In the Empress' Court

Before, I was willing to indulge the Angvardi's attempts to locate this Kutii seer, but that was before two dozen of our holy priests were killed. Now, I am personally taking over the search for this woman and whatever connection she has to the One.

— High Priest Rasaund, in response to the Massacre at Kubei

Imperial Palace
Angvard
Angvardi Empire
October 2

"This is an absolute outrage!"

Despite the passion behind the exclamation, Raella couldn't force herself to agree. Perhaps it was because she had had a week to digest the news, but she didn't find it outrageous. She thought it was tragic.

As soon as word of the massacre in Kubei reached the Imperial Court on September 25, her mother had sent out word summoning all those of importance who could arrive within a week. Many of the most prominent lords and ladies or their trusted ambassadors stayed near Angvard for such occasions when general summons were issued by the empress. Even so, the Empress wanted as many people as possible to bear witness to this, even if it meant delaying the official announcement of what happened.

Now, she, along with the rest of the Imperial court, were being formally informed of the massacre that happened a month ago in the fairly small city of Kubei. As the princess and heir of the Unified Kingdoms, she was one of the very few who had been allowed to be present for the messenger's original reading of the letter from Governor Uthas. For the rest, this was their first time to hear such tragic news.

When they had heard of the slaughter of twenty-six priests of the Way and the desecration of their Kubei Temple, the entire court was outraged and furious. Some immediately cried out for vengeance against the population of Kubei, others wondered if the Tetrarchy had grown displeased with their progress there and were punishing them. A few more politically savvy men subtly questioned whether Governor Uthas was qualified to remain as governor or if he shouldn't be replaced for allowing this to happen.

Only the princess seemed to  be saddened by the news and sat silently watching the uproar on her throne at the right hand of the Empress. To have all of those pious, faithful men die at the hands of the very infidels they were ministering to was a tragedy, not an outrage. The poor people of Kubei had been left without so many priests to guide them and were surely reeling from such a loss. This horrible event should be an opportunity for everyone to reach out to their new brothers and sisters in faith. She had hoped that these people would be able to see as much, but her hopes had been dashed within seconds. These powerful men and women were shouting for a reaction, retaliation, or preventative measures to be taken. It didn't much matter which group they fell under, they all were quickly spinning this to suit their own needs.

It never ceased to amaze and sadden her how men and women were willing to take the deaths of innocents and mold it to their own goals. The generals were demanding that they be allowed to recruit from the most loyal and devoted foreign converts so they could patrol their native cities and relieve the burden on the already strained Angvardi forces. The priests from the Tetrand wanted punishment to rain down upon the city in the form of penance and sacrifice to the Tetrarchy. The politicians were either trying to oust the current bureaucrats and replace them with those loyal to their own causes or were defending the governor and his men because they shared political ideologies. The local aristocracy were concerned that this might raise their taxes or harm trade in the region. Those gifted with magic were proposing new, improved magical defenses for every temple and outpost that would prevent such an event from ever reoccurring.

None of them cared that twenty-six men died. None of them cared that there were poor, innocent, and faithful people in Kubei who were without priests or who had lost a dearly loved minister. She didn't know what she would do if Brother Ansee were to die. He had been her priest for almost all of her life and was a great spiritual comfort to her in all of her dark times fighting the nightmares she had from her own gift.

As the others waged their personal battles, she stayed silent by her mother's side. There was nothing for her to say and she didn't want to embarrass her mother in front of the court. Her mind wandered away from their petty arguments to trying to figure out why men would want to kill priests. It made no sense to her. The priests were good, holy men who merely wanted to help everyone get closer to the Tetrarchy and thus avoid Chaos. Who would ever want their souls to spend eternity in the Coming Darkness where Chaos roamed and unleashed unspeakable anguish upon the souls of the damned? Who in their right mind wouldn't accept the tenants of the Tetrarchy and be accepted into Unity with the gods forever? She kept pondering what would drive men to such blind ignorance that they would strike down the very men trying to help save their eternal souls and protect Teladia from the Coming Darkness.

"And what of the Shalktra that were stationed in the Temple?" Valinc Tesk exclaimed. "Did they not insist that the city's guards be stationed elsewhere and the Temple's protection be left in their hands?"

The mention of the Shalktra snapped Raella out of her private thoughts. It was dangerous to mention the Shalktra here and everyone knew it. On one hand, it was dangerous to bring back the memories of terror and slaughter they wrought upon Angvardi lands during the wars. Speaking fondly of them risked bringing political repercussions from those who had lost loved ones or fortunes from their raids of terror. On the other hand, it was dangerous to speak ill of them because they were now allies. Anyone who attacked them risked facing retaliation from those who believed that it was imperative for Terula and Angvard to be united under Unity and that any who questioned that was bordering blasphemy.

