“When you have come to a decision, you will send a message back to me. Send a weapon, any kind, and I will know you have chosen to resist. Otherwise, if you accept my offer, you will send a woman.”
“Send a woman? What kind of woman?” One of the bandits asked.
“Well that’s entirely up to you. I’ll know what kind of people you are by who you send.” Raegith smiled and motioned with his hands.
A few of the men looked as if they might say something, but none of them spoke up. Their legs trembled and the release of their bonds appeared to barely ease their anxiety. Raegith felt exhausted; he had no more words for the men. To the East, the sky began to brighten.
With his familiar gesture, he waved them off and joined his warriors in gathering up and leaving for home.
“You’re just going to leave us here? I don’t even know where I’m at.”
Raegith ignored the plea. What did the man expect, to be escorted home? Raegith bid his Helcats enter the cart as he walked alongside it. The weight of the men he had killed weighed on his mind too much for him to relax. The leader of the Crimson Banner, who openly defied him on the line, had marched up to the pole without hesitation.
“Tell my children I’m sorry for not returning home,” the man named Nikolas called out to his friend among the witnesses. Before Indie laid into him, he stared hard at Raegith. “I purchase their lives and the lives of those in my command, demon. And I will come to you as a spirit if you go back on your word.”
Raegith had taken away someone’s father tonight. Nikolas showed courage, even as Raegith gave him a bad death. He wanted to spare the man in that moment, but he allowed Indie to follow through, not bothering to translate his words.
He rolled his shoulders and shook his head, trying to rid himself of the guilt. It did not work. Making this night happen took a toll on his soul; but harder nights awaited him back at home. His people struggled to find food with winter setting in and they had slept in tents since abandoning Fort Augustus. Beretta had yet to return, if she ever would, and Kimura came and went without notice. Raegith suspected the Naga leader searched for Sabans in white and gold armor to assassinate. Bringing news of this night back would invigorate the Greimere a little, but it would be a long wait to hear back from those he spared.
The Greimere needed food and labor. A new home needed built and they needed farmers and smiths. Raegith needed the skills those scattered tribes and groups had among them. If a dozen knives arrived instead of a dozen women, the Greimere would be doomed.
Chapter 32
Helfria stood in silence among her fellow senators as they awaited the arrival of their recently reinstated member. She had protested Andronicus until she could no longer speak, but her words made no difference. Even the Counselors sided against her.
Soldiers along the Pisces reported no sightings of Greimere in more than a month. A scout team deployed to Fort Augustus returned with the news that it had been abandoned. Nearby they discovered a pit filled with the charred remains of hundreds. The story from the Paladins held up.
High Paladin Andronicus became a hero in the eyes of the people.
Not only had the Paladin responded to his reinstatement with all the righteousness she expected; the man also insisted he be reinstated in front of a public gathering.
He kept the King and Senate waiting for nearly an hour on that stage in the cold before arriving in a golden chariot with a hundred armored Paladins in his entourage.
“You’d think the High Paladin killed the Greimere Warlord with his bare hands the way he acts.” Gaius bent near to whisper in her ear. “We’re championing him for heroically sending his squads to kill children while brave soldiers from the 4th died holding the Warlord’s attention.”
Helfria huffed without a smile. “Look at the people, Gaius. They don’t care. We’re so starved for victory we all but crowned Octavius Nero for simply escaping death.”
She turned to see the sour look on Gaius’s face. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t speak ill of him. It’s just hard to believe that the boy I travelled with and counseled for months could do what he did.”
“More Sabans show up to the Paladin headquarters every day,” Gaius replied. “I hear they have over a thousand new initiates just since word of his acquittal was announced. They rival the 6th Regiment in numbers. Two of the King’s nephews have annexed over half their lands to Andronicus and invested nearly all their wealth. All your Caelum cousins wish to follow in the footsteps of old Thessalonius.”
“Who?”
