The Wrath of the Great Guilds (The Pillars of Reality Book 6)

by Jack Campbell

  “That ought to motivate everyone,” Vice President Eric commented. “Is there any chance they will sabotage each other and benefit us?”

  “Things like that have happened,” Jane said. “Not officially, but we know of them. However, in this case I don’t think we can count on that. The Imperials want to take this city too badly.” The group fell silent as the launch approached the landing, its rowers checking their motion with precise skill that brought the craft to a gentle stop. Sailors leaped ashore and wrapped lines around the landing’s bollards to hold the boat fast.

  For a few moments no one moved, the only sound that of the banners of both sides flapping in the wind.

  Crown Prince Maxim began walking, every Imperial official matching his steps. He set foot on the landing with the attitude of a conqueror treading on already-subdued territory, Crown Princess Lyra right beside him, the other Imperial officers and officials following.

  Maxim strode toward Mari, but looking past her. She realized he was heading toward Field Marshal Klaus.

  Coming to a halt, Maxim gazed around at Dorcastle as if unimpressed and already bored with this provincial backwater.

  Another Imperial official addressed Klaus. “Crown Prince Maxim is prepared to accept your surrender.”

  Klaus shook his head. “If you’re here to talk, you need to talk to our leader. She’s right there. You can’t miss her.”

  The Imperial kept his eyes on Klaus. “There is a dead person there. I do not speak to the dead.”

  Mari decided it was time for her to join in. “The Emperor’s rule does not extend to the Confederation. He is not in charge here. Neither are you. The people of the Confederation, like those of the Kingdom of Tiae and the Western Alliance and the Free Cities, make their own rules.”

  The Imperial official paused, clearly uncertain how to handle the situation.

  Crown Prince Maxim saved him, waving an indifferent hand and looking directly at Mari. “You have proven very difficult to kill. Do not make the mistake of assuming that means you cannot be killed.”

  Mari kept her own voice steady as she replied. “Do not make the mistake of assuming that I am not prepared to die in order to ensure that the Great Guilds are overthrown and that Dorcastle does not fall.” Inspiration gave her more words. “The Empire has tried to kill me many times. And failed. I understand that you Imperials think you know the reason for that.”

  Tall, bright Princess Lyra laughed mockingly. “I see you in the light of day, rather plain in appearance and with the greasy hands of a Mechanic. There is little of the undying beauty of the Dark One about you.”

  That should have stung, and it did a bit even though Mari had never considered herself to be gorgeous, but Mari found herself smiling. “There is enough of the Dark One to take me in and out of Marandur twice, and through every obstacle the Empire could put in my path. Your legions have always failed against me.”

  “They will not fail this time,” Maxim said in a way that made it clear he was reasserting who was in charge of this negotiation. “Since these others have foolishly placed you in charge, I call on you now to yield this city. Otherwise, every drop of blood spilled here will be your responsibility.”

  “We fight in defense of our freedom,” Mari said. “Responsibility for loss of life lies with whoever attacks us.”

  “Apparently,” Prince Maxim said, running his gaze over the various officers and officials, “none of you understand what will happen to this city when the legions take it. If you had even a hint of what would happen, you would yield immediately.”

  “I know exactly what will happen,” Mari said. “I’ve seen Marandur, from the inside. Have you? How many of the bone fragments in the ruins of that city once belonged to Imperial legionaries? Is that what you want to be remembered for? As the one who shattered the Empire’s legions against the walls of Dorcastle?”

  “I have seen enough of Marandur,” Maxim said. “I know that it shows the Empire’s strength.”

  “Then why,” Alain asked, “does the Empire forbid anyone to enter the remains of the city? Does it fear that others will see that all of the Empire’s force could only produce a victory that cost more than the worst of defeats?”

  No matter his other skills, Crown Prince Maxim clearly lacked much experience with speaking to Mages. Not that there was any surprise in that, since in most of the world no one talked to Mages unless they had to and Mages talked to no one unless they must. Maxim glanced back toward the Mages standing with silent, hooded menace.

