The Sapphire Eruption, page 19
part #1 of The Sword's Choice Series
On her head the queen wore the traveling crown, as she was used to calling it, which replaced the original crown she used when she occupied the throne. It was a replica, smaller in size than the original and slightly less fancily ornamented. But like the original it was made of white gold set with sapphires that matched her eyes. A light veil covered the upper part of her face, and her smooth blonde hair peeked down her back, falling gracefully over her thin cloak. She had small hips and slender legs, and her face was round with a fleshy nose, big expressive eyes, and long eyelashes. Her light skin was smooth despite the fact that Graglia was close to sixty years old: it revealed no imperfections. If age advanced for the queen, her face did not seem to realize it.
With a proud smile she gracefully greeted the citizens of Hymal as she stepped out of the carriage, assisted by a member of the Royal Guard. After the aide, Gant Blacksword appeared, one of the four Knights of Water, granted the title of knight for having earned the so-called forgiveness of the queen. It was a title that allowed the four knights to freely perform any act in the Aquadom, assuming that their actions were performed for the good of the queen or her vassals. Although the Knights of Water were well known throughout the queendom, they each carried a pendant with a tiny flask adorned with a small sapphire in the shape of a crown. The pendants served to warn the most clueless about exactly whom they were facing. Although the four Knights of Water usually acted freely, it was not uncommon for the queen to enjoy their services, because they had achieved their title due to either their great ability or their usefulness for the queendom.
Gant was loaded with a suit of heavy blackened armor that, along with his broad shoulders, leant him an enormous appearance. On his back, he carried a black broadsword—a weapon so heavy that for a smaller soldier it would have been impossible to wield, even with both hands, and so wide blade that a kid could hide behind it. The armor exhibited a worn look, having lost its brightness, and in its stead, displayed proud notches. Gant’s head was completely shaved and displayed the hairy eyebrows of a very dark blond, which matched his mustache of the same tone that showed underneath his bulbous nose. Gant himself was a man of few words and quick judgment, which earned him the nickname the Queen’s Executioner. He was not usually pleasant company because his seriousness and his lack of interest in practically everything unrelated to combat made him a somewhat soporific companion. For the most intrepid, seeing Gant with the queen was an easy way to realize that the reasons for the visit were, at best, delicate.
Despite having arrived with a grand escort, the queen’s excursion to the square was not an official visit. Her gaze was fixed on the two buildings that dominated the square. On one side, the spectacular Hymal Cathedral, a building of apotheosic dimensions where the Aqua Deus was worshiped. Its huge marble pillars were adorned with reliefs displaying mermaids and marine motifs. The huge cathedral was until not long ago the tallest building in Hymal and the surrounding cities—something that certainly the queen considered appropriate; worshipping temples had to rise above the mundane.
However, in front of the cathedral, a building had been built which acted both as a watchtower and a venue where the wealthiest merchants met to conduct business or hold auctions. It was known as the Golden Tower, precisely because it was the place where money often changed hands. Despite its insolent height, it had gone unnoticed until the boldness of the bourgeoisie had led them to place, at the top of the tower, a sculpture of a sea serpent engulfing a huge anchor. The monster was adorned on the sides with both a naked man and a naked woman, looking in opposite directions. Although horrific, the sculpture would not have been a problem were the tower on which it rested not slightly higher than the cathedral. After reaching the ears of the queen, this was not allowed to remain the case.
“All this trip for that simple piece of rock?” Gant murmured as he tried to observe the sculpture. He was employing his hand as a visor to cover his eyes from the sun and thus see with better clarity. He, just as a large portion of the Aquos, had problems tolerating the sun’s rays, a condition that was related to the light color of their eyes in combination with the few sunny days, which prevented their eyes from adapting well to the light. He threw his shoulders back repeatedly in a circle, causing his pieces of armor to clash, generating a metallic screech. The road to the city of Hymal had been long—very long, in his opinion—and uncomfortable, even, despite the fact that he had been transported in the royal carriage, the most luxurious transportation in the queendom.
“Did you say something, Gant?” replied the queen, who had the ability to toss off the question in the sweetest way and, in turn, make a chill run down the listener’s back, even for someone like Gant.
“No,” Gant replied, and after a brief pause, he added, “my queen.” It was a recurring oversight that he forgot to address the queen by her proper title, an omission he did not make on purpose or with evil intent. And the queen, although aware of it, could not avoid feeling irritated despite so much time having gone by without Gant having corrected the mistake.
The crowd did not have long to wait until the mayor of the city appeared in the square with his small escort. The Sisters of Hymal also appeared, the order of novices who were in charge of the cathedral. They had left the square and knelt at the door of the cathedral facing the queen. For Graglia was not only the queen; she also long ago had been granted the title of high priestess of water, a position that had previously always acted independently—and with its own power. With Graglia, however, this was no longer the case. After the previous high priestess made a mistake leading the troops of the Congregation of the Church, Graglia interceded and was granted the title. The ingenuity of the new arrangement had allowed her to dismiss the previous holder of the title, giving her, in turn, greater control over the church, a power that none of her predecessors had achieved. It was during this short period of time that the name Graglia the Usurper had sounded in the streets. A few beheadings served to ensure that title was easily forgotten.
