“Women of Hetar,” he began, “you must understand that we are threatened by the terrible magic forces of Terah. If we do not strike first, if we do not bring the battle to Terah, they will fall upon us like rabid wolves. We go to war to protect Hetar. To protect you and your children. And Terah has much land to be settled, many riches to be shared. Hetar is a peaceful land. We do this to keep the peace.”
“You do it to enrich yourself and your friends further!” a voice in the crowd called out.
“We do not want our menfolk slaughtered needlessly!” cried another voice.
Lady Gillian stepped forward and the women grew silent again. “My lord emperor,” she said politely and she bowed to him. “There is no real proof that Terah threatens Hetar. The Coastal Kings have traded for centuries with them and at no time did Terah ever evince hostility toward Hetar. Rather, they strove to avoid us. Our ships have never been permitted to sail into Terahn ports. Indeed, no Hetarian other than Lord Jonah has even been allowed to visit Terah.
“You promised the citizens of Hetar that the colonization of the Outlands would bring us all prosperity. It has not happened because, rather than distributing the land fairly, you have parceled it out among the magnates and you have transported the poor into positions upon their farms that make them little better than slaves. The few who have gained their own land have fallen into debt with the high prices needed to purchase equipment and build their shelters. We have problems here in Hetar that need correcting. We do not need another war. We will not support another war,” Lady Gillian told him implacably. “Will you send your son, Aubin, into war, my lord? How many of the magnates’ sons, the sons of the Crusader Knights, will be sent?”
“What has that got to do with the threat that Terah poses to us?” the emperor demanded.
“You are quick to send our sons into battle!” one of the women cried out. “But not your own lad. Why is he better than our boys?”
“The emperor’s son cannot be compared with a mercenary’s son, or a merchant’s son or the son of any common Hetarian citizen,” Gaius Prospero said in lofty tones, as he looked down upon them from the steps where he stood. Stupid women, he thought, irritated.
“We will not send our sons into your war this time, Gaius Prospero,” Lady Gillian said quietly. “The women of Hetar will not support your foolishness any longer.”
“The women of Hetar will do as they are told!” the emperor burst out, his fury evident.
Suddenly an angry murmur arose from among the crowd and the women once again chanted, “No war! No war! No war!”
The young empress stepped forward and held up her hand for silence.
The women stopped to listen, for she was an unknown commodity.
“Women of Hetar,” her girlish voice cried out to them, “you surely cannot comprehend, for I know that I do not, the greater good our emperor brings by his actions. Trust him. I do.”
“We thank the empress for her kind thoughts,” Lady Gillian said, “but she has not the experience of many years or sons to protect as we all do. Know this, Gaius Prospero. The women of Hetar will stand against you in this matter. Think carefully before you commit us to a futile endeavor.” Then Lady Gillian turned, and the crowd parted for her and then followed her as she walked back down the gravel path, across the greensward and toward the gates enclosing the Golden District.
When she reached the gates, the guards, already alerted by Jonah, attempted to take her into custody, but the women protested and their numbers physically overcame the guards pushing them back with great shouts of outrage. Lady Gillian walked on proudly. The guards tried to snatch several others, but their companions would not permit it. Finally, the great crowd of women had exited the Golden District and they walked through the streets chanting. “No war! No war! No war!” Now and again the protesters would stop and one of their number would speak. Soon other women in the streets were joining them.
From the safety of his palace Gaius Prospero was still stunned by what had just occurred. He hurried back to his library, his young wife running behind him with Jonah. “How could this sort of thing happen?” he demanded of the man he called his right hand, slumping into a chair while Shifra poured him a goblet of wine and mopped his forehead, which was beaded with moisture. “Women in revolt against my authority? The authority of Hetar? If it had been ten or even fifty or a hundred I should have taken no heed of them. But there were over a thousand women certainly, Jonah!”
“Surely not a thousand, my lord,” Jonah said in silky tones. “And now they have all gone home. They have had their say, my lord, and that will be the end of it.” He offered his master one of his rare smiles.
