by Radu Aldea
Christian was lucky she didn’t have a real weapon in her hands. She threw a sword at him, but he avoided it. “That’s not what the girls in your harem say. I heard them whisper you are the one who needs advice.” Christian did have lovers, but not a harem. In fact, it was more difficult for male senators to take lovers than for the women. They had to worry if the woman got pregnant or not and for that they had to keep controlling them until they were sure. None of them wanted to lose their children. And because you had to control the women for more than a month after you stopped having sex with them, male senators, and especially battle-senators, who had large retinues, didn’t have more than two or three lovers a month. Women like Sarah, who was really attractive, could virtually bed any man she wanted and didn’t even need to order him, didn’t have this problem. They knew if they were going to have a child.
“My women love me. In fact, they adore me so much that in case of war they are willing to fight fiercely for me and they would be more savage and dangerous than the men. They are my army that will defeat all armies.”
They all laughed. It was exactly what Aleyna needed. She had forgotten Christian could be incredibly funny when he wanted. And she had the feeling he was doing it intentionally. He may not be able to read her mind, but he knew what she was thinking and he made her feel better. He was like a brother and was taking care of her in his way.
“Let’s go once more,” Aleyna told Sarah. This time she was focused and defended against Sarah’s attack with ease. She gave the senator some advice about how to move to become more fluid with her combinations. Sarah was going to become a master very soon.
“Your cousin is very talented. Not as good as you, but good enough to be a master.”
Gunnar had somehow sneaked in to watch them. Sarah must’ve known because she still had control of him. The senator didn’t think he would pose a threat, otherwise she wouldn’t have allowed him there. The truth was she wanted to talk to the old man.
“She’s not there yet. She will be ready soon, though.”
“You are a very harsh taskmistress.”
“Maybe, but that’s what she expects. Sarah doesn’t like being coddled.”
“You’re Aleyna Turing, aren’t you?” So Gunnar wasn’t really sure it was her. Aleyna was an unusual enough name and she was the right age, but that was not enough for certainty.
“I am.” Aleyna saw the old man’s eyes tearing. She didn’t think her answer would have such an effect on him. Acting on impulse, she hugged him and he didn’t let go of her.
“Do you remember me?”
“I have some memories. I’m not sure they are real, but I know who you are. There is no way I can repay what you did for me and my family and I forgot you existed until yesterday.”
“There’s no need. It was my duty. And they aren’t your cousins, are they?” Gunnar asked about Sarah and Thea. Thea had been watching their practice as well, but had kept quiet.
“What do you think?” Aleyna had no immediate family, all had been killed fifteen years ago. She was the only one to escape the massacre. Gunnar knew all that. He had been there.
“Stupid question! I never knew your kind actually trains for combat or has a need for it,” Gunnar told Sarah proving he knew what she was. Gerick was rumored to recognize senators, which was untrue, but the old man actually did it. It was easier for him, since he knew who she was and who had taken her. Aleyna doubted he would recognize all senators.
“We will probably never have to fight with something other than our minds, but if that need arises some of us like to be prepared. Not all senators are trained fighters.” Sarah.
Most battle-senators were highly skilled warriors. The rest of the Order was not that committed. They had less money and had to obey their patrons, but, in the same time, less was demanded of them and they had more free time to pursue their interests, which sometimes was good and other times bad. Boredom can creep up on you when you had nothing to do, so some of them had become scholars. Thea, for example, who received enough money from the family and didn’t need more, studied mathematics and had other less scientific pursuits nobody cared about, Aleyna was sure. Sarah, on the other hand, had more difficulty finding time for herself. Some were administrators. Kara had one to look after her estates and make sure the taxes were collected and everyone got their share. Other senators had humans doing this job. This way they were sure nobody stole from them.
“You two are both good enough, so how come you are not sword-masters?”
“I am a master,” Aleyna answered the old man. “Sarah is not ready yet. Senators have established a parallel system that is stricter. The requirements for becoming a master are more exacting. Only the occasional human is recognized by senators.”
“I am a soldier. Becoming a better fighter is something I did because it kept me alive. Or that’s what I thought. You don’t need it. You choose to put yourself through this. I am well aware how demanding it is to become this good so young. I remember what I went through until I become a master and I was almost thirty. I know what others have sacrificed. Why?”
Why did senators want to become masters and have stricter rules? Aleyna wasn’t sure. She had lived all her life among them and she didn’t know. It was just how things were, a tradition they still respected. Kara didn’t question it, nor did Sarah and Christian.
“The endurance is necessary. One day we might have to go to war and march over a great distance. Learning how to fight, well, that’s just fun,” Sarah answered Gunnar.
It was fun. Aleyna didn’t have to learn. She did because it was what Kara was doing. Rufus hadn’t asked anything from her. She had made her own choices. Aleyna could’ve studied mathematics or poetry, but learning about strategy and tactics was a lot more interesting. She wasn’t uneducated and had also been thought all those things. In fact, her education was better than that of any human, man or woman.
It was Christian’s turn to answer Gunnar’s question. “We do it because we are better than anyone at everything and we want to prove it.”