The queen approached to the Sisters, walking in front of them so that they could touch her hand and kiss the ring of the Order—the one carried by the high officials of the church. The ring was the most luxurious and ornate thing the high priestess had, a sapphire wrapped in gold molded in the form of a wave. After a brief bow, Graglia nodded slightly at Gant, after which they both headed towards the Golden Tower. The two passed through the huge oak door, with the Royal Guard standing on the sides, blocking the way. When Gant accompanied the queen it was known that the queen did not require the services of the guard. A Knight of Water provided more than sufficient protection… more so if it was Gant Blacksword.
The use of the Golden Tower was exclusive to the wealthiest merchants. It did not at all resemble a common market; not even raw materials or products could be found within its walls… no smells of farm animals or fishermen bellowing as they offered their products at the best prices to be found anywhere in the place. Instead, the room was filled with various spaces decorated with huge sofas where well-dressed men talked and reached agreements, with game rooms, with comfortable armchairs—all adorned with the greatest luxuries.
All conversation ceased when the merchants saw Gant and the queen enter: They froze, staring at such unexpected visitors, almost forgetting to get up and bow. The queen ignored the merchants, fixing her eyes on the details of the tower’s interior, which was finished in darkened oak, golden filigree on the walls and rivets on the doors… walls adorned with paintings of the most popular artists of the time. Among them was a work of the renowned painter Rubeliev, in which a lady was shown caressing a swan. In truth, the tower was worth its name; all those details had cost a fortune.
The wooden steps creaked under Gant’s weight, which did not seem to be affected by the number of stairs that he was going up, albeit with heavy armor. The queen walked behind him, eager to reach the top floor and see the faces of the guild leaders, those who had seen this pantomime through to the end. Graglia had no doubt that they had been alerted of their arrival. However, they could not do much to ward off their destiny. The thought drew a crooked smile to her face.
After climbing the last few stairs, Gant saw that the guild leaders were already on their knees, waiting for the queen to arrive. The guild houses represented the interests of the most important professions of Hymal; they had chosen a representative to watch over their interests and establish and respect a code of good practices. All this involved paying a fee that allowed only the wealthiest traders to participate in the guilds and, in turn, gain access to the privileges of the Golden Tower. The tower was not just used for trading, they said; apparently the best parties of the city were also held here—and the invitations were very restricted.
Three guilds were the most important guilds: the bakers, the bankers, and—of course—the fishermen, as fishing was the main activity of the queendom. Next in importance were the houses of the blacksmiths and the tailors, who little by little were gaining more influence. The three principal guild houses were those that had a more powerful representative in the Golden Tower. However, for some reason, the house of the tailors had managed to become part of that select group, the guild leaders then being four members.
Only three of those men were kneeling. Although she had never dealt with them, the queen was well informed. On top of their ostentatious clothes, on the sleeves, the guild leaders liked to proudly wear an insignia that represented their guild. So on the sleeves of all three men the queen could see the symbols of the wheat spikes the two coins, and the fish.
It was Mormont, head of the fishermen’s guild, who initiated the conversation.
“My queen, what a pleasant surprise! What do we owe such honor to? If we had known of your visit in advance, we would have celebrated it accordingly.”
With a click, a servant appeared who, despite carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and several filled glasses, made a deep bow without spilling a drop. The queen rejected the offering with a quick gesture while Gant, skipping protocol, allowed himself to take one of the drinks. He knew that when he accompanied the queen, people offered them the most delicious delicacies. He had not been wrong—a blue wine with an intense flavor of fruit flooded his mouth. Gant did not understand harvests; he just knew that his palate liked what he was drinking. For that, if nothing else, the visit had already been worth it. And the fun had just started.
“I am sure you undoubtedly know how to hold a party, Mormont. You only have to look at what you have done with this tower,” the queen answered acidly as she looked towards the ceiling, which was even more ostentatious than the previous one. “The tower,” she continued, “which as I’m sure will not surprise you, is the reason for my visit.”
Graglia’s words made a chill run down the backs of the three guild representatives. For a second their faces could not repress their fear. The queen did not allow a smile of satisfaction to appear on her lips. Observing how her mere words could make such important men tremble with fear was one of the powers that she enjoyed the most.
“Your Highness,” the head of the banker’s guild quickly replied, “we thought it was appropriate to create a sculpture in honor of the Aqua Deus, so that we might bless it with our praises.”
“Our intentions were purely devout, Highness,” added the third guild head, his voice slightly trembling while he put his brown-skinned hands together, while the other two concurred with his claim.
“Enough,” said the queen firmly. “Save your excuses. I see this house full of ostentation, full of greasy merchants who show no respect, who have forgotten their faith, and who, with their lack of morals and intelligence, seek to overshadow our beloved cathedral. I see the Sisters very thin, feeding only on their faith… and you stupid bourgeoisie do nothing but rejoice before them. That monument is the last straw. You wanted to test your power in front of the church and you forgot that it has power and influence, and—above all—that this queendom is governed by the high priestess!” As always, the queen had not altered her tone of voice. Despite this, her speech was firm and full of emotion.
