Flight of the Nighthawks (34 page)

Black liquid fire,
Kaspar thought, and the three magicians seemed to be using everything they could keeping it in check. Kaspar could see that while the three magicians had to act in concert and be mindful of those they protected, Varen was under no such constraint. He could lash out blindly in all directions and felt no concern over any other person's well-being.

At last Kaspar saw the face of evil, unadorned, unmitigated, and without apology, and it caused him to feel hopeless.
How can we ever stand in the face of this?
he wondered and for a moment he was ready to concede the day.

Then he saw movement behind the throne; it was barely visible through the raging black flame beating against Pug's defenses.

 

Nakor motioned for Bek to follow him. “Stay close,” he said, holding up his hand.

Ralan Bek asked, “What are we doing here?”

“Something good.”

“I don't care about good, Nakor.”

“Then something fun.”

“All right,” said the young man, a smile on his lips.

Everyone around them had fled and Bek could now see some sort of confrontation going on between the man on the dais and three figures at the edge of the railing that ran around the upper plaza. Then, something icy cold, black, and liquid seemed to burst around them, and Nakor held up his hands, as if warding something off from overhead.

A bubble of force, something unseen, kept the black flames from touching them. “We must be quick,” said Nakor, as he mounted the steps behind the throne. “I can't do this for very long. It's a hard trick.”

When they reached the royal seat, the man before it was shrieking like a fishwife, his words incoherent as he sent wave after wave of life-sucking energy at those cowering below. Only the three figures of Magnus, Miranda, and Pug stood against him, using all their arts to protect those around them and on the plazas below.

Nakor kept one hand high above his head, then with the other touched Bek on the shoulder. “Kill him, please.”

With a grin, Bek pulled his sword, stepped up and drove it straight into the back of the possessed Emperor.

 

Suddenly the black, oily flames vanished, and there was silence. Kaspar could see Varen standing motionless, mouth open and his eyes wide in surprise.

The sorcerer looked down at the blade protruding through his stomach and said, “Again?” Then he stumbled forward a step as Bek pulled his sword free, and collapsed on the dais.

Suddenly the Emperor's body shuddered, and Pug and the other magicians turned. Nakor stood above the fallen sorcerer and he put one hand on Bek's chest and said, “Back!”

A monstrous howl, like ten thousand years of rage, erupted from the body, and many covered their ears and grimaced in pain. A brilliant green flame sprang from the Emperor's corpse and through it a slender thread of green energy pulsed for a moment, then sped upward into the night sky, and then northeast.

In an instant there was bedlam as most of those remaining fled from the upper plateau. By now there was also a wholesale exodus from the lower plaza, so that by the time Pug reached Kaspar and the princes, only a handful of loyal soldiers remained.

“What was that?” Miranda asked her husband, as Nakor came hurrying down the steps.

Pug looked at Nakor and said, “Varen's death rift?”

“I think so,” said Nakor.

“What does it mean?” asked Magnus.

Pug looked at his wife and son and said, “Later. Right now, the Empire is safe and Varen is gone forever.”

Miranda didn't look happy at this, but nodded. She turned as Turgan Bey reached the princes. “Highnesses, are you harmed?”

Sezioti came to his brother's side and said, “We are fine, Bey.” He looked at his brother. “Grandfather?”

Kaspar said, “Your grandfather died over a year ago, Highness. That miraculous recovery when all thought him on his deathbed was the sorcerer Leso Varen taking over his body. It was he who tried to plunge the Kesh into bloody conflict.”

“Why?” asked the elder prince.

Pug said, “Highness, let us get to the Gallery of Lords and Masters and explain the situation to as many of them as we can. There is much to be done.”

Kaspar looked at the two princes and said, “And to start with, you two must decide how to rule your empire.”

Pug looked back and saw Magnus approaching with his arm around his mother's waist.

“Come,” said the Master of the Imperial Keep, “get inside, please, Highnesses. We must restore order quickly.”

Pug followed the Imperial party to where over a hundred anxious nobles waited, and he knew that hundreds more would be
gathering in the Gallery of Lords and Masters just a few minutes' walk away.

