by JC Kang
Two soldiers came in. Anxiety gripped her heart. Kaiya took deep breaths to calm herself as they bound her hands behind her back.
Flanking either side, they took her to the largest building. Inside, it was octagonal, with knotted wood floors and animal skins covering the windows. The roof slanted upwards on eight sides into a tip. What was this place?
Her focus fell on a throne, perched on a wood dais across from the entrance. A sconce in each of the eight corners held a light bauble. Maybe two dozen Bovyans lined the walls, all eyes undressing her. Ice crawled up her spine. She pushed her shoulders forward as much as her bound hands would allow, as if it would cover her any better than the robe.
“Kneel.” One of the escorts prodded her toward the center of the black octagonal carpet, which covered almost the entire floor.
They would get no satisfaction out of her, at least not without a little resistance. She straightened and lifted her chin.
The other guard shoved her down like a peasant, the plush wool softening the blow to her knees. His heavy hand pressed down on her shoulder as she fought to rise. He was too strong. Exhausted, she gave up the futile struggle and choked up a breath. She stared at the carpet’s gold lattice designs so as to focus on something else besides the men’s leers.
“Salute!” a soldier by the throne barked.
All the Bovyans thumped a fist against their chest.
She refused to bow, not from a kneeling position. Only the Tianzi himself deserved that respect.
The soldier at her side rewarded her defiance by pressing between her shoulder blades, pushing her prostate. She gasped. She tried to straighten herself, but the man was unbelievably strong. Her nervousness and fear quickly gave way to anger.
From the entrance, heavy footsteps approached, stopping right in front of her. Kaiya tried to look up, but whoever it was placed a heavy hand on the top of her head.
Every muscle locked up. All she could see were large, bare feet, right by her face. He seized a handful of hair and jerked her head up. Fire flared in her scalp. Then every nerve went ice cold.
Geros Bovyan, First Consul of the Teleri Directori, glared at her.
Her heart leaped into her throat and she squirmed to back away. Her limbs wouldn’t move. There weren’t supposed to be any Consuls here. Least of all him. The one who’d sworn vengeance. Blood rushed from her head, and her vision dimmed. No, she wouldn’t give him the pleasure of seeing her faint.
“Feisty as ever. I cannot help but admire your spirit.” He patted her on the cheek before turning and strolling to the dais. Geros was dressed simply in a black, open-faced robe, which rustled as he walked. He lounged back on the throne, exposing a hairy chest.
On his right stood General Altos, still in uniform, his eyes downcast.
Kaiya winced. Geros wasn’t supposed to be here. How? She forced herself to take a few deep breaths. Her heart slowed and her thoughts came into focus. Now upright, kneeling with a straight carriage, she returned his glare.
A long-term planner, Geros never expected his moment of vengeance to come so soon. He had left Iksuvius to personally oversee the restoration of the old Kanin roads, thinking the princess was trapped in the south of Iksuvi. Revenge had to be delayed in favor of starting the flow of shipbuilding lumber to his new deep-water port.
Or so he thought.
Geros now looked at the princess, proud but helpless as she knelt before him. No swords, no poison tea, the power of her voice bottled up by the Altivorc King’s collar. Despite the image she tried to project, she reeked of fear. He savored the scent.
Her eyes shifted to a spot behind him. Geros had seen it often, when someone hid their intimidation by trying to look through him.
It was easy to shatter that façade.
“It was a surprise to hear you were here in the Wilds. Quite the gamble you took, braving the dangers here.” He leaned forward, and her gaze met his. He grinned. “Welcome to our new capital in Kanin.”
Her expression remained unchanged. How could she stay so poised?
“But I digress,” he continued in a pleasant, contrived voice. “We really do need to catch up. What has it been, six months already since we last met? I love what you’ve done with your hair.”
Still no reaction, save for a shift in her eyes. Was it at General Altos? A childhood friend, a capable man, but weak.
