Severed Empire: Wizard's War (17 page)

Feeling certain the queen was in fact dead, Ida closed the curtains, opened the bedchamber door, and when she was sure no one was around to witness her departure, left the queen’s corpse and shuffled back to her home inside the tower.

***

As the
Derecho
approached the Isthmian Islands, the Captain gave the order to raise the sails. The tars repeated the command as they scaled the masts and tied off the sets of giant canvases. The Captain maneuvered his ship up alongside an empty slip, and beside an in-place gangplank with rope railings. Tars threw ropes over the side. Men on the dock caught hold, and secured the vessel off to large horn cleats.

Before they disembarked, Captain Sebastian instructed Mr. Reed to escort them to Governor Hobb’s mansion. Mykal wasn’t sure what a mansion was. It was more than likely a place of business. Everything since boarding the Voyager vessel seemed foreign, as if they’d crossed over into some other world, rather than only travel halfway across the sea.

Mykal really wasn’t sure what to expect, but with sun rising behind him what he saw was far from anything he’d ever imagined. There were unique looking trees with thick bases that grew slenderer the taller they were; like a tuft of hair at the top of the trees were a handful of long, spiky tear-shaped leaves, and dangling from the branches were clusters of dates. Rows of flat-roofed buildings nestled between the fruit-bearing trees along the inclining cobblestone roads looked like modest homes with clear glass for windows. Colorful birds with vibrant red wings, and yellow, orange, blue, and green bellies were the size of falcons. They sat perched on rocks, and roofs, and squawked to one another as if engaged in conversation. It was nearly impossible not to smile while walking past them.

Just up the hill, the land leveled out. Surrounded by more trees and taller buildings was clearly a bustling marketplace. Vendors prepared for the day, setting out fish on tables of salt; dried meats hung on layers of thin rope that ran the length of the kiosk. There were carts with linens; tunics and pants, scarves and yards of raw material.

Women were scantily dressed. Bare midriffs and ample breasts showcasing cleavage stole the attention from the boisterous birds. Each woman possessed a sense of exotic beauty, whether they wore curly hair long, and loose, or bound under a scarf tied over the tops of their heads. What caught Mykal’s attention were the large brown eyes that watched him, and the others, as they walked past.

There was the steady banging of a hammer on steel. This caught Coil’s attention, and he stared as they walked by the smith shop, where swords, daggers, and axes were hung on display. Aside from a fire pit, stacked with wood, and burning hot, the inside of the shop was dark. The steel the smith had been hammering slowly lost its red glow, and using forceps, the glow was extinguished when the forged sword was dipped into a bucket of warm water with a loud hiss. “Man does good work,” Coil said, a murmur really. Mykal simply nodded, as he knew nothing about working with steel.

Beyond the plateau, and just past the street of shops, the road began rise. It branched out down different routes. They stayed straight on the cobblestone, and walked up toward a large three story structure. It resembled the size of a small castle. It appeared to be made of wood, and not stones, and blocks of cinder. The wood was colored bright yellow and resembled a giant sunflower. Just beside the building, where there was a significant rise in the terrain, and the foliage became denser, the ground was parted by a small, fast flowing creek. A waterfall produced a shimmering rainbow, and the arcing colors were transparent in the rising mist.

“What is this place?” Mykal said.

“
That
is where the governor lives,” Mr. Reed said.

“That’s a… a house?” Eadric said.

“That’s her mansion,” Mr. Reed said.

“Her?” Quill said.

“Her.” Blodwyn smiled. He continued past the cobblestone road onto the stone-block walkway that carved a narrow path through low cut green grass up toward the mansion’s front door.

“How do the goats and cows eat the grass so evenly?” Eadric bent low and plucked blades from the ground, studied them closely, rubbed them between his fingers and then let the wind take them away.

Mr. Reed laughed as though Eadric had told a joke. It felt like he was trying desperately to fit in. “We have rotating blades that run over the yards and trim the grass,” he said, continuing his insulting snicker.

If he was trying to be funny, though, Mykal didn’t get it.

***

Only the other day, and for the first time, Mykal had been inside King Nabal’s castle. Now he was being led into a governor’s mansion. He wasn’t sure what to expect. He assumed nothing would compare to a castle. He was wrong. There was a warmth associated with the mansion that the cold rock castle lacked.

