Beyond the Hell Cliffs (52 page)

Chapter 50

Greela stood in his war room with his generals, gathering there in armor after hearing the alert outside the palace district.  Outside of the room, the remaining Elite Guard that had stayed behind could be heard struggling with whatever force had come for him.  He had no warning of the attack and did not know who was on the other side of the door.  It could be the citizens.  An insurrection was not surprising.  Maybe some group of rebels had seen the large contingent of guards leave the Citadel and decided now was the time to strike.

It could have been the men from the north, come to finish what they had started with him in the most inconvenient
period of his rule.  It could be Beretta and a band of demi-gods she had discovered with her seven years of freedom.

The sounds of fighting grew louder and suddenly the door exploded inward as two armored Rathgar females tore through it.  One of them was the ugliest woman he had ever seen, with a scarred face and one eye.  The other was a behemoth.  His generals moved to intercept them.  The larger one, carrying a familiar-looking executioner’s axe, leveled General Bolomar with one swing.  The ugly one shielded her comrade, taking several blows without
so much as a step backward.

Others poured through the door.  A Lokai in all black bolted through the opening and flung both of her arms forward.  Small shards of metal, like tiny saw blades, sailed through the air and Greela ducked to avoid them.  One of his men was not quick enough and
caught two of the wicked stars in his face.

Stribog rushed her, swinging his spiked mace at her head, but she dropped to the floor and slid between his legs, whipping a thin cord around both of his legs as she did.  She came to her feet like water being poured upwards and slipped the other end of the cord around Stribog’s neck.  The cord made a cinching sound as she yanked it downward and Stribog gagged as his legs buckled and he curled backwards.

The remaining generals and guards inside the war room surrounded the warriors and the black clad Lokai stayed crouched in the middle of the room, more flying blades in her hands.  Then another figure stepped inside the room, leisurely, as if he were not in any danger at all.  Recognition passed over Greela’s face as soon as he saw the stripe of green hair.

“So it’s you!” he roared, stepping forward.  “The Empress dies to save your wretched life and this is how you repay her?  By getting your gang of deviants to help you finish what your kindred started?”

“You’ve had seven years to pull this empire out of the grave, Greela, and you’ve only dragged it further down!” Raegith countered.  “You’re weak and unworthy of rule!  We’re going back to the old ways of being ruled only by the strong!”

“And you are strong enough to take my place?  You’re a fool with a smooth tongue; you’re no warrior!  You’re not even armed!  You trick others into fighting for you and call that strength?”

“This is no trick!” Raegith yelled, strolling forward.  “I am the only one powerful enough to lead the Greimere out of this hell and into the fertile north.  I am the only one to lead this horde against the cowards who dwell across the Hell Cliffs.  I am the Grass-haired Demon come to avenge all who suffered because of your weakness and I, not Greela, will claim this entire world for the Greimere!”

“
You think you have the power to rule the Greimere in my stead, then prove it here and now!” Greela roared, stepping forward through his men.  “You and me, boy… a challenge for the throne of Greimere.  You best take up an axe quick, though.”

“I won’t need one to end you
,” Raegith said.

“So be it,” Greela growled, hefting his giant axe.

The two of them closed on each other in the middle of the room and the others backed away quickly.  Greela moved quicker than Raegith expected of a soldier his age, sweeping the heavy axe as if it weighed nothing, right for his head. 

The general was very skilled and though he could have been overconfident against an unarmed opponent, he kept Raegith at a distance with his swings.
  Raegith on the other hand had not yet engaged an armed opponent and even with the power bestowed upon him, he would still die quickly should any of Greela’s mighty swings connect.  He kept just out of reach, ducking the blade and spinning away to the side while Greela adjusted instantly. 

Raegith was barely avoiding the
strikes, each one coming a little bit closer to hitting than the last and Greela was not tiring.  He kept the pressure on him, pushing him all the way back to the wall.  He had driven him into a corner and as Raegith ran out of room, the general whipped his axe around for an overhead swing meant to cleave him in half.