  “That one is nothing,” one of the Mages said in a toneless voice that begrudged the act of speech.

  “This one has been to Danalee,” Alain said. “This one has seen what the council of elders ordered in Danalee, orders told me by an elder who defied those commands. All others in that Hall, from acolyte to elder, died by murder or at their own hands. That is the wisdom the Mage Guild offers you.”

  The Mages did not reply.

  “An obvious lie,” Maxim finally said, annoyed.

  “They haven’t called him a liar,” Mari told Maxim, “because Mages can tell when someone is lying, and when they’re not. They know that Mage Alain told them what did happen at Danalee.”

  “I weary of this,” Maxim said, his voice taking on overtones of anger. “Yield. Now. Or die in the ruins of this city.”

  “We will fight,” Mari said, wondering if she sounded as breathless as she thought she did. “All of us.”

  “All of you? You stand alone.”

  “Tiae stands with us,” Vice President Jane called, indicating the banner, and then pointing upward where every soldier sent by Queen Sien had been placed along the battlements. “And the daughter of Jules leads us. You know what the prophecy says. You cannot triumph here.”

  One of the Mages finally spoke again, her voice also totally lacking in feeling. “There is no prophecy. There has never been a prophecy.”

  Alain answered, putting a bit of feeling into his own voice. “The word of a Mage,” he said. “Worthless. The elders have taught you that there is no truth, so you do not hesitate to lie. Have you never thought that if truth does not exist, then what the elders tell you must also be lies?”

  “Fool,” the female Mage replied, the lack of emotion behind the word somehow making it sound terrible. “You will cease here.”

  “I will fight for what is real here,” Alain said. “The prophecy does exist. And you know when you look upon Master Mechanic Mari that she is the daughter whose coming was foretold. Over the centuries the Mage Guild has slain every woman who might have become the daughter, but you have not slain her. She, and those Mages who look to her for wisdom and call her elder, will show you a truth you will not admit to.”

  “Elder? That shadow?” another one of the Mages spat, startled enough to let some tones of disbelief enter his voice.

  “Silence,” the female Mage said before directing her attention back to Alain. “You are nothing. You have lost your powers in pursuit of a shadow.”

  “If you are right, then you need not fear me,” Alain said.

  The silence that followed that statement was finally broken by one of the Senior Mechanics who had come with Maxim, speaking with open scorn. “I told you this would be a waste of time. She’s out of her mind with delusions. Just kill her and these others.”

  Mari felt the old anger at the contempt with which the Senior Mechanic regarded her and all others. “You, and all of your like, have dared to enslave a world, have kept from us the sort of Mechanic technology that could have bettered the lives of everyone, and now think you can control the Empire by giving it too much to swallow? Crown Prince Maxim, I have sent some of that banned technology to you, to the Emperor himself, to see what the Guild has denied him and every one of his subjects. To show the Emperor that the knowledge will be shared with all.”

  Maxim smiled. “But we don’t want all to have it. Those texts you offer came from Marandur, from Imperial lands, and already belong solely to the Emperor
. We are coming to get them back.”

  Mari saw the Senior Mechanics, behind Maxim and out of his sight, exchange smug glances. They doubtless had their own plans for those banned technology texts. “If you want that technology so badly that you’ll attack Dorcastle, I’ll guarantee you that you’ll get it back, one bullet at a time, one artillery shell at a time, until every legionary who tries to take these walls is dead.”

  Vice President Jane spoke up again. “Surely we can negotiate, Crown Prince? Let us talk and find a means to avoid a battle which will only drain the Empire of the strength needed to deal with the arrogance of the Great Guilds.”

  “She’s just trying to stall,” another Senior Mechanic called to Maxim in the tones of a teacher to a dull student.

  Mari saw Maxim’s jaw tighten but his voice remained level as he replied. “Thank you, honored Senior Mechanic. You who call yourself the daughter are beyond reason. I call upon those who represent the Bakre Confederation. Know that if I leave this landing without your surrender, there will be no second chances and no further negotiations. I demand for the last time that you yield this city to the dominion of the Emperor.”

