The Exile's Redemption (The Heart of a Tyrant Book 1)

by Reece Dinn

  'I do not lie. Come with me at once. Your family will be taken care of in your absence.'

  Kanisha glanced at her shack, suddenly fearful for her family inside. This is absurd. 'Where would we go, should I submit?'

  'I cannot say.'

  'You cannot say?'

  'No.'

  'I will not go anywhere with you. Please leave, you insane man.'

  Holi folded his arms behind his back. 'You deny the will of the Ragi?'

  'I do not deny the Ragi. I deny you. Prove you are who you say you are.'

  Holi flicked his right arm towards the river and something shot out of it. On the opposite riverbank one of the fishermen gargled, then fell into the river, face down, unmoving.

  Kanisha gasped. 'What did you do?'

  'You said prove who I am. Do you require further evidence?'

  Kanisha's heart pounded, the danger she was in suddenly very real. He cannot be a Shadow. He cannot. 'You killed that man?'

  'His death is in service to the Ragi. Sanctioned by the Emperor. He said you would not believe me.'

  'What would the Emperor want with me?'

  'All will be revealed in time. Dress yourself.' He picked up her dress and flung it in her face. 'We go now.'

  'I need to tell my mother and..'

  'There is no time. They will be taken care of. Your mother cannot know where you have gone. You will not see them again.'

  Not see them again? No. I cannot leave them. Mother will not be able to cope on her own. My sisters are too young to work properly. With father gone they will starve. They will not survive the winter.

  'Put on your dress. We must go,' said Holi.

  A tear ran down her cheek. 'I cannot leave my family.'

  'They will be taken care of. It is the Ragi's will. Put on your dress.'

  Kanisha did as she was instructed, her wet skin instantly dampening the dress.

  Wood creaked inside the shack. The thought of her family coming outside filled her with dread. Stay inside, please.

  'Come,' said Holi.

  'Where are you taking me?'

  'I told you, I cannot say.'

  This is absurd.

  'The Emperor has given orders to take you by force, if necessary. Do not force my hand. Your family will suffer for your actions,' said Holi.

  Movement in the trees behind her shack drew her attention. There was no one there, that she could see at least. Could there be more of them? She swallowed hard and looked back to the fisherman that had fallen in the river. He remained floating face down, slowly drifting downriver. Some of the other fishermen had dived in and were swimming after him.

  'Come,' said Holi.

  I cannot go with him. My family...

  Holi turned and walked away.

  The Emperor sent for me? What could he want with me? How does he even know who I am? She folded her arms, her wet skin suddenly freezing cold, causing her to shiver. I cannot go. I will not. This is ludicrous. If I do not go with him however he will kill my family. She wanted to cry. When I see the chance to escape I shall take it. Then I will return to my family and we shall flee this place. Flee from this insane man. From everything.

  Reluctantly, she followed after him, glancing back to her shack, to her family, one last time.

  Do not go.

  Don't go.

  Go back.

  Go back.

  Koma woke in a panic, her body covered in sweat.

  Light shone through the small window of her room, a bright beam of light illuminating the grey wall opposite her. Daylight already? Oh no. She sprang up from her bed, pulled off her grey rags, and dried her damp body with a small towel. There was no time to wash.

  That dream. The third time this moon I've had a dream like that. Why? She rubbed her face with a towel. Why can't the Shadows just tell me how they're doing? Is it too much to ask? Throwing the towel on the floor she grabbed a half broken brush from the small table she used as a night stand and gave her hair a quick brush, doing her best to straighten out the knots. They must be alive. They wouldn't have killed them. Why would they? It's not like my mother and sisters would come looking for me. They wouldn't even know where to begin. Even I don't know where I was taken when Holi came for me. Satisfied enough she threw the brush back on the table. It bounced off and broke apart on the floor. Great.

  She plucked her usual long, blue handmaiden's dress off the hook on the wall and put it on. The dress hung loose on her slender frame and came down to her toes, which suited her fine, it kept her body hidden from leering eyes, not that it stopped them. Slipping her sandals on she rushed out into the corridor and to the mess room.

