The eye behind the throne does not blink
Royal Steward Hu' Ran
The wind carried the roar of an angry mob through the open window of the study. The riot in the capital wasn't a surprise—Tez' Mu had known the notices would work. He had just not expected the people to be this angry.
Kal' Yu burst into the study, his boots tracking red earth on the floorboards. "They're now setting fire to merchant stalls owned by Scith council members, my lord!" he reported, catching his breath. "A crowd tried to storm the east constabulary, but they were cut down before they could breach the doors."
Tez' Mu narrowed his eyes. So the Dowager was fighting back.
Unease knotted in his stomach. He looked up at Kal' Yu. "Who's leading them?"
Kal' Yu hesitated. "No one."
Tez' Mu frowned as he returned to his seat, picking up a cup from the table and drinking from it, thinking hard. An organized riot could be snuffed out once it's leader was caught and made into an example, but if the people were moving without a leader—if the fire had spread beyond the hands that lit it—
The capital would drown in its own chaos before they could use the riots to their advantage.
"Where's Muyo' Ai?" Tez' Mu asked.
"Still in the Ru Manor, working with the congressmen," Kal' Yu replied. "He sent a message earlier: Guho has fallen."
Tez' Mu nodded absently, gripping his cup. Another piece had shifted on the board. The west belonged to the rebels now, and soon, their sights would turn to the capital.
The cup trembled in his hand. It wasn't from fear. The floorboards themselves were shaking. A second before Annir burst into the room, he knew. The manor gates, iron and oak though they were, had been breached.
Annir's chest heaves as he doubled over to catch his breath, holding his knees, but before the boy could open his mouth, Na' Raa rushed in behind him, drew her sword, and turned her back on Tez' Mu, holding it aloft. Beyond the study, Tez' Mu could hear the noise of servants' screaming as boots thudded down the corridors.
He barely had time to push back from the table before the soldiers crashed into the study. Kal' Yu reacted instantly, moving next to Na' Raa to block the soldiers, but the captain of the imperial constabulary slammed the base of his spear against the floor.
"Stand aside," he ordered, voice sharp. "Or you'll go down with him."
Tez' Mu clenched his jaw.An arrest? Who had betrayed him so quickly?His mind flitted to Mali' Il. She had only said she was in, but made no promise to stand with him.
Could she have sold him out to the Dowager?
He drew in a breath. "Kal', Na', lower your weapons."
"My lord!" Annir exclaimed.
Na' Raa turned to glare at Tez' Mu, her fingers twitching on her pommel.
"Fine," she sheathed her sword. Kal' Yu reluctantly followed suit, his jaws working.
"Out of the way!" the officers pushed past them and grabbed Tez' Mu, yanking him forward and pushing him down the hallway. The Mu Manor's corridors blurred past him, and soon he was being dragged along the streets. Muii was empty, the stall owners having fled or joined the riot.
Tez' Mu's mind was whirring. If the Dowager wanted him dead for stirring rebellion, she wouldn't make a public spectacle of his arrest. She wouldn't risk turning him into a martyr.
This must be something else.
***
Tez' Mu's knees struck stone as the constables threw him unceremoniously into a cell. A jolt of pain rang up his knees, and he let out a short grunt. Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the gloom. But the stench that filled his lungs needed no light to recognize: mold, piss and the iron tang of blood. The door slammed shut behind him with a loud clang, making him jump.
He had been stripped of his clothes, and forced into the coarse arm-less robe of convicts. It had a dewy stink laced with another scent which Tez' Mu did not want to think too much about.
He pushed himself up despite his bound wrists, breathing heavily. Then he turned slowly and stared at the iron bars. Whoever had ordered his arrest would definitely soon show up.
He didn't have to wait long.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor, measured and unhurried, followed closely by the rhythmic thud of military boots. Torchlight fell across the floor of the cell as the figures approached. In front was a woman draped in regal silk. Tez' Mu's stomach turned. Her eyes bore into him like knives as she tilted her head, studying him like a puzzle she had already solved. Then, she sighed, shaking her head slightly.
"You've been quite busy, haven't you?" the Dowager murmured.
Tez' Mu's mind raced. If she had found out about his involvement in the riots, then he had to be careful. He straightened his spine despite the strain on his shoulders.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Your Majesty."
The Dowager chuckled, shaking her head as if amused by a child's foolishness. She stepped closer, and Tez' Mu forced himself not to flinch when she reached through the bars to tilt his chin up with a single sharp-nailed finger.
"I wonder," she said, "do you think me blind, or merely foolish?"
Tez' Mu remained silent, holding her gaze. She leaned down slightly, just enough her whisper to be heard by only him.
"You've been visiting my dear nephew."
His blood turned to ice.
She knew.