  Major Danel spat onto the stone before him. “We in Tiae have had enough of warlords, even those who style themselves as princes and emperors. By order of Queen Sien, and trusting in the daughter, we will fight as long as there is life in us.”

  “Tiae speaks for us as well,” Vice President Eric said.

  “Tell your legions that they will die in a battle they cannot win!” Mari said loudly enough to ensure that everyone in the Imperial delegation could hear. “We fight for the freedom of this world, and we will not fail!”

  Maxim spun on his heel, the others in the delegation hastening to keep up as he strode back to the launch. “You will soon see the wrath of the Empire’s legions,” he called as a parting shot.

  “We’ll see your legions,” Field Marshal Klaus replied. “We’ll see them lying dead before our walls.”

  As the Imperial launch pulled away, Vice President Jane sighed. “I’ve had negotiations go better. But it’s clear that Maxim never intended to strike a deal. He thinks victory is certain. A wiser or less ruthless man would have offered good terms to spare the legions the losses they’ll take and spare himself the time needed to assault the city.”

  “The storm will strike soon,” Klaus said. “Let us take up our weapons and prepare to face it.”

  Mari stood a moment as the others began moving back to the wall. She gazed out across the harbor to the forest of masts in the sea beyond that marked the immense Imperial expedition and its backers, the Great Guilds. Victory seemed impossible.

  “I’m not going to let you win,” she told the distant figures of the Senior Mechanics, the elders of the Mage Guild, and the Imperial multitude.

  Chapter Five

  “They probably won’t hit us until just before dawn,” Field Marshal Klaus said as the group stood on the battlements of the first wall, watching the rays of the setting sun gild the Imperial ships outside the harbor. “Too many things can go wrong when it’s dark. The Imperials will come charging in at first light, planning on overrunning the waterfront area and hitting this wall as fast as possible.”

  “I take it we’re planning on doing something about that?” Mari said.

  “Oh, yes, Lady, we are indeed. The legions will find themselves facing some serious delays. We commons may not have access to Mechanic arms and explosives, but there are simpler weapons.”

  “Expensive, though,” Vice President Eric commented. “You should have heard the merchants screaming about the trade goods still in those warehouses on the waterfront.”

  Klaus smiled slightly. “I did. I told them I could do nothing about it, being a simple soldier, and they should speak with the representatives of the government. Such as you.”

  “Well played.” Eric leaned forward on the battlement. “You understand that even though I could try throwing my weight around I have no intention of doing so. You and Lady Mari have command of the defense. I will do what I can to assist you. It’s an odd feeling, isn’t it?”

  “What’s that?” Klaus asked.

  “To see the sun set and wonder if you’ll see it rise again. I did militia service, but nothing really hazardous.” He glanced at Mari. “Is this the worst you’ve faced, Lady Mari?”

  Mari shook her head. “It doesn’t feel like it yet. The worst…I guess being chased through Altis by the assassins. The final voyage of the Terror was horrible, but I was so tired and numb that I didn’t really feel it at the time. It’s worse in memory.” She turned a questioning look on Eric. “How did you and Vice President Jane end up here?”

  Eric gave a brief, derisive laugh. “My boss, the Bakre Confederation President of War, said someone needed to be here. He proposed one of my assistants. Jane’s boss, the Bakre Confederation President of State, replied by saying that she was sending Jane because the defenders deserved that much. So my boss said he was sending me. I guess you could say we ended up in Dorcastle as part of a game of one-upmanship by our superiors.”

  “You’re not elected?”

  “No. The Presidents are. Jane and I were appointed to our jobs.” He smiled crookedly as the sun slipped beneath the western horizon. “I was really happy when I got the appointment. Celebrated and everything.”

  Mari laughed, too. “I didn’t exactly volunteer for the daughter job, you know.”

  “You’ve done more with it than many thought possible,” Eric said. “I’m going to do my best. So will Jane.”

