Emperor

by Isaac Hooke

  One would think that gold and gems would be useless among monsters, and the men that mingled with them, but the more intelligent species had commerce systems that mirrored man’s: they used valuables to purchase goods and services among themselves, and even occasionally traded with human merchants.

  “Find another source to pay them,” Agantas said, drawing Malem from his monetary thoughts.

  “There isn’t one,” Malem said. “Not without a war.”

  “Why do monsters need money?” Agantas said. “You live in a forest surrounded by animals for the taking. No beast need ever go hungry. Surely you can pay them in food?”

  “I might have to, at this rate,” Malem said. “But there are night elves, dwarves, Eldritch, and men among these ‘monsters.’ Intelligent races who require a little bit more than food and lodging to be happy. Oraks and goblings are also a lot smarter than you think. And don’t even get me started on the khroma dragons.”

  Agantas nodded. “I have heard you harbor a sizable contingent of Blues and Blacks among your ranks.”

  Malem didn’t say anything to confirm or deny that rumor. Instead: “So you can understand why I can’t return your treasury. First of all, most of the money is spent. If I tried to gather it up from the members of my dark army, I’d have a revolt on my hands. But maybe you’d like to see oraks, night elves, men, and dwarves rampaging across the land, raping and pillaging wherever they went.”

  Agantas shrugged. “As long as none of them entered dragon territory, we could care less. Let the men and other lesser species of this world deal with them.”

  “And there’s your problem,” Malem said. “You should care. Because what happens to men will eventually have ramifications amongst the Metals. Our problems bubble up to you eventually. They always do. Case in point, what Vorgon did to your city.”

  The king’s face darkened. “An attack that you led, lest you think we’ve forgotten.”

  Malem nodded. “I know you’ll never forget it. I am sorry for what happened. I truly am. But your treasure cannot be returned.”

  “You’re a Breaker,” the king said. “You can control them by force.”

  “Not all of them,” Malem said.

  “Then rule by fear,” the king said. “The Dark responds best to the iron vise of terror, after all.”

  “I refuse to rule by fear,” Malem said. “Such an army has a weak spine when it comes to battle. They will flee at the first sign of trouble. I’ve seen it firsthand, when watching the well-paid mercenary army of a duke wipe the floor with a similarly sized king’s army, whose soldiers fled after only a very few blows were exchanged.”

  Agantas thrummed his fingers on his ivory armrest. “Very well. Your army may keep the diamonds stolen from our streets. And any gold and emeralds stripped from our buildings. But some of the items in my treasury and armory were utterly irreplaceable. I must have the weapons back.”

  “There’s no way to keep track of where they’ve gone,” Malem said. “I’d have to confiscate weapons from my entire army, and have you sort through them, and trust that any items you identified were truly your own. No, it won’t work.”

  King Agantas slammed his fist down on the armrest. “Fool! I am the king of dragons! Do not tell me what I can and cannot do. I will simply take! My army will fly from the tip of Mount Ademan to the Midweald, and invade your partially constructed city before you even finish building your defenses. We will destroy it all, and then loot that which rightfully belongs to us!”

  Malem swallowed. Probably wasn’t a good idea to incur the wrath of a dragon king.

  I’ve seen him when he’s in these moods, Abigail sent urgently. He’s not joking! He’ll follow through on his threat, I guarantee it. You have to give some ground.

  Thanks for the leadership lesson, he scolded her. But he knew she was right.

  He waited a few moments for his heart rate to come back to something resembling normal. When he was sure his voice wouldn’t shake, he spoke.

  “All right,” Malem said. “I’ll allow you to send a few Metals to the construction site. I’ll pen a writ for you, giving your men permission to inspect the weapons of all members of my camp, to determine if any of them were looted from your treasury.”

  “Or armory,” Agantas corrected.

  “Or armory,” Malem agreed. “If your men can identify the weapons, they may take them. I’ll just have to find a way to compensate my soldiers later. Is that acceptable?”

  “Somewhat,” Agantas said. He pursed his lips, and sighed. “Yes.”

