by E B Rose
“It’s okay. Put that on and leave the front unbuttoned,” Lygor instructed. Beast complied.
What did the prince mean? If Saradra wasn’t Beast’s greatest weakness, then what was? Lygor’s confident smirk told him the prince knew the answer. Beast didn’t like it.
“Are you sure you wanna display his brands like that?” Valnar asked. He’d paused to watch their conversation.
The vest was stretched tight over Beast’s chest. The two sides didn’t meet and his brands could be seen when he moved. It felt even tighter under his armpits, and made his bare arms look thicker.
“Absolutely,” Lygor said. He stepped back to study Beast appraisingly. He handed him the sword Beast had carried before, but replaced the belt with one of his own. It had a golden buckle with a lion’s head on it. Beast threaded the belt through the sword’s sheath and buckled it around his waist.
“Something is missing.” Lygor tapped at his chin. He looked through the piles of clothing and gave him a half cape to tie over one shoulder. The golden pin to hold the straps together was of course a lion’s head. Lygor stepped back and evaluated again. “Mess up your hair.”
Beast resisted the urge to roll his eyes and ran his fingers through the hair he’d just finished combing. Lygor’s interest with his appearance reminded him of King Leonis’. The prince finally nodded his approval, and went to finish getting ready.
“Come give me a hand,” Valnar said to Beast. The slave picked up the heavy breastplate and put it over Valnar’s head. He was fastening the straps when Ink returned.
“How did it go?” Lygor asked.
The Kaldorian went straight to his bags and started pulling out his outfit. “One hour,” he said. “They’ll see us at Master Vadithas’s manor. It’s the most secure place in the whole city. He’s got free men as well as purebreds protecting the property. Master Naelar is gathering the rest of the Union there.”
“Good.” Lygor walked over to the window and watched the street outside. “Did you see your friends?”
“Uh-huh,” Ink said as he put his leather armour on.
“I’m not sure how I feel about Kaldorian spies on my soil, Prince Ingelhar.”
“What spies, Prince Lygor?” Ink said innocently. “They’re just some friends, doing me a favor.”
Lygor feigned disapproval by shaking his head. “Tell me what they know.”
Ink took three small jars out of his bag and took the caps off. They contained black, white, and red paints on them. Ink dipped his fingers and started painting his face with Kaldorian warrior marks, without even looking at the mirror. He talked as he carried on with his task. “Well, there’s Ruzen. He’s the Master of Sands.”
“Responsible for operating the arenas all over the country. What do your friends know about him?”
“Not very bright. Gets angry very quickly. Lately, he’s quite troubled about the increasing amounts of illegal arenas. He’ll probably ask for tax benefits, but might settle for shutting down a few of those arenas.”
Lygor cackled. “We already know the location of one. What else?”
“He’s also quite mad about Kastian shutting down Switchblade Arena at Brinescar.”
“Excellent. Who’s next?”
“There’s Vadithas. Master of Blood.”
“He represents the slave breeders. I know what he’ll ask for. They’ve been asking for it since I was old enough to understand politics; financial support for slave farms.”
“Very likely,” Ink agreed. “I’ve heard a slave farm was shut down recently. Problem with their food supplier asking for unreasonable prices.”
“I’m reluctant to promise him my father’s vaults. If Kastian left anything in them. Would he settle for tax benefits for the farms? What kind of a man is he? What’s his poison?”
Ink screwed up his face. “I’ve heard he enjoys the company of men.”
“He’s not the first one who likes male flames.”
“Not slaves. Free men. They say he does sick things to them. This is the man whose house we’re going to, by the way. Just reminding.”
Lygor rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’ll push for tax benefits. If he’s still not happy, I can accept financial aid for a limited period of time. Who else?”
“Naelar. Master of Chains. He oversees slave traders and merchants.”
“Right. And what’s his most recent problem?”
“His convoys getting attacked.”
“Better roads? Increased safety? Done.”
“I don’t think that’ll be enough.” Ink’s face darkened. “My friends say he’s the smartest one amongst them. You should really watch out for that one. He’ll probably ask for more.”