  “You will do fine,” Field Marshal Klaus said. Mari wondered how many times in his military career Klaus had said the same thing to nervous soldiers before a battle.

  Klaus looked up at the sky, where the stars were coming out as night fell. “The Imperials may make attempts to slip some units in during the night, so we’ll have to stay on alert. Our scouts near the waterfront should spot any serious incursions. With your permission, Lady Mari, I will pass orders for double sentinels to be stationed tonight, but otherwise for everyone to get as much sleep as they can.”

  “That sounds like a good plan. Where do you think is the best place for me and Mage Alain?” Mari asked.

  “Right here.” Klaus patted the stone rampart before them. “This is almost atop the main gate. It is certain to be a target for the Imperial attack, because that’s how Imperials think. It’s the main gate, so it’s the most important gate, and they will by all the stars above take the most important gate. Maxim will try to smash his way through here and keep going. They will probably also hit the two other secondary gates in this wall as well as the two sea gates, but those should be lesser efforts.”

  “Even if the Imperials weren’t so inclined, seeing Lady Mari will guarantee they attack in great strength at this spot,” Vice President Eric commented. “Is that wise?”

  “I have to be on the walls with the defenders,” Mari said, trying to sound matter-of-fact about it. Alain gave her a side glance, showing that he had detected the uneasiness in her voice, but he said nothing.

  “You’ll have your rifle?” Klaus asked. “I’ll assign ten of the Tiae rifles here as well. Even the legions won’t be happy to be facing that.”

  “We may see worse than legions,” Alain said.

  “That reminds me.” Mari looked down off the inside of the wall. “Where is the wagon we came with? There are two DKs in it. I need them close by.”

  “DKs?” Eric asked.

  “Dragon killers,” Mari explained. “And, yes, they do exactly what their name says.”

  Klaus and Vice President Eric went off to check other parts of the city. As night fell the areas that Mari could see presented strange contrasts. Just behind her, inside the first wall, lanterns and torches illuminated frenzied activity as the defending forces made last-minute preparations. On the wall itself, the only light came from the stars overhead and a few shaded lanterns that could not be seen by anyone outside the wall. Nothing moved in
the open stretch in front of the wall, left clear of buildings or other cover so that attackers would face the full force of the defenders’ wrath. Beyond that open space the waterfront of Dorcastle lay dark and silent, the warehouses, offices, and taverns that would normally be full of life and light sitting empty as the city awaited the assault. The harbor, which Mari remembered always being crowded with shipping, was dark, its navigational buoys removed by the defenders and the lights on the breakwater extinguished.

  Outside the harbor, the Imperial expedition glowed in the darkness, every ship apparently having lit every lantern and torch available to display the size and power of the attacking force. Mari could spot three Mechanics Guild ships out there, their electric lights gleaming with a steady white glow contrasting with the yellowish flickering of the torches and lanterns on other ships. One of the Guild ships also had a searchlight mounted, its beam occasionally sweeping across the wall to intimidate the defenders.

  Mari remembered having toured that ship when it visited the harbor at Caer Lyn. How old had she been? Eleven or twelve. Part of a group of Apprentices taken to see the ship and learn about the devices on it.

  She recalled being thrilled to see the steam boiler that provided propulsion and light for the ship. Her friends Alli and Calu, a few years older and adopting the jaded attitude of teenagers, smiling indulgently as Mari threw question after question at the Mechanics and Apprentices who worked the boiler. Alli had reserved her questions for the crew of the deck gun, of course.

  Were any of those Mechanics still aboard that ship? Were any of the men and women she had known as Apprentices at Caer Lyn part of the crew?

  Many of her former co-workers were here to destroy what Mari had tried to build, and to kill her as part of that destruction. Mari had gone from being a loyal member of the Mechanics Guild to someone sworn to destroy it, from being an operator of steam locomotives and writer of thinking ciphers for calculating and analysis devices to being the symbol of the New Day and the overall commander of the forces defending Dorcastle.