“A thousand or more,” Gaius Prospero said firmly. “And who encouraged them to this rebellion? There were women of all castes, Jonah. From the highest to the lowest. Most were bold and showed their faces, but I saw others who were well cloaked that their faces not be seen. Those garments were of the richest fabrics. They were surely wives of Crusader Knights and magnates, as well as Pleasure Women of high rank.”
“Many were from among the mercenary class,” Jonah soothed. “The poor always complain, my lord. It is in their nature.”
“This revolt crosses class barriers, Jonah,” Gaius Prospero said.
“’Tis a little revolt, my lord,” Jonah answered.
“From little revolts come bigger revolts,” the emperor replied. “But no matter. I want to know who is behind it, Jonah. How many were arrested at the gate?”
“I will inquire,” Jonah said.
“I want Gillian questioned. Do what you must but find out what we need to know. I will put a stop to this resistance against my authority immediately,” the emperor said.
“Of course, my lord. Your will is mine to obey,” Jonah told him, then bowed himself from the emperor’s library even as Shifra slipped into her husband’s lap to soothe him, her little hand caressing his face with a gentle touch.
Jonah sent a messenger to the gate to inquire about those arrested. He then directed his personal servant, Lionel, to find his most useful spy, Arcas, and bring him to the palace. He was not pleased to learn that no one had been arrested. And when Arcas finally arrived, Jonah, who knew the emperor would not be pleased to learn this, rounded on the man who was his spy and in Jonah’s debt.
“You have heard what happened?” Jonah asked grimly.
Arcas nodded nervously. “I have, my lord.”
“Women in revolt, Arcas, and you knew nothing of it? The booth in the market where I placed you to toil as a scribe is next to a most popular women’s destination. A large booth dealing in scents, lotions, soaps of the finest quality. It is always filled with women chattering. And you heard nothing of this rebellion? It has been months since you brought me anything of value, Arcas. I wonder if you have lost your ability to be useful,” Jonah murmured, the threat veiled but unmistakable.
“I did hear something in the last few days,” Arcas admitted nervously. “But my lord Jonah, they were babbling women. I did not think it was of any importance.”
“It is not up to you to decide what is important or unimportant,” Jonah said angrily. “You are in my employ to gather information. Everything you hear. I will make the decision if it is important or unimportant. Now tell me what you heard, you useless fool!”
Arcas, who had formerly been a Coastal King and was now exiled from that province, served Jonah as a gatherer of information. Some of that information Jonah passed on to his master, the emperor. But some of it he did not. Arcas suspected that Jonah planned one day to overthrow Gaius Prospero or at least make an attempt. But he had no proof at all that the man known as the emperor’s right hand was disloyal and until he did he dared not speak out. “Recently,” he began, quickly gathering his thoughts, “I have heard women speaking of their dissatisfaction with the emperor’s plans to pursue another war. They say he does it to enrich himself and the magnates. They complain that the ordinary folk gain nothing from these wars. Rather they
lose husbands, fathers and sons. That more poor are created by Gaius Prospero’s wars as the women of Hetar and their children are left without their men to support them and protect them. They say that it is time the women of Hetar stood up for their families and told Gaius Prospero that they will not let their men be killed and crippled by his blind ambition and greed.” Arcas stopped a moment to see if Jonah was pleased by his tidings.
Obviously Jonah was, for he said, “What else?”
“They gossip that Terah is no danger to Hetar. That Gaius Prospero lies when he says that they are,” Arcas replied. “They say that in the few years since they learned of Terah’s existence it has remained as it was before. Invisible.”
“Do they mention the faerie woman, Lara?” Jonah wanted to know.
“They do not believe her powers are strong enough to harm Hetar. Besides, she is Hetarian-born,” Arcas answered. “Even I who am her enemy know she would not harm Hetar.”
“Do they not remember her part in the Winter War?” Jonah asked.
