She Who Has No Name tlt-2

by Michael Foster

  ‘To hell with you and your lectures! I’m no lackey of yours.’

  ‘Very well. Then let me answer your question. I dobelieve that any number may be sacrificed to achieve our goal, for the outcome is paramount. Of course, I take no enjoyment from suffering, but I am aware that suffering must occur. Our victory will achieve an endless peace across the world. So, Samuel, can you tell me that a few lives matter, a few thousandoreven millions compared to the countless numbers that will die if the demons are allowed to continue their cycle of destruction?’

  ‘Yes, they do matter!’ Samuel said, enraged, for he could not forget that Balten had tricked and manipulated him in the past. Balten had sent him into exile in Tindal, and there he had met and loved Leila, before she was slain by Ash’s servants. He could not help but feel that Balten’s plotting had somehow contributed to Leila’s death. ‘People may mean nothing to you, but we are not all as heartless and hollow as you. No victory can be worth such deaths. The innocent cannot be sacrificed. No goal is worth it if such losses must be made.’

  ‘Noble thoughts, Samuel, but nothing that has not been contemplated countless times before and thoughts that I’m sure you will learn to reconsider in the coming future; far wiser minds than yours have pondered these concepts and it’s pleasing that you have at least started to consider them, as misguided as yourconclusionsmay be. Most people are just sheep, Samuel-hollow meat too ignorant to cultivate anything approaching self-awareness, yet alone a soul. I see you don’t agree, but I’m sure we will be discussing this further at length. I know you have things to do, so I will leave you to enjoy the view. I’m sure I smelled some tobacco earlier on and I only hope I can convince the owner to part with some before I go mad.’

  With that, Balten strode off, sniffing the air. Samuel was leftstanding on the parapet,his cheeks burning with anger,andthe chill mountain air did little to cool his blood. It was only a few moments laterthathe noticed the Koian ladiesmoving towards him, escorting their god-woman between them, as if she would fall over the moment they released her hands.

  ‘Our god wishes to speak with you,’ Lady Leaf announced.

  ‘With me?’ Samuel responded, still with his blood boiling. ‘I thought she did not speak to us mortals.’

  ‘Not usually but,given the fact you will be acting as our guardian in the coming battle, she wishes to bestow upon you her blessing,according to our customs.’

  Samuel had to admit he was interested to hear what the Koian woman had to say to him. ‘Very well,’ he said.

  The god-woman shifted her head to look at the attendants beside her, and they took it as a sign to retreat. They did so, releasing her billowing sleeves and bowing before moving away. Young Lady River followed the older two, trailing her gaze onto Samuel. He could not forget what River had said about her god, but he could not bring himself to believe that a single woman was somehow capable ofliterallyconsuming the entire crew of their ship.

  ‘I am grateful you have kept your word,’ the woman before him hissed. ‘I was not sure if Turians were an honourable people.’

  ‘I am not Turian. And please, do not speak to me in such a voice. I know you can speak properly.’

  The god-woman was thoughtful and looked over her shoulders to see if the others were within earshot. ‘I can,’ she said softly, clearing her throat as if the act of speaking with her own voice pained her.

  ‘Why have you come here? What do you want in this land?’

  She seemed taken aback. ‘I do not want anything, Magician,’ she said softly. ‘We told you why we have come. I must be protected until the time of my rebirth.’

  Samuel glanced to the ladies behind, who were looking towards him with concern. He would not have long before they returned. ‘Maybe that is what you believe, but your companions keep secrets from us. That is not the way of those who come with honest intentions.’

  ‘It is true, Magician. We have kept secrets from you, but nothing that could harm you. They are only our own customs and mannerisms. We have no ill intentions at all. We are a peaceful people. We seek only refuge from the violence that has destroyed our home and to repay you for your kindness.’

  ‘Peaceful? Why would someone so peaceful come with warriors in their midst?’

  ‘Warriors? I do not know what you mean.’

  ‘Your men. They are trained killers and not the simple servants you make out.’

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘You are mistaken. They tend to me,that is all. They are my servants.’

