“I went to Borel to look for help.” A scattering of boos, quickly shushed. “I have as much reason for anger at the Borelgai as anyone. My beloved brother, Prince Dominic, was killed in the War of the Princes, and their pawn Duke Orlanko tried to remove me from the throne. But a queen must, above all, be practical, and trust others to do the same. I trusted that the Borelgai did not want to see Vhalnich on the throne, and my trust was rewarded.” After a fashion.
A few cheers of “Vhalnich! Vhalnich!” broke out, mixed with “The queen! Long live the queen!” For the most part, the crowd was quiet. Raesinia felt sweat beading on her brow.
“The Borelgai have sent this fleet to return General d’Ivoire to Vordan City, and an army will soon follow. With their aid, I believe we can defeat the traitor who calls himself Emperor of Murnsk and Vordan. But on my arrival, I was informed by the chief minister that the war was over. The Deputies-?General have asked Vhalnich for terms.”
She paused to let that sink in. A wave of murmurs swept the crowd, punctuated by cheers for Vhalnich.
“What we’ve done here, since the revolution, isn’t perfect,” Raesinia said. “It’s only just beginning. But I, for one, am interested to see where it goes. If we give in, it will all be swept away. The power of the people will be replaced by the power of the sword.
“The Deputies-?General have offered to surrender their power. They say they are acting in the best interests of Vordan, and I believe them. Chief Minister d’Andorre is not an evil man.” Raesinia took a deep breath and raised her voice. “But that power is not theirs to surrender. Nor is it mine. It’s yours. It belongs to the people.
“If you are willing to give that up, to become part of Vhalnich’s empire, then I will not stand in your way. I told Chief Minister d’Andorre as much. I do not want to ask anyone to fight, to die, for me.” She stopped for a moment, turning in a slow circle. “But if you want to fight for Vordan, then I will fight beside you, to the bitter end. Believe me, it would be an honor.”
She let her arms fall to her sides and then tipped her head in a bow. The quiet of the crowd took on a startled quality, as though they couldn’t believe she was finished. People coughed. Clothes rustled.
“Vhalnich!” someone shouted. “Emperor Vhalnich!”
Raesinia swallowed.
“Fight!” A woman’s voice. “Fight! Fight!”
“No surrender!” a man roared. When he said it again, there were a dozen voices alongside his. “No surrender!”
“Fight!” The shouting spread, deepened into a chant. “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Feet began to stomp in rhythm. It began as a clatter, like a spray of rain pattering onto dry ground. As more and more people joined in, the sound grew louder, shaking the square, making Raesinia’s teeth buzz in sympathy.
“Fight! Fight! Fight!”
Raesinia straightened up, sweat running freely down her face, mixing with tears. She raised her arms, and the crowd shouted its approval. Cries of her name mixed with shouts of “Vordan! Vordan!” and “No surrender!” The chant went on, like a heartbeat.
She turned around and walked to the stairs, concentrating on making a dignified exit. As soon as she’d left the platform, though, her legs went wobbly, and she stumbled forward, throwing out an arm to catch herself. Before she could fall, strong hands were on her shoulders, holding her up.
“You did it,” Marcus said, barely audible over the chanting. “D’Andorre’s run off with his tail between his legs.”
Raesinia leaned into him, eyes closed. “I knew they would fight,” she said. “Vordanai don’t give up easily.”
May God help us all.
“Now,” she murmured, too quiet for anyone to hear, “all we have to do is win.”
26
Winter
The Swallow slipped into the Vordan City harbor as quietly as its namesake; it was one more small merchantman, unnoticed in the chaos. And chaos was certainly the order of the day. Six Borelgai men-of-war rode at anchor in the center of the harbor, under the cliff-?like face of the Vendre, while smaller craft and transports were moored at every available north-bank dock.
The Swallow turned away from them and headed for the south bank. There, the docks were mostly empty. Commercial traffic, it seemed, was keeping its distance from Vordan City.
Alex, Abraham, and Winter watched the approach from the bow, while Sothe and Captain Kerrak conferred farther aft. Abraham looked eager and a little shocked, staring at the skyline in wonder.
“You’ve never been to Vordan City?” Winter said.
He shook his head. “I’ve never been to a city. Not since I can remember, anyway. I grew up in a village, and I stayed there until the Black Priests came for me.” He glanced at Alex. “After we escaped, we went through a few towns, but nothing like this.”
“It’s certainly a far cry from the Mountain,” Alex said, but there was a tension in her voice. Winter caught her eye questioningly, and Alex gave an irritated shrug. “Bad memories. I haven’t been back here since they caught me and killed my mentor.”
“Ah,” Winter said. “Sorry to drag you through old pain.”
Alex shook her head, then looked over her shoulder at Sothe. “Orlanko’s dead. Andreas is dead. The Priests of the Black are smashed. And I’m still here.” She forced a smile. “Why shouldn’t I go where I like?”
“I’d say I’d give you a tour,” Winter said. “But honestly, I feel like a stranger myself. If we could track Abby down, she’d be the one to show you the sights.” She watched the empty docks slide past. “Though I suspect we won’t have much time to spare.”
“Afterward,” Abraham said, laying a hand on her shoulder. Infernivore bridled at the contact, but Winter kept it in check, a practiced reflex by now. She smiled.
“Afterward,” she agreed.
The Swallow was tied up at a sagging wooden dock in the shadow of the Grand Span, in front of a block of seedy warehouses. The crew secured the ship with quick efficiency, and ran out a gangplank. Sothe was talking quietly to Goltov, Alex’s handsome sailor. He nodded, giving Alex a quick glance, then hurried down the dock and up the street.
“I’m arranging transport,” Sothe said to Winter. “That will get you into the palace to see Raesinia. She’ll be able to take care of things from there.”
“You’re not coming?” Alex said.
“Not... immediately.” Sothe exchanged a look with Winter. “I have business to resolve first. But I’ll see you soon enough.”
“What about Ennika?” Abraham said.
“I’d be obliged if you’d take her with you,” Sothe said. “When I first found her, I thought of her as a captive, but...”
“She doesn’t seem to be much of a threat,” Winter said. “And she’s helped us.”
“Exactly. I was hoping Feor might know a way to make her more comfortable, at least.”
“Feor is the priestess you brought from Khandar?” Abraham said. “The one whose group held the Thousand Names?”
Winter nodded. “The Eldest thought they were the descendants of a group of Mages.”
“Yes,” Abraham said. “I suspect we will have a great deal to talk about. I wish the Eldest were here.”
“He can come and visit,” Alex said. “Afterward.”