Steel and Sorrow (29 page)

Guwan grunted. “In the past couple of months I’ve seen the home of my ancestors, set my eyes on wonders few would believe, learned there are other civilizations besides those on Hesh, and have been teleported to one of those places by a man I always suspected was more than what he let on to be. At this point, little will surprise me.”

Nareash smiled. “I knew there was something special about you, Guwan.” He stood up. “Are we ready?”

The two nodded and left their seats, Colan less steady than Guwan.

“Master, I have more questions.”

“And I’ll try to answer them, but let’s get moving. We’ve got a long walk ahead of us.”

* * *

It took them several tries to find a clear path into the better parts of the city. They passed blackened stone and the remains of wooden timbers torn to shreds. The appearance of such ruin made Nareash wonder if sorcery had at least a small part in the destruction.

A very small part. I would have needed the scepter to accomplish something on this level.

Even the better parts of the city still wore signs of age. To Nareash’s surprise, scaffolding hung from the most dire of structures and workers clamored about with new materials in hand.

Hmmm, interesting.

A hand clasped Nareash’s shoulder and yanked him backward. Guwan had pulled him and Colan into a side alley.

The Kifzo pointed to a family crossing the street. “Nachun, these people are different. Their skin is pale. We will stick out among them.”

Nareash chuckled. “I almost forgot about the glamour.” Within moments, both Guwan and Colan wore different faces and the skin on their hands, neck, and face had gone from a deep black to a bronzed tan. “That should do.”

The illusion seemed to disturb Guwan while it fascinated Colan.

Guwan touched his face. “Who are we supposed to be?”

“You are still yourself. You just wear the faces of people I once knew. Don’t worry, it’s only temporary while we walk through the city to the palace.”

“Whose face do you wear?”

Nareash shrugged, having dropped his own glamour. “My own.”

They reentered the street and headed toward the heart of the city near a large bell tower. Nareash knew the palace resided near there.

Made of white stone, the multi-leveled palace hinted at what the rest of Asantia must have looked like when the lands of Thurum had been ruled by the Quoron Empire. Statues of those ancient rulers still adorned the outside walls. One figure stood larger than the rest. General Victas in his legendary armor. Oddly enough, there was nothing commemorating Aurnon the First’s conquering of the city.

Citizens of Asantia dared not pass too close to the palace walls, and outside the gate three dozen soldiers armed in ancient bronze weapons, made sure it stayed that way.

Nareash did not hesitate as he strode up to the gate with Guwan and Colan a half-step behind.

Several of the guards lowered their spears and one spoke. “Turn around. The emperor does not speak with commoners.”

Nareash laughed. “Emperor, is it? And what an empire. I assure you the
emperor
will want to speak with us.”

More men lowered their spears and tensed. Nareash halted. Guwan held weapons in each hand. Nareash never heard them leave their scabbards.

“Put them away, Guwan.” Nareash said over his shoulder. He eyed the guards. “Raise your spears and open the gates.”

A mage slid through a side door near the gate and supported the men.

Green robes? That would be insulting if they knew who I was.

The guards stepped forward, spears ready. Nareash knocked them off their feet with a gust of wind. He focused his mind on their spears and lifted them into the air. Wind took the weapons halfway down the street before clacking to the ground.

He used the wind to throw the mage against a stone wall, knocking him unconscious. Nareash pointed to the nearest guardsmen. “Get up and open the gate. And you,” he said pointing to another. “Run ahead and tell Hezen that High Mage Nareash will be joining him shortly.” He went back to the first guard. “Take me to your
emperor.
”

* * *

Nareash strode into the dining hall of the palace. The smell of heavily spiced meats and fresh bread filled the air. Hezen sat in conference with eight other men. Based on the mannerisms of those around the table, Nareash assumed them to be allies or perhaps those newly conquered by the would-be emperor.

Hezen wore a patch over his right eye and a thick beard concealed most of the burn scars on that side of his face.

The guard Nareash sent ahead to announce his arrival stood at his ruler’s side. Hezen met Nareash’s gaze and pushed the guard away while rising.

Hezen pointed. “Who do you think you are barging into my home?”

Nareash inclined his head at the guardsmen. “I thought I made that clear.”

