Chapter 7
“Forgive the interruption, Grand Inquisitor.”
“What is it, Taraba? Can you not see that I am meeting with an extremely important man?” Omand Vokkan gestured across the map table toward where Devedas was standing.
“Apologies, Lord Protector.” The masked Inquisitor gave a very obsequious bow toward Devedas, then turned back to his master and held out a fragment of demon bone. “It is one of the high-priority messages you’ve been waiting for, sir.”
The Grand Inquisitor’s eyes were the only part of his face visible behind his golden mask, and as usual those eyes were devoid of emotion and difficult to read. Omand turned toward Devedas. “I am sorry. We defenders of the Law must be ever vigilant. Would you grant me a moment, Lord Protector?”
Devedas was under no illusions about Omand’s conniving nature. If their secret meeting was being interrupted by an underling, it was because Omand had allowed for it in advance. The action was probably meant as a slight, or perhaps it was a subtle test to see if Devedas remembered which of them was really in charge of this conspiracy.
“See to your business, Omand.” Devedas waved one hand dismissively. “I need time to study the map and see what the houses have been up to while I was busy hunting down the most dangerous criminal in the world.”
“Thank you.” Omand took the piece of demon. The other Inquisitor quickly exited the room and closed the heavy door behind him, leaving the two of them alone in the large room. “This should not take long. Sending a message via demon parts is very costly, so the messages are, by necessity, brief.”
“I am no wizard, but I am familiar with the concept.”
“Of course.” Omand closed his fingers around the bone, placed his fist to his temple, and closed his eyes to concentrate. The words imprinted on the thing were too quiet for Devedas to hear them all the way across the table, even if he called upon the Heart to aid his ears. Of course, that was assuming there was any message at all, and Omand wasn’t just toying with him for some inscrutable reason. When dealing with the great spider at the center of the Capitol’s web it was best to assume that every action was done with cold calculation.
Devedas did need time to go over the map anyway. Much had happened while he had been away searching for Ashok. Since he had been recovering from wounds in body and pride, he had sent his Protectors back to their regular duties, and then spent the long winter in Akershan. After the late snows melted, it had been a long journey back to the Capitol, and most of his time since then had been filled with political distractions.
The Chief Judge’s map table was truly one of the greatest artistic achievements in the world. It was one of the few things Devedas actually found aesthetically pleasing in this city of opulence and corruption. Fifty feet across from east to west, the map itself was almost certainly the most accurate representation of the continent in existence, contoured to show terrain, with sculpted cities and towns, with every piece carefully painted by the finest artisans. There were hundreds of flags, varying in size, color, and symbology, representing the various armies of the warrior caste placed at what was believed to be their current locations. The only people allowed upon the map to move the markers about were specially trained servants, graceful young women who wore delicate slippers and silken gloves that would not mar the incredible work of art.
The table that held the map was so gigantic a horde of judges could sit around it comfortably, and the room was big enough to hold the multitude of staff and bodyguards such great men demanded. Today the vast room held but two. However, one of them was the master of all conspiracy, while the other was the future king of everything displayed on the map, so two was all that was necessary to change the world.
Devedas stood at the south side of the table, fitting for a man from that desolate frozen end of the world. The flags representing the armies of Akershan were spread out, fighting the spreading fires of casteless rebellion. There was a single purple flag, showing where a vassal house had declared independence from its Akershani overlords. Those were Devedas’ new allies in Garo. Across the Akara River, white flags bearing a black mountainside were massing. Clearly, Dev was preparing to reclaim the lands they had lost a generation ago, after their bearer and Thakoor had committed suicide.
Devedas didn’t like to think about his father.
It was not just Dev that was capitalizing on Akershan’s current weakness. Thao and Kharsawan forces were converging on Neeramphorn. For a very long time that valuable trade city had been shared at the border of three houses, but it appeared that two of them saw an opportunity to seize that rich prize for themselves.
In the west, Harban and Makao’s traditional hatred was festering, with several raid markers on each side of the border. He knew from experience that many of those raids would actually have been conducted by hungry Zarger and blamed on one of their richer neighbors. The western situation always had the potential to explode into another full-blown house war. Devedas had helped put a stop to the last one there, and that had been such grisly work he could still smell the mighty funeral pyres all these years later, bodies stacked high, with so much fat and hair for fuel that they’d burned for days.
