Empire Of Blood

Chapter 19

The letter to Prince Durouman could not go off for several days. After it was sent, nothing Blade or Princess Tarassa could do would bring Prince Durouman to them any faster. So they put him out of their minds and turned to the work at hand.

Blade quickly understood why Princess Tarassa's subjects respected her and were willing to bear the expense of her little pleasure palace and her other indulgences. Out of every ten waking hours, she devoted nine to the work of ruling Parine and only one to her personal affairs and pleasures. When she was not at her desk reading or dictating state papers, she was in her audience chamber hearing complaints, dealing out a brisk but even-handed justice, presenting or receiving gifts. When she was in neither of those places, she was in the saddle crossing and recrossing the island. Once she even boarded one of Parine's few galleys and spent an exhausting and uncomfortable week touring the other eight islands that made up the principality.

The only thing she did for her own pleasure was to move her household from the marble palace to the Prince's Suite in the main castle overlooking the harbor. That way, Blade could more easily keep an eye on his ship and still spend each night with her. Even that meant giving up the luxury of the palace for a sparsely furnished, dank, and generally grim suite of cramped rooms at the top of the castle keep.

Blade had no real work after the first few days. The workers of Parine's modest shipyard knew their business, their tools were good, and their backs were strong. As the days went by, Blade realized that by hovering over the workers he could do nothing except annoy them and probably slow down their labor. His ship was in the best possible hands.

The galley's crew was just as well off. Word rapidly got around the town and the island beyond it who these men were and what they'd done. They found themselves greeted as heroes of a battle against the pirates, who were cordially hated in Parine, and victims of the tyranny of Kul-Nam, who was hardly more popular. They were wined, they were dined, they found all the women the loneliest sailor could hope for, and they seldom had to pay for anything.

Blade had been worried that his crew might be jealous of his relationship with the princess. Instead, he occasionally found himself being almost jealous of his sailors. On an average day they saw a good deal more of their girls than he saw of Princess Tarassa. Their girls did not have to work twelve hours a day ruling Parine!

Blade found himself spending many hours of his free time talking war and politics with the commandant of the castle. The commandant was the first of the four officers who'd visited Kukon upon her arrival. When he was not putting on an act, he was a sensible enough man, well educated and obviously a competent soldier. He came from one of Parine's oldest families-in fact, from one older than Princess Tarassa's own.

«Three hundred years ago we had as strong a claim to the principality as her forefathers,» he said. «As little as a century ago the prince had to cast two of our house from the West Cape cliffs for plotting against him. But those days are long past, and no one wishes our princess anything but prosperity and happiness, and her son after her. What the gods send to them, they send to us also.»

«To Princess Tarassa!» said Blade, raising his cup, and they drank.

Two days after that, news reached Parine that made everyone start, and sent cold chills up and down the spines of those who understood what the news meant.

A pirate galley had been caught in a squall off the north coast of the island, driven ashore, and wrecked. Half the crew perished in the surf, but the other half made it to shore and were promptly rounded up by the local farmers and fishermen and a force of soldiers under Tarassa's personal command. The prisoners talked so freely that there was no hope of concealing the news that they brought.

A force of Steppemen had ridden out of nowhere and camped along the western shore of the Emerald Sea, just north of the Strait of Nongai. They made no hostile move against the tribes there, but sent word of their coming to the pirates of the islands. The pirates sent back an armed mission, to find out what the Steppemen were doing so far from home and what they might want.

It turned out that they wanted an alliance with the pirates against the Empire of Saram. They would move south along the coast toward the northern border of the Empire. As they went, they would drive out the local people and permit the pirates to set up bases in the harbors there. Then the pirates could raid the coast of the Empire as they had never done before. The Steppemen would sail aboard the pirate ships, to strengthen the landing parties. The Empire of Saram would be caught between attacks from the sea and attacks from the land and crushed like an eggshell.

Details didn't matter. All the pirates told so nearly the same story that it was obviously true. It was also just as obviously grim news.

«Such an alliance would indeed be a terrible danger for the Empire,» said Tarassa. «Even if the Steppemen are on the northern border of Saram, they could not easily get through the mountains.

«But aboard ships of the pirates they would not have that problem. The pirates have seldom raided the coasts of Saram with much effect. They do not greatly care to fight on land to begin with, and if they land they cannot ride. So they cannot go far from the coasts or escape from the Emperor's cavalry.

