Escape of the Concubines

by Ben Wolfe

  Gregory looked thoughtful, the magefire still dancing in his eyes. “Your assassins must go. Now. You, must go. But not before the conclave votes upon whether or not to allow your guild charter to operate without impediment in the west and the Konigar’s representative lets us know whether you will be allowed to operate in the north.”

  “Allowed?” Arizian asked. “We operate under a charter of the high king.”

  Gregory looked directly at Arizian for moments before he replied evenly, “There has been no high king in these realms for more than twelve intervals.” He turned to Nicholas. “Nicholas and I have the two greatest claims with Warren having renounced his long ago. Duncan, as Warren’s son and Gherard of House Corth have weaker claims but could mount creditable campaigns. However, until the gates of Cibola are unlocked, the conclave still rules the west and should we agree not to renew your charter, any assassins caught operating in the west will face the King’s or the Konigar’s justice in whichever land they find themselves in. If they are in mine, they should expect no mercy. So I ask the conclave for a vote.”

  The high lords seemed nervous with Arizian staring at each in turn as though memorizing their faces. Grendahl made to leave, but leaned in to hear the whispered words of Lord Arizian. Lord Arizian removed his cloak and handed it to Grendahl. Looking back to the great lords and kings of the west, he said, “A gesture of good faith that the need to avoid your detection is no longer necessary. At his gesture, two score guild members in the balconies flipped mazikeen cloaks over their shoulders and pulled back hoods. They outnumbered the guardsmen remaining on the balcony. “Might I remind the kings and high lords here that I have operated as the head of this guild for more than fifty intervals, since its founding. We were granted this charter by the high king for our service in the war, defending the high king’s family from assassination. However, I recognize that Jon B’tal no longer sits in the seat of the high king in Cibola and has not been seen for more than twelve intervals. We have abided by the terms of our charter and while you have seen the capability of our guild here today, you yourselves have nothing to fear from us. We are not a kingdom and we have no ambition to rule. We have met our guide to never take the life of those anointed by the high king to rule and have honored that even without the high king’s presence. We have even extended that protection to appointed heirs, understanding the political implications.”

  “Even under attack this morning and with the ability to kill the kings and high lords after retaliation for the culling, we have abided by our charter. This is the one thing that protects you from each other.”

  “Is that a threat?” replied Nicholas.

  “I believe he will say it is a statement of fact,” said Gavon. “Warren has demonstrated loyalty to the conclave and this process by taking out a hit on his own allies and having his son pay the price for the defense of the realm. While I am not comfortable with him giving Lord Arizian the means to avoid the detection of the remaining mattle magi, Lord Arizian has also demonstrated his willingness to work with us and abide by the spirit of the compact even without our friendship. So I, for one, will vote for the extension of this agreement between us and the guild with the penalty of death to any assassins caught should the compact be broken. I would also have one additional agreement so that there are no misunderstandings and it will require the agreement of both Warren of Arkenheim and Lord Arizian.”

  “The condition?” inquired Lord Arizian.

  “That all members of your guild be branded with this. It will be visible only to those with mage sight.” Gesturing with a nod of assent to Lord Warren, King Gavon continued, “Lord Warren made the suggestion and I think it was a good one.”

  Lord Warren approached Arizian with a small handheld brand. When placing it in Lord Arizian’s hand, he said, “it would provide protection for the guild by identifying its members.”

  Lord Arizian looked at the small piece of iron and at the assembled nobles. The piece disappeared into the lining of his robes. “I will make it voluntary for some, compulsory for others, but will make the implications understood.”

  King Gavon replied, “That seems fair, yet should kings or Konigar fall by undetectable assailants, you will understand that the conclave or its survivors will know they have not far to look to find the cause.”

  Lord Arizian inclined his head. “Also fair. Is the decision made then? May we remove our dead?”

  King Gavon looked around the chamber and saw nods of assent from all present, though Jurtan Torhig did not look happy. The nod from Nicholas was reluctant and required a long pause from Gregory who seemed the most hesitant.