It takes a lot of carnage to make an impact on a Protector.
Gujara and Uttara were usually too poor to be territorially aggressive, but it was clear their neighbor’s growing conflict had caused them to send more troops to reinforce their borders, rather than exterminate their casteless as ordered. The westernmost peninsulas were more dependent upon their casteless for survival than the rest of Lok. They were probably hoping for a house war between their neighbors, as that would give them justification to not spend the resources killing their non-people. It was necessary to avoid famine, but such disobedience could be construed as an act of rebellion against the Capitol…
Omand sat on the north side of the table, appropriately casting his shadow over the wealthy lands of Great House Vokkan. Of all the stronger houses only Vokkan’s armies appeared to be following the Capitol’s orders and focusing on their casteless problem, rather than using the chaos to seize land from their neighbors. Knowing what he knew of Vokkan politics, Devedas assumed all those flags were lies. It was widely said, Never trust the house of the monkey.
Where Vadal and Sarnobat met was the densest cluster of flags on the map. The entire border was covered in the blue-gray and bronze of Vadal armies facing off against the black wolf of Sarnobat. There were a few raid markers indicating incursions on both sides, but the massing of troops indicated this was clearly shaping up to be a full-scale house war—perhaps the largest Lok had seen in a century. Normally Vadal would be hesitant to fully commit against smaller Sarnobat, leaving their back open to conniving Vokkan.
Harta Vadal must either be desperate or insane. Considering Vadal had just lost their ancestor blade, possibly both.
Omand finished listening to the magical message, and when he opened his hand, the bone had crumbled into dust. He dusted his palms off and the powdered demon drifted across painted Vokkan like snow.
“It is done.”
“Anything I need to be aware of, Omand?”
“One of my spies in the south says the rebellion is going on the offensive again, trying to sabotage my Great Extermination. The rebels believe Ashok is still alive.”
“They’re wrong.”
“Are you sure of that, Devedas?”
It had been the hardest fight of his life. He’d slashed Ashok’s throat, but Ashok had crushed his skull so badly that even aided by the Heart of the Mountain the headaches had barely begun to subside enough to be out in sunlight without debilitating pain.
“Ashok is dead.”
“That’s good. After all, your reputation depends upon it.”
Devedas knew the limits of a Protector’s power better than anyone. The Heart could only provide one type of aid at a time. There was no way Ashok could have survived his injuries and being cast into the rushing river. His choices would have been drowning or bleeding to death. Devedas had sent men to scour the riverbank all the way to the ocean, hoping to find Ashok’s corpse so they could bring his head back to the Capitol as a trophy. When there was no body, it could be safely assumed that his body had been eaten by demons. The southern coast was infested with them.
“I’m not concerned about my reputation, Inquisitor. The name of Devedas is known in every house, where it is spoken of far more fondly than yours.”
Omand chuckled. “I have no need of their adoration when I can have their fear instead. That is why I require someone like you.”
Ah, there it is…Someone like him, but not him necessarily. “You will have your king. The people know me and will unite around my name far better than any other member of the first caste you could scrounge up now.”
“Forgive me. I am not used to my fellow conspirators being as capable as I am. It has made me careless in my words.”
Devedas knew there was nothing careless about Omand, ever. “You have your motivations, I have mine. I see the rot in the Capitol. Our system is broken and must be replaced. Lok deserves righteous leadership, not the vapid whores who lord over us today. That is why I am here. That is why I agreed to be your king. So let us dispense with this dance of words and get to the point.”
“Very well.” Omand gave him a respectful nod, then gestured toward the map. “The Great Extermination has begun and, as expected, it is throwing most of the continent into chaos. It turns out even fish-eaters will fight to the death when cornered.”
“Whoever could have predicted such a thing…?” Devedas had tried to warn the judges, only they’d been too prideful to listen to someone who actually understood the true nature of slaughter. Yet another example of why those fools needed to be replaced.
“The Capitol moves with ponderous slowness in all things. This is not unexpected. However, once something so vast is in motion, it is very difficult to stop. It’s like a tidal wave.” That seemed to amuse Omand for some reason. “The orders were given, only then it takes time for the various players to shift the unwanted burden onto their unfortunate subordinates. The places where the most action has been taken are where the casteless are traditionally despised, and the least has occurred where the casteless are not viewed as a cancer.”