«The Steppemen, on the other hand, live in the saddle. Put a thousand of them ashore in Saram, mount them on captured horses, and they would keep ten thousand of the Emperor's soldiers busy chasing them. Before they were caught they could slaughter and burn along a hundred miles of coast. A few such raids, and not even Kul-Nam's executioners could keep his people from fleeing inland.

«Then the pirates will have nothing to fear from the fleet of Saram. They will swing to the east, ravaging the coasts of the Five Kingdoms. Parine stands in their path, and it will be among the first to feel their attack. Blade, this alliance is the greatest danger to my people since the great war with Saram a century ago!»

Blade frowned. The situation certainly seemed as grim as the princess said. But there was a possibility she hadn't mentioned, one fast taking shape in the back of his mind. It was a wild and desperate idea, but so was the situation.

It was also an idea there was no point in putting into words yet. It would be useless without the cooperation of Prince Durouman, and the prince was nowhere in sight yet. Even when he arrived, it would probably take many hours of persuasive argument before he would agree to such a gamble. Blade did not blame him. The prince sounded like a statesman who disliked gambles that would kill others. But what else was there to do-wait while the Steppemen and the pirates of Nongai forged an axe and brought it down on the necks of everyone within their reach?

So keep silent, and wait for Prince Durouman.

Good luck and a brisk wind brought the prince's galley into the harbor of Parine only two days later. The whole island was still buzzing with excitement and growing alarm over the news from the north.

Prince Durouman was followed off his galley by some thirty guards, all in anonymous green liveries, all bristling with weapons and armor. They were obviously alert, tough, and superbly trained fighting men.

«You have strengthened your bodyguard since last you came,» said Princess Tarassa politely.

Prince Durouman nodded. He was a well built and alert-looking man just under six feet tall, with a darkly tanned skin and an even darker brown beard. The hair on his head was thinning, although he could not have been more than thirty. In ten years he would probably be as bald as Kul-Nam. He did not look as if he would have many of the Emperor's other qualities.

The prince looked around to make sure that no one but his own guards were within easy hearing. Then he grimaced. «I dislike giving the impression of so great a fear for my own skin. But I have no choice. Kul-Nam seems to be striking out more wildly at his enemies than ever before. If he can afford to send an army and a fleet against the pirates, why can't he afford a few assassins to put an end to me? I decided I could not afford to leave him an easy path.»

«That you have not,» said Blade, looking at the guards again. Any assassin who tried for the prince would be very lucky to get through them. He would be even luckier to get out again.

There was something else in Durouman's words, something Blade didn't understand. An Imperial fleet and army going against the pirates? This was something new. Here was no place to talk of it, either.

Princess Tarassa was playing the gracious hostess now. «Prince Durouman, Prince Blade. He has traveled here from a distant land called England. On the way he has seen and heard much that will be of great interest to you.»

«Indeed?» said Prince Durouman. Blade half-expected him to add, «There is no such land as England.» That seemed to be a popular answer in this Dimension.

Instead, Prince Durouman bowed deeply and gracefully, hand over his heart. «It is a pleasure to meet a man who has traveled far and seen much, and whom I see to be in the favor of Princess Tarassa. She is a woman of good judgment and high wisdom.»

«Indeed she is,» said Blade.

The princess had the grace to blush slightly at this spray of compliments. She put one hand on the shoulder of each man and smiled. «It is time we sought another place, to dine and speak more of what I think concerns all three of us.»

They were able to talk freely during a lavish dinner in the keep because the regular servants were replaced by Prince Durouman's guards. After the last plates were cleared away and the last wine jugs brought in, even they were sent away.

«You spoke of a fleet and army that Kul-Nam sends against the pirates,» said Blade.

«I did, and he does,» said Durouman, grimacing and setting his wine cup down. «He has assembled nearly two hundred ships, armed sailing ships, war galleys, and merchant vessels. As for the army, no one knows how many soldiers he has put aboard the ships. Many thousands, certainly, including most of the Corps of Eunuchs.»

«He means to grind the pirates like a miller grinding grain, then,» said the princess. «Where does he get the sailors to man all the ships?»

«He does his best,» said Durouman. «He has even pardoned the men of the other galley that escaped from Admiral Sukar's little disaster.»

Blade shook his head. «I imagine that grieves His Magnificence terribly. A perfect excuse to dip his hands in blood, and he cannot afford to indulge himself!» He sat up and his voice and face both turned sober. He sensed the time was at hand to spring his proposal. «What are the pirates saying and doing against this menace hanging over them?»