Gaius laughed. “I’ve been researching them. The Paladins were founded in the early days of the kingdom, by a grandson of Throm Caelum. Thessalonius Caelum abdicated his fiefdom and wealth to dedicate his life to the Fates. Because of his piety and partly due to his natural charisma, wealthy Citizens all over Rellizbix began donating money to him to spread his faith. He founded the Paladins, who were at first just clerics but eventually became warriors bolstering the army’s ranks with highly-trained, educated men wielding the power of faith.”
“Why have I barely heard of them until recently?” Helfria asked. “I thought they were just a men’s club for the rich.”
“Well, at some point that’s what they became. But before he died, Thessalonius prophesized that Rellizbix would face a threat greater than the original invasion that formed it. At that time, he decreed that the Paladins must rise up and deliver the Fate’s judgment.”
“The Fate’s Judgment… on the Greimere?”
Gaius stared at her for a moment without speaking. “Hopefully just the Greimere.”
Andronicus took his time ascending the platform in front of the castle, hailing the crowd and clasping hands of those nearby the entire time. Never had Helfria witnessed such celebrity, even when Nero was presented to them.
“Thank you, Citizens and Commoners of Rellizbix. Thank you to those of you who have sacrificed to fund this nation’s defense and thank you to those who have beseeched the Fates for victory.” Andronicus ignored the King and the Senate and went directly to addressing the crowd. “I tell you all this: The Fates have heard your pleas. Can you not see it?”
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Helfria looked to her father and saw the agitation written on his face. The people of his nation threw their support behind a man who was not a king or even royalty. But if Helfrick interrupted Andronicus or tempered the man’s grandstanding, the crowd would turn against him. The High Paladin had expertly outmaneuvered Helfrick and now the born leader of Rellizbix resigned himself to a secondary role behind the High Paladin.
It pained Helfria to see her father like this. The switch to a republic had thrown him into a depression that only the onset of war and reinstatement of his authority had cured. But the war with the Greimere had not been the salvation he expected. From the beginning Greimere forces dismantled their regiments and sent back the armor of Rellizbix generals. No one foresaw the sudden effectiveness and brutality of the Greimere.
Helfrick had expected to be the savior of Rellizbix, but his attempts failed. Andronicus swept in and delivered victory, no matter how vile, and did what the King could not. At least, that’s how the public saw it.
“I am sure you are all aware that the Senate has decided to pardon me of the ridiculous offenses of which I stood accused.” The crowd booed and roared at his words; their rage aimed at the leaders standing behind Andronicus. “Now, now, settle yourselves. Mistakes were made, obviously, but we must forgive our leaders for their reckless ignorance. The Senate has become too secular; faith does not guide them like it does me. Like it does you.”
More cheering. The crowd rained praise upon the High Paladin despite the obvious insult directed at the ruling body of the nation.
“I have also been reinstated, as you might have heard. With the Greimere in retreat and the threat of invasion extinguished in one swoop, even the Faeir Counselors saw fit to extend their invitation.” Andronicus turned his head and grinned at the Counselors for an u
ncomfortably long period. Before he turned back to the crowd, he locked eyes with Helfria and gave her a wink. “And since they are coming around to me, slowly realizing the righteousness in my words and actions I feel compelled by the Fates to immediately push a policy that cannot wait any longer.”
“Elements…”
Helfria turned to see Counselor Herrod stumble forward and grasp at his chest with wide eyes. Xenon ignored his fellow Counselor and bolted across the stage without hesitation.
“Get him off the stage!” Counselor Xenon rushed to the King’s side. “Your Highness, you must stop him. He is using this crowd’s idiotic fervor to pitch a blasphemy!”
“I hereby vow to use all of my power, aided by your support, to make Rellizbix a free nation for all of its residents.” Andronicus lifted his arms as the crowd grew louder. “Slavery will not be tolerated in this nation. The Stone Seers must be set free.”
Herod recovered and stepped forward, calling up a wind that whipped against the people and set those in the first rows off balance. “You fool. You know nothing of our heritage, our history or our magic. The Stone Seers are a danger to us all. You are too blinded by ignorance to see that.”