The Dowager's finger lingered under his chin for one heartbeat more before she straightened. Without turning, she said, "Unlock the cell."
The guards behind her moved forward and threw open the cell door. The lead guard's knuckles glinted with spiked rings. Tez' Mu barely had time to brace before the first fist drove into his ribs. He folded, coughing and gasping from the pain.
"Hold him up," the Dowager commanded.
Rough hands hauled him upright. The Dowager nodded.
CRACK.
The whip strike carved fire across his back. His knees buckled, but the guards held fast. The second lash came before he could draw breath. By the fifth, his blood painted the guards' boots in crimson arcs. Through the white-hot agony, he heard the Dowager's voice: "Count them, Tez'."
"Six," he rasped as another stripe burned into his flesh. The number tasted like copper.
At fifteen, his vision tunneled.
The Dowager's slippers appeared in his swimming vision. "Leave him alive," she reminded the guards.
Her perfume lingered long after her footsteps faded. Tez' Mu didn't know how many hours had passed before he heard new sounds: the short knocks of a staff against the floor, followed by pitiless tutting.
"There, there," The voice oozed into the cell before its owner did. A shadow fell across Tez' Mu, blocking the torchlight. "Did you think it's over? Oh no, my lord. We're just starting."
Tez' Mu raised his head. The steward wore an impish grin.
"You thought yourself clever, didn't you, reveling in the Dowager's favor?" Hu' Ran sniggered, shaking his head. "Unfortunate. You were never a player, boy—just a piece, and I now hold you in my hand."
Tez' Mu didn't react. He only watched as Hu' Ran paced leisurely in front of the cell.
"It was almost amusing to watch you scurry about, thinking you had influence. But you see, the Dowager plays a far grander game than you could ever comprehend. And I am her hand. While you were busy chasing power, believing yourself untouchable, I was making arrangements."
Tez' Mu exhaled shakily, leaning his head against the bars. "Arrangements," he echoed, voice hoarse. "Such as?"
Hu' Ran's smirk widened. "Why, ensuring you never leave this cell alive, of course."
At his signal, the prison guards—who had been standing motionless at the door—stepped forward. The glint of polished iron caught the torchlight. Keys rattled. Hu' Ran clasped his hands behind his back, watching in satisfaction as the guards unlocked the cell door once more.
"You will be tortured until you confess to orchestrating the riots," he said simply, both hands clasped on the iron head of his staff. "It won't matter whether it's true or not. The people will believe whatever they are told. Then, when you've outlived your purpose, you will disappear."
He stepped closer, peering down at Tez' Mu. "I do hope you understand, this was never personal. It's simply the way the empire works. The weak fall. The strong endure."
Tez' Mu smiled, despite the blood on his lip. "You think I'm weak?" he asked of the steward, his voice low.
Hu' Ran shrugged nonchalantly. "We'll soon know." He turned to the guards and gave them a patronizing nod. "See to him," he said, then he strode out, laughing under his breath.
The prison guards exchanged glances. One of them, a man with a jagged scar down his cheek, stepped forward and crouched before Tez' Mu.
"My lord." His voice was low but hard. "Are you able to stand?"
Tez' Mu exhaled shakily, his muscles tensed from bracing for more pain that would never come. The shift had changed. These were his men. Slowly, he nodded.
The scarred man motioned to the other, who moved swiftly to unlock the shackles binding Tez' Mu's hands. As the restraints fell away, Tez' Mu flexed his fingers, blood rushing back into them.
One of the guards handed him a damp cloth, and Tez' Mu wiped the blood from his mouth. "How do we move?" he asked.
"He'll soon be here," the guard dropped the statement, then bowed as he retreated with his colleague.
At that, Tez' Mu forced himself upright. The bruises from his earlier beating throbbed, but he ignored them. He peered into the gloom. Any moment now—
The cell door creaked open, and a hooded figure stepped in. "My lord." he said.
Tez' Mu's head jerked up. It was Sari's voice.
"You took your time," Tez' Mu rasped, his body aching.
Sari didn't answer. He reached up and threw back his hood. Tez' Mu gasped.
He was staring at his own face.
"What—" he choked on his words.
"I also made a purchase from the Alchemist's Guild," Sari muttered as he crouched by his master. "In your name," he smirked, then glanced back towards the cell door. "We don't have long. The shift will change soon and our men will have to leave. I'll be you till you get to the Ru Manor."
Tez' Mu found himself shaking his head vigorously. He didn't like this plan at all.
"We have no choice," Sari urged. "Quick, get up!"
The two guards had returned. Sari hauled Tez' Mu up and pushed him toward the door. He took off his cloak and handed it to the scarred guard. Tez' Mu gulped. Sari had already changed into prison robed.
