The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (39 page)

“Mother, Nindax nearly destroyed the empire and us with it.”

“That was then and this is now. Nindax shows more interest in me than my own daughter.” Helgamyr fondled her broach.

Mot peered around from behind Helgamyr’s pleated gown and smiled at Tottiana.

“This, I suppose, is Mot the servants are all chattering about,” Tottiana said. She pointed at the creature emerging from behind the gown. Mot blinked and held the grin.

So the little creature ensnares the empress too, Endaquac thought.

“What is he, anyway?” Tottiana asked.

“All I know is he’s my new baby,” Helgamyr said in baby talk. She took Mot’s hand in hers and turned to leave the room, all but dragging Mot behind her. “And if you don’t like my baby, then you can leave me alone and go back to your master.”

“You don’t mean that, Mother,” Tottiana said, tearing up.

“I said it, and I meant it. Who cares what kind of creature he is. He’s adorable and he loves me, which is more than I can say for my own daughter.”

“Keep your pet away from Engwan,” Tottiana said. She left the room.

What kind of creature indeed? Endaquac asked herself over and over, sitting in the shadows out of the range of dispute. Then she looked at Mot, who stared at her, seeming to read her thoughts. A cold chill ran down her spine and took her breath away. She remembered a tale from her youth about an evil tree that grew in a cursed swamp that could give life to a cursed beast if the right sorcerer were involved. Her head jerked to Mot in disbelief.

This is some coincidence; there is no such tree or power, she thought.

Mot grinned at her, still clutching Helgamyr’s hand. He grinned and shook his head up and down.

*

Mot watched Engwan when the women weren’t watching Mot. The grin remained fixed on Mot’s face, but the ladies never allowed the syclebot access to the boy alone. Only once did Mot creep up to the prince, the strange, narrow clawed finger extended.

“Stay clear of the prince, Mot,” Helgamyr said. Her voice was harsh. She startled the syclebot, who jumped back, frowning for the first time, but his strange finger had scratched the boy, who howled at the prick.

“What have you done?” Endaquac asked, rushing to the boy. “He’s got a slight prick, Majesty.” Endaquac got ointment and cleaned the scratch, but Engwan cried still.

“Come to Helgamyr,” the dowager said, all but snatching the boy from Endaquac’s care. “No one understands the prince as well as me. He’s got a delicate nature. Mot must have scared him half to death, stabbing him like that. Poor baby, Helgamyr’s here now.” She rubbed more ointment on the prick, but Engwan wouldn’t stop crying. “Mot, you’re never to approach Engwan again, never.”

Engwan cried through the night. The prick turned a nasty deep red color, festered into a boil and eventually burst and subsided. A strange, inverted cycle scar formed eventually. Engwan could never stand for anyone to touch it.

Riding Yamma-Mirra Heedra, Saxthor landed near Konnotan in Neuyokkasin and entered the kingdom’s capital on foot rather than have the great dragon panic his subjects. Viceroy Bodrin and the Neuyokkasinian legion were just returning from the west and learning of Graushdem’s invasion of Talok. Tournak joined the two as did the chatra at Helshian Court Palace for a discussion of the war.

“What is the situation in Hoya?” Saxthor asked.

“General Sekkarian still holds Hoya, but we’ve lost the surrounding territory, including Talok Tower, to Graushdem’s army,” the chatra responded.

“Any attempt to move south on Lemnos?” Saxthor asked.

“So far, Graushdem’s commanding general has had his hands full trying to keep his forces at the siege of Hoya. Many of the troops have disbursed over the countryside, sacking the farms and homes. We think he dares not attempt to grab territory to the south until he can secure Hoya at his back.”

“Well, that’s some good news.”

The chatra squirmed in his seat. “A report reached us this morning that Emperor Grekenbach has arrived at the battle front with additional forces. More troops are moving down from the north along the Talok Mountains to attack from above Hoya.”

“We can still provision the city from the river, right?” Tournak asked.

“Indeed, we still control the river, but there are enough enemy troops to overrun the walls now. Sekkarian can’t hold out much longer.”

“Grekenbach is desperate to secure Hoya and the province before I can enter the fray,” Saxthor said. “Well, he’s too late. Bodrin, I know your men are exhausted from their trip, but I hope their passage on the fleet ships allowed them time to recuperate somewhat. They must march at once to relieve Hoya.”

Bodrin jumped up from his seat. “They’re Neuyokkasinians. Many hale from the Talok and Lemnos and have family threatened by this insane attack. We will leave for the front at once, Majesty.”

“Majesty, King Zirkin has requested permission to join with Neuyokkasinians to repel this invasion. His troops are hours away,” the chatra said. “Assuming your approval, we did accept his gracious offer of assistance.”

“Excellent,” Saxthor said. “We shall march on Hoya at sunrise. Send word to King Zirkin to follow with his troops when he arrives.”

