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\u201cSome unanticipated expenses have come from the ceremony, of course,\u201d Lord Jinaan added, fiddling with the sleeves of his powder blue robe. \u201cThe behemoths did some\u2026 damage\u2026 to their quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cSome unanticipated expenses have come from the ceremony, of course,\u201d Lord Jinaan added, fiddling with the sleeves of his powder blue robe. \u201cThe behemoths did some\u2026 damage\u2026 to their quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPay it,\u201d the Khan answered, dismissing the issue with a flick of his fingers. \u201cPay whatever it is and get rid of them. The lions, the behemoths, the bears, get rid of everything already. I\u2019ve hated this stupid ceremony from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill,\u201d Lady Qadira broke him, her burgundy robes swishing as she stepped toward the dais, \u201cit has worked. The populace seems very well disposed to your rule.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid they object to my rule, before the ceremony?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Lord Ibran insisting, waiving his saffron sleeves about. \u201cNo, no, no, let it never be said that Zalja does not love its Khan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what was the point of this disastrous nonsense?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteady, my love,\u201d the Khanra whispered. She had not worn her crown for this, and her lustrous hair was tied into a great, thick braid, running down her right shoulder, over her breast, and coiling slightly in her lap like a snake.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d he sighed, rubbing his face. \u201cIt\u2019s over. Fine. Pay whatever we must and wipe this folly out of my land.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that, the doors to the great hall opened and the High Steward strode in. Gamila was wearing her plum-colored robes. \u201cIt must be the new moon,\u201d he muttered. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Grace,\u201d she said, short of breath. \u201cDame Tiir has returned with news from the eastern front.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt last! Send her in at once.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was another five minutes before she arrived. Dame Tiir was young, so small she looked more like a rat-catcher than a paladin, but she was dressed in banded lamellar of gilded steel, red silk adorning her white doublet. In her right fist was a rolled up parchment. Behind her were two more warriors.<\/p>\n
The first was a great beast of a man, weathered slightly pale, with a grizzly beard. He looked Khabarese, and when the Khan saw his ears had been lost to frostbite, his suspicions were confirmed. His leg was plastered and we walked with a gnarled staff. He wore no armor, but the Khan recognized him as one of the two Khabarese paladins the Holy Archon had recommended.<\/p>\n
The other was presumably a paladin as well, but she too wore no armor. A southerner, though not as pale as the Khabarese man, her dark eyes seemed to stare at nothing, and her long black hair hung straggly about her. It was hard to say if she was a wild Khabarese or merely a dead woman. She wore a ratty grey blouse and brown leather jack, with demure black pants and grey stocks. Her boots were of black leather and looked relatively new. She looked down at her feet, humble as a whipped groom.<\/p>\n
They stood before him. He was mildly annoyed that they chose not to kneel, but as holy paladins they were not required to. \u201cDame Tiir,\u201d he said, \u201cI had not thought to see you again so soon. I hope our reinforcements were well spent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her hesitation told all. \u201cYour Grace,\u201d she said at last, \u201cthe great city of Dalsaman has fallen to the enemy. As have Supola Jengo, Mansaikhan, Makh, Ubrurough, and\u2026 Cittiuvio.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCittuvio?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have renamed Yabrad after their own fashion. Further, the king of Monos has\u2026 he has renamed Dalsaman as the Port of Vargano, and declares it the capital of Monos.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe capital!\u201d the Khanra gasped. \u201cIn our own borders? Is he mad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is now on<\/em> our borders, not in them,\u201d she said, holding out the parchment in her hand. \u201cI have come to deliver a new map, designating the borders between Monos and Zalja as declared by King Cenedras.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d Lord Jinaan snatched the parchment from her hand and unrolled it. \u201cNo. No, no, no, this is absurd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d the Khan asked. There was no outrage or reproach in his voice, but an almost childlike confusion. \u201cYou had a thousand horse, and another thousand from the Euskati according to you. Nearly ten-thousand foot, four dozen wizards. You were led by Divine Commandrix Ges Ra Ividar. Who is this man, this King Cenedras? How did he prevail against such odds?