Beyond the Hell Cliffs (37 page)

Chapter 32

The Rellizbix Army stayed only two days before departing and returning to the north.  It took another three days for the fires to burn themselves out.  By the time Raegith returned to the once mighty city, it was a massive, smoldering ruin.  The Spire had somehow been toppled and looked like a broken, rusted nail rising a few feet above the surrounding mess.

There were survivors; lots of them.  Those who managed to escape had waited until the army had left before returning.  Others had simply heard of the invasion and made the journey to see for
themselves or to find relatives and loved ones.  A week after the walls were blown down, throngs of people wandered back into the city from all around.  Raegith and the Helcats were among them.

Beretta had insisted that they continue on to Lord
Kensei’s domain in the west, but Raegith would not abandon the Citadel without learning what had become of the Empress.  When the group of refugees they were travelling with were hailed by an advance group from Lord Kensei’s personal guard, Raegith was able to convince them all to return.  None of them, least of all Raegith, were prepared for the destruction they found as they approached the city.

“How is this possible?” Beretta asked.  “The walls are… gone.  Everything is gone.  It’s as if some terrible demon stomped the entire city underneath his foot.”

“How can the northerners have this much strength?” Indie asked.  “This much power… they had this all along, Grass-hair?”

“
I don’t think so,” Raegith replied.  “I… I don’t know.  I’ve only read about the wars in books and it was nothing like… it was all stories of glory and valor.  I never imagined something like this.”

“So the Grass-hair was right about them.”  Goji, the leader of Kensei’s
guard came up beside them.  He was a young Lokai in normal clothing, as Lokai were not allowed to wear armor.  He hid several blades on him, however, and carried himself like a warrior.  He was the one who recognized Raegith from the time he escorted Kensei into the capitol.  “They’ve been toying with us for ages, haven’t they?  At any moment they’ve been able to just come in here and destroy us… overnight.”

“Well, I think all of our questions have been answered, then.  Can we get the fuck out of here now?” Helkree asked.

Raegith did not answer.  He walked faster, nearly running.  In his mind he was already minimizing the damage; trying to convince himself of the mercy of Rellizbix. 
They would not have killed her
. 
They crushed the buildings and walls, sure, but they didn’t kill her.  They had no reason to.  Even if they killed most of the people, they would not just leave this place without its Empress.  They’re not that cruel.

He reinforced this idea over and over in his mind as he climbed over a low spot in the rubble that was once a wall.  He told himself that the Saban in charge would respect royalty, even in the Greimere.  He even started making excuses for the soldiers that had beaten him and raped Zakk, rationalizing that they were simply deviants to begin with.  He sold himself on the idea that his people could never doom an entire
nation.

When
reason could not ease the dread that poisoned his gut and threatened to upturn his meager breakfast, he turned to the Fates.  He pleaded for a reunion with Kalystra and threatened them if they did not deliver. 
You cannot do this to me twice, damn you!  You’ve already taken Onyx from me!  You cannot take Kalystra, as well!

The others were jogging to keep up with him as he strode through the destruction, pushing shocked survivors aside to reach the capitol.  He shut out all of the rubble and scattered fires that starved on the charred remains of houses and shops.  He did not need more to distract him; to remind him of how futile his pleas were.  He did not need the grisly scene around him to suck away his resolve and demolish the hope he fed so desperately to keep alive.

The Spire was just ahead and he could hear people speaking and yelling.  He couldn’t make out the words or the tone, but he did not want to.  His reward for so much pain and loss was just ahead.  In that moment, as he came upon the ruined palace, he felt renewed.  Smiling, he realized that everything he was thinking the whole way into the Citadel was true.  The Sabans revered royalty and honor.  They would not do anything to hinder their reputation, even among their enemy and the Fates would not abandon him just because he no longer lived in Rellizbix.  All he needed to do was pass through the crowd ahead and he would be reunited with his love and they would rebuild the Empire, together, just as they had planned.

Raegith pushed past the Rathgar and Lokai and then stopped as he came into the clearing at the steps of the palace.  He stopped and could not move; not even to drop the ridiculous grin from his face.  He just stood completely still, as if time had stopped in the space he inhabited.

In the middle of a circle of survivors and refugees and scouts sent from other dominions was the Empress of Greimere. 

The spike was the size of a tree and must have taken hours to drive into the hard ground at the foot of the steps.  Stones had been stacked next to it to act as stairs.  The men from the north had stripped her armor and clothes from her and beaten her all over before taking her up the stone steps.
  Then they had dropped her, back first, onto the tip of the pole as thick as his leg and she had slid nearly halfway down it by the time she stopped.  Her black hair lay in a pile with bits of scalp still attached.  The pole was slick with old blood and the carrion birds had already done their worst to the body.

