Analog SFF, March 2008

by Dell Magazine Authors

  Maximillian lifted his hand, and one of his men rode forward with a rough leather bag that bulged. At the emperor's signal, the man opened the bag and dumped its contents. Something large fell to the ground and rolled toward Dominick.

  A bloody head.

  "No,” Janelle whispered.

  Frozen silence followed the gruesome offering. Then Maximillian said, “Think on this, brother. Next time you send a spy to my army, my response won't be so gentle.” His voice hardened. “You were lucky today. We could have killed your servants and burnt your home to the ground."

  Dominick bit out his words. “You've spied on me for years."

  Maximillian lifted the reins. “If I ordered an attack now, who would stop me? The major portion of your army has been practicing maneuvers. Even riding hard, they won't be here for fifteen minutes. Be wise, Dominick. Fight me and I will retaliate. Is that what you want? No! Leave this land. Go across the sea. Anywhere.” He regarded his brother steadily. “Because if you stay, someday I will have to take your life."

  Then the emperor turned and cantered toward his men.

  Dominick reached over his shoulder for his sword. Janelle felt her captor go for his own weapon, and all around her, other raiders were doing the same. When Maximillian saw his men drawing steel, he reined in his biaquine. But he didn't turn to Dominick. He sat in his saddle as if daring his brother to charge and kill him from behind.

  Dominick let go of his sword and lowered his arm.

  "No!” A woman cried out from within the raiding party. “Prince Dom—” Her voice cut off.

  Dominick scanned the riders, his strained expression clear even at this distance. Janelle doubted he could tell who shouted; even from within the group, Janelle couldn't locate her. The raiders had taken at least fifteen women, probably more. If she called to warn him that his bride was among the captives, she would also be warning his brother.

  Then she thought of a way to let him know without revealing herself. She was apparently one of the few people he let use his single name. “Dominick!” she shouted. “Here—"

  The raider clamped his hand over her mouth. “Quiet."

  Janelle clawed at his hand, and he pinned her arms to her sides. Although Dominick looked in their direction, she didn't think he saw her. She struggled to free herself.

  "If you make trouble,” her captor said, “it will anger the emperor. If he becomes angry, he will retaliate against his brother. And you. He knows this palace. He gave it to Prince Dominick-Michael. He could destroy everyone here. Is that what you want?"

  She went still, then shook her head.

  Dominick was watching his brother. “Max."

  The emperor brought his biaquine around to face him. “We will let the women go when we finish with them."

  "This isn't done,” Dominick said. “You went too far."

  "You have my warning,” Maximillian told him. “I give it for our mother's sake, in her memory. But it is the last I will give you."

  With that, the emperor wheeled around and set off at a gallop. His men went with him, stirring up a great cloud of dust, pounding out the great gate and away from the palace of shattered arches.

  * * * *

  V

  Maximillian

  The raiders followed a trail that switch-backed across the face of a cliff. They rode on the edge of the world, a sheer wall of stone to their left and an abyss of astonishingly clear air to the right, with endless, verdant mountains far below. The line of biaquines clung to the cliff like a fragile string that could snap any time.

  Janelle saw why Dominick had avoided this route. The path was barely wide enough for one biaquine, with nothing to catch anyone who stepped off the trail. It was also obvious why Maximillian used it; the trail offered a faster path to the flatlands, insurance against Dominick's pursuit when his army arrived to defend their liege.

  She shivered as her reaction to the raid set in. She had never witnessed anyone die before, let alone in such violence. Even with so little knowledge of Othman, she could tell Dominick wasn't ready to take on Maximillian. The ramifications went much further than a violent argument between brothers. Would the people here tolerate a challenge to their emperor? She didn't doubt Dominick would come for the women of his household, but she had no idea how far he would go to rescue them or what he would do when he discovered she was gone.

  They kept a grueling pace, and around noon they reached a meadow at the foot of the mountain. The grasses and wildflowers had been trampled earlier, probably by the passage of this same party. Cliffs rose starkly behind them, and hilly fields stretched to the south, swirled by yellow and blue blossoms.