“There’s not much time until winter, and the southern half of Lok doesn’t make war once the snow starts to fall.”
“Then that’s when the casteless will be starved instead.” Omand shrugged. “I don’t care how they die. Only that they die.”
Devedas had always believed that Omand’s Great Extermination was simply a tool to bring about a crisis sufficient to cause the fall of the judges, but he suspected that there was more to it than that. The non-people must have done some wrong to Omand somehow, because this seemed personal. Of course Devedas had no evidence of this, and it was pointless to speculate about a spider.
“There’s house war brewing in the north. It appears the west is on the verge as well.”
“Oh, there will be multiple wars,” Omand assured him. “This map does not even tell the entire story. Vadal is strong now, but their leadership knows losing Angruvadal was a mortal wound. They must seize another sword or wither away within a few generations. Vadal will invade Sarnobat and force a confrontation.” Then he pointed at the western side of the map, “Over here, driven by their ancient hate, Harban and Makao will be killing each other in great numbers within the month. I speak of total war.”
There had been no speculation about that from his Protectors stationed there. Their reports had stated the border raiding was being kept within acceptable legal limits. “The last time they did that my Order beat the hate right out of them…You’re certain?”
“I’m as certain of war in the west as you are that Ashok Vadal is dead.”
Devedas scowled but didn’t respond to that. “The great houses have been busy this spring. There are smaller wars brewing in the east and south, over Neeramphorn and Garo.”
“That last one, thanks to you. They may be smaller wars for now. But these things have a way of spiraling out of control.”
Especially when someone keeps pushing them. Except Devedas didn’t say that aloud, for at this point he was as much the Law breaker as Omand. It was difficult to recognize the pacts he had entered into and not feel the hypocrite. All he could do was focus on the good he was trying to accomplish while ignoring the evil necessary to get there.
“The judges must be fools to not understand what they’ve blundered into,” Devedas muttered. “They’ve set fire to their home yet can’t smell the smoke.”
“It is fortunate for us that the wisest among them have been removed or are distracted. With the Chief Judge assassinated—”
“A terrible crime, done by a lone casteless with a Fortress rod.” Devedas stated that with great suspicion. When he’d heard the news of the assassination he had been stunned as any whole man, as it was hard to imagine such an act committed by one so low, against one so mighty, on the very steps of the Chamber of Argument, in the city of Law itself, with the most illegal weapon in the world. It fit the tale Omand had been spinning far too well to be happenstance.
“I was as appalled as the rest of the Capitol.” Omand said that with such earnestness that he was possibly the greatest liar who had ever lived. “Though the timing was fortunate for my dark councils. One does not rise to stations as lofty as ours by not taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. His tragic murder struck fear into men who had forgotten what fear tastes like. The vote for the Great Extermination was unanimous the next day.”
“Your precious extermination will bring blood and terror to every corner of this land.”
“It is necessary. Great change is not brought about in times of comfort. Do you disagree?”
“No,” Devedas lied. He thought all that needless killing was madness, but now was not the time to further weaken an already tenuous alliance. Once he was securely and publicly in charge, then he would deal with Omand’s excesses. The best way to take care of a spider was to step on it. “We’ll do what we must.”
“The backlash against the extermination has already begun. Now we must proceed to the next step, growing your influence so that when the Law crumbles, you will be seen as the logical choice to restore order.”
“How long will this take?”
“Do not be impatient, Devedas. If war does not topple them, then the famine afterward will. A year, perhaps two. Or much less, if more opportunities present themselves.” Omand made a sweeping gesture over the map. “It is hard to predict the outcome with so many parts in motion. You are well positioned as a beloved figure. However, your Order will need to take up residence in the Capitol again so that I can lay the groundwork for your ascension.”
“The only reason the Protectors left is because you forced us to.”
Omand chuckled. “Yes, but that was before we came to an understanding. Now we are friends.”
“A friend would not try to take my woman hostage to use her as leverage against me.”
Remarkably, Omand didn’t deny that charge. “That was a regrettable misunderstanding.”
Devedas had not gotten word from Karno recently, so that had been speculation. Omand’s response confirmed that he had tried to capture her. “I’m not one of your Capitol dogs you can keep on a chain. Should your actions bring any harm to Rada, I will kill you.”
