The Usurper

43

“No, no, never!” cried Viviana.

Telnarians surged forward, but stopped, short, menaced by leveled rifles. They clenched their fists, helpless.

“Brides for my sons,” laughed Abrogastes, slapping the arm of the throne with his left hand.

“No, never!” cried Viviana. “My sister and I will never consent! You cannot enforce such an outrage upon us!”

“Then I will have you sold as sluts on a mud world,” said Abrogastes.

Viviana threw her hand before her face, in horror, as though some physical, monstrous thing had intruded itself upon her sight. Alacida was limp, lapsed unconscious within the grasp of the warrior who held her.

“Put them in the carts,” said Abrogastes, “and hie to the ships, with all speed.”

Viviana was dragged screaming from the throne room, and Alacida, unconscious, was borne away in the arms of her keeper.

“Great king,” cried Iaachus, “no priest, no ministrant, no judge, no official, no captain of a vessel, not of sea or air, or space, would officiate at such a marriage!”

“Thousands would do so,” said Abrogastes.

“The empire would not recognize it,” said Iaachus. “It would not be sanctioned by the senate!”

“The senate will sanction whatever it is told to sanction,” said Abrogastes.

“Such a marriage would be spurious,” said Iaachus.

“Not if done at the behest of the princesses,” said Abrogastes.

Abrogastes then stood, holstering the pistol. He then adjusted the purple draping on the throne, regarded it for a moment, and then turned and descended to the level of the tiles. He paused to glance at the five kneeling, tunicked slaves, four on a neck rope, and one with her head down and her hands bound behind her back.

“What shall we do with these, Lord?” asked a Drisriak.

“Leave them,” said Abrogastes. “They have served their purpose.”

He then strode from the room.

A barbarian, a Dangar, lifted up Huta, in her chains, and carried her, following Abrogastes. Most of the barbarians then left the chamber. Those who held Iaachus, Julian, Otto, and the others at bay backed away a few feet, and then turned, and, too, left the chamber. One could already hear the readying of engines from beyond the great portal.

“What can be done?” asked Julian.

“Little, at present,” said Iaachus.

“Surely the plan of Abrogastes is mad,” said Julian.

“Not at all, my noble friend,” said Iaachus. “I fear he has researched the matter with care. He is doubtless better informed of the rules of dynastic succession than many jurists. The princesses may not sit upon the throne, but, if they bore male issue, their issue would be next in line to the throne. If Emperor Aesilesius should abdicate, or, Orak forbid, in some way meet his end, perhaps as did his father, and his grandfather, the son of either Viviana or Alacida, whichever was first born, would be emperor.”

“And the regent then, governing in the emperor’s minority, would be Abrogastes,” said Julian.

“Or one of his sons,” said Iaachus.

“Confusion would be rampant,” said Julian. “Incipient revolution would be abetted, secession would be invited, invasion welcomed.”

“The empire might be divided a dozen ways,” said Iaachus.

“Civil war would ensue,” said Otto.

“The empire, divided against itself,” said Julian, “would do work on which a dozen armed barbarian nations could not improve.”

“And then,” said Otto, “the Lion Ships return.”

“And,” said Iaachus, “the empire becomes, in essence, barbarian.”

“Alemanni,” said Otto.

“Beasts, unrestrained, befouling temples, swarming in sacred precincts,” said Julian.

“Already,” said Iaachus, “this is the fate of more than one world.”

“Imperial fleets should arrive shortly,” said Julian.

“And find no trace of Abrogastes, save in Telnar,” said Otto.

“The game is not done,” said Julian.

“No, it is not yet done,” said Otto.

“Remove those slaves,” said Iaachus. “Filthy, tunicked sluts have no place here, where emperors receive ambassadors and hold court.”

“Yes, Lord,” said a courtier.

“Wait!” said Iaachus. “Why does that slave conceal her features?”

Cornhair, her hair about her face, put her head down, to the tiles.

“Get her head up, where I may see her!” said Iaachus.

The courtier put his hand in her hair, and yanked her head up, and held it back, tightly, far back.

Iaachus rushed forward, and stopped.

“You!” said Iaachus.

“Forgive me, Master!” said Cornhair.

“Obviously she failed,” said Julian, “to assassinate my friend.”

“It seems you know a great deal, friend Julian,” said Iaachus.

“Enough, Arbiter,” said Julian.

“I think you would find it difficult to expose me and have me executed,” said Iaachus.

“Certainly,” said Julian. “Evidence is muchly lacking. And what exists would be challenged, or discounted. Too, I have little doubt that your plan, if disclosed, would have been supported by certain elements in high places, as judicious, warranted statecraft.”

“Covert actions are sometimes in order,” said Iaachus.

“Doubtless,” said Julian.

“Perhaps you will now attempt to arrange another assassination,” said Iaachus, “one which might prove more successful.”

“One in your position is always in danger,” said Julian.

“And perhaps one in yours,” said Iaachus.

“I would prefer you as an ally, not as an enemy,” said Julian.

“That may not be wise,” said Iaachus.

“Perhaps not,” said Julian.

“You came here to kill me,” said Iaachus.

“No,” said Julian. “I came here in good faith, as I said, and, as I said, to inform and be informed. I hoped that we might consult together, perhaps enleaguing ourselves, to the benefit of the empire.”

