Chapter 12
Weeks had passed since his arrival in Vadal City, and Devedas had spent much of that time writing letters and composing messages to be sent via demon bone. It had been a challenge to run the government in the best of times. It was proving far more difficult to do so isolated on one end of the continent, while the base of his power sat empty, and all the Orders that served him were in shambles.
Many of his recent pronouncements had not been well received. His requests for aid in the north had mostly been ignored. Very little help had been promised so far. Had he fought this hard to become king of a great heap of nothing? Were the great houses—barely tamed beasts in the best of times—going to forsake the Capitol and blunder off in their own direction? All the things that traditionally kept the castes in line had been weakened. The Inquisition was a husk of itself after the shame Omand had brought to it, and every Protector had been ordered to travel to Vadal as fast as they could to meet the demon menace. It didn’t matter what edicts a Maharaja made, if there was no one he could send to enforce them.
And damn the demons most of all. Normally a day without demons was a good and normal thing, but the more time that passed without any sign of them the more people began to doubt that an invasion was happening at all. It was easy for the naïve to say two attacks on two different cities was a fluke. Coastal raids were infrequent, but it was as if those had ceased entirely. Many took that as a sign the demons’ hunger had been sated by their feast in the Capitol and the sea would be content to leave them be. Devedas knew this was merely the calm before the storm. He could feel it in his bones. There were no raids because all the demons in the world were on their way here.
He did not believe in Ashok’s silly gods, but only a fool would deny that there was something to Thera Vane’s prophecies. It was no coincidence the rebel prophet had used the ancients’ name for this place, only to have that corroborated by his own wife. Rada was incredibly intelligent. She was often naïve, and her good intentions got her into trouble, but she was quite possibly the smartest person he had ever known. She believed Vadal City had significance to both the demons and the ancients. So this was the place. Of that Devedas had no doubt. The issue was how to convince—or force—the other powerful men of Lok to believe the same.
A Thakoor’s responsibility was to his house. They would reason that if there was another underground attack coming, it could be against them, so why should they send troops to distant Vadal rather than fortifying their own lands? He had tried his best to persuade them, but Devedas could never admit that his strategy was based upon the prophecies of a rebel witch, a foreigner’s memory of an ancient map, and his own wife’s interpretation of the prior age’s symbology.
Instead, he had written to the eleven distant Thakoors that the Capitol had discerned Vadal to be the demons’ next target based upon ancient wisdom—which was partially true—and the deduction of the finest minds of the scholarly Orders—which was entirely a lie, as most of those scholars had already fled or been devoured by demons when he had made the decision to march here.
Yet doubts nagged him. What if he was wrong? What if it wasn’t Vadal City, but Lahkshan or Warun they were burrowing toward? What if there was nothing to Thera Vane’s mystical Voice or Rada’s cracked mirror? By leading his remaining forces north, Devedas had made the wounded Capitol appear even weaker to the houses. A king who could not command respect was no king at all.
The one good thing that had come from this mess was that it appeared the demonic threat had finally brought an end to the various conflicts fueled by Omand’s machinations. There had been tensions and even outright war among several different houses, but with demons on the prowl none of them wanted to end up like the Capitol, with the bulk of their troops off on some distant campaign, and their homes unprotected.
Devedas sighed as he read the latest note that had been delivered to him. The Thakoor of Harban had responded. He had already obligated many of his warriors to guard the Capitol, and those had been conscripted into the Army of Many Houses. Was that not enough? He had his own lands to defend, and his neighbors in Makao had recently descended into a fever of religious fanaticism. Why did he pay taxes to the Capitol if the Inquisition and Protectors would not fulfill their responsibilities of keeping the houses safe from such madness? The judges would never have let criminals preach of gods and sow division in his lands. He did not care for Devedas’ sudden ruling that religion should be allowed. How could eight hundred years of criminality be reversed so suddenly? And what was he expected to do with his remaining casteless? How did the Capitol expect to turn savage animals into whole men? What next? Would the Maharaja declare on a whim that there were no more castes, and the workers should wage war while the warriors plowed the fields? Was the Capitol going to proclaim that pigs and goats were now whole men too? All of these questions required satisfactory answers before the Thakoor of Harban would even begin to consider the Maharaja’s request for more warriors.
Devedas threw that note on the pile with all the others. Some of the responses had been polite. Others had been as rude and disrespectful as that one. He had no good answers to their angry questions, and in some cases he even agreed with their assessment. Only, none of those sheltered fools had watched a horde of demons plucking the limbs off women and children like they were flower petals. No one who had survived the Capitol doubted what was at stake.