“
I’ll kill you,” Raegith croaked.  His failing voice pushed him over the edge and he moved.

His screams reverberated off the walls of the palace and through the Citadel.  At first it was just an outpouring of grief, turning to anger and then hate.  Speaking in the Rellizbix tongue, he cursed the races of his homeland.  He cursed the Fates and the Elements and the very land and sky.  Others backed away from him, unsure of what was happening.  Some recognized him from the fights and soon everyone was whispering about him.

Helkree pushed others aside and went to him, grabbing him from behind before he started lashing out at those around him.  When Raegith started using his natural language, the ones around him became uneasy.  There were no guards, but the crowd of mostly women and young children became hostile. 

“Helkree, we need to leave,”
Kimura said.  “I don’t think they understand what he’s doing and they don’t like him being here.  We cannot defend against the whole crowd.”

“She’s right,” Goji added.  “He may have been dear to the Empress, but he’s still one of
them
to everyone else.  We need to get out of here.”

“Raegith, we have to go now!” Helkree hissed, shaking him.  “Cut this shit out!”

“I’ll kill them,” Raegith said through gritted teeth.  “They don’t deserve it anymore.  They don’t deserve any of it.”

“What the hell are you talking about?  Never mind, just come on.  We have to go!”

Helkree physically lifted him and pulled him away from the crowd.  As they fled, a chunk of stone hit Helkree in the back.  The crowd was throwing things at them now.  Goji tried to gain some order from them, but there was no use.  The crowd had seen enough of anyone from Rellizbix and even their favored Pit fighter was no longer welcome. 

When a mob of refugees turned on them and pursued, Beretta summoned a wall of flame to block their path.

“We should go west,” Goji yelled as they fled through the streets.  “Lord Kensei was impressed with the Grass-hair.  He will give you sanctuary.”

“We don’t need a new ruler, asshole, but thanks for the gesture,” Helkree replied.

“We will gratefully accept your lord’s invitation, Goji,” Beretta interjected.  “Will you be so kind as to escort us to his dominion?”

“Of course.
  We will link up with the rest of my company outside the walls and head directly for Shimada Village.  We will be safe there.”

“Excuse me, but who the hell put you in charge, match-head?” Helkree asked.
  “Raegith is the only one that leads the Helcats.”

“Lord Kensei is the most logical person for us to seek assistance from.  If you want to strike it out on your own after resting there, then that’s fine, but you should at least see what he has to say about this.  None of us know what is going to happen to the Empire after this.”

“Raegith?” Helkree asked.

“I don’t care,” Raegith said flatly.  His face was eerily calm and emotionless.

Beretta nodded.  “Good.  Goji, take us there, please.”

“This is bullshit,” Helkree groaned.

Chapter 33

Isidora sat at the small table on the balcony of the restaurant and looked out over the city walls and onto the Merchant District of Thromdale.  The price of a glass of wine and a slice of fresh sea melon was exorbitant, but the view was worth it, especially that day.

A celebration like Thromdale had never before seen was going on outside the walls.  The Army had returned from the first successful attack on the homeland of the Greimere and had completely destroyed the enemy.  The Greimere Empire was no more and for the first time since the birth of the kingdom, the people could look forward to a lasting peace.
  It was if the entire land was taking a giant, relaxing breath and the Commoners were going berserk with joy.

The King announced an entire week of festivities in celebration of the victory.  All over the land, colleges closed, military exercises were halted and farms ran for only a half day as the people of Rellizbix partied.  Faeir mages dazzled the masses with magical displays, lighting up the evening skies with fire and colored clouds and forming giant slides from the ground and making wonderful water fountains spring up all over.  Saban brewers rolled wooden kegs off of wagons driven in from the breweries and Twileens
did acrobatics through the streets in brightly colored clothes.  At her expensive table atop the tower of restaurants that rose high above the outer wall of the city, Isidora watched the revelers below as the sun set on the second day of the festival and smiled. 

She was
also enjoying the party in Thromdale, only her joy did not come from anything peddled in the Merchant District.  Her interests lie at the opposite end of the city, in D-Town. 

Northwest of the walled inner city, in between the residential and industrial districts, was District D, where all of the more carnal pleasures could be found
.  For a Faeir on the Council, she had to take great care not to be seen by anyone when she entered D-Town and she paid the operators of the Skin Room handsomely to overlook her presence there.  It was not much of an issue, once they got over their shock.  Coin got you anything you wanted in D-Town and Isidora was willing to pay it for her indulgences.