  “Good,” Malem said. “Now then, let’s move on to the next order of business. Specially, why we are here…”

  Agantas cocked an amused eyebrow, and then sat back.

  But before Malem could speak again, the king opened his mouth and beat him to it.

  “My daughter has told me what I long suspected,” Agantas said. “She is bound to you. Permanently. You have Broken her. And this was not just any ordinary Breaking, done when she was at her weakest, physically. Oh no. It was done during the act of sex.”

  Malem looked at Abigail in shock, but she was gazing at her feet.

  How could you betray me like this? he sent. You knew he’d be pissed!

  I had to, she said. You didn’t see how angry he was when I first arrived! I thought he was going to kill me. He accused me of betraying all dragon kind, and he told me he knew I was yours, that there was no way I would have helped you destroy our city, not unless I was Broken. I had to admit it.

  Malem glanced at the two guards standing behind the king, but their expressions betrayed no emotion. The old mage in the white robe next to the king merely scowled, as if Malem were the most despicable of criminals, on trial and about to be sentenced.

  Malem took a deep breath before speaking. “We were trapped by a black dragon. I needed the power her Breaking would give me. I didn’t want to injure her, because, well, she’s a princess. Plus, we needed her to be strong for the coming fight. So, I, well, I—”

  “Yes, yes,” Agantas said. “She told me the reasons.”

  “It was my fault,” Abigail blurted out. “I asked him to do it.”

  The king stiffened, and gave her a searching look. His expression promptly switched from doubt to anger.

  Agantas returned his attention to Malem. “It doesn’t matter who was the instigator. Because of this act, I’m going to require that you marry my daughter.”

  Malem stepped back, raising his hands. “Ah, actually, uh…” There was nothing he feared more in this life. Besides, he couldn’t marry Abigail. Not unless he wanted to piss off the other eight women.

  I’d have to marry them all.

  No thanks. He liked things just the way they were.

  “Yes?” Agantas said. “Speak, Breaker.”

  Malem wrung his hands, trying to think of something quickly. “When we first started talking, you already said there are many who hate me. Would marrying her be such a wise thing?”

  Agantas shrugged. “There are many who hate me as well. This can be expected, when one comes to a position of power. Some will love you. Some will hate you.”

  “You’re one of the latter,” Malem said.

  “Probably,” Agantas said.

  “And yet you want me to marry your daughter.”

  “I know of few fathers who love their sons-in-law very much,” Agantas said. “You’re as good a choice as the next Metal. Besides, I want her offspring to inherit some of that Balor blood flowing through your veins.”

  “I’m not sure it works that way,” Malem said. “I don’t really have Balor blood inside me. There is a presence, buried deep in my mind, but that’s about it really. I don’t have any natural Breaking abilities.”

  Agantas shrugged. “I suppose we will see when the offspring arrive.”

  Malem glanced at Abigail nervously. Don’t tell me you’re pregnant?

  Not yet, she told him.

  He slumped in relief.

  He glanced at Agant
as once more. He suspected the king also wanted influence over the dark army Malem harbored in the Midweald. And what better way to secure his allegiance than through family ties?

  “I can’t do it,” Malem finally said. “I’m sorry. Though I love your daughter, she’s not the only one who holds my heart.”

  “It’s time for you to stop this dallying with multiple women,” Agantas said. “I can understand: In my youth, I did the same. At least until I finally found a woman who could tame my wild heart.”

  Malem could have rolled his eyes.

  When he didn’t reply, Agantas said: “You will marry her. Or you will not leave Khaledonius ever again.”

  Just agree! Abigail said. So we can get out of here!

  He wondered if she was secretly hoping this would trap him into marrying her. Sneaky half dragon.

  “All right, I’ll marry her,” Malem said, though he had no intention of following through on that.

  The king’s mouth was open, his lips forming the next argument he planned to throw at Malem, but then he stopped, and simply stared at him with mouth agape. And then Agantas smiled. “Yes. Excellent. I’ll begin making plans immediately.”