Tez' Mu's sight went dark as the guards threw a bag over his head. They took hold of him on each arm.
"Till we exit the prison," one of them said, "you are a convict on your way to execution."
Tez' Mu nodded. "Will Sari be alright?" he asked anxiously.
The guard grunted. "Our mission is to get you out safely, nothing more."
Bile settled at the back of Tez' Mu's throat.
The guards moved quickly, short of dragging him along. Tez' Mu gulped as his feet throbbed with every step, chilling at every scream coming from the floors above and below. But no one spoke.
They continued on for a while, climbed down about thirty steps, and then came to a halt. Tez' Mu heard keys jangling, then the creak of a metal gate. Fresh breeze blew through his arm-less prison robes.
They were out.
***
Arriving at the Ru Manor, Tez' Mu was greeted with the noise of the congressmen arguing among themselves, papers curled in the hearth, half-burnt; and maps of the capital spread across tables as the congressmen debated their escape routes. Na' Raa was glaring daggers at Kal' Yu, arms crossed over her sword. Muyo' Ai had worn a path in the floor with his pacing.
They turned when he entered and relief washed across their faces, but before anyone could speak, Tez' Mu did.
"There's no time to lose. I'm going to take the king tonight."
There was stunned silence, then, "The—the king?" one of the congressmen gasped.
"What king?" Muyo' Ai growled, his beard quivering.
Tez' Mu held his breath. Since he had escaped prison, he was already a fugitive—there was no turning back. But this… doing this would mean open war. If the Dowager discovered he had the king, she would stop at nothing to hunt him down.
He shook his head lightly. I have no choice.
"Keol' Han," he said softly. "I know where he is."
Muyo' Ai's fist hit the table in front of him. "You know?!" he shouted, unable to contain his fury. "Since when? So you knew where the king was all this time and didn't tell us?!"
"Not now, Muyo' Ai."
"Not now?" Muyo' Ai's face twisted in disbelief. "You—"
"I said, not now!" Tez' Mu snarled. Everyone in the room flinched at his shout. Muyo' Ai swallowed his protest, his nostrils flaring. Tez' Mu turned to the rest of his squad.
"We have only one shot at this. If we fail, we die. There is no second chance." even as he spoke, he took deep calming breaths, steadying himself as he turned back towards the table. The last nail in the time-candle on it fell onto the tray with a clang. It was now midnight.
He glanced at Kal' Yu. "Go, now. Get Sari. And on your way back—" he paused, then added, "The Onan Desar. Whoever's on duty. Don't make a scene."
Kal' Yu nodded grimly, gripping his sword and walking out of the room. Na' Raa followed him with a huff.
Tez' Mu stared at the melted wax.
It was now or never.
***
Moonlight bled through oaks and birch branches as Tez' Mu led twelve Onan Desar guards—all the men Kal' Yu had been able to gather—through the Kelzar Grove. Their boots sank into moist loam, breaths steaming in the chill air. No one spoke. The stories about the forest, of men walking in and never returning, didn't make a single man hesitate.
"Kal'," Tez' Mu murmured, flattening himself onto the ground as the tower loomed up. "Take Na' and Yanak to the hut north of the tower. There's a nanny there. Make sure she stays quiet. The rest of you, flank positions."
They obeyed, scuttling forward silently to take their places. Crouching behind Tez' Mu, Sari pulled him back as he attempted to stand.
"And where are you going?" he asked, eyes flashing. The masking alchemy hadn't worn off yet. It unsettled Tez' Mu to see his own face on another man.
"I'm going to bring Keol' Han out." he said.
Sari's jaw worked. Then he nodded, releasing Tez' Mu's shoulder. Tez' Mu rose to his feet and started forward, carefully picking his way up the hill.
The iron door was ajar, again.
As always.
It groaned as he shoved against it, landing with a low thud against the side wall. The stone stairway was pitch dark. Tez' Mu ignited a flame on the tip of his forefinger and started up the steps, each footfall echoing off the stone walls. He licked his lips as he rounded the second bend, lost in thought. Would the boy even agree to follow him? Or would this end with the Keol' Han's wrists tied with his own sash?
He had reached the top. He extinguished his flame, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then pushed the wooden door open. His eyes fell first on the window-seat.
Empty.
He took a step forward, turning to the bed.
Perfectly laid.
"What in the sages rotten—?"
A crossbow bolt hissed past his ear, missing him by inches. He gasped.
Trap!
Three imperial soldiers shimmered into existence—concealment matrices!—their daggers flashing toward his throat. Tez' Mu staggered backward, his boot hitting one of the iron boxes on the ground. He twisted, catching the first blow with his vambrace. His sword still hung uselessly on his belt.
What to do—?!
