She Who Has No Name (The Legacy Trilogy) (63 page)

‘Perhaps that is why you are the Queen and I am the prisoner.’

She smiled at this, and he marvelled at the perfect dimensions of her features.  Men would probably throw themselves to their deaths just to catch a glimpse of such beauty. 

‘You know, Samuel, the war is as good as over.  Your quest to return the Empress and her child are pointless.  Even if I released them to you now, the Empire would already be fallen by the time you return.  Nearly every one of the Turian cities has surrendered in peace.  Only Cintar stubbornly remains, bristling with weapons to defy me, and my soldiers will wipe that city from the earth within months.  Your little success at Ghant delayed my forces, but they will reach your city eventually.  It cannot be any other way.’

‘Even if Cintar falls, the Empire will live through the young Emperor.’

‘Of course.  Then I see you realise I can never allow
him
to live.’

‘I do,’ Samuel told her.

‘So why, then, do you continue your infernal charade to have me release
him and his mother
?’

‘Because I live in hope.  If I can convince you to give up on this war, you will have no reason to kill them and I will have no reason to kill you.’

The Paatin Queen laughed aloud.  ‘Oh, you are amusing, Samuel.  Am I really forging such a place in your heart that you can speak so openly?  Is it love or hate that drives your words?
 
I sometimes get the two confused.  But you really are naive, Samuel, and perhaps that’s why I find you so intriguing.  Why do you think I would want to end this war when I already have it won?  Soon, there will be no Empire to remember and everyone in Amandia will be nurtured beneath my bosom.  After a few generations, there will be no memories of the Empire and no one will be interested in the descendants of a long dead Emperor.’

‘True,’ Samuel admitted.  ‘But I still cannot condone the death of an innocent woman and child when I have vowed to return them to safety.’

‘Then I will keep them safely, Samuel.  How does that sound?  I will let them live out their days in luxury in my city and they will not suffer or miss their old lives.  The war is over and I have won.  Taking Cintar is only a matter of time.  I have heard much about the virtues of your Order and I know your duty as a magician is to all the people of Amandia, Samuel, no matter which flag or banner may be raised at the time.’

‘Are you suggesting that I abandon my ties to the Empire and serve you?’

‘I will not command you, Samuel, for I respect your individuality and your value for life.  It is something that few of my wizards possess.  I only hope you will serve the good of the land.  You know much about magic and I know you are much stronger than you have yet shown.  My spies have reports on you more detailed than you could imagine.  A magician of your unique properties can do wondrous things.  I can give you your own Order, free to direct as you choose.’

‘And you would free the Empress and her son, and give them homes in your city?’

‘They are already free, although restricted by walls as you are restricted to the palace.  They will be as royalty and never want of anything, I promise, but I can never allow them total freedom.  Given the choice, I am sure they will not mind choosing a limited freedom to death.’

Samuel considered the proposition.  ‘Then I agree.  I will stay and assist you however I can.  I only have one condition.’

‘What is it?’

‘I need you to free the rest of my friends.’

‘I would like to grant your wish, but I cannot risk having rogue magicians roaming my palace.  Om-rah would tear my city apart if he even suspected that I was keeping Balten hidden away from him.  That infernal man has an unfortunate history with my people, so I’m afraid he will need to stay where he is for a while longer—at least until he learns his lesson—and he may die before that.  I’m actually surprised that he dared to come back here, knowing full well what awaited him.  Your injured friend, too, will need to have patience.  He is faring much better than poor Balten, but I need him kept where he can’t get up to any mischief.  He has been quite vocal in his cell and he is too powerful to be released until he becomes a little more...manageable.  Don’t worry, my healers are taking care of him and he is not suffering.  The others, however, will be freed as you desire.  The one called Ferse and the Koian, Canyon, will be released and restricted to the palace, on similar terms
as
you and the Koian woman.  I expect you to speak to them and care for them as Utik’cah has for you.  I can’t expect him to spend all his time chasing after you all.  He has my armies to command and much other business to attend to.’

‘Very well.  But if you don’t want magicians causing trouble, why do you let me roam free?  Aren’t you afraid of what I might do?’

‘Oh, Samuel,’ she said, amused by his comments, and she leaned over and
patted
his cheek, much to his chagrin.  ‘You look so cute when you say such silly things.’

Their barge had now cleared the city and was idling along in the middle of the river at the beck
and call
of the current.  The oarsmen had ceased rowing and stood stiffly in their places, awaiting further command.  At this point, the river had grown wide and shallow, so that Samuel could see the bottom not far beneath their vessel.

‘Follow me,’ Alahativa said and stood, offering her hand to Samuel.  He took it and she led him to the side of the barge, where she leaned upon the handrail with her slender fingers and looked out upon her fields.

