Markan Throne by Nicholas A. Rose

  Nicolfer half dragged and half led Tangan from the chamber to the cellar. There, she chained him by an ankle as the boy started to come round. Nicolfer looked down at him.

  "I'll leave the crystal uncovered," she said, voice compassionate. "I know you fear the dark after doing your duty." She touched him. "Well done."

  Eyes wide and earpoints laid back against his head, Tangan flinched.

  As she closed and locked the heavy door, he began to scream again. If only she could find a way to prevent all this noise! She had no wish to mutilate him, which was the only way she could think of to keep him silent. It did not matter. So long as he killed the once, nothing else mattered.

  Grayar or Sandev. "One of you is mine," she whispered. "And the other is dead." She snorted with laughter and returned to the dead man. Sorcery would dispose of the corpse easily enough.

  ***

  Belaika wandered the streets of Marka and tried to look as though he was on duty. Obeying his orders, he hunted for Nicolfer. Thanks to a lack of moon, only other sylphs could see him, unless someone came close enough to see his eyes, glowing silver in the faint starlight.

  An unusual quiet hung over Marka. Hingast's evening bombardment had not yet started and soldiers gathered at the gates. The troops were probably part of his owner's idea of night raids and at least gave him some cover. Shadows moved along the walls, where soldiers and scouts kept watch. Others patrolled the streets, but these were easily spotted and avoided. He must work alone; his brother scouts would want to help and he could not put them at risk.

  He had no intention of putting himself at risk, either.

  All sylphs felt sorcery's use, but few could identify the feeling. A lonely responsibility. His earpoints pricked upright.

  He had heard something out of place. A scream? Sylph, not human. He turned slowly to stare at the building looming above him. One of the quieter streets of Marka, Belaika stepped further into a shadow. He hoped the noise would repeat itself. It had definitely come from the building opposite. He caught a flicker of light behind one of the windows. Wrapped in silence, he waited.

  The scream did not repeat itself.

  Then, he felt it. Faint, unmistakable. Sorcery, for a few moments, but still sorcery. Belaika stared hard at the building and memorized its location. He would return in daylight, for a better look. Only then would he report.

  A figure standing well back from the window watched him go.

  ***

  Chapter 22

  Treachery

  Surrounded by advisors and commanders, Hingast scowled from the head of the table. "So you believe this... firepowder... is of limited value."

  Dervra shook his head. "I believe the enemy has a limited supply. They can't get the raw materials for making much more of it. What little they have left will be less effective the next time they use it."

  "Less effective?" spluttered General Hanan, his pale blue eyes flashing. "This new weapon routed the army! They broke and ran. Ran!"

  Dervra leaned forward. "Now we are all aware of it, I'm sure your men will be less frightened of it next time." His mouth twisted into a semblance of a smile. "They should know discipline in battle keeps most of them alive. Running away from loud bangs does not win wars."

  Hingast tapped the table to wrest control from Dervra. "They must make this powder somewhere in the city," he said. "Can our people discover the location of the manufactory?"

  "We're working on it." Dervra spoke smoothly, though he directed a venomous gaze at Hanan. "We aim to capture it and those who work there, for our advantage. There was too little left of the weapons for us to discover precisely what the enemy is using against us. Once we do, we can make our own powder."

  "I approve." Hingast turned to Marshal Janost. "And the other thorns? The armies from Sandester and Calcan?"

  Janost smiled. "Not too many pigeons have found their way here, but we have gleaned some intelligence from contacts. The army from Calcan is not large; about a thousand men commanded by Marcus Vintner Elder. They're some weeks away and might turn back once they learn how strong we are."

  "Can we ask our Re Tauran friends to create a diversion?" asked Hingast.

  Dervra winced. Re Taura provided his reserve plan. "Nijen assures me Re Taura will not be ready for another year," he lied.

  "Pity," said Janost. "Because more worrying for us is the force from Sandester. We have no idea how large it is, and Nazvasta has pulled troops in from everywhere to form it. Field Captains Paul Tennen and Drecan Annada command."

  "Son and son-in-law of Mikhan Annada." Hingast drew his breath in sharply over his teeth. "It would have to be those two. What about the other Annada boy?"

