The Crimson League (The Herezoth Trilogy) (44 page)

The prostitute threw her cards on the table. “I take offense to that. As a working woman.”

“Stay out of this, Jezzie. I wasn’t slighting you, you’re tops.”

“Always,” Jezzie told him. Hayden was studying Kora.

“You wouldn’t take anything that didn’t belong to you, now would you?”

“Me? Not unless you disrespected me.” She glowered at Lanokas over her shoulder. “I don’t like it when people disrespect me.”

“I bet you don’t,” said Hayden. He offered her his arm, steering her to the door, while Lanokas jumped into action, stumbling after, mumbling protests. Kora ignored him.

* * *

Kora, Lanokas, and Hayden were tromping through the field back to the barn; Kora had transported there, as close as possible without alarming those on guard. “Sorry about the ale,” she said. “It had to look realistic.” Lanokas nodded in mild indignation.

“It was a nice touch,” said Hayden. “That guy meant trouble. Thanks for bailing me out. I was trying to figure out how to handle him, but he was….”

“He was big,” said the prince.

Kora shivered at the memory of the field worker. “I’m just glad that charade worked. I thought he might follow Hayden out to pummel him, or worse.”

Laskenay and Bidd came running up. “You’re back?” said the first.

“Did you win?” asked the other.

“Tripled my money,” said Hayden. Lanokas clapped a hand over Bidd’s mouth before he hollered. Laskenay tilted her head toward the pair she had sent to keep an eye on the gambler. “You’re reeking. How much did you drink?”

The prince folded his arms. “I’ll let the director of our little drama explain. She’s quite the actress, this one.”

“I’m sorry,” Kora moaned. “I’m so sorry, you know I meant nothing by it. I had to imagine you were Menikas just to make my arm move.”

Lanokas cracked a smile. Bidd demanded, “What happened? You really do smell, you know.”

“Yes,” said Lanokas, “thanks for reiterating that.” 

445

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Schism

Kora went to the plaza the next afternoon to buy dinner. She came back with yams, carrots, and melons, the cheapest produce she could find. Hal and Bidd had gone to fish, and if they made a decent catch the League would eat better than it had in quite some time. Kora’s provisions were not light, and the prospect of setting them down pushed her to make good time on her trip back to Wheatfield; there were too many people about to risk transporting. When she walked in the barn, she found Laskenay deep in conversation with Ranler and Menikas. The prince turned to look at the newcomer, and Kora dropped her burlap sack with enough abruptness to bruise the fruit.

“You’re getting on?” asked Menikas. Kora nodded. “Join us,” he said. “You’ve the right to know what we’ve been up to.”

“No more than Neslan or Hal I haven’t.”

“I’m trying to be gracious, Porteg. You’ll be having news for me. I thought we could exchange information instead of making this one-sided.”

Kora could not move her feet. All she could think was how she hated this man, how because of him Zacry was locked up in the Palace. She said from the doorway, “Zalski knows you killed Rone.”

“I’ll take credit for the deed, thank you.” Ranler moved aside to make room for her, and she had no choice but to join the others in the center of the barn.

“How did you, well, do it?”

“I clubbed him with a leg from Kansten’s chair that broke off against the window frame. A bit of poetic justice, as Neslan would say.”

“The man deserved it,” Kora said, but her stomach churned, and she knew she would never look at Ranler as before.

Laskenay asked, “Did Rone happen to have something useful lying about?”

“If twelve gold pieces are useful,” Ranler told her. “Nothing in the way of intelligence.”

“Twelve gold pieces? So that explains him. Zalski bought his loyalty.” The sorceress caught Kora’s eye, and Kora know they were thinking the same thing. Twelve pieces of gold would be more than enough to last the League three months. Gambling had risked exposure and Menikas’s anger for nothing.

“What else has Zalski done?” asked the prince. Laskenay mentioned the new general, and he frowned. “Wicker? Playing it safe, isn’t he? Argint Wicker’s a far cry from Alten Grombach.”

“I’d say he’s just as dangerous,” said Kora.

“In a different way. Argint’s brain in conjunction with Zalski’s daring…. At least I’m familiar with the man. Argint was a favorite of the king. He had a distinguished career before the coup.”

“So I gathered,” Kora said. “He wasn’t involved in it, was he?”

“Not that we’ve discerned,” said Laskenay.

Menikas replied, “Involved or no, I felt better with Alten in command.”

