Chains of the Heretic

by Jeff Salyards

  I looked at Rudgi. “Well. The Deserters must not be overly concerned about the edict anymore.”

  She didn’t reply, but Vendurro asked, “What’s that? What edict?”

  I replied, “Rudgi and I asked Nustenzia if the Deserters could cross the Veil. We were worried about her following us. She told us she wasn’t sure if they could or not, but there was some edict or other that prevented them from even trying. Clearly they can.”

  The other scout, Junti, turned to Braylar. “They move fast, Cap. Even without horses. And don’t need rest like we do. It was hard to keep up, but we did.”

  Mulldoos said, “Let me plaguing guess. Grand Bitch Mother Vrulinka was with them?”

  Rudgi nodded. “Saw plenty of Wielders with her, but ayyup, the Matriarch was there all right, trailing dead flowers behind, flying her colors. This was her force.”

  “And?” Braylar asked, hand drifting down to Bloodsounder. “She headed to Graymoss?”

  “She did,” Rudgi replied, before taking another drink. “They surrounded the city. Folks inside must have thought the gods themselves were back, maybe even that they were the chosen ones. They sent an envoy out, to parley I imagine. But the Deserters, well—”

  Braylar said, “They didn’t come to this side after all this time to parley, did they?”

  “No,” Rudgi said. “They sure plaguing didn’t. Smote that poor bastard and then the Wielders set to work.”

  Vendurro asked, “What does that mean, ‘set to work’?”

  Rudgi capped the costrel with shaky fingers. “They built a dome around the city. Just like Roxtiniak.”

  “We thought they were just trapping folks inside, like a prison,” Junti said.

  Rudgi shook her head. “Only that wasn’t what they intended at all. We were fixing to ride back here, just about to kick up some dust, when I noticed something. The Veil dome they built, it was getting tighter, smaller, contracting like.”

  “Contracting?” Braylar said, fist closing around Bloodsounder’s haft.

  Rudgi looked at him and nodded once, quickly. “Aye. Contracting. We sat and watched, gods help us, we did. But there was nothing we could do.”

  “We thought,” Junti said, “hoped maybe, that they were just threatening Graymoss, making them surrender.”

  Braylar said, voice cold. “But they didn’t want surrender, did they?”

  “No,” Rudgi replied. “They didn’t plaguing want surrender. That dome just kept getting smaller, closing in on the people inside, passed the outer walls, kept on going, contracting.”

  Junti was staring at his feet, hands in his lap like a small child. “Even up on our hill, we heard that city screaming when the people in it realized what was happening. Never heard anything like it.”

  Rudgi said, “Those Wielders just kept tightening that dome down. Took two and a half days, the Wielders with their arms outstretched, never moving. The Veil just getting closer to everyone inside, herding the people further in until there was nowhere else for them to run and nobody left to scream.” Her voice broke. “Sorry, Cap. It’s just, they wiped them all out. Every last one. The whole plaguing city. We sat on the hill and watched it happen, to make sure we were reporting true.”

  Vendurro said, “Plague. Me. Graymoss must have had, what, sixty thousand people?”

  “More,” Mulldoos said, looking north. “Plaguing more.”

  No one said anything else for several moments until I blurted, “That’s what Nustenzia said. In the frame tower in the Citadel.”

  “When she said what, exactly?” Braylar asked, voice a rasp.

  “That we were doomed,” I said. “Right after she realized Soffjian had freed the Memoridons. A strong and united Syldoon Empire was probably the only thing keeping Vrulinka from crossing over. But now, with it broken, the possibility that Memoridons could lose control completely, that the Empire could fall into civil war with no powerful emperor to hold it together . . .”

  Braylar held his hand up. “That is quite enough. We deal with the here and now, and the very real problem before us.”

  “And how are we dealing with it, Cap?” Mulldoos asked.

  The captain turned to Rudgi. “You did good work. The both of you. I assume you stayed long enough to ascertain where the Deserters marched off to next?”

  Rudgi nodded. “Aye, Cap. Once the dome disappeared, they got moving again. The giant bastards are heading south. Towards Sunwrack.”