“Formation.” High Paladin pulled the ceremonial hammer at his waist and in seconds a line of Paladins formed in front of him. A wall of glistening shields formed and behind them, blades and hammers slid from scabbards and loops.
The Royal Guard rushed in and for a moment, Helfria worried that the stage might erupt in a battle.
“Do you not see?” Andronicus turned to the crowd, safe behind his shield wall. “The mere idea of stealing their pets from them caused a Counselor to accost Citizens of this nation. And they have the gall to accuse me of treachery?”
The crowd surged toward the stage as members of the Royal Guard moved to stop them from engaging in a riot.
Helfrick stepped in between the two sides, his voice bellowing out over the noise. “Enough!”
He pointed through the shields at Andronicus. “You will stand these men down before your King, Andronicus. This circus has gone far enough.”
Andronicus pushed through his defensive formation to stand face-to-face with Helfrick. “I defend myself against attack and you cast your wrath on me? The Sage has brought magic to bear against your people and you do nothing to intervene. Where is your Saban pride, my lord? I cannot find it.”
Helfrick growled in the High Paladin’s face. “If you’re under the impression I can’t rip your head from your body-“
“Do it!” Andronicus cut him off, refusing to give ground to the King of Rellizbix with the rabid crowd backing him. “Martyr me right here, in front of everyone. Then count the heartbeats before you’re overthrown and dragged into the square to be quartered.”
“You’re finished, Thedas,” Helfrick rumbled. “There is no Senate seat for you. Giving you any say in this kingdom would be the death of us all.”
Andronicus shook his head and waved his hands before Helfrick. “No. Don’t even bother with threats. It’s too late for that, Helfrick. I have legions among my congregation. I have the backing of your Dukes and Duchesses. Not every Caelum is content with the scraps you’ve tossed them. Soon you will be inundated with petitions you cannot ignore, my King.
“I will have say in this nation’s future or you will become the first King to preside over a civil war.”
Andronicus whirled away from Helfrick, turning back to the crowd. “Calm. Calm, my children. I must return to my keep, but there is much to come, I promise you. This Paladin will not be threatened into abandoning the welfare of Rellizbix. We will not be silenced!”
Helfria went to her father’s side as the Paladins departed the square. The people remained, screaming their discontent. The Royal Guard tried to keep the peace, but Andronicus had whipped them into frenzy.
“Father, we need to leave. Your presence is doing no good here right now.” She tugged at his arm. “Give them time to settle and think. You are the King, not Andronicus.”
Helfrick did not budge. He stared after the Paladin caravan as the people raged around him.
Chapter 33
Helfria woke to her sister shaking her. “Helfria, father needs you. Something is happening.”
Pulling a decent gown over her night wear, Helfria rushed to the foyer where several Senators and one of the Twileen Guildmasters had already gathered. Neither of the Counselors was present.
Gaius intercepted her as the others continued to talk. “The Faeir have left. The others aren’t going to stop their bickering long enough to backtrack for you, so I hope you can catch on.”
“What Faeir? Herod and Xenon?”
Gaius shook his head as he led her over to her father. “No, I mean all of them. It’s an Exodus.”
“Those bastards propositioned me,” Helfria heard Otho speaking as she joined the group. “They said other Guilds had joined them long ago. They’ve been plotting this for some time, my King.”
Her father glanced at her and nodded, his face locked and pale, like stone. He produced a letter and handed it to her as he continued listening to the other men.
Helfria recognized the swooping, block-top style of handwriting common among the Sages. The letter had been addressed to Helfrick. The author stated that the Rellizbix nation had long ago ceased to be a union of survival against the Greimere and that the alliance put the Faeir at a disadvantage. It announced that the Faeir and Counsel were seceding from Rellizbix to form a new nation in the East, called Gaia.
General Regulus appeared suddenly in full armor and rushed to the King’s side. “Sir, it’s confirmed. Their quarters are abandoned. That’s likely how the Faeir were able to arrange all of this so quickly.”
“Fates, that’s an entire Regiment.” Gaius rubbed his face and shook his head. “That makes the fourth full Regiment gone. Our military has been cut in half and now we have a war on two fronts.”