Valinc was treading a dangerous road, but it was one he often seemed to travel. He was the lord of the city of Nuran's Keep in the southern province of Elthan. Many of those farms had been burned and the workers slaughtered as part of the Terulans' terror campaigns decades ago, so he had absolutely no love for the Terulans and nothing but hatred for the Shalktra. For the last few years, he had become increasingly vocal against the Terulans and the forced mingling between the two nations that was part of Unification. Normally, he would be easy to ignore, but Nuran's Keep controlled the River Gatos which allowed the major city Tazetora and most of the produce from the provinces of Yae Kle and Elthan to be shipped north. Without his support, trade in that region would be difficult and the disruption to the food chain would not be easily remedied. There were rumors that he would be soon making an attempt to replace Governor Piltgus and lead the entire province himself, and some feared he might have the support to pull such a move off.

"That they did," confirmed General Pharis. As the officer in command of all Angvardi forces in occupied lands, he had not been happy when the empress had approved the Shalktra request to take up the protection of all Temples they were operating from. "It was against my advice, but our Empress authorized it."

"Then this is their fault," Valinc said. "They swore to protect the temples where they had displaced our Angvardi guards and have shown that they are unable to protect our Temples. We need to expel them from our lands and be rid of them."

"We have no way of knowing if our own guards would have been able to stop this," argued Lady Ferr Norvali. She was a wealthy heiress from Lavisha in the province of Nanai along the eastern coast who had inherited a shipping company. She had the foresight to marry a noble from Sartes. Since Sartes the last major port city before the border with Terula, it made for excellent trade options with their neighbor and helped create a miniature monopoly in the area. Goods from as far back as Hildervest to Angvard and all other cities using the Angravada River would need to find a safe harbor to resupply and repair damages obtained passing around the Goldset Shores. Lavisha, set in the Bay of Lavish, offered that safe harbor.  There, they would be able to organize into convoys for the journey south around Paleman's Mountains and Stonewatch with Ferr's ships serving as guides and escorts. As they approached the wild waters around the Kingdom of Ragos, escort ships from Sartes under the flag of her husband would meet them and provide protection against Ragos' raiders. It provided a fairly safe means to send goods south to Terula and it made both her and her husband extremely wealthy and powerful. Without them, trade between the northern provinces of Angvard and the southern provinces would be severely hampered. She was no friend to Lord Valinc due to a series of trade disputes with him regarding passage up and down the River Gatos and would take any opportunity to weaken him in court.

"We have had no problems among the newly Unified provinces until the Terulans took over," Valinc pointed out testily.

"It could have taken these malcontents that long to plan," said Lord Calbas. He was a former governor of the Eartland Province who had retired three years ago. As a sign of the Empress' gratitude for his years of service, he was allowed a permanent presence in her court. Raella thought he was one of the more rational men in the room as he tried not to hold grudges nor did he have any real agenda since he was retired. Unlike those who were trying to acquire more power or influence, he was content to simply be here and serve her mother by giving his seasoned advice.

Calbas continued, "Just because they haven't struck until now doesn't mean they haven't been planning this for months."

"What evidence do you have to support that notion?" asked Ambassador Nilgeth. He was the official representative of Governor Zirtaellin of Malorez, the northernmost of the Angvardi provinces.

"There have been numerous reports of rogue soldiers among the Sei who are still resisting our forces," offered General Pharis. "Some of the Kutii could have been inspired by their misguided resistance and attacked."

"Then it wouldn't have mattered if it had been Terulans or Angvardi protecting the temple because they would have attacked it no matter what," said Ferr.

Valinc balled his fists. "If it weren't for the Shalktra's heavy handed approach to abducting dozens of women from their homes, the people of Kubei wouldn't have risen up in riots like they did. I daresay that there wouldn't have been an attack in the first place and our priests would still be alive."

"The Shalktra were doing only what our Empress and Governor Uthas authorized them to do," Nilgeth said. "We have a copy of the Empress' declaration allowing the Shalktra to search within her domain in the archives if you wish to verify it, and Governor Uthas signed the arrest warrants."

"Granting them leave to search for a single woman doesn't give the Shalktra free hand in terrorizing the populaces of entire cities!" interjected Lord Haraz Geltonis. He ruled over the city fortress of Qualdez along the Angvardi-Kutii border. "For generations untold my city has endured raids by the Kutii warriors and for just as long, soldiers from the province of Dunhavo have stopped them from plundering the rest of Angvard. Now, when we finally have the chance to live peacefully alongside the Kutii, the Terulans have come in and turned them against us."

