{"id":7522,"date":"2019-11-23T22:55:26","date_gmt":"2019-11-24T04:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/?page_id=7522"},"modified":"2019-11-26T23:15:02","modified_gmt":"2019-11-27T05:15:02","slug":"the-liars-war-chapter-seven","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/?page_id=7522","title":{"rendered":"The Liar’s War: Chapter Seven"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\u201cI\u2019ll boil him alive in oil!\u201d Cenedras screamed, tearing his throat. \u201cHe failed me on purpose, I know he did! I know<\/em> it!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lord Seneschal stepped so close he could smell the stink of his breath. \u201cHe can hear<\/em> you,\u201d he whispered forcefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet him!\u201d he called out. \u201cLet him! I\u2019m still the king. My uncle drowned his wife in front of half the court, and no one so much as coughed at it! Bring him to me. He\u2019s half dead already, let me finish the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lord Massam was fidgeting his fingers. \u201cHighness, over half the men we still have are under Lord Borromeo\u2019s command.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are under my<\/em> command,\u201d he rasped. \u201cI am the king. I am the King of Kings. They obey me!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lord Seneschal took a step back. \u201cYour Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? What!? What is it, oh wise one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Uncle Dalabar was not yet king when he murdered your father and grandfather. Your Grandfather Harmude was not yet king when he rebelled against Jon the Cursed. Men need not be kings to get away with cruelty. They need only be powerful. And Lord Borromeo is a powerful man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cenedras glared, breathing heavily. They were in the throne room of Dalsaman\u2019s palace, a vast room of green-veined marble, lined with pillars, and a huge white dais with two thrones, each carved of full-green marble, draped in pale blue silk. A balcony ran all along the chamber, presumably for women to stand and observe court. About a dozen men stood guard throughout the room. There was one entrance for the main floor and one for the balcony. Even here, at the seat of Dalsaman\u2019s power, they were too exposed.<\/p>\n

They had less than two thousand men. In a single day, they had lost nearly thirty-thousand. All that remained were knights and a smattering of cavaliers. In the first hours of their plunge into the city, they had raided and pillaged at will, gleeful cries echoing against the screams of watchmen, women, and merchants as their weapons were broken, their shops were burned, and their lives were ripped away. But as the day faded and Cenedras surrounded himself with the few loyal men he still had, the precariousness of his position hit home. These were skilled combatants he had, but none of them was accustomed to standing guard. Standing guard was all there was to do now, and they hated it.<\/p>\n

Dozens of them, probably hundreds, were still out sacking the city. It was an immensely wealthy port town, and there were treasures to be stolen everywhere. It was time for the king to reintroduce some order in his remaining ranks.<\/p>\n

\u201cBring him in,\u201d he said, and strode to the thrones. They were both the same size, so he arbitrarily chose the righthand one and sat. \u201cI said bring him in.\u201d No one moved, so he pointed at Lord Massam. \u201cBring him. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fuzz-faced boy looked about to object, but his true nature won out, and he scurried into the antechamber. Cenedras put a head in his hand and gave himself a moment to reflect on how foolish he had been.<\/p>\n

He should never have trusted his brother. Ardromor had grown up under the shadow of Dalabar, just as he had. He had watched their uncle terrorize the country, watched him imprison their sister Angellia, watched him stalk into the ritual chamber with his sword drawn, a half-dozen grim-faced soldiers following, and watched him stalk out with the blood of their grandfather the king, their father the heir, and all their acolytes on his sword. At least Cenedras had hanged on their uncle\u2019s shoulder. At least he had stood in the man\u2019s way, even if he was easily shoved aside. He had been twelve, not quite a man, but at least he tried something.<\/p>\n

No, Ardromor was always one to stand and gape when he was too frightened to obey. No doubt he was standing and gaping on the throne in Geumsil, or else praying for guidance on the Holy Isle of Acciano, or whatever else the cold, humorless pustule did with his time.<\/p>\n

Cenedras was not opposed to trust, as a concept. He had been fool enough to trust Lord Borromeo with the north gate while he himself stayed near the river. Kings should always go where the fighting is most dangerous, he had said, and Lord Eugeno bellowed his agreement. He had trusted the Gnome, and that trust had proved true, and now his one friend in this sea of fiends and fools had fallen into enemy hands. All because the Borromeo had let his forces be pushed away from the gate.<\/p>\n

He entered the chamber as even-faced as ever. Lord Borromeo, oft called the Death\u2019s Head for his pallid and wrinkly face, looked every inch his name in a black quilted doublet patterned with gilt diamonds, and demure black pants and stocks. Over his shoulders, though, he wore a heavy woolen cape; not quite gilt, but a rich yellow lined with black silk. He still had his golden chain across his chest, and his sword was at his hip. That was good. Cenedras wanted him armed.<\/p>\n

Accompanying Borromeo were four of his own men. All knights, they were dressed in blue, green, burnt orange, and dark blue respectively. They two wore swords, but were still outnumbered by the king\u2019s men.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Highness has summoned me?\u201d the lord asked, stopping a few steps before the dais, standing.<\/p>\n