“They know the Winter War was won by the Outland clan families by better tactics, not by magic,” Arcas said. “As I told you, my lord, foolish chatter.”
“That foolish chatter brought over a thousand women to the emperor’s palace,” Jonah said softly. “From this moment on you will report to me daily and tell me what you have overheard. As I have told you, it is not up to you to decided what is relevant and what is not. Leave me now.” Jonah impatiently waved his minion away.
Alone he began to consider how this turn of events might play into his hands. He did not believe for one moment that Hetar’s docile women had considered the advantages and disadvantages of war. Someone had planted the idea in their heads, but who? The emperor was eager to arrest the lady Gillian, but Jonah thought not. This burgeoning movement was too volatile right now and it wasn’t just Gillian who was leading it. Besides, her influence would soon wane as his mother, Lady Farah, became the new headmistress of the Pleasure Guild.
Jonah wondered if a war could be avoided. If this women’s conspiracy were allowed to grow, could it be used to topple Gaius Prospero from his seat? He needed to know more and he needed his wife’s counsel. Vilia was a clever creature. She would look at this situation from a completely different point of view. He left the palace and walked the short distance to his own home. Vilia had insisted when they married that they have their own house. While living in the emperor’s palace had been convenient, he understood his wife’s desire to be away from her former husband and his girlish new wife.
He found Vilia in her bath and she invited him to join her, dismissing the bath attendants. Jonah was always surprised at her ability to arouse him so easily. Long ago, when she was still Gaius Prospero’s wife, he had planned to seduce her. She had seduced him instead and while he was still able to detach himself from his lust for her when he was away, it was impossible to do so when she slipped her arms about his neck and pressed her lush body against him, smiling up into his cold eyes.
“I have missed you today,” she purred at him. Her teeth nibbled the lobe of his ear. “You are tense, my lord, and appear weighed down with your duties. Let me help you to relax, my darling Jonah.” Reaching down into the water she cupped his seed sac in the palm of her hand. Her tongue ran about the outline of his mouth.
He felt her hand holding him but she did not fondle him. The simple subtlety of it was the catalyst for his arousal. Jonah kissed his wife a long slow kiss as his manhood burgeoned. He pressed it against her belly, his hands on her buttocks pulling her closer to him. Reaching out he pinched first one nipple and then the other. Vilia gave a little squeal of excitement. He kissed her again, his tongue pushing into her mouth to play with her tongue. “I want your ass,” he growled at her, and he turned her about, helping her to brace herself upon the steps that led into the bathing pool, her bottom just out of the warm water.
Jonah reached out and with one hand lifted the lid from a jar that held a pure white cream. “Open!” he said, and reaching back Vilia drew the cheeks of her buttocks apart for him. He rubbed the white cream generously in and around the puckered flesh, grazing it seductively, pressing his thumb against it, feeling it give beneath the pressure. Removing his hand he directed his manhood to the same spot and patiently pressed against it until he felt it giving way to allow him entry. Slowly, carefully, he sheathed himself fully within her rear channel.
Vilia moaned. “I can feel you throbbing,” she murmured to him. “It is so exciting, my love!” Then she gasped as his hand reached beneath her to play with her love bud. “Ohh, Jonah!” she sobbed as he brought her once, twice and a third time to perfect pleasure while his pulsing manhood beat a tattoo within her. Then he moved, just two strokes, and groaned as Vilia felt his juices being released. “Such a waste, my darling,” she sighed.
He withdrew from her saying, “This is no time for you to give me a child, Vilia. Soon, but not yet. Now let us get out of our tub, for I have need of your wisdom, Wife.”
They dried each other off with thick toweling, then donning simple cotton robes over their heads, they exited the bath and entered their bedchamber. At once a servant came forward, and Vilia told her to see that the evening meal was served in the dayroom.
“Let us eat first,” Vilia suggested. “Then we will talk.”
“When the meal is served, dismiss the servants and we will speak over our food,” he countered. “We have decisions to make, Wife. And time is of the essence.”
“I am intrigued, my lord,” Vilia said.
