King’s Wrath (18 page)

Kilt thought he recognised the voice. A fresh gasp erupted, as well as a few outbursts of laughter.

Jewd was suddenly at his side. ‘What the hell is it? What’s happening to you?’

‘Not it,’ Kilt groaned. ‘Who?’

Jewd looked puzzled.

‘It’s one of the Valisars. The world is crawling with them, it seems,’ he choked out. ‘It’s not too bad. I can control it. Lily?’

Jewd’s brow furrowed. ‘Her head’s still on her neck. She’s fainted and safe for now. What do you mean, Valisar? Loethar or Leo?’

‘I have no idea. You have to get me away from here fast. I … I have to think.’

Jewd wasted no time. He picked up Kilt as though he was a bundle of rags and ran him away, down backstreets, into the safety of anonymity.

14

 

Lily had swooned into the large puddle of Kirin’s bright red blood but Stracker barely noticed her. Heads were turning to the sound of the man clapping in a jeering fashion, daring to make fun of him.

In fact, Stracker noticed, there were two people approaching. He was so confused, though, that he couldn’t even respond to his men, who were looking to him for instructions. He was even ignoring the man poking fun at him. All he could do was stare at his sword, bamboozled.

The strangers walked right up to the podium. People parted for them, falling away to ease their path up onto the structure.

‘General Stracker?’ the man said.

It was only then that Stracker came out of his stupor, and stared at the young man who stood before him.

‘Perhaps you remember me?’

‘Impress me!’ the general spat.

‘I’m Piven. And this,’ he said, gesturing at the man beside him, ‘is Greven.’

‘And what in Aludane’s Fires are you doing here interrupting me?’

Stracker’s voice sounded as though he was in control but inside he was filled with turmoil. Piven? The halfwit! It couldn’t be and yet there was no mistaking the familiar face, still such a
youth; just a few straggly hairs around his jaw but otherwise still that baby-faced boy. But that was where similarities ended; he was tall now and looked strong — his body had filled out in a way that Stracker recognised could only be achieved from manual work. Stracker blinked. It didn’t make sense. Piven was not Valisar. He realised he was staring blankly but he promised himself he would not cower to the youth, no matter what dark magic was at work here.

Piven made a tutting sound. ‘Come now, general, that’s not a very warm welcome back for me, is it? I’ve been missing for a decade. Aren’t you even vaguely intrigued?’

‘You might have intrigued my brother —’

‘Half-brother,’ Piven corrected.

Stracker snarled. ‘But you hold no interest for me. Throw him in the dungeon until I’m ready to deal with him.’

Soldiers immediately moved at Stracker’s command, but he was surprised to see Piven benignly smiling.

‘Kill them, Greven. But, Greven … save Stracker for me.’

And at this new order, Greven — an old man as far as Stracker could tell — began to fight. He fought ruthlessly and with no expression on his face. He made no sound other than the odd grunt. His strength was remarkable. He didn’t need a weapon; his fist was a killing device, breaking bones, crushing limbs, snapping necks.

The most alarming fact was that no matter how many men rushed at him with their weapons, their swords could never touch him — or Piven — and their arrows appeared to bounce harmlessly away once they arrived within a hair’s breadth of their target.

‘What is this?’ Stracker cried above the sound of the slaughter and the crowd’s yells of fear as it dispersed, mothers grabbing children and running for what they thought was their lives; men pushing back, ringing the square now with a collective look of dread on their faces. The square, though not empty, was suddenly cleared of the press of people.

‘This, General Stracker,’ Piven said with a mirthful expression, ‘is the Valisar magic working.’

‘Valisar?’

Piven nodded. ‘Greven is an aegis,’ he said calmly while men died around him. Then he smiled and there was ferocity in it. ‘Now keep up, general. I know you don’t have the capacity of your brother’s cleverness but you must at least try and pay attention because I won’t be explaining this again. An aegis is the ultimate champion, available only to a Valisar.’ He paused a moment. ‘Ah, excellent, I see the obvious is registering with you. Yes, indeed, shock upon shocks, I am a Valisar.’ He tapped his nose. ‘Or I wouldn’t have the benefits of an aegis at my disposal. Oops, that’s at least a dozen of your warriors, general. Would you like me to stop him? The best way is for you to call your soldiers off.’

Piven paused again.

Stracker’s mouth moved but he couldn’t think of what to say.

Piven began to chuckle. ‘You know, general, another dozen could die while you make up your mind. I suggest you give the command. There’s no point in losing many more lives this day.’

Stracker found his voice finally. ‘Step back!’ he shouted to his men.

