Chapter 21
The usually haughty judges were nervous. These were important men who delighted in being one step ahead of their political adversaries. They’d not expected to be called here today, and that upset them, for the Capitol did not care for surprises.
Devedas enjoyed watching their discomfort.
An emergency session in the Chamber of Argument was an extremely rare event. Only a handful of individuals had the authority to call for such a thing, such as the Chief Judge—the office of which was still vacant due to the assassination—a great house Thakoor, or the head of a Capitol Order, and in that last case it had better be for a damned good reason, like a terrible crisis that needed to be dealt with in an expedited manner. To call for an emergency session was to risk your status, and no one in the Capitol was foolish enough to do so lightly.
The judges were already conspiring, trying to figure out who had called for this sudden meeting and why. Devedas called upon the Heart of the Mountain to sharpen his hearing and listen in on their whispered conversations. There was war in the west. War in the east. Rebels everywhere. Casteless exterminations. Looming starvation. Economic collapse. So on and so forth. Their speculation was endless.
Devedas didn’t know why they were here either, but unlike the rest of these fools he at least knew who had invoked his authority to force this meeting. Omand’s coded message had not elaborated why, but he had warned Devedas that his presence would be vital.
The chamber was not nearly as crowded as usual. Messengers were still trying to track down all the usual attendees. When the judges couldn’t be found or were off on holiday, they’d called for the secondary representatives from each house, and if those were unavailable, then the chamber obligated the highest-status man available from each great house delegation to serve. Devedas had worked in this hedonistic city long enough to know that for many of the absent judges it was because they were too drunk, under the influence of the poppy, or off doing some manner of illegal debauchery in one of the Capitol’s pleasure houses. Devedas had executed bandits with more honor than the typical Capitol judge.
The gallery for non-voting spectators was filling in as well, representatives from various Orders. And beyond them was the section for the lower castes. The chamber hadn’t sent for any warriors or workers to testify, but these high-status individuals must have heard and come out of curiosity. Devedas saw the colors of every great house army in the seats. If the meeting was about illegal house war, they’d need to know, either for self-protection, or lucrative opportunity. There were also a great many rich and important workers, though Devedas had never bothered to learn what all their insignia meant. Bankers most likely. Devedas found that the workers who printed and loaned the Capitol’s money supply were too self-important for their own good, and often forgot their place.
The runners must have successfully scrounged up enough high-status men from each house to form a voting quorum, because the presiding judge banged the staff against the floor to call the session to order. That feeble old figurehead had no idea why they were there either, so he quickly and gladly offered the staff over to Grand Inquisitor Omand.
As Omand rose from his seat in the gallery and walked toward the podium, there was a great deal of murmuring from the judges. Omand was loved by none yet feared by many. Some of these men he had cowed into subservice, through threat or blackmail. Others had avoided the spiderweb entirely thus far, but they had to know that Omand was a force to be reckoned with in these halls. Despite his importance the Grand Inquisitor rarely spoke within the chamber and had never once called for an emergency session in all the years he had been master of his Order. Why would he do such a thing now? The curiosity was too much for them to bear, and the chamber fell silent.
Omand took the offered staff, then faced the audience, enigmatic and faceless. “Honored judges, as your humble servant, I shall not waste any more of your valuable time than is necessary.” The golden mask of his office gave Omand’s voice a haunting quality. “I bring warning that a grave danger has risen in the north.”
The judges shared confused glances. Devedas listened as scribes were quietly questioned by their masters. Could this be about the looming war between Vadal and Sarnobat? But that made no sense. House war would be Protector business and bringing it up in such an uncouth manner would bring shame onto both great houses and the Grand Inquisitor.
“The threat I warn you of today is not natural, but demonic.”
There were gasps from the audience. “Are the demons attacking?” someone shouted incredulously.
“Yes, but not by sea. This is not merely some raiders who have trespassed onto our shores. A terrible demonic plague—deadly beyond comprehension—has been unleashed within the borders of Great House Vadal, in the forests between Mukesh and Goda.”
The delegation from Vadal blanched at that, then began speaking amongst themselves, as this was clearly the first they’d heard of such a thing. “How?” their ranking judge demanded.
“That is unknown at this time, but the Inquisition suspects that this is some manner of demon weapon left hidden since ancient times that has been disturbed—probably by Law breakers—and awakened. A group of Inquisitors was dispatched to investigate, and they perished, along with many obligated warriors, when the scourge revealed itself. They died bravely, and their last heroic act was to send word by magic to me of what they had discovered. The scourge is like unto a vast swarm of locusts, which will multiply and devour everything in their path, leaving nothing but ruin. I immediately moved to warn the chamber, for I assure you, honored judges, this is a menace the likes of which we have never seen before.”
Devedas found himself leaning forward in his seat like everyone else in the gallery. This was unexpected. He’d thought that Omand would have some politician’s trick up his sleeve to gain more power and further the conspiracy’s goals, but this was something else entirely. The Grand Inquisitor couldn’t fabricate a demon incursion, nor could he risk lying about the existence of one. This had to be real. Devedas’ mind began to race, for dealing with demons was Protector duty.
“I have called this session because we must act swiftly against this menace while we still can. Demons cannot be allowed to gain any foothold upon land. A united force must be sent into Vadal lands to stop the menace immediately.”
One of the judges from Vadal stood. “I intend no offense, Grand Inquisitor, but you speak of trespass in my beloved homeland, of which we’ve yet to see any evidence, and your proposal is invasion?”
