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\u201cThis is pointless!\u201d the Khan roared. \u201cClear it all away.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cThis is pointless!\u201d the Khan roared. \u201cClear it all away.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Khanra stared at him, marveling, as did the assembled lords and stewards. As did the jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns, and beast masters. As did the Yaalkese lions, Mutasan monkeys, Batsalian ghast bears, Yaalkese miniature behemoths, Vainan parrots, and locally sourced midge-eaters. As did the poor man in charge of cleaning up after all of them; Yvmal, his name was, he thought.<\/p>\n
The only one not goggling at him was Faris, his fool. A ghast-faced Mornal from the far north, dressed in motley of green and cloth-of-silver, Faris was still rubbing the buttocks of the nearest behemoth, trying to coax it into trumpeting and throwing the entire menagerie into disarray. Fortunately, Faris was as inept at provoking animals as he was at delighting courtiers.<\/p>\n
\u201cClear it all!\u201d he shouted, allowing his displeasure to show. Everyone continued to stare, but High Steward Gamila politely coughed into her plum-colored sleeve while shooing the crowd with her fingers. Slow as tree sap, the jugglers, dancers, acrobats, and clowns began to trudge away, looking more dejected than a child denied their sweet. In time, the beast masters began to lead the menagerie away, much to Faris\u2019 consternation. Most disappointed of all, however, were the Lords Ibram, Jinann, and Qadira, who had assembled this nonsense.<\/p>\n
Siriassa looked a bit dejected as well. His Khanra was five years his senior, yet none could doubt her vitality nor spirit. Merely for the occasion of this meeting, she wore a burgundy bodice over her scarlet blouse, with a small mantle of gilded chain, and a skirt of scarlet silk, pleated with cloth-of-gold. She even wore her crown, which she almost never did outside of royal audiences: a band of gold, studded with amethysts, with gilded wires woven into beautiful curves and leaf-like shapes, called \u201cthe Viisianari fashion,\u201d forming a net over the prime bulb of her shimmering hair, along with peach-colored veils of silken-gauze flowing back over the long black braids that fell past her waist. Just now she was standing before the dais, her own throne temporarily unoccupied, gesturing with her delicate left hand to the assembled clownage before him. Her heart-shaped face and bright grey eyes looked to him pleadingly, as she lilted, \u201cYour Grace, do you not desire a fruitful and uplifting celebration?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, yes!\u201d Lord Jinann agreed, gathering up his blue cambric gown to scurry over to the ghast bears. \u201cThese fine beasts have been trained to stand upon balls and use them to walk about on two legs. Two legs!\u201d<\/p>\n
The bears were remarkable, true. Named for their black-and-ghast fur, ghast bears were virtually unknown on the entire continent, and acquiring them was not so much a question of money as whether your political influence was advantageous to the Batsalian Union, far west across the Bitter Sea. But none of this mattered at present.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not need to see bears walk on two legs,\u201d he said. \u201cI do it myself every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve yet to see it,\u201d Faris tossed off as he slowly followed the behemoth\u2019s buttocks out of the grand hall.<\/p>\n
The Khan stood at that, thrusting a furious finger. \u201cIf you think I won\u2019t whip you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019d be a fool to think that, your Grace,\u201d Faris cooed. \u201cWhat Khan ever whipped a fool when he has lords to command? And what lord, when he has paladins? What paladin, when he has squires? What squires\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut him up!\u201d the Khan ordered anyone who might listen. Lord Ibram, despite his rank, gathered up his sun-yellow robes and scurried over to abuse the fool out of the room. \u201cWhere is the Divine Commandrix?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has been summoned,\u201d the High Steward assured him. \u201cShe ought to be here\u2026 now, even.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen find her!\u201d he commanded. Gamila strode out purposefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Grace,\u201d Lord Jinann insisted, \u201cthis is the first<\/em> anniversary<\/em> of your reign.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it?\u201d He rolled his eyes. \u201cI had forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour Grace, I mean only that your rule is, as yet, unsettled. The face you present to the commons may well command their love of you. These ceremonies, frivolous though we both know they are, are critical in the assurance of a happy commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how happy will the commonwealth be, when the invaders reach their towns and burn their temples down?