Suffer the Heir, page 42
‘I am a friend of Ben Val,’ she said. ‘Is he here?’
The sergeant eyed her. ‘He is not.’
‘That’s a pity. He is the only rebel I know. Has Mor Kanneth landed?’
‘He has not.’
‘Oh. Why not? Is this a diversionary attack? Will the main force be landing elsewhere?’
‘I’m sorry, ma’am,’ he said, ‘but I’m going to have to ask you to leave the town square. The Sanctian garrison has barricaded themselves into that building you can see in front of us, and things might get messy.’
She nodded. ‘Would you like me to secure their surrender?’
‘And how would you go about doing that?’
‘I will offer them an ultimatum – they can come out with their hands in the air, or I will slaughter them. My name is Abigone, sergeant, a princess of Upper Down, and a Maker.’
Several of the nearby rebels turned at her words.
‘You are Princess Abigone, ma’am?’ said the sergeant.
‘That’s right. Have you heard of my little school in Tindus? I wasn’t going to sit there, not while the Sanctian field army is approaching. Would you like my assistance? Should I speak to your commanding officer before I flush out the garrison?’
The sergeant gestured to one of his men. ‘Fetch the captain, quickly.’
‘Aye, sergeant,’ said the soldier, then he raced off towards the harbour.
Abigone took a few steps towards the tall building that served as the Sanctian headquarters. She recalled speaking to the lieutenant who commanded the small force; he had been instrumental in helping her find the farm she had bought north of Tindus, and she saw no reason why he shouldn’t be offered the opportunity to surrender.
The sergeant raised a hand to block her. ‘Take care, Your Highness. The Sanctians have crossbows poking out from some of the windows on the upper floors.’
A rebel captain hurried into the square. The soldiers guided him to Abigone, and he stared at her with wide eyes.
‘I am offering your forces an alliance, Captain,’ Abigone said. ‘In order to prevent any casualties among your army, I will take care of the garrison. I intend to offer them terms. If I tell them that they can walk free from Abkurn if they lay down their weapons, would you attempt to hinder their escape?’
‘That is not up to me, Your Highness,’ said the officer. ‘The new king has just stepped off a boat in the harbour; he is now in command.’
‘The new king?’ said Abigone. ‘Has Mor Kanneth been crowned?’
The captain and the sergeant eyed each other.
‘Not exactly, ma’am,’ said the officer.
‘Abigone?’ came a voice to her left.
She turned. Denny was standing by the edge of the square, his gaze piercing her. He looked different, his features gaunter, and his eyes had an edge to them.
She smiled. ‘Denny. What are you doing here?’
He walked towards her, escorted by several huge soldiers in armour. He stopped in front of her.
‘Mor Dennahelm is our new king, ma’am,’ said the captain. ‘Mor Kanneth is dead.’
Abigone’s mouth opened. Aware of the large crowd surrounding them, she curtsied before Denny.
‘Your Majesty,’ she said, inclining her head. ‘Of all the places to meet, I had not thought it would be here.’
Denny took her hands in his. ‘I have dreamed of this,’ he said. ‘I would have come to Tindus, had I known you were there, but I heard you had left to search for Raewyn.’
‘And you are now the king? The king of Geathan?’
‘I have taken up my responsibilities,’ he said. ‘Are we… do we remain betrothed?’
She smiled again. ‘I very much hope so.’
He took her in his arms and they kissed, as the crowd of rebel soldiers watched.
‘Your eyes look different,’ she said, as she touched his face. ‘Harder.’
‘The lessons I have learned have taken their toll,’ he said.
‘Your Majesty,’ said the captain, ‘apologies for interrupting, but Princess Abigone and I were discussing what to do with the Sanctian garrison holed up inside that building. The princess offered to take care of them for us, to avoid casualties.’
‘I was going to offer them terms,’ she said. ‘They can keep their lives, if they lay down their weapons and leave Abkurn.’
Denny glanced at the tall building. ‘How many are inside?’
‘We don’t have an exact number, Your Majesty,’ said the captain. ‘Perhaps around forty?’