  Everyone else was already there. Lerama's three handmaidens didn't look up when she entered, instead continuing to whisper quietly amongst themselves. Olima and the other servants in the room did however. Olima, marched over to her, the harsh lines of her gaunt face twisting, ready to deliver another torrent of abuse, and give Koma that look of hers that could crack glass.

  'You're late,' said Olima in her shrill voice.

  Koma bowed her head slightly, forcing herself not to grimace at being subservient to this woman. 'I'm sorry. I couldn't get to sleep until it was late.'

  She put her hands on her hips. 'You've been sneaking around with young men again, haven't you?'

  Gods. This again? 'No, I haven't.'

  'You can do as you like in your own time, of course, but be discreet..'

  Lerama's three handmaidens giggled, their eyes on her now.

  'I haven't. I just couldn't sleep.' Why did she have to catch me that one time?

  'You're lucky that the Sabu doesn't need to attend anything today.' I'm aware. 'Even the “Saban to be” isn't awake yet.'

  'She's still romping with the Socrae-al,' said Perama, then all three of Lerama's handmaidens giggled.

  'That's enough of that,' snapped Olima.

  The Monster has a point. Her husband-brother has only just died. She really doesn't seem distraught by it. Koma glanced over at the large pot of soup, empty bowls, and basket of bread rolls on the table. Only two remained. She couldn't see how much soup there was. Not much, no doubt.

  'Eat fast. Then go wake the Sabu. The Doma will be furious if she hears her daughter is lounging around in bed all day,' snapped Olima, following Koma's eyes.

  Koma nodded. Head Servant? She acts like she's the Saban. Gods, I'd love to snap that tiny neck of hers.

  Olima gave her the look. It was like all the lines on her face whipped out and struck her all at once. The woman walked around her and left the hall, tutting as passed by.

  That's a woman that needs a man. Koma picked up a bowl and opened the lid of the soup pot. The waft of smells she was expecting didn't come, little remained of the creamy soup. She scooped out what she could, but it only half filled her bowl, then grabbed the last two bread rolls from the basket.

  'They threw away the leftovers from the funeral.'

  Sanamu stood behind her, his blue eyes wide, like they always were when he spoke to her, and his smile was even wider. 'I tried to steal some before they did, but the kitchen staff pushed me out,' he said.

  'So they give us this instead?' She sniffed her soup again, but it still smelt of nothing.

  'I know. Not very tasty.' He gazed at her mouth.

  'It'll do.' She moved to pass him, but he touched her arm gently, making her cringe. He didn't seem to notice it.

  'Why couldn't you sleep?' he asked.

  She shrugged. 'Just couldn't.'

  'Dreams again?'

  Gods, why did I have to mention them, to him of all people? Moment of weakness. Now he won't let it go. Thinks we have some deep emotional connection. Gods. 'What's it matter?'

  His smile disappeared. 'Sorry. I didn't mean to pry I...'

  'It's fine.' She moved past him and sat down beside Wenama and Elona, two of the many palace cleaners. The girls ignored her, continuing to talk amongst themselves.

  She dunked a bread roll into her soup and bit of
f a chunk. The bread was stale, and the soup lacked any kind of flavour, except cream. That might be all it is. Stale bread and cream. I'm not so hungry now. She chewed and chewed but the bread only seemed to get bigger in her mouth. Giving up, she spat it back into her bowl.

  'Koma,' snapped Olima. Her thin head poked around the door frame. 'Go wake the Sabu up, NOW.'

  Bitch. 'Yes.' Koma pushed away her meal. Her stomach groaned. I'll eat later. The Monster barely eats. I'll have her breakfast.

  Olima vanished.

  'Make sure you do her make-up right today,' said Elema, winking.

  Koma forced herself not to snap a retort at her. Don't become a savage. She took a deep breath and left the room.

  To her surprise the Monster was awake when Koma arrived. She sat on her bed listening to that grebbin drone on in its irritating, squeaking voice. Has she even slept?

  Koma closed the door quietly behind her as she entered. The Monster didn't look up.