  He addressed Junti. “Dismissed, soldier. Get yourself some rest. We leave on the morrow.”

  Junti saluted and led his horse away. When he was out of earshot, Mulldoos asked again, “Leaving, huh? What are we doing, Cap? What do you got planned?”

  “We return,” Braylar said.

  Mulldoos rolled his lower jaw around. “Return? What do mean, plaguing return? Sunwrack? Your sister will have us hanging or husked before we get even ten yards into the city.”

  Braylar released the haft and plucked up one of the horned Deserter heads, examining it in his palm as he turned it over. “We will not enter Sunwrack. Not yet. But we have to alert the Memoridons, apprise them, prepare them. We know what is heading their way.”

  “You want to help the plaguing Memoridons? After what they done? Are you plaguing serious?!”

  Braylar stared at the ugly eyeless visage in his hands. “Arki is right—the only chance we have of stopping the Deserters is being united. Being an Empire. We have to help them. If the Memoridons aren’t prepared, the entire Empire could fall. Our Tower included. You do recall we have thousands of our brothers in Sunwrack, do you not?”

  “Of course I plaguing recall!” Mulldoos said, slurring the edges of a few words again. “But there’s got to be a better way. Get word to Darzaak and—”

  “And what? Hope he can convince the Memoridons of this danger, despite him being in lockdown and having no way of knowing what befell Graymoss?”

  Mulldoos slapped his thighs and stood up. “They’re plaguing witches! They have to know already. Graymoss had some Mems inside. Sure enough, someone sent message to your bitch sister and her ilk already.”

  “If they hadn’t been under siege by Deserters and Wielders, you would be right, of course. But are you willing to risk all of Sunwrack, perhaps the entire Empire, on the presumption that the Wielders couldn’t have intercepted any such messages and destroyed them, or that the Veil didn’t prevent them from being sent in the first place? I am not, Lieutenant. I am not.”

  Rudgi said, “We saw them do it to a biggish city, wipe out every living soul inside. But Sunwrack is nearly ten times the size. We don’t know they can manage that, Cap. And not from so far away. They’d have to be out of trebuchet range to manage it.”

  “And again, I ask, are you prepared to be responsible for the loss of two hundred thousand lives, and the fate of an Empire, if we gamble incorrectly? Because again I say, I am not.” Braylar dropped the Deserter head with a loud clink. “We will set up a meet with Soffjian and a few of the other key Memoridons outside the city. We will convince them the walls of Sunwrack provide no safe haven, as the Deserter siege isn’t concerned with gates or Trenches or trebuchets. The Syldoon and Memoridons must meet the enemy in the field and destroy them or be destroyed in turn.”

  Mulldoos shook his head. “She’ll never go for a meeting, Cap. She’ll assume it’s a trap and stay clear, or she’ll set a trap of her own and take us in. She won’t meet us in good faith. Never plaguing happen. She won’t do it.”

  “She will,” Braylar said. “I will compose the message myself, make the urgency crystal clear, and set the terms of the engagement.”

  “She just betrayed the whole plaguing Empire. You think a little note is going to keep her honest?”

  The captain took three slow strides over to Mulldoos, who got up off the fountain and stood up to meet him. Braylar said, “You overstep, Lieutenant. Perhaps I confused things by inviting input right after Sunwrack. But I am not doing so now. This is not a discussion. We are me
eting my sister and impressing upon them the immense danger heading for them so that the Empire can stand united against it. That is all.”

  Mulldoos seemed to be biting back a number of rebuttals and further objections, as his pale face had gone crimson and his teeth were clenched. But whether he suddenly remembered Azmorgon or simply realized the captain was not about to be swayed by any more arguments, he nodded once. “Aye, Cap. Meeting the plaguing witches. Saving the plaguing Empire from giants and bigger witches. Got it.”

  Vendurro said, “Where, Cap? Where are we meeting her?”

  Braylar spun around and said, “The abandoned mine outside Sunwrack— we are all too familiar with it. We will arrive there first, have sentries in position to alert us if it appears the Memoridons have any foul intentions.” He looked at me. “Arki—bring me your pen and ink. I am no great supporter of the epistolary arts, but I have a very pressing missive to write just now. Attend me.”