Raegith glided forward, barely stepping as he uncoiled his arm
with a solid straight punch into Greela’s chest.  The impact sounded like piercing thunder and Greela buckled backward, swinging his axe into the ground.  Raegith was no longer there, having slipped to the side.  He kicked out into the man’s hip, sending him staggering sideways.

Greela recovered, turning to face Raegith. 
The general started to swing, but Raegith was suddenly way too close.  The boy’s hand shot out and grabbed the base of the axe before Greela could swing it.  Out of nowhere, blue flames erupted along his forearms. 

Greela did not even see the punch.  One moment he was awestruck by the boy’s sudden combustion and the next moment he felt an impact that ra
ttled his teeth and his iron chest protector shattered like porcelain.

The air was gone from his lungs and he couldn’t keep his feet underneath him.  Raegith pushed onward, both of his arms engulfed in azure fire as they pummeled him.  He let go of the axe, tried to put his hands up to defend
himself, but the power was too much.  He could feel his bones breaking and the taste of blood was thick in his mouth.

Raegith spun on the ball of his foot and slammed Greela with a kick to the midsection that lifted the man off the ground.  Greela
soared through the air, crashing into the far wall and crumpled to the floor, coughing up blood.

“
I take no glee in this, General, though I should,” Raegith said, shaking the flames off of his arms.  “I still remember the way you killed my friends.  Zakk was the red-haired girl; the short one with ears like mine was Ebriz… I don’t think I ever told you their names.  You didn’t even blink, did you?  You saw a threat to your Empress; a threat to your empire and you did exactly what you needed to do, without mercy or hesitation.”

Raegith dropped down on top of the general and lifted his head.  “I took a lesson from that moment, General, and I became more like you.  Unfortunately, you have become a threat to this empire and those that I must protect and though this may look like revenge for my friends, I am simply doing exactly what I need to do… without mercy or hesitation.”

“The bearded Saban with the giant sword…” Greela said.  “A general… like me…”

Raegit
h looked down at him quizzically.  “A Saban?  What are you talking about?”

“During the invasion… a Saban with a bald
head… a beard… large sword…” Greela coughed.  “…stronger than me… he’s the one to kill… for vengeance…”

“Vengeance for
who?”

“He’s the one… put Empress on the spike…” Suddenly Greela reached up and grabbed Raegith by the collar, pulling him down face-to face with him.  The general was
shuddering with hatred, but not for Raegith.  “He’s the one… made us watch.  He’s the one!”

As Raegith loomed over the broken general, he understood his suffering and madness.  Raegith wasn’t the only one who had lost something when Kalystra had died.  Greela had been responsible for keeping her alive and safe and this unknown general had forced him to live through his failure.  It was no wonder Greela had fallen into such darkness.  Raegith had changed so much from the Empress’s death and he had not even been there for it.

“Rest now, Greela,” Raegith said, gripping the man’s hand and laying it back on his chest.  “
It’s not your time just yet.  I may still have a use for you after all.”

Raegtih rose from the
bloodied body of Greela and was suddenly aware of how quiet everything was.  None moved to charge him or engage in battle with those across from them.  All were silent, except for one of the generals, who came forward, weapon lowered.

“Greela tells me of a Saban… the one who murdered the Empress.  That is my enemy; that should be the enemy of everyone in this room.  What say you, General?”

The general looked back to the others, who offered little more than shrugs and confused glances.  “Stribog… I am General Stribog, second in command of the Elite Guard and leader of the Citadel Guard
.  I can point out the man who killed the Empress and I will help you find him.  Rathgar follow the strongest leader.”

Raegith motioned him closer and Helkree and the Helcats stepped
forward and closed in on the two.  As Stribog came close, Raegith reached out his arm and after a brief hesitation, the general accepted it.

Raegith turned
to address all of the men in the room.  “We’re coming together; Rathgar, Lokai, Urufen and Gimlet!  We’re going into the north, to those who live in the sun and grass… and we’re going to return the thousand years of death and dependence they’ve given us!”