The inside of the mansion matched the outside when it came to beauty. The front foyer opened up to polished pillars which stood beside a broad staircase. A crystal chandelier dangled from above. The rising sun’s light sparkled of the gems, and a spectrum of colors played on the walls and floor. Tables along the walls, under mirrors, or framed paintings, displayed sculptures, or vases full of flowers, or brass candelabrum with three branches.

Coil walked up to the pillars and ran his palms over them. “What kind of rock is this?”

“Marble. Same as the floors,” Mr. Reed said.

“Marble?” Coil cocked his head to the side.

“Please, stop molesting the pillars, sir.” Mr. Reed grunted.

Coil backed up a step. His hands no longer touched the marble, but he didn’t lower his arms. “Where do you get marble? There’s nothing like this in the Ironwall mines. And to the best of my knowledge, nothing like this exists on the east side of the river, either.”

Mr. Reed let his lips thin out as he offered up a condescending smile. “There are many different civilizations beyond the Old Empire, foreign lands with different treasures, different foods and fruits, and types of people. The world does not revolve around the east and west banks of the Isthmian.

“I will have you wait here,” Mr. Reed said. “I am sure this goes without saying, but do not touch anything.”

Blodwyn smiled, and nodded. Mykal patted his uncle on the back because the cords running up the sides of his neck bulged, and his face reddened. Mykal thought he might have to physically restrain Quill, who was clearly offended by the insinuation.

Coil didn’t look pleased with the comment either. Mykal assumed it was directed at Coil, anyway, and not so much to his uncle.

Mr. Reed went upstairs and, a moment later, returned. He descended the flight slowly, and eyed each of them as if he suspected they’d gone wild in his absence, and stole all of the governor’s valuables. “The governor wishes to speak with you,” he said, pointing and Blodwyn, “and the boy.”

Eadric stepped in front of his son. “They’re not going anywhere without us.”

“Then I am afraid your trip was for naught. If you can show yourselves out, I still have a busy day ahead of me. We need to make up time and money for the tars after the wasted voyage to retrieve the lot of you. Good day,” Mr. Reed said.

Mykal wasn’t sure he’d ever wanted to strike someone as much as he wanted to strike Mr. Reed. He knew he was not alone. “Wait here,” he said. “We won’t be long.”

Mr. Reed crossed his arms. Mykal was sure it was meant as an imposing stance. The effect fell flat. “I do not have all day to stand around while you decide.”

“Mykal’s right,” Blodwyn said. “We’ll be fine. You wait here. Quill, keep an eye on everyone.”

It was almost the same insult Mr. Reed had hurled a moment ago, but said this time with more tact.

“Oh, I’ll be staying to keep them company. The two of you will go upstairs, make a right. It will be the first set of double doors,” Mr. Reed said. “There’s no need to knock. She’s expecting you.”

“She?” Mykal said. He whispered, “The red scarf—
it’s the governor’s?
”

Blodwyn arched an overgrown eyebrow, and one side of his mouth turned up in a devious, snarky grin.

As Blodwyn and Mykal climbed the stairs, Mykal heard Coil begin drilling Mr. Reed with questions about marble. “Is the marble expensive? I imagine it is. How can it be used for flooring tiles, and solid round pillars like this? The shine is amazing. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. Can you imagine a sword made from this material?”

“Marble would make a horrible weapon,” Mykal heard Mr. Reed saying as they rounded the corner at the top of the staircase, and out of earshot.

The tall and wide double doors were a solid cherry wood with fancy black iron hinges and matching door knobs. “Nice doors,” Mykal said.

Blodwyn stopped walking a few feet before the nice doors, and stared down at the handles.

“You okay?” Mykal said.

Blodwyn took in a deep breath, and sighed. “Apprehensive is all.”

“Apprehensive? What about?”

The doors were pulled open. A beautiful woman stood in front of them. Long silver hair with ringlet curls was draped over her shoulders. She had the bluest eyes Mykal had ever seen. Dressed in an opal dress with glimmering silver trim, Mykal did his best to avert his eyes from low neck cut that dissected the front halves of the dress all the way to her navel.