  The captain said, “The rest of you, prepare yourselves and say goodbye to this charming villa—we leave at dawn.”

  We rode as hard as we could to the abandoned mine without blowing the horses. Part of this was likely due to the Syldoon affinity and affection for the animals, but undoubtedly it was utilitarian as well—a crossbow cavalry member without his or her horse just wasn’t going to be as useful.

  The first day, scouts reported a fairly sizable force camped ahead, suspected to be Eagles, though they certainly weren’t flying any colors. So we added some time to ride well clear of them, and that only seemed to incense the captain to spur us on more. Other than that, we didn’t encounter anyone else besides some civilian travelers on the road heading in the opposite direction, but they moved aside and kept their heads down as we rode past.

  When we were two days out, Braylar gave his letter to a Jackal and sent him galloping towards Sunwrack. Mulldoos shook his head, looked over his shoulder to be sure the rest of the troops were out of earshot, and said, “Cap, I know you’re set on this. I still think it’s a fool plan, but you’re the captain, and so there it is. But as much as you like to lead from the front—and you know I plaguing respect the hells out of that—you really ought to stay clear on this one. Me and Ven, we can handle the meet. If your bitch sister has any other nasty surprises, it’ll spring on us, not you. And if not, we can deliver any news after. Stay clear, Cap.”

  Braylar patted Scorn’s neck as he said, “If I am not there, Soff will assume it is us setting the trap. That will never do.”

  “Maybe you come down out of the hills if I give a signal,” Mulldoos said. “Thumaar liked to lead from the front too, and look where that plaguing got him. That’s all I’m saying.”

  Braylar sat straight in the saddle again, rolled his shoulders back. “As much as I trust you in most things, Lieutenant, being my proxy in this matter simply isn’t one of them. If this plays out as planned, there will be several Memoridons in attendance. And accurate or not, when they are called bitches, witches, and cunts, it does tend to make them far less amenable.” Mulldoos started to say something else, and Braylar continued as he rattled Bloodsounder’s chains, “And what’s more, I am the only one protected from them. I have to be there, and there’s an end to it, Lieutenant.”

  Mulldoos spit into the brittle grass. “Aye, figured you’d say as much. Just had to try.”

  “You wouldn’t be you if you hadn’t. Let’s ride.”

  And so we did, making excellent if exhausting time.

  The camp was in the same condition we left it, the same rusted tools strewn around the same gaping hole in the ground exactly. It wasn’t full dark as the captain led our small company into the area, but the moon was already up, its ever-present ring bright and shiny, as if it had been recently polished. I tried to pretend that portended good things, but just couldn’t muster the optimism.

  Still, I assumed the Deserter army marching through the Syldoon Empire just now couldn’t see it—the crowned moon, the sun, the stars, probably even the clouds were all visual pleasures only humans could appreciate. No matter what wars we fought, what hatreds we harbored, what vendettas we nurtured, humanity all existed under a single sky that was ours alone. No matter how powerful they were, the Deserters could not claim it.

  As I climbed off my horse, muscles weary, eyes heavy, and started uncinching the saddle, I tried telling myself again the shiny ringed moon was in fact a good portent and nearly believed it that time. Perhaps we could be united under it, at least long enough to drive the invaders back.

  Perhaps.

  Two days later, Rudgi rode back into camp and reported a small party approaching from Sunwrack. Braylar addressed his company. “Vacate the mine. Head up into the hills. Eighty yards or so, yes? And stay visible. Keep your crossbows spanned and within reach, but do not present them or otherwise arm yourselves.

  “This is not an ambush. Let me repeat that, for those prone to hearing what they want—today is not the day we lure these Memoridons into a trap. Whatever grievances we have with them—and we clearly have massive ones just now—we set them aside for today. And all the days to follow until we have either dispatched the Deserters or died in the attempt. But we can only do so if Syldoon and Memoridons fight together. That is the purpose of this meeting. If any man or woman sours it with an untowards action, I will personally visit my wrath upon them. Is that understood?”