"If Uthas had done what he was sent there to do, the Kutii would never have risen up against us," Ferr shot back. "The Shalktra alone couldn't have stirred up such anger among the natives. It takes time to organize and acquire weapons. There is no way that such could have been done in three days."

"And yet, there was no violence there until the Shalktra came and terrorized the people," said Haraz. With a flourish of his arms, he continued in a pleading voice, "How can we expect the Sei or the Kutii to ever trust and accept Unification if we steal the wives the priests have assigned them away from their arms?" His eyes fell upon the priests of the Tetrand gathered off to the side in their elevated seats.

Archpriest Caestros of Kilderstad rose to his feet and said in his trademarked booming voice, "The sanctity of Unification and the marriages it produces cannot be tread upon lightly! Every man has the right to protect his wife against accusations by going before the Way."

Nilgeth smiled craftily, "Does that mean that they can take up arms against the temple and the priests therein? Does that mean these men have the right to attack the priests and, by extension, the gods themselves?"

Caestros stood his ground, "Most certainly not, but the Terulans violated the Way by not following Wayic law and holding trials before the Tetrarchy. They concealed these women in dungeons without telling their husbands why they had been captured. Such actions are reprehensible and cannot be tolerated by the Tetrand!"

"Calm yourself, Archpriest Caestros," a new voice said from the front. Sitting nearly as close to the Empress as Raella herself was, the High Priests were set apart from everyone, even the Tetrand. High Priest Brogath, paragon of Tantis the Founder, mightiest of the Tetrarchy, was not one to be taken lightly. Most believed the power he wielded in the Empire was second only to the Empress. Now, he stood tall in his green raiment that was embroidered in gold and silver, staring down at one of his own priests in chastisement.

Caestros immediately bowed his head and said, "My apologies, Enlightened One. Please show me the error of my words."

Brogath's eyes searched Caestros' face from afar for any signs of mockery, but either Caestros was an excellent actor or he was being genuine because the high priest accepted the apology with a single nod. "The Way does indeed hold marriages as sacred, but that does not excuse the actions of those who attacked the gods' priests. Those men must be punished, but it is not for the Tetrand to dictate how to proceed in doing so."

Even Raella understood what he was saying. He didn't want to get the Tetrand involved in this so that if things continued to get worse, the Way would be blameless. Raella was glad he was taking this position because she didn't think that the priests should be involved in petty politics like this. The priests needed to be focused on helping guide the people, not getting mired down in dirty politics.

Even with Brogath's statement of neutrality, there were plenty of others willing to enter the fray on both sides. The fight continued until Raella lost track of how they got to what they were arguing about in the first place. The subject quickly moved from what happened in Kubei to trade routes and territorial disputes among the petty lords to worries about falling tax revenues. Her mother was content to allow everyone to say their piece and wage their battles while she listened with varying degrees of amusement, boredom, and interest. Raella knew that in time, she would make her own decisions based on what she had heard and would end the debate with her final word. Sometimes, that took hours, other times, it was just minutes.

This time, it would be just minutes because Valinc allowed himself to fall into a devastating trap.

"Then maybe it is high time to send all those damn Terulans back to their bastard king and be done with them!" he shouted in the heat of the moment.

Everyone knew that it was the wrong thing to say and the shock of his statement brought silence to the once tumultuous din.

Into that stillness floated the Empress' silky voice, "Is that what you really think, Valinc?"

He realized his mistake and gulped. "I am sorry, Empress, I spoke rashly."

"Is that what you really think?" Celienna repeated, this time with a definite menace to her voice. A frown formed on her face and her eyes were narrowed.

Valinc paled and said quietly, "I meant no disrespect, my Empress."

"Oh, but I have been disrespected. You have chosen to insult and blaspheme my husband, that 'bastard king' to which you are displeased with."

"I, I am sorry. It is just, just that so many of my family and friends suffered terribly during the wars, it is hard to look past that sometimes."

Celienna's face softened slightly and her voice returned to an almost placid level, "I do understand your suffering, for you were not alone in it. We all suffered during the wars, but that is why we must forgive and move on. The gods have shown us a better way, one of peace and Unity. We must forgive the sins of the Terulans just as they must forgive ours."

With his head bowed low, Valinc nodded and said, "You are, as always, correct, my Empress. Please, forgive me for my own transgression."