Their food was quickly brought and the servants sent away. They sat eating and Jonah told his wife of what had transpired over the last several days at the palace when he had not come home to her. Then he explained how he had had Arcas brought to him. “The fool kept hearing things, but thought it just women’s talk, and did not report it,” Jonah grumbled irritably.
“A few women complaining before Gaius’s palace,” Vilia said. “Why are you so upset?”
“It was not a few women, Vilia. There were well over a thousand women there. Did you not hear them chanting ‘no war’?” he asked her.
“I spend a great deal of time in our gardens by the waterfall,” Vilia told him. “Perhaps I heard some sounds when I was in the house, but they did not seem threatening so I dismissed them. Women have virtually no real power in Hetar, Husband. Why do you fret about the wives of farmers, mercenaries and merchants?”
“Aye, there were many farmers’ wives there, but there were also Pleasure Women, including the lady Gillian who is obviously one of the leaders. And I saw wives of Crusader Knights, as well. This is a serious movement, Vilia, and now I must decide how to use this to our best advantage. You know as well as I do that there is no need to pursue this war with Terah.”
“You still believe that the faerie Lara is no danger to us?” Vilia asked.
“Nay, I do not,” Jonah replied. “Do not make the mistake, Vilia, of taking seriously the gossip we have been putting out about the Domina Lara.”
“If this movement of women grows,” Vilia now said thoughtfully, “it might prove more of an advantage to us than a war. A war will cost us lives, even fought across the sea. Women do not fight wars. Men do. But without men to seed their women Hetar’s population will not increase and we could be seriously vulnerable to Terah or another predator sometime in the future. If we did not know of Terah, my lord, what else do we not know?”
“Tell me how these women could be used to our advantage?”
“Could we not use them to bring down Gaius?” she asked him. “Then we should not be involved in his demise at all, Husband. A new emperor would have to be chosen and you have been building your alliances for some time now, Jonah, my love,” Vilia said. “Would you not be the logical choice? Especially if you had these women behind you.”
“If I am to gain the influence of these women,” Jonah said slowly, “I will have to be most careful else the emperor learn of it and I am destroyed. I must think on it,
Vilia.”
“If I were to secretly aid these women,” Vilia said softly, “it would certainly put you in their favor, my lord. You and I cuckolded Gaius for several years and he never caught us. We can do this as well, Jonah.”
“Trying to stop Gaius Prospero once he has made up his mind is impossible,” Jonah said.
“Don’t try to stop him,” Vilia said.
Jonah smiled. “Aye, let him start his war and we will help the women to quickly stop it before too many are killed. Just enough to put a bad taste in the mouth of every Hetarian wife.”
“He must be killed,” Vilia said. “Gaius and his little empress must die.”
“The High Council will want to hold a trial,” Jonah replied. “But you are right, Vilia. He must be slain quickly—and his lady Shifra with him. If he is not then the few friends he has will seek to free him and restore him to his throne. We could have a civil war in Hetar. That would not do at all, Vilia. We must prevent that at all costs.”
She nodded. “You say the lady Gillian is involved in this movement?”
“Aye,” he replied. “The emperor wants her arrested but I will prevent that. Making her a martyr would be very foolish.”
“I agree,” Vilia said. “Better Gillian become a heroine of Hetarian women.”
“Aye, we do not want to destroy this movement,” Jonah said, “but use it.”
“True. Let me see how strong these women are and if I learn Gillian is truly their leader I will help stoke their passions even hotter, my dear Jonah.”
Vilia sent her most trusted servant to investigate over the next few days. It took time however, for the women were cautious, as was Vilia’s serving woman, Kigva. She visited the kiosk of a famed maker of perfumes in the Grand Marketplace and listened. She went to the public baths and listened. Finally one day she dared to approach a woman she overheard at a Razi kiosk speaking in low urgent tones to her companion. “Please,” she said, “I have heard of this women’s protest. Can you tell me more?”
The Twilight Lord Page 27