  ‘If you believe that, it is you who are mistaken.’

  He could see the ladies edging nearer from behind and,somehow, she sensed it,too,and stood stiffly, silently.

  ‘That is all,’ she said, again in her croaking voice and she turned about in a flurry of tassels as the ladies scurried in beside her. They whispered into her ear and Lady Leaf and River whisked her away, while Lady Wind stayed behindmomentarily.

  ‘You have been honoured, Magician,’ she stated, scrutinising him up and down, before turning and striding away, leaving Samuel shaking his head in frustration.

  Sir Ferse was strutting along the parapet looking quite annoyed and, with the strange conversations he had already had, Samuel thought there was no reason why he should not see what it was that wasdisturbingthe man.

  ‘Come see this, Samuel,’ he said uponespying Samuel’s approach. His voice was full of urgency. When Samuel arrived at his side, Sir Ferse started gesturing over the wall, down to the lower levels of the fortress. ‘Do you see those men?’

  Samuel peered over and noticed a group of the Ghant defenders. They appeared to be on guard, standing together side by side with their backs to the citadel wall.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘What does it look like they are doing to you?’ Sir Ferse asked.

  Samuel took another peek. ‘They seem to be doing what soldiers do. Standing around. Holding weapons. Are they on guard, perhaps?’

  ‘Near enough. Now look up there, and over there,’ and he gestured to other squads of men at different heights along the citadel, all seemingly doing normal soldierlythings. ‘These men should be thrown into the chasm for all they’re worth. Better yet, General Mar should be. These men have forgotten what the Turian Empire stands for! The Empire was founded on precision and preparation, efficiency and obedience. Look what has happened! This is intolerable!’ The man was really quite flustered.

  ‘Calm now, Sir Ferse. It doesn’t seem quite so bad to me. They really don’t look any different to the soldiers in Cintar.’

  Ferse took a deep breath and seemed to calm himself. ‘Of course. What would a magician know,’ he said quite factually. ‘The legions of Turia nearly managed to conquer the entire continent on several occasions, but each time-’ and he sighed, ‘-we failed because of some tiny oversight. You would never believe the incredible complexity of managing an empire,of directing armies of men across vast distances. The logistics are inconceivable. And,with every extra man,the complexity grows twofold. If you have reliable commanders beneath you, it eases the burden, but such men are hard to find. There are just too many fools, or too manywhofall into laziness, without someone watching their backs. Take General Mar, for example. He has been guarding this pass for about twenty years now and I have never seen things in such a state.’

  ‘You have been here before, then?’

  ‘Many times over the years. The responsibilities of Turia had us marching to all corners of the Empire and beyond, making inspections and attending formal occasions. Ah, but it doesn’t matter now. It’s funny. Never in my entire life did I ever question what I was doing. Every moment of myexistencewas for the Empire, but now, it just seems so pointless, as if I was working so feverishly that I was blind to what was true in the world.’

  ‘I find that is a common occurrence with Turians, Sir Ferse.’ Immediately, he regretted the words that had slipped from his mouth, for Sir Ferse scowled at him. He then attempted to cover his mistake with some subtle flattery. ‘Oh, don’t misundersta
nd me. Turians are the most noble of people but,as a Marlen, I can see that sometimes there are other things to value in life above the Empire.’

  Sir Ferse gave a slow nod and looked to the mountaintops across the chasm, where the wind was blowing up enormous spirals of mist from the peaks. ‘You are right, Magician. Again, that is something I would never have considered. Perhaps, that is why the Empress was so treasured by our late Emperor over all his other wives. She was not of Turian blood and did not blindly follow her husband’s words without at least arguing with him first. Do you know, in more years than anyone could remember, the Emperor had never heard the simple word“ no”? They say,the first time she said it to him, he flew into a rage and tore half the palace to shreds, but she stood firmly and would not be dissuaded. When the Emperor finally calmed down, he had the sense to realise that she had been right. Not one of the advisers or accountants or politicians of the courthadever had the spine to say what they really thought and it had created this shroud of ignorance around the Emperor-a miasma of misinformation. Still, he could not have learnt all his lessons that day, for the Emperor made many more mistakes after that.’