“Tournak, can you raise a mist around Hoya to delay Grekenbach until we get there?”

“Consider it done.”

“Let’s move, gentlemen.”

* * *

The ancient walls of Hoya stood defiant in the morning mist when Grekenbach left his tent to direct troop dispositions according to the attack plan settled on the night before. With news of his arrival, his generals had been able to recall the dispersed Graushdem troops. In the morning chill, the emperor noted the scents of cooking food, wood smoke, and the breeze off the river. He scanned the waking army that would soon overrun Hoya.

“Allow the men to eat a hardy breakfast. For many, it will be their last meal. Sound assembly in half an hour. Have your men completed the ladders necessary to carry our army over the walls?”

“They’re prepared, Imperial Majesty,” a general said.

“Then send word to the northern contingents to start the catapults lobbing stone from the cliffs into the fortress as soon as it’s visible through this infernal fog.”

“At once,” a commander said. A nod and a courier was gone.

*

No sooner had the troop units established their positions, than the mist abruptly lifted. Grekenbach dispatched his commands for directing the actions. Staring at the region’s most famous castilyernov, he took a deep breath at the momentous occasion. Any minute now I shall issue the attack order that will secure Hoya and Talok as a province of my empire, he thought.

“Attack!”

A sudden chill caused him to shiver as he watched his troops, in tight formations, march under a huge fan of ladders across the plain converging on the heretofore impregnable walls of Hoya. His aide rushed up with his cape but, then stopped. Both men turned, hearing drums behind them. An eerie silence fell over the command camp as the sound of drums grew with rising intensity. Flapping Neuyokkasinian standards first rose over the horizon behind his tent, followed in quick succession by Neuyokkasinian legions.

“Majesty!” the aide said.

“I see them,” Grekenbach mumbled, still staring.

“What are your orders?” a general asked.

“We move against Hoya at once. If we can secure its surrender, we may still negotiate a truce and withdraw without further losses. Out here in the open, we’d be slaughtered to a man. Viceroy Vicksnak will not give quarter.”

Grekenbach and his remaining forces joined the attack on Hoya. The Neuyokkasinian army surrounded the invaders before they could take the walls. Grekenbach fought on.

* * *

Saxthor supervised his army overrunning the Graushdem camp and flowing across the plain into the Graushdem invaders.

“Why don’t you summon your dragon?” the chatra asked.

“We do not call upon Yamma-Mir Heedra for interference in men’s territorial squabbles. The great dragon is restricted to fighting evil incarnate.”

“More and more of the enemy troops realize they’re trapped between Hoya’s impregnable walls and our oncoming Neuyokkasinian and Zenobean armies,” a general said.

“They’re almost surrounded now,” Tournak said. “There is no retreat.”

Saxthor nodded. “They’re throwing down their weapons and surrendering in increasing numbers.”

From midway up a ladder, Grekenbach turned to look over his dissolving army. An arrow shot under his armor, slamming into his chest. The shock stunned him. He lost his grip on the ladder and tumbled to the ground.

*

Saxthor rushed through the surrendering invaders to the fallen emperor, his former friend. He raised Grekenbach slightly resting his head in Saxthor’s lap. “Why did you do such a thing, my old friend?” Saxthor asked. “Why did you do this when you knew I could never allow the loss of my sacred trust?”

              Grekenbach convulsed, then caught his anguished breath. “You are, yourself, the ruler of your people,” Grekenbach said. “You too would gamble your empire for their sake and the sake of your dynasty.”

              “I’d not waste countless lives for a territorial gain I knew would never be achieved, old friend.”

              Grekenbach convulsed once more, his labored breathing came with wheezing. Blood began trickling from his lips. “You’ll take care of Dagmar, won’t you? She had no part in this. She begged me not to ‘anger the dragon.’”

              “There will be no reprisals. Your kingdom will have to pay the families of Neuyokkasinians lost in battle, but there will be no territorial lose for Graushdem other than Tossledorn. I cannot allow Castilyernov Tossledorn to ever threaten Talok again.”

Grekenbach nodded. “And Dagmar…”

“I shall always look out for your empress.”

Grekenbach took one last, deep breath, coughed once and let out his dying breath. Saxthor ordered Emperor Grekenbach’s body returned in state to Graushdemheimer for burial with honors. Saxthor sent the Graushdem army, less their weapons, home. There would be no more animosity between the two empires.

* * *

The Neuyokkasinian army accompanied the defeated Graushdem army returning home with their dead king’s body. At the capital, Graushdemheimer, a great funeral laid the Emperor in his mausoleum. The citizens mourned their loss, surrounded by the victorious Neuyokkasinian soldiers. Saxthor addressed the citizens as to his friendship with the former king and the people of Graushdem. The Graushdem army dispersed back into the countryside. Saxthor prepared to withdraw to Tossledorn to arrange its new position as the northeastern most fortress guarding the eastern passage down the peninsula into Talok and Neuyokkasin. Before he left, he had a visitor. Saxthor rose to greet his old friend.