‘If we allow them to flee,’ said Denny, ‘they will carry word of our movements to the field army.’
Abigone eyed him. Was Denny suggesting that they massacre the garrison? If so, then he truly had changed.
‘There have been no sightings of the field army thus far,’ she said; ‘and I have travelled up from the main road that leads to the River Thana. I found the remains of the hundreds of soldiers killed by Raewyn, but saw no sign of the field army. Also, mightn’t it be a good idea to show the Sanctians that there is an alternative to fighting to the death? If we kill those who might surrender, then none will lay down their arms, and we will be forced to fight until every last one of them is dead.’
Denny kept his gaze on the building.
‘I happen to have met the lieutenant commanding the garrison,’ Abigone went on. ‘Should I attempt to reason with him?’
‘All right,’ said Denny, ‘but you must stay out of crossbow range.’
Abigone inclined her head. That would stop as soon as they were married, she thought. A queen did not bow her head to anyone else, not even her husband. She walked out from the crowd, and took a few more steps towards the building.
‘I wish to talk to Lieutenant Laertus,’ she called out. ‘I think he might remember me.’
‘Come no closer!’ shouted a voice. ‘We are heavily armed.’
‘I guarantee the safety of the lieutenant if he wishes to negotiate,’ Abigone said. ‘I am Princess Abigone of Upper Down, and I keep my word. You will know what I can do. You will know that, if I wish, I could kill you all in a single moment. I would prefer you to leave, with your lives. Come out, Lieutenant – let us talk as civilised people do.’
A face appeared at a window. ‘You? The woman who bought the land by Tindus?’
‘That’s right,’ she said. ‘I am pleased that you remember me, Lieutenant, and I make no apologies for deceiving you when I was last here. Would you have helped me had you known who I was? Tell me – would you like to live? What about your soldiers and staff? There is no need for them to die. If you promise to leave Abkurn immediately, and walk outside, leaving your weapons behind, you shall be permitted to depart this town.’
‘You have already lied to me once.’
‘I have. However, if I wished to destroy you, you would already be dead. Take a few moments to discuss my offer with those who are trapped inside with you. If you tarry here, I will have no choice but to eliminate you. However, if you wish to accede to my demands, display a white cloth at a window before you open the front door.’
Abigone backed away, and rejoined Denny with the others.
‘You are being remarkably lenient on them,’ said Denny.
‘Were it not for that lieutenant,’ she said, ‘I wouldn’t have founded my new school.’
A large white sheet fluttered from an upstairs window.
Abigone glanced up at it. ‘That didn’t take them long.’
The front door of the tall building opened, and Lieutenant Laertus appeared, his hands in the air.
‘Let them pass unhindered,’ said Denny, and the rebels in the square cleared a wide path for the Sanctians to take.
‘Might we carry water and food for our journey?’ said Laertus. ‘It is a five-day walk to the Thana River.’
‘You may,’ said Denny. He gestured to the captain. ‘Pile water skins and food for them to pick up.’
The captain nodded, then he went among the soldiers, issuing orders. Water skins started to appear, along with sacks of food, and they were set down by the cleared path across the square. More Sanctians emerged from the building, including the civilian members of staff who had been employed there. They picked up the water and food as they passed between the thick ranks of rebel soldiers, then they hurried towards the bridge, leaving Abkurn as quickly as they were able. The last to leave the building was an older sergeant, who eyed the rebels with undisguised contempt.
‘Tell the field army that we await them,’ said Denny.
The sergeant said nothing. He picked up the last water skin, and raced after the others.
Denny glanced at his captain. ‘Occupy the building,’ he said. ‘It shall become our new headquarters while we are in Abkurn.’
Several hours later, Abigone and Denny were standing by an upper window within the quarters that had belonged to the lieutenant. Denny had requisitioned them for his own use, while his officers were working out of the lower floors. All day, more boats had been arriving at the harbour, while dozens of empty vessels had departed to sail back to Linsalt to collect more of Denny’s army. Every Sanctian colonist within Abkurn had also left, following the garrison as they fled east in the direction of the desert and the River Thana.
