The Sword

by Bryan M. Litfin

  “The magistrates!” The High Priestess’s tone was contemptuous. She approached Piair and stood very close to him, as if she wanted to speak confidentially. The effect of her physical nearness excited him, making him breathless and jittery. “Is this the kind of king you intend to be?” she whispered in his ear.

  “W-what do you mean?” Piair kicked himself. He knew his voice had trembled.

  “Your father didn’t rule like this. He didn’t let bureaucrats and sycophants determine his decisions. He did what had to be done. So I ask you, Piair: will you be a smaller man than he? Or will you—”

  “Will I what?”

  The High Priestess stared hard at Piair. Her eyes were painted black, and their green depths mesmerized him. “Or will you be as potent as I found your father to be?”

  The suggestion of inadequacy bruised Piair’s ego. He lifted his chin. “I am my father’s equal.”

  “Excellent!” The High Priestess whirled away from him. “Then you must do what needs to be done! The blood of your father and sister cries out for retribution. It is your duty to avenge them.” She walked to the side of Habiloho’s casket, bowing her head for a long moment. “I mourn for her,” she said quietly.

  Piair felt a lump gather in his throat. “Me, too.”

  “She should not have died. The followers of Deu are to blame. Astrebril isn’t one to be trifled with.”

  Lewth shifted nervously. “Uh . . . if I may . . . is that the only possible explanation?”

  The High Priestess glared at him. “You dare to question my judgment?”

  “No, Your Eminence. I only suggest we consider the matter from all angles.”

  “Your ‘angles’ do not concern me. Beware lest I consider you a follower of Deu.” Lewth didn’t respond. The High Priestess turned toward the king. “Your Majesty, assume the mantle of your father’s rule. Avenge his death and that of your beloved sister. There is no greater threat to the security of Chiveis than the ancient superstition that has reared its head. You must eradicate it. Your people need you. Proclaim the edict!”

  “But what about the magistrates?”

  “I will take care of the magistrates.”

  Piair turned toward his tutor. “Brother Lewth, do you concur?”

  The High Priestess crossed her arms over her chest. “Consider your response, monk. It will have many repercussions.”

  Lewth seemed uncertain. He started to speak, then stopped. At last he nodded, his eyes closed.

  “It’s decided then.” Piair’s voice was firm. “Send for the scribe.”

  Ana awoke to the sound of a man snoring. At first it seemed strange, but then she smiled, recognizing that heavy snore. She was glad to hear its rumble again, as she so often had back in Edgeton. She sat up in her cot and nudged her father with her toe as he slept on the floor. He shifted, and the snoring stopped.

  Her arrival last night at the cabin on Obirhorn Lake had marked a jubilant reunion with her parents. Stratetix and Helena rejoiced to see their daughter again, though the news of the failure at the duel had stunned them. Now a pervading sense of unease tempered everyone’s joy. The future was uncertain. But at least they were together.

  On the other side of the cabin, Teo slept quietly in his bedroll. Ana knew from their days in the Beyond that he never snored. A memory flashed into her mind: One night, she and Teo were awakened by a wolf’s distant howl. The hour was late, and the campfire had burned low. Lying in their bedrolls, they had talked for a long time across the glow of the embers. She could still picture his face as the orange light flickered on his strong jaw. He had revealed some things about his upbringing in the orphanage that had made Ana sad. In the morning, however, nothing more had been said about it.

  “Can’t sleep?”

  Ana glanced over at her mother in the second cot. “No, I guess not. Father woke me up.”

  Helena gave Ana a knowing smile. “Tell me about it. He’s been doing it to me for years. Some men are just heavy breathers.”

  “I’m glad Teo’s not like that.” Ana felt sudden heat rush to her face. “I mean . . . you know . . . in this little room . . .”

  “It’s okay. I know what you meant.”

  Ana let it go, grateful her mother didn’t press the issue. She sat up and leaned on one elbow. “I’m so glad to see you again, Mother. I missed you terribly.”

  “We missed you too, love.” Helena sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples with her fingers. “Somehow this all has to end.”

  “It will, very soon. Chiveis will turn to Deu.”