The Empress beckoned for him to approach her throne with an outstretched hand. As he stepped forward and knelt before her. In a soothing voice, she said, "Of course I will forgive you, Valinc. We all make mistakes and say things we don't mean." She took his hands in one of hers. In an instant, her faced hardened and Raella gasped quietly in horror at what she feared would come. When she continued, Celienna's voice was harsh, brutal, and without mercy. "However, as the gods command, there is punishment for all transgressions."

Flames began to form on her fingertips and soon, the throne room was filled with Valinc's cries of pain. The Empress held his hands in a firm grip as flames fully enveloped them. Raella could hardly bear to watch, but she knew she must or it would make her look weak. When the flames dimmed, the Empress' hand was fully intact, but Valinc's were charred and horribly burned. Raella hated it when her mother used her powers like this, but she always said that it was good to inspire both awe and healthy fear in one's subjects. Seeing one of their number punished so definitely contributed to the Empress' power and authority.

Celienna's spoke in a quiet voice that held no hint of the previous brutality it once held. "You are forgiven, Valinc, but pray that I do not see your face in my presence again." When she had finished, she released him causing him to stumble onto the ground at her feet.

Still weeping in pain, Lord Valinc staggered to his feet and gave her a hasty bow before, swaying with each step, fleeing from the room.

"Now," Celienna said, "does anyone else have anything to say on the subject of expelling our Terulan brothers and sisters from our lands?"

Nobody did.

* * * * *

Through the blinding pain that emanated from his hands, there was only one thing that Lord Valinc Tesk could think about: vengeance. He managed to flee from the throne room to where his own guards could get him to safety. The physical pain was bad enough, but the humiliation was unbearable. To have all of the gathered lords and ladies witness his downfall in such a gruesome, spectacular manner was not something he could ever live down.

His guards found a gurney for him and were rushing him to the healers. Since he wasn't really able to do anything else at this moment, he lay there and contemplated the fallout of what had happened. He was now a pariah, someone who could never return to the seat of power. His plans to take the governorship were surely foiled now because there was no way the empress would approve his ascension. He would be lucky if he would be able to hold on to Nuran's Keep. His plans for future upward movement and increasing his power base were seriously threatened, but not entirely gone. Despite the damage done today, he still had allies and, with their support, he might be able to retain his position as Lord of the Keep.

"My lord," said Lieutenant Billins as he carried the gurney, "we are almost there. Hold on for just a bit longer." The stout but muscular soldier was in command of his personal guard wherever he went. By the veins that were throbbing in his temple and neck, Valinc could tell that he was furious at allowing his lord to be harmed.

"Do not blame yourself," Valinc whispered through the pain. The man had been loyal and competent for years and had become almost a friend. He didn't want him allowing guilt to embitter him at such a young age. "You could have done nothing. The Empress herself is not someone you are capable of stopping."

"Still, I should have—"

Despite himself, Valinc chuckled at the thought. "You should have what? Attacked the Empress? Don't be a fool. It would not do for you to be killed."

"Why did she do this?" he asked.

"Because I made a mistake."

The soldier blinked several times, but said nothing. His expertise was in physical combat, not in political warfare, and he knew better than to get involved in such matters. Instead of responding, he barked for the men to move faster to get their lord to the healers. Valinc's vision began to falter under the sun as they rushed through the streets. Though he could see the sweat on the brows and exposed arms of those who were rushing his gurney, he felt cold and began to shiver.

The next thing he remembered was seeing the face of a young man whom he did not recognize peering down at him. They were indoors now with a comforting blue flame providing light. The man was studying his hands intently, but he wasn't saying anything. There were creases along the man's forehead below the hood that indicated he was a healing mage and his eyes were glassy and fully of weariness. Valinc knew just enough about magic to realize when someone was exerting themselves in it.

He remained quiet and still while trying to clear his foggy mind so he could plan for the future. Time was of the essence here. He needed to contact his allies around the empire and rally his support. At the least, he needed to have a backup in case he was forced out of his estate in the Keep. A man of his bloodline and skills would be wasted on the streets with the rest of the common rabble. Even deposed, Governor Piltgus would not allow him to live for long. His family would likely suffer the same dire fate unless he could do something to stop it.

"Lord Tesk," the man said, snapping Valinc out of his thoughts.

Valinc licked his lips and managed to whisper, "What is it?"

There was remorse in the man's voice as he said, "There is some sort of curse on your hands. I don't believe they can be cured by magic, at least not by any but the one who cast the curse."

Valinc's eyes blinked and he took a deep breath while his still foggy mind processed this. "What are you saying?" he managed to croak out.