“Wyn. It’s been some time,” she said.

“Zeta,” Blodwyn said.

Mykal wasn’t sure when it happened, standing a foot and a half apart the two now held hands.

“You look exactly the same,” the governor said.

Blodwyn cocked his head to the side. His soft smile indicated his appreciation of the fabricated compliment. “Then, including the failing eyesight, you have changed
much
since the last time I’ve seen you; you are even more beautiful.”

They stood still as statues, just smiling and staring into each other’s eyes. Mykal gently cleared his throat. Nothing happened. He did it a second time, with a little more gumption.

Governor Zeta Hobbs dropped her hands and pressed her palms onto supple hips. “And who is this? Is he the young boy?
Mykal?
”

Mykal blinked at the response. He could not recall ever having met this woman. He was sure if he had, he would remember. She was not the kind of woman one forgot easily. He bowed slightly. “A pleasure,” he said.

She held out her hand. Mykal shook it. Seemed awkward. He couldn’t recall ever shaking hands with a woman.

“Come in. Close the doors.”

Mykal shut the doors. He was careful closing them, certain if they slammed shut the noise would echo down to Mr. Reed and the others. “This is an amazing home,” he said.

“Why, thank you,” the governor said.

A large wood desk sat in the back corner of the office by the windows with a most unusual chair behind it. Mykal saw two settles in a corner, with a small knee high table in front of them. They looked more like beds. He’d never seen a settle with a soft red and gold material covered cushion for sitting. Not even in the king’s castle.

“Please, sit down,” Hobbs said.

Mykal eyed the furniture almost suspiciously; the settle looked even more comfortable than the canvas covered straw bed he and grandfather slept on at home.

“Sit,” she said, with a little more forcefulness this time.

Blodwyn and Mykal sat side-by-side on one of the settles.

“It’s called a sofa. Or a couch,” Governor Hobbs said, as she sat in the one adjacent to them. “Do you like it?”

“It’s wonderful. I dare say my bum has rarely felt so comfortable.” Mykal wiggled around on the cushion, his arm on the armrest, and smiling. Only then did he regret his choice of words, but unfortunately they had already escaped his mouth. But the governor chuckled, one hand covering her mouth. “Forgive me, Governor Hobbs.”

“Call me Zeta, Mykal. It’s only fitting, I suppose.”

Mykal looked over at Blodwyn. “Is this—is she?”

Zeta laughed. “No,
no
I am not. Is that why you flew the red scarf, Wyn?”

He shook his head. “We have some news, and believe we will require more help than transport from the west to the island. However, yes, this is also about Anna. We are going to need her help.”

Mykal’s breath caught in his lungs. He could hardly remember a time when he’d heard his mother’s name spoken. It ignited something inside of him. Blodwyn knew where she was, and it sounded like Zeta did, as well. “Is my mother here?”

Zeta looked at Blodwyn. He nodded.

The governor stood up. “Wait here.”

Mykal’s mouth went dry. He found it difficult to swallow. His eyes followed the governor as she left her office, and waited until the doors closed behind her before he turned his attention to Blodwyn.

There were no words. They both remained silent. And then the doors to the office opened once again, and Mykal got to his feet. Zeta Hobbs was in the threshold for a moment before she stepped aside, and a woman walked in.

Mykal said, “Mother?”

Chapter 14

“Mykal.” Anna’s words came out in a whisper. Her voice was soft, and lyrical. Birds couldn’t sing as lovely as she just whispered. He already longed for her to speak again.

Mykal put out a hand to steady himself. He worried his knees might give out. He felt weaker than after performing magic. He remembered when he the sea serpents poisoned him. He had passed out before slipping into unconsciousness. That was how he felt now, like at any moment his face would rush the ground and he’d not even have the strength to throw his arms out in front to protect his protruding nose from getting flattened.

It was better concentrating on his mother’s voice. Every thought he’d ever had of his mother was of a beautiful woman, but she looked absolutely nothing like what he remembered. In those thoughts, and dreams, he saw what he saw memory depictions of her, but his dreams had cut the reality short. He didn’t want to blink and miss a second of seeing her. Wearing a long, gold gown with black henna inlay designs, she was stunning.