by C. R. Daems
"I'm no seer. What we know is that he is ruthless, overly quick to act, and thinks in terms of force. Therefore, Chief Bolaha is correct. He will try to consolidate the other dukes and barons using bribes and threats where necessary." I paused, thinking back to Inari and his actions. "He will show for the Royal Testing. He is arrogant enough to believe he will be selected, but he will have a backup plan when that doesn't work."
"Doesn't work? Do you know something about the Royal Testing we don't?" Sandar asked before Tebos could.
I knew nothing but…"I've never attended a Royal Testing, but if the Royal Scepter is real—"
"Of course it's real!" Baron Dilcher frowned. "It's always selected the best duke."
"If it's real, then I assume it will select the best man or woman of those being tested. Since Wenrich has no honor, he would not make a good king." That seemed obvious.
Negozi laughed while the rest stood silent with mouths open or head movements indicating doubt; only qi'Senka nodded agreement.
"You are very refreshing, qi'Nisha. In our thirst, we look across the sands and see mirages. You look and see only sand. Perhaps an ancient Qi'advisor resides in the Royal Scepter and, like you, can see each of us for what we are."
* * *
Negozi toured the city every day with Baron Dilcher and tu'Boffov. He invited Tebos and me along. Tebos was uncertain.
"Do you think we should go, Nisha?"
"Yes. Hala survives by his succor; therefore, it's important he gets to know you and you him." Each day we visited a different place. Negozi seemed to be interested in everything and even spent time talking to people.
"What do you think he's doing?" Tebos asked.
"Trying to understand the people: nobility, troopers, tradesmen, and commoners. They will be neighbors or enemies."
"My God, we're showing him our strengths and weaknesses."
"Yes. That's why I believe Rhybac cannot survive against him and the tribes. We must join him in a new Rhybac or perish." I was as interested as Negozi in visiting tradesmen and seeing people's daily lives. Reading about something incorporated the writer's bias, whereas seeing provided a clearer understanding, unless you tried to generalize.
Sobek was the home of the high priest of the Watcher Religion, the main religion of Rhybac. He trained new priests, guarded the Watcher's Scrolls and Royal Scepter, and conducted the testing for a new king.
Each city and town had a church or cathedral depending upon the size of the population. The Watcher Cathedral at Sobek was the largest and could be seen from anyplace in the city and for leagues outside. It made for a magnificent sight with its while marble glistening in the sunlight. Two six-story buttresses supported two-story pinnacles, which flanked the entrance to the building.
As we climbed the polished steps to the entrance, tu'Boffov talked about the history of the religion.
"The great prophet Merritt had been gifted with the original Scrolls, which set down the Watcher's rules of life. These are called the Old Scrolls. The New Scrolls are the clarifications that have been made by the high priests over the years." She stopped as we entered the cathedral. Hi'Samula stood just inside, holding a long staff made from redwood. Today, he dressed in his formal robe, which hung to his ankles. The white robe had red trim on the hem and the ends of the sleeves and a hand-sized red eye embroidered on the chest.
He stood at the beginning of the central aisle that ran over a hundred steps to the back and was separated from the side aisles by a series of arches supported on columns. Rib vaults supported a four-story domed roof. He looked impressive standing there backlit by the Sanctuary and its five stained-glass windows set in the walls at the end of the main aisle.
"This is a place of worship, not a place for heathens to occupy and visit for their amusement." His face was flushed and twisted. He banged his staff once for emphasis, and it echoed throughout the structure. Negozi appeared to take no offense.
"The warriors are here to protect the Royal Scepter and keep it from being stolen...again." His eyes sparkled. "I would think your Watcher would want visitors. How else is he to gain new followers? Please continue, tu'Boffov. I'm an interested visitor."
When hi'Samula didn't respond, she continued.
"The Sanctuary at the end of the main aisle holds the Royal Scepter. The small altar inside the aisle on the right holds the Watcher's original scrolls and the one on the left the New Scrolls." She walked over to each aisle and pointed to the altar as she talked. "The Watcher also gave the Prophet Merritt the Royal Scepter. It has been used ever since to select the next king."
