Halcyon The Complete Trilogy (18 page)

Kella almost stopped when she realized.

She’s testing me. She doesn’t trust me, so she’s taunting me with coded conversations and shady business partners. And I’ll bet that any investigation into her business will end in a dark alley and a bullet in the back of my head.

Outside the prosthetics shop, Kella watched Lady Sade step up into a small coach of oiled teak and polished brass drawn by a massive spotted sivathera. The young woman atop the carriage shook the reins, the long-necked beast dipped its huge antlers, and the coach quickly rolled away down the street. Kella frowned at the enormous steaming pile in the road where the coach had waited, and she turned to join the foot traffic in the opposite direction.

Well, I guess that leaves me with three career-ending options
, she thought.
After all, anyone crass enough to drive through a working-class neighborhood with a sivathera is just begging for trouble. What sort of woman would I be if I didn’t oblige her?

It was a short walk back to the police station past the lines of people waiting outside the temple for a bowl of stew and a crust of bread, and past the lines of people waiting outside the offices of Othmani Mills for a job smelting brass or weaving cloth. The station house was unusually quiet when she arrived and Kella sat at her desk, staring at her ink-stained blotter and half-chewed pencils.

The man at the next desk said, “Hey Kella, how’d your meeting go?”

“Hey Usem,” she said. “It wasn’t quite what I thought it would be.”

“What’s that mean? She wants to pay you under the table for a little private security work?” Usem shrugged. “They’re all like that. I say, take the money and slack off on whatever she wants done. She’ll cut you loose after a few weeks and you walk away with a clear conscience and a pocket full of change.”

Kella raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to overlook how quickly you came up with that little nugget of advice. Just tell the captain that I may not be around for a few days. I’ve got to go keep an eye on a few people of interest.”

“Alone? All right.” Usem shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “Just watch your ass out there. You know what happened to last person who signed up to do odd jobs for Lady Sade.”

“Yeah, I know.” Kella grinned. “That’s why I volunteered for this.”

Chapter 17. Qhora

The first thing that Qhora noticed as they approached the North Station in Arafez was the huge animal standing in the street below the platform. Its shoulders bulged at the base of its long neck, and a knobby rack of antlers crowned its broad skull. Large brown spots covered its tawny hide, and the black harness belted around its belly glistened with fresh oil and polished brass studs. The coach behind the creature appeared just as costly as the harness and tack, though the driver perched atop the coach did not appear very pleased to be seated on it.

Finally, a touch of civilization
, she thought.

As the little black engine chuffed and squealed into the station, Qhora noted the tall woman standing on the platform watching them pull in. She wore an elaborately wrapped dress of blue and green layers with a gold chain belt, gold bracelets, and gold bands in her billowing mane of brown and red hair. A young man in a blue suit stood behind her in the stiff pose and vacant expression that Qhora found common to all servants. She glanced at the soldier at her feet and asked, “Berkan?”

The soldier, still sitting on the floor of the cab, craned his neck around to look out. “It’s Lady Sade. I suppose she’s come to greet you, my lady. I think you’ll be staying with her tonight.”

Qhora nodded.
At last, a friend. Someone who understands the proper exercise of power. Someone who understands the order of things
. “Very good. Enzo, please bring the cubs. After we are settled, you’ll need to come back here to the edge of the city to wait for Wayra and Atoq and bring them to the Lady’s home.” She turned to look into his eyes. “Please.”

The hidalgo inclined his head, his eyes hidden by the brim of his hat.

For a moment she considered reaching out to him, touching his arm, his hand. Maybe look into his eyes to try to see what was going on in that head of his.
He’s all I have left now, if I even have him at all anymore. I’ll need to find some time for him later. To apologize, at the very least. I can’t believe I said those things to him. To him!

When the train came to a full stop, Qhora stepped down and approached the tall woman as gracefully and demurely as any creature had ever moved. She smiled and bowed her head and in her clearest Mazigh said, “Good afternoon, Lady Sade.”

“Good afternoon, Lady Qhora.” Sade gestured to her servant and the young man stepped forward to help Lorenzo with the cages. She continued in Espani, “When I heard about the disaster in Tingis last night, I instantly thought of you and your precious gifts for our queen. I sent a telegram, but unfortunately by the time my messenger arrived at your hotel this morning you had already left, so I sent Sergeant Berkan to collect you in this engine. I’m sorry I was not able to arrange a passenger car as well, but there were none available on such short notice.”