“High Mage Nareash?” Hezen laughed. “Amcaro killed the lunatic over a year and a half ago. You need to come up with a better tale than that.”

“It’s the truth and I will not be mocked.” Nareash eyed the men around the table. “Dismiss your subjects. Our conversation will go much more quickly without them here.”

“You dare speak to me in my home like I’m a peasant. I am an emperor—”

“You are the emperor of nothing!” shouted Nareash. His magnified voice shook the walls and cracked the windows of the room. Hezen took a step backward. The others in the room glanced to their leader nervously. Nareash softened his tone. “You may have managed a few victories for yourself, but that is nothing to me. Now send your people away.”

A hushed silence fell across the room. After a moment Hezen ordered the others to leave, unable to hide the fury in his voice. One rather large man stayed behind, adorned in high ranking military garb of polished bronze. His hand rested on the pummel of his sword at his waist. He alone seemed unimpressed by the High Mage’s demonstration of power.

“Everyone,” said Nareash.

Hezen sat down. “No. This is my general. I’m assuming whatever you have to say involves my armies.”

“In part.”

“Then Benat should stay.”

“Without getting ahead of myself, Guwan will command the army going forward.” Nareash gestured toward the Kifzo. “Benat will get his own company, nothing more.”

Benat looked incredulous. His nostrils flared. “My men will not follow a black-skinned foreigner.”

Nareash had dropped the glamour now that they were inside the palace, knowing that Hezen would eventually learn the truth.

“Nor will my men obey anyone who cannot defeat me in combat,” continued Benat.

“The first point is irrelevant. I assume the army will do whatever Hezen tells them to do, correct?” asked Nareash.

Hezen nodded.

“And to the second point . . .” Nareash switched to the Heshan language. “Guwan, you may kill him. Quickly please, so we can get on with this.”

Benat’s eyes widened as Guwan sped across the room without the slightest hesitation. His sword appeared in his hand. Benat clumsily blocked the first of Guwan’s strikes, but could do nothing against the second. The general’s head fell to the floor and his body followed.

Hezen stroked his beard calmly, watching blood pump from the general’s neck. “You have my attention.”

“As you mentioned, I do need an army.”

“I have five thousand in my own forces plus an additional four thousand men from the allies you just dismissed.”

“That’s not nearly enough. I need an army twenty times that size.”

“T-twenty times? I’d have to pull in troops from all over Thurum.”

“Exactly.”

“It would take years to conquer that many lands.”

“Thankfully, you won’t have to conquer anyone. And you have months, not years.”

Hezen chuckled. “How am I supposed to do that?”

Nareash pulled a pouch from under his robes and dumped its contents on the table. Hezen’s eyes widened as precious stones sparkled in the light shining in through the cracked windows. “Simple. You entice the leaders with the opportunity of riches. This should be enough to whet their appetites. Next time I return, you’ll have a sack full of stones to add to these. It will only be a fraction of what they can earn by agreeing to consolidate under one command.”

“Am I to presume that you plan to invade Cadonia, High Mage? Finish what you attempted once before?” Hezen taunted.

Nareash ignored his tone. “I’ll need a large force to capture the High Pass and then later dispel any resistance as we march on Lyrosene.”

Hezen picked at his beard. “The jewels and the common hate of Cadonia should be enough to at least draw interest. But there will be a lot of strong-willed men wanting to take over your conquest.”

“Just do your part. I’ll handle the rest.”

Hezen reached over and snatched up a diamond. A long pause followed as he examined it. “I want Thurum.”

Nareash chuckled. “You’re in no place to make demands.”

Hezen placed the diamond on the table and leaned back in his chair. “I believe I am. Yes, you can kill me now and take my armies, but then what? You have no idea how to handle the personalities of those you want to consolidate and you have no knowledge of this land.”

“As I said earlier, money will solve those problems.”

Hezen shrugged. “Eventually. But how much longer will it take you to raise an army without me. Don’t you care about delays to your plan?”

Nareash tightened his jaw. Hezen was right. He did not want to wait any longer than absolutely necessary to reach his goals. “When I have the throne, I’ll see that you rule Thurum as a vassal to me.”

