The Usurper

41

“Ho!” cried Abrogastes, seated on the throne of the emperor, “where is the sniveling child, Aesilesius, majestic ruler of worlds, where is the empress mother?”

“They are in the emperor’s play room,” said a trembling courtier, “under guard, the emperor frightened, weeping in his mother’s arms, she holding him closely, sheltering him, trying to comfort him. He is inconsolable, deprived of his playthings.”

“Give him toys,” said Abrogastes.

“Is he not to be brought forth, Lord,” asked a Drisriak officer, “to consign to you the empire, or be slain?”

“Such an act,” said Iaachus, boldly stepping forward, “would be an act performed under duress and thus nonbinding. Similarly, there are rules of succession. If the emperor should perish, Orak forbid, another would step forth, and another, and then another.”

“Who is this fellow?” asked Abrogastes, interested.

“I am Iaachus, Arbiter of Protocol,” said Iaachus. “In the absence of the emperor or empress mother I presume to speak for the throne.”

“And perhaps,” said Abrogastes, lifting a Telnarian pistol, “you and your robes may vanish in a burst of fire.”

“I but speak the law,” said Iaachus.

“And you speak it well,” said Abrogastes. “I like you.”

There were several people in the throne room, both Telnarians and barbarians. Julian, Otto, and Iaachus stood to one side, before a number of cowering courtiers. All were disarmed. Weapons were trained on them. No slaves were present, save one, Huta, tunicked and chained, kneeling at Abrogastes’ left. Most of those of the palace, servitors, slaves, and such, and high officials, and generals, marshals, admirals, and such, were confined elsewhere. There were perhaps a hundred men in the room, some thirty of the palace, and the rest intruders.

“I think I know you,” said Abrogastes, eyes glinting, pistol on his knee, regarding Julian and Otto, from the throne.

“We know you, Drisriak,” said Julian.

“Tenguthaxichai!” said Abrogastes.

This barbarous expression can be variously translated. ‘Tengutha’ is a common male name amongst several barbarian peoples. The expression, as a whole, would seem to signify “the place of Tengutha.” It is most often translated as “Tengutha’s Camp,” “Tengutha’s Lair,” or such.

“Yes,” said Julian.

“You have risen in the world,” laughed Abrogastes. “You were in rags, a prisoner, a tender of pigs, and now you are a neat, well-groomed, well-dressed, clean-shaven fellow, clad along military lines, it seems.”

“I am a lieutenant in the imperial navy,” said Julian.

“How is it I find one of so lowly a rank in so august a milieu?” asked Abrogastes.

“Perhaps you remember me, as well,” said Otto, standing better than a head above the others, his arms folded across his mighty chest.

“He speaks insolently,” said a barbarian, a Dangar. The Dangars were the second largest of the tribes constituting the Alemanni nation. Abrogastes’ party, thus, was not limited to Drisriaks.

Several weapons were focused on Otto. As soon as he had spoken, they had turned toward him, quickly, like beasts of steel, noticing beasts, responsive to an unexpected sound.

“Chieftain of the Wolfungs,” said Abrogastes.

“Chieftain of the Wolfungs,” said Otto, “and king of the Otungs.”

“When the empire is on its knees, or prostrate, awash in its own blood,” said Abrogastes, “we will have time for Otungs.”

“Beware!” said Julian.

“And we for you,” said Otto.

“Little slave,” said Abrogastes, “with your white skin, dark hair, high cheek bones, and your eyes like black and burning velvet, perhaps you remember our friends, from Tenguthaxichai?”

“Yes, Master,” she said.

“And we remember you, as well, false and scheming priestess,” said Julian.

“I am no longer a priestess,” said Huta.

“You look well in chains,” said Julian.

“Thank you, Master,” she said.

“What woman does not?” asked a Borkon.

“True,” said several about.

“I trust you have been marked,” said Julian.

“My thigh has been well marked,” she said.

“You are obviously well subdued,” said Julian. “Are you also mastered?”

“Yes, Master,” she said. “I am mastered, well mastered.”

Abrogastes turned and held the barrel of his pistol to her lips, and she, trembling, licked and kissed the barrel.