“It was just fine. Thank you for your generosity.”

Lady Sade scanned the train behind the Incan princess. “I see only one of your servants and only one of my soldiers. Sergeant, you’re shot.” It was not an exclamation, merely a statement of fact.

“Yes, my lady.” Berkan stepped gingerly off the train and crossed the platform, clutching his arm to keep the weight off his shoulder. “A second engine crashed into ours shortly after we found Lady Qhora. Two men and a woman attacked us. They killed my men, and one of the Lady’s men, but I was able to subdue them, with some help.”

“My bodyguard fought the woman, but she escaped,” Qhora said. “I think we heard her name. What was it, Enzo?”

“Shifrah,” the hidalgo said.

“Unusual name,” Lady Sade said. “Well, Sergeant, I believe you should find your barracks physician as quickly as you are able. You have my heartfelt thanks for your valiant service today and my condolences on your losses. I’ll be certain to commend your performance to your commander when next I speak to him. Lady Qhora, you may join me in my coach. Your man may follow with my footman.”

Everyone bowed their heads and took the lady’s directions without comment. Qhora caught the tired but thoughtful look in Lorenzo’s eyes as he trudged past in silence with one of the caged cubs.
Why won’t he look at me? He used to love looking at me.

She climbed into the coach and settled on the narrow velvet seat across from the governor of Arafez. The driver called out, “Yip yip!” and the huge spotted beast lowed in reply. A heavy hoof-step thundered through the floor boards as the coach jerked into motion. The vehicle shook and bounced as it rolled up and down the cobbled streets and only a sliver of light penetrated the velvet curtains covering the windows. Qhora sniffed and her eyes watered at the alcoholic sting of something unnaturally flowery in the air.

Dear gods, is that meant to be perfume?

“So, Lady Qhora, I understand you are a prominent figure in the court of Emperor Manco in the New World. I should very much like to visit your country some day.”

Qhora raised an eyebrow. “I would not advise it, Lady Sade. Most people from the east succumb to the Golden Death shortly after they visit our shores. My escort, Lorenzo, was one of the few men who survived it.”

“The Golden Death?” Sade asked. “It sounds more decadent than deadly.”

Aha! A bit of intelligent conversation should go far with this woman.
Qhora smiled and said, “The Espani gave it that name. They said it was a curse from their god for trying to steal our gold. In truth, the disease turns the flesh red as the boils form and then burst. Blood runs from the eyes and ears. And shortly before death, green leaves and vines erupt from the skin and blood-red flowers begin to bloom. Perhaps it should be called the Red Death.”

Sade blanched. “How fortunate that this plague does not affect your own people.”

Qhora shook her head. “It did affect my ancestors long ago, but we cultivated an immunity to it over time. Our sages keep a pure strain of the original disease for ceremonial purposes in a family of small monkeys cloistered in a temple outside Cusco.” Qhora continued smiling.
Perfect. Our scientific advances in medicine should certainly impress her.

“Fascinating.” Sade turned her attention to the narrow glimpses of the outside world through the waving velvet curtains. “I have heard that your escort is a well-known diestro. Don Lorenzo Quesada, yes? Was your other companion also an Espani fencing master?”

“No, he was an Aztec warrior. A knight of the Jaguar Order.” Qhora glanced down at her hands folded in her lap and began picking at the lace frills at her wrists.

Was that really what he wanted? To be burned and abandoned on a dusty plain, unmarked and unremembered? We should have discussed such things beforehand. I wonder if I should discuss them with Enzo soon. Just in case
.

“Lady Sade, I believe that my life is in danger. I have been attacked three times since arriving in Marrakesh. If not for my companions, I would surely be dead at this moment. Enzo tells me that some of your people…”
Careful! I can’t say that she rules over an impoverished mob at the brink of chaos
. “…may not wish me to be here, in your country.”