  The Jackals all replied in the affirmative, but one freckled soldier near the front asked, “And what if the Mems betray us? Again, I mean. What if they try anything?”

  Braylar twitch-smiled and replied, “Then, soldier, I expect you will be shooting your crossbows until your quivers are empty. But do not come storming down the hill. Do not engage. There will be several War Memoridons here, and if you attempt to close, they will utterly destroy you. Is that understood?”

  There were more “Ayes,” and then the captain ordered them to mount up and maintain their positions.

  Braylar’s retinue remained behind. He looked at me and said, “Arki, I suspect I know what you will say, but I would be remiss as your patron if I didn’t tell you that your presence here is not required. Mulldoos could very well be right—this parley could easily end with all of us in chains or in tombs.”

  I made sure I wasn’t slouching as I said, “As tempting as it would be to ride off, I think I will stay right here just the same, Captain. At least there are no aqueducts or catacombs.”

  “As you will,” he replied, the smile on his lips a ghost, but at least not disappearing quickly.

  I saw his officers looking at me as well with what I thought and hoped might be respect. That was at least some sort of balm for my undeniable foolishness.

  When Mulldoos opened his mouth, though, I expected him to gut my small moment of satisfaction. Instead, he closed it again, clapped me on the back, and then moved aside to speak quietly with Vendurro. Bruznik had gone into the hills with the other Jackals. The captain was running his hand down Bloodsounder, eyes closed, perhaps waiting for the tremors of memories to come that foretold violence here.

  That left Rudgi, who was still looking at me. As usual, she didn’t dawdle coming to her point. “I’m not one to regret laying with a man, or riding him, or however it plays itself out. I make my choices, live with them too. But sometimes, I feel better about it than others. This is one of those. You have more grit than any non-Syldoon I can recall meeting, Arki.” She grinned, her top lip disappearing. “That sounds like mixed praise, I know, but I mean it in the best way. The lieutenant is right on that score.”

  With my limited experience, I barely knew how to handle any compliment from a woman, let alone one couched in such terms. I nodded a few times, stalling for the right words to come, when I saw a group of horsemen ride up to the rim of the mine. Horsewomen, more than half of them, anyway. There were five Memoridons, including Soffjian, the Focus Nustenzia, and three Syldoon. I shaded my eyes and squinted before I realized they were now-deposed emperor Cynead, Command Darzaak, and what I assu
med was another Tower Commander.

  Mulldoos said, “Plague me, but you drew them out, Cap. Kind of wishing this was an ambush right about now.”

  “It still very much could be if we mishandle the situation,” Braylar replied, watching the riders dismount and start walking their horses down the incline. “While I ordinarily admire your independent bent, I’m going to insist you don’t speak unless I clear you to do so. Understood?”

  Maybe watching Azmorgon orchestrate a mutiny had changed the lieutenant slightly, or maybe Braylar simply caught him in a rare acquiescent mood, but rather than offer an immediate or abrasive rebuttal, Mulldoos simply said, “Aye, Cap.”

  Next to me, Vendurro leaned in and said, “Something about our lives hanging in the balance always makes me real hungry. Even before my manumission—when I really got hung—my stomach was growling like a bear beforehand. You get like that?”

  I shook my head. “Right now, I sort of want to throw up. So I’m glad my stomach is pretty empty.”

  He watched the Memoridons and Jackals approach, put his hand on the pommel of his sword, caught himself, and removed it quickly, fiddling with his belt instead. “Not easy, being hungry all the time.”

  I couldn’t argue with that.

  The group was about thirty yards away, and I had to resist the urge to look over my shoulder and up the hill at the Jackals watching as well.

  While Cynead had been stripped of the crown, the Memoridons still allowed him some of his pomp, even if he had been demoted back to Tower Commander of the Leopards again. He wore a dual-colored cotehardie, black on one side, gold on the other, and the plaque belt had leopard heads only now, no suns, but was no less impressive and gaudy. He still bore a scabbarded sword, which surprised me, as did the gnarled Commander Darzaak, looking much more plain in his simple gray tunic.