It was time to make the princess squirm, to let her know who controlled the situation. He made his tone threatening, enough to intimidate a Bovyan officer. “You took something of mine. Something valuable. Where is it?”
Her irises darted back and forth, her expression one of genuine confusion.
“The imperial crest. This is the last time I will ask nicely.” He tapped the spot where the pin once graced his chest.
The princess remained silent, her face serene, but her hands trembled. Just a girl. A scared girl.
Geros sprung to his feet. He yanked a dagger from the officer at his left and bounded towards her.
Mouth open in a silent scream, she shrank back, her bound hands not finding purchase as she tumbled to the floor.
He was quickly upon her, straddling her stomach. He let his weight sink onto her slight frame, leaving her gasping for air. He grabbed at the lapel of her robe and raised a fist.
She flinched, and he reveled in her terror. Now she knew how he had felt, when she left him on the Heights. She turned her head to the side, and her voice came out as a hoarse whisper. “I don’t know. I swear, it was lost.”
He scowled. “Truly? When do you remember last seeing it?” Shifting his weight off of her, he wrapped a hand around her delicate neck and pulled her into a seated position. Her pulse fluttered beneath his grasp.
“It was here,” she stammered. “In the Wilds, about five months ago. We were pursued by ogres.”
Geros growled and tightened his grip. “Unbelievable. How could you lose the heirloom of our people? It has been passed down for three hundred years.”
Her voice choked. “In the chaos of our escape, I forgot it was even in my possession.”
He released his hold on her throat and shoved her onto her back as he rose to his feet. She gulped like a fish out of water.
“We will pursue this later.” Stupid ogres. He turned to Altos. “At first light, send word to the ogres, find out when and where they captured this bitch. Our men will burn the forest down, if need be.”
The girl struggled to sit up, freezing in place as he turned back to her.
He sat on the edge of the dais, leaning forward with elbows on his knees. “Next order of business. Since you have been gallivanting through the Wilds, I will forgive you for not knowing about my recent promotion.”
He waited, taking in her bewildered expression.
“I am now emperor, in need of an empress. And while the Keepers of the Shrine tell me I must keep three dozen concubines pleased, I really only have one woman in mind.” He winked at her.
She shuddered.
So satisfying! He grinned. “So quiet. Are you going to make me ask? Very well. I want you to be my consort.”
The soldiers shuffled, their discipline lost. Many exchanged glances.
General Altos stepped forward. “Your Eminence, what about your agreement with the Directori and the Keepers? What about the prophecy?”
Geros did not bother to look at the general, quieting him with an open hand. “Silence! I want to hear her answer.”
Altos withdrew, and the men straightened. She looked at the floor, her lips quivering.
“If you do not tell me the answer I want to hear by the count of three, I will send orders to Iksuvius to torture and execute all seven hundred and forty-two of your countrymen, women, and children in our custody there. If you agree, they will all be released.”
A tear trickled down her cheek.
“One.”
Her voice came out, barely louder than a whisper. “Coercing consent and wrapping violation in formality is no less a rape.”
The princess slumped, her voice choking. “I have no choice, then.”
“Is that a yes?” He leaned forward.
A tear trickled down her cheek. At last, she nodded.
Geros looked around the room, triumphant, pointing an open hand at her. “She accepts!” He strode over, squatted and lifted her chin with his hand. “I am overjoyed. Arrangements will be made tomorrow.”
He then leaned in and whispered in her ear. “In Iksuvius, you left me helpless and vulnerable, just as you feel right now.” He loosened the lapels of her robe, pulling them down to bare her shoulders as she tried to twist away. “Remember how I told you it was a mistake to leave me alive? What you would expect once I caught you?”
He dug his hands into her soft arms, relishing the fear and despair etched in her beautiful features. “I don’t care about your consent. Whether you are my consort or my bed slave, you will suffer the life of fear and humiliation I promised.”