\u201d he asked. \u201cHow happy will they be when these eastern devils ransack their homes and murder their families?\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Qadira gathered up her gown, as red as the Khanra\u2019s blouse, to approach the dais. \u201cThis is precisely why we need<\/em> these ceremonies, Grace. Without such distractions, the peasants will have nothing to speak of, save the invasion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how,\u201d Jinann broke in, \u201ctwo towns have already been taken.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the Khan yet to act,\u201d added Lord Ibram, having returned from chastising the fool.<\/p>\n \u201cI am trying to\u2014\u201d He collapsed back into his throne, rubbing his forehead.<\/p>\n Siriassa floated up to him, knelt by his throne, and caressed his arm. \u201cYes, yes, sweetheart,\u201d she cooed, \u201cthey are all against you, I know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never said they\u2026\u201d He gave up and grumbled absently into his beard. He almost jumped when the High Steward\u2019s voice echoed out.<\/p>\n \u201cDivine Commandrix Ges Ra Ividar, formerly of the Prefecture of Dejitsa.\u201d<\/p>\n The Commandrix was at first hard to see. The festival fools and beasts, further displaying their talents for disruption, were still lumbering out of the hall. But Ges Ra Ividar stood a head over many of them, and as she broke through them like a charge through enemy lines, he took heart.<\/p>\n To be sure, the Commandrix\u2019 appearance was not one to charm most men or women. Her face was at once flat and square, lined by cares and the sun but no laughter, her small eyes sharp as a hawk\u2019s but lusterless as a bullock\u2019s. She was already armored, having no doubt anticipated his intent, with the black mail, peached banded steel, peached pauldrons, black tassets and greaves of Zalja, along with the black and peach pantaloons, shirt-and-jack, and sweeping peached cloak of a commander. Her helm was absent, unveiling her limp, dark hair, that depended from her head like rotting moss off a ruinous old brick. Every inch a Zaljan warrior, the small white badge at her left shoulder, bearing a black silhouette of the storm shrike, was the only indication that she had pledged her sword and her life to the Solulan, the Highest Temple, and was therefore, technically, not his to command. Normally.<\/p>\n All the same, she approached the dais without ceremony and fell to a kneel. \u201cYour Grace,\u201d she said, simply.<\/p>\n \u201cRise,\u201d he answered. She did so.<\/p>\n \u201cHow may I serve your grace?\u201d Her voice was solid and deep. She was a woman of near forty years, at least twenty of them having been spent in battle.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have surely heard what is happening in the east, Commandrix?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cForgive me, your grace. I have been traveling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTraveling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I received the honor of your summons, I was aiding in the subjugation of rebels up in Bariat Uur. They were trying to steal a shipment of magic from the Fire Mine. Divine Commander Acal Ro Isan led the counterstrike, so I was free to answer you, Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan rubbed his face. He had not even heard of this rebellion brewing. The Fire Mine was among the least valuable of Zalja\u2019s magic mines, but this was still a serious afront. Something had to be done about communication in his growing khaganate. \u201cWho else is aiding in this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaladins Sir Rahil, Dame Thana, Dame Taliib, Sir Nas, and Dame Nuhara, as well as their adherents, and the local security of Bariat Uur and the Fire Mine, your Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose are good names,\u201d and dully given. Listening to Ividar speak was like listening to a lecture on mushroom breeding. But despite her lack of a warrior\u2019s passion, Ges Ra Ividar\u2019s reputation was unchallenged. She had once stood between his own father and an assassin\u2019s blade, and that was only one of a list of honors to her own name. Divine Commander Acal Ro Isan was younger, less tried, but well supported. The Khan could forget about Bariat Uur, for now at least.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, good,\u201d he muttered. He cleared his throat, and Siriassa glided up into her throne. \u201cI must then inform you, that the eastern border is under attack.\u201d<\/p>\n Ividar\u2019s beady eyes brightened at that. She had been heir to the Dejitsa Prefecture, once, and called the eastern lands her home. \u201cDoes Dalsaman stand, your Grace?