  At that, Samuel almost choked and had to pound himself in the chest. To hear such a statement from a Turian was almost unheard of.

  ‘You sound as if you knew them well.’

  ‘Who?’ Sir Ferse responded, turning his back to the mountains and lookingatSamuel as if he was surprised the magician was still there.

  ‘The Emperor and the Empress.’

  ‘Oh, yes. Of course I knew them. I have been in the court many years-more than most. That is why I have come on this journey-to somehow account for the errors of my past.’ He passed his gaze across the others gathered on the parapet, then looked back to Samuel, staring intently with barely a blink of his cool blue eyes. ‘Did you know, Samuel, that the Emperor did not have even one friend in all his life? I don’t want to be like that.’

  ‘He didn’t?’

  ‘I suppose it was because of the nature of his personality. He was a perfectionist to a fault and utterly demanding-unforgiving of failure.’

  ‘And something of a madman, on some counts.’

  Again, Samuel’s mouth had run away from him, and he half-expected Sir Ferse to go berserk, but the man only smiled.

  ‘So some say. But let me ask you a question, Samuel. What would you do if you could take back the mistakes of your life and start anew?’

  ‘Are you referring to my last statement?’

  ‘Perhaps something a little more profound than that. If you could take back something terrible by doing something utterly wonderful, wouldn’t you leap at the chance?’

  Samuel thought immediately of Ash and the day that Leila had been slain by the man’s lackeys, but he would not speak of it. ‘We all do things we live to regret, but they build us into the men we become. Fate moulds us and its efforts cannot be undone.’

  ‘But you succeeded, Samuel! You did revenge your family and you did kill the magician Ash. It is a story that now resounds around the city. Wasn’t that a wonderful feeling?’

  ‘You seem to know all about me.’

  ‘Your story has been told and retold by the people of Cintar in many forms now, Samuel, since you became its saviour. There are the occasional bits and pieces known only to a select few, but you can be sure those secrets will remain safe for the time being.’ The man did seem to know more about Samuel than he was letting on, and he noticed Samuel take a start at his words. ‘Don’t worry. You have nothing to fear from me, Samuel. I have no interest in your story, or the things you have done.’ Then he leaned closer. ‘In fact, by killing the Emperor, you did me a greater favour than you could ever realise.’

  Samuel took a step back, not keen to become involved in any conspiracies the man had in mind. ‘I’m not at all sure what you are talking about, Sir Ferse.’

  Sir Ferse laughed heartily and put his handsonthe battlement, leaning up against it. ‘You really have no idea how amusing the world is from my point of view. Anyway, we will have much to discuss in the future. We should focus now on defending this pass, for once Master Celios says our task is done, whatever it may be, we can continue on to our mission.’

  ‘So you have no idea why we must dally here?’

  ‘Not at all. Master Celios provides more puzzles with his visions than any questions he may answer. I have learnt to trust the man’s intuitions, despite his growing eccentricities, but I can never understand him.’

  ‘You seem confident that we will win here.’

  ‘Oh, I have no idea. But Ghant has never been overwhelmed before and I don’t see why it would be now,and,in reality,I no longer care. Master Celios has assured me that we will save young Leopold in the end, and that is all that matters.’

  ‘And his mother-the Empress?’

  ‘Well, yes, of course I hope we can save her, too. Every boy needs his mother. He is, of course, the future Emperor. Our hopes all rest with him.’

  ‘You are really something of an enigma, Sir Ferse. I am not sure I know how to react to you.’

  Again, and just as mysteriously, Sir Ferse laughed aloud and stepped back from the edge of the parapet. He walked past Samuel and slapped him on the shoulder like a good friend. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard this whole trip. Now, I must go see General Mar and scold him for his deficiencies. I’m sure he will have a fit.’

  Samuel rested for the remainder of the day, but,as dusk fell,he returned to the parapet, for his senses had begun tingling within his skull. The occasional break in the cloudsaffordedthe briefest glimpse of the stars, so bright and clear up here away from the towns and cities. The comet he had first sighted in the woods around Rampeny was still present and it,too,peeked out whenever the clouds parted, itslongtail stretching behind it like afaintscratch of silver.