  The emperor finally called a halt. With a sigh, Janelle's captor reined in his mount. He slid his arms around her waist and leaned against her. “Maybe we can get to know each other better now, little bride. You were wanting a man tonight, eh?"

  She pulled away from him. “Don't touch me."

  He yanked back her head and pressed his lips and teeth against her neck. But when she twisted away, he didn't wrestle her back. Instead he froze—and released her as if she had a plague. No one paid them any heed; the other men were dismounting, checking biaquines, taking out trail rations. An older man with a gray beard rode through the group, stopping to confer with various people.

  Still behind her on the biaquine, Janelle's captor spoke sharply. “What is your name?"

  "Salima.” She even managed to keep the tremor out of her voice.

  "You're lying."

  She had no chance to answer, for the bearded man had reached them. “How goes it, Aker?” he asked her captor.

  "Fair enough,” Aker said, his voice cautious.

  The other man indicated Janelle. “You can have a few minutes with her. But be ready to ride when the call comes. Maximillian wants to leave the women here, so they don't slow us down."

  Aker answered in an oddly subdued voice. “I think His Highness will want to take this one."

  Ah, hell. Janelle spoke fast, grabbing her thought from before, doing her best to use their dialect. “I'm sick. I'll give a killing fever to anyone who touches me."

  The bearded man cocked an eyebrow. “You don't look sick to me.” His gaze traveled slowly over her. “Far from it."

  "I'm in the early stages. The most contagious time."

  He snorted. “Which is why you were married today, eh?"

  "She's fine,” Aker said with a laugh. “You should have seen her in the palace. She can scream like a banshee."

  Screw you, Janelle thought.

  "I will tell the emperor of your offer,” the bearded man told him. Then he continued on to a cluster of other riders.

  Aker dismounted and helped Janelle down, but he otherwise went out of his way to avoid touching her. She didn't know whether to be relieved or even more afraid.

  The bearded man soon reappeared on foot—accompanied by Maximillian. Janelle's pulse lurched. The emperor could have been Dominick; he had the same eyes, the same strong features, the same height. But unlike Dominick, who warmed with his gaze, Maximillian's stare was ice. He appraised her as if she were an object for sale.

  The emperor glanced at the bearded man. “You didn't exaggerate. She's lovely. Exotic, with that yellow hair. Yes, we will keep the bride.” He nodded to Aker. “I will remember your generosity."

  "Your Highness.” Aker sounded strained. “Look at her jewels."

  Puzzlement creased Maximillian's face. He pushed Janelle's hair over her shoulder to see her necklace better. For a long moment he stared at it. When he spoke, his voice was too quiet, like the calm in the center of a storm. “Are you my brother's wife?"

  Janelle met his gaze. “Yes.” She prayed he didn't find out they had never finished the ceremony.

  "It cannot be. Dominick would never risk his own death to marry some pretty tidbit.” He took her chin and turned her face to the side. “My God, you do look like her. But you're too young.” His voice hardened. “From where do you come?"
<
br />   "Cambridge.” She had no idea if it existed here. “Near Boston."

  "Boston? Where is that?"

  "Dominick called it ‘another sheet.’”

  His posture went rigid. “And your name is Salima?"

  She didn't see any point in lying now. “No. It's Janelle."

  "Hai,” Aker murmured.

  Maximillian swore. “That's impossible."

  The bearded man spoke. “If she is the one, Your Highness, you have her now instead of your brother."

  Maximillian answered with barely controlled fury. “One day earlier. One day, and I would have been in time.” He reached toward Janelle. When she backed away, Aker stepped behind her and grasped her upper arms, holding her in place.

  The emperor grabbed strands of Janelle's hair and yanked them out, making her gasp at the stab of pain. He thrust the tendrils at the bearded man. “Ride to the palace. Fast. Have her signature checked. And tell Major Artos to prepare the army. Dominick will soon realize she is gone, if he hasn't already."

  Maximillian turned back to Janelle. “You,” he said grimly, “will come with me."