\u201d<\/p>\n Lord Ibran bowed in, clutching his yellow robes. \u201cIt does, Commandrix. These forces have taken Yabrad and Makh, and are reportedly moving southwest toward Mansaikhan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo they mean to take the eastern mines?\u201d she asked the Khan, ignoring Lord Ibran.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is as yet unclear,\u201d Ibran persisted. \u201cThey may even risk crossing the Euskati Plains, if they are fool enough.<\/p>\n \u201cLet them,\u201d Lady Qadira boasted. \u201cThe Euskati barbarians will rip them apart, and the royal army will destroy what remains.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd East Mine is practically empty, besides,\u201d Lord Jinann added, uselessly.<\/p>\n The Khan sighed into his palm. He still needed to send exploratory forces into the Shadowgate Mountains, in search of more magic veins to mine. That would have to wait. \u201cThe mines are well guarded,\u201d he said, \u201cand the Euskati stand between them and the capitol. We must therefore assume they are marching toward Dalsaman. Intelligence says these barbarians have no port of their own, so Dalsaman would be an invaluable plume in their cap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d Lord Jinann nodded, \u201cwisely put, your Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan sighed again. Siriassa stifled her titters.<\/p>\n \u201cSurely you will ride to the defense of Dalsaman,\u201d the Khan suggested. \u201cIt is the home of your youth, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was, your Grace, but I belong to the Holy Solulan now. I am a soldier in the All-Mother\u2019s army.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan stifled yet another sigh. \u201cHand her the writ.\u201d Silence followed. \u201cLord Jinann,\u201d he growled. \u201cHand her the writ.\u201d<\/p>\n Jinann grew moon-eyed, tapping his fingers together. \u201cThe uh\u2026 the writ, your Grace?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d A pause hung in the air like sweet bees flying between victims. \u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t, I think, that is\u2026\u201d he floundered, but only for a moment. \u201cI believe you gave it to Lady Qadira, your Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou \u2013 No \u2013 Your Grace, I never touched the holy writ.\u201d Predictably, she thrust her finger at Lord Ibran. \u201cIt was him, your Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo! I haven\u2019t touched it! You are quite right, your Grace, it was Jinann.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLiar!\u201d he spewed. \u201cYou\u2019re covering your own incompetence!\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan flew to his feet and roared, \u201cOne of you has the writ!\u201d He succeeded in silencing them, but could not stop himself. \u201cIt is a holy writ, from the hand of the Holy Archon himself, and is therefore a sacred artifact. One of you has misplaced it, and will hang in the city square until such time as\u2014What!?\u201d<\/p>\n Siriassa was tugging at his sleeve. He turned to find her leaning over the arm of her throne, holding a rolled-up paper toward him. She whispered, not all that quietly, \u201cYou set it down by your throne a half-hour ago, sweetheart. When the lions were first brought in.\u201d<\/p>\n He seized it from her with a growl, took a moment to calm himself, and offered a grateful nod to his Khanra. \u201cThank you.\u201d He looked back to find three smug expressions on his lords\u2019 faces, which quickly vanished upon his observance. He held the writ out to Ividar, who received and opened it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Holy Archon of the Solulan has declared this a matter under the All-Mother\u2019s auspices,\u201d he explained, sitting back in his throne. \u201cHe has declared you champion of the All-Mother, and charged you to lead my forces in the defense of the eastern front, as well as any paladins and their adherents that choose to volunteer for this divine mission. I have been told that several paladins have already come up from the Solulan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou must act quickly,\u201d Lord Jinann insisted, quick to reassert himself as the voice of redundancy. \u201cYabrad and Makha have already fallen.\u201d<\/p>\n The Divine Commandrix stared at the writ like a math puzzle for a moment, then looked back to the Khan. \u201cYour Grace, what can you tell me of the defenses for these towns? How is it they are falling so quickly? What do we know of the enemy numbers? Have they communicated their cause to you?\u201d<\/p>\n A cloud passed before the Khan\u2019s eyes, and the lords shrunk away.<\/p>\n Khanra Siriassa took a deep breath and leaned forward. \u201cThese barbarians, from Monos to the east, they attacked by surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n Ividar winced in confusion. \u201cBy surprise? No defiance? No writ of intent? Your Grace, are you sure this is an army, and not a crush of bandits?