  “That’s what we thought about the duel. But Deu didn’t reveal his power.”

  “The people were deceived by tricks! Once they get a chance to hear the truth in a better setting, things will be different.”

  Teo sat up in his bedroll, lifting his hand for silence. “Shh! Quiet! Someone’s coming!” He slipped from the blankets and darted to the window. For a long time he stared out, motionless.

  “Are we in danger?” Stratetix was awake now too.

  Teo turned back from the window. “No, it’s fine. It’s Lewth.”

  While Stratetix and Teo stepped into the morning sunshine to greet the monk, Ana dressed for the day. What will it hold for me? She didn’t know, but she prayed for the strength to face whatever it was.

  When the men entered the cabin, the look on Stratetix’s face was grim. “Lewth says he has some bad news. Give it to us plainly, brother, and let’s see what can be done about it.”

  Lewth frowned. “I’m afraid things have taken an evil turn, my friends. As you know, the king is dead. Now the crown prince has taken his place. Last night the High Priestess convinced him to issue an edict. All followers of Deu are to be executed by the Royal Guard unless they recant!”

  The cabin was silent. No one knew what to say. Ana’s mouth hung open as she tried to fathom the implications of this new development.

  “That’s illegal!” Stratetix stamped his foot. “The king can’t do that!”

  “He believes he can. I was in the room when it was decided. The decree is going out to the realm today.”

  “What about the courts?” Teo asked. “The magistrates may resist it.”

  “They won’t. The High Priestess controls them.”

  Teo nodded in frustration at Lewth’s reply.

  Helena went to Stratetix’s side and slipped her arm around his waist. He looked at her, and the married couple communicated something with their eyes. She nodded almost imperceptibly, and he nodded back. Stratetix stepped forward and took Ana’s hand. His eyes were tender as he looked at her.

  “Little Sweet, I have some hard words to speak with you.”

  Ana’s heart started pounding. What will he say? She steeled herself. “Yes, Father. I’m listening.”

  Stratetix glanced at Helena, then turned back to Ana with a sigh. “Your mother and I feared this day would come, and now it has. Anastasia, we’re asking you to bury your love for Deu. Certainly you can love him in your heart. But outwardly—publicly—we must all deny him.”

  Ana staggered backward, so horrified at what her father was suggesting that her knees buckled. It was all she could do to remain standing.

  No! Father! Mother! No!

  Her mind reeled. Deny Deu? How could her parents suggest such a thing?

  Lewth leaned toward her, stretching out his hand. “Anastasia, listen to your parents! There’s no shame in it. We’ve been backed into a corner. We have no other choice!”

  “He’s right,” Stratetix insisted. “You must do it. It’s the only way to survive.”

  “Father, you can’t ask me to deny the true God!”

  Stratetix lunged toward Ana, taking her by the shoulders with an intense grip. His face was riven with anguish. “I can ask it! I do ask it! Listen to me, Ana! I lost you once in the Beyond, and you came back to me! Then I searched for you in the ashes of my own house and gave up hope, but you were found! I can’t go through that again! Do you understand the depth
of my agony? Do you know how much grief I endured? My little Ana!” He shook her, weeping as he spoke. “How well I remember the day you were born. All my memories are bound to you—my daughter, my only child! Yes, you, Ana! I bounced you on my knee and made you giggle. I taught your slender arms to draw a bow. How many times have I kissed your forehead while you slept? Do you even know I kissed your cheek last night and prayed for your safety? If you could see into my heart, you’d see how much I love you! Oh, Little Sweet, I know you love Deu! I love him too! But don’t you also love your father? Don’t you love me, Ana?” He stared at her as he held her shoulders.

  “Yes, Father, of course I love you!” She had never seen him like this, and the weight of his distress bore down on her until it was more than she could bear. She hugged him tightly, the only man to whom she had ever given her heart.

  Oh, Deu! What am I supposed to do?

  Ana let go of her father. She gazed into his face. His beard was wet with tears. How can I make him understand? She spotted a water jug on the table and took it into her hand. “Father, do you see this? You couldn’t call it a rock or a tree or an anvil, could you? No, because that’s not what it is.”