‘Around three thousand should be here by nightfall,’ Denny said; ‘and the boats we secured in the harbour will quicken the pace. The entire army should arrive within the next two days.’
‘And then what?’ said Abigone. ‘Was it wise to transport the army here, rather than force the Sanctians to cross to the western shore?’
‘It wasn’t wise, but I had no choice,’ he said. ‘The money has run out, and the food supplies are perilously low. Had we waited in Linsalt, the army would have melted away.’
‘The money has run out?’
He nodded. ‘Mor Kanneth had someone working inside Governor Baldini’s government, and he was funnelling gold up here. That stopped the moment Prince Valentino arrived.’
‘I see. You wouldn’t happen to be referring to Ben Val, would you?’
‘You met him, didn’t you?’ he said. ‘He told me that he had visited you in Tindus.’
‘I met him. I quite liked him.’
Denny laughed. ‘Then you should know something about him. His true name isn’t Ben Val.’
‘Then who is he?’
‘He is my uncle – Prince Valens. The emperor exiled him from Sanctos years ago, and he’s been here, and up in the Fedorati. He helped me overthrow Mor Kanneth. Without him, I wouldn’t be king.’
‘Ben Val is your uncle? That adds a little weight to my own news. How would Prince Valens react if he knew that I was holding his son as a captive?’
Denny stared at her. ‘You have Hydar?’
‘I do. He was injured along the road from the River Thana, and I have nursed him back to health. I intended to use him to bargain with Valentino, but if his father is here? That changes things considerably. And what will Valentino do when he learns that his own son is up here, opposing him?’
‘Valentino’s thoughts were never clear to me,’ said Denny, ‘but we can trust Uncle Valens. He is currently overseeing the harbour in Linsalt, and will be among the last to get here. Why would Raewyn spare Hydar, though? Did she know who he was?’
‘Hydar wasn’t injured by Raewyn,’ she said. ‘He was shot twice, by an officer in the Sanctian army. Hydar believes that the officer was acting on the emperor’s orders. Hydar also believes that the emperor is conspiring to assassinate Valentino, Beatrice, Sebastian and Hygilt. They were sent here to die, it seems.’
Denny shook his head. ‘Not even Antonio is that ruthless.’
Abigone gave him a wry smile. ‘I said something very similar to Hydar when he mentioned it. The next thing I am going to tell you might cause you grief, Denny, and I am sorry for that. Emperor Antonio has wiped out Crown Prince Mikel’s family, in their entirety. He had them drowned in a cesspit.’
‘What?’ cried Denny. ‘All of them? Lorenzo? Marie?’
‘All of them, Denny, including Lorenzo’s wife and their two infant children. Francesco is the new crown prince of Sanctos, and Saffie is his bride.’
Denny collapsed into a chair, a hand to his face. ‘Saffie… and Francesco?’
‘That’s what Hydar told me. He was there for the wedding. Do you now see why Hydar’s fears might have some substance to them?’ She glanced out of the window. ‘The day is wearing on. I should probably make the journey back to the little cottage where Hydar is recovering.’
Denny gazed up at her. ‘Stay.’
‘Stay?’
‘Yes, Abigone. Stay here with me tonight. We have these quarters, and we have no Reath to run in to interrupt us. For the first time in a long time, we can be alone.’ He stood. ‘I want you to stay. We can visit my cousin Hydar in the morning, together. Will you stay?’
Abigone suppressed a smile. She had been hoping that he might object to her leaving, but she hadn’t expected him to be so insistent. Her heart raced a little at the prospect of sharing the large bed with Denny. Despite having been betrothed for many long months, they had done little more than kiss, when they hadn’t been arguing. She looked into his eyes. He had changed, that was clear. There was a more ruthless edge to him, one that didn’t flinch from the thought of violence. And there was the future to think of.
‘When shall we be married, Denny?’ she said.
‘As soon as possible,’ he said. ‘As soon as we defeat the field army. I do not wish to delay it any longer.’ He eyed her. ‘Was that your way of saying that you want to wait until we are wed?’