Hezen smiled. “I think we have a deal. Will you stay for dinner? I have questions.”

“No. We need to be on our way.”

Hezen eyed Guwan and Colan. “A pity. I was hoping to hear about where you’ve been all this time and your thoughts on the turmoil in Cadonia.”

Nareash stopped. His killing of the king and the other High Mages would have caused uneasiness in the land. But given the amount of time that had passed since then, Amcaro should have been able to keep things under control. “Turmoil?”

Hezen’s brow furrowed. “You don’t know? One Above, where have you been?”

“That’s unimportant,” snapped Nareash. “Now, what are you talking about? What turmoil could there possibly be that Amcaro could not handle?”

“Plenty, considering he’s dead. He died shortly after you did.” Hezen chuckled.

Dead? That changes everything. The scepter? Is it gone? No. Someone must have it. Elyse? One Above, that’s the best news I’ve heard in some time.

With Amcaro dead, the biggest threat to Nareash’s plans had been eliminated. He breathed a sigh of relief. His plan to invade Cadonia seemed even more likely to succeed than before.

Especially if Conroy is involved and has neglected the High Pass’s defenses.

Hezen continued. “With no High Mages and an inexperienced queen in power, several of the dukes got ambitious. Most of the land has been at war for over a year.”

“A year? I’m surprised the crown held out so long when you consider that Aurnon the Eighth had let his military weaken.”

“Well, the prodigal son did return just as Tomalt made his first move.”

“One Above, Jonrell?” asked Nareash, surprised.

Hezen spat and his mouth turned up into a sneer. “And he brought the Hell Patrol with him. They managed to work a few wonders against Tomalt.”

Nareash hadn’t seen the young prince since their time on Estul Island. Jonrell had been the only one in the royal family Nareash had any respect for. As boys, he had stood up for Nareash on one occasion when he saw Rhindora and several others harassing him in the library. The High Mage never forgot that.

Nareash whispered. “So, the rumors were true. He did join them.”

“Yes, he did. Those whoresons are responsible for destroying the hold I had in Thurum more than a decade ago. They ruined a third of Asantia and caused this,” said Hezen, pointing to his face.

“Jonrell. He could change things,” Nareash muttered.

He always had a way of attracting people to his side and he always excelled in his studies.

Hezen started to chuckle. “Maybe he could have, but not anymore. The piece of dung is dead.” Hezen wiped his eyes as he laughed. “Killed by a crossbow from some boy he took in. Serves the pompous fool right. I had once offered him a chance at power, not knowing who he really was, and he deceived me.” He spat on his own floor. “I hope he’s rotting with the One Below.”

Nareash’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll hear no more ill spoken of the man.” Hezen looked taken aback by the comment. “Your failings are in the past.” He paused. “So, the royal army is barely hanging on again?”

“I wouldn’t say that. Elyse managed an alliance with Jeldor. And one of the men from the Hell Patrol, some foreigner many are calling a black demon, stepped in to lead the army after Jonrell’s death. Oddly, reports say the man doesn’t know anything about his past. Yet, he’s committed to the queen.” He gestured to Guwan. “The reports actually say he looks similar to him. You should hear the stories. I thought no one could be that good.” He looked down to Benat. “But then again . . . .”

Nareash tensed as he listened. “Do you know the man’s name?”

Hezen shrugged. “Kaz.”

Guwan and Colan both asked questions in Heshan at recognition of the name, but Nareash ignored them, gesturing them to silence.

Impossible. He should be dead. But if I could have been sent to Hesh, then why couldn’t Kaz have been sent to another continent. One Above, and he just so happened to cross paths with Jonrell.

Hezen picked up on their change in behavior. “Does the name mean anything to you?”

Nareash wanted to ask a thousand questions, but he needed to get back to Tobin before valuable resources he counted on were lost.

“We can discuss it later,” said Nareash. “If there’s anything else, make it quick.”

“Just that the Hell Patrol also stayed out of memory for Jonrell.”

“A few extra soldiers will mean little to me if you hold up your end of the deal,” said Nareash as he gestured toward the jewels.

“Yes, but their mage, Krytien, is with him. I don’t know why he hasn’t done more in the war yet. But he’s the one responsible for the state of Asantia.”