“We’re
gonna kill those motherfuckers!” Helkree screamed, lifting her axe to the sky.  “Broosh!”

The other Helcats
took up the war cry and slowly, one by one, the surviving Rathgar joined them.

Chapter 52

Helfrick leaned against the ledge of the balcony looking out over the city and the surrounding districts as the sun rose.
  The streets were filled with janitors and workmen, preparing for another day of festivities in the weeklong Thromdelion; the tenth one since he sent his first-born son to his doom beyond the Hell Cliffs.  His eyes were red and dry and the horrid aftertaste of alcohol clung inside his throat, rising up to remind him of the night before with every unwanted burp. 

It had been days since he had gone to sleep of his own volition.  He was certain his wife was seeking out companionship behind his back and he did not care enough to investigate.  His
children all ignored him, except for Helfria, who worried more over him than her impending betrothal.

As if responding to his thoughts, Helfria was there beside him
.  “Have you slept at all, Father?”

“No,” he said softly, keeping his gaze on the city.

“You may be taking this too hard.  We will still be nobility, given the same respect and accords.  We will even continue to live in the castle and you will preside over all of the ceremonies…”

“And have absolutely no power,” Helfrick added.  “The Council makes promises to ease me into accepting this… this mutiny.  What will your brother have, Helfria?  What will he inherit from me but a broken legacy and a meaningless title?”

“Have you even talked to Kranston?” Helfria asked.  “He does not want a title; he wants a father!  He wants to know why you rarely even speak to him!  I too, would like to know that.”

“I have other things on my mind, Daughter.”

Helfria touched his shoulder and turned his face to meet hers.  “Something happened to you, Father. Nearly ten years ago, just before Uncle Tiberius returned with news of victory, you changed.  Kranston was merely a toddler when you began to shun him.  Your lack of affection goes deeper than this vote the Council has brought against you.”

“You’re too intelligent to be one of mine, dear,” Helfrick said with a smile.  “You will make a wonderful Senator.”

“I… I have not accepted the position, yet, Father,” Helfria replied, blushing.  “Besides, it is probably just an homage to a great King to allow me to sit in the Senate.”

She changed her tone.  “Father, do not distract me.  Tell me what happened to you.  You’re too young to have this white hair and these deep creases the alcohol and long nights have caused you.  You have not hefted your warhammer in ages and you used to practice with it every week when I was a teenager.”

“There is no war to be fought anymore, Helfria!” Helfrick exclaimed, spinning around on her.  “How do you not understand this?  The Saban Kings are no longer needed and soon, the entire Saban race will not be needed.  What use is there in practicing with my hammer?  I should be practicing with a fucking plow and scythe!”

“The Sabans are too numerous to be pushed aside, Father.  You are overreacting and avoiding my question!  What happened before this vote, before the victory over Greimere?  Who was the Twileen woman in red that came to you wearing a veil of mourning?  Why was Mother so upset with you when she learned of the visit?  You two fought for hours afterward and then pretended it never happened the next day!”

Helfrick stopped and breathed deeply.  He should have known that Helfria, the daughter that passed her entrance exams into the Amethyst College at eleven years and who was heralded by half the city as “the Genius Princess” would be too intuitive to miss what had happened all those years ago.  Now that he was aware that she had seen Nuallan, he wondered why she had kept it to herself for so long.

“You need to leave this alone, Helfria.”

“I’ve waited a long time for you, Father… waited for you to finally come to me with this once I was old enough to handle it.  I am halfway through my twenties, being courted by displeasing nobles and am in line to accept a position as Senator of the Republic, should the vote pass.  I am able to handle this information.”

“It is not a matter of age or maturity, Helfria!” Helfrick roared.  “It does not concern you!  That is all!  Now leave me to get ready.  I have a vote to attend this morning… it might as well be an execution.”

Helfria frowned at her father, but obeyed his wishes and turned away.  Helfrick waited until she had left the room before looking back out over the city.

