The Blood Empress (13 page)

"What do the Benzotii call this world?"

"Benzote. It means something like warm blanket."

She laughed and noticed his own white toothed grin. Her expression hardened. "Captain Verrad will try and escape. He will kill you to protect me."

Tarse nodded in agreement. "I understand. No harm will come to you from me or my people. You are free to leave at any time. But I don't recommend it. The desert is over ten days travel by foot in every direction. And my control over the Benzotii tribes is limited at best."

She looked away in resignation. He closed his eyes and appeared to be meditating again. He was so handsome and dangerous like a coiled snake. She found it difficult to concentrate.

"If you can get me to a communication point, I can order Lord Kevern to evacuate this world. But I need proof that the Benzotii will no longer harass his Kastra or attack the other worlds of the Empire."

Tarse spoke without opening his eyes. His pale dark blue face was serene and emotionless.

"My father won't listen to you. He's not overly fond of you or your Kastra."

Tarse opened his eyes and saw the anger on her flushed face.

"I don't care what he thinks of me or my family, I'm the Empress and he'll do what I say."

Tarse nodded slowly, sensing her conviction.

"I'm afraid he would ignore your orders, my Empress. You are being held by traitors and are no-doubt being influenced by their desires. Unless..."

She prompted him to continue, "Unless...?"

"You were to have the Chief Architect relay the order. But that's not going to happen, he's off fighting your other war."

Nykostra's brow corrugated. She thought about the situation until her headache returned. Palming her forehead she pushed against her head as she tried to think of a plan. Nothing was coming to her.

"We are moving out in the morning. You should get back to your tent and sleep," Tarse said.

Nykostra dropped her hands and looked up at him.

"Do the Benzotii have enough arms to take back this world if your father's warships were removed?"

Tarse did not answer her immediately. He looked at her as if he were trying to peer into her mind. Then he nodded slowly, his eyes down.

"Tell them to marshal their forces at the Capital and await your command to attack. Then find a way for me to speak with Captain Verrad's warship. I'll issue an Imperial ultimatum and get the Chief Architect to inform Lord Kevern directly."

Tarse considered the plan carefully before speaking.

"This might work, bu how will you divert my father's ships?"

Nykostra's dark lips parted in a grin.

"He's already sent half his fleet to the front lines at my request. Verrad's warship will handle the rest."

Tarse shook his head, causing his long black hair to shake. "No Imperial warship would attack another Kastra's ships. It would trigger a civil war in the Empire."

"No, but it could lure them away far enough to not be able to defend the Capital. Arrange a Benzotii attack at the edge of this system. Something that a few ships could handle and Verrad's warship will join them."

Tarse's emerald eyes narrowed. "I like the way you think, my Empress."

Nykostra looked away, her eyes heavy with pain and fatigue.

"Where is my crown and falchion?"

Tarse didn't respond and she looked back at him with level eyes.

"If you want this plan to work, we have to start trusting each other."

Tarse got up and went to the back of his tent. He returned with a dirty pack and handed it to her. She looked inside and found her clothes and her crown. He handed her the leather scabbard with her falchion. She took it with two hands.

"Captain Verrad's side arm is in the bag."

Nykostra pulled out her utility belt and strapped it over her robes. Then she hooked on her falchion. Tarse looked at her approvingly. She looked like a proper resistance fighter. He went back to his pile of things and this time came back with a scratched up metal helmet.

He set it firmly on her head and stood back to look at her. Something was not right. He thought for a moment and then fetched a brown woven bandoleer of Benzotii tribal design.

"Now you are one of us, my Empress," Tarse said. He got down on one knee before her.

Nykostra wrapped a scarf around her face and flung it over a shoulder. Tarse looked up at her with those beautiful speckled green eyes and her headache loosened its grip for a moment.

***

Tarse's people began breaking their camp before dawn. It was still incredibly cold but the winds had died down and the stars still shined like jewels in the sky above. Nykostra found Verrad's tent and woke him impatiently.

"Get up Captain, we are breaking camp."

Verrad sat up and stared at her. He was immediately alarmed by her dress.

"You are one of them now?" he asked.