"You defile the testing by insisting other than dukes can participate. It was meant to select the most worthy duke to be king. No one else is eligible." Hi'Samula banged his staff again as if that settled the argument.
"What do you think, qi'Nisha?" Negozi turned toward me. He seemed amused by hi'Samula.
"What does she know? She's godless!" Hi'Samula's normally pale face had turned scarlet.
"I'm not asking her to speak for the Watcher. But I would like her...observations."
"I have read the New and Old Scrolls at the Qi'temple as part of my education about Rhybac and its customs." I paused to consider what I had read and what I had seen since I left the Qi'temple—knowledge versus experience. "The original testing included three dukes. Since then, tradition has limited the testing to the dukes of Rhybac before a baron was selected to replace the duke who became king. I believe the dukes have maintained the tradition to ensure one of them is selected. The Old Scrolls do not stipulate the rules for the testing. Only the New Scrolls define the rules."
"The New Scrolls are the words of the Watcher passed to the high priests to clarify the Watcher's wishes." Hi'Samula's face muscles stiffened.
"I understand, qi'Nisha. It is the same in the Sands. Those in power set the rules." Negozi continued down the aisle to the Sanctuary and stood admiring the Royal Scepter. The ten warriors guarding the scepter went down on one knee when he approached. He waved them up. "What do you think, Ayria?"
"The great God in the sun gives us life. He sends the moon to watch us at night and the hawks to watch during the day. Perhaps, like we all have two arms and legs and a head, the great God watches over all of us."
"Blasphemy! The Watcher will purge the land of you!" Hi'Samula turned and stomped away, disappearing through a side door.
"I'm a fortunate man to have the council of two wise women."
* * *
As we waited for the Royal Testing, we were invited to have our evening meal with Negozi and his war chiefs. Tebos and Sandar had become committed to supporting the tribes and resolved to the realization that the Royal Testing might not select either of them. But they now realized it didn't matter. Their only viable future lay with the tribes. The evening meal provided the dukes with up-to-date information. The first sighting occurred three days from the Royal Testing date.
Idowu, chief of the Topoke, reported that over a hand plus four war-bands—nine hundred—mounted troops had come through the Sobek Pass and were taking up positions just to the west of the Ajax River and a short run—four leagues—west of Sobek. His three hands of warrior-bands were positioned east of the Ajax River and only a short run north of Sobek. Two hands of riders were continuing on toward Sobek. He reported their colors: green and gold."
"Zeno troops. The king's forces. I wonder if Wenrich is leading them," Sandar said.
"He's arrogant but not stupid," qi'Senka replied.
I found it interesting that Wenrich thought no one would be watching the Sobek Pass and he could position troops there without being noticed—typical Wenrich, thinking the tribes stupid and weak.
The next day, Masozi, chief of the Omyeka, reported a hand plus one war-bands of mounted troops had moved out of Taal toward Sobek. The main group made camp a half day's run short of the city, and two hands of riders were continuing on. His warriors, two hands of war-bands strong, were only a short run behind the main group.
&
nbsp; "As you predicted…observed. Wenrich plans to attend the testing along with his allies but has a contingency plan if the results aren't to his liking." Negozi took a sip of tea he had discovered on one of his trips to the city and liked. "You were right. He is too quick to act, thinks in terms of force, and has no honor."
Later that same day, Shani, chief of the Tuare, reported that close to four hands of mounted war-bands had crossed the Iduma River and made camp a half-day's run short of Sobek. They had passed the Tuare's three hands of warrior-bands within a short walk without noticing them. Their colors were red and white and blue and white. Four hands of riders continued on toward Sobek.
"White and red are Eolus. White and blue is Castor," Tebos said. "The fool Wenrich has committed nearly all of Rhybac's military force."
"But are they all loyal to Wenrich or are they under force?" Negozi had left a thousand of his Songye tribe near Akan, guarding the women and children. He had brought the remaining two thousand. With Chief Bolaha's two thousand Tendal, his combined force at Sobek with Sandar and Tebos's troops totaled well over six thousand.