CHAPTER 52:
Wild Turkey Island
The dugout journey downriver passed in a haze for Tian. The focus and observational skills he relied on were useless. His stare locked on the muddy waters kicked up by spring melt. On occasion, food would be put in his hands, or some tribesman along the shore would draw his attention with a wave. Otherwise, it was all a blur.
A gigantic cherry tree appeared on the horizon, its trunk as thick as a castle, its canopy vaulting far above even the towering greywoods. A similar tree supposedly grew near the Hua pyramid by Teardrop Lake, but Tian had never seen it himself. The sheer immensity jolted him out of his grief-induced stupor.
How much time had passed? He looked towards the Heavens. The afternoon sun nearly drowned out the iridescent moon, which waxed to its second crescent.
He turned to Lana. “How far are we from the island now?”
“Maybe two hours?”
And another four hours until nightfall. Tian tapped his chin. “Let’s stop. Before we come within sight of the island. To scout the area out. The white moon is full tonight. I’ll only have a narrow window of opportunity. To penetrate the camp while it’s dark.”
Lana shook her head, pointing at the enormous tree. “No, when the sun goes down, the tree glows.”
Tian favored her with a dubious eye, though he vaguely remembered hearing something about the tree in Hua glowing at night. He would soon find out, either way.
About three li away, they came ashore on the north bank of the river and stowed the boat among pink-budded shrubs. Avoiding Teleri patrols, they crept along the bank until they were close enough to observe activity on the island.
Tian pointed them in different directions to get multiple vantage points, and gestured for them to regroup at dusk.
Working his way through the brush, Tian came to a large tree. Its knotted trunk provided handholds and crevices. He slunk up, coming to a high perch with a view of the entire island.
Never before had he seen such an almost perfectly oval island, one-third a li wide and one li long. The western side bordered a swift-flowing tributary—the same one they’d had followed months ago just before the ogres captured them. Despite the name, there were no signs of turkeys.
The southern end of the island jutted into the North Kanin River, right where the riverbed made a hard turn south. Horns blared from a guard tower that stood atop an almost perfectly circular hill there. It probably provided a commanding view over the entire area, making a daytime insertion difficult.
Ogres led a train of bound Kanin tribespeople over a bridge at the northern tip of the island, which spanned over the tributary to the opposite bank. They wove through the dozens of tribal lodges and newer wooden barracks, and delivered the slaves to the stockade.
Black smoke billowed from two stone buildings, along with hammering that suggested armorers hard at work. Shaki tribesmen fished from the shores, while others rendered large game. Kanin women slaved at roasting the meat over large fire pits. And of course, Bovyans drilled in an open field in the middle of the island. They were holding Kaiya somewhere.
Fists balled tight, Tian shifted his gaze to the eastern bridge near the field, not far from his hiding place on the opposite shore. Narrower than the first, it spanned a strait of slow-moving water. With two guards at the bridge, rotating watches precisely on the phases of the iridescent moon, he’d likely have to swim.
When he regrouped with the others, they formulated a plan; one which had little probability of both him and Kaiya surviving. If he found her at all.
Late at night, after activity on the island died down, Tian stripped down to his underwear. Carrying only a dagger and his pouch of tools, he swam through the cold, dark waters of the strait. Though not a religious man, he could not believe it was just luck that storm clouds gathered above, blotting out the full white moon.
Just as Lana said, tendrils of pale blue light trickled out from the tips of the gigantic tree’s buds. Hopefully, it was not enough to expose him during his approach. He paused as he drew closer to the shore, waiting for a patrol to pass. When he gained the bank, he dashed towards a fire pit and covered himself in ash and soot.
Keeping to the shadows, Tian crept over to the cabin where female prisoners were held. A Teleri soldier paced the length of the building’s front wall. Tian set himself up around one of the corners.
The Bovyan approached.
Hold the dragonfly with care. No, not tonight. Tian tightened his grip and—
Another solider stumbled out the door.
Relaxing, Tian waited and watched. The two soldiers exchanged greetings and the second ambled off into the camp.
