She Who Has No Name (The Legacy Trilogy) (18 page)

There was quite a bit of murmuring from the audience as the Koians sauntered forwards to the centre of the room.  Whereas before they were meek and even pitiful, a few days’ rest had made all the difference. 

Last amongst the party, and causing the greatest commotion as she entered, was the strangely
-
decorated old woman, walking with the other female Koians at her sides.  Her face was again painted beyond recognition and her clothing had changed, although it was no less outlandish than the last furred outfit
in which
she had been found.  Now, she wore a great feathered gown that had large bundles of coloured cloth gathered up and tied
in
seemingly random positions.  She wore a voluminous
,
black wig that seemed almost solid
and
had two jagged antlers protruding from its sides, making her appear utterly bestial.  Her appearance seemed to make no sense, but at least she had bathed and the overpowering stench had been washed away with the grime. 

The magicians in the room pointed to the woman openly and then gestured towards and remarked about Samuel, obviously comparing their peculiar magical traits.

‘We thank the Imperial Court of Turia for recognising us,’ one of the Koian men began, echoed by Lord Rubrick, who translated for the
benefit
of the court.  It was the same man who had spoken aboard their ship, and it was now evident that he had grey wisps at the sides of his head, and seemed the oldest of the four men.  The three remaining Koian men stood spread behind their leader and they passed their eyes calmly over the crowd that sat assessing them.  ‘And we thank you for rescuing us from our fates at sea.  I am Ambassador Canyon and I would like to pass to you a blessing from Empress Moon.  She had sent us towards a different destination, but fate has found us here.  It is fitting, then, that her blessings should fall to you, our saviours.  I must apologise for throwing ourselves upon your mercy in a time of your own misfortune.  At any other time, we would greet you in a matter befitting two such brother Empires.  However, I fear that given we have been delayed so long and
considering
the state of our nation when we left it, there is little chance that Koia still exists in any meaningful form.’

‘With whom have you been at war?’ asked Chancellor Donovan, curious.

‘With the Eudans.  While we are a peaceful people, we excel at sea travel and trade.  We exchanged our technologies with them in exchange for goods and food.  Unfortunately, once they had our knowledge, they used it to invade our lands in a war that has lasted fourteen years.  Finally, Empress Moon sent us out in twenty of our last and greatest ships to escape.  We were assailed only two days into our trip by Eudan warships based on our own designs, and
we
lost our captain and half the crew.  We fled blindly, without our navigation equipment and separated from the fleet.  We were supposed to find the land of Fisk, far to the south of here but
,
unwittingly
,
followed the trail of the Western Isles.  The continent of Amandia is known to us, but we have not traded so far north in many generations.’

‘We are familiar with Fisk, but we have not heard of your land.  I have a question,’ Donovan stated, and Lord Rubrick translated.  ‘What do you plan to do now, given that your mission has been such a disaster?  As I believe you have been told, we are also besieged by
warring
nations and it is beyond our capabilities to come to your aid.’

The one called Canyon gathered himself and went on.  ‘As I mentioned, our captain and superiors were all killed.  Our ship, as you saw, is ruined.  We have no way of returning home, but that was never our intent.  We were commanded to escape and escape we have, so our mission has not been a disaster at all.  It is with glad hearts that we stand here having finally found success, when only days ago we were on the brink of total failure.’

Chancellor Donovan scoffed at this and looked at
the visitors
with amusement.  ‘My good man, I have no idea how you can call your presence here a success in any form.  You lost nineteen enormous ships and who knows how many men.  Of all your numbers
,
only the eight of you survived.  It seems like the most terrible of losses imaginable.  Not only that, but you seem to have leapt from the frying pan into the fire, for we are currently vying for our lives ourselves.  Our city could be assailed at any time and you could soon be under threat once again.’

Ambassador Canyon absorbed the news indifferently.  ‘Still, we managed to
fulfil
our command.  That is all that matters.  If you wish us to leave, we can—if that is your meaning.’

‘Inform the ambassador from Koia that he and his party can remain our guests for as long as they like,’ Councillor Madhaven said, having chatted briefly with the others around him.  ‘I think we have established that you are of no threat to the Empire and that the court will agree with me in that regard—in the Empress’ absence, of course.  In return, I understand our navy would like the chance to examine your vessel to further their own designs.’

‘That ship is ruined, noble Sir, and has served its purpose.  We need it no more.  Please accept it as the most meagre of gifts.’

‘Tell me, Ambassador Canyon,’ High Lord Jacobs spoke up, obviously eager to get the question out.  ‘Can you possibly introduce the rest of your party?’

The Koian seemed surprised and was quick to respond.  ‘Yes, of course.  It is not customary amongst the noble houses of Koia to introduce the lesser servants but
,
in this situation, I am barely more than a servant myself, so please allow me to introduce them.  This is Stone, Cloud and Horse.’ 
T
he three other men stood without movement or recognition that they had been
named
.  ‘These are Lady Wind, Lady Leaf and Lady River.’  In contrast, at the sound of their names, the ladies nodded.  Lady River was by far the youngest, while the other two were well into middle age. 

During this time, the magicians chortled amongst themselves as the names were mentioned, and many of the others gathered also did so, on hearing the translation.  Quite conspicuously, the costumed woman was left unmentioned and she continued standing motionless amongst them, as if she had been carved from wood.