  When Gregory finally nodded his assent, he spoke. “Attend your dead, Lord Arizian. The compact is made. We will await your report of the results. Attend your dead and we will attend ours.”

  “A parting gift for King Gavon, who unexpectedly acted as our advocate, replied Arizian. Approaching slowly, he held out his hand and provided him the short bronze tube to see into the aether, given to him by Grendahl when he passed him the cloak. “King Gavon, it is known that you are the only member among the annointed kings without battle magus abilities or a battle mage within your court. No court should be without the ability to detect our members. As it was your idea, I surrender our own to you. Perhaps the guild will commission another but for now, accept this as a gift with our gratitude.”

  Backing away, Lord Arizian inclined in a small but respectful bow before turning to leave. The members of his guard had largely covered themselves again with the mazikeen cloaks but twelve of them remained visible to carry their dead out of the chamber.

  When they had left, Gregory snarled, “Well, that didn’t quite go the way we anticipated. They have become far too powerful if you ask me.”

  “A problem for another day,” Nicholas intoned. “For now Lord Warren’s unanticipated solution would seem to provide the best response to both the threat and the insult from the east by this Lianshi.”

  “I heard she was immortal,” whispered Lord Evanton.

  “What?” asked Nicholas.

  “That’s what ‘Lianshi’ means, you know,” replied Lord Evanton. “Immortal. In the words of the Dravenken, it means ‘immortal.’ Like us.”

  Nicholas sat quietly for a moment, contemplating Lord Evanton’s whispered words before leaving the others to arrange passage back to Medrigor. His older brother Jon had been gone twelve intervals. The title of Douquet, the highest hereditary title you could achieve under the rule of his brother, had been abandoned by Gregory and himself when they both claimed the title of king. Others had followed suit or named themselves high king, but only he and Gregory had hereditary claims. His brother, Jon had brought them together to fight the influence of Baphomet after she had arrived and Gregory’s father had fallen. Leading their armies with the Draven in pursuit of Baphomet and her army, his brother, not even a general, had commanded their army and rallied the forces of the west to drive Baphomet out of the realms of man while Gregory sat in his castle waiting for Jon to fall in battle. When he drove Baphomet’s forces North, their Uncle Warren, the highest ranking general in their army, had sworn to follow Jon and all others had followed. His uncle had pursued Baphomet’s forces north, swearing to defend the realms of man from her return. When Jon returned South, Gregory saw the armies of the west united under Jon’s banner and bent the knee.

  He glanced at the other kings and high lords of the conclave gathered around Gregory as he left. He had accomplished what he had set out to do. Corth would stay out of it. His uncle would do what he had always done. The assassins were dealing with what had become more of a nuisance in the east. With any luck, the guild and this “Lianshi” would decimate each other. Gregory and his allies did not have enough of an army to make an open claim and risk losing. He could not hope to defeat the Medrigoran Navy. One thing at a time, he thought. One thing at a time.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

  ◆◆◆

  The
Lianshi rode at the head of twenty mounted Jintai, Kisa trying to keep up with her. “Lianshi, please. They could not follow. The northern pass is blocked!”

  Allia drew back hard on her reins, causing her columns to ride past on either side of her before reining in and drawing bows, watching for threats. They were in the open but surrounded by woodlands just north of the Jennai Pass. The Lianshi’s horse danced beneath her, sensing her rider’s urgent desire. She looked appraisingly at Kisa, now the commander of the Jintai sent to the northern pass. “You rode your mare nearly to exhaustion, Kisa. You abandoned your post at the northern pass to tell me that you commanded your Jintai to track the wraiths and the women who accompanied them into the east, on their way to Karsova to seek shelter from the rulers of the west. The cost was my most seasoned commander and good friend, Akemi. I want to find out what our sacrifice has purchased. I want to know what Akemi felt was worth her life.”