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are an army,\u201d the Khan said darkly. \u201cThey fly colors, and bronze-and-gilt flag, and reports speak of their leader wearing a golden crown.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe khan himself is leading this invasion, Grace?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are barbarians,\u201d Jinann answered with theatrical disgust. \u201cThey call their khans \u2019kings,\u2019 and they fancy themselves divinely appointed.<\/p>\n The Khan leaned forward. \u201cSo you understand our point. You must reach Dalsaman as quickly as possible. You must engage these honorless barbarians. Do not treat with them, as they cannot be trusted. Meet them, and crush them, and let all of Monos learn what it means to strike at Zalja like common cutthroats.\u201d<\/p>\n Ividar nodded. \u201cI will. What forces are already assembled?\u201d<\/p>\n Ibran stepped in. \u201cA thousand riders, three-thousand archers, seven-thousand foot, and a smattering of paladins and rat-wizards, say fifty of each. The paladins\u2019 adherents add another two-hundred to our horse and eight-hundred to our foot. Roughly.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan himself raised his brows at this. \u201cThese are good numbers,\u201d he muttered. \u201cRisen quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n Not to be outdone, Qadira added, \u201cWe have also sent word to Al Skati and Qabarjat, even Ogoonduul, to send their foot and riders into Dejitsa, to place themselves under your command.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan briefly found himself looking at his lords in a new light.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd of course the Dalsaman city guard reside within the walls,\u201d said Jinann, desperate to be included. The Khan rolled his eyes overtly.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is excellent news,\u201d the Divine Commandrix agreed. \u201cWe shall depart tomorrow at first light and ride through the Euskati Plains.\u201d<\/p>\n Jinann stuttered at that. \u201cYou\u2026 through<\/em>\u2026 the Euskati, you say? Isn\u2019t that\u2026 risky?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dare say war<\/em> is risky,\u201d Siriassa added lightly, reminding the Khan briefly why he fell in love with her. \u201cWe commend your valor, Divine Commandrix. You may depart to prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n Ividar gave the Khanra an odd look, but bowed all the same, turned, and strode out.<\/p>\n The silence was quickly interrupted by Lord Jinann. \u201cNow then, might we return to the matter of the midge eaters? They are frighting the behemoths, and a frighted behemoth quite overtaxes our manure-collector.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet out,\u201d the Khan grumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Grace?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet out,\u201d he commanded, calmly, but firmly. \u201cAnd send Faris back in. I need someone who will be a fool on purpose, rather than by happenstance.\u201d Jinann gave an affronted mow in answer, little realizing the Khan was referring to himself.<\/p>\n He was leaning forward, rubbing his temples, when a pair of soft hands brushed his fingers away and took up their charge. \u201cNow, now,\u201d Siriassa cooed. \u201cNone of this matters anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone? What?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe eastern front is over six-hundred miles away. They could carve out the eastern half of the nation, and they still wouldn\u2019t reach us. We\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what will our people think,\u201d he said, melting into her fingertips, \u201cwhen they hear I\u2019ve let half the nation be overrun by bandits.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe dead people? They won\u2019t think anything. As for the rest, they\u2019ll be looking to you to save them from the bandits. You are the Khan, and your right to rule is every bit as divine as that barbarian king\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMoreso, I should hope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMoreso,\u201d she whispered. \u201cCome to bed, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s barely past noon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what a troubling morning you\u2019ve had.\u201d She let her lips brush lightly against his ear. \u201cYour work is done today, your Grace. My Khan. Come to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n When Faris hopped back into the grand hall, a midge-eater cradled in his arms, he found it empty.<\/p>\n CHAPTER ONE><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cThis is pointless!\u201d the Khan roared. \u201cClear it all away.\u201d The Khanra stared at him, marveling, as did the assembled lords and stewards. As did the jugglers, dancers, acrobats, clowns, and beast masters. As did the Yaalkese lions, Mutasan monkeys, … Continue reading