\u201d<\/p>\n Dame Tiir shook her head. \u201cI have no answers, Grace. By the time our reinforcements arrived, it was over. The Divine Commandrix was dead, our army routed, and the enemy outnumbered our forces three against one. And they held the city. I would not spend more lives for nothing. Your Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing!\u201d Lady Qadira spat. \u201cIs Dalsaman nothing? Her people? Her pride?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnough,\u201d the Khan said. \u201cGive me the map, Jinaan.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan unrolled the map and held it before him, angling it so Siriassa could see as well. Many hides of land were claimed surrounding the seized towns, and the entire eastern ridge of the Shadowgate Mountains as well, yet by odd coincidence the magic mines lay outside the claimed territory. \u201cWe must send emissaries to dispute this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEmissaries?\u201d Lord Ibran choked. \u201cSurely we must send armies, your Grace.\u201d The Khanra shot him a look, silencing him, and the Khan remembered why he had fallen in love with her.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think these emissaries would be safe?\u201d the Khanra asked. \u201cThe barbarians attacked without writ or declaration yes? Who can say if they would treat honorably with us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think they will,\u201d said Dame Tiir. \u201cBy the time I arrived, the king was already gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d the Khan asked. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis word.\u201d It was the wild-haired woman who spoke, still looking at the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is this?\u201d Lady Qadira asked.<\/p>\n She took a step forward. \u201cMy name is Hali Ra Parsad. I was there when it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n She still would not look up, but the Khan nodded anyway. \u201cGo on, Dame.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am not\u2026 yes, Grace. The king gave his word, that he would abandon Dalsaman if the Commandrix faced him in single combat. True to his word<\/em>, he abandoned Dalsaman to the governance of his brother, Prince Ardromor, and departed for home.\u201d<\/p>\n The lords muttered at that. \u201cDishonorable,\u201d Ibran said, redundantly.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this Ardromor?\u201d the Khanra continued. \u201cHe is a man of honor, then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no men of honor in Monos,\u201d she snarled, a notable emphasis on \u2018men.\u2019 \u201cBut he can be reasoned with. He is not a vainglorious fool like his brother. He will know enough to fear you. As a gesture of good faith, he ransomed several nobles from the fallen towns, even the Ividars of Dalsaman, as well as Sirs Yniv and Priyandar, Sir Sanin here. And myself.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan tapped his lip in thought. \u201cThat sounds quite generous. Perhaps this Ardromor does indeed fear us. Might he be vulnerable?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t doubt he wants the fighting to end,\u201d she answered. \u201cHe never wanted it started in the first place, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe will cede nothing, Grace. Monos was landlocked before now. The ports are too valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the other towns?\u201d The Khan\u2019s eyes narrowed shrewdly. \u201cDame Hali. Look at me.\u201d<\/p>\n She blinked at that, and tears filled her eyes. \u201cI am not a Dame, your Grace. I disgraced myself in battle, and again at the chopping block. The Commandrix gave up her life for Dalsaman. Sir Rehfan, Sir Kenahl, Sir Waldun, Sir\u2026 and thousands of others gave up their lives for Dejitsa, for Zalja. I would not die for my honor. My honor died for me.\u201d<\/p>\n There was no immediate answer to that.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are worse things,\u201d the Khanra suggested lamely. \u201cThere are greater dishonors. Consider these Monosi barbarians.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I must compare myself to Cenedras the Liar in order to find my dignity, then it is long lost. Your Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n More silence followed. \u201cNo,\u201d she agreed, her tears dripping on the floor. \u201cA paladin has no home. No family and no home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSave Satar\u2019s grace,\u201d the Khanra finished. The Dame who was not a Dame, did not answer.<\/p>\n \u201cHali Ra Parsad,\u201d the Khan said, \u201clook at me.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked up at him, and her face hardened.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d he asked. \u201cHow did this happen?\u201d<\/p>\n She shrugged. \u201cLuck. Unseeing, unhearing luck. Luck allowed the king to escape the Commandrix on the field of battle. Luck allowed him to sneak out of Dalsaman and raise reinforcements. Luck allowed him to be born into a royal line. Perhaps he really is a god, as the Monosi believe.