‘Well done. You see, Stracker, you should have remained as your half-brother’s second. These delusions of leadership you have are ill-advised; you’re at your best when you are taking orders from a higher source.’ He smiled again. ‘A higher source such as I,’ he finished. ‘Greven, leave us but keep me shielded.’

The older man removed himself to the shadows of the arches at the very back of the main square. Piven sighed pleasurably and surveyed the scene.

Lily Felt chose that moment to moan as she came back into consciousness.

‘Would someone please pick up the fallen Mrs Felt,’ Piven commanded. ‘There will be no execution for her today — or indeed any day, general. From what I gathered watching your
theatrics unfold, and how your audience was reacting, she is innocent … or at least, unworthy of execution. And she’s far too pretty to be killed off for no good reason. Now her husband I liked. Kirin Felt never did me a wrong. To be candid with you, general, I’m a little angry that you executed him. The least you could have done was offer him a trial.’

‘Who are you?’ Lily Felt was sitting up, her obvious confusion reflecting Stracker’s.

‘Your saviour it seems, Mrs Felt. I am Piven, one of the Valisar princes.’

Her eyes widened. ‘Piv—’ She stopped herself.

But his eyes narrowed. ‘You sound like you know me, Mrs Felt, and yet I am sure I have never seen you until this day.’

‘I … I know
of
you, of course. But no, we have never met, highness.’

Piven spun around on his heel like a child, laughing. ‘Highness?’ he repeated and then he ran up onto the scaffolding and helped Lily to her feet. Without turning he addressed Stracker. ‘Don’t try anything, general. I should warn you that I cannot be killed. And for each attempt from now on I will have ten of your Greens slaughtered before you. Are we understood?’

Stracker paused. He was so angry he could feel himself shaking. But Piven didn’t notice, wouldn’t even look at him. He was staring at Lily.

‘Do you understand, Stracker?’ he repeated.

‘Yes!’ the general roared.

Piven ignored him, kissed Lily’s hand and stared into her eyes. ‘Thank you for paying me the courtesy of my true title. You are the first to utter it.’

The woman found a tentative smile and despite the streaks of dirt on her face and the blood over her clothes, she inclined her head politely. ‘Thank you for saving my life.’

Piven grinned, his face young and full of mischief. ‘It was nothing,’ he said, waving away the thanks. ‘Forgive me for not
acting sooner. Your husband was killed as we arrived into the square — shame on them for making you kneel for his death — but I could hear all the shouting as we were approaching. Just a few minutes earlier and …’

‘Please, your highness, don’t say it.’ She looked down at her blood-drenched clothing and gagged. ‘He didn’t deserve to die.’

‘No,’ Piven replied gently. ‘I knew him in childhood and he was a decent man. But he is dead, Mrs Felt, and there is nothing to be gained from dwelling on it. Come, let us get you out of those clothes, bathed, rested. We shall talk shortly.’ He looked around. ‘You, Father Briar.’

‘Is it really you?’ the man stammered.

‘No one else,’ Piven replied. ‘Now, take Mrs Felt and see to it that she has all that she needs.’

Briar nodded dumbly, seemingly awestruck by Piven.

As Father Briar and Lily helped each other away, Stracker rounded on Piven. ‘He was helping her to escape in the first place!’

Piven regarded Stracker. ‘So what?’

‘They are traitors to the emperor.’

Piven cocked his head to one side. ‘And you’re not?’

Stracker remained silent.

‘Keep doing as I bid, general, and perhaps we can work together. You have to stop occupying your very small reasoning capacity, Stracker, with people who don’t matter. I can tell that Mr and Mrs Felt have offended you on some level but they are merely pawns.’ He took a step forward and Stracker actually flinched. ‘They are unimportant people often sacrificed by the more important players in the deadly game of power, but whose deaths are meaningless in the greater plan.’

‘What is the greater plan?’

‘Ahh, now we come to it, general. Why, to rule.’ Stracker felt shock run through him like ice water. Piven chuckled and continued, ‘But people like Father Briar, Kirin Felt, his wife, are unimportant.’

‘Who is important, then?’

Piven smiled wolfishly. ‘Clear the square, order your men away and get this scaffolding dismantled. There will be no more executions for the time being.’

Stracker regarded the young man for a long time. Piven didn’t so much as blink beneath the scrutiny, patiently waiting until Stracker made his decision. At last, Stracker barked orders in Steppes language and soldiers leapt to his command, immediately dragging away Kirin’s corpse, herding onlookers away and summoning carpenters to take down the makeshift stage.

‘Good,’ Piven said, ‘that was your first wise move. Walk with me. I will answer your questions.’