Rather than compose a response while he was frustrated—because the way he felt right then it might result in another war—Devedas picked up the one letter that he had received that day which had actually brought him joy, and he read that one again instead.
Dearest Devedas,
I have sent detailed reports about everything I have found in the oldest histories about the nature of demons and the prior conflict against them, as well as an update on the affairs of the Capitol in exile and the state of each of the Orders therein. I hope these letters will be of use to you. For this letter in particular I would prefer to write of personal matters.
Though the days have been grim and spirits are low I am happy that we have managed to salvage most of the Capitol’s books, papers, and historical artifacts. I have been trying desperately to get the first caste to do what is best for Lok. I have managed as best as I can this authority which I never endeavored to hold. In your absence I govern an empty city in your name and despite that emptiness somehow an entitled mob still bothers me, incessantly nattering away asking for help and favors I cannot give. All while I am not you and they do not respect me accordingly.
That is only one of the many reasons I eagerly await your return. My heart yearns to be reunited with you once again. I regret every harsh word which has ever passed between us. I miss you greatly, my love. I know you are doing what you must to protect us all. I know it is by trust in my scholarship that you have gone to the north. I know that goodness will prevail and evil will be vanquished back to the sea.
It is with great joy that I inform you that I am with child. The Maharaja will have an heir. Only my maids know of this so far. If all goes well the baby should be winter born, like his father.
Be strong for both of us.
With love,
Radamantha
It was good to have a reminder why he needed to keep fighting.
“Maharaja, you have an unscheduled visitor,” Rane Garo called from outside the tent.
What remained of the Army of Many Houses was camped on the eastern outskirts of Vadal City, in a pasture that Phontho Jagdish had chosen for them because it was as out of the way and unthreatening to Vadal’s first caste as possible. Despite their location, Devedas still had an endless parade of visitors trying to waste his time and curry his favor. Rane knew to turn most of them away, so this must be someone important.
“Who is it now?”
“Former Protector Karno Uttara wishes to speak with you. He’s right outside.”
No wonder the uninvited guest had made it so far into the Maharaja’s camp. It wasn’t like anyone here had the stones to turn Karno aside. He was an imposing giant. Karno was not an angry or boastful man. On the contrary, there was a perpetual calmness about Karno, but he obviously possessed so much nonchalant capability for violence that it cowed even the most bombastic warriors.
Devedas carefully folded Rada’s letter for safekeeping and put it away. “Let him in and give us some privacy.”
Karno had to duck to enter the humble tent, and when he saw Devedas was sitting on a straw mat, using nothing but a plank as a desk to write his correspondence, he seemed to approve of the austere spectacle. The Maharaja’s fine armor was on its stand and that was the only thing in the tent with any shine to it. His quarters were as stark and uncomfortable as the barracks they’d shared as children.
“I expected more opulence for a man of your towering station. Where are your legion of servants?”
“Digging defensive trenches and building fortifications, probably. There’s a time and a place for that ostentatious nonsense, Karno, but I’ve got an invasion to stop. Have a seat.”
Karno looked around and then sat on a patch of grass. At least he’d been polite enough to leave his war hammer outside with the guards.
There was an uncomfortable silence between the two of them. Devedas fought with emotion. Karno fought with indifference. They had long been friends, but the last time they had truly spoken things had become very heated, and they had parted, not as enemies but with an anger between them. Devedas had talked with Karno only briefly in the aftermath of the demons’ attack on the Capitol, but that had been reserved, and they’d both been distracted. Devedas had seen very little of Karno since then.
“I’m told you ride with the Sons of the Black Sword now. Has the legendary Karno Uttara gone fanatic?”
“I find the religious to be superstitious fools, but at least they are honest in their dealings.”
“And I have not been.”
Karno shrugged. He’d not said it.
“Before you say anything else, Karno, I never had the opportunity to thank you for your service in the Capitol.”
“I was not there to serve you.”
“I’m aware. Regardless, thank you.”
Karno nodded at Devedas’ sincerity.
And sincere he was, for Rada was going to give Devedas a child, and the only reason she was alive to do so was because of the fearless devotion of this man. “So, what brings you to the Maharaja’s splendorous tent, Karno? Have you come to mock my hubris in thinking one man could run the entire world?” He gestured bitterly at the pile of letters before him. “It seems all the Thakoors do.”