“We’re going to war with Gaia?” One of the Twileens asked. “We’re already at war with the Greimere and the 4th Regiment has already reported all manner of uprisings among the Denizen refugees.”
“No one has said anything about war with the Faeir, Vilkas.” Helfrick held up his hand. “And stop calling it Gaia like it’s a done deal. I have not acknowledged or honored this vote of secession. Inhabitants of this land do not simply decide to break away on their own.”
“Your Highness, the vast majority of Faeir live in the Eastern mountains or in Thromdale. The ones who lived here are gone and they’ve taken the 5th Regiment with them.” Gaius took the floor, speaking directly to the King. “And I fear the Sages have never truly shown us what their magic is capable of. They’ve certainly never had the freedom or motivation to unleash it like they do now.”
Helfrick turned to his daughter. “The Counselors are gone, along with every Faeir in the city. That makes you our expert on their fledgling nation; this… Gaia. What can you tell us, Senator Caelum?”
Helfria steadied herself. Despite being everything she spent her adult life working toward, finally having the Senates undivided attention instantly made her nervous. Her father stared directly at her awaiting the knowledge he felt she alone had.
Helfria coughed and then began. “The Faeir are builders; that’s something very few outside their home know about them. They are physically weak and not very resilient, yet they live in a mountainous region. It’s because they have figured out how to shape those mountains.”
She strolled forward, taking her place in the center of the group. “The army prefers Mages that deal wind and fire damage, so that’s who gets conscripted. But in their homeland, the Terrestrial and Aquatic Mages are the big shots. Water magic cuts the stone; land magic stitches it together into structures. Gaius is right; they’re quite secretive of their true magic.”
“Yet they let you see it?” Otho asked.
“Secretive may have been the wrong word,” Helfria replied. “It’s not that they’re hiding it from us; it’s that not many
of us care to look.”
“If you had to guess at what their plans are...” Helfrick began.
Helfria knew where the conversation headed and continued without making her father voice the entire thought. “These Terrestrial Mages and Sages will likely be called down from the mountains to erect some manner of border. They don’t have the stone or time for a wall… for now. I suspect more of a natural barrier; something they can easily defend.”
“Something we can easily smash with a Witzer...” Otho’s words faded in a sharp descent as realization caught up with him. He looked around, embarrassed by his slip of the mind.
Gaius put a hand on the old engineer’s shoulder and looked at Helfria. “This is not the Greimere. We’re talking about a people who have been our allies for a thousand years. We’re talking about an entire regiment of Sabans and Twileens who, for whatever reason, broke away from Rellizbix to serve Faeir leadership. War cannot be our first option for this.”
“Saban or not, they are traitors, Senator.” General Regulus glowered at the man from beside Helfrick. “I will not sit and break bread with them.”
“With respect, General, I wouldn’t send you on any mission requiring diplomacy.”
“It doesn’t matter,” the king interrupted. “I don’t believe the Greimere are gone just because we haven’t seen them. They’re in the Wilderness somewhere; regrouping and planning. This warlord is powerful and smart; we have to be ready for his next strike. Let the Faeir try their hand at governing for now. Our eyes must stay to the south.”
Helfrick dismissed the gathering and headed toward his quarters. Helfria broke away and caught up to her father. “I think I should travel to Gaia and meet with the Counsel. They will allow me in quicker than anyone else capable enough for diplomacy.”
“We’re not going to worry about the Faeir, Helfria. They may be traitors, but they’re hardly a threat.” Helfrick entered the living quarters of the keep and shut the door behind Helfria. Taking a seat in one of the high-backed chairs, the King rubbed his face of exhaustion and sighed, deep and heavy. “Everything is falling apart, Helfria. Andronicus came from nowhere and now openly defies me in front of the people. I don’t even disagree with his stance on the Stone Seers, but it’s not as simple as forcing the Faeir into something… as we can all now see.”
Wrath of the Greimere (Hell Cliffs Book 2) Page 25