"What I am saying is that your hands will have to heal naturally." The healer reached out of Valinc's vision and returned with a small clear glass of water. "Here, drink this. The fires that have burned your hands have driven the water from your body and displaced the balance of the elements within you. You must replenish the element of water within you while avoiding further close contact with fire until your balance is restored and you are healed. I also recommend plenty of exposure to fresh air and bare soil to ensure that those elements are not weakened."

When he tried to prop himself up, Valinc found his hands bound in white linen and pain shot up his arms as he put weight on them. With a snarl of disgust at his own weakness, he fell back into his bed and glowered at the ceiling. He was thirsty and needed water.

With a growl of impotent frustration, he allowed the healer to lift him up so that he could take a few sips of water. He was finally able to notice that he was in his room within his own small estate within the city. The cool water definitely helped clear his mind, but he was still confused. He had never heard of a healer not being able to at least partially heal someone before. Sure, many times the person was beyond the skills of the healer and firmly in the embrace of the gods, but he was not like that. He had seen men with their faces burned nearly off healed and restored with hardly a mark to remember their injuries by.

"And my hands? Will they ever recover?" he asked, though he feared the answer.

The healer's eyes were downcast when he shook his head. "I am afraid that is up to the gods."

Celienna did this, intentionally so. Valinc knew that she could be a zealous defender of her Terulan husband, but she normally managed to conceal her proclivity for cruelty and spiteful vengeance. Burning him had not been enough, neither had shaming him publicly. She wanted him to suffer for a long time and be permanently maimed. Worse, she wanted his hands to eternally bear scars so that all could see what happened to those who insulted her precious husband.

"Leave me," Valinc said bitterly. The healer inclined his head and withdrew leaving him alone with his thoughts.

After a time, he heard a respectful cough at the door of his room. He turned to see Archpriest Caestros in his priestly green robes. In a soft, almost singsong voice, he said, "My apologies for the interruption, Lord Tesk, but I wished to inquire upon your health after such a dreadful display."

"I am alive, but ruined," shot Valinc with venom in his voice.

Caestros took a few steps forward to inspect his bandaged hands. He tsked a few times in reproach and said, "Such a shame, truly. All for one ill advised outburst. All of your hard work and dedication, ruined in a single moment."

"Did you come here to gloat?"

"Hardly, my lord. I came to see what your plans were."

Valinc's eyes narrowed, "Why would you care?"

The priest met his gaze without flinching and replied nonchalantly, "Because I wish to be the High Priest someday. Brogath may believe neutrality is an option for the Tetrand, but I can see enough of the upcoming conflicts to know that isn't possible. We are rapidly approaching the end of days, the Coming Darkness. At that time, every man and woman must make a stand and take sides, there will be no room for hesitation or neutrality."

It was like he was offering a sermon at his temple. Valinc wasn't too interested in tellings of the future or expectations of what may be based on obscure prophecy. He was more interested in what was going to happen to himself and his family. "What does this have to do with me?"

The priest smiled in the same crafty way that barely concealed the political acumen that  made him such a fierce political opponent. "Perhaps nothing, but maybe everything. You have lost some allies and some political power, but you are now possibly in the position to gain new ones and new power."

Despite himself, he was intrigued. "What do you mean? After banishment from the Imperial Court, there isn't much a chance that I will ever be governor."

The smile only grew wider, "Do not turn your back on life, Lord Tesk. I have the feeling that someone will approach you soon with an offer that may sound dangerous or too good to be true. Hear them out and consider this: in these times, anything is possible. The established order may not remain established if the right things fall into place."

"This sounds dangerous," commented Valinc.

"Come now, my lord. I am a priest, a loyal follower of the great god Tantis the Founder. I have only the best interests of the Tetrarchy in mind." Caestros stood up and placed his hand on Valinc's forehead.  "May the blessings of the Four cure you of your injuries and guide you to better fortune. Goodbye, my lord, I hope our next meeting finds you in better health and standing."

Valinc let him leave as he began to contemplate what was said. He did have some friend and allies left, and if he were smart, he could still take action. He had soldiers that were loyal to him and money to buy new ones. He had not maintained his power by being lazy or ignoring opportunity.

"Billins," he called out as loud as his weak voice could. He knew that the man wouldn't be too far from his lord.

The short man appeared in his doorway moments later and asked, "What is it, milord?"

"Begin packing up the estate, but take only what we need and the valuables. We are going to Enhorpe to visit an old friend. Leave a few servants to watch over the estate, I do not intend on being gone for long."