“You have designs upon the throne,” said Iaachus.

“If so,” said Julian, “only to save the empire. The emperor is a mindless child.”

“Was he always so?” asked Otto.

“That is a strange question,” said Iaachus.

“I ask it,” said Otto.

“From an early age, surely,” said Iaachus.

“Who governs?” asked Otto.

“Essentially the empress mother,” said Iaachus.

“But you advised, you had her ear,” said Julian.

“Once,” said Iaachus. “I fear not now.”

“She now attends to the Exarch of Telnar?” said Julian.

“I fear so,” said Iaachus.

Iaachus then turned to the slaves. “Take those four away, those on the neck rope,” he said. “They have collars. It should be easy to return them to their Masters. If there is any difficulty, sell them.”

“Yes, Lord,” said a courtier, and led the small coffle away.

Iaachus then turned to Cornhair.

“Release her hair,” he said.

The courtier removed his hand from Cornhair’s hair, and she thrust her head to the tiles at Iaachus’ feet.

“Lady Publennia,” said Iaachus.

“I am not Lady Publennia, Master,” she said. “I am a slave.”

“What is your name, slave?” he asked.

“Whatever Masters wish,” she said.

“What were you most recently called?” he asked.

“‘Cornhair’, Master,” she said.

“That is a good name for you,” he said, “given the particular shade of your blond hair.”

“Thank you, Master,” she said.

“You seem considerably different from when I last saw you,” he said.

“I am a slave, Master,” she said.

“Are you marked?”

“Yes, Master,” she said.

He then bent down and pulled up the brief tunic, at her left side.

“Nicely marked,” he said. “Tastefully.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Unmistakably.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You have no collar,” he said.

“It was taken,” she said.

“I was told,” he said, “that your colleagues were unable to extricate you from the imperial camp on Tangara.”

“They made no effort to do so,” she said.

“They left you to the mercy of Otungs,” he said.

“Yes, Master.”

“I was informed you were successful in your mission,” he said.

“I failed, Master,” she said. “Those who abandoned me, whom you call my colleagues, doubtless presumed I had succeeded, or would succeed, in my task.”

“They fled.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I am surprised you were not tortured and slain,” said Iaachus.

“I owe my life to Captain Ottonius,” she said. “I was spared, to be sold. I was sold for a pig to Heruls.”

“I did not know you failed until this afternoon,” said Iaachus.

“Others doubtless knew, Arbiter,” said Julian. “Captain Ottonius was actively engaged in recruiting, and training, allies. There was, too, doubtless communication between Tangara and Telnaria, probably through the Floonian enclave in Venitzia, the provincial capital on Tangara. I can well understand the dismay on the part of those you call her colleagues when they realized that Captain Ottonius lived, particularly following, I suppose, their assurances to you that the deed had been successfully completed.”

“Much was kept from me,” said Iaachus.

“They must live in terror,” said Julian, “knowing that the truth, which is publicly known, which is widely known, must, sooner or later, come to your attention.”

“Today it has,” said Iaachus, “and much else has become clear, as well.”

“What shall we do with this slave, Lord?” asked the courtier who stood near Cornhair, he who had held her head up, that her features might be exposed to the inspection of the Arbiter.

“What shall be done with you, slave?” inquired Iaachus.

“It will be done with me as Masters please,” she whispered.

“You tremble,” said Iaachus.

“Forgive me, Master,” she said.

“You are well tied, are you not?” he asked.

“Yes, Master,” she said. “I am helpless.”

“Then,” said he, “get up, run, flee, hasten, go, out into the city.”

“Master?” she said.

“Have no fear,” he said. “You will not be mistaken for a free woman.”

Cornhair bent down and thrust her lips to the Arbiter’s shoes, kissed them, several times, weeping, half hysterical with gratitude, and then sprang up and ran from the chamber.

“The Arbiter is merciful,” said Julian.

“It is not important,” said Iaachus. “She is only a slave.”

“How did the father of the emperor die?” asked Otto.

“What does it matter?” asked Julian.

“I am curious,” said Otto.

“Poison,” said Iaachus. “And his father, the grandfather of Aesilesius, by assassination.”

“Such things in the empire,” said Julian, “are not unusual. The corridors in which power walks are often dark.”

“I think,” said Otto, “I will visit the emperor.”

“Why?” asked Julian.

“To pay my respects,” said Otto.

“On what grounds?” asked Iaachus.

“As king of the Otungs,” said Otto.

“Take a toy,” said Julian.

“I do not think so,” said Otto.

“I do not understand,” said Julian.

“A king does not bring a toy to an emperor,” said Otto.

He then turned away.

“Hold, dear Ottonius,” said Julian.

Otto paused.

“I have a question for the Arbiter,” said Julian. “I would like for you to listen.”

“I listen,” said Otto.

Julian then turned to Iaachus. “Who, dear friend,” said he, “is in charge of the city batteries?”

“There is a coordinator of batteries,” said Iaachus, “and two captains, one in charge of each battery. The coordinator’s and the captain’s names will be, I am sure, familiar to at least our friend, Captain Ottonius. The coordinator’s name is ‘Phidias’. The two captains are named ‘Lysis’ and ‘Corelius’.”

“Yes,” said Otto. “The names are familiar.”