Just the night before, she had spent hours in the Skin Room, celebrating her own victory.  She bit her lip thinking back to the look on the Twileen girl’s face
as she realized Filth was the one she would be fucking.  Isidora loved watching her Stone Seer take other women, obeying her every command without hesitation, no matter how humiliating or degrading.  It turned her on so badly when he was finally done with the Skin Room servant, he would have to finish his master off as well.

Filth was the perfect companion for her.  No prospective suitors for marriage could live up to him.  He was completely loyal, absolutely obedient and was ignored by everyone.  He would never leave her or make demands of her.  He would only do exactly what she commanded him without fail.  He would torture himself to complete any task she gave him and disobey even the king of Rellizbix for her.
  He would murder another Faeir for her.

“
Councilor Isidora?”

Isidora
snapped out of her daydream and turned at the sound of another voice.  No one else was supposed to be allowed on the balcony while she sat at her table.  She had reserved it with the owner of the restaurant.

“Is that… wine?”  The Faeir was of the Aerial Sect and was accompanied by another.  Both wore the robes of the
Council and were most likely messengers.

“It is,”
Isidora answered, giving them a confused smile.  “Fafnir Winter Grape… unfermented, of course.”

She gulped the rest, getting a slight rush from it, just in case they attempted to call her bluff.  “Gentlemen, although I am delighted that you would pay your respects, I have this table and the surrounding ones reserved…”

“I am afraid we are here on business.  You are being summoned.  We will speak to the owner about your shortened reservation, if you would like.”

“Don’t bother
; it’s fine.”  Isidora rose from the chair and focused on keeping her balance after the sudden ingestion of wine.  Though she secretly broke the Faeir taboo on alcohol, she did not do so enough to expand her constitution.

“Excellent.  This way, please.  The Chief
Councilors are waiting for you in the Cathedral Annex.”

Here it is: my reward from the
Council.
Isidora smiled as she trailed her escorts through the inner city of Thromdale.  Only those who attained citizenship through one of the Three Passages were allowed inside the city, with the exception of Stone Seers who were owned by the Faeir. 
I did this.  All this reveling and celebrating… I gave this to these idiots, but I gave the Council so much more.  They wanted an end to this war and their duty to the Sabans and now I have supplied them with it.  How will they honor me?  A statue at the Crystalline Cathedral?  A college named after me?  I’ll accept nothing short of a vetting for the next Chief Councilor seat.

The group arrived at the Annex for the Faeir Crystalline Cathedral.  It was a magnificent structure, modeled after the original cathedral deep in the World Edge
Mountains.  It sat just below the royal palace and was one of the most defended buildings in the inner city.  All of the residential Faeir spent time there, studying, practicing and socializing.  Its walls were made of translucent crystal cylinders that soaked up the colors around it, giving it a moving, constantly changing appearance.  Any important meeting with the Council happened here and visiting Chief Councilors refused to stay anywhere else in the city.  Isidora was mostly unimpressed. 
Resistance to adaptation is a weakness.  I break tradition and change with my environment and look at all I have accomplished.  Maybe one day, when I am Chief Councilor…

The doors swung open and admitted the trio. 
Isidora smiled and greeted everyone as she strolled through the stiff and delicate halls that were a perfect representation for the ones who dwelled inside.  She was guided to the back of the Annex, to the meeting hall where only months ago she was given the unprecedented order to kill another Faeir.  It was an honor for her, a gift for her unquestionable loyalty and ambition, but today she would receive a new honor.

As she entered the room and bowed before the three Chief Councilors, her mind raced with possibilities and she let her eyes stray all over the room for any sign of what they had in store for her.
  Unbelievably, several more veteran Councilors were also in attendance.  Either they had made up an entirely false reason to honor her, or they were already moving forward with plans to break from the Sabans and had let more members in on the successful mission she had carried out.

Herod
stood behind the elevated table and addressed her.  “Councilor Isidora, you stand before this Tribunal on charges of Heresy, Treason and the unspeakable crime… Murder of a Fellow Faeir.”

Isidora
blinked.  “Tribunal?  Councilors, I applaud this attempt at a prank.  I am flattered…”

“This is no joke, Councilor.”
Xenon’s tone was especially harsh as he addressed her.  “Isidora, we have proof of it all.  We know you imbibe alcohol, participate in sexual acts with a Stone Seer… your deviant behavior has been evident to us for some time now.”

“That is not all,”
Herod proclaimed.  “We have evidence that you infiltrated secret meetings between the King of Rellizbix and his military council, with the use of forbidden magic, and conspired to hinder the war effort.  You have also slain another Faeir: the promising young mage Pyrrhus, whom the King held most dear.  You have betrayed this kingdom, you have betrayed this Council and you have forsaken the laws of your own people!  Do you deny it?”

Isidora
was dumbstruck and horrified.  The Chief Councilors were laying out all of their dirty laundry, right in the middle of several other high-ranking officials among the Faeir, and making it seem as if everything were her idea.

