Chains of a Dark Goddess (30 page)

“Did you see the battle, old friend?”

“I did not,” said Whum. “I see the result. Who
is
that girl? She is more than a vagabond and the granddaughter of a ranger.”

“We were debating the same, master thief,” said Harmulkot. “We have no answer for you.”

“Kedimius sends his love,” said Breskaro.

The guild leader smiled. “He was a bright lad. Always cheered me up when I was melancholy.”

“I have things to do,” said Harmulkot. “I will leave the two of you to reminisce and sort this mess out.”

When she was gone, Whum said, “Our Goddess isn’t what I imagined. Not in a bad way, mind you.”

“I find myself liking her, though I don’t trust her.”

“You think she’ll betray you?”

“In the end, of course she will. But I don’t know how.”

“What about the city? Will she betray us?”

“You, her people, this city: She loves all of you. She’s not lying about that. She’ll do whatever it takes to save it. Me, she will use.”

“You don’t think she’ll honor the bargain?”

“She’ll honor it, but I think she’ll also betray me ... somehow.”

“Perhaps it’s that you don’t trust goddesses anymore.”

“I can tell when she’s lying to me. When she’s hiding things. She knows something about Esha and isn’t telling me. But she’s also telling me the truth when she says it wouldn’t change anything and would only make matters worse if I knew her speculations on the girl.”

Whum sighed and twirled his mustache. “I wish I could’ve seen Ked.”

“You’ll likely see him on the field of battle. He’s a more than competent knight. I’m sure they’ve recognized that.”

“He was good with a sword even as a lad. And on our quests he got more experience than any other squire ever did.” Whum laughed. “I would have liked to have seen him, though. I tried to keep in touch, but our worlds are so far apart. I did see him at the funeral. Spent a week with him afterward. Did what I could to cheer him up.”

Breskaro’s eyes sparked, almost with amusement. “My funeral? I hadn’t thought to ask anyone. How was it?”

“Somber. They put on a lavish pageant for you. Went on and on about you. Most of it wasn’t about the Breskaro I knew. They made you out to be a saint, almost like a deity yourself. The Matriarch spoke. And then Magnos—” Whum cursed and gripped the hilt of his dagger. “If I had
known
, Breskaro. He would not have lived out the week.”

“And you would have gotten yourself killed for nothing but revenge.”

“Does Kedimius know what happened?”

“He does. He practically offered Magnos up to me if I would abandon the city.”

“He’ll come around, Breskaro. He’ll come around. Now, I’d best be off. I have work to do.”

Why does it bother me so about the boy
? Breskaro thought, sighing.
The only thing that matters is saving Orisala.

“Esha!”

The girl ran over to him.

“Can you command that thing?”

“I think so, master.”

“Would it fight for us?”

“I think so. I’ve convinced it that we’re its friends. It really likes me.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“How did you know to command it to stop?”

She shrugged. “I just did, master. It understands what I say and I can kind of sense what it wants. If you want it to fight with us, it needs to be polished up and oiled.”

“I’ll send some engineers to help out. You tell them what to do when they arrive. You’re in charge of this project. Keep it out of sight and as secret as you can.”

Chapter 44

Kedimius and Ilsimia felt the earth quake. They saw dust rise in the air inside the city and heard fighting, metal scraping against metal, shouts, commotion. They paused and waited to see if they could tell what was going on. But after a few minutes, everything went silent again. They continued toward Kerokar Pass which they had to travel through to reach the city. The Imperial Army was still on the other side of the pass.

“What do you think?” Ilsimia asked. “An insurrection?”

Kedimius shrugged. “Whatever it was, it has been dealt with.”

“Maybe our spies will find out.”

“Spies?” Kedimius laughed. “What spies?”

Ilsimia was aghast. “We don’t have spies in the city? Why not?” She hadn’t sat in on the military meetings with General Togisi and Kedimius. She spent all the extra time she had in prayer and meditation with the other twelve Priestesses of the Grand Order on campaign and High Priestess Blasidia.

“We didn’t treat Mûlkra as a serious threat. We only had a few spies there and they’re dead already.”

“How do you know?”

“Breskaro acknowledged that Whum was alive. Our agents in Mûlkra were trying to overthrow the Lord Darkheart and undermine the city from within. Whum has killed them by now. He probably knew who they were to begin with. Just as well. I don’t think inside information will help much in this battle.”

“This is the same Whum who you say is simply misguided?”

“He
is
an honorable man. In his way. But yes, he is a criminal and a heathen, and an assassin.”

Ilsimia chuckled. “Then he’s not really a good man, is he?”

Kedimius frowned. “I don’t think it’s that simple. You have no idea how many times he saved my life. The things he taught me about bravery and friendship. We are friends, and yet he’s on the wrong side. I have never honestly understood why he is a criminal.” Kedimius let slip a slight grin. “And he never understood me and Breskaro either.”

“Why
were
you friends then? I don’t understand that.”

“We were friends because we fought together, because we laughed together. We liked the same old ballads, the same ale.” Kedimius shrugged. “You know,
friends
.”

She sighed. “I’ve never been friends with anyone save priestesses, attendants, acolytes, and you.” She tsked and shook her head. “I don’t think it’s right to socialize with heathens and criminals.”