  The elderly mage beside the king was nodding sagely.

  “The marriage will have to wait until we return,” Malem said.

  “Why?” Agantas said. “Where are you going?”

  “You never did let me explain why we came,” Malem said.

  “Then speak,” Agantas said. “Explain yourself.”

  “Vorgon isn’t gone,” Malem said.

  That got the king’s attention. He sat up straighter. “What do you mean? His army is yours now. He hasn’t been seen on our world since the day you banished him.”

  “Yes, well, it has returned,” Malem said. He refused to refer to the Balor as he, like Agantas. That would only humanize the creature. To Malem, Vorgon would always be an it. “I was attacked in Redbridge by uraks, Vorgon’s only orak breed. And then a Darkness came for me. It wasn’t Banvil, or any other demon. It was Vorgon. I’m sure of it.”

  The king rubbed his chin. “How did you banish him, originally?”

  “I threw a Light Pearl into the demon’s mouth,” Malem said.

  Agantas stared at him in disbelief. “You summoned a Paragon inside Vorgon?” Agantas erupted in laughter. “Yes, that would defeat a Balor.”

  Malem grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, well, I didn’t know that Light Pearls summoned Paragons. It seemed like a good idea to throw it inside Vorgon’s mouth at the time.”

  “But if you used a Light Pearl in such a manner, how did Vorgon recover so quickly?” Agantas said. “The Paragon would tear the Balor apart when entering that realm.”

  “That’s what happened,” Malem said. “But we think another Balor is helping Vorgon.”

  Agantas frowned. “That seems unlikely.”

  “We have evidence,” Malem said. “There was an enchanted object found among the bodies of the attacks. An object capable of producing an anti-dragon debuff.”

  “Denfidal,” Agantas said immediately.

  Malem nodded.

  “This is dire news indeed,” the king said. “Denfidal, most powerful Balor of the Black Realm, teaming up with Vorgon? Why?”

  “I don’t know,” Malem said. “But I need to get my hands on another Light Pearl. I intend to defeat them both, one way or another. I don’t take kindly to being hunted.”

  “You have a knack of attracting the attention of Balors, don’t you?” Agantas said. He tapped his chin skeptically. “You came here because you hoped we would give you a Light Pearl?”

  “I hoped you knew where I could find one, yes,” Malem said.

  Agantas studied him, an amused glint in his eye. “I’d like to tell you it was taken by Vorgon when he seized our treasury, if only to punish you for what happened, but alas, I lost it many years before. You see, the Light Pearl was stolen by a dragon raid party, led by the great green serpent Furlantos, a creature nearly as ancient as your Nemertes.”

  “Where can I find this Furlantos?” Malem asked

  “He once nested far away to the west, near the northern tip of the Khroma mountains,” Agantas said. “I do not know if the dragon yet nests there, or if he even lives.”

  Nemertes, have you ever heard of a dragon named Furlantos? he asked.

  She was resting on the parapet outside the keep, her mass overflowing its borders so that her tail and back legs hung over the edge.

  Yes, she said, sounding bored.

  Do you know where to find the beast? he pressed.

  I know the general location of the den, yes, Nemertes said. Or where it used to be. Why, are we going there?

  You’re good at putting two and two together, he mocked.

  “Then I must go to the Khroma mountains,” Malem said. He bowed. “Thank you, great king. I leave immediately.”

  Agantas narrowed his eyes. “Oh no, don’t think you’re going to weasel out of marrying my daughter so easily. I want you to marry her before you leave.”

  “That wouldn’t be wise,” Malem said. “What if something were to happen to me while I was afield? Do you really want me to leave your daughter a widow? It’s better that I deal with Vorgon and Denfidal first. Plus, if I marry her now, what if I take her to my bed, and the Darkness comes? She could die!”

  “Somehow I suspect that you’ll be taking her to your bed regardless if this Darkness of yours hunts you…” Agantas said.

  “In any case,” Malem said, backing away. “It’s safer overall to wait. Trust me. You want to give your daughter the best possible wedding. An amazing wedding. One that wasn’t put together in a single night, but rather spent weeks planning.”