  Kisa looked uneasy. “Lianshi, if I did wrong, I beg you to punish me for my lack of judgment. Akemi’s sacrifice prevented a party of hundreds of trackers from hunting down and killing those women. She told me that you would want to find out what they knew. They are the women who were with the kings and Konigar of the west and north. They were with them against their will, traded between them for purposes of alliances between families in arranged marriages. Used for their sexual pleasure as brood-mares with the sole purpose of pleasure and reproduction.” Her horse danced with anxiety sensing the unease of its rider.

  A white horse appeared near the closest copse of trees, drawing the aim of half the Lianshi while the rest watched the rest of the area surrounding the Lianshi. The woman in a hooded cloak withdrew something from her belt and blew upon it emitting a cry much like that of an eagle.

  “Who is that?” the Lianshi asked. “One of yours, Kisa?”

  Kisa smiled. “She was one of Akemi’s. An aelfen ranger named Kara.” Wheeling her horse around and galloping forward to a halfway point, she motioned for the Jintai to lower their bows as the Jintai pulled up next to her.

  “How the hell did she get her horse though?” she said under her breath.

  “Is there a problem?” asked the Lianshi.

  “I don’t know,” Kisa said. “I do not know her as Akemi did, but she trusted her. Her horse was led down the north face by the Jintai to the Aelfen Woods. I don’t know how it is with her now.”

  “Interesting,” was all Allia said, but urged her horse forward at a canter.

  Kara waited as Kisa and the Lianshi approached. “Hail, Lianshi and Jintai.” She nodded in acknowledgment and said, “Kisa.”

  Kisa nodded in acknowledgment. “Kara. How did your horse find its way to you?”

  “Apple isn’t a regular horse,” replied Kara, stroking the neck of the horse. “She’s Dravenkin. She’s more than just a horse. We share a bond.”

  Allia smiled. “I’ve only heard of such creatures,” she said. Nodding her head to the horse she said, “Greetings, Apple. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Yours as well Kara of the aelfen.” Apple leaned forward with one leg outstretched in an elegant bow.

  Kara smiled. “I think she likes you. But look, I just came to find you and bring word. Your Jintai are not far away. Just to the east, heading south towards Karsova and seeking your protection. The Jintai have been trailing them on foot and are near exhaustion. They have been tracking the wraiths and the women you seek. I have ordered their horses brought through the aelfen woods with the Jintai who brought them down the northern slope into our woods as a courtesy, but the wraiths and the women with them have not slowed enough for us to tell them they are not being trailed by the hunters from the west. We know they heard the avalanche but we are also nearly certain they did not know what it meant.”

  “I thought your job was done once you guided them through the woods on the western side of the pass,” Kisa said. “Why are you continuing to help them?”

  “I’m actually helping you,” Kara said. “Because I saw what they did to Akemi.”

  “I was told that an axe found its way into her chest,” the Lianshi said. “That should not have been possible.”

  “Begging your pardon, Lianshi, but Jintai armor is warded against damage by normal weapons. This was the battle-axe of a Jurtan, probably forged deep in the mage forges of Arkenheim.” Kara replied.

  “You know the name of this Jurtan?” she asked.

  “Jurtan Torhig, the brother-in-law to the Vordoshan Konigar. The Konigar was the one the wraith tried to kill when attempting to save Georgina, who was his wife.”

  “It is unfortunate that she needed rescuing. You knew this Georgina?” she asked.

  “I have traveled with her handmaiden, Artemis. She attempted to save Akemi, so while I liked her before, she is now a valued friend. She had traveled with the others until they entered the pass and at great personal risk accompanied me to find the Jintai to request your protection. She has lived a soft life as a handmaiden but fought through exhaustion to keep up with the Jintai and never once complained. I think she blames herself for her failure to save Akemi. The attempt on the Konigar’s life was an accident. They were trying to save Georgina and bring her to safety. The wraiths that accompany them also have nowhere to go. They have been disavowed by the west after the attempt on the Konigar’s life. Their entire order has been disavowed even by Arkenheim, their traditional allies.”