“Weaknesses?”
“Not quite sure if he’ll regard that as a weakness, but apparently, he’s had an altercation with Twelve’s priests recently. He denounced Twelve Riders.”
Valnar scoffed, but didn’t comment. Lygor stood quiet for a few long seconds. “And the other two?” he asked finally.
“There’s Kyrophe. My friends were actually surprised, saying she doesn’t really operate from Calae. Visits the city once a year and spends her time at White Tower. She’s been at the city over a week now.”
Beast shuddered at the name of White Tower. Lygor turned from the window. “What’s bothering the White Tower’s representative recently?”
“My friends don’t know much about her. I’m sorry.”
Lygor nodded. He turned back to the window. “And the last one?”
“A mage called Adept Ziuw. Word is, the head of Casters Board of Chinderia, Adept Kato, is at Brinescar for an Eternal Pillar business at the moment. He’s left his assistant to represent his seat at the Union. I don’t think he’ll be too pushy about anything. It’s not even his seat.”
“What’s Adept Kato doing at Brinescar?”
“Mages are having problems with the Eternal Pillar. I believe Adept Kato is trying to solve those.”
“What can I offer them?”
“Anything to get the Eternal Pillar off their backs would suffice, I believe.”
Lygor nodded slowly. He kept his silence, no doubt preparing his offers for the negotiations. When he turned back from the window, Ink had finished getting ready.
“Let’s go,” Lygor said.
“I thought we were meeting them in an hour?” Valnar said.
“I don’t wanna give them time to discuss their strategies amongst themselves.” Lygor plastered his confident grin on his face. “Besides, my father always used to say; sit first, and speak last; if that fails, hit first, and stand last.”
35
VALNAR
Master of Blood greeted them at the wide, oak double doors of his manor. He was a tall, lanky man in his early thirties. He had a bald head and a bushy beard. Other leaders of the Union stood ready behind him; three men and one woman. If they were surprised by Lygor’s decision to show up early, they didn’t reveal it. Valnar stood behind Lygor and quietly sized the Union leaders as they made their pleasantries.
“Prince Lygor, it is an honour to have you at my humble residence,” Master of Blood said with a deep bow. He had a warm, musical voice.
His humble residence was half the size of King Zumnorin’s palace in Kaldoria. Walking from the front gates through the garden, the size of a small forest, took nearly twenty minutes. It was already late in the day and by the time they approached the building, the sun was sinking behind the brick roofs of the city.
Pairs of purebred beasts and free men patrolled the yard frequently, but nobody raised a question to the four of them. The amount of security on the premises both pleased and unnerved Valnar at the same time.
“The honour is mine, Master Vadithas,” Lygor said, bowing his head. “Thank you for having us.”
“My absolute pleasure. Please, allow me to introduce Masters Ruzen and Naelar, Mistress Kyrophe, and Adept Ziuw.”
The union members bent their backs respectfully as their names were mentio
ned. Ruzen was a bulky man, pale haired and heavily tanned. His curious frown was fixed on Beast.
Naelar was young, maybe in his early twenties. It was hard to call him handsome, though his intelligent eyes and friendly smile gave him a certain charisma.
Ziuw was the youngest, dressed in a white robe with red flame patterns at his cuffs. He fidgeted with the neck of his robe, unable to hide his nervousness. This meeting was bigger than him.
Kyrophe was a woman, old enough to show crow’s feet around her eyes. Her hair fell down her shoulders in light brown, frizzy curls and she had a motherly smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Lygor said, nodding at each.
“Praise be to the Twelve Riders, you are alive and well,” Naelar said.
Valnar stared at the man. Wasn’t he the one who denounced the Twelve? Yet, praising their names now? Then, he understood what Naelar was doing; he was testing to see how much intel Lygor had on them, watching carefully for a sign of surprise.
Lygor blinked twice, but he answered smoothly, “I appreciate that Master Naelar.”
Naelar’s friendly smile spread.