* * *
The dukes and barons arrived with their details and set up camp just outside the city. I suspected they feared being trapped in the city in case they needed to join their forces quickly. As usual, Duke Wenrich was last to arrive, waiting until the day before the Royal Testing. The other Rhybac details remained cloistered, making no attempt to seek out Tebos, Sandar, or Negozi.
The next morning at sunrise, the eligible parties began arriving at the cathedral. Again Wenrich was last to arrive. When he did, he spent a few minutes huddled with hi'Samula before joining the group.
"Well, Tebos, Sandar, do you really think the Royal Scepter is going to select a traitor? And you will still be traitors after the king is selected," Wenrich said, looking around the gathered group, his eyes coming to rest on Negozi. "Negozi, are you willing to abide by the decision of the Royal Scepter?"
"Yes. If I were not, I would be at war with you. If I had no honor, I would have killed the hand plus four war-bands...nine hundred troops you have positioned beyond the Sobek Pass, the...six hundred east of my main group, and the...two thousand you have waiting along the Stas Mountains. The question is, are you willing to abide by the Royal Scepter, or do you and your allies insist on war?" He looked around the room before continuing. "If there is war, you must choose. No one can be neutral."
The reaction was close to chaos as the assembled Rhybac nobility realized Negozi knew their exact numbers and positions.
Wenrich paled and glared at me. "You bitch, I'll see you pay for this and the Qi'temple is burned to the ground."
Ignoring his threats, I walked into the center of the circle and looked at each one. "Dukes, barons, war chiefs, think carefully before we begin. You have chosen or been coerced into following a fool. He was a fool at Inari, wanting to rush off and kill the barbarians. He lost only fourteen hundred men because qi'Senka and I stopped him. Now he wishes to destroy Rhybac to be king. He has led you here again to destroy the barbarians. This time you will lose thousands and Rhybac. Dukes Tebos and Sandar will tell you Negozi has acted honorably and will keep his word to abide by the Royal Scepter. Wenrich will not unless it selects him, which it won't."
"How do you know that?" Duke Janko asked, his lips in a sneer.
"Do you think the Royal Scepter will select someone with no honor?" I held up my hand. "He tried to kill Duke Sandar at Inari so the vote would make him king. He sent his sergeant to rape me to enrage Duke Sandar, again so he could kill him and his son. And you know he is planning an ambush on the tribes. That is why he has you positioned to attack from three sides. Choose now. There will be no time later when the war begins."
"Enough!" Hi'Samula banged the Royal Scepter on the floor three times. "Let us begin the testing." He walked into the center of a large gilded circle inscribed into the cathedral floor and pointed to it. Everyone walked to the outside of the circle and stood. Hi'Samula stood looking around the circle before speaking.
"I'll hand the Royal Scepter to someone. He or she will hold it for the count of ten then pass it to the person on their right until everyone has held it. Then we will begin again. We will continue to pass it from person to person until the crown on the Royal Scepter blazes with light. The person holding the Royal Scepter when that happens is the next king. Understood?"
"Hi'Samula, Witch Ayria from the Sands, qi'Senka, and I wish to examine the Royal Scepter before you begin."
"Why?"
"To assure everyone here that the Royal Scepter cannot be manipulated."
"How dare you! The Watcher will tell me who he wants as the next king, and I will light the crown...with his help."
"Then why would you object if we examine it? Surely the Watcher is not intimidated by us mortals."
I waved Ayria and qi'Senka into the circle. "Hi'Samula, please let it go and step back."
"It will fall, fool woman."
"Then let it fall." I projected my Qi toward the Royal Scepter. Hi'Samula sneered and let go, stumbling backward in surprise when it remained upward. I heard several gasps from the group. I began drawing energy from around me and pushing it into the Scepter. As I did, Ayria and qi'Senka joined me. Ayria's Qi had grown since I had taught her what to do to strengthen it. Qi'Senka felt weaker.
If the Scepter could be manipulated, forcing Qi into it should light the crown. It didn't. The Scepter seemed to absorb the energy without effect. I reversed the process, drawing energy from it, and was soon joined by the other two. It seemed to have an unlimited amount of Qi. I stopped long after Ayria and Senka when I felt ready to explode. The three of us could have killed half the people in the room had we released what we had absorbed.