  It had just ceased raining and the stones were left wet and glimmering in the torchlight. Fires had been lit all along the citadel walls to lend their light and men gathered around them for warmth.

  There was some excitement now, for it seemed figures had been seen creeping about on the far side of the chasm. A few missiles were sent whistling across by the great mechanical devices, and the distant shadows could be seen quickly retreating.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Eric asked, rushing up beside Samuel. They stood at the wall’s edge, leaning between the battlements and peering out over what seemed like a sea of nothingness between the mountains.

  The young Captain Ravenshood was directing the men there. ‘Magicians,’ he said coming over. ‘Tell me, what can you see?’

  Samuel could easily sense a large number of men gathered out of sight across the chasm. ‘Their army comes, Captain. They amass in the valleys out of view and jostle in the paths that approach.’

  Just then, a stream of mage-lights shot across the gap like burning arrows and Samuel looked to the heights of Ghant, where the telltale energies of Balten could be seen, pulsing and cavorting as he cast his spells. The hovering mage-spheres illuminated the far side brightly, clustered in the air.

  Grand Master Tudor and Goodfellow came clambering up the stairs onto the parapet.

  ‘So they’re coming, are they?’ Tudor said, furrowing up his forehead and peering out over the wall’s edge. ‘Now we’ll see what they have planned for us.’

  The night was deathly cold and the soldiers all around stamped their feet or huddled by the fires to keep warm. Clouds of tiny,winged insects gathered from the darkness to benearthe fires and the men swatted at them irritably. Occasionally, larger bugs zoomed into view and their wings buzzed about in the night. The Paatin army made no attempt to come forward, and so they waited for several hours,while Samuel thumbed the ring in his pocket nervously. Finally, a stirring in the pattern caught his attention. Something had begun.

  ‘Magicians!’ he hissed, and Grand Master Tudor heard him and focussed his own senses into the distance.

  ‘Yes, you’re right, Samuel. Magic is at work. So we know they hav
e summoned their wizards. Now we shall see what kind of magic they have brought.’

  Samuel continued staring out towards the Paatin. They were still far, for the narrow paths would only allow them to approach in a single column, but with so many men in such close proximity together, he had no trouble discerning their presence.

  ‘Tell me, Samuel,’ the old man implored. ‘What do you see?

  ‘They have spread out behind the mountain.’ Something high then caught his attention. ‘They are climbing the rocks.’

  ‘Those rock faces are sheer and treacherous,’ Captain Ravenshood said. ‘One or two skilled climbers could ascend them but,even so, the distance is far and there is no advantage to be had, except toactas lookouts. The chasm is much too wide to do them any good.’

  ‘Therearemore than one or two, Captain,’ Samuel informed. ‘I feel many. There are hundreds,perhaps thousands.’

  The young man looked confused. ‘No. It’s not possible. And to what end, unless they plan to jump to their deaths?’

  Time seemed eternal as they waited, eachscarcelydaring to breathe. All along the walls and parapets of Ghant, men stood, cradling their weapons and waiting nervously.

  A yell sounded from somewhere below and the metallic clangs of battle ensued. After barely a few strokes, it seemed to have ended.

  ‘What’s this?’ Tudorasked, striding up and down the wall with concern. ‘Have they breachedthe citadel?’

  Similar sounds of battle came from another direction and this continued for longer. Captain Ravenshood shouted commands and his banner-men signalled to General Mar up in his tower where he could oversee the defence. Screams and shouts sounded from other parts of the citadel and the magicians continued peering all around and into the darkness, ignorant of any sign of Paatin troops or what could be causing the disturbances. A flash of magic struck out from the heavens, and Samuel looked up towards Balten on his tower top. More flashes followed, streaking out into the air high over the chasm. With the clouds churning behind him, Balten looked like a god throwing bolts from the heavens. It was then that one of the citadel guards came running up the stairs to shout the alarm.