Seeing that their hopes had vanished, the three guildsmen did nothing but look down, sad and certainly regretful for having let their lust for power and ostentation lead them to this point. “Your ego has condemned you, gentlemen,” Graglia continued. “You are hereby accused of treason against the church. All your property will be seized, and from now on your goods will become part of the royal patrimony and the church of the Sisters of Hymal. Concerning yourselves, you will be arrested and locked in the ecclesiastical prison. You can act like gentlemen and go downstairs by the power of your own feet, or else Gant Blacksword will surely be willing to assist you.”
Hearing his name, Gant took hold of his huge and heavy broadsword. With a quick movement of his arm, he unsheathed it then, tossing it down, and pinned it to the marble floor, cracking it and causing a loud rumble. A not-too-subtle gesture that ended any idea the bourgeoisie might have had of escaping.
“One more thing—the head of the guild of tailors is missing.” The queen, as well informed as she was, knew his name, Rivetien, but she did not want to give the others the satisfaction of showing them the slightest recognition. After all, they did not deserve it. “Where is that traitor?”
The three guildsmen looked at each other, worried. It was again the head of the fishermen who took the initiative.
“Your Highness, the leader of tailors has not come here today. We do not know the reason for his absence,” the guildsman said, his voice conveying his fear.
“Well, I’m sure you can tell me where I can find him,” the queen replied in a sweet tone.
“Mormont tells the truth, Your Highness. Our partner Rivetien has not appeared today… and we do not know where he is.”
The queen glanced at Gant… a look that was just enough for him to take part in. With a powerful leap—his hand tearing his enormous sword from the ground—he pounced on the three guild leaders, setting the blade of his broadsword firmly enough across Mormont’s neck that the man could feel its edge digging into his jowls. The other two guildsmen threw themselves to the floor, raising their hands to their heads in panic—a pathetic vision for the eyes of the queen. She hated weak men.
“Pathetic,” she said. “I’ll ask you one more time, Mormont. Where can we find Rivetien?”
“I do not know!” Mormont shouted between agonizing tears. “That bastard probably ran away from here! He’s been smarter than we are!” Mormont said this with total sincerity, seeing that it did not make sense to continue with his politically correct talk.
“It’s okay,” said the queen, turning her back. “It seems that even the dungeon is too dignified for your ilk. Gant, you already know what you have to do… and bring me Rivetien’s head.
The queen left the room while in the background she heard screams of agony and despair. From the stairs, she could hear them running through the room, trying to escape the fury of Gant’s black sword. It was not long before the room fell completely silent.
Meanwhile, the queen went to the cathedral, where she took the opportunity to start her prayers and also to reflect on how well Rubeliev’s painting was going to look in her room.
CHAPTER 24. Gelegen and the giant
His prosecution of the evidence had led him into the forest. He led the way, the tracks of wagon and horseshoes allowed no reason for him to doubt. Judging by their freshness, Gelegen estimated the fugitives were two days away, perhaps less.
The order to stop and inspect every wagon or carriage that entered the forest roads had been given. Great caution was advised, and the immediate arrest of any vehicle arousing suspicion was ordered. For a generous radius, pairs of soldiers watched several roads. Gelegen’s orders had been clear: If there was any hint of suspicion, an arrest of the crew of the carriage should be made immediately.
The soldiers, encouraged by the praises they might receive for capturing the traitor, and not having been informed by a description of the carriage crew, erred on the side of caution, stopping countless crews. When this news reached Gelegen’s ears, he began to release such a torrent of blasphemy that the demons themselves would have turned red with shame. However, realizing that the soldiers had no descriptions of the suspects, he limited the detentions to carriages in which the crew carried weapons. With the majority of carriages and wagons being driven by merchants or itinerant families, the number of arrests would be drastically reduced.
Regarding the inspection of the corpses in the mortuary, the analysis had not led to any new clues. The report indicated that the victims had been burned before their death. The doctor was confused, since the wounds indicated that they had been made by a sword… but all other evidence seemed to indicate that the cuts and the burns had happened simultaneously, an outcome that the doctor indicated was very unlikely, as it was a capital sin to use fire in order to burn a corpse. Gelegen could not help snorting as he read this part of the report. It was obvious that the laws and principles that governed the queendom did not at all impress whoever was responsible for such carnage.
The report also noted that the attacks had been carried out with extreme harshness. Gelegen dropped the report to the floor, disappointed, as the report had not offered more than what was obvious to any minimally trained eye. However, there was one detail that was useful and that had previously gone unnoticed by him. One of the taysees seemed to have been hit in the back by a crossbow bolt. Did this mean that the man—or woman—was also a shooter? Or maybe there was more than one? Gelegen thought the last option was most likely. It was important to take such information into account when proceeding with his investigation. Again, he would have to follow his instinct if he were to solve this mysterious incident.