She pulled down her scarf and tossed his pistol at him. "We are all Resistance now, Captain. Get dressed and meet me outside," she said.

Turning to leave she paused at the entrance flap. "Put on your uniform Captain, we are contacting your warship."

Outside Nykostra watched the others quickly pack her tent and stow it on one of two transporters. The desert nomads worked faster than anyone on her personal staff ever did. They had the entire campsite taken down and swept out before the first rays of the sun broke the nearest dunes.

Verrad approached her, interrupting her thoughts. He was dressed in his uniform and wore a heavy shawl decorated in the Benzotii tribal patterns.

"What is going on, my Empress?"

"Tarse is taking us to a transmitter where we will contact your ship. You must give them orders to help Lord Kevern defend this system."

Verrad's face wrinkled in confusion.

"I don't...," he started.

"I need them to engage the Benzotii and to take a few of Lord Kevern's ships with them. We are going to attack the Capital and take back this planet for the Benzotii."

Verrad's eyes were wide. "Are you insane? This is an Imperial colony!"

Nykostra put her hand on her falchion and pushed Verrad into the transporter's rusted side. "Don't question my orders again Captain or so help me I will kill you."

Her dark eyes flashed with red and Verrad held up his hands in defeat.

The Kwizarra Lonn stepped off the shuttle into the landing bay of the Capital. The bay had been hastily cleaned up following the last Benzotii attack but there were still signs of battle everywhere, blast holes on the deck and busted up equipment moved to the side.

N'arvon was beside him and they both wore protective helmets over their head, just as the former Kwerza-Ni had worn. Lord Kevern himself greeted them, surrounded by personal aides and security forces.

"Welcome to Con One, Kwizarra Lonn," he said. His arm firmly saluting across his chest.

The Kwizarra Lonn waved him off and walked with him inside.

"I understand your Kwerza-Ni was killed by the Empress. I have brought your replacement." The Kwizarra Lonn turned back to N'arvon and motioned to him.

N'arvon was startled by the sudden announcement. He had assumed that a more junior Soothsayer would have been selected. He contained his surprise masterfully, nodding his gray head to Lord Kevern.

"This is N'arvon, my most trusted aide. He will serve you well."

Kevern eyed N'arvon suspiciously, as nearly every Kastra leader did. It was difficult to see his face under the shielded helmet he wore.

"Welcome N'arvon," Kevern finally said.

"It is my high honor to serve the Con Kastra," said N'arvon.

Kevern quickly returned his attention to the Kwizarra Lonn.

"The Empress managed to secure half my fleet for her war efforts in addition to killing your Soothsayer. I don't know how I can fend off the Benzotii attacks now. There might not be much left of this Kastra before long."

The Kwizarra Lonn scoffed. "That was no doubt part of her plan. The Empress is as smart as she is deadly. May we meet with her at your earliest convenience."

Kevern raised an eyebrow.

"The Empress left here before the last Benzotii attack, she's not back aboard Captain Verrad's warship?"

The Kwizarra Lonn was motionless. His red eyes narrowed as he peered briefly into Kevern's mind. It was a dark and clever place but it was easily accessible to the old Soothsayer.

"They must have crashed in the desert. Can you assist us in finding her?"

Kevern shook his head and backed away. "Nobody survives in the desert. They're probably dead by now." The dawning of awareness spread across his face like the morning sun.

"The Empress can't die here, under my charge!"

The Kwizarra Lonn put a bony gray hand on Lord Kevern's shoulder.

"Relax, My Lord. She has not died. Not yet. "

Kevern relaxed a bit as the soothing sound of the Kwizarra Lonn's voice worked its magic.

"Kasim, a word," N'arvon said.

The Kwizarra Lonn turned away from Lord Kevern to face his former aide. N'arvon exchanged a knowing look and they joined minds.

::Captain Verrad's warship has just received a communication from him. The Empress and he are alive. He has directed his warship to halt their search for him and to assist Lord Kevern's warships in repelling any new Benzotii attacks.::

The Kwizarra Lonn was quiet.

"What does it mean Kasim?"

The Kwizarra Lonn turned back to Lord Kevern.