The majesty of Thromdale, the kingdom that my ancestors created for me… it will all be lost to us.  How will I stand before my kin in the afterlife
now? How will I be seen by my father and grandfather?  How will I be remembered by the people after I am gone?  Not as Helfrick the slayer of Nogrin or veteran of three invasions or even as the king who defeated the Greimere Empire for good.  No, to those who matter, I will be known as Helfrick, the idiot who destroyed the Saban rule and let Rellizbix slip into idle democracy. 

He threw cold water onto his face, washed himself in the basin and put on fresh clothes and perfumes to mask the stench of booze that permeated his skin.  Then he descended the tower of his home and made his way to the assembly hall.

The Gathering of Minds, usually a chaotic mess of scattered ideas and conflicting arguments, had been squarely focused on one topic for the past three years.  The Faeir were the first to bring it up, Chief Councilor Herod being the brave soul that put the motion up for consideration: moving the rule of Rellizbix from a monarchy to a republic.

All of the Faeir in the Gathering of Minds were for this idea, as were several Sabans.  Ubrith was harshly against it, as were Tiberius and those most loyal to the king, while the others were completely unprepared to give their opinion on it.  Helfrick had expected it, however.  He had known from the moment Tiberius returned in victory that his years on the throne were numbered.

By the next Gathering of Minds, it was no longer just a topic of discussion.  The Faeir Council completely backed the movement and more Saban nobles had voiced their approval of it.  The consequences were becoming more apparent, as well.  Helfrick’s advisors were warning of a possible civil war, should he continue to ignore the Council and supporting Guilds.  There had already been demonstrations in the streets and a few of the Guilds had gone on strike until the matter was set for a vote.

In the end, Helfrick acquiesced and tabled a vote for the following year.  Now he stood before the nobles, Councilors, Guild leaders and Tribal Chiefs to hold the vote that would most likely dissolve the powers of the king and resign him to a mere figurehead.  Helfria was there, having attended every Gathering since her graduation from the Amethyst College.

“All stand!” Helfria shouted as he entered the hall.  “King Helfrick Caelum of Rellizbix presiding!  Let the Gathering of the Minds begin!  All hail the descendant of Throm Caelum!”

“Hail!” the members of the Gathering repeated before sitting down.

Helfrick nodded at his daughter and she took up the seat next to him at the head of the table.  The others looked at him, expectantly. 

He did not bother with formalities.  “Before this Gathering is a vote to remove me as King of Rellizbix and replace my rule with that of a handful of Senators to be elected by the Citizens of Rellizbix.  All those in favor…”

“Your majesty, a moment please?” Herod asked, raising his hand. 

“What is it?”

“A vote of this importance cannot just be thrown out there like this,” the Chief Councilor said, looking around at the others in attendance for acknowledgement.  “As any other vote, we should first hear reasons for and against the vote, should we not?”

“You’ve all had three years to make up your minds,” Helfrick grumbled.

“Humor us,” Herod said, flatly.

“Fine, you go first, Chief Councilor.”

“Thank you,” Herod said with a bow of his head.  He turned back to the others.  “Members of this Gathering, before us is the vote to change this kingdom from a monarchy to a democracy.  We are not removing the King of Rellizbix at all; we are simply redefining his responsibilities.

“For centuries now, we have followed the majestic Kings into battle against the monsters from beyond the
cliffs and for all of that time those illustrious kings have kept us all safe.  King Helfrick has done what no other king in history could accomplish, however; he has destroyed the enemy through and through!  He has delivered us from the threat of invasion by the barbarous hordes of Greimere and given us an everlasting peace.  It is a peace we should reward him for; to show our gratitude for the gift he has given us.  Let us reward him with the same peace.  Helfrick has saved us from the Greimere… let us now save him from the burden of protecting us.”

“Save me from the burden of rule?” Helfrick laughed. 
“How generous of you, Chief Councilor.  Put in those words, I am inclined to vote for it as well!  Let’s remove some of that sugar, shall we, before we all puke from it.”