  There was silence as the Lianshi absorbed what Kara related to her. She turned to Kisa. “Take all but five of my guards and get in front of the wraiths. Do not engage. Just hold them until the rest of the Jintai can catch up. I will accompany Kara to find the mounts and bring them to you.” Drawing a throwing knife from one of three slid into a leather bandolier across her chest, she handed it to Kisa. “I will know where to find you so long as you have this. Tell them nothing except that they are not being pursued and that the Lianshi has agreed to meet with them.”

  “Are they under your protection, Lianshi?” Kara asked.

  “They are for the time being, she said, but I do not want them told this yet. Is that understood? No harm is to befall them. You would defend them as you would defend me. Do not engage the wraiths unless they strike first.”

  Kisa nodded her head sharply in understanding and saluted with fist over her heart. The women she had indicated to accompany her wheeled their mounts and headed south and east to intercept the riders.

  Allia turned to Kara and said, “Would you and Apple guide us to the edge of the Aelfen Woods that we might recover our Jintai and the horses they brought through the woods?”

  Kara smiled. “There is the issue of the fee for our guides,” she said.

  Allia tried to suppress a smile. “Do you know what I like most about your kind?” she asked.

  Kara looked at her. “We always get paid?”

  Allia’s smile broadened. “Well, there is that,” she said and then urged her mount forward.

  Kara looked puzzled. “Wait. What do you like about us?” But the Lianshi had already moved to a gallop, heading north, her Jintai following. “A’tena save me from my own curiosity for one of these days it will get me killed,” she murmured under her breath. But Apple had heard her and nodded her head in agreement.

  Several days later after the Jintai had given the Lianshi plenty of time to ride ahead with her escort, the Jintai drew within sight of Karsova which had become something more than an encampment in the foothills of the southernmost range of mountains in the east, known to those living in their shadow as the Teeth. Neither could Karsova be called a city. Not yet. But to those who lived there, approaching Karsova was returning home. They were proud of what they had built. Part military fortifications, there was no denying that Karsova was well defended from cavalry, encirclement, siege, and ground assault. Backed against mountains too steep to climb, caves could be seen carved out of solid rock at various points above the city. It had taken the Jintai intervals to create what they called the maw. Dozens of places high enough above
the city to be out of reach of siege weapons carved out of the mountain where scorpions and teams of archers stood watch for a week at a time, sleeping on cots with supplies to last for a prolonged siege. Barrels of pitch and a small furnace to cook and stay warm were all part of Karsova’s defense. All up and down the hill were ditches dug into the hillside in scattered neat rows filled with great wooden stakes tipped with iron heads scattered to make cavalry charges up the hill impossible. There was a road, wide enough for a horse and cart, laid from the foot of the hill that led through the outer defenses, fields planted between them of barley and wheat.

  Kisa rode next to the wraith named Azar at the head of the column of women approaching Karsova. A lone Jintai on horseback rode towards them from the outpost at the base of the hill where the road leading up to the city began. The wooden outpost had a low stone wall and served as a temporary stable for arriving and departing messengers as well as the Jintai guarding the road leading up the hill. Kisa watched as the messenger approached and drew a little ways away from Azar, a fact not unnoticed by the wraith who called a halt to the procession while Kisa spoke to the messenger.

  “Kisa,” the messenger said with a closed fist across the chest. “The Lianshi requests that you circle the hill and take the western approach and allow the western women a chance to bathe before petitioning the Lianshi.”

  “Bathe before they petition her?” she asked, looking back at the women in the group. All looked emaciated, tired and in need of rest. “She does not wish to offer them hospitality and food first?” she asked.

  The Jintai shrugged. “Kisa, you know her as well as I do. She might feast them while they are bathing or she might bathe them so as not to dirty our spears when we kill them. Do not try to know the Lianshi’s mind. Just do as she commands.”