"The Empress is alive and still with Captain Verrad."

Lord Kevern's dim blue face regained some color. "Thank the gods."

"Lord Kevern, are there Votainions in the desert who could have found them?"

Kevern lowered his eyes. "Yes. There are nomads living in the desert. Benzotii sympathizers who help direct enemy attacks on our cities."

The Kwizarra Lonn probed Kevern's mind again, searching until he found what he suspected. "Your own son is their leader."

Kevern lowered his head this time and nodded, his embarrassment clearly humbling.

"Lord Kevern, you must make preparations to get your family off this planet. The Benzotii are coming in such numbers as you have never seen before. Your son is leading them and the Empress is enabling him."

Kevern looked up quickly.

"We cannot leave. This planet is a member of the Votainion Empire. We shall fight until we perish."

The Kwizarra Lonn moved closer to Kevern.

"Don't you see? That is why you must leave. The Empress knows she will never get your full support for her war so she is forcing you off this world and hoping to end your war with the Benzotii natives."

Kevern's anger darkened his face and forced his powerful hands into fists.

"She must die."

A wicked smile cracked the face of the Kwizarra Lonn.
Now you're coming around.

"I have foreseen her demise for years now. You, Lord Kevern are the instrument of that demise. And when you kill her, you will be crowned the new Emperor and your Kastra will rule from Voton."

Kevern's dark eyes began to shine with the glow of power. It was one thing to know inside yourself that you were destined for glory, it was quite another to have the Kwizarra Lonn confirm it to your face.

He straightened up his shoulders and his chest filled with pride.

"You must evacuate your family and make a stand here and now. Even if it means killing your own son."

Kevern didn't even bat an eye at the notion. "He's been dead to me for years."

The Kwizarra Lonn smiled again.
This was too easy.

***

The rocky enclosure was well protected from the harsh sun and the unseen eyes from orbiting Kastra satellites. There were a dozen Benzotii and human clan leaders all gathered around Tarse and Veasa. Captain Verrad and Empress Nykostra sat on the rocky overhang to the side, watching the discussion and not understanding any of it. The participants spoke in the hissing and clicking language of the Benzotii.

Some of the Benzotii clan leaders were more vocal than others, gesturing with their four arms and two heads. They each wore bandoleers with elaborate tribal markings woven into them. Some of them wore Benzotii versions of robes and hoods. Even from above you could feel the tension as the debate raged.

Nykostra's headache had worsened but she refused to leave the area. Verrad felt her shivering under her robes and noticed her eyes were shut hard to ward away the pain she was dealing with.

"This is crazy, my Empress. You should leave and let me watch this," he said.

She waved him off with a shaky nod of her head. Wincing she popped her eyes open. They were as red as a Soothsayer's. She had been trying to probe the humans below to persuade them to join Tarse.

"You really don't look so good," Verrad said.

She looked at him as if he had suddenly materialized beside her.

"They are close to a decision."

One of the older Benzotii leaders screamed and then they all seemed to join in. It was a primal animal call. Even the Votainions participated willingly. Verrad looked back to Nykostra with disgust on his face.

"They are in agreement. Come," Nykostra said as she struggled to climb away from the cliff's edge.

They met up with Tarse and Veasa as the tribal members were disbanding and leaving the area.

"It's decided. We combine our forces and attack the capital at dawn," Tarse said. There was a rueful twinkle in his jade eyes. Veasa was less pleased as she pushed past them mumbling to herself. After she had gone, Tarse motioned to her.

"Not everyone was in favor of the attack. Many fear it could be the end of our resistance. Our numbers are shrinking in the desert and a major battle will no doubt kill many of our best warriors."

Nykostra squinted up at Tarse and asked, "How many warriors total?"

"Nine thousand."

Nykostra grinned. "A fortuitous number."

Verrad shook his head. "A fraction of what we need, my Empress. We couldn't take that city with ninety thousand men."

Nykostra shouted, startling even Tarse.

"We don't need to take it!"

She collected herself and lowered her ghoulish voice. Her bloodshot eyes were actually glowing. Verrad no longer knew his Empress.