Helfrick stood.  “I have upheld
this kingdom from the moment I was born.  I am the descendant of Throm Caelum, the man who built this kingdom with nothing but grit and determination.  The role of King is not a burden to me; it is a duty!”

“You say you are not burdened by this duty?”
Otho asked.  “Why then have you spent the last few years withdrawing from society?  Why do you send your daughter to attend nearly all of your meetings and appearances?  Why do you now, so early in the morning, stink of boonivarn juice?”

“Would you not drink yourself to sleep as well, if your own guild were throwing you out on your arse?” Ubrith asked the man.
  “How is it that I know a Saban’s pride more than you?  You cannot reward a Saban as proud and honorable as Helfrick Caelum by stripping him of his power and rank.  To act as if this is anything other than a demotion is idiotic.”

“We are giving innumerable concessions on this vote, Ubrith!” Gaius, a noble from the East and lord over several mines, now spoke.  He was newer to the Gathering of Minds and was one of the few Saban nobles with the backing of the Council.  “No one here wishes to degrade the king; every one of us has nothing but respect for him.
  Without a war on the horizon, however, he seems to be…”

Gaius paused, giving
the king an apologetic look.  “You seem to have lost your purpose, your majesty.  I don’t fault you for it; none of us do, but Otho is right.  Your daughter is more involved in the governing of this land than you are and you have lost yourself in despair, despite your amazing triumphs.  Let us all remember you as the great king who rescued us from the Greimere and not as the king who locked himself away in his castle and deserted us.”

“You go too far, Gaius!” General Regulus shouted, rising out of his chair as if he were about to strike the man.

“Sit down, Regulus,” Helfrick commanded.  “This is the Gathering of Minds, not the Orgy of Ass-kissers.  Gaius is allowed to speak his mind.”

“It is disrespectful drivel, my lord!”

“It is the truth,” Helfrick replied.  He took a long breath before speaking again.  “I don’t think we need to hear anymore, do we Herod?  A Saban’s life is in his hands alone; that is what my father taught me and what his father taught him.  I have failed this city and all of the people in my depression.  My daughter has proven to be a more effective leader than I, but as long as this kingdom remains a monarchy, she will never be allowed to prove her merit.”

“I think we all agree and demand her presence on the Senate, my lord,” Gaius replied, nodding towards Helfria.  “And once young Kranston comes of age…”

“Enough,” Helfrick said, cutting him off.  “I call for your votes.  All those in favor of creating a Republic of Rellizbix, say ‘Aye.’”

Ubrith, General Regulus and Bricius of the Twileen Jeweler’s Guild were the only members who remained silent.  The motion was passed by all others in the room, including Helfria.

Helfrick immediately got up and turned to leave the room, ignoring pleas from his supporters to remain.  He was no longer the ruler of Rellizbix and did not have the heart to continue a presence among the Gathering.  All he wished for now was a fresh gourd of Stoglia and a carriage to take him to Forster’s Keep, where he belonged.

As soon as the door shut behind Helfrick, someone shouted for him from down the hallway.  He turned to see Tiberius rushing towards him.

“You’re back in Thromdale, old friend?” Helfrick asked, confused at the sight of his general.  “Were you late to the Gathering?  It doesn’t matter.  A vote has been cast.”

“Then we need to revote,” Tiberius said, confidently approaching and placing his hand on the king’s shoulder.  “I have news that is going to change everything!”

“What could you tell me that would change a thing, Tiberius?”

“
I have just returned from inspections of the southern Regiments.  While I was there, we received word of trouble in the lower villages.  I dispatched with the Spring Guard to investigate.”

“You’re fifty-nine this year, aren’t you?” Helfrick asked.  “And still you rush to any adventure you catch wind of?”

“My lord, I observed three villages in the Wilderness that had been assaulted and destroyed.”  Tiberius leaned close to his king, his mouth widening into an excited grin.  “That’s not all we found.”

Helfrick was disturbed by the man’s expression.  He had not seen the taciturn general so amused since they were teens.