‘This was once a barren land.  I brought the river from the stones and
made
fields from the sand.  I made life where there was none, and from this spring of life came my people, almost as if from my own womb.  I have never had children of my own, but I love each and every one of my people, and they love me.  How do you think that feels, Samuel, to be the mother of so many?  I must care for them always,
be
eternally worried for them,
remain
ever mindful of their every suffering.  I did not go to war wantonly.  The desert sands have begun to devour my pastures and there is no force that can prevent that from happening.  I have built this Empire from nothing but sand and I will not see it return to that.  I sought a treaty with your Emperor long ago, but he treated my diplomats with contempt and refused, instead sending spies into my deserts to find me—but find me he did not.  I did not choose war, but it has been forced upon me.  Ajaspah is coming and the Star of Osirah has helped fortify my resolve.  My people will fight with the strength of lions and only when the lands of the
W
est are theirs, will they rest.  I have only killed when required and there have been many more battles won without a drop of blood being spilt than those that have required a violent resolution.  I have never heard of your Empire holding
out
such care for life.’

‘Any bloodshed is unacceptable.’

‘That does not reflect reality, Samuel, and you know it.  I know that you harboured a desire to ruin the Empire.  I would have thought you could share some of my vision.  But perhaps you would enjoy proving yourself useful?  My warriors are already fierce and loyal and Utik’cah trains them well, but my wizards lack the strength that you and your friends possess.’

She looked at him expectantly and Samuel took the suggestion willingly.  ‘Perhaps I can instruct them further.  But what of your arch-wizard—Om-rah?’

‘He has become much too focussed on his own experiments and has let the education of the others suffer.  I will speak to him about this and see if we cannot find a way to introduce you without upsetting him too much.’

Samuel raised an eyebrow.  ‘I didn’t think any of your servants could deny any request you made?  Is Om-rah not afraid of your axemen?’

Alahativa feigned offence.  ‘Oh, Samuel.  What a terrible thing to say.  Everyone in my
E
mpire can speak openly.’

He forced a thoughtful nod of agreement.  ‘Forgive me.  I have obviously assumed in error.’

She shouted out a command in the Paatin tongue and her oarsmen snapped into life, half-digging their oars in deep while the others reversed their strokes, setting the barge to spin until they were facing back upstream. 

‘You know, Samuel, I think your answer to my question was not entirely honest.  Perhaps you sought to judge from my reaction?’

‘Oh?’ Samuel responded.  ‘What do you mean?’

‘We both know which characteristic you value most.  It is inherent in you—as much a part of yourself as your flesh and bones.’

‘And what is that?’

‘Tenacity.  The true victor never gives up
on
anything he begins.  I see that in you, Samuel, as I see it in myself.  That is what has brought us together.’

‘Perhaps you are right,’ Samuel told her.  ‘While others begin what they believe in, it is only the stubborn who persevere long enough to reach their goal.’

The Paatin Queen smiled and nodded in agreement.  She stepped lightly back to her chair and Samuel followed as the vessel crawled back towards the city of Hol.  She had given him a clear message
:
she would not trust him just yet and she knew he would not give up on his mission quite so easily.

‘What happened?’ the Koian woman asked, waiting impatiently in his room for his return.

‘We have more time,’ he told her.  ‘And I know where the Empress is being kept.  At least, I know where she is not.  I’m sure she is not in the dungeons, and I feel she is not in the city but perhaps in another place nearby.  The Queen would not risk me stumbling upon her—not yet.’

‘So what will you do?’

‘I need to find out more about where she could be.  But
,
even so, I can’t go yet.  I still need to find a way to get the ring from Alahativa’s finger.’

‘If that ring is truly the source of her power, I can’t imagine her ever taking it off.’

‘We shall see.’

‘Do you have a plan?’ she asked him.

‘Not yet, but I am thinking of something.’ 

‘You say that a lot, Magician,’ she said sourly, then after a moment she piped up quite suddenly.  ‘I spoke to her a few days ago.’

‘To whom?’

‘That witch—the Paatin Queen.’

‘What did she say?’

‘She didn’t say anything.  She asked me some questions and I answered them—but that wasn’t what she wanted.’

‘Oh?’

‘She wanted to see me—compare me to herself.  That is how she thinks.  She is vain.  She walked around me and examined me, like a wolf encircling a sheep.  It made me shiver, but
,
as she spoke
,
I learned something important about her.’

‘What is that?’

‘Everything she says is a lie.  Even when she believes she is speaking the truth, she is only deceiving herself.  Her only ambition is to retain her position as their leader
,
of being adored.  Everything she does is to reinforce her own image and to gain even greater power.  She is selfish in every way.’

‘Then this may surprise you.  She agreed to let Sir Ferse and Ambassador Canyon free.’

At this, the Koian stamped her foot.  ‘I don’t want that fiend anywhere near me!’

‘I thought you wanted to kill him?’

‘I do, but not now—when I am ready.  He has a way of telling me things and I always end up believing him.’

‘Then just don’t,’ Samuel said.

‘I wish it were that easy, but I cannot help it.’

‘Then suit yourself,’ he told her.

With that, she stormed out from his room and slammed the door behind her once more.  He heard her stomp into her own room and slam that door too, before noisily throwing around the furniture, amid wails of dismay from Shara, her old attendant.  Samuel smiled at this, for he felt satisfaction at raising the girl’s ire.  Every time he broke through her hard exterior and forced her to show some emotion, it felt like a small victory.