  "Not with this army," continued Janost, "but he has recently married. Perhaps they've allowed him to remain at home."

  "A small blessing," grunted Dervra. "Those boys know the work. Tennen and Annada have real skill."

  Hingast nodded. "A pity we can't get them on our side."

  "That is why I diverted General Mirrin's column to intercept." Janost's deep blue eyes twinkled with amusement. "Should be an interesting meeting; Mirrin is no stranger to the work either."

  "You've heard more?" Dervra's voice was quiet.

  "Yes, if a little closer to us." Janost nodded. "The enemy troops outside the walls of Marka can communicate with the city. It goes both ways, with orders coming out, and intelligence going in. It's been going on since the beginning."

  "The sylphs?" Hingast's eyes narrowed.

  "Ours can hear theirs whistling to each other," said Hanan. "Unfortunately, none of them know where to begin trying to decipher what the whistles mean."

  "And our code breakers can't hear them to have a go either." Dervra nodded. "The use of sylphs is ingenious, to say the least. Sylph scouts. Small raiding groups of soldiers, acting outside the usual rules of war. Attacks on us mounted from inside Marka itself. Exploding balls. Ships of the air. We must salute Marcus Vintner for his surprises. He may have more for us yet."

  "Unless he dies first." Hingast smiled. "Nothing can interfere with our plan."

  Hanan spoke up. "We're coordinating our spies in the city. We must now concentrate our effort on the North Gate. Encourage the enemy to reinforce that gate, and, when he has, this is what we will do..."

  Dervra paid close attention. Nobody made suggestions; the plan sounded good.

  ***

  While Caya and Salu clattered about brewing alovak, their owners relaxed into easy chairs in the study. Sandev settled into hers with an audible sigh. She looked increasingly haggard, almost as bad as the sylphs. The infertiles took their time with the task as the lack of food took its toll. Grayar cleared his throat.

  "We have Dervra on the outside and Nicolfer on the inside. Two against two."

  "I know." Sandev sighed. She looked carefully at her companion, wondering if his anger had subsided. That gunpowder had found its way into the world failed to impress him. She must have voiced her concern aloud.

  "They call it firepowder now." Grayar fixed his companion with a steely gaze, then softened his expression. "If you say you did not know, then I believe you." He shook his head. "I wouldn't put it past Dervra if he told Hingast how to make the stuff. We must be careful, or humankind will tread exactly the same path as before."

  "I fear it will anyway." Her sapphire eyes were sad. "We can't prevent progress, or limit human inventiveness. I wish we could." When he heard the rest of it, he would be angry again.

  "We must channel that inventiveness more constructively," insisted Grayar. He glanced across the books lining the walls and shook his head. "To more practical matters. We must deal with Dervra and Nicolfer. He held me in some sort of block and I could do nothing to escape until he released me."

  "I've never come across that before. The blocking, I mean." It was Sandev's turn to give her head a small shake of exasperation. "Let's hope nobody but Dervra can use it until we find a way around it."

  "Small hope. He shares everything with
Nicolfer."

  Yet another clatter from the kitchen caught their attention and Grayar looked towards the door in concern. "Are they all right through there?"

  "Of course."

  "All the domestic sylphs are on the verge of starvation. We cannot allow that to happen, so we may have to smuggle food into the city using the Gift."

  Sandev grimaced. "There aren't enough Gifted in Marka able to use physical projection." This brought the talk to touchy areas. Grayar would be angry, but would he see it as betrayal? She must tell him the full truth. "There is something I must ask of you. A favor that looks like cowardice."

  "You? A coward?" Grayar chuckled. "Ask."

  "I must go to Cadister. Or you can go, if you wish."

  "The city Cadister?"

  Sandev nodded.

  "Why?"

  "The endgame is near; Hingast's final assault will begin in days, and there is something in Cadister I need here now, not in three weeks." Sandev sighed. "Neither of us can carry it here with the Gift alone, not even working together. And one of us must remain here, or the city folk will think we have deserted them. Morale would then collapse."

  Grayar's eyes narrowed. "You prefer me to go. What is it?"

  A gurgle from the clepsydra interrupted the short silence.