«No one seems to know,» said the prince. «The alliance with the Steppemen can only help them if the Steppeman launch an attack on the borders of Saram. The Steppemen have no ships, and horses cannot swim that well.» He sipped more wine. «If the pirates have any sense, they are frightened.»

Blade's face split apart in a broad smile. Now was his moment. «I quite agree. They are probably terrified. In that terror lies a great opportunity for us.» Both Tarassa and Durouman looked at him. «Yes. We can approach the pirates and sign an alliance with them.»

Prince Durouman's mouth fell open. «You're mad!»

Blade shook his head. «Perhaps. But not as mad as I'd be if I proposed we just sit here and let the pirates and the Steppemen work out their alliance.»

«I-«the prince began, then sighed. «Very well. I may be as mad as you are, but I shall listen.»

Blade outlined his proposal quickly, reducing it to a series of points:

The pirates faced a deadly threat from Kul-Nam's fleet and army.

They would be afraid and perhaps willing to ally themselves with anyone who could help them against the Empire.

The Steppemen could not help them.

Prince Durouman could help them. The Five Sea Kingdoms could help them even more.

Prince Durouman exploded indignantly at the idea. «You are mad, Blade,» he growled. «The king would never support any plan that might involve him in war with Saram. He would break off my marriage to Princess Varra, dismiss me from his service, and perhaps take my fortune and even my head.»

Princess Tarassa was looking skeptical. «That may be true of the King of Nullar, Durouman. We all know that he is weak. But what of the other four kingdoms? Can you be sure that all of them will hold back?»

«No.»

«And if one joins you and the pirates, will not the others hasten to join, in order not to be left out?»

«I suppose so.»

«Then Blade is making sense and you are not. Let him go on. «

Blade grinned. «The princess has said half of what I had yet to say. Consider. You sail to the islands of Nongai and propose an alliance to the pirates. With even one or two of the Five Kingdoms on their side, they will have enough men and ships to make a strong defense. With four or five, they may very well win.»

«Perhaps,» said Durouman. «Then what?»

«Isn't it obvious?» said Blade, his smile broadening. «Then you become Emperor of Saram.»

Prince Durouman's mouth fell open again and stayed open. He seemed to have completely lost all powers of speech. His hands clutched at the tablecloth. Blade went on.

«Again, consider. If Kul-Nam's fleet and army are destroyed in battle, he will lose much of his reputation. So many of his people will be looking for a ruler to take his place, that no amount of terror will keep all of them quiet. If you come forward then, it may be the best chance you'll ever have to take the throne of Saram without a civil war.

«In fact, you may have to step forward. If Kul-Nam loses a good part of his army, he may not have enough left to hold the borders against the Steppemen. Then you'll not only have to move, but move fast.»

That was the end of Blade's case, but it was not the end of the argument. That began as soon as Prince Durouman regained control of his voice, and it went on all night, fueled at intervals by more food and wine. It went back and forth, both men speaking with equal determination, both speaking from a great deal of experience, and both speaking with growing respect for each other.

There were times during the night when Blade felt like a door-to-door salesman trying to sell a vacuum cleaner to a particularly stubborn customer. But it wasn't a vacuum cleaner he was trying to sell. It was a plan that could bring a new and just Emperor to Saram, peace to this whole Dimension, and life to thousands and thousands of people who would otherwise die unpleasantly. That thought kept Blade going, as hoarse as he became and as stubborn as Prince Durouman remained.

Dawn was breaking when the prince finally threw up his hands in a gesture of resignation. Blade noted that those hands were shaking slightly with fatigue or excitement.

«Very well, Prince Blade. You seem to have thought of everything. You have great wisdom and you have used all of it in making your plans.»

«Thank you.»

«That does not mean that we will succeed, of course. It only means that you are not simply trying to get me to join you in committing suicide. Anything is better than sitting and waiting for our doom to come to us. That way gives no hope of either honor or victory.» He picked up the last wine jug, discovered that it was empty, and set it back down on the table.

«So. Are you willing to take my men and me north in your galley?»

«I am. This is a mission that some aboard Kukon may not enjoy. They have no great love for the pirates.»

«Do you doubt the loyalty of your crew, Blade?»

«No. They have even less love for Kul-Nam. Overthrowing him is the only hope most of them have of seeing their homes again.»

«Indeed. Well, then I shall accept your judgment on your crew. We must all stand together as we sail north.»

That, Blade reflected, was much too true. They would all have to stand very solidly together as they sailed north to thrust their heads into the jaws of the lion and hope that the beast wasn't hungry!