“Well it was done in the past,” Kedimius said harshly. “We are forced to be enemies now. Whum said this day would come. When we would stand against one another. Only Breskaro was supposed to be on my side.”

~~~

The crusading army was camped five leagues away from Mûlkra, not far beyond Kerokar Pass. Kedimius and Ilsimia covered the distance as fast as possible. 

Already the army was capturing supply caravans, villages, and farms. Most of the livestock and foodstuffs had already been moved into Mûlkra, though. Breskaro was well prepared. They could settle in and attempt to starve the Mûlkrans, but the Matriarch wanted a decisive confrontation. Besides, the city would be able to get in some supplies through the mountains and starving them out could take most of the year.

The herald had returned to the camp far ahead of Kedimius and Ilsimia. When they arrived, they went straight to the command tent where General Togisi was already glowering at the poor herald. The herald was on his knees in the corner. His uniform was torn at the chest, the insignia ripped off. His weapons had been taken from him.

“Harmulkot has
returned
?” was the first thing General Togisi said as they entered the general’s silk pavilion.

“It’s true,” said Kedimius.

“We don’t think it was an illusion or a trick,” said Ilsimia. “The power that emanated from her, it was visible and I could feel it. I have no reason to doubt it.”

Togisi collapsed into his chair and waved a hand. “Guards, leave us. And take the herald out with you. He shall dig ditches from now on. Find me a new herald. One who won’t cut and run at the first sign of trouble.”

“Harmulkot is the power behind Breskaro,” said Ilsimia. “That’s almost certainly where your wife got the power to aid his return.”

“I have no doubt,” said Togisi. “Her lineage traces back to this city, back I suspect, to Harmulkot herself. I was duped by the darkest of powers.” Togisi rubbed at his temples. “Were the terms of surrender even given?”

“No, my lord,” replied Kedimius. “But was there really any point? He won’t listen to reason. He’s not going to surrender. And the people are not going to rebel against their Goddess now that she has returned to save them.”

“Although there was some sort of altercation as we were leaving,” said Ilsimia. “The earth quaked and there were sounds of shouting and fighting.”

“An insurrection?” said Togisi.

Kedimius shrugged. “Whatever it was, General, it was dealt with swiftly. My instincts tell me that it was something else.” He turned toward Ilsimia. “And there was magic involved, yes?”

“Quite a lot, actually.”

“So it may have been some experiment gone awry. There is no way to know. Whum is alive, by the way.”

“So our agents are dead.”

“I would think so. If not, they will be soon.”

“We didn’t take Mûlkra seriously enough. The fault is mine. I was overconfident. And now Harmulkot herself has returned. We thought her gone, the city weak.”

“She has only just returned, General,” said Ilsimia.

“And the city is
still
impoverished and lacking a proper army,” said Kedimius. “Breskaro resurrected his Valiants and has magic, but our crusaders greatly outnumber them. We are better equipped. We have our priestesses.”

“And our cause is right,” said Ilsimia. “The Goddess will aid us. We will prevail.”

Togisi’s mood picked up. “Yes, of course. Harmulkot is desperate and weak. That’s why she needed Breskaro.” Togisi stood and belted on his sword. “I will see my wrongs righted as best as I can.”

Togisi summoned his guards who rushed in. “Call for Lieutenant Kirigus and High Priestess Blasidia.” He turned back to Kedimius and Ilsimia. “We march on as planned. We will take this slowly, cautiously. We must suspect a trap at every step.”

Kirigus entered and bowed. “Yes, General?”

“Go back to Issalia at full-speed.” Togisi stamped a small piece of paper and passed it to Kirigus. “Take this to the Matriarch. Tell her that—”

“Perhaps Kedimius and I should go,” said Ilsimia. “I could tell her what we have discovered in person. No offense to Lieutenant Kirigus, but he won’t be able to adequately convey what I saw to the Matriarch, and it is
vital
that she know about it.”

Togisi nodded. “Go then and tell her what you’ve discovered. And remind her of this for me: Long ago she said a time would come when I would stand against something beyond me and that I would need help beyond what any soldier or weapon could give me. Tell her that time has
come
.”

“Yes, General.”

“Kirigus will escort you, with a squad of my finest. Colonel Threnna, I cannot spare. He has insight into Breskaro and Whum. And he must remain to lead his lancers.”

Ilsimia hesitated. Doubt weighed heavy in her eyes. Her lips trembled.

“I’ll be all right,” Kedimius told her. “I’ve faced Breskaro three times already. I can manage until you return.”

“I’ll be as swift as possible.”

“I know.” He kissed her, almost too passionately. “May the Goddess be with you.”

“With you as well, my love.”

She stroked her fingers slowly across his cheek, tears swelling in her eyes, her expression the longing of one forced into giving a final goodbye.

~~~

Kedimius was summoned to General Togisi’s tent the next morning, along with all the other colonels in the army. Kedimius stood in a corner, gazing absent-mindedly at the floor while report after report was given by the other officers.

“What of the city’s defenses, Colonel Threnna?” asked General Togisi.

Kedimius looked up startled. His eyes wandered a moment, then he shrugged. “Nominal from what we could see. The walls were intact. The gate solid. There were archers on the wall. Some portion of the south wall may have collapsed on their side but it remained solid without. There were signs that the earth had been disturbed outside the city.”

“Pits?”

“I think so, General. Though I kept to the road and found none along it.”

“And Kerokar Pass?”

“Empty, sir. I saw no signs that the enemy would attempt to defend it.”

“The scouts have said as much. But I wonder. The rest of you are dismissed. Return for more planning in an hour.” The other officers filtered out and Togisi turned once again to Kedimius. 

“You knew Breskaro better even than I did. Does it not seem strange to you that he wouldn’t contest that pass?”

“Yes, my lord. It does. But our spies told us last year that the Mûlkrans had perhaps only 500 horse, 1700 archers, and 5500 footmen. Plus militias. We far outnumber them. It’s a losing cause either way. If they tried to defend the pass and something went wrong, it would all be over.”

“But then what is their hope anyway? There is no way this city can stand indefinitely against us. Even if disease and losses reduced our numbers, more would pour in. People are motivated now.”

“Perhaps Breskaro has another stratagem. Perhaps we are missing something.”