That was true. It was something that set senators apart: that drive to become better. Aleyna had it, most of the humans didn’t. She wasn’t sure about wizards or sorceresses. Part of that drive came from who senators were, but another part, maybe the most important, came from the way they were organized. They were strictly hierarchical and with that came the desire to be on top. They all wanted it, even the plebs. Aleyna couldn’t stop herself from poking at Christian. “That’s not what the women in your harem say.”
Everyone laughed, including Gunnar. “Does he really have a harem?”
It was a misconception humans held about male senators. Aleyna knew that Christian didn’t. “Probably! How would I know what he hides in Hilderfort or the villages?”
“Be serious, Aleyna! He probably thinks you mean it. Where would I get the energy and the time for that? Besides, human women are stupid and dull, even the rich ones. Sure, some of them are pretty, but you still get bored of them fairly quickly.”
Just like that the dreams of so many women of becoming consorts were shattered. Aleyna wasn’t exactly surprised Christian thought that way. He had been raised by an intelligent and powerful woman. Compared to Marcia human women, who were kept ignorant by the men of their families, were exactly how Christian described them. It was only the rare daughter of a rich human lord or elder of a city who had a sufficient education. Sure, there was such a thing as innate cleverness and some women had it, but what worked with human males didn’t work on senators. Not when they knew every thought you had.
“Do all of them think that way?” Gunnar asked.
“They should! It’s the truth. Human women are uneducated, weak and lack any sort of will, usually.” Aleyna may’ve been a bit brutal in her assessment, but she was in no mood to do any favors to her race. She was becoming quite annoyed with them.
“It’s what you think, too, isn’t it?”
She thought of how to answer Gunnar questio
n without offending. Aleyna didn’t know if he had a daughter or a wife whom he loved. Or he might have very strong beliefs and thought women of any kind inferior, just like Albert. “I was raised by senators and was surrounded by highly independent, intelligent women. I think like them, but that’s not really surprising.”
“You should remember you are not a senator. You don’t have their power.”
What the old man didn’t add was that the senatorial power was what made a senator. The way they were was a result of that power. “I may not be able to control people, but that doesn’t mean I am powerless. Far from it, I assure you.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing. Killing someone because of some perceived slight or because you think he disrespected you is what a senator would do. To me it seems a little rash. A master should show more restraint and control his emotions better.”
Gunnar was chiding her for being rash. That was incredibly amusing and wrong. He really had no idea what Gerick had been planning. He might be a good warrior and competent administrator, but he was not much of a politician. The senators were looking at each other and smiling. “That’s not why I killed him. If it were, I would’ve killed Albert too.”
It was Sarah’s turn to respond. “We don’t have to kill that idiot. His cousin will as soon as she finds out what he said. Aleyna’s decision was extremely rational and not ruled by emotion. We all agreed and if she hadn’t done it, I would have. She wanted to seem impulsive, which was why she baited that man, so nobody would question why she killed him.”
Gunnar looked stunned so Aleyna added. “Gerick has ambitions and in order to realize his ambitions he needs your gold. You wouldn’t give it up so he was going to kill you. That man was going to challenge you. I solved the problem. And that’s only one of the reasons he had to die. There are far more compelling ones, believe me.”
“Your gold, my lady! Are you forgetting I am only the keeper?”
“What need do I have of gold? Do what you wish with it. Keep it to yourself, divide it among your people, give it away, I don’t care.” Christian cleared his throat. Evidently, he didn’t agree with Aleyna’s generosity and had other plans for the gold.
“You should’ve told me that before I refused the duke and you killed his man.”
Perhaps she should’ve clarified that when she said he could do what he wished with the gold that didn’t include giving it to Gerick. She had no desire to finance the duke’s ambitions. He had made a mistake, anyway. By getting involved with Ilan he attracted the attention of senators, which was unfortunate for him. Aleyna didn’t exactly know what the duke had been thinking. Maybe he hoped a new religion would consolidate his rule. “It doesn’t matter now!”
“Suddenly, you have taken an interest in her lands, while for years you didn’t care.”
“We haven’t before, but we do now,” Christian summarized their position. People in Suttland mistakenly thought senators were not that involved in their lives. In a way they were right, the Order chose to rule from the shadows and mostly left them to their own devices, but in another way they were wrong. Suttland was the province where senators were most likely to interfere with the human judicial process. Aleyna knew Kara had done exactly that on occasion. Yet humans decided to hold on tightly to their belief and don it like armor. In the end, their illusion of safety was just that, an illusion and they would realize it one day.
“You’re too young to remember how it was before the war: the barons were always feuding with each other, alliances were made and unmade in a heartbeat, brigands were controlling the countryside, gangs the cities. Wizards did nothing to change this, partly because they didn’t care, but mostly because they couldn’t. Your kind has brought stability, prosperity and safety to the province. No one else can do what you do. For that alone and you have my respect. Killing Gerick will create instability. It would be like before. It already feels like before. He might deserve it, he’s tried to kill me and is probably considering killing her, but you must let it go for the well-being of thousands who would otherwise die. I hope you care about that.”