The sentry reached the corner and turned on his heel. Tian stepped behind him, covered his mouth, and slashed his throat. After a quick glance to ensure no other Bovyans were around, he dragged the body inside.
Gasps greeted him. With their faces dimly lit by shuttered light baubles, a few Kanin tribeswomen covered their mouths. Their expressions spoke of fear and humiliation. Several others lay asleep on crude beds. To the far right of the entrance, crude animal skins covered four doorways. Behind one came the grunts and whimpering of forced intercourse.
His blood boiled. In all likelihood, it wasn’t Kaiya serving the rank and file; it certainly didn’t sound like her. Nonetheless, whoever it was deserved nothing less than a painful death.
Tian motioned for the women to stay silent. He pointed to the side rooms and then the dead soldier. Hopefully the women understood him.
The closest put up one finger and pointed at the occupied room.
He made a quick appraisal of each. Glimmers of hope peeked out from expressions of defeat and despair.
In the occupied side room, the sounds stopped. Tian bounded over and waited at the side with dagger in hand. When the Bovyan stepped out, Tian severed his carotid artery while muffling his yelp with his free hand.
A couple of the women sucked in sharp breaths. Luckily, none screamed.
He dragged the body into one of the empty rooms, which reeked of rape. When he emerged, most of the women were awake.
“Have you seen a Cathayi woman?” he asked.
One of the women nodded. “She was brought to the doctor two nights ago.”
“Where’s the doctor?”
The woman pointed east. “Two lodges over.”
“Wake the rest of your sisters. Tell them to prepare to flee. I’ll be back soon for you.”
Tian ducked out of the cabin and slunk over to the doctor’s lodge. Shadows cast by the flickering firelight in the pit indicated one person was awake. Waiting for the silhouette to move closer to the door, he burst inside. In the split second it took him to reach the person’s back, he noted nobody else was there. He put a hand over the man’s mouth and the dagger at his neck.
“Not a word,” he whispered.
His now-rigid hostage nodded. The size and build...it was a woman. Likely anothe
r slave.
He spun her around, keeping the blade at her neck. She was...Arkothi, late-twenties, with dark hair and broad but attractive features. “Where is the doctor?”
“I am the doctor.” Her voice was low and she showed no fear. “Who are you, and what do you want from me?”
Such bravery. And a doctor? Tian stared at her. “Where’s the Cathayi woman?”
Her expression deflated. “Kaiya. She is gone. Such a nice girl, poor thing.”
“What?”
“She was very fertile when I met her. You know what Emperor Geros did to her.”
Emperor Geros? Emperor? Here? Tian’s heart squeezed. It was all he could do to draw a breath. “I’m her husband.”
The doctor’s eyes narrowed at first, then softened. “I’m so sorry. They left yesterday morning by boat, en route to the next fortress downstream. After the threat of snow ends, they plan on taking her along the restored roads eastward, back to Tilésité.”
Tian’s stomach roiled. He was too late. He jabbed a finger at her. “How can you willingly be part of this?”
She looked down at the ground. “I'm from the city of Mirkos, conquered by the Teleri nearly fifty years ago. My grandmother was a noble there, subjected to the Mating by members of the Teleri Prospecti. After she gave birth and went home, she married someone of her station and my mother was born and suffered the same fate. Later, I was born. When I was just fourteen, I too was taken by the Teleri.” She held up her hand, exposing the nine-pointed sun tattooed to her wrist.
Poor woman. Still, there was something she wasn’t telling him. Tian stared at her feet.
“Though I never knew them, I have both a Bovyan brother and son somewhere. Maybe my unknown son is still alive after all these years of constant war. I have to hope the Bovyans are not all evil.”
No telling who her brother or son had harmed. Tian snorted.
She glared at him. “The circumstances of my Bovyan brother’s conception, according to my mother, gives me faith. He will end Tivar’s Curse.”
Fairy tales. Or rationalization. Tian leveled his gaze at her. “You act a lot on your faith in a story. To me, you are deceiving yourself. You’re aiding an evil empire.”