‘And...’ Jacobs prompted, raising his finger towards her.  ‘Who is that one?’

The question almost set the ambassador knocking at the knees and he looked nervously to his male colleagues behind him.  ‘I...I don’t know how to answer, kind Sir.  Do you not know who she is?’

‘Of course I don’t.  None of us do.  You’ve all just arrived so how could we possibly know who she is!’

‘Again, please forgive me.  Forgive us all, members of the noble court.  I thought it was clear,’ he added, nodding around the room.  ‘Our customs are obviously quite different in this manner.’  Sweat was somehow already pouring down his brow and he looked again to his companions
,
as if pleading for help, but they ignored him altogether.  The ambassador finally gathered the strength to explain himself and forged on.  ‘She is the reason we were sent from our embattled homeland.  Empress Moon charged us with the highest honour and responsibility—to keep her from the Eudans.  This is why I concluded that our mission was a success, for we have saved the greatest treasure in existence.’

‘That thing is a woman?’ High Lord Jacobs asked.  ‘What makes her so valuable that all those others were expendable just to save her?’

‘Why, she is the most precious thing in the universe.  Countless wars have been fought over her since time began
,
including this latest one that has very nearly proved our ruin.  She is the very foundation of all civilisation and other nations have eternally sought to attain her from us, her chosen people.  She is our god.’

There was a disconcerted murmuring from around the room at this.

‘Your god?  What do you call her?’ Jacobs asked, concerned.

‘We do not call her anything,’ the ambassador answered plainly.  ‘What need has a god for names?’

Jacobs spoke briefly with those near him, before speaking up to the ambassador once again.  ‘Are you saying that this hideous creature standing before us is the very reason your nation has now fallen?’

Ambassador Canyon looked shaken by this, and had to collect himself before responding, even managing a nervous smile.  ‘The Eudans were seeking to take her, yes, and that is what started the war.’

‘All this to protect her?’ Jacobs continued.  ‘It seems extreme.’

‘It is not so much that we are merely protecting her.  By keeping her from capture, we are protecting everyone else.’

There was now frustration in Jacobs’ voice.  ‘Really, you must explain yourself.  This is just not making any sense.’

‘Our god is all-powerful, but not in any way that could benefit the Eudans.  We tried to explain that to them, but they would not listen.  They tried to lock her away and deny her the rituals that keep our society ordered and harmonious, but we would not let them.  They would mistreat her and enslave our people in her name.  If she dies improperly
,
it will not be a simple task to find her new mortal vessel and chaos would ensue.  While she is free
,
the world is as it should be and our people can live in hope.’

There were a few moments of silence as everyone in the room digested what they had heard.

‘We will not argue with your beliefs and customs, as they may be, but I have one final and important question for you, Ambassador,’ Jacobs stated and he pointed to the costumed woman appointed as their god.  ‘Is this woman a witch?’

Canyon was perplexed.  ‘I’m sorry.  I don’t understand the question.’  For
witch
was an abstract term in the Old Tongue, and a bastardisation of standard words.  It did not seem to exist in their vocabulary.

‘I’m asking you, does she practise magic?’  The question caused quite a furore amongst the magicians, for not only was such a thing forbidden, it was universally regarded as impossible.  Samuel, however, had learned some exceptions to this rule.  Anyone, man or woman, could access arcane powers through the black arts, by enacting forbidden rites or inciting the Ancient Lick, but it was physically impossible for a woman to harness true magic as practised by magicians.  ‘I must inform you, good Ambassador, that we will know if you are lying and also that the penalty for practising witchcraft in the Empire is death.’

Ambassador Canyon waved his hands before himself to appease the room.  ‘Oh, no.  Of course not, good Lord.  Magic of any kind is also forbidden in our nation.  Any child found with an inclination towards it is quickly put to death.  We would never resort to such things.’

The magicians in the room were incensed even further and some stood from their seats and vented their rage with shouts and shaking fists. 

Grand Master Anthem took over from the failing efforts of High Lord Jacobs.  ‘We thank you for your honest answer, Ambassador Canyon.  I feel we should inform you that many of us here are actually magicians.  Magic is accepted in Turia and we magicians are official appointees of the court.  While magic was
once
not tolerated across Amandia, we now consider it an acceptable practice—when used properly.’

The ambassador looked quite uncomfortable and scanned the various black-robed men in the room, seeming to get the point.  ‘Forgive me, please.  I did not know and did not mean to show disrespect.  As I said, our customs do seem to vary considerably.  Our god’s powers are beyond compare, but she is certainly no
witch
—as you say.’

‘Why have you brought such an abomination to our shores!’ came an excited shout and all eyes turn to view the speaker.  It was Master Celios who now stood from his place, looking flustered.  ‘What dreaded and vile curses have you unleashed upon us!  What have we done to deserve such a detestable fate?’  And he began spluttering and muttering profanities, throwing his hands in all directions.

‘Calm now, Master Celios,’ High Lord Jacobs called and Sir Ferse stepped up beside the old Master, holding him by the shoulder and speaking into his ear.  Eventually, Celios calmed himself and sat down, looking somewhat bewildered.