  * * * *

  The emperor's company rode hard during the day, with stops only to change and rest the biaquines. They continued into the night, lighting their way with torches. Maximillian had Janelle sit in front of him on his biaquine. At least he changed his saddle to an animal skin with fleece against her legs. Smells saturated her senses: leather, sweat, musky animals. Maximillian's armor jabbed her back and his thighs pressed against her hips. Her chafed skin burned.

  "You know Dominick has five children,” Maximillian said when they slowed to rest the horses. “He loved their mother. He hasn't touched another woman since. If it wasn't for that godforsaken prophecy, he wouldn't touch you, either."

  If he expected to get a rise out of her, he would be disappointed. When she didn't respond, he spoke tightly. “Dominick will be uncle to your children. Not father."

  She made herself stop gritting her teeth. “How noble of you, to rape your brother's wife."

  He leaned near her ear. “You will regret that."

  It no longer surprised her that his men had inflicted such cruelty at the palace. A leader's personality was reflected in those who followed him. Yet she also saw Dominick in the emperor; they moved alike, gestured alike, spoke alike. Maximillian led his men with the same natural authority and intelligence, and he obviously had their respect. Both he and Dominick exuded an ingrained arrogance, though in Dominick it was softened by a sense of humor that suggested he took himself less seriously than his brother.

  Some time after the Moon began its descent, an officer rode up alongside them, a husky man with well-kept armor. “A messenger has arrived, Your Highness, from the scouts you left to watch the palace."

  Maximillian didn't look surprised. “Has Dominick come, then?"

  "I cannot say. Shall I bring the messenger?"

  "Immediately."

  As the rider fell back, Janelle's mood lifted like a tentative bird uncertain whether or not to take flight. Although it seemed unlikely Dominick had already gathered sufficient forces to come after Maximillian, she could hope.

  The officer soon reappeared, accompanied by a red-haired man on a biaquine. Janelle could better tell the difference now between Maximillian's soldiers and the outlaws he had hired to augment his company. This man had the scuffed armor worn by the raiders.

  "What is your message?” Maximillian asked.

  "It's the bride.” The redheaded man nodded toward Janelle. “The wedding never took place."

  Janelle silently swore.

  Behind her, Maximillian tensed. “She has his jewels."

  "They reversed the ceremonies,” the man said. “He gave her the jewels this morning."

  Maximillian took Janelle's shoulders and turned her until she could look up at him. “Then you are not yet his."

  She met his gaze. “Dominick and I are married."

  "My messenger says otherwise.” He glanced at his officer. “Go get Brother Anthony."

  "But you must have a proper ceremony,” the officer protested. “One fit for an emperor. That takes time."

  "And give Dominick time to rescue her?” Maximillian said. “I think not. Get Anthony. Now."

  * * * *

  Brother Anthony turned out to be another warrior. He rode with Maximillian, and the emperor's aides surrounded them, all on biaquines. The torches cast stark shadows, leaving the faces of the riders half in darkness and half lit by wavering orange light. Anthony wore an unadorned cross, but Janelle couldn't tell if he was a monk, a priest, or a cleric that didn't exist in her universe. She just wished she were somewhere else. Anywhere. Like on the Moon.

  Fleeing the specter of Dominick's pursuit, Maximillian didn't even stop for his own wedding. He let them slow enough so Anthony could speak, and then they held the ceremony on the run, as the army rumbled across the plains.

  "Each day the Sun rises,” Anthony droned. “Each night the Moon graces the sky in one of its myriad phases, during the ices of winter and the droughts of summer. In the joy of spring or the fertility of autumn, so shall you cleave to each other.” He glanced at the emperor. “Maximillian Titus Constantine, do you accept this woman, Janelle Aulair, as your wife?"

  "Yes,” Maximillian said.

  "No,” Janelle said.

  "No one asked you,” Maximillian told her.

  "The hell with this,” she said. “I'm married to Dominick."

  Anthony cleared his throat awkwardly. He produced a scroll and handed it to Maximillian. “I've already signed it."