“Those who mock will mourn when the demons consume us because they refused to listen to the truth.”
“You really think Ashok’s woman is right about this being the place?”
“I’ve been among the fanatics for a while now. They are sincere. A fraud might deceive them, but Ashok?”
Devedas nodded at that wisdom. “Unlikely.”
“You must make the Thakoors understand what is coming, Devedas. You must defend Lok. It is your responsibility.”
“I’m doing everything I can.”
Karno scowled. “Are you?”
So that was what had brought Karno here to face him finally. It had certainly taken him long enough. “You want me to tell the Vadal about the second Heart. Is that it?”
Karno said nothing—as was his manner—which said everything.
“They don’t know what kind of treasure they have, Karno. Even if they did, their wizards lack the understanding to use it properly. Only Senior Protectors grasp what that artifact is capable of or how to awaken its power. If it’s got a fraction of the magic in it that our Heart of the Mountain once did, then it could change everything. No one house could ever be allowed to have such power unchecked. Can you imagine what would happen if Vadal could create its very own army of Protectors?”
“They could fight demons better.”
“And afterward they could conquer every other house with ease. Such power in one Thakoor’s hands would destabilize all of Lok. Vadal City would become the Capitol and every other house would be enslaved.”
Karno shrugged again.
Devedas laughed, as if life was as uncomplicated as Karno made it out to be. “Of course, I realize none of this will matter if demons kill us all before that. Believe me, that thought has crossed my mind.” In reality, it was more like the idea had tormented Devedas’ dreams and robbed him of sleep the entire journey north, but he would not admit to such weakness. “Once I knew I couldn’t seize Vadal’s Heart by force, I thought about how I might trick or coerce the Vadal into giving it to me, so I could use it to revitalize the Order, to create many more Protectors who could help against the demons. But given our recent history, the Vadal aren’t going to grant the Capitol another inch.”
Karno mulled that over before responding. “You know, the religious fanatics constantly tell tales of this ancient warrior, mightier than any man, who came down from the sky to fight the demons. It’s their favorite story. They will not shut up about this Ramrowan of theirs.”
“So?” Devedas didn’t know why Karno would bring up some old myth right then.
“Except…this story is at least partly true, for I have been inside his tomb. It was Ramrowan who founded our Order, not to serve the Law, but the people. The people, Devedas. I do not like the idea some religious king created the Protectors. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth even saying the words. But Rada’s old books confirm them. It was in this Ramrowan’s secret tomb that I found the other Heart, hidden among the ashes of the Protectors who came before us. This Heart belonged to them. You cannot let their descendants perish in ignorance while such a mighty weapon sits unused.”
As the Capitol had been torn apart around them, the only combatants who had held their own against the demons had been those who had touched the Heart of the Mountain. Devedas, Karno, Bundit Vokkan, and Broker Harban, with Ashok and his killing sword, fighting side by side had proven equivalent to hundreds of regular soldiers in effectiveness. Devedas had sent for every Protector in Lok to get here as quickly as possible, but even if they all arrived in time, they were still comparatively few in number.
“You must realize that simply giving a Heart to Vadal is madness. If we show them how to unlock its power, we might survive the demons, only then Vadal would surely rule the world afterward.”
“I don’t care for the Vadal over any other house, but they do not eat human flesh. This does not seem a difficult choice to me.”
“Choices are easier when you’re not the one responsible for the well-being of the Law and every other great house, Karno.”
“I’m not the one responsible…and I am thankful for that. This is the duty you sought, Devedas. You wished to rule. So rule. Do what is best now, while there is still a future to worry about.”
Devedas gave a bitter laugh. “So you come here pressuring me to do what you think is right, putting it all on me. Except you know about the second Heart too. Why haven’t you told the Vadal about it yourself?”
Karno scowled at that absurd notion. “My oath as a Protector forbids me from sharing the Order’s secrets. I am no longer a Protector, but you know that oath holds until death.”
“So, you can ask me to gamble the future of the Capitol, and the continuation of the Law itself, and all the traditions of our people, of every other house, forever and ever…but flawless Karno can’t break an oath? You’d put this difficult choice on me, after shirking it yourself? You ride with Ashok now. Ratul showed him how the Heart works, same as either of us. Yet you didn’t tell Ashok so he could use it to empower his ferocious Sons of the Black Sword. Instead, you’re here, placing this choice on my head, I think, so you can be free of the cost yourself. Then stalwart Karno Uttara never has to ask himself what if I’m wrong?”
