Servant of the Empire

This piqued Kevin’s interest. ‘How do you mean?’

 

 

‘Reparations.’ In spare tones, the Spy Master qualified. ‘Lyam demands something on the order of a hundred million centis to compensate his nation for damages.’

 

Mara shot straight on her cushions. ‘Impossible!’

 

Kevin calculated and realized that the Midkemian sovereign was being generous. In Kingdom terms, Lyam was asking for something close to three hundred thousand golden sovereigns, which would barely replace the cost of keeping the Armies of the West in the field for nine years. ‘That’s half of what he should ask for.’

 

‘The amount is not the issue, but the concept of paying damages,’ Mara said in acute frustration. ‘Ichindar cannot do so and keep his honour. It would shame Tsuranuanni before the gods!’

 

‘Which is why the Light of Heaven refused,’ Arakasi cut in. ‘Instead, he takes a “gift” of rare gems to the young King, the value of which should approximate a hundred million centis.’

 

Appreciative of the Emperor’s ingenuity, Mara smiled. ‘Not even the High Council can deny his right to give another monarch a gift.’

 

‘There’s this other thing.’ Arakasi’s dark eyes flicked meaningfully to Kevin. ‘Lyam wishes a prisoner exchange.’

 

This drew a strange, emotionally weighted look between the barbarian slave and his mistress. With a strange reluctance to her tone, Mara turned back to Arakasi. ‘I understand what he asks for, but will Ichindar?’

 

Arakasi returned the openhanded shrug of the Tsurani. ‘Who can say? Giving slaves to the King of the Isles is not an issue. Lyam could do as he pleased with them. More to the point, what would the Emperor do with our returning war captives?’ A silence developed, for it was true that in Tsuranuanni the honour and freedom of such men could never be restored.

 

Suddenly tired, Mara studied her feet. The bruises left since her flight from the arena had nearly faded, but emotional wounds between Kevin and herself over issues of slavery and freedom ached still. ‘You have word on the Minwanabi?’

 

As if he had prompted the change of subject, Arakasi’s mouth thinned. ‘They ready more than three thousand soldiers for war.’

 

Alarmed, Mara looked up. ‘They are coming to the Holy City?’

 

‘No.’ But the Spy Master had only thin reassurance to offer. ‘They merely ready themselves upon the Minwanabi estates.’

 

Mara’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why?’

 

But it was Lujan who answered, and bitterly, from the doorway, where he paused after appointing his warriors to guard posts by every window and door. ‘Desio fears the imperial peace with reason, my Lady. If you abandon conflict with the Minwanabi, you renounce only a commitment to blood feud. Some might judge Acoma honour compromised, but who would fault you for obeying the Light of Heaven? But if the Emperor forces peace among warring houses, Desio forfeits his blood oath to Turakamu. He must destroy us before the Emperor’s power becomes too strong to challenge, or offend the Death God.’

 

Kevin took the liberty of asking a servant to bring his Lady a cool drink. He could sense her effort at self-control as she asked, ‘Would Desio risk attacking the Emperor?’

 

Arakasi shook his head. ‘Not openly, but should the High Council find cause to unite against Ichindar’s will, Desio would have the largest army within striking distance of the Holy City. That offers a dangerous combination.’

 

Mara chewed her lip. With the Omechan Clan divided between Decanto and Axantucar, the danger was apparent: Desio could become the new Warlord if a large enough faction of the High Council decided to use force to defy imperial edict.

 

Kevin added an unwelcome observation to this reflection. ‘Three thousand Minwanabi swords outside the Council Hall could make a persuasive argument even if Desio doesn’t have a clear majority.’

 

Wrung by more than fatigue, Mara regarded the drink brought in by the servant as if it contained deadly poison. Then she put off dark thoughts. ‘The truce meeting beyond the rift won’t happen for another three days. Until Ichindar and Lyam fail in negotiations, all is speculation. Now that we are safely within the palace, let us enjoy this quiet time.’

 

Arakasi bowed more deeply than usual and, like a wraith, departed. Mara watched the doorway for long minutes after he left, and returned to life only when Kevin settled beside her and gathered her into his arms. Trembling, afraid to voice the uneasiness she felt inside, Mara finished her thought. ‘I fear much is carried upon the shoulders of a very young man, and while the gods may favour our Light of Heaven, they also may turn away from him.’

 

Kevin pressed a kiss onto the crown of her head. He held no illusions. Like her, he understood that the best they could hope for was that Arakasi could garner a last-minute warning in the hour before an enemy attack.

 

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