The Vitalis Chronicles: Steps of Krakador (9 page)

“
Sir?”

“
Just...” Fury, his old friend. It wasn't so ready to launch itself at the moment. He was tiring. “Just get my answers.”

His attendant didn't bother saying anything else before slipping silently out the door. That was fine by Merodach; the kid had learned something at least. The plates weren't spinning so well any more, gravity and distraction playing their parts with determination. He had to keep Elandir firmly under his thumb, but that required the ability to appear in control. Control was exactly what he was missing. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

A knock came at the door. “Here he is, sir. Or what's left of him.”

Merodach turned to see two carbon-gray soldiers drag the bloody mess of what was once the smuggler, Bill, into his office. Merodach recoiled involuntarily at the sight, barely able to recognize the pirate through the bruises and breaks that plagued his massive body. His legs were broken, and his body too weak to hold his own weight. The two soldiers dropped Bill unceremoniously in one of Merodach's oversized chairs, then took a step back to watch him.

Merodach quickly overcame his disgust for the whole business. Bill deserved worse for his treachery, to be sure. The sight of the wretch brought fury closer to the surface again. “The treatment you've received almost makes you wish we could classify you as a traitor and get it over with, doesn't it, Bill?”

The mound of pain in the chair before him made no reply.

“
You said 'he' promised you would never be discovered. 'He' obviously lied to you, which leaves the question of why you're still protecting him, Bill. Why are you protecting him? Who is 'he?'”

“
I ain't protectin' no one save meself...” Bill's voice cracked, the strength turning to a whimper as he curled forward in the chair.

“
They knew we were coming, Bill. They knew, and by all accounts they were ready for us.”

Bill had resumed his statue's silence, even if he couldn't keep a statue's stillness. His quivering seemed to intensify the more Merodach spoke.

“
What's more, both sides were attacked by something. Some unknown creatures that set themselves upon either front indiscriminately.”

Bill looked up at that, bloodshot eyes wide. “So it's true...”

“
What's true, Bill?” Merodach's patience for the pirate was wearing thin, but as much as he would have loved to dole out more punishment, the man's state was proof enough that it would be ineffective. Whoever he was working for had scared him worse than the harshest of tortures. “What the hell is going on?”

Bill's look of disbelief twisted slowly into a grin, his eyes matching Merodach's as a slow laugh worked its way up from his gut.

“
What's so funny, you licey piece of shit?”

But Bill was really laughing now. It sounded other-worldly, deep, powerful. “His power's real... I ain't never thought it more'n fancy tricks 'n twists o' luck, but it's real.” The laughter filled Merodach's office like a landslide echoing through canyon walls. “And his pets... they're real!”

“
Would you shut him up?” Merodach had to shout to be heard.

“
There's no hope for you now, Merodach!” The voice was entirely different now. His pupils glowed red. “Your city will fall. Your people will be enslaved and remade before they burn and die, and it's all thanks to your greed. It's all thanks to your short-sighted plots and maneuverings. None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for you.”

Merodach took a step back from the crippled man in front of him. In spite of his injuries he was radiating strength. And that voice... it wasn't his own.

“
Your victory is forever beyond your reach, Merodach, but mine is only coming closer to fulfillment!” Bill stood on his broken legs, the pain barely registering on his face as they cracked and gave way under his weight. Still he came forward, clawing his way onto Merodach's desk.

“
Stop him!” Merodach yelled at the frozen soldiers beyond the madman. “
STOP HIM!
”

“
There is no stopping him, Merodach. There is no placating him, there is no defeating him. There is only death. There is only torment. Your death, Merodach. Your torment.”

Merodach fell into his chair, the squeaky wheels carrying him back towards the tall panes of glass.

“
You have served him well, Merodach. And you never even knew it.”

“
Who is
'HE?!'
”
Merodach screamed at the broken figure on his desk.

“
'He' is the all-powerful, the Demon, the Reformer and Remaker, the New God, Darkness Above... 'He' is the Relequim!” A scream worked out from deep within Bill's broken frame in that moment. A wail that lingered like a scent in the air long after it had gone.
“
Merodach.”
The voice took on an even deeper tone, its gravelly power sending shocks through Merodach's stomach.
“
I am coming.”

Before Merodach could cover himself, an invisible spike shot through Bill's neck. Bone and flesh shot forward as his back arched and the scream returned. He convulsed once. Then, as if struck by some invisible mallet, he flipped back onto the ground in front of Merodach's desk with a crunch and a thud.

S
EVEN

R
AIN RODE THROUGH THE STREETS OF
I
SLENDA SLOWLY
, matching the pace of her brother's bodyguard as they made their way to the Citadel. She watched him carefully as he took the time to nod or wave to nearly anyone who caught his eye. Their father had done much the same at times, particularly when he was in a good mood. It seemed Rendin had taken to putting such a mood on in times of distress.

He did seem calm, however, well-collected and regal. Whether or not that was how he felt on the inside, Rain had her doubts, but he projected a kingly confidence nonetheless. It relieved her to see as much. Her concerns for his health and rule had rarely been far from her mind.

The armor of the guards around them clanked and clattered dully against their mounts. It felt strange to Rain to be surrounded by fully-armored men again, in spite of the creeping familiarity. Her time riding and raiding in the east was as distant from her memory as if it had been a different lifetime. As if she had been a different person.

“
I've noticed trade is still strong,” she ventured. Her brother had hardly spoken since they had left the Temple.