I had far more Qi than before and once again began slowly feeding it back into the Scepter. Ayria and Senka followed my lead. This time the Scepter began to glow, not on the visual plane but with a line of energy Ayria, Senka, and I could see. As we continued to feed the Qi into it, rays of light began stretching out to each person standing on the circle. The rays held for several seconds, and then individual rays died while the remaining ones seemed to grow stronger. Minutes passed as more died and others became stronger. Finally, only one remained. I shut down, as did Ayria and Senka. Qi'Senka sat staring at me, shaking her head, and then collapsed. I stood and grabbed the Royal Scepter and held it toward hi'Samula.
"Witch Ayria and I are satisfied," I said. With Ayria's help, I carried qi'Senka out of the circle.
After some hesitation, hi'Samula banged the Scepter on the floor three times. He looked around the circle and handed it to Wenrich. He smiled, turning the Scepter in his hands before handing it to Duke Janko, who stood to his right. For the next hour, the Scepter made its way around the dukes, barons, and war chiefs. Like Wenrich, most spent a minute or two examining it. When the first round had finished, hi'Samula took the Scepter and returned to the center of the circles and turned toward the Sanctuary.
"Watcher, our creator and king, we ask your guidance in selecting the next leader of Rhybac. We will call him king, but he will be but a faithful servant of yours standing ready to do your bidding."
When he finished, he handed the Scepter back to Wenrich, who smiled. His smile faded when nothing happened, and he reluctantly passed it to Duke Janko. It continued through the barons who had come with Wenrich and Janko, the barons of the outlying towns, Tebos and Sandar, the war chiefs, and finally to Negozi. As he began to hand it back to hi'Samula, the crown flared with blinding rays of golden light.
"You manipulated the Scepter!" Hi'Samula pointed at me with hatred twisting his face into a grotesque mask.
I walked into the circle before anyone could respond. "Are you saying the Royal Scepter is a fake?"
"No, you—"
"Then you're saying I'm stronger than the Watcher."
Hi'Samula stood silent.
"This is a farce," Wenrich snarled as he spun and left the circle. He stormed up the ais
le toward the door. Janko followed him along with the barons from Zeno and Castor. Those may or may not have supported Wenrich but had little choice. The baron from Taal chose to stay, which seemed to sway many of the other barons from the outlying towns. Negozi looked around the group.
"You are pledged to me and the new Rhybac?"
There was a long, silent pause. Duke Tebos was the first to kneel and bow his head. Sandar followed and then the assembled barons. The war chiefs bowed low with their arms crossed chest high.
"We are now at war with the armies from Castor and Zeno. Those of you with the Iovis and Eolus armies, I will send a detail of warriors with you to ensure the tribes recognize you as loyal to Rhybac. You are to support the tribes in subduing the rogue provinces. There is to be no killing of those who choose to surrender. Many have had no choice but to support the leader to whom they are sworn. Wenrich and Janko will be killed." Negozi looked to each person until he nodded understanding. From the assignments Negozi made, I knew he had previously planned for such an event.
"Idowu, go now. Your Topoke are to attack the group from Zeno, green and gold uniforms. Masozi and the Omyeka will join you.
"Kunto, your Dinko will join with the armies from Iovis and Eolus and attack the forces from Castor.
"Duke Tebos, you will accompany Shani and the Tuare south to Inari. Wenrich will try to slow the Topoke and Omyeka by retreating through the Sobek Pass. You will ensure he never reaches Inari. Afterward, you will command Zeno until a baron can be appointed duke." He stopped and looked to Sandar.
"Duke Sandar, you will accompany Bolaha. The Tendal will support Kunto and the Rhybac troops as you move south toward Narissa. You will command Castor until a baron can be appointed duke." Negozi looked to me. "Now that I'm finished, you have an observation, qi'Nisha?"
"Yes, King Negozi." I smiled at the look on his face when I said "King." I could imagine his pain. With that title, he had somehow lost his identity with the tribes and become an outsider. "Have all the barons assemble here—"