He lunged, grabbed a soldier's neck and slammed him down, kicking him in the gut. The soldier punched Tez' Mu's left cheek, choking and sputtering as he grabbed his arm. Tez' Mu tightened his grip and dug his knee into the soldier's stomach, eliciting a howl. He stumbled to his feet.
A heave. Moonfire was out!
But the other two had closed in. The first attempted a thrust towards his belly. Tez' Mu leapt back as he dodged, scrambling onto the bed.
No room to swing—!
He headbutted the nearest attacker, feeling cartilage crunch. Searing pain shot through his eyes, but he rode the wave, using the man's stagger to hurl him into his comrades. A dagger skittered across the floor. He jumped down from the bed and snatched it up. The first soldier rushed towards him with a shout. Tez' Mu ducked under his swing, impaling the dagger in his thigh. The man fell with a shriek, clutching his leg as blood darkened his trousers.
From below came the crash of steel against steel. Tez' Mu's heart turned cold. There were more.
His squad was under attack.
The second soldier had gotten to his feet. He leveled his crossbow again. Tez' Mu dived, narrowly missing the shot. He scurried towards the door. The first soldier swore and lunged to grab his arm, staggering forward with the dagger still lodged in his thigh. Tez' Mu evaded him and burst through the open door. His boots slid on the steps as he rushed down, hearing their curses as they rushed after him.
He skidded to a halt outside, heart lurching. The soldiers barreled into his back, knocking him forward. The momentum sent him under the swing of an imperial halberd meant for Yanak. The soldier behind him wasn't so lucky. The blade cleaved through the man's chest, buying Tez' Mu a heartbeat to take in the slaughter around him. Four Onan Desar were already down, and Na' Raa's hand gripped an arrow-shaft protruding from her thigh as she deflected another rain of arrows with her sword. Tez' Mu turned in shock towards the attackers. A full imperial company were rushing down from the southern wood. Thirty at least. Maybe more.
Tez' Mu's world narrowed to three truths even as he twisted to drive his sword into the second soldier from the tower, ears pounding with the noise of the battle around him.
The king wasn't here.
This was a trap.
They were all going to die.
He cut down another soldier with a side chop through his neck, then swung around and yelled for Kal' Yu.
"Here, my lord!" the deputy's voice came back from across the field. He and Sari were back to back, cleaving their way towards the rest through nine imperial soldiers.
"Shield formation!" Tez' Mu bellowed.
The remaining Onan Desar finished off their assailants and quickly closed ranks, their overlapping bucklers creating a wall of steel. The second imperial charge broke against it like water on rock. The clangs of steel and the stench of fresh blood filled the air again as the battle resumed with brutal speed.
The imperials were relentless. Na' Raa stumbled from a heavy blow and fell into the mud. She snarled as she snapped the arrow-shaft in her leg. "This won't hold!" she cried out.
Tez' Mu jumped back from the fight and grabbed her shoulder, hauling her to her feet. Yanak took her other arm and half-hoisted her onto his back. They staggered backwards even as the others fought savagely through the second wave of imperials.
Na' Raa's fingers gripped Tez' Mu's arm, her face pale with blood loss. "Go. Now."
Tez' Mu's eyes widened. "Like hell I—"
Na' Raa's dagger was suddenly pressed against his throat. "Listen, you stubborn bastard," she hissed. "We can die. But if you do, who finds the king? Who ends this ancestors forsaken war?"
Yanak didn't wait. He retrieved a smoke pellet from his spatial ring and tossed it into the mud at Tez' Mu's feet. Tez' Mu grit his teeth, turning angrily towards the battle. The third wave was coming. About fifteen more soldiers had appeared on the edge of the wood, halberds leveled as they charged down with a roar.
Only six Onan Desar were left.
"Go!" Na' Raa screamed. "Get lost before I go berserk!" She lifted her sword with both arms even as Kal' Yu bellowed: "On my mark!"
The imperial soldiers were ten paces away.
Nine.
Two.
Tez' Mu's eyes stung.
CRACK!
He crushed the pellet at his feet. Thick smoke billowed outward, swallowing him. He turned to run.
"Onan Desar, CHARGE!" he heard Kal' Yu roar.
Tez' Mu's feet pounded on moist earth, Moonfire slick in his grip, his ears ringing with the clash of steel.
No, no—
The trees closed in around him, shutting out the screams of dying men.
Tez' Mu's eyes stung as the wind blew the streaming tears from his face. His breath came in gasps.
Kal'...Na'...Yanak… The forest flew by in a blur as he sped down the trail, leaping over small rocks and gnarled roots that cut across it.
Sari…?
Not them. Not dead. He clung to that thought like a prayer. The Onan Desar don't die. They're not dead.
The woods swallowed him.
And they won't be, if I find the king.