Dangai stepped to the fore of the group and shouted, “Heed the words of your Emperor!” He turned to his brother. “Heed the words of Sezioti, He Who Is Kesh!”

Miranda leaned in to whisper to Pug, “Well, at least that's one problem we won't have to worry about.”

Pug nodded. “But there are others.”

“Aren't there always?” she replied.

 

Hundreds of Keshian leaders sat in mute astonishment at the story that Pug unfolded for them. They sat in the Gallery of Lords and Masters, with Sezioti on the throne once occupied by his grandfather and great-grandmother. Dangai stood at his right hand, while Miranda, Caleb, Nakor, Magnus, and Bek stood off to his left, at a respectful distance.

Pug stood in the circle of the vast arena, looking up at the galleries that rose on every side. He spoke calmly, slowly, and tried to explain what he could about the century-long struggle between his forces and Varen's, but omitted any detail about the Conclave and their role in this. To the Lords and Masters of Kesh it sounded as if a small band of trustworthy magicians had hunted down a renegade of their craft and ended a threat. Most would have scarcely believed the tale that had been told to them, but they had witnessed its finale, and they were now inclined to believe any explanation that brought order out of the chaos they had just observed.

That the succession was apparently without contestation was welcome, for the brothers agreed that Sezioti would rule with Dangai at his right hand.

After Pug finished, Sezioti said, “My Lords and Masters, tomorrow begins the official mourning of our father, for whatever may have occurred tonight, during more than sixty years he ruled with compassion, mercy, and a strong sense of justice.” He let out a long breath as if he had been holding it, and Pug realized that the new emperor was a man feeling every day of his sixty-one years of age.

“We shall endeavor to uphold his legacy and rule as wisely.” He looked around the gallery. “Please, return to your homes and spread the word: all is well within Great Kesh.”

Slowly, the mighty leaders of the Empire left the gallery, while Turgan Bey motioned for those on the floor to exit through the door behind the throne. Sezioti was the last to leave, and with an obvious expression of regret, he cast a look backward over his shoulder.

As they moved through the hallway reserved for the Emperor's easy passage to and from the gallery and his private apartments, Nakor paused. When Sezioti reached where he stood, he said, “Sorry about your grandfather, Majesty. He was a good man.”

Sezioti's eyes widened. “I recognize you! But…I was only a boy—”

“I'm older than I look,” said Nakor with a grin. “I gave your great-grandmother that boy hawk so the line of royal falcons could be restored.”

The Emperor glanced at Turgan Bey, who nodded and, with a faint smile, shrugged.

“Who is this?” Sezioti asked as they reached the Imperial apartments. Two members of Dangai's Inner Legion stood at the door in place of the dead Household Guards.

“He's Bek,” said Nakor. “He's coming with me.”

“Where are we going?” asked Ralan.

“Home for the night, then someplace else.”

Bek nodded as if Nakor's words explained everything.

Pug turned to Magnus. “Go with Nakor and investigate the death rift site we found west of Maladon. If Varen has escaped again, we need to know where he went.”

Magnus said, “Yes, Father.”

As he turned to leave with Nakor, Pug restrained him with a light touch on his shoulder. “You did well, son. I'm proud of you.”

Magnus looked over his shoulder at his father, then smiled. “Thank you.” Then he moved to Nakor and Bek and said, “The night is young and we have work to do.” Suddenly the three of them were no longer there.

Caleb said, “Father, the boys are with Chezarul and I should go and see to them.” He indicated with a small inclination of his head that he wished to be gone. Pug realized that the fewer of the Conclave's agents who were around to be questioned, the fewer lies they'd have to concoct.

“You also did well,” said Pug, and he watched as his youngest child moved through the many servants and guardsmen in the hall.

 

Turgan Bey arranged a reception in the Imperial apartments with enough food, wine, and ale to satisfy two hundred people. Servants were scarce, as many of them had fled, but a few of the most faithful remained to serve those who entered.