Karno seemed to take offense at that, but he was never quick to anger. Instead, he pondered Devedas’ words for a moment before nodding slowly as he decided there was some truth to them. “That’s not entirely wrong. I shouldn’t expect someone else to bear the brunt of history’s judgment for my bad decision. If in a generation we live with Vadal’s boot on all our necks, let the people curse the name Karno for it. I will remedy my weakness of character immediately and notify the Vadal…Will you have me killed to protect your secrets, Maharaja?”
“No.” Devedas wasn’t even offended by Karno asking such a thing. That was a wise question when dealing with a man of his station. “That is not my way.”
“Good. Then I shall go to Phontho Jagdish and tell him what his house truly has in its possession. If you will excuse me.” Karno stood up.
“Hold on.”
As the giant paused, Devedas went through his pile of letters, picked one in particular, and held it up. “Before you go off stirring up outrage, read this first.”
Karno took the letter in one big hand and scanned it quickly. “The Maharaja has declared that a new elite militant Order be formed?”
“That I have. The Protectors serve the interests of the Law. That’s so ingrained in our nature I don’t think it could ever be changed, no matter what I pronounce. So the Protectors will always serve as the Law’s enforcers. The Inquisition’s mission was to stamp out religion, the practice of which is now legal, so they are without greater purpose. Also, after we deal with the demons—if we deal with the demons—I’m having the Inquisition disbanded and their members sent to other Orders as fitting to finish off their terms of obligation.”
Karno actually smiled, which was a very rare thing. “The masks will not be missed.”
“They will not. Of the many world-shaking pronouncements I’ve made recently, ending the Inquisition will probably be the least controversial one among them. The Capitol has always had two militant Orders seeing to its interests. With the Inquisition ended, there would be one. So there will be another Order formed, equal in might and scope to the Protectors, only they’ll not answer to the Capitol but rather to the will of every house and every caste.”
“Curious. You propose a rebalancing of power?”
“I do.”
“Such an Order might have stopped your rise.”
“Most likely. It’s also a shield against any future excesses by me or my heirs. The Protectors’ weakness is we…or now I should say they…serve the Law even when the Law is subverted. As the people were tormented by Omand, their houses had no recourse except risking a war they couldn’t possibly win, so they allowed the Law to become corrupted. Vadal alone was rich and stubborn enough to stand against us. Having another Order equal in might to the Protectors, answering to a council of the houses and castes, would prevent such an abuse of authority in the future. Every individual the houses obligate to this Order, who is judged worthy by that Order’s master, will be granted physical gifts equal to those of the Protectors.”
“Empowered by the second Heart…”
“Yes. Check the date.”
Karno frowned. “Two days ago.”
“That was when the message was sent, in secret, by magic to every Thakoor and by letter to the ranking warrior and worker in every great and vassal house, as well as Thera Vane on behalf of the religious, and to Ashok, who I reason should speak for the casteless as well as anyone else, at least until all the fish-eaters out there realize it’s illegal to murder them anymore and they form their own organizations to represent them. I composed that letter the week before that, but I needed to be able to see the second Heart for myself, to be absolutely certain it was as you described it to be, so I wasn’t making any promises I couldn’t keep. Your report was accurate. Now all the houses which doubted me about the demons and refused to send help, will rush to obligate their best fighters so that they’ll have an opening stake in this powerful new entity.”
Karno thought through the repercussions of Devedas’ actions for a long moment. “So rather than simply giving this power to the Vadal as I impatiently would have done, you’ve sacrificed some of your own power and used it to recruit more defenders from every house to stand against the demons here.”
Devedas spread his hands in mock apology. “You came to persuade me to do something I had already done, Blunt Karno. I was just trying to do it in a way that accomplished the most good while causing the least harm…as a good ruler should. Sorry to waste your time.”
“Hmmmm…” Karno pondered that, before giving Devedas a respectful nod. “Learning about your own weaknesses is never a waste. I have been humbled. Accept my apology.”
“Despite what you think of me, I’m not evil.”
“I do not think that,” Karno stated flatly. “I believe you to be ruthless and determined. Sometimes misguided. Often too prideful for your own good. But not evil. That is different.”