“Master,” she whispered.

“Later,” he said, pulling the pistol away.

She knelt back on her heels, tears in her eyes, her small fists clenched in the chains she wore.

“How is it, noble Abrogastes,” asked Otto, “that you bespeak hostility to Otungs and, at the same time, sue for their support in war?”

“I do not understand,” said Abrogastes.

“The medallion and chain,” said Otto, “your intent to enlist Otungs, indeed, all Vandals, behind your banners.”

“I know nothing of a medallion and chain,” said Abrogastes. “Vandals and Alemanni are enemies, to the knife. Who would be so mad as to expose his throat to a treacherous and vile Otung?”

“Forgive me,” said Otto.

“Do you suggest there is treason amongst the Alemanni?” asked Abrogastes.

“He does not, noble Abrogastes,” said Julian.

“In high places?” asked Abrogastes.

“Certainly not,” said Julian.

“Perhaps, Lord,” said a Borkon, a Ledanian, or Coastal, Borkon, “the slave, Huta, is apprised of such a rumor.”

Uneasiness stirred amongst several of the barbarians in the chamber.

“Slave?” asked Abrogastes.

Huta turned white. “I know nothing of such things, Master,” she said.

“Do you think I cannot read the body I know so well?” he asked.

Huta put down her head and clutched her small arms tightly about her body.

“It seems you must be lashed,” said Abrogastes. “Fortunately for you, your flanks are still of interest. Else I might have you cut to pieces and fed to pigs.”

“My friend, Ottonius,” said Julian, “meant nothing.”

“Sometimes,” said Abrogastes, “those who mean nothing say much.”

“Surely,” said Julian. “You know that imperial cruisers hasten even now to Telnaria.”

“Hrothgar,” said Abrogastes, “is a good-hearted, jovial, much-laughing, loyal, hard-fighting, hard-drinking fool; he keeps his heart in his gut and his brains in his scabbard. He would die for me between the courses of a banquet, but not until a certain dish was served. Ingeld is clever and prone to dark thoughts. I am not well served in my sons.”

“You were well served in Ortog, my Lord,” said a Drisriak.

“Ortog was a traitor,” said Abrogastes.

“A secessionist,” said a man.

“He is gone now,” said Abrogastes.

“We could use his sword,” said a man.

“He is gone,” said Abrogastes.

“As my young friend, he in the uniform of the imperial navy, has pointed out,” said Iaachus, “you and your men are in jeopardy each hour you remain on Telnaria, or, indeed, in its vicinity. Imperial war ships approach with great speed. It is certain your forces, trapped in our space, would be grievously dealt with, quite possibly exterminated, to a man, to a ship.”

“You can accomplish little of serious effect here,” said Julian. “You might burn Telnar as a symbolic gesture, but I doubt that one of your perspicacity would see any point in doing so. You might destroy one city, but a hundred thousand would remain. And surely Telnar itself would be of more value as a prize than as a dozen districts of ashes. Too, as the Arbiter has pointed out, an act enforced on the emperor would be unavailing, and the murder of one emperor would mean nothing more than the succession of another, and then another, and so on.”

“I am aware of all this, young counselor,” said Abrogastes.

“And yet you are here,” said Julian.

“So, why?” said Abrogastes.

“Yes, why?” said Julian.

“I am patient,” said Abrogastes. “Succession proceeds immediately through the imperial line, does it not?”

“Yes,” said Iaachus.

“I think we may disregard the senate,” said Abrogastes.

“Possibly,” said Iaachus.

“The empress mother is weary, vain, malicious, unfit, old,” said Abrogastes.

“The emperor is young,” said Iaachus.

“He lives for his toys, but the empire is not a toy. He might surrender the empire, if permitted, for an attractive toy, one he would enjoy.”

“He would not be permitted to do so,” said Iaachus.

“Who knows under what conditions an emperor might abdicate,” said Abrogastes.

“Or die?” said Julian.

“Perhaps,” said Abrogastes.

“This is madness,” said Iaachus.

“Not at all,” said Abrogastes.

“I do not understand,” said Iaachus.

“Have the princesses, Viviana and Alacida, brought into our presence,” said Abrogastes.