‘I wanted a commitment, Denny,’ she said, as she placed her arms around his neck. ‘I wanted to hear you say that we would marry soon. As for tonight, I am all yours.’
CHAPTER 30
TREASON REFLECTED
Lake Jaladah, Geathan – 23rd Day of Ara 109
Hydar kept his left hand on the wall as he edged along. It had only been eight days since he had been shot twice by Captain Benzio, and the pain in his legs and back was tremendous. He staggered two paces over to a chair and fell into it.
Din Bannae laughed from the stove in the kitchen.
‘Do you think it’s funny to see me in pain?’ said Hydar.
‘I do, as a matter of fact,’ said the old criminal.
‘Fuck you.’
Din Bannae gave him a look of mock-offence. ‘Is that how Sanctian princes speak, eh? You have no idea how lucky you are, boy. Shot in the chest, shot in the back, and nothing vital was hit. I’ve seen men bleed out from a single bolt; I’ve seen men succumb to infection after picking up a scratch. You have not only survived both, but you are healing quickly. You’re as strong as a bloody ox, prince of Sanctos.’
‘Then why do I feel as weak as a child?’
‘Give it time. Do you want something to drink? The damn stove has finally warmed itself up to a decent temperature. Would a morning coffee suit you?’
Hydar nodded, his eyes wary. He didn’t trust the older man, and he was starting to believe that Abigone wasn’t coming back. His gaze went to the front door of the house.
‘Why is she late?’ he said. ‘She told us that she would be back before nightfall, but it’s dawn, and she isn’t here.’
‘Worried about her, are you, lad?’
Hydar snorted. ‘Of course not. She’s a Maker – damned by the spirits, and hated by every man, woman and child in the world.’
‘I don’t hate her,’ said Din Bannae. ‘I like her. She has guts, and she stands up for what she thinks is right.’
‘If she’s still in Abkurn, then she is probably selling me to the rebels. They will execute me in front of the field army, in the hope that its leaders will fall into despair.’
Din Bannae shook his head as he filled two mugs with coffee. ‘You’re wrong about her. She might use you to negotiate, but she won’t see you executed for nothing. She can also take care of herself. Imagine having the power to kill your enemies with a gesture and a few words.’
‘She’s a freak, an abomination. If she wins this war, she will rule Geathan as a tyrant, just as the Elestians did. Is that what you want?’
‘Better her than the damn Sanctians,’ he said, bringing a mug over to the chair where Hydar was sitting. ‘Here you go, lad.’
‘Thanks,’ he said.
Din Bannae sat down opposite him. ‘I heard a few of the things you’ve said over the past days. Is it true? Did the emperor send someone to kill you?’
‘I’m not going to discuss that with you,’ said Hydar; ‘and Abigone shouldn’t have told you.’
‘Abigone didn’t tell me,’ he said. ‘It was back when you were delirious. You said a lot of things – but you kept repeating that a Sanctian captain had shot you. Now, if that is true, and we follow the thread, then tell me – why would you wish to return to Sanctos? If the emperor wants you and your family dead, then why would you deliver yourselves up to him?’
Hydar looked away, having no ready answer to the older man’s question.
‘Perhaps,’ he said after a while, ‘I was mistaken. I can’t remember all that much about being shot besides the pain, so I may have got things mixed up. There is every possibility that the captain who shot me was a rogue element in the army; someone with a grudge.’
‘That might be true; but you also said that someone had tried to kill Valentino. A bit of a coincidence, no?’
‘The man who tried to kill my grandfather had two brothers who were condemned to death for treason,’ said Hydar. ‘There is no need to search for a conspiracy.’
‘Maybe so. Would the emperor have any particular reason to want you, Valentino and the others to die?’
‘I’m not going to talk about this.’
‘Fair enough, lad. Only, if there is any truth to it, then I’d advise you to be very careful. Out here, you are surrounded by people who don’t like you, and if the emperor has sent assassins, then nowhere will be safe. Apart from with me and Abigone, of course. The princess is my ticket to freedom and prosperity. If I stick with her, then who knows what might happen, eh?’