“Chief Councilors, I understand none of this.  Perhaps if we met in private for a moment, we could find out what kind of lie has been perpetrated against me…”

“It’s all over, Isidora,” Pelagius said softly.  He sighed and shook his head, motioning for Herod to sit down.  “I am partially to blame here, I suppose.  It was I who allowed you to stray so far from the true path of the Faeir.  I recognized your talent and zest for promoting the Council and it blinded me to how far you had fallen.  For that I am sorry, but now it is time for me to acknowledge my faults and for you to confess your sins before this Tribunal.”

Xenon
reached over and patted the emotional Chief Councilor on the shoulder as the rest of the Tribunal murmured their understanding and forgiveness to him.  Isidora’s eyes narrowed.  She realized what was happening.  The Council had never intended to reward her for such a mission. 
How foolish am I, to think that you would allow me to kill another Faeir without repercussions.  You sly, withered old cocks.
 
I would never have guessed you would be so cold and calculating.

“I see you are taking
full
responsibility for your faults, Chief Councilor.  How admirable of you,” she hissed.  “I suppose this Tribunal has not uncovered evidence of any
others
that might have had something to do with the illegal operations I have carried out?”

“In fact, we have,”
Herod replied.  “Bring him in.”

Isidora
’s head snapped to the door behind her as it opened and two mages brought in her Stone Seer.  Filth walked in between the two Flame Mages, his head lowered to avoid eye contact with any of the Councilors.  He did not speak or acknowledge his master in any form as he was marched up beside her.

“This Stone Seer, which is under your charge and which you have disgustingly named outside of custom, is also on trial for your crimes.  We are not so callous to suppose that this poor being has had any choice in the matter, however, and in our everlasting mercy, have agreed to pardon him of most of the offenses.  He is being banished to the Wilderness, as he cannot be trusted around even Commoners because of your negligence.”

Herod rose and the others joined him.

“The Stone Seer has been found guilty of treason and is forthwith banished from the civilized world.  Councilor
Isidora, without reasonable protest, is found guilty of murder against a Faeir and will be handed over to the First Regiment to stand trial before the King and face execution at the hands of the Sabans.”

“You cannot do this!”
Isidora screamed.  The nightmare was growing beyond her imagination now.  “You cannot allow another Faeir to die if it is within your control!  That is the rule all Faeir live by!”

“Except you,”
Pelagius replied.  “We have spoken about this punishment and have agreed.  This unprecedented action on your part places you outside our system of justice.  Should King Helfrick agree to a non-lethal punishment for you, we will abide…”

“He won’t!  The Sabans are savages in a noble disguise!  They will kill me in front of all their people and most likely after they have violated me in every way, shackled and helpless beneath the castle!”

“You have killed another Faeir!  It is no more than you deserve!” Herod yelled.

“It was me.”

The entire room fell silent at the voice.  Only Isidora had heard it before.

Filth pulled away from the two guards and walked to the center of the hall.  Reaching up, he pushed his hair away from his face and stared up at the three Chief Councilors.  His all-white eyes locked them in fear.  They had never in their lives been subjected to the unholy gaze of a Stone Seer and were entirely unaccustomed to such bold defiance.

“Master did not slay the Fire Mage.  Master could not kill him, so I did.”

“Impossible…”
Pelagius said.

“My magic is strong… dangerous.  I took Fire Mage by surprise… cut him with my knife.  I sunk him in swamp water… threatened Master not to tell anyone or I would kill her, too.  Master too frightened of my magic to
resist.”

Isidora
broke free from her shock and ran at Filth, knocking him to the ground and injuring her elbow with the fall.  She was on top of him, pounding her fists into his face and chest.

“You stupid, fucking idiot!
  You did kill him!  You killed Pyrrhus and made me stay quiet!”

Isidora
had tears in her eyes and her jaws ached.  She looked into Filth’s eyes.  Complete, unwavering loyalty.

“How could you do this?” she screamed.
  Her emotions were overflowing and she struggled to keep up her ruse under the unexpected pain she felt.  “I don’t understand!  Why did you do this!”

The guards pulled her off of the Stone Seer.  He never pulled away from her and allowed the guards to yank him to his feet without resisting.  The Tribunal was shocked silent and looked as if they were ready to flee the hall.  Finally
Xenon spoke up.

“It… it seems as if we have a confession.  Does… does anyone else have something they would like to contest about this?”

“Are you joking, Chief Councilor?”  One of the veteran Councilors was cowering behind his chair.  “Did you just see what that Stone Seer did?  He looked right at us!  Those grotesque, evil-filled eyes were all over us!  Who knows what kind of magic he has infected us with!”