Smartest one, Ink had said. The one they needed to watch out for the most.
“Please, come on in,” Vadithas gestured them inside.
Valnar couldn’t shake the feeling they were walking into wolves’ den as they followed the man inside.
*
“Please, Your Highness, make yourself comfortable,” Vadithas said.
They were settled in his study room, decorated plainer than the rest of his manor. The spacious room was furnished with a large, rectangular table in the middle, and a bookshelf ran the length of the wall. There were no windows, but the room was lit up by a roaring fireplace and plenty of oil lamps.
Five representatives of the Domestic Assets Trade Union sat on one side of the table. There were two chairs on the other side.
“Prince Ingelhar, I presume,” Vadithas told Ink. He gestured at the second chair. “Please.”
Lygor nodded vaguely and Ink sat down with him. Valnar was relieved. Although he was physically there to protect Lygor, he didn’t like the fact that the prince was alone against five successful business leaders at that table. Lygor was smart, but not too experienced in negotiations. Now, at least Ink was there to support him in that front.
Valnar gestured Beast to stand behind Lygor, and he took his place near the door, facing the whole room.
A male slave walked in, carrying a carafe and seven wine glasses on a tray. Valnar stared at the slave’s tattoo. He was a purebred, as the three lines declared, but the circular tattoo was empty inside.
Valnar had never seen an empty slave tattoo and wondered what the purebred’s function was as he watched him serve their drinks. He noted this in the corner of his mind, to ask Beast later. When finished serving, the slave held the tray under his arm and stood on the other side of the door, staring dead ahead.
“I hope you like Serpentblood,” Vadithas said as he poured drinks for all. “It is quite hard to come by these days. There are rumours of some lunatic attacking wine convoys. But I’ve had my own private stash.”
“Serpentblood is an exquisite taste,” Lygor said as he took his glass.
“To your health,” Ruzen said. He raised his glass in salute, and scuffed it down. The others joined him.
“Wine convoys are not the only ones being attacked,” Ink said casually. “Safety of the trade roads are quite concerning, isn’t that right, Master Naelar?”
Naelar smiled over his wine glass. “True indeed. My business is being affected as anyone else’s, I’m afraid.” He put his glass down and leaned back comfortably. “Luckily, we are in this business for long enough to know, the best cure for the uncertainty is time. Things will settle, one way or another.”
“That’s right,” Ink said, mimicking Naelar’s tone. “Though time is not always a luxury we all have. You must be losing quite a lot of money every day Switchblade Arena remains closed, isn’t that, Master Ruzen. When do you think it will reopen?”
Ruzen stood up and reached for the carafe with his paw-like hands. He poured himself another glass. “We’re working on security improvement plans to present to King Kastian,” he grunted. “Should be done soon.”
Ink nodded gravely. “I wish you good luck, though I’d be surprised if Kastian would ever consider reopening the arena before the public settled down. But I’m sure that’ll happen, given enough time, as Master Naelar pointed out.”
Ruzen gulped down his drink, but didn’t comment. Naelar grinned with amusement.
“What can the Union do for you, Your Highness?” Vadithas asked abruptly.
Lygor leaned back on his chair and let the silence stretch as he made eye contact with all five. “I believe you all know why I’m here.”
“You’re seeking our alliance.”
“You must be desperate to ask for our alliance,” Ruzen said.
“True. Union wasn’t my first choice. I mean, you don’t have any army, and financially, you’re not having your best days. There is little you can offer me.”
“And yet, you’re here,” Naelar mused.
“True again. My father understood the Union’s importance for Chinderia’s economic prosperity. Your activities have direct influence on everyday lives of Chinderians. Kastian does not know - or worse, does not care - about the damage that can be done, should Union fall apart. I’m here to listen how I can ensure Union’s survival and future.”
“Nice speech,” Ruzen said. “But we’re in the business long enough to know, not to tell our prices before appraising what we sell.”
“What your prince wants from you is completely in your capacity,” Ink joined in.
“Which is?”