“
Don't let the presence of our colorful tradesmen fool you, sister.” Even when he kept his voice low, she had always been able to hear him well. “They sense the tide changing better than our own people. This will be the last influx of them for quite some time, I fear.”

Soon the Citadel loomed over them. She had forgotten how impressive it was. Riding around a final corner to see it rise between the rows of buildings in the city brought back a flood of memories. She immediately thought back to growing up in the long halls that ran deep into the mountain. Sitting with her brother at court, watching and learning from their father as he dealt with the business of the realm. The feasts, the parties, the tragedies and justice. Her father's seat was the center not only of her world, but of the unified west.

The Citadel itself stood as tall as any of Islenda's towers, built into the side of one of the mountains that made up more than half of the city's natural defense. Various layers of balconies and windows rested among the buttresses that flew along the face of the cliffs. Immense green banners fluttered in the wind from nearly every level of the structure. It had taken generations to complete, and its lack of uniformity or symmetry told as much. All of its imperfections only made it more beautiful to Rain, and more imposing to those visiting her city.

It took a while yet to reach the inner wall that ran from the cliffs to ring the Citadel. Though far lower than the outer wall, the inner wall was similar in its design and appearance. The masons who had crafted Islenda centuries before had been artists as much as they had been military architects. She smiled to see the gray veins running in their smooth white surfaces, the intricate designs of forests, animals, and the royal lineage welcoming her like old friends. It was amazing the things that could make her feel instantly at home when everything else felt so strange.

A contingent of mounted men stood waiting to the right of the gate. They wore purple, hemmed with golden thread.
Sir Hembrody's house... Branston's father.
Her stomach twisted at the sight.
What will I ever tell him?

Sir Hembrody's house was one of the most powerful in Islenda. His swords made up nearly a quarter of their forces afoot, and his cavalry had been of nearly equal import to her father's army. The case was no different for her brother.

Rain edged her horse closer to her brother. “This will go poorly, Rendin. I have nothing but ill news to give.”

“
Then ill news he must receive.”

Sir Hembrody spurred his horse forward, leaving his men behind as he approached the path of the King. Rendin slowed to acknowledge his ally and counselor. Rain's stomach twisted to see the old man approach. His white hair was still thick for a man of his age, cropped close and neat. The chain and brooch clasping his purple cloak to his throat were so covered in gems that she could barely detect the gold she knew lay underneath.

“
My liege.” Hembrody's fingers touched his forehead gingerly to signify his respect.

“
Sir Hembrody.” Rendin tilted his head in turn as he brought his party to a halt. “May your name live forever.”

“
And yours, Majesty.”

Rendin sat perfectly still on his horse. Rain could hardly believe how dignified he could look. “To what do I owe the honor of your call?”

“
Word has reached me that your fair sister has returned from afield. I wish to bid her welcome.”

“
Of course.” Rendin motioned for Rain to come closer. “You needn't wait.”

The old man wasn't shocked, at least not visibly, but he clearly hadn't realized the ranger among the royal train was Rain.

“
Forgive me, young Renault, and welcome home.” Hembrody bowed in the saddle. “It has been so long since I have looked upon your face. I had nearly forgotten the depth of your beauty.”

The flowery words unsettled her more. She detected venom's subtle lace on each word. “It is good to be seen, sir.” Once he had loved her, she knew. But that had been before she refused her betrothal to his son. The son who had betrayed her not weeks before.

“
Where is the rest of your party?” His words were taking on more of an edge. “I should very much like to see my son. It has been far too long since my old eyes have beheld him.”

“
I'm afraid I did return alone, Sir Hembrody.” Her throat tried to choke the words. This man was not known for his kindness. She couldn't bear to be the one who gave him an excuse to turn against her brother.

“
Then I must ask after Branston, my son. Is he well? How far behind you is he? Surely you understand how strange a thing it is to find a warden so far from her men as to enter the city alone.”

“
I'm afraid we were overburdened by our charge.” She couldn't avoid telling him forever. “I ordered my men to move them south and expect help soon.”

There was no way for her to read the old man at this point. His face was twisting and twitching subtly, but in so many ways she couldn't tell if he were angry or genuinely distraught for her men, his son presumably among them.

“
What would possess you to leave them, young one?” The reprimand was thinly veiled.

“
She was charged with a new mission.” Her brother stepped verbally between them. “She did what was necessary to see it through. They have been left in able hands, Sir Hembrody.”

This caused Hembrody to smile. “Of course. My son is quite capable, as I'm glad you have discovered at last.”

“
Branston is not the one I have left in my stead, sir.” Rain's mouth went dry to say it. Before he could raise the question, she proceeded to answer it. “He was killed in the enemy's territory.”

For such a pale-skinned man, Sir Hembrody turned an impressive shade of white. Silence filled the gap as he slowly straightened his back. The news was not expected, and it looked as though he was unable to accept it.

Finally he ventured to ask, cold steel eyes cutting along the flat-toned question. “How did he die?”

“
Shill tr–”

“
You expect me to believe that your own bodyguard killed him? Why did you have my son killed?”

“
I did no such thing!”

“
Enough!” Rendin's hand came up. “Control yourselves. And sir, I would hesitate to openly accuse my sister of any crime, especially one so heinous as murder.”

“
Shill stopped him from murdering a man in our party. He is the reason I came back alone, the only hope we have to stop the Relequim.”