The old man definitely guessed Gerick’s intentions this time. Aleyna was well aware that might happen when she killed his man. She also knew when she came here they might end up killing everybody. It would be easy to blame it on an argument between human lords that turned deadly. Those kinds of things had happened before and it would solve their priest problem. The reason they hadn’t done that so far was because of a conversation Sarah related.
It had happened earlier between Ilan, Gerick, Albert and Olav. The priest had been present for part of it and got blamed for her actions. He accepted responsibility and didn’t sell her out. He didn’t come to her defense, either. When Ilan left, Albert spoke first.
“We should kill them all and send their heads to senators.”
“They are guests and killing them while they are under our roof has consequences.”
“Why did we allow them in, anyway?” Albert asked and they all wanted to know.
“I have allies who advised me to meet him. I saw no reason to refuse them.” Sarah explained who these allies were: barons from the Land between the Rivers, the very same men who had sent the sword-master to kill Gunnar. Why would they be interested in Suttland politics? Aleyna was sure there was some kind of plan and if he just focused, she would see it.
“That bitch killed someone in your house because she thought she was being insulted and she will just go unpunished?” Albert showed his dismay.
“She obeyed the law. It was a duel and she won,” Olav countered.
“I’ll have to contact my allies. They can’t be any happier about this than I am. They might withdraw their protection from the priest and I’ll deal with her,” Gerick spoke.
“I’m not sure that is wise,” Olav advised. “I have trained many soldiers and during the fight some can kill and some lose their nerve. Yet, regardless of how well they were trained the first time there is always a moment of uncertainty when you don’t know exactly what to do. You see, training is not real battle. That young woman didn’t hesitate at all.”
“Are you saying she has done this before? When did she get the chance?”
“In Suttland she wouldn’t. You can’t just go around killing people and someone this good would make waves. So either she has managed to keep her activities secret, and I don’t see how she could do that, or she had a better trainer than me. The reason you ascribe to her actions might be wrong. You don’t become a sword-master if you are not able to control your impulses. And son, you insulted her too, and she didn’t come after you.”
“Only because she is afraid of my cousin.”
“See, I don’t think she is. She is protecting that priest, which means she is not overly concerned with senators and she has killed your man even though she must’ve known how the duke would react. So I don’t think she is afraid of Lord Gerick either. Trying to kill her is a very bad idea. I have the feeling that a lot of people will die if you do.”
The conversation went on like that without a consensus being reached. Since there was no immediate danger and they didn’t want to risk exposure, Aleyna decided it was better to wait. They would have advance warning if something was going to happen. Perhaps the old man was right and without Gerick Suttland would fall into anarchy. The Order was not ready yet to fill the vacuum, not when a senatorial war was looming. Personally she thought that Suttland was more stable than that and it would take longer for chaos to set in.
“Actually, we’re not feeling particularly charitable toward humans right now and we don’t really care what will happen to them,” Sarah answered Gunnar. “However, we cannot ignore them when they defy us in such an overt manner.”
“When the imperial authority will collapse here, and it will… everywhere, you will need someone strong enough to occupy the void. Don’t you see how that could be in your interest?”
There was no imperial rule in Suttland anymore, but Aleyna didn’t have the he
art to tell Gunnar. When senators started to militarize here, they took over the imperial army. The few regiments that hadn’t fallen under senatorial control had disappeared, which was another way to say they deserted. They understood which way the wind was blowing. This could evolve into a problem, but right now the senators had more important things on their minds. Besides, the bureaucracy was still in place, senators had not taken interest in them yet, so it was not obvious to everyone what was happening, but it would be soon. The bureaucrats were nothing without the support of the army. Without the threat of violence, why would anyone pay taxes or obey the law?
“Effectively, the emperor doesn’t have any authority in Suttland anymore.” When Christian saw that Gunnar was confused he explained. “We had certain issues with him.”
Their problem was not really with him, but with the sorceresses. The Conclave and the emperor seemed so interconnected it was difficult to distinguish them. Aleyna didn’t like the sorceresses. They were always so insular and never got involved, except to act as bodyguards for the emperor. She wasn’t sure why they did it. The late emperor was powerful enough that he didn’t need their help. His son did and precisely because of that the Conclave should walk away before it got dragged into something they wouldn’t want to be involved in.
“More reason to do nothing to Gerick. You need someone to take over the functions of the governor. I imagine you have your own problems with two of your own dead,” Gunnar told the senators. “I’m not sure you could afford human unrest on top of that right now.”
Those rumors were everywhere. They were more right than not and Aleyna would’ve liked to know who started them, but at this point it was futile. Everybody was talking about the dead senators, yet they were not as scared as they should’ve been.
“It’s not welcomed, but it’s not debilitating either. And even though we lost two very high-ranking senators, we are not chickens who had their heads separated from their bodies.” Sarah was too formal and serious, which Aleyna found adorably amusing. “Perhaps if you are so worried you should start recruiting and training soldiers. Gerick is too sly to be allowed to become more powerful than he already is. We should’ve intervened sooner.”