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t know what more the Commandrix could have done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKilled them.\u201d The grizzly Khabarese, Sir Sanin, spoke at last. \u201cShe could have killed that corpse-lord at the northern gate when we were treating, and taken the city. She could have gutted the boy king when he fell from his horse. She could have dishonored her precious self, for one second, and saved thousands of lives. That\u2019s what she could have done.\u201d<\/p>\n Hali looked about to say something, but instead she stared at the floor. \u201cYour Grace,\u201d she said, \u201cI have come to beg your leave to travel south into Khabar. I mean to squire for Sir Sanin.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The fall of Dejitsa seemed more important to him than this former-paladin\u2019s crisis of honor. \u201cAs you wish.\u201d<\/p>\n Dame Tiir cleared her throat. \u201cDo you wish anything more of us, your Grace?\u201d<\/p>\n He let a frustrated sigh out, then shook his head. \u201cNo. Speak with my understeward. He will see you housed until you are ready to return to the Holy Solulan.\u201d<\/p>\n Before they had even left the room, Lady Qadira was insisting upon a counterstrike. Jinaan and Ibran were nodding along until Siriass stood and commanded them to leave the room. Gamila closed the door behind her, leaving them alone in the great hall.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of this matters, my sweet.\u201d She assured him. \u201cThey are still six-hundred miles away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are closer,\u201d he insisted stubbornly. \u201cTomorrow, they may be closer still.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, at this rate, when they are finally at our gates, your great-great-grandchildren can worry about them.\u201d<\/p>\n He sighed again. \u201cI suppose so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me take you to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is scarcely after midday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what a trying morning you have had. Come.\u201d<\/p>\n The Khan surrendered, and found a little comfort, and so the matter was ended.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to stop by Khair, on the way to the Cickatrice Tail.\u201d Hali was standing by her piebald gelding. She had her sword out, the sword of the watch of Dalsaman. \u201cIt\u2019s not far from the Holy Solulan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you giving the orders now, squire?\u201d There was an amused warmth in Sir Sanin\u2019s voice, but she could tell he was implacable. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to the Holy Solulan. Let Tiir tell them of our failures.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to tell them,\u201d she insisted. \u201cI\u2019m the only one who was there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what can you tell them that Tiir can\u2019t?\u201d he growled. \u201cWe fought and we failed. The end.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe deserves to have her story told.\u201d<\/p>\n Sanin glared at her, but his look softened after a moment. He looked down at her blade. \u201cWhat did you say she told you? About that sword?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked it over. \u201cTo carry it with me. Always.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded, climbing onto his shaggy-coated garron. \u201cCarry it with you. You failed. We failed. No confession will change that. There is no absolution. To live without guilt is to live like a god on earth. And we\u2019ve seen what those are like.\u201d<\/p>\n She gave the sword one last look. It was a good sword, but she had not paid for it. Perhaps she would someday.<\/p>\n She shoved the sword of the watch back into her scabbard and climbed up on her gelding. \u201cTo the Cickatrice Tail, then?\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s deathly cold down there. We\u2019ll stop off somewhere farther south to buy some furs along the way. Khair, perhaps.\u201d<\/p>\n The sun was still high as they rode out the southern gates of Tsen Ikha, yet it would grow darker and colder as they went. Hali knew this, though, and was ready to carry it with her. She rode south, her shoulders hunched up against the future cold, a little harder than they had been. She could carry that with her too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <CHAPTER THIRTEEN<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cSome unanticipated expenses have come from the ceremony, of course,\u201d Lord Jinaan added, fiddling with the sleeves of his powder blue robe. \u201cThe behemoths did some\u2026 damage\u2026 to their quarters.\u201d \u201cPay it,\u201d the Khan answered, dismissing the issue with a … Continue reading
\nShe shrugged, still looking at the floor. \u201cPerhaps. I am not a lord, Grace. These things are beyond me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cStill,\u201d the Khanra said at last, kindly, \u201cthis was never truly your fight. The Holy Archon charged Divine Commandrix Ges to this quest, not you. You were not truly pledged to die.\u201d<\/p>\n