Laskenay shook her head. “We all felt better with Alten in command. The circumstances of his death, where they’ve brought us…. Every person here’s aware of our predicaments, and Argint’s talents have nothing to do with them. Argint’s fifty times more likely than a man like Alten Grombach to take pity on a farmer who can’t keep up with taxes, or a mother stealing peaches she can’t afford to buy. That doesn’t increase our security, but it matters to this kingdom. It matters a great deal. Procuring Alten’s exchange for this man is a success on par with finding the
Librette
, I believe that
.
Its good will likely outlive us.”

Menikas argued, “Argint will thwart us at the Tricentennial, where Alten may not have.”

Kora slapped the floor. “You don’t know that. You don’t know that, Menikas.”

Laskenay cut off the prince’s retort. “We’ll discuss the Tricentennial later,” she said.

“Then I just think I’ll take some air,” said Kora.

Menikas protested, “You gave me one piece of information.”

“Laskenay knows the rest. She can tell you.”

Feeling guilty for shirking her duty, but unable to bear more time with the newly returned royal, Kora left the barn. She avoided the prince’s eye the entire way.

Bidd and Hal returned with fourteen fish. They were small, but together with Kora’s produce made an adequate meal for the nine remaining Leaguesmen. The group lit an enchanted fire behind the barn—Laskenay used the same adapted cloaking spell as the night they first arrived—and sat around it as the trout broiled. While her companions welcomed Ranler and Menikas, even Lanokas masking his displeasure with his brother, Kora stared at the logs and pictured Zacry and Bennie chatting to distract themselves, discussing their families. No one seemed to notice Kora until dinner was ready. They were all launching questions at Menikas, who refused time and again to answer, until everyone had eaten and twilight fell. The group then moved to the barn, where Laskenay dared to light two tapers; their dim glow cast shadows across the gathering. Bidd and Hayden were whispering, but stopped when Menikas raised his voice.

“Before we start our briefing, a moment of silence is in order. Since the last time we met we lost two sisters-in-arms. Two spirited women. Two friends. And a brother to one of our number, a boy brave beyond his years who found himself among us at the wrong moment. I think neither Kansten nor Bendelof would take offense when I tell each of you to make Zacry’s welfare your personal vendetta. Let us pledge to vindicate him.”

Kora lowered her head, her eyes stinging, and Neslan, who sat next to her, put a hand on her back just as Kansten once had done, when Sedder died. Menikas continued after what felt like the longest minute of Kora’s life.

“No one needs the repercussions of Zalski’s attack explained. It ruined every prospect and ongoing operation to our name. On a positive note, Ranler salvaged enough gold to last through the Tricentennial. As far as after: there will be no after, not for the League. We’ve been compromised one too many times. Our resources are bone dry, or will be, because we’re throwing everything we have at Zalski on the twenty-first of July.

“The time has come, once and for all, to prove to Herezoth who we are. In case you hold doubt yourselves, we are resilient. We are men who refused and will always refuse to be victimized. We are swift and bold, intelligent and underestimated, all of which will work to our advantage. We will triumph, yes, or tales of our attempt will guide others to raise our banner. We are Zacry Porteg’s hope, and we will not disappoint him.”

Neslan appeared disconcerted, but not surprised. He let out a slow, heavy breath, his fist closed in resignation. On Kora’s other side, Hayden’s hand shook as he turned to look at his cousin.

Neslan said, “Not one of Galisan’s men can take part?”

“Most have families to relocate, and the rest I dared not ask in the end. What if they refused me? Went their own way, with knowledge of our plan? Zalski knows who they are, thanks to Rone, and if he captures them…. As we speak tonight, the sorcerer suspects nothing. If we are to succeed, I can’t stress this enough, we must ensure his ignorance.

“Know this, all of you, we have our chance for victory. Odds are meaningless next to what truly matters: focus, perspiration, the knowledge that our dreams survive in the breast of every child who longs for justice. If we use our time wisely, every second; if we work past exhaustion; if we do all we can to maximize our effort, the better off we’ll find ourselves. Your life, and that of the person next to you, will be saved or lost by our strategies. Remember that. Let it spur you onward. Let it give you hope and fortitude. We
can
prevail. We end our campaign at the moment of our choice and in the manner of our liking. That in itself is something to appreciate. We’ve all known people denied that opportunity.”

The barn descended once more into silence. Kora had known deep pauses in her time with the League, desperate moments that enveloped her with instinct and adrenaline, or the strength of her own emotions: pauses like the one mere minutes before, in honor of her brother. This one was different. She shut her eyes, and she was alone except for the faint scent of tallow wax. Her limbs felt listless, not restless, her brain stuck on the knowledge of the death that waited at the Tricentennial,
her
death, the death none could experience with her. The intense and utter solitude drained all energy. Even her body felt distant.