“Ordinarily, I would call that utter nonsense. The people of Arafez, and indeed all of Marrakesh, have nothing but respect and admiration for our cousins across the sea.” Lady Sade gestured vaguely at the veiled window. “We adore the mighty creatures brought back from the New World. For instance, we have several dozen megatheras here in Arafez to power our mills. They’re so much larger and stronger than our native sivatheras. And the young men enjoy riding your nankas. They hold races just outside the city throughout the summer.”

“Nankas?” Qhora asked. “You mean hatun-ankas?”
Not even
Manco would sell a great eagle to an easterner, or give one as a gift. Only a thief could have brought them back here, and only as eggs or hatchlings. They’re all thieves in this land
. “I should very much like to see your races one day. In my country, they are ridden only for war or protection, as befits their noble rank among all beasts and their savage nature as killers.”

“Perhaps we have tamed them,” Sade said. “After all, Marrakesh is a tame land. We have shaped the earth and water to our will. Hills and rivers have become foundations and canals. We have mastered the land, but not ourselves, I’m afraid.”

“Oh?” Qhora leaned forward.

“Well, my dear, for many years our queens have bought peace from the neighboring kingdoms with our machines, but our enemies no longer fear our science. They are building railways in Persia and sailing steamships across the Middle Sea. Soon the skies will be filled with Songhai airships as well. And when we have nothing left to sell, there will no longer be any reason for our enemies to leave us in peace. When they know all our secrets, we will be worthless to them.”

“You fear an invasion?”

“Of course. Marrakesh sits between mountains rich in ore and oceans rich in food. We control the shipping lanes through the Strait. But our ancient allies are weak. España, Italia, Numidia. They’re all shadows of what they once were. And we cannot trust anyone else to stand by us without pillaging our resources when our backs are turned. The Bafours and Kel Ahaggar harry our borders already. War is coming, my lady. A terrible war that will be fought with terrible machines.”

Qhora shrugged. “I’m sorry to hear this. I’m rather tired of war, myself. As a child in Cusco, I saw countless civil wars, several of which threatened to destroy my city and my family. As I grew older, the wars moved north and east as the Empire spread across the continent, swallowing up the savage kingdoms on our borders. It was once called the Tawantin Suyu Empire, for its four great nations. Now it is the Jisquntin Suyu Empire.”

“Meaning?”

“Nine nations,” Qhora said with only a hint of smile. “But then, three years ago, the Espani invasion began.”

“Yes, I’ve read of it. But your Empire triumphed, and quickly at that,” Sade said, her gaze fixed on a sliver of light between the waving curtains. “I suppose the Golden Death defeated your enemies for you.”

“Many of them, yes.” Qhora recalled the bloated and bleeding faces of the white soldiers, their skin bulging and oozing. “But there were still many battles. The Espani brought guns and armor on their ironclad ships, and they built little wooden castles by the sea. But their forces were slow and heavy and cautious. Our riders and hunters were swift and light and fearless. You don’t need swords or cannons to kill a man. A sharp thorn and a drop of venom will do just as well. The hatun-ankas are faster than any horse, and many times deadlier. And the Espani had nothing but little dogs to face the kirumichi.”

“Kiru…?” Lady Sade glanced at her, a quizzical look in her raised eyebrow.

“Kirumichi. The Espani call them saber-toothed cats. The same as the cubs we brought for your queen. Have you ever seen an adult, my lady?”

Sade shook her head.

Qhora beamed. “Then I look forward to introducing you to Atoq, my hunter. He is following us along the train tracks and should be here later this evening.”

Sade froze for an almost imperceptible moment, and then shifted her whole body to face the princess squarely and she leaned forward as she said, “You brought a man-eating war-cat to Marrakesh? Through Tingis?”

“Yes.” Qhora’s smiled faded.
She’s afraid
. “I assure you, he’s perfectly safe and obeys my every command. He would only kill to protect me, as he did today when the Shifrah woman attacked us.”

“I see.” Lady Sade continued to scrutinize her companion for several long moments, her forehead slightly creased and eyes slightly squinted and mouth slightly frowning. But then she blinked and the dark cloud over her vanished. “Lady Qhora, you clearly have a wealth of knowledge about the world. Few women of power have travelled as far and seen as much as you. Your wisdom and experience will no doubt impress Her Highness in Orossa. You must be looking forward to meeting her when you deliver your gifts from Prince Valero.”