  Stratetix looked at her uncertainly. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying you have to call things what they are. Pretending doesn’t change it. This is a jug. And likewise, I’m a follower of Deu. It’s who I am and who I’ll always be. I won’t deny him, no matter what.” She backed away, feeling more alone than she ever had.

  “Ana, haven’t you heard anything your father has been telling you?” Helena’s desperation had made her angry. “He’s trying to save your life!”

  Ana looked from her mother’s face to her father’s. I can’t take them both on, not both! She kept backing up until she felt something solid behind her. It was Teo.

  He spoke with a calm voice. “You may think you’re trying to save her life, but you’re not. In attempting to protect her, you would destroy the essence of who she is. Who is Anastasia if not a woman more righteous and courageous than any other? What you’re asking of her would be a death of another kind. Ana would cease to be the person you love so much.”

  “The person we love?” Stratetix shot back. “What about you, Captain? What’s in this for you?”

  “Father!”

  Teo remained silent.

  Down in the valley, a bugle sounded.

  Everyone in the cabin exchanged glances, and then Teo bolted outside. Ana followed in time to see him mount Lewth’s horse and gallop over a nearby rise. She hurried to the rim of the grassy depression around Obirhorn Lake. Already distant now, Teo raced across the meadow. He reined up at a vantage point overlooking the Maiden’s Valley. For a long time he stood in the stirrups. Suddenly he wheeled his horse and came galloping back.

  “What is it? What did you see?”

  “An army’s coming. We’ve been found.”

  Ana gasped, and Helena collapsed into Stratetix’s arms. Lewth hung his head, shaking it back and forth.

  Stratetix looked at Teo. “Can we get around them? Perhaps there’s another trail out of the valley?”

  “There are several, but they all lead toward those troops. The summits encircle us like a wall. Obirhorn Lake is a dead end. The guardsmen know all the approaches. They’ll move up here and slowly tighten the noose. We can’t get past them.”

  “Well, there you have it,” Stratetix said. “We’ve all heard about the king’s edict. We know what awaits us unless we deny Deu. Today is my fortieth day in exile at this cursed lake. No more! It ends right now. It’s time to swallow a bitter pill and bend to the High Priestess’s wishes. Then we can go back to life as normal.”

  Helena raised her head from Stratetix’s shoulder. “In our hearts we’ll still love Deu. He’ll understand our weakness and forgive us.”

  “I have no doubt of that,” Ana said. “Deu is that kind of God. But as for me, I can’t deny him.”

  “So you’d rather die?” Stratetix asked bitterly.

  “It hasn’t come to that yet! The edict is just a piece of parchment. Deu is stronger than it! Let’s wait and see what happens. Perhaps the king will change his mind when we show him the letter from Princess Habiloho. If we proclaim the truth to the army and the people, Chiveis can still turn to Deu. We must have faith!”

  Teo shook his head. “I don’t think that’s what would happen. I know how the Royal Guard carries out orders. Before we could get anywhere near the king or the people, we’d be asked to deny Deu. Our faith would only lead to instant death.”

  Ana didn’t know how to respond. She looked at Teo as he sat in the saddle. “Is this the end then? Is this how it’s going to turn out for us, Teo?” She implored him with her eyes, needing his strength as her world came crashing down. He dismounted and came to her, laying his hands gently on her shoulders. She looked up at him, waiting for him to speak.

  “Ana?” His voice was gentle. “I know of one more place we could hide until we find a solution. I’ll take you there. Trust me.”

  The dark clouds on the horizon suited the High Priestess’s purposes. The day had already been declared a feast day to Astrebril. All work was prohibited, and now the rain would drive the citizens of the realm indoors. It was just what she wanted. Astrebril’s victory in Chiveis would be sealed by the pleasures of the flesh.