\u201cA wiser lord might kneel before his liege.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOther men have accused me of wisdom,\u201d he said evenly, \u201cbut I have never been so vain as to claim the title myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cenedras let a light smile graze across his face. Wisely, Massam and the Lord Seneschal had moved up to the dais to look down on the Death\u2019s Head. The Lord Seneschal was at the king\u2019s right hand, Massam was standing next to the empty throne.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d he said at last. \u201cIt is good you do not claim to aspire to wisdom, my Lord. I should have to tear that chain of office from her neck.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour speech seems strange, Highness. Is ought amiss?\u201d He stood there, brow raised, innocent as the morning, brazen as a carrion vulture.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord Eugeno has been taken by the enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borromeo had the gall to look dour. \u201cYes, a tragedy. I understand you had ordered him to fire the siege engines as we were flying into the city. It was an honorable end for him, covering our retreat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did not retreat!\u201d Cenedras snapped.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Highness, I misspoke. Regardless, Lord Eugeno was noble, and no doubt received honorably by his ancestors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not know him to be dead,\u201d the Lord Seneschal insisted. \u201cThe Zaljans seemed untroubled by our hostages, surely they must take high lords captive for ransom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll pay it,\u201d the king said at once.<\/p>\n

\u201cNaturally,\u201d Lord Borromeo agreed. \u201cI believe your Highness has spoken more than once of the largesse he has acquired during this campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have. But Lord Eugeno\u2019s ransom shall come from your own resources, Borromeo.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Death\u2019s Head raised his brow again. \u201cI should of course be proud to deliver Lord Eugeno from durance. To what cause do I owe this honor, Highness?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou delivered<\/em> him into<\/em> durance in the first place!\u201d he spat. \u201cYou were supposed to hold the north gate<\/em>, but at the first fall of arrows, you and your worthless curs ran like women in a rainstorm!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe southern approach was being massacred, Highness,\u201d he answered, unfazed. \u201cShould I have left your own troops to be utterly wiped out?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cenedras balked at that, chastened. It was true, but he did not want to admit it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we to believe,\u201d Massam broke in swaggeringly, \u201cthat you somehow knew the southern approach\u2019s condition? From the north gate?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cenedras stabbed at him with his finger. \u201cYes! Explain that, my Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borromeo shrugged. \u201cMy men are knights. They ride horses. Some of them move about to ascertain the condition of battle. This is a vital part of warcraft, Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not presume to lesson me in warcraft, my Lord!\u201d<\/p>\n

He bowed his head. Slightly. \u201cOf course, Highness. You are young, not yet thirty, yet you have won every battle until now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have not lost!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Highness. I beg you to forgive my clumsy tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI ought to have it out. This city\u2019s starving. I hear Zaljans consider tongue a delicacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHighness?\u201d the Lord Seneschal whined, \u201cwhere have you heard this? I did not know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up!\u201d he roared. \u201cLord Eugeno is taken, maybe dead, because of your cowardice, Borromeo. Tell me why I should not strike off your head and hang all your men for cravens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lord Borromeo stood silently, patiently, letting the king\u2019s wrath blow past him like so much hot air. It only made him angrier, but he knew if he kept shouting he would only look foolish. Just when the tension felt like to boil over, he spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Highness is of course free to do as he judges best. If you desire my counsel, however, I would point out that nearly one-thousand of our men inside Dalsaman are Gemosian. If you were to hang them, you would have well under a thousand men to control this city, which is now under siege by its own countrymen.\u201d He let that rest for a moment before finishing, \u201cPerhaps your Highness will do just as well with less than half his current manpower. Were it up to me, however, I would not wish to avenge the loss of nearly twenty-thousand men with the loss of another thousand. Were it up to me, I would perhaps choose to direct my efforts toward the enemy, of whom there are many thousands both within and without the city walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what would Lord Eugeno say to that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, he shrugged. \u201cLord Eugeno was a bold, brash man, unafraid to speak his mind, without concern for whom he might offend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you name that a fault?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI name things as they are, Highness. My outlooks tell me the northern woods are burning, and they say Lord Eugeno and his men are responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Good!\u201d the king cried. \u201cNow there\u2019s no lumber anywhere. They can\u2019t besiege us at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d he agreed. \u201cLord Eugeno did all you ordered, and far more. And now he is captured. And if he speaks to his captors as he speaks to his allies, he is dead now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Against his will, Cenedras leapt to his feet and ripped his sword form his scabbard. \u201cHis is not dead<\/em>!\u201d he screamed, feeling his throat tear as he did so.<\/p>\n

Lord Borromeo stood, and stared, and paused. The fingers of his left hand danced along the handle of his sword, but no more. \u201cAs you say, Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cenedras blushed, and fumbled to replace his sword. \u201cHe is not<\/em> dead,\u201d he repeated lamely.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may be so. He is lord of the second-largest canton in all of Monos. He is valuable. But his men are certainly dead. If I had held the north gate, in defiance of all sense, my thousand horsemen would be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so would you,\u201d he said, venomously.<\/p>\n

