure.”
“I didn’t know that!” Clora said.
“Where did you think they got the money to bribe the big Houses as well as building roads, ports, walls, temples and the like? The treasury was exhausted, raped to death by the Fokis and Duras. They needed a miracle, and got it. So, Burnas. Major loser.”
Clora leaned back, a smile on her face. “Oh, you’re such a bully at times, aren’t you? That poor man has no chance against you.”
“Huh, poor man indeed! Go fetch my low outdoor shoes. It’s getting far too warm for my big ones now.” As Clora got up to fetch his shoes, Demtro hurriedly pulled out a small key from his inside pocket, a brass key on a chain, and quickly walked to a side cabinet against one wall. There were three drawers, all with locks. Demtro said he kept some important financial documents there, and mostly they were, but there were one or two other things which he didn’t want Clora to see. He thumbed through the parchments and found what he wanted. Slipping it into his jacket, he relocked the cabinet and had returned to the table and his drink by the time Clora came in with his shoes.
“They needed a little rubbing,” she said, holding them up.
“Thank you, you’re a treasure you know,” Demtro smiled. “What are you going to be doing today? It’s a no-market day today, remember.”
“I know – I thought I’d go pray at the local temple.”
“Oh? You don’t normally. Got an attack of religion?”
Clora pouted. “I want to pray to the gods to give me a child.”
“Pray to me – I’ll try my best,” Demtro grinned. He received a thump on the arm in response. “Ow! Now who’s the bully?”
“Go, you wicked man. I really don’t know what I see in you,” Clora said in mock seriousness. She pushed him gently.
“Oh I know what you see in me,” the merchant affected a rakish smile, then pulled her to him and kissed her long and hard. Clora put her arms round him and returned the kiss. Finally they broke, staring into each other’s eyes. “Ah, damned governor, he ought to learn to stand on his own two feet. I’ll see you later,” he said and picked up his felt hat hanging from a peg and left the house, breathing in deeply and looking round the street.
There was the usual collection of people passing by, an occasional cart, and one or two felines staring at passers-by from high walls. Then, with a sigh, he turned and made his way to the residence of the governor, Evas Extonos.
Evas greeted him with relief. In his room were also the messenger who had come for him, Evas’ advisor Kisan Prelek, two guards and finally, the black-robed figure of Gaurel Branas, former High Priest of Kastania. “Welcome, Demtro, what kept you?”
“Good morning to you too, Governor. What kept me? Breakfast, rapine, saving the empire from destruction, the usual. So you’re having another baby, then?”
Extonos stood up abruptly. “The former High Priest here is threatening to denounce our emperor in his sermon today.”
“So you told me in your letter. Well lock him up them.”
Burnas got to his feet, spluttering with indignation. “How dare you, sir! You do not run this city, and you can hardly lock me up if I have done nothing! On what grounds would you put me in a dungeon?”
“Oh I dunno, having a beard far too unkempt, for starters. Can’t you afford a decent barber? Look at you, you’re starting to look like one of those desert madmen.”
“This is outrageous, Governor,” Burnas protested, standing before Evas’ desk. “This man is not taking the situation seriously! I asked him to obtain evidence that the liaison between the emperor and that witch never took place, but he has failed to do so! I have no choice but to follow my conscience and tell the populace that we are being ruled by a fornicating adulterer who shames his wife, the imperial House and the laws of our gods!”
“You’re keen on that word, Burnas. Fornicating. You like the sound of it? Why not use rutting, copulating, humping?” Demtro located a spare chair and sank into it. “Oh, Governor, you forced me to miss breakfast. I’m ravenous.”
“But – its mid-morning!”
“And? Breakfast is good any time. Since I’ve not eaten so far today, my first meal will therefore be breakfast. Get your cook to whip up something edible.”
Extonos shook his head, then nodded to the messenger who left, glaring at Demtro who seemed unconcerned about everything. “So, Demtro, what are you going to do about this situation? Do you have evidence that these allegations are false?”
“No,” Demtro admitted. “Astiras almost certainly humped that girl in Turslenka. Good on him, I hear she’s quite something. Nice to have a red-blooded male emperor, better than his quailing spineless predecessors, don’t you think?”
“Merchant, you are the most irreverent, disrespectful individual I have ever met. I am going to my temple to tell all about his godless behaviour, and nobody is going to stop me.”
“Before you do, Burnas,” Demtro stood up, breathing in deeply, “I think you ought to reconsider. I mean, making an enemy of the emperor isn’t a sensible course of action. I appeal to common sense – oh I know it’s often sadly missing these days but one must try, mustn’t one? – to stop this course of action.”
“Kalfas, get out of my way or I shall call down upon your head the wrath of the gods, and you wouldn’t wish that, even to a blaspheming scoundrel such as yourself!”
“Why, Burnas, you say the most delightful things to me,” Demtro grinned. He turned to the governor. “It must be love.”
Burnas spluttered again. “Love? Love?? You are deluded if you think I have any feelings of fondness for you!”