  'Good you're awake. Saves me a job,' said Koma.

  'What wonderful flowers you bring me, on this warm and bright sunny day,' squeaked the grebbin.

  Dark circles lined the Monster's red rimmed eyes.

  'Sabu?'

  'Be quiet, I'm trying to listen,' the Monster snapped.

  I'll rip out your tongue if you speak to me like that again. Gods, I assume she's in a mood today. Great. Koma huffed.

  'Blue flowers are my favourite, but red ones are just as nice,' the grebbin continued. 'Why have you sent these flowers to me? Are you saying you love me?'

  What is she listening too? This must be a different grebbin. These people write truly terrible stories.

  'No. I am not saying I love you. I am saying you are very beautiful. My love will be expressed with more than just flowers.'

  'Sabu, what are we doing today?' asked Koma. 'Your mother will be displeased if you spend the day listening to stories in your room.'

  'My mother can go fuck herself,' the Monster spat.

  She doesn't have to.

  'I would buy you a thousand fields full of flowers for you to skip through,' the grebbin continued monotonously. 'I would buy you a thousand slaves so you will never be in need.'

  A thousand slaves? And how would she feed a thousand slaves? With flowers?

  'I would buy you a ship so you can sail the world and back. I would take you to the moons and stars, so you can see the world from above.'

  This is ridiculous. Koma sighed. 'What are you doing today, Sabu?'

  The Monster clicked her fingers and the grebbin ceased squeaking. 'Thanks. Now it'll have to start from the beginning. It was just getting to the good part.' She huffed. 'We are going to see the Koku-bier, if you must know. Happy now?'

  Don't kill her. Don't kill her. 'We should get you dressed then. You can't walk through the city in your nightdress.'

  'I suppose we should then, shouldn't we?'

  Just as well I didn't eat. The sight of you naked would make me vomit it back up.

  The Monster pushed a bowl of water in front of the grebbin and it thirstily lapped it up with its long tongue. She shrugged off her nightdress, revealing her pale, bony, wrinkled body, and that hideous deformity. Koma forced herself not to cringe or look away.

  'You've forgotten to bring me a bath,' said the Monster, spreading her arms out wide. 'Are you still asleep?'

  'Yes, of course. Sorry,' grumbled Koma.

  'So I'm to stand here naked until you come back with the bath?'

  Yes, and hopefully you'll die while I'm gone. Or that Guard you think wants to fuck you will come and ravage your body until every orifice is bleeding badly, then you die of blood loss. Koma opened the closet and plucked out a blue and gold night gown. 'Of course not, Sabu. Here.'

  The Monster snatched the gown from her and put it on. The gown hung loose from her bony body. 'What should I do while I'm waiting?'

  'Imagine a handsome man has bought you a thousand fields full of flowers,' said Koma over her shoulder as she left to get the bath. She smirked to herself, seeing the Monster's pale cheeks flush.

  The Koku-bier's temple was two tiers down. To Koma's relief that was still far enough away from most of the lower born savages. Why can't she be friends with the Koku-rai? He's a drunk and a lech, but his temple is just outside the palace. Much closer.

  Two Saban Guards opened the large yellow painted doors to the palace and Koma and Saima stepped out into the bright morning light. Two more Saban Guards followed them out, they were to be their escorts through the city. The clinking of their white and yellow armour was already proving an irritant.

  The palace gardens were green and lush in the bright light, the pinks, yellows, whites, creams, purples, and reds of the many flowers made especially colourful by it, the aroma of their sweet pollen uplifting. The gushing water of the fountains glistened as it fell back to the ground and trickled down the thin drains around it. The savages do have an appreciation of the beauty of nature, I'll give them that. Koma never got to spend as much time in the gardens as she'd like. The Monster wasn't a lover of nature, she'd only go and walk around the gardens at her mother's insistence, which meant Koma rarely saw them. The Monster preferred to spend her time indoors either listening to those grebbins squeak absurd stories at her, or to practice dancing, which she was terrible at, despite having practised for most of her life. There won't be much more of that now. Thank the gods.