“Not invasion. Rescue. I am afraid there is no time for this body to gather evidence and debate as is your usual tradition. Time is not on our side. Does the Law not require us to act decisively against any demonic threat? I seek authorization to temporarily lift the restrictions on obligation numbers, so that we may quickly raise a mighty force—unified from the many houses represented in this city—that will ride to the defense of Vadal.”
“That is a most unusual request, Grand Inquisitor,” the presiding judge said.
“This is an unusual threat, Your Honor.”
Devedas knew the presiding judge wasn’t a bad man, but he was not nearly as intelligent as his predecessor, and he demonstrated it by saying, “This is terrible news, but how can we act? Normally, when the Capitol is faced by a grave and immediate peril, it falls upon the Chief amongst us to make timely decisions, and then for the chamber to review those decisions afterward to make sure they are appropriately lawful, but alas that office has been unfilled since a vile casteless assassin took our beloved Chief Judge from us. Elections are not to be held for another two months so that each Thakoor may have their say. This vital process cannot be rushed.”
“I am afraid Lok does not have months.” Omand shook his head with exaggerated sadness. “We will be lucky if demons aren’t scratching at the gates of Vadal City by then. We must strike as soon as possible, or millions will die. Vadal will be destroyed.”
“Good,” somebody from the Vokkan delegation muttered.
Somehow Omand heard that, and he stared at the representatives from his own house. “And then we will be next, for demons do not understand house borders. After Vadal, they will spread, who knows what direction? As we dither, they will multiply. Picking us off, house by house, until the slopes of Mount Metoro are blackened by demon hide and the desert is watered with our high-status blood.”
“We’ve seen no evidence of this attack!”
Omand looked across the seats, probably trying to discern who had questioned his word, but if the Grand Inquisitor was offended, it couldn’t be heard in his tone. “I understand. Grave allegations require great evidence. You did not hear the troubling reports that were delivered to me by rapid magical means. I wish there was time for every one of you to confirm them for yourself, but sadly there is not. However, to assure you that what I say is true, I hereby stake my reputation upon this report. Send for your spies and wizards. Collect your eyewitnesses. I swear upon the Law that in the coming days it will become obvious what I say here is valid. If my words prove false, then I will resign as Grand Inquisitor and leave the Capitol in shame forever.”
Making such a public vow was incredibly risky. There was no turning back from such a thing for a high-status man. If he was wrong, then he was finished. Omand being so bold in his declaration probably convinced more judges that their nebulous fear of unseen demons.
“The Capitol does not have an army for a reason!” shouted one of the Uttaran judges. “The Law forbids the creation of a central army, so that the houses may remain free.”
“That is great wisdom,” Omand agreed. “The Capitol does not have a standing army, yet it has Orders that are responsible for the safety of the Law and all the houses. Those Orders, such as the one I lead, are not many in number. Which is why the Law allows us to temporarily obligate warriors and workers to aid us in our duties. This is simply that same principle, only scaled up to meet a correspondingly greater threat. That is all that I ask.”
There were many judges nodding along at that wisdom, but the Vadal judge was clearly growing angry. “And I’m sure you would volunteer to lead this army into my house, Omand, who has repeatedly been a thorn in the heel of our noble Thakoor, Harta Vadal, who just happens to be away on important business as you conveniently call this meeting.”
Omand lifted his hands apologetically, but before he could speak, a judge from Sarnobat shouted, “Alas, Omand did not choose the day or hour that Vadal Law breakers would decide to consort with demons!”
“How dare you!”
The Grand Inquisitor banged the staff hard against the floor to cut them off. “Judges, please. I beg of you to be wise. This is more important than traditional rivalries. Do not fight amongst yourselves while there are demons at our door. To assure the parties concerned about potential bias, I will recuse myself and my entire Order from being considered for any leadership role over this proposed force.” Omand made a big show of returning the staff to the luckless presiding judge, who was obviously hesitant to take it back. “I am merely the messenger. Let the Inquisition gain no power from this endeavor. However, the Vadal delegation brings up an excellent point. Someone must lead this response. Battling the scourge of hell will allow us no time to rule by committee.”
You clever bastard. Now Devedas understood the real reason his presence had been requested here.
“Then who among us should be in charge?” someone else demanded.
“That is your decision,” Omand replied. “Create a special office for this position, empower it to do whatever must be done to save us, and the Orders will serve whoever you choose. Though, I would counsel you to place within it a man of honor, wisdom, and courage…For if he falters, we are all in danger.”
“Devedas!” a woman immediately exclaimed. “Send Lord Protector Devedas.”
Devedas recognized that voice. Artya was one of Omand’s conspirators from Zarger, but then a few other judges quickly echoed her words. The entire chamber erupted.
“The hero who defeated Black-Hearted Ashok!”
“He belongs to no house, and only has loyalty to the Law.”
“Protectors know how to fight demons!”
It was rare to hear such agreement from a group so contentious. Devedas sat there, stone-faced, as the praise rolled over him. The Capitol had fallen in love with what they imagined him to be. He was the legend who had killed the most feared criminal of modern times. Even the most suspicious judges believed Devedas to be Omand’s greatest political rival, and who better to check the Grand Inquisitor’s possible ambitions than the Lord Protector? Of course, those who believed that didn’t shout that particular idea aloud.
The presiding judge banged the staff against the floor until the chamber quieted down. “Lord Protector Devedas, what say you? Would you take command and make decisions to act on behalf of the Capitol in an emergency capacity until this crisis is past? And if Grand Inquisitor Omand’s report is mistaken, willingly forsake this mantle, and return to your regular duties?”
Devedas stood and surveyed the entire room from his position in the outsiders’ gallery. In their haste, these pampered fools were creating the very thing that would destroy them.
“I will do what the Law commands.”