  Alarm surged in Janelle. “That's it?"

  "It is done,” Maximillian said. “You are Empress of Othman.” His voice cut like steel. “And you will learn to respect me, wife, or you will find out just how thoroughly that title can be a curse."

  * * * *

  VI

  The Fire Palace

  The stars glittered as soulless witnesses to the passage of the army. Here in the plains, the night never cooled; even hours past midnight, the air felt like a steam bath. Lines of riders bearing torches wound across the land in rivers of fire.

  Janelle dozed, leaning against Maximillian. When she opened her eyes, bleary and confused, the sky had turned crimson. Silhouetted against the horizon, a palace dominated the view. It dwarfed Dominick's home. The central onion dome was surrounded by smaller domes that clustered like great water droplets, gold-plated and glistening. Bridges arched from tower to tower, glowing in the dawn as if they were flames. The palace shimmered in the morning's fire.

  "Do you like it?” Maximillian asked.

  "It's spectacular,” she admitted.

  "It is my home.” He sounded tired but satisfied. “And now yours."

  * * * *

  The stairway wound around the tower, circling a central shaft of air. Janelle could see over the railing all the way to the bottom, many stories below. They climbed single-file: two guards, Janelle, Maximillian, and two more guards. She could barely walk, she hurt so much from the ride. Only the unwelcome prospect of being carried kept her from collapsing. Maximillian was a foreboding presence at her back, threatening in his silence and unstated intent.

  At least he had no time for her now. The moment they arrived, people had sought to see him: officers, clerks, servants, aides. His advisors were at the bottom of the tower, sorting out what needed to be done, but he obviously had to return to his duties.

  Their climb ended at a landing with a heavy wooden door. One of the guards lifted its iron bar and pulled the handle. With a creak of protest, the door swung ponderously open.

  They took Janelle into a circular stone cell with a high ceiling and four small windows, one each looking north, south, east, and west. A wheel across the chamber was wound with a thick chain, which then snaked up the wall and across the domed ceiling to its highest point, held in place by iron rings. From the top of dome, it hung halfway to the ground. A pair of leather shackles dangled fr
om its end.

  Two guards went to the wheel, and one tapped a combination into some mechanism there. Leaning their weight into their work, they cranked out the chain. It rattled up along the wall, pulled by its own weight as the shackles descended. A stench of oil permeated the air. The guards let the chain down to Janelle's height and locked it in place. Another guard pushed her forward, and she stumbled into the shackles, which swung away, then came back and thwacked her shoulder. The entire time, Maximillian watched with an avid gaze.

  While Maximillian watched, two guards came up on either side of Janelle, towering over her. They stank like sweat and biaquines. They lifted her arms, and they tightened their hold when she tried to pull away. Then they shackled her wrists above her head.

  "Why?” she asked Maximillian. “I've done nothing to you."

  "Nothing?” he said, incredulous. “You've torn apart my life and destroyed my bond with my brother. That prophecy has brought us nothing but endless grief."

  "That may be true. But I have nothing to do with it."

  "Of course you do. You are it."

  "I'm here only because Dominick looked for me. If Gregor had never said anything, you would have never known I existed.” She suspected Maximillian and Dominick would have been antagonists anyway; they were too much alike, two conquerors in a land that had space only for one.

  "You would have come anyway,” he said. “When you were seventy."

  Janelle doubted it. By that time, he and Dominick would be close to ninety, if they lived that long. Age added a great deal to a person, maybe the serenity of a long life or a cynicism steeped in discord, but whatever happened, surely they wouldn't still be locked in this duel of fates half a century from now. Far more likely, Gregor or the “seeress” had misread whatever evoked this miserable prophecy.

  The guards at the wheel cranked out the chain, and the shackles rose until they pulled Janelle's arms tight over her head. She had so far hidden her distress, but as the chain continued to rise, lifting her into the air, it was too much. She groaned, and a tear ran down her face. When they finally locked the chain in place, she hung painfully by her wrists in the center of the cell.