“Wizard Tolalo, court wizard of Graushdem, I’m honored by your visit,” Saxthor said.

“Majesty, word came just before Grekenbach took off on his mad invasion, your old friend Wizard Hendrel of Hador has died.”

Saxthor sat in his chair. His head hung for a moment in silence. “What happened?”

“He died in his sleep, no one knows why.”

“His son Meklin is studying with Tournak now. I’ll let him know. Tournak and Memlatec will mentor the boy. I will look out for him.”

“How is High Court Wizard Memlatec? I’ve not seen him since the Great War.”

“Memlatec remains in Senoshesvas to ensure an orderly transition to peace there under Nindax’s new restraints. I expect him to return to Engwaniria soon. Frankly, his health is becoming a concern, but no one dares to mention it to him.”

“You must give him my regards when you see him next.”

“I shall do so. He’ll be appreciative of your concern.”

“Will Your Majesty pay a visit of condolence to Her Imperial Majesty at Sengenwhapolis?”

Saxthor looked out the window, hesitated, then replied. “I think that would be inadvisable at this time. Emotions are running high with the war defeat and the emperor dead. The chatra proclaimed the new born prince, Calamidese I of Graushdem, VIII of Sengenwha at the funeral. His mother is Empress Regent. Acceptance of Dagmar here is still new. It might not be acceptable if the people saw her with what some now consider their conqueror.”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

“She will be arriving soon when she’s physically able. I must be gone before she arrives. She will have her hands full merging her empire’s interest after this disaster.”

“Political considerations keeping you apart once again.”

“What’s that you say?”

“Politics, Majesty, I understood long ago you and Princess Dagmar were very close before the war. Even then the animosity between Neuyokkasin and Sengenwha prevented your relationship from flowering.”

Saxthor turned once again to the window. “Yes, well, that was a long time ago.”

“May I withdraw, Majesty?”

“You may.”

“One more thing I’d almost forgotten to tell you. I’ve noted minor but bizarre fluctuations in the energy gradients. They strongest to the south, near the forbidden Helgenstat, I believe. And there are rumblings in the Ice Mountains as well. I thought you might like to know.”

“Yes, well, I’ll be sure to make Memlatec aware of that. He usually has an explanation for everything.”

Tolalo bowed and withdrew. Saxthor turned once again to the window, lost in memories.

* * *

As war was ending in the east, Ossenkosk Palace began returning to normal. Empress Tottiana ruled, resolving day to day issues, evaluating and reviewing prospects for the new governor of Mendenow, decorating Governor Otaqua and granting a year without taxation for the province of Challula, and whatever was necessary to keep the empire running smoothly. Little Augusteros followed his mother around whenever possible. Where Saxthor and Engwan were estranged, Saxthor doted on Augusteros who adored his father. The little boy kept asking his mother when his father was coming home. Belnik and Tittletot did their best to entertain the youngster, but whenever his mother came to his room, he’d rush to her, asking where his father was.

Saxthor returned to Engwaniria just after Augusteros’ seventh birthday celebration. The boy heard the servants talking about his father’s approaching the city. He tore away from his attendant and raced through the palace to the courtyard before his caretaker could catch up with him. He stood, staring at the grand gate. Others soon gathered in the courtyard, blocking the boy’s view. He jumped up and down. “Pick me up, Pick me up! I can’t see my daddy.”

His manservant picked up the boy and hoisted him onto his shoulders. The little prince held on to the man’s head again staring at the gates.

“Where is he? I can’t see daddy.”

“Your father hasn’t arrived yet, Highness. You must be patient. His Majesty must greet the people along the way passing through the city.”

Augusteros’ eyes were locked on the gates. Minutes seemed like hours. He fidgeted, then squirmed to get down. “I have to go find him.”

“Augusteros, you must be patient. Your father will be here soon.”

“I’m going to find him,” Augusteros said. He wiggled free then pushed his way through the people towering over him. In the struggle to get through the throng that now filled the palace courtyard, the servant lost the prince.

Augusteros made it to the gate where the guards stood at attention. They held back the crowd, but the prince walked up to the opening and again stared. A great roar began to approach the palace. Augusteros held his breath, listening, following the approach. All of a sudden, his father the emperor appeared atop his great white stallion, waving to the crowd. The crowd surged forward around Saxthor as those behind Augusteros pushed forward around the guards to greet their victorious emperor. The throng surrounded the little prince and he lost sight of his father.

“Father! Father, I’m here,” the boy cried. He felt a tear well up in his eye.

Someone grabbed him and hefted him up on his shoulders. The boy glanced down at his smiling attendant, then he looked over the crowd at his father.