He shrugged once more. \u201cPerhaps. Perhaps I too would be taken for ransom, and have the caution to speak my captors more kindly. But my men would be dead, and you would be a thousand horse the poorer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lord Massam, all but invisible for the last minute, took a step forward. \u201cA lord who does not obey his liege is of no value.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lord Seneschal fidgeted, but nodded along. \u201cTrue, true, you should have obeyed your king, Lord Borromeo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly,\u201d he answered, still looking only at Cenedras. \u201cThe next time my liege orders me to stand against a wall and die against obviously inferior numbers, I shall be sure to do so, lest I be executed for refusing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The king was still standing. \u201cYou disobeyed my order, Borromeo. Some would call that treason.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lord\u2019s eyes widened, only slightly, and he drummed his fingers on his sword again. \u201cDo you name me a traitor. Highness?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat else?\u201d said Massam, emboldened now. \u201cA disobedient lord is worth less than an untempered sword.\u201d Only after speaking did he seem to notice the rhyme.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Highness, please,\u201d the Lord Seneschal objected. \u201cWe are surrounded by the enemy, in their own home. In these extreme situations, some leniency must be considered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence hung in the hair like a fog. Cenedras sat back down, drumming his own fingers along the arm of his throne. \u201cConsidered,\u201d he said, idly. He glanced at the four knights Borromeo had brought with him. Each looked to be a seasoned warrior. He thought he had seen the one in dark blue beat Lord Massam to within an inch of his life on the practice field a time or two.<\/p>\n

\u201cHighness,\u201d he asked. \u201cWhat is your command?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cenedras flicked his fingers away. \u201cGo. Assemble as much wealth as you here hold, and prepare to send an envoy out the north gate to treat with the Zaljans for Lord Eugeno\u2019s release. Leave one of your men with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was the faintest pause before he answered, \u201cYes, Highness,\u201d and Cenedras knew he had caught him off guard. He turned, gestured to the knight in dark blue, then strode out the hall as the others followed him.<\/p>\n

The dark blue knight approached the dais and knelt. He had a close-cut head of brown hair that showed signs of balding, and a beard that showed more discipline than ferocity. He reminded the king of Ardrormor, if only a little.<\/p>\n

Cenedras beckoned at the Lord Seneschal, who leaned in close. \u201cBring me one of your spellers,\u201d the king said, \u201cthe one you trust most. I want your best.\u201d The Lord Seneschal scurried from the room.<\/p>\n

Cenedras looked down at the knight. \u201cWhat is your name, Sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSir Ullion Tietta, of Cheon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cheon. That was the northernmost settlement in Gemosia. Despite his beard, this Sir Ullion likely had some savagery in him. \u201cStand, Sir Ullion.\u201d He did so. \u201cI\u2019m glad to find you humbler than your liegelord.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll knights should be humbler than their lords, Highness,\u201d he said with a self-effacing smirk. \u201cUnwise to be otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd are you bold, Sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be a poor warrior otherwise, Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. I charge you, Sir Ullion, to sneak outside the walls of Dalsaman and steal a horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

He blanched at that. \u201cFrom the enemy encampment, Highness?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless you find one handy elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cenedras thought he could hear Sir Ullion gulp. \u201cAnd what am I to do with this horse, Highness?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will ride it back to Monos, in search of my brother Prince Ardromor, and deliver to him a spell, telling him of our plight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen shall this be done, Highness?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight. Do what you must to prepare, and be here at nightfall. You may go.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Sir Ullian departed, Cenedras looked around. Lord Massam was staring at him wide-eyed. The king desperately needed someone he could rely upon, but who was that person? Not the simpering boy before him, nor his fat guards. The greatest warriors were all Borromeo\u2019s, he knew it, but how might be bend some to his will? Lord Eugeno was a priceless ally, he knew that now, but could he be recovered?<\/p>\n

The Lord Seneschal scampered back into the room followed by a woman of middling years, starting to grow stout, her yellow hair tied in a braid down her back. She wore fine clothes for a speller, a brown silk skirt lined in blue, with a blue vest over her blouse, embroidered with images of flowers done in yellow lines. She passed the Seneschal and dipped before the king. \u201cYou sent for a speller, Highness?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was bold to walk past the Lord Seneschal of Acciano, yet she was wise enough to dip before her king. \u201cI have need of a spell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Highness. What shall this spell relate?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s for my brother, the Prince of the Blood.
\n\u201cYes, Highness?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell him the King of Kings is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

CHAPTER EIGHT><\/a><\/p>\n

<CHAPTER SIX<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI\u2019ll boil him alive in oil!\u201d Cenedras screamed, tearing his throat. \u201cHe failed me on purpose, I know he did! I know it!\u201d The Lord Seneschal stepped so close he could smell the stink of his breath. \u201cHe can hear … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":7437,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7522","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9u111-1Xk","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7522"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7585,"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7522\/revisions\/7585"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jaredmcdaris.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}