Stracker fell in alongside him like an obedient dog. The aegis, Greven, followed at a short distance behind.

‘Tell me about him,’ Stracker said, thumbing over his shoulder.

‘He’s not much fun, as you can tell. But he’s the father who took me on when you and your half-brother decided to kill mine.’

‘But you’re adopted,’ Stracker said.

Piven sighed, loudly theatric. ‘That was the ruse, General Stracker. I am Valisar.’

‘Valisar?’ Stracker queried, totally lost. Then he gathered his thoughts, punching the air with a finger. ‘I may not have the cleverness of my brother but you were a halfwit last time I saw you.’

‘Yes, now that probably is the best secret of all. Not only was lucidity hidden from my family but it was hidden from me for many years. Unhappily for you, Stracker, I am far from the smiling monkey boy I think I once overheard you refer to me as. It seems I am Vested and Valisar. Hmmm, that is a potent mix.’

‘And him?’

‘As I explained, he is an aegis. He can singlehandedly fight his way through your army if he so wishes and he won’t so much as break a sweat. And, I might add, will not sustain even a scratch. And because I have trammelled him I am invincible as well. You cannot touch me.’

‘What do you want?’

‘To rule. I’m vastly better equipped than you. And with Greven, I am now stronger than your brother and his entire army.’

‘Then why haven’t you killed me?’ Stracker demanded.

‘Because, although I don’t think you’re capable of ruling with any effect, I do like your anger. And if it’s channelled properly, you are useful.’

Stracker broke the first hint of a smile. ‘It’s my brother you’re after,’ he stated, feeling smug.

Piven tutted. ‘He hates being called your brother. Your half-brother is definitely one of three people I intend dealing with and you seem rather pleased about that.’

‘I am.’

‘Then you shall have the pleasure of killing him.’ Stracker grinned. ‘But only if you are prepared to take instructions from me and follow them without question,’ he added. ‘Think about it.’

‘No need.’ He shrugged. ‘When Loethar is dead I will return to the Steppes with those among our kind who also wish to go back to their home. You can have all this,’ he said, waving an arm through mid-air. ‘But I will want terms.’

‘Terms,’ Piven repeated, as though testing the word. ‘Are you in a position to demand them, I wonder.’ They had entered the palace and Stracker noticed Piven looking around, his expression distracted as though remembering earlier days here. Suddenly he swallowed and turned back to Stracker.

‘Tell me your terms, general.’

‘Free trade.’

‘Granted.’

‘My people have rights into and out of the empire but are not ruled by you.’

‘Granted, but they abide by the rules of my empire when they enter it.’

‘Agreed,’ Stracker replied. ‘One tenth of all yearly palace income is to be paid to the Steppes people annually.’

Piven smiled. ‘Audacious, but I’ll grant it.’

‘And you will marry a daughter of the Steppes.’

‘Marriage?’ After a moment’s thought, Piven waved a hand. ‘Fine,’ he said, sounding disinterested. ‘She must be at most my own age, not older. She will not bear the tatua. And, general, she must be dark and pretty, like Mrs Felt, with small breasts and clear skin — as opposed to someone who could be a daughter of yours … if you understand me right. Take heed or I will send her straight back in pieces!’

Stracker actually laughed. Then he nodded. ‘As you wish, highness.’

‘You see, Stracker, so much can be solved without having to resort to bloodshed. Who knows what simple promise you could have made and then kept Kirin Felt as one of your own, working for you. So much more powerful to have a fox in dog’s clothing, don’t you think?’

‘How old are you?’ Stracker demanded.

Piven laughed. ‘Use your fingers and toes, general, and I’m sure you can work out how many anni I am.’

Stracker shook his head. ‘I like you and I’ll be your general. Just give me my …’ He thought about his next words. ‘My half-brother to kill.’

‘There you go, general. You got it right at last. Well, I’ll make you this promise. Loethar is all yours, but my full brother, Leo, is all mine … as is my sister.’

Later, bathed and in fresh clothes, all her tears for Kirin done, with no more strength to weep and her sorrows firmly and determinedly buried for now, Lily presented herself before Piven. He was such a surprise — seemingly a man trapped in a youth’s body, and yet while he spoke in such a mature way, some of his mannerisms were still juvenile. She noticed he
fidgeted like a typical youth; she remembered how he’d spun around with pleasure at her using his title, his clapping, the childish joy in his eyes to best Stracker. And unlike any man she had known, he appeared entirely unaffected by the earlier bloodshed.

‘Your hair is still damp,’ he noted, gesturing towards a seat.