“But you do for others, don’t you? For a man in your position that isn’t allowed, you know. If the Temple got to hear of it they’d strip you from your position, even here where you’ve been exiled.”
Burnas went very quiet, his eyes boring into Demtro’s. “You had best stay silent lest you open your mouth too much and get yourself into deep trouble. I am not a man to cross, so choose your words very carefully.”
Demtro slipped his hand inside his jacket and then pulled out the folded sheet. It had been one of his spy Renet’s crowning glories, finding out about Burnas’ private activities. The merchant had kept the paper for a while now, waiting for the moment to use it. Now was the time. “Then I shall say nothing. I shall instead present you with this.”
Burnas scowled and snatched the parchment, flicking it open. He read the words and his face drained of colour. His hands shook. Demtro tugged the sheet out of the priest’s hands and slid it back inside his jacket.
“I ask you again, Burnas, not to carry out your threats. If you do, then the crowds in Niake will not only have one scandal to think about. If you want a future anywhere in this empire, then my recommendation, as a friend, is to please shut it.”
“Friend? Friend?? What sort of friend…..”
“The sort that does not tell of this; but if you are bent on destroying what I consider dear to me, then I shall have no option but to do so. I know of your lifestyle and frankly am in admiration of what you do behind closed doors, but it’s not really for me to tell anyone.” He looked at the four others in the room. “I won’t be
telling any of these esteemed gentlemen of course. They can wonder, but the secret is safe with me, because, despite your lack of humour and rather insufferable sanctimonious attitude at times, I actually like you.”
Evas, Prelek and the two guards were motionless; they were agog at the exchange between the two.
Burnas’ lips trembled. “You – you play a very dangerous game, merchant. One of these days someone is going to kill you.”
“Oh, please, and deprive this place of the most colourful character of all? How boring would all your lives be without me? I’m not easy to kill, and have no wish to die for quite some time yet. I intend making plenty of money for many years.”
Burnas shook his head slowly and mouthed something to himself.
Evas cleared his throat. “Priest Burnas, are you going to incite the citizens of Niake with your sermon?”
Burnas stood still, his hands clenching and unclenching. Finally, his face red, he seemed to snap out of his seizure. “No! Be assured, Governor, your safe little world here remains safe for a while longer.” He gave Demtro one last long unfriendly stare. “I do not regard you as a friend of mine, so do not continue that deluded opinion of yours that we are friends. You and your wife are not welcome at my Temple. Good day!” he shouted and slammed the door behind him.
Evas puffed out his cheeks. “What in the name of Kastan does that parchment say?”
“Ah, Governor, that is a secret,” Demtro put a finger along the side of his nose. “It’s on a need to know basis and – well, you don’t need to know.”
The Governor looked irritated. “I can hardly accept secrets going round here without being involved.”
“Well just forget this one exists and all will be well. Nothing that includes you, anyway, so worry not. So, where’s my hot cup of klee?”
“Oh, coming, Demtro, stop fussing.” Evas gave the clutter of papers on his desk a brief survey. He looked up at the two guards. “You may resume your positions outside now the crisis has passed.” The two guards saluted and left. The Governor now steepled his fingers. “What is your overall view of trade in Bathenia, Demtro? I’m keen to keep a finger on the pulse of trading in my province.”
Demtro waited, as the door opened and in came a servant with a tray of drinks. She deposited it on the desk, curtseyed, then left. Demtro watched her closely until the door closed. “Nice arse.”
“Please, Demtro! I’m interested in your opinion of trade, not the physical attributes of my residential staff. Besides, you’re married!”
“Oh, how one-dimensional, Governor. One can look as long as one doesn’t touch.”
“Hmph! Be that as it may, please give me your opinion on trade in my province.”
Demtro took one of the cups of the hot drink and sipped it briefly. “This isn’t Bathenian, Governor.” He smacked his lips a few times, and looked thoughtful. “Ganbadian?”
Evas inclined his head. “One of our diminishing stock. Best to use sooner rather than later before it rots away.”
“Ganbadian,” Demtro said in wonder. “So long since I tasted such. Old, and really isn’t at its best. Best you use it now as you said. Ah well, trade. Hmm… we’re getting regular traffic from the east into Port Aconia. Timber, marble, sulphur, food stuffs. No longer subject to banditry which is good. From the Tybar we’re also getting sulphur, plus good quality woolspun bales. Say what you like about the Tybar, they have superior wool beasts and know how to make great tapestries and rugs.”
He eased his buttocks to a more comfortable position. “Food isn’t an issue here anymore, and we’ve got a pretty good exchange with Lodria now that region has settled down. We’re even getting some shipments of Romosian vine pressings which is a relief to those with civilised palates.”
“I’m very pleased to hear that, Demtro. Anything else?”
“Hmmm…. Now Tobralus is Tybar, we’re getting wood from there, too, plus silver plates. Tobralus has some pretty decent silver mines and they’re already exploiting them. They work fast, those tribesmen.”
“No doubt with slave labour,” Evas commented.
“As do we with our sulphur and marble mines, may I remind you, Governor. Slavery may be officially banned in Kastania but it does still go on.”