Devedas would accept that description. “As part of the agreement I made with Phontho Jagdish and Thakoor Bhadramunda, the first obligations to this Order will be from Vadal. The next will be from the Sons of the Black Sword, because I want it known that even the fanatics will be respected under my rule. If some of the First want to whine and kick against me giving status to certain kinds of criminals, then they will do so as hypocrites, as they send their finest to join the same powerful new organization so as to not get left behind.”
It was a rare thing, but Karno actually seemed impressed. “You have done the honorable thing, and in a way that is wiser than I would have. Perhaps you will not be a terrible king after all.”
“On the contrary, all kings must be terrible in some way. Trading arcane knowledge for the Maharaja’s political gain was a simple equation, but there are still matters to attend to. Though it’s hidden beneath this city now, the second Heart must be entrusted to a caretaker of a different house to maintain balance. Just as the Master of the Protectors set the standards and determined our traditions and code, so will the newly appointed master of this new Order. This must be a man of honor and integrity, who can’t be swayed or bought, because surely the houses and castes will try. He alone will judge the individual obligations and decide who among them is worthy to be magnified.”
“This is wise,” Karno agreed. “This method has always worked for the Protectors. Assuming their Heart works as ours does, it can only be used on a handful of obligations over the span of a few days, before requiring time to recover as those connections are strengthened. For now, we will need as many warriors empowered and taught how to use its gifts as quickly as possible, but men of poor character must be weeded out before being entrusted with such might. Such precious magic should never be wasted on the unworthy.”
“I’m glad you agree. I would have you start then immediately, Master Karno.”
The big man was silent for a very long time as he pondered the implications. “You cunning bastard.”
“Add that to your list of descriptors for me—determined, misguided, and a right cunning bastard, but rarely evil. Regardless, your Maharaja has spoken. Karno Uttara…will you accept this obligation?”
Devedas already knew what the answer would be because he had trapped Karno as surely as he had trapped all the great houses with the creation of this Order. The bait to catch Thakoors was the fear of being excluded from prestige and power. The bait to catch Karno was his sense of responsibility, for he would recognize that there was no one else available here and now who was as uniquely suited for this duty as he was.
“What’ll it be?” he asked.
“If we survive the demons, will this master still be able to mold the Order as he sees fit?”
“What are your terms?”
“They must serve among the people of their houses and castes, against any and all outside threats, whether those threats come from the sea or land. This includes the Capitol should it ever again become tyrannical.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
There was nothing there but the canvas wall of a tent, but Karno stared into the distance as he outlined his vision. “They will serve among their people, because being separate and above makes even good men aloof. I would make them guards, not conquerors. Champions, not overseers. The Protectors should never have been made into tools of punishment. We are the best among men, yet the people don’t love Protectors. They fear us. Because even as we kept them safe, we took their property with impunity. What difference does it make to the farmer if he’s robbed by bandits or by the Law? He’s still getting robbed. We were supposed to protect the people, yet they live in fear that the smallest perceived infraction means we could destroy their lives. That mistake must be avoided.”
Devedas considered Karno’s words. The Protectors of the Law had been the Law’s finest killers since long before either of their time. “I trust you with this foundation. Build it as you see fit.”
Karno bowed his head. “Then this Order has my obligation. I will serve.”
Giving up the second Heart had been a very difficult decision. Who to entrust it to had not. “Per our agreement, the first obligations must be from Vadal. They will present candidates—”
“I already know who will be the first from the Vadal.”
That was unexpected. “You’ve not even seen who their Thakoor is going to send.”
“I don’t care. He can save those for the next batch. I spent time among this people. I have observed the character of a few of them under pressure. Such a test is more accurate than any amount of questioning I could give them. I know the ones who stood with me against the Scourge and beneath the pillar of fire. Also there are a few who aided Rada and me, even though it risked dishonoring their names. Assuming they lived through their war against you, those will be the first called.”
Devedas couldn’t argue with that logic. It wasn’t like they had the time to train them mercilessly from childhood at an isolated fortress, before making them climb a frozen mountain to fight Dasa to test their mettle. “Then you must choose an equal number from the Sons of the Black Sword.”
“I have ridden with them long enough to know each by deed and reputation. There are several who I think would do. Then I must pick from your Army of Many Houses, I assume?”
“Yes. I would offer suggestions, if you would trust them. Though once their obligation in this battle is through, they’ll be released from the Capitol’s army and get sent back to defend their homes.”
“Hmmm…I like that. Does this Order have a name?”
“Not yet.”
“Then let the Defenders of Lok be both check against, and ally to, the Protectors of the Law, and together we will fight for our people.”