The Master of the Imperial Keep said, “Majesty, I will have the Imperial suites readied for you and your family in a few days' time.”

“There's no hurry,” said Sezioti. “I'm comfortable where I am, and while this room may be suitable for one old man and a score of young girls, I think my wives might have opinions on what needs to be changed.”

The Emperor sat in the chair that his grandfather had occupied when playing chess with Kaspar. “I heard every word you spoke, Pug, and I witnessed the insanity on the plaza myself just…what, two hours ago? But I still can barely believe what has occurred.”

“This is not a bad thing, Majesty,” said Pug. “The sort of evil we face is…daunting, and most people are not even prepared to acknowledge it. Let the official history of Kesh record that your grandfather died this day and that others died as a result of a…mishap. Some fireworks were faulty and unfortunately some people—the old Emperor among them—died as a result. Do not trouble your nation with secrets best left to us few.”

Dangai said, “What of those who attacked us?”

Kaspar looked at Pug, who nodded at him. “The Household Guard must be disbanded to the last man,” said Kaspar, “and may I suggest that a watchful eye be kept on those who were serving closest to your grandfather, Majesty. Varen had years to prepare this mayhem, and many of those serving him were members of the Guild of Death.”

“Others,” Pug said, “were enchanted, like the girls who died this night. Some of those may be redeemed by magic, others may be lost forever, but they must be identified. I can have magicians of Stardock come to see they are all found out.”

“How can we protect ourselves against anything like this happening again?” asked Turgan Bey.

Miranda said, “My lord, for years my husband was a ruling lord of the Kingdom of the Isles, and he had the King's ear, as well as that of the late Prince of Krondor, Lord Arutha. Magicians were part of that court as a matter of course, and one of their tasks was to be vigilant against this sort of evil.”

Sezioti looked at his brother, who nodded. The Emperor said, “Have you someone you might recommend to fulfill a similar function here?”

Pug bowed. “I can send a reliable magician to your court as an advisor on things magical, Your Majesty. A Keshian”—Pug looked up and smiled—“and perhaps even a Trueblood?”

Sezioti nodded and tried to smile, though his heart wasn't in it. “Our thanks, magician, for all that you and your friends have done to save us, our families, and our nation. What may we do to repay you?”

Pug was silent for a moment, then said, “We ask no payment for doing what must be done, but we would ask you to consider two things. The first is to formally recognize what has been de facto for a century—that Stardock is an independent entity, belonging neither to the Kingdom of the Isles nor to the Empire of Great Kesh.”

The Emperor said, “It may be difficult to convince our Lords and Masters, given that Stardock is an anchor in the Vale of Dreams, but we shall endeavor to see it done. What else?”

“That in the future, should another threat such as Leso Varen menace Midkemia, you will think beyond your borders and be willing to render aid, even if Kesh's immediate interests are not apparent. Will you consider that?”

“Before, I would have had a great deal of difficulty understand
ing the wisdom of your request, Master Pug, but I now can imagine how the kings of Roldem and the Isles would feel with that monster sitting on my grandfather's throne, commanding armies unequaled in the world…Yes, if you ever need Kesh's aid, send word and we shall heed you.”

“That's all I ask.”

Sezioti said, “Then I think we are done. Let us relax as best we can, remember our grandfather for the good that he did, and try to blot out the horrors of this evening from our memory.”

“So says He Who Is Kesh,” intoned Turgan Bey.

The others nodded and then Prince Dangai said, “Send for our families. I would have my wives and children close at hand.”

“And the grandchildren,” said the Emperor. “Let us hear the sounds of joyous noise for a while.”

“It will be done,” said Bey, bowing and motioning to a servant to carry word.

Miranda turned to her husband and said, “What now?”

Pug smiled and said, “We have something to eat. I'm famished.”

She returned the smile with a playful jab to the ribs with her elbow. “I mean with the other things.”

Pug's expression darkened. “We wait until we hear from Nakor and then we assess the damage. We've lost men here over the last week, and some of our”—he glanced around to ensure he wasn't being overheard—“agents have been compromised. We'll need to shift some people around.”