  Agantas nodded. “I do want her to have an incredible wedding, this is true.”

  “Then it’s settled!” Malem said. “Thanks again, and farewell!”

  He nodded, and turned to go.

  “Wait,” Agantas said.

  Malem had his back to the king, and the relived smile he wore on his lips suddenly faded. He glanced over his shoulder at the king.

  “Before you go,” Agantas said. “I have some news regarding the two companions you left with us for safekeeping.”

  Malem felt his brow furrow. “Two companions? Which?”

  8

  Malem stood in trepidation before the entrance to the stables, unsure if his former friends would even recognize him. And if they did, he was worried they’d be angry at him.

  “This can only end badly,” he told Wendolin, who waited beside him.

  She gripped his hand. “Come on, you can do this. You’ve faced Balors!”

  “Yes,” he said. “But facing a Balor somehow seems easy compared to this.”

  “Do you want me to go inside first?” Wendolin asked.

  He shook his head. “No. Let me. It’s better that they see me first. Alone.”

  “All right,” she said, swinging out an arm to gesture at the opening. “Then go.”

  Taking a deep breath, he entered.

  He walked past the empty stalls. He smelled Bounder well before he saw the iguanid. That characteristic scent of dung mixed with sweat, straw and piss was hard to miss.

  He reached the stall containing the large reptile. It backed away from the opening when it saw him, fear momentarily flashing in those eyes. But then the beast seemed to recognize him, because the fear faded somewhat, and Bounder came forward tentatively.

  Malem reached a hand over the bars of the door, and held his palm out to the animal. It came forward, and first smelled his hand, then licked it.

  Malem drew his hand backward, forcing Bounder to come closer if it wanted to keep licking him, and then he slowly slid his palm upward so that he could stroke the animals muzzle.

  “Bounder, my boy,” Malem said. “I’ve missed the hell out of you. I’ve got so much to tell you. I’ve literally been to hell and back again.”

  A monkey suddenly dropped down onto his shoulder. When he looked at it, t
he animal leaped off of him in fright, as if worried Malem was trying to bite it or something. Or perhaps the animal—Felipe—had mistaken him for a fence post, or other stationary object, and had been taken by surprise when Malem moved. Whatever the case, it was classic Felipe.

  The monkey landed on the door to the stall and then leaped onto Bounder. The iguanid swung its head, trying to doff the little monkey, but Felipe simply clambered up the wrinkled reptilian skin until it stood firmly upon the center of the bigger animal’s back. Then the monkey plunked down, and gazed at him with its chin slightly raised, as though looking down its nose at him.

  Malem smiled widely. “Felipe. I’d like to say you’ve grown, but you seem smaller to me since last we met. Have they put you on a diet?”

  The animals had escaped during the siege of Khaledonius. Apparently, a young dragon stable boy had scooped the two up in his claws and spirited them away shortly after the fighting began. The boy had regrouped with the other dragons that fled north, and carried the two beasts to the makeshift camp the Metals had raised north of the mountains, and there continued to care for the animals until the eventual return.

  Wendolin entered, and came to his side. “They’re beautiful.” She wrinkled her nose. “Well, except the smell. These were once yours?”

  “Yes,” he said. “My pets. My friends.”

  The monkey regarded Wendolin uncertainly, and then suddenly pointed a finger at her and issued several high-pitched screeches in mimicry of a laugh.

  Wendolin frowned. “Why is he laughing at me?”

  “It’s not you he’s laughing at, but me,” Malem said. “He always does this when I introduce a new woman to him. It’s his way of showing me he feels sorry for me.”

  “Nice,” she said. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  “Felipe,” Malem said, trying to draw the monkey’s attention. “Felipe!” Finally, the animal stopped laughing. “That’s better. I have a cracker for you.”

  He fetched the snack he’d grabbed from the kitchen, and tossed it toward the monkey.

  Bounder lifted its head and intercepted the cracker, snatching it out of the air. The iguanid swallowed without chewing.