  Sandev's sapphire eyes were thoughtful. "You'll need an aid to help carry it. Would the ilvenstone work?"

  "The ilvenstone must stay where it is." Grayar's eyes hardened. "And I still don't know what this thing is."

  "You cannot move it by yourself. There is another way." Sandev opened her desk, removed an object from it and pushed it across to her companion.

  Anger and outrage shone in Grayar's eyes. "We agreed that these must be deactivated and destroyed!" He looked up. "Why have you got a focus?"

  "I collected as many of them as I could lay hands on." Sandev looked apologetic and determined at the same time. "I knew a time would come when they would be needed. Do you think it was an easy or light decision to keep them?"

  Grayar held up a hand. "We all agreed that they must be destroyed. Too much potential power to handle safely. Too many nasty surprises. Why?"

  "It wasn't easy. I kept them empty. I only started charging them once Hingast was on his way. In case I had to move everybody out of Marka." She shook her head. "I failed in that, there aren't enough ready. But you could take twenty. Enough to move what we need."

  "Any other agreements you've decided to ignore?"

  "Grayar! I did this because I had no choice. Not for my own gain, but for Marka. For the good of her people."

  Grayar relented, but suspicion lingered in his eyes. "All right. Tell me what you want. What is this thing you need me to move? You must promise to care for Salu for me while I'm gone. If your word can be trusted. And when I return, we will have words about broken agreements and evil things that are done in the name of the greater good."

  Sandev leaned forward and began to explain what she wanted. As he listened, Grayar's harsh expression softened and finally turned into a delighted smile.

  ***

  Caya answered the door to Belaika's insistent knock. She blinked and looked him over with just a hint of distaste. Since Janin had joined the corps, she had grown a little more tolerant than before of the scouts. Even so, she still did not fully open the door.

  "I am Belaika-y-Marcus, here to see Grayar."

  Caya sniffed. That the boy belonged to Marcus failed to impress. "Grayar-ya is not here, but you can see anya."

  Belaika nodded.

  Caya swung the door further open to let the scout in and pointed to a spot on the floor, away from the rugs. "You wait there." Another thought came to her. "Touch nothing."

  "Se bata."

  The female sylph looked for mockery and finally shrugged. She padded away after a final accusing glance and moments later, Sandev appeared.

  "Belaika. Come straight through."

  "Only a quick visit, donanya."

  "Come through anyway."

  Belaika looked quickly around the study before he turned to face Sandev. "Grayar-ya tasked me to look for Nicolfer."

  "He told me. You've found her?"

  Belaika nodded. "I can take you there now."

  Sandev steepled her fingers. "I'll deal with Nicolfer in my time. Tell me where she's hiding."

  "Three-story villa on Salter's Lane. It is the only one with eight windows on the front and no gargoyles for water drains."

  "I hope you weren't seen."

  "No." It sounded like of course not. "I felt sorcery there. I did not see her, but the feeling was strong." He turned as Salu padded into the room with alovak for Sandev. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the scout. "Will you pass the message to Grayar-ya?"

  Sandev waited until Salu left before speaking. "I will probably deal with her myself. Grayar has an important mission elsewhere. He is not here."

  Belaika said nothing.

  "Thank you for coming, Belaika. I'm sure your owner will be told of your good work."

  The sylph paused. "Forgive me if I am forward, but have you heard anything more about Kelanus-ya?"

  "Not yet." Sandev smiled. "Relax. No news is good news."

  "Se bata."

  When the scout left, Sandev sat and thought. Salter's Lane. And what was taking Sernan so long about a few disappeared sylphs? Couldn't he even find those who had accused Kelanus? One thing at a time. Nicolfer. Sandev began to make plans.

  ***

  "What do you mean, Grayar's gone?"

  Marcus Vintner's dark blue eyes conveyed displeasure and even Jenn, until now comfortably asleep at her owner's feet, opened her eyes and twitched her earpoints. She didn't move; her food rations were still poor and she resisted all unnecessary physical activity.

  Belaika shrugged. "When I reported to Sandev, she told me he had left on an important mission."