“But they are criminals.”
“Criminals are people who fall foul of laws, and it doesn’t take too much to make it easy for anyone to become a criminal or outlaw.”
“Are you saying we make it easy to make people outlaws?”
“No – I was actually referring to the Tybar. To resist their invasion is a crime. Anyone taken captive in battle is a criminal as are their families by association. A soldier of our armies can be captured, enslaved, and his wife and children enslaved automatically. Usually the wife ends up as a slave of some Tybar chieftain to serve him in his bedroom and the children are separated – the boys inducted into their army and taught to be good soldiers and to worship their god above all else, while the girls are taught to be pleasure slaves from an early age and by the time they get to adulthood are experts. They fetch a high price in the market place, so I hear.”
“Despicable,” Evas pulled a face.
“So let me give you a hypothetical situation. The Tybar declare war on us, invade and surround Niake. They order you to surrender. You refuse. They storm the city, take all captive. You would be enslaved, as would all your soldiers. Their wives would be shared out amongst the soldiers, and their children made soldiers or pleasure slaves as I have described.”
“But if I surrendered it wouldn’t happen.”
“No it wouldn’t. You’d have an occupying garrison, and a Tybar advisor to guide you in the ways of the new regime. All the temples would be forcibly converted to their ways, a levy put on the male population to join the local militia, and no doubt you’d join in the attack on the remaining Kastanian territories – or else.”
“Well, let us hope that doesn’t happen,” Evas said, his face pale.
“Not likely the way things stand. Trade is flowing back and forth and there’s no sign of any invasion army. I think they’ve expended their strength in subduing Tobralus and Amria. There’s something else further west that’s keeping much of their armies there, but I don’t know what. Nobody’s saying a word, but it’s something that worries them.”
Evas shrugged. “No doubt we’ll hear of it in due course. What of illicit goods?”
“Ah, Governor, I think that’s what you’re really concerned about, aren’t you? The Leaf, if I guess correctly?”
Evas sighed. “Yes, yes, you’re correct as usual.” He looked piqued.
“Oh, Governor, if you’re going to test me properly, do so less obviously. The Leaf…. Supplies have dried up, from what I can tell. Addicts are going crazy; the price has gone through the roof following the clumsy attempt by the Duras to flood the market and ruin us all here. The Tybar over harvested the plant, mostly due to them not being expert in nurturing it. I believe – and this is hearsay – that the plant can’t be pruned back to the woody parts or you kill that part of the plant. The Tybar must have chopped the lot up, thinking it’d grow back, and it hasn’t. Shame.”
Evas was going to admonish the merchant, but then he saw the smile and realised Demtro had been facetious. “So we’re safe from the Leaf?”
“For the moment; I suspect there are some plants left but it’ll take time to develop them and nurture them. Amria is some distance away, after all.”
“Quite so, quite so.” Evas looked at Prelek who shrugged. “Well, that seems to be all for the moment, then, Demtro. Thank you for – ah – taking care of the tricky situation with the priest. It seems you have a hold over him, thankfully.”
“Oh, it’ll work once or twice, but I wouldn’t rely on this keeping him quiet forever. Best to get him soothed and placated. An annoyed priest in your city isn’t a good thing, you know. Piss off the priests and you’re in trouble.”
Evas nodded and smiled. He interlaced his fingers and looked at Dem
tro. The merchant took another sip of his drink and raised an eyebrow. “Governor, are you in a hurry to get rid of me? You wish to discuss some secret matter with your advisor here? Am I in the way?”
“Ah, Demtro, I’m sure that you have some other appointment, so don’t let us keep you.”
Demtro settled in his seat more comfortably. “Well, don’t worry about that as it’s a rare off-day for me, and I was rudely hauled out of bed this morning by a somewhat peremptory message. Therefore I cannot see why suddenly I’m not required here. I’ve put myself out for you today, quite a lot in fact, and it would be rude and churlish to now dismiss me like some discarded play-thing.”
Evas cleared his throat. “Quite, quite, Demtro. My apologies, but Prelek and I do have matters to discuss now that this situation has been cleared up. With thanks to you, naturally.”
Demtro sighed, stood up, and slowly upturned his half-empty cup. The still hot liquid spilled onto the rug with a splattering sound. “Then I shall take my leave, returning your ‘hospitality’ with a suitable gesture.” He dropped the empty cup onto the rug carelessly. “I’ll show myself out, I wouldn’t like to think you’d go to any effort to show me that courtesy. Good day.”
Evas sat rigidly still, his mouth open. After Demtro had left, Prelek walked over to the dark stain and tutted. “That will take some cleaning, sire. Best get some of the domestics to see to it before it stains too much to clean up.”
“Arrange it,” Evas said tightly. “He’s becoming too much, that man.”
“I could look into his tax affairs. Rich people like him always have something to hide.”
Evas scratched his chin slowly. “Hmm, yes, get the clerks to investigate his financial affairs. I desperately need to take that man down from his lofty position. A bit of humility would go a long way.”
Prelek grinned.