“You’re all looking my way,” said Laskenay. Kora shook off her torpor, and saw that it was so. “You look to me as if I, as if something I could do could change things. The truth is, I have no idea what to tell you. All I can think to say would be trite or repetitive if voiced. What I
feel
is gratitude for your friendship, and a simple joy in knowing I’ll be with you a little longer. If it comes to death, I’m proud to think my name may be remembered with each of yours.”

“Wait just a moment,” said Hayden. “Hold up: what if we do kill Zalski? What happens then, if both—forgive the thought—if both Menikas and Lanokas die too? If we all die? I didn’t sign up for anarchy.”

“There wouldn’t be anarchy,” said Lanokas. “The army would take control. Under the new general.”

Menikas said, “He’s a sensible man, with a sense of honor. If a legitimate claim to the throne existed—mine, for instance—he’d cede power.”

Hayden scoffed. “Sure he would.”

Menikas said, “I know the man personally. I knew him for years before this hell.”

“What if I don’t trust your judgment? If he’s such a great guy, why isn’t he with us?”

Kora, Neslan, and Hal all muttered support of Hayden. Menikas raised an eyebrow, but answered what he had to consider the question’s impertinence with civility.

“You have to understand a military mind. Argint’s a decent man.”

“So you say,” argued Neslan.

“Argint’s a decent man,” repeated Menikas, annoyed, “and as far as we know neither planned nor executed Zalski’s coup. A true soldier’s first loyalty is to the military and always will be. Right now, that military is in Zalski’s camp, for the sake of some degree of public order.”

“I’m sorry,” said Hayden, “but….” His cousin groaned. “Shut up, Bidd, this is important. I don’t speak up a lot, all right?”

“You should speak up more often,” said Kora. “You’re not alone in your doubts. Go on, Hayden.”

“No, I’m done. I’m not convinced, is all I want to say.”

“Could we turn Argint to our side?” asked Neslan.

Menikas said, “No chance. He knows I’m alive, and my brother. He’s one of the few I’d stake my life who does. He was always one of Zalski’s trusted elites. If he hasn’t reached out by now, there’s a reason. He’s no interest in our welfare. He considers the bigger picture.”

“What bigger picture?” said Kora.

“Zalski respects the military more than my father did. The king took their loyalty and service for granted. Zalski doesn’t.”

“Well, then,” said Neslan, “suppose we kill Zalski and Argint seizes power. He’s moderate, you say. I’ll take you at your word. What’s to stop an extremist group in the army ranks from killing him? From taking over? They’d be more oppressive than Zalski.”

“There are always hypotheticals,” protested Menikas.

Neslan said, “Hypotheticals? I’ve studied history. Some factions in the army have crazy ideas. I want no part in giving them control.”

“Do I have to remind you of all people we’re not fighting to crown Argint?”

“No,” said Kora, “we’re trying to crown you. And frankly, I’d appreciate it if you acknowledged that once in a while. None of us wants
to be here.”

“
Wants
to be here? Do you think I
want to be here?”

“When did I say that? When did I say that, Menikas?”

“Stop,” said Neslan. He clambered to his feet. “Stop, both of you. I just had an idea. An insane idea. But that’s the genius of it, he’d never suspect…. Hear me out, that’s all I ask.”

“Go on,” prompted Laskenay.

Neslan said, “Maybe we shouldn’t wait for Zalski to come to us. To come to Fontferry. Maybe we should go to Zalski.”

“What?” said Hal.

“I don’t follow,” said Laskenay.

Neslan asked, “How did Zalski’s coup succeed? He took it slowly, worked in stages. And he started….”

“With the Crystal Palace,” said Lanokas.

Hayden coughed, pounding his chest. Menikas turned from Neslan to Hayden back to Neslan. Laskenay, distraught, ran a hand through her hair. Kora said, “You’re not seriously suggesting we attack the Palace?”

“If we’re careful, smart, and fast, we can do this. Who knows that building better than Menikas? Than Lanokas? We can’t logically expect more than to know the terrain we fight on, can we? With their familiarity and Kora’s insight into Zalski…. I’ll say it again, Zalski started with the Palace.”

“Zalski had the general behind him,” said Laskenay.

“So will we. If we capture the Palace, if we cut Zalski down, didn’t Menikas just say that Argint would restore the royal family? Is it suicide to a greater degree, attacking in Podrar and not at the Tricentennial?”

“YES!” cried Hal and Ranler.

“I’m not sure,” said Kora. Her heart was beating strangely fast. “I’m really not sure. Zalski’s less accessible at the Palace, we know that. And he, he has that system of warning crystals. Do we know how far they extend?”