  Clink. Clink. Clink.

  There was no chance of a relaxing walk in the gardens with Guards around.

  Clink. Clink. Clink.

  The Monster walked in silence, her back straight, nose stuck up in the air like she was trying to sniff her way around rather than look.

  I hate you.

  The white walls at the edge of the palace grounds were covered in green vines and purple bederes flowers, which made the gardens feel less sealed off from the outside world than they actually were. If only there was a wall that kept everyone away from me.

  They approached the large stone gates. They were adorned with carvings of gardens that looked even more beautiful and tranquil than the palace ones. Wonder where those gardens are? Rengokuda perhaps?

  One of the Guards clinked on ahead and struck the stone door three times with the butt of his rifle, then clinked back to them. Stone scraped against stone and the big doors slowly opened, revealing a flat area of smooth, paved white floor, dotted with patches of grass and flowers. The paved area stretched all the way to the aqueduct which marked the edge of the tier.

  They left the gardens and headed across the paved expanse to the stairs that led down to the tier below. Far to the right, near the rock face of the surrounding mountainside, lay the Council House, where both City Council and Council of Sab meetings took place. It was a large white stone building shaped like a ball cut unevenly in half so that the back half rose up higher than the front. Far to the left was the Great Temple of Shadar, an elaborate temple that resembled a stumpy tree, the building painted in earthy colours to match its shape. Koma could never see the point in such an elaborate building when it was barely used; the Great Temple was only ever used for state weddings, funerals, or for the Festival of Dark and the Festival of Light. No one from the lower tiers ever set foot in it, something which Koma approved of, it meant that the savages were at least aware of the savageness of each other, if not their own savagery.

  There was only one set of stairs that led from the Saban's Tier down to the Noble Tier. A stone bridge crossed over the aqueduct to them. Two Saban Guards stood to attention at the top of them, rifles by their side. The Monster's escorts made so much noise as they walked that it was impossible for the other Guards not to hear them approach. Maybe that's why their armour is so loud, so they can identify where one another is at all times. The two guarding the bridge turned and upon seeing the Monster stepped aside to allow them to pass.

  The vast city stretched out below them. In the bright morning light it truly looked beautiful, all the greenery stark against the white st
one. Even from their height Koma could see the colours of the flowers that bloomed everywhere. The greenery made the city look like it'd been abandoned for centuries and nature was reclaiming the land it'd lost.

  At the bottom of the stone stairs stood two more Saban Guards, barring the way. They parted without comment, allowing them to pass. They're either very disciplined, or very dull.

  The Noble Tier was a place of many mansions that housed all the Predemagdan nobility, the Qotan, the Tekan, the many Nobans, the Socraes (though theirs were rarely used, due to always being out in the field), and various people of wealth who could afford to live there. Each mansion was different, as if built specifically for their owners. All were covered with greenery and surrounded by beautiful gardens, usually with one or two statues depicting either people or the gods. It was a gross display of wealth, though Koma had to admit it was nowhere near as bad as it was back home. The poor back home may not live as extravagantly as the rich here, but at least we've been chosen by the Ragi. We are of the Saru.

  The tier was quiet, save for the screech of the occasional karron flying by, and the clinking armour of their escorts. Barely anyone passed them by, and those that did were servants in a hurry. All this wealth just left empty. It always sickened Koma that people who lived in places like this owned land far away from them, didn't even live on it, yet taxed the people that did and thrived off the wealth generated from it. If I were Empress that'd be the first thing I'd change. After purging the land of the savages of course.

  Clink. Clink. Clink.

  Why couldn't we have travelled by carriage?

  The clinking of the Guards' armour echoed through the quiet area. We'd be safer on our own. This racket draws too much attention.

  Koma recognised one mansion, its gold painted roof unmistakable. Tekan Shonmu's home. She'd been there once before, when the Monster and her mother had visited him after his first wife had fallen ill two years before. One of his servants had taken a instant liking to her. She'd threatened to cut off his testicles if he spoke to her again. I've learnt to tolerate these people a lot better since then.