Lygor tilted his head, took his time answering. He nodded over his shoulder, directing their stares at Beast. “You recognize him.” It wasn’t a question.
“Lion of Zarall,” Ruzen grunted. “The slave who got my arena shut down.” Despite his harsh words, he studied Beast with admiration.
“The one they call broken,” Vadithas said, with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
“I’ve heard he was on his way to White Tower?” Naelar raised an eyebrow at the woman sitting beside him.
“We were all ready and excited for its arrival at White Tower,” Kyrophe spoke. She had a dull, expressionless voice that conveyed no intonation. “Never had the pleasure.”
Beast stood with his hands clasped in front of him, head down, and shoulders wide. He was perfectly still, his face showing no emotion, like an empty shell. Yet, Valnar could see how the slave’s back went stiff. He had to make an effort to suppress a shudder.
“Umm... I’m sorry,” Ziuw said, speaking for the first time. “I don’t understand. What does Lion of Zarall have to do with... any of this?”
“Right.” Lygor leaned in towards Ruzen. “I’d like to register him for Twilight of Infinity.”
A series of expressions flashed across Ruzen’s face. The first one was excitement; no doubt thinking of the crowd Lion of Zarall could bring to his arena. Then, doubt took over, followed by anxiety. “Hang on,” he said raising one finger. “Last time he fought in one of my arenas... No way! As soon as Lion of Zarall steps into Scythe Arena, Kastian will force it’s shut down. Fuck, he’ll shut all my arenas down!”
“He won’t,” Lygor grinned. “Because you’ll shut them down yourself.”
Ruzen froze, then doubled over with a violent laugher. When he noticed he was the only one laughing, he paled. He grabbed the carafe and drank the whole thing. Shaking the empty bottle, “More,” he yelled at the slave with the empty tattoo, who slid out of the room quietly.
Ruzen stood up and paced back and forth in front of the bookshelf as he waited.
“You’re being over dramatic,” Kyrophe spoke.
“Over dramatic?” Ruzen snatched Naelar’s glass from the table and drank it. “He wants me to shut down all my operations!”
�
��Not all,” Ink said cheerfully. “Scythe Arena in Euroad will stay open. It’ll be at full capacity for Twilight.”
“Every day Switchblade remains closed costs me two hundred Blues,” Ruzen almost yelled. “If I shut down all my operations, I’m... I won’t recover from that!”
“Which is why I’m here to listen, how I can help you recover, after I get my throne back.”
The slave came back with two bottles of wine. He served one to Ruzen and refilled others’ glasses with the other. Ruzen sat down, scowling at Lygor.
“I don’t see how shutting down the arenas will help you, Your Highness,” Ziuw squeaked.
“You’re all smart people,” Lygor said. “Why don’t you tell me?”
Naelar’s eyes widened. “You want to start a riot.”
“Correct.”
It was Naelar’s turn to stand up, but unlike Ruzen, he was amused rather than troubled. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke: “Lion of Zarall wins Twilight of Infinity, earns his freedom. Then, he pledges his loyalty to Lygor Zarall, the true king. Inspires people to stand up and fight for him. Clever.”
“And I need the arenas to remain closed for that,” Lygor said gravely. “People won’t lift a finger if they’re subdued with entertainment. I need them to be bored.”
“It’s a dangerous move,” Vadithas said. “If you remind someone what they are capable of, you can’t take that knowledge back.” His eyes flickered at Beast. “That’s why we have Words. But you will not have that kind of control over the people once you wake them up.”
“That will be my concern, not yours.”
“Is that all you ask from the Union.”
Lygor examined his wine glass as he spoke casually. “I want a hundred purebreds from Master Vadithas. Beasts. Master Naelar will donate ten thousand Blues to my cause. And I believe Casters Board of Chinderia have mages at every Lord’s table. I want their intel.” He glanced at Kyrophe. “I’m not sure what White Tower has to offer?”
“My vote.” Kyrophe crossed her arms. “The Union does not take action unless there’s unanimity.”