  General Ranallic smiled, but his dark, slanted eyes pointedly ignored the sylph at Marcus's feet and he only glanced at the scout. "I doubt if Grayar has abandoned us, because he left his sylph behind. And the ilven is still here."

  "Only a coward would abandon a sylph and an ilven," said the scout.

  "And I doubt if Siranva would have chosen cowards as members of the Ten," added Ranallic.

  "He chose two who would betray him," said Marcus. Even so, he relaxed a little. He did not think Grayar had run out on them. Anyway, the man belonged to the Ten, and could act as he wished. Surely he would not abandon his sylph – and still less an ilven – to Hingast's not-so-tender mercy?

  Belaika and Jenn looked up moments before a dull thudding reached the humans' ears. Marcus snarled at the ceiling.

  "Our friends have begun early this evening." Ranallic's voice was calm.

  "They're beginning to anticipate our raids," said Marcus.

  "Using green fire from the sound of it." Ranallic cocked his head to one side. "North Gate. I wonder who told Hingast that's the weaker one? Marshal Mikhan wants to move more than one-third of the men from the other gate to help defend it. But I dissuaded him."

  "Why?" Marcus spoke quietly. Mikhan and Ranallic were not the best of friends, but keeping a gate weak seemed like foolishness to him. Especially if the only reason for it was pride.

  "Because it is a feint. The South Gate is the real target."

  Belaika gave the southlander a neutral look.

  "Considering nobody has fought Hingast before this siege began, you seem to know a lot about the man's tactics." Marcus kept his voice even.

  Ranallic glowered. "I read a lot. Hingast has written no books, but Mirrin has published several pamphlets. On Cities is his best."

  "I'd like to take a look at some of these pamphlets."

  "I'm more concerned right now about the North Gate, just in case I'm wrong and it isn't a feint." Ranallic's eyes glittered.

  "Then you'd best return," suggested Marcus. "I'll come with you. Belaika." Jenn gave only the mildest of muffled protests as her owner patted her head on his way to t
he door. She quickly settled down again.

  Belaika heeled his owner, ready to pass messages.

  Outside, the whizz of green fire as it landed in the city, and the crumping thud of rocks intended to destroy buildings, sounded more clearly. The duty scout at the palace looked up as the small group approached.

  "Warn them at the North Gate that we're coming," commanded Marcus.

  The sylph nodded and stepped outside to formulate and send his high-pitched whistle.

  Marcus and Ranallic hurried through the streets. Several fires had started under the assault and most were busy fighting the flames. Neither man had any wish to interfere. Belaika led the way where the streets were darker. As they neared the North Gate, the scout showed signs of agitation.

  "What's wrong?" asked Marcus. Ranallic had ignored the scout's discomfort.

  "The gate is being attacked."

  Before long, the two humans also heard the rhythmic thudding of swords on shields, the sharp release as archers loosed their arrows, screams and battle cries.

  "It can never wait until I'm there," snarled Ranallic, breaking into a run.

  Marcus winked at his sylph. "Let's see how Ranallic handles our enemy before we return to the palace."

  "Se bata."

  Cheers met Marcus as he reached the walls, mostly from his own soldiers, though not as many cheered him as shouted for Zenepha whenever the sylph came. The sight beyond the walls terrified him. Thankfully, there were no more wraiths, but the army arrayed without was awesome. The scouts had not reported more joining Hingast, so Marcus assumed his opponent had reinforced his troops at this end at the expense of the other.

  He caught up with Ranallic. "Where is Kestan?"

  "Harrying the southern end and the flanks," replied Ranallic. "Mikhan will be sending lads out from the South Gate to help them. And hopefully draw some of these away. Feint or not, they push hard."

  Marcus nodded, satisfied with the answer.

  Cheering swelled up behind the walls which suggested that the Emperor was not too far away. Marcus turned to stare beyond the walls, watching as archers from among the troops below him claimed casualties from among his men. They took losses themselves as the defenders launched their own arrows. The soldiers below were briefly illuminated as more green fire from Hingast's war machines headed into the city. He turned back just as the cheering reached a crescendo behind him.

  "Majesty." Marcus's mouth tightened as he saw Djerana stood beside Zenepha. He was vaguely aware of a horn sounding beyond the walls and the cheering intensified.