  The High Priestess lounged on an upholstered divan in her private rooms at the Capital Temple of Astrebril. Unlike her temple in the mountains where she manufactured her secret powder, the Capital Temple at the Citadel was open to the public. As a monumental building, its scale was enormous, though its architecture departed from the norm. Because the Citadel was built into the hillside to guard the fortified wall, the Capital Temple had to be constructed in tiers. Its lower levels were open to everyone, while the middle ones were reserved for the highborn. Only the eunuch priests were allowed on the uppermost levels, for the purpose of carrying out the rituals on which the god’s favor depended. At the very top, a pointed spire jutted into the sky—the unifying feature of all Astrebrilian temples.

  “What’s taking the old fool so long?” The High Priestess drummed her fingers on the divan as she awaited word from the Warlord about the fugitives, who had fled to the upper reaches of the Maiden’s Valley. It was a wild and remote region. They probably wouldn’t have been found there without Astrebril’s intervention. By the god’s will, a peasant herder had mentioned it to a guardsman in a village tavern.

  At last the doorkeeper knocked, and the Warlord was ushered in. The High Priestess didn’t bother to greet her guest. “Well? What news?”

  “I’ve just received a report from my commander in the field. The news is mixed. But all in all you should be pleased.”

  “Spit it out, soldier.” The High Priestess was in no mood for ambiguity.

  “My men canvassed the valley and closed in on the region of Obirhorn Lake. No one got past us, we are certain of that. Three people were captured—the girl’s parents and an Astrebrilian monk.”

  “Did they deny the Enemy?”

  “They did.”

  The High Priestess narrowed her eyes as a satisfied smile crept to her lips. It always pleased her when a soul was won for the name of Astrebril. “I’m glad to hear it. Let them serve as an example to their fellow citizens not to dabble in ancient superstitions. What about Captain Teofil and Anastasia?”

  “We did not apprehend them.”

  The High Priestess exploded. She swept a flower vase from an end table, then kicked the table across the room. “What are you trying to tell me? I thought you said no one got past your troops!”

  The Warlord remained impassive as he stood at attention. “The fugitives did not get past my troops, Your Eminence. Captain Teofil and Anastasia fled onto the glacier. It’s a wasteland up there. Harsh temperatures, no shelter, nothing to eat. There’s no fuel, so they can’t cook or even melt ice for drinking. Perhaps you’ve noticed the storm rolling in. They simply cannot surviv
e at that altitude. It was a desperate gamble on their part, but it will no doubt cost them their lives.”

  The rage simmering in the High Priestess’s soul cooled somewhat at this news. She paced the elegantly appointed room, considering the possibilities. “Suicide, hmm? Perhaps we can use that. As I think about it, it’s much better than some heroic martyrdom on their part. Instead they’ll die like cowards, fleeing in terror.” She tapped her finger on her chin. “Yes, that’s it. Chiveis has spewed them out, unwanted in our land.”

  The Warlord cared more about facts than symbolism. “I’ve posted a contingent of guardsmen in the area. If the fugitives try to climb down, they’ll be caught. All paths out of the valley are being watched day and night. If they don’t descend soon, we can be certain they’re dead. It’s impossible to subsist for long on a glacier.”

  The High Priestess pointed her finger at the Warlord and drilled him with an intense stare. “If they are captured, I want them put to the question at once. They will curse their god on the spot or be run through with a sword. Is that clear?”

  “Your orders will be carried out exactly, just as the king has commanded.”

  The High Priestess smiled coyly. “Remember, General, our teenaged king will not be pleased if I am not pleased.” She waved the Warlord away with the back of her hand. “You’re dismissed to your duties. Keep me apprised of any developments.” He nodded, spun on his heels in good military fashion, and walked out with his back straight.

  The High Priestess smiled as she watched him go. With the heretics now eliminated, she was ready to initiate the next phase of her plan. She summoned the doorkeeper and called for her personal transport. Four eunuchs appeared, carrying the sumptuous litter, and the High Priestess slid inside. “Take me to the assembly hall,” she ordered.

  All the girls were gathered by the time the High Priestess arrived. They milled around the hall, chatting idly as they awaited the big announcement they had been told to expect. Some of them were high-class courtesans, while others were common harlots, but they all had one thing in common: each wore an iron collar around her neck, for every priestess of Astrebril was also a temple prostitute.