“You would try.” Omand might have appeared to be far past his fighting prime, but they both knew he possessed incredible magical power. What he had been granted by the Law would make him one of the strongest wizards in the world, and nobody was fool enough to believe that Omand had not learned even more illegal magic for himself in secret. The two of them stared at each other across the table for a long moment, before Omand continued. “That simple, passionate directness is why the people will love you as their king. However…I do recognize that I have given offense. I was merely concerned for her safety, but it was wrong to try to take Radamantha into protective custody. It will not happen again.”
“Good.”
“You may not believe me, but I truly only had the best intentions. I did not want her to fall into the hands of one of our mutual enemies, like Harta Vadal.”
“Why do you mention him?”
Omand spread his hands over the northern part of the map as if accentuating the obvious. “He is but the first example who comes to mind. Vadal is the richest great house under our current system. What do you think Harta would do to any who threatened that system? Vadal is mighty in the courts, and they would never willingly give their power over to a king. For us to succeed, the will of Vadal will have to be broken. If Harta knew of our plots, what terrible lengths would he go to to stop us?”
At moments like this, Devedas wished he could see the Inquistor’s face, in the hopes he could spot the lie. “Have you heard something?”
“Only rumors. Should there be anything substantial, you will be the first I tell. You have my word.”
The word of Omand was worth saltwater. “What rumors?”
“That a young woman of the first from Harban was being kept as a…let’s call her an involuntary guest…within the walls of the great house in Vadal City. But surely that must be someone else, as you must know where your woman is.”
The emotions came quick. A sudden, nauseous worry, followed by a terrible anger. Harta Vadal was one of the scum who had created the fraud that was Ashok Vadal and gotten away with it. The thought of Rada in the hands of such a vile criminal…
Except Omand was also a consummate manipulator, so this might just be another attempt to provoke him. When dealing with such a man it was best to negotiate from a position of strength, or at least mutual benefit. So Devedas took a deep breath, unclenched his fists, and spoke with calm authority.
“Enough of this. We both know none of your other conspirators are popular enough to win the hearts of the people. They’re seen as weak, or too biased in favor of their own house. I am the hero, with no house.” Surely, Omand had seen the great fanfare surrounding his return to the Capitol. Wherever he went, adoring crowds turned out to see the Protector who had finally defeated the terrible Ashok. He knew that Devedas was beloved by every caste, and that was not the sort of thing that could be bought easily. “Then I am your partner, not your puppet. So you will spare me from your lies and games.”
“Of course. As I said, it was merely a rumor. The Inquisition is told many things that turn out to be untrue. You understand how it is. You have your own resources.”
Which Devedas would put to work the instant he was done here. “On the topic of Rada, my decision has been made. Once I am no longer bound by my obligation to the Protector Order, and am crowned king, Rada will return to the Capitol to be my queen.”
Omand shook his head. “She is of the first caste, but there are many others who would be better to forge strong alliances. She’s a librarian. Who cares about satisfying the Capitol Library? That Order is of no economic or military consequence. You would be better off waiting to see which house is the most troublesome and then marry one of their Thakoor’s daughters. Keep this one you fancy as a concubine.”
“That is illegal.”
“You will be king. Do what you will. The old kings took many wives. They were so afraid of their bloodline dying out that each of them had a herd of children, each generation growing more bloated in numbers and insufferable tyranny until they were cast down so the Age of Law could begin.” Omand violated one of the Capitol’s rules by reaching down and picking up one of the thousands of red tokens that represented casteless havens, which spread across the map like a rash. “Which is why we’re burdened with so damned many of their wretched descendants today.”
“The one wife will do. I’m seen as a man of violence. Her family is well known as peaceful scholars. Our union will send the message that there is more to their new king than just his ability to make war and kill criminals.”
Omand appeared to think that over a moment. “An interesting perspective. I see the logic of this…You should have her come back to the city.”
“I will when the time is right.”
“Ah, I understand. Things may become unpredictable and dangerous here for a while. Besides, your man, Karno Uttara, is a most capable bodyguard. I am sure he is keeping her somewhere safe.”
“He is.” In truth Devedas had no idea where they were hiding, and that worry hurt worse than his Ashok-inflicted migraines.
“Then you have persuaded me, your future highness. We are in agreement. Radamantha Nems dar Harban shall be the Queen of Lok.”