Blood of Empire

Chapter 65

Styke stood at the end of the causeway leading to Etzi’s compound, facing the city and leaning on his broken lance. His side burned from the dragonman’s knife, while the rest of his body ached from a pounding that would be a myriad of bruises in a couple of days.

If, that was, he could survive that long.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Amrec’s body. Someone from the Household had emerged an hour ago and covered it reverently with a blanket, but that just seemed to make the poor creature’s corpse stand out more in the mess that remained of Sedial’s hired mob. Maetle walked through it all, tending to the wounded on both sides but clearly out of her depth. No surgeon, no matter how skilled, was ready for their first time of seeing true carnage. Styke sympathized. In another time, he might have reveled at the destruction he had caused. But having to put a bullet in the head of his own horse had taken all the glory out of his deeds. He felt tired, hurting, and sick to his stomach.

Only a handful of his Lancers were to be seen. The rest rode through the borough, establishing order at the tips of their lances, forcing peace on the immediate area surrounding Etzi’s compound. Occasionally a report came back to Styke. He barely listened. He’d put Ibana in charge of securing their location. He had no urge to deal with any more than he already had.

“Ben.” The soft voice forced him to take his eyes off Amrec’s covered corpse. Celine stood by his side. She looked across the mayhem with concern, then focused on his blood-covered face.

“I thought I told you to stay inside,” Styke rebuked her gently.

“They sent me to get you.”

“Who?”

“Etzi. Some of the Household heads have arrived. They’re pressuring Ka-poel to take on the mantle of the Great Ka and ally the Mad Lancers with their faction. They think you’ll help convince her.”

“They didn’t come out to get me themselves?” Styke scoffed.

“I think they’re afraid of you.”

Styke let his eyes play across what remained of the mob once more and tossed his broken lance aside. “Good.” He let Celine take him by his gore-slick gauntlet and lead him back across the causeway. He walked with a bit of a limp, his side burning, wondering if he should get out of his armor and deal with this wound before he bled out. As they passed through the gates of the compound, Etzi’s Household guard stared at Styke in silence. Only the boy, Jerio, approached him, holding up a mug of beer. Styke took it with grateful thanks, downing it in two long drafts, and then followed Celine into the Household amphitheater.

A table had been set up in the center of the space. Ka-poel sat at one end, Etzi at the other. Arrayed down either side were nine more figures. Styke had watched them all arrive, though he hadn’t paid attention to their identities. He could only assume that these were the Household heads. The only one he recognized was Meln-Sika, the woman who’d warned Etzi about the covert purge.

“Please sit, Colonel Styke,” Etzi said, pointing to the one empty chair at the table.

Styke looked down at his bloody armor, looked at the chair, then limped around to stand just behind Ka-poel. He gave each of the Household heads a long glance. A few of the Dynize shifted uncomfortably in their seats, while others regarded him warily, as if reassessing him.

It was Meln-Sika who finally cleared her throat. “This is a poor quorum, my friends, but I believe this is the best we can manage. The rest of our allies are either dead or trapped inside their compounds. Do I have unanimous agreement to continue?” The ten Household heads each raised a hand. Meln-Sika acknowledged the vote with a nod, then lifted her chin toward Ka-poel. “At this, our most desperate hour, will you put your lot in with us? Will you become the Great Ka and help us force the emperor to dismiss Ka-Sedial?”

To Styke’s eyes, Ka-poel looked so small and fragile sitting there at his side. But her jaw was firm, her lips pursed. She began to gesture, and it was Celine who translated. I am not a trained politician. If I take on the mantle of the Great Ka, I’m sure every one of you is already too aware at how much help I will need.

“We’d be honored to stand by your side,” Meln-Sika replied, bowing her head.

“That’s not what she means,” Styke grunted.

Ka-poel pointed at him, a small smile fluttering across her lips. I will not be a puppet. You know my grandfather, so you already know my temperament. If you put me forward as Great Ka, you are accepting the risk of my rule. I will accept guidance. I will not be controlled.

Silence descended at the table. Styke could see the Household heads considering her words. Etzi was the only one who seemed to take them as a matter of course and had already made his decision. “Understood,” he told her. “Do you have further demands?”

Ka-poel’s fingers flashed. I am hesitant to make a decision without my husband, but I know that time is short and we cannot afford to wait for him. She let out a soft sigh. I have one further demand: that no one interfere when I destroy the godstone.

Meln-Sika inhaled sharply. Several of the Household heads appeared visibly shocked. Once again, only Etzi was unsurprised, but Styke knew he had had several weeks to get to know Ka-poel. He knew what to expect. “It is our inheritance,” Meln-Sika said, her shaky tone betraying her fear. “It is our hope as a people.”

Hope? Ka-poel answered through Celine. Her lip curled as she gestured. It is a rock imbued with the power of a million dead. There is no hope to be had from any of the godstones. They are nothing but an avenue toward power. The only hope the Dynize people need is that of unity.

“We haven’t had unity since our god was murdered,” a man halfway down the table objected. “Not until Sedial gave us the hope of the godstones.”

Sedial gave you the godstones because he knew that you all hated him so much, he could never unite you himself. I won’t have that problem. Ka-poel tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully before continuing. I am here. I will destroy the godstone. Whether you choose to place me in a position of power once I have accomplished my task is up to you. Decide quickly.

It was the second time speed had been mentioned, and Styke leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Are we in a rush?”

She nodded. Yes.

“Why?”

She did not answer the question. Etzi raised his hand and, once he had everyone’s attention, said, “I’ve spoken with my brother. Based on the number of dragonman sightings throughout the city today, we estimate that the emperor is practically undefended. If we want to force him to renounce Ka-Sedial, this might be our only chance to do so.” His expression hardened. “You,” he said to Ka-poel, “may have to break Sedial’s hold on the emperor before we can force his hand. I truly believe that Sedial would kill the emperor before relinquishing power.”

Meln-Sika sniffed. “This assumes we agree to allow the destruction of the godstone.”

“And if we don’t?” Etzi rounded on his colleague, thrusting a hand toward Styke. “You expect us to fight Sedial’s mobs and defend the godstone against the Mad Lancers? We have no choice. Ka-poel is right. The godstone was a symbol to unite us. If there is power to be got from it, do you think that Sedial will share? We do not need a god to make us whole again. We need a Great Ka who does not contrive to enslave us.”

“We barely know her,” Meln-Sika retorted. “How do we know that isn’t exactly what she will do?”

Etzi threw up his hands. “We can have an enemy who will murder us all, or we can have an untested ally. There are no other choices – no one else has the birthright to unite us and the power to challenge Ka-Sedial. Choose your graves.”

“I…” Meln-Sika began, only for Ka-poel to slam her fist on the table. The entire room jumped, including Styke, and he looked down to find Ka-poel leaning forward, eyes wild, a look of focus on her face. She gestured emphatically.

You must decide now! Celine translated.

“We’ve barely had time to discuss it,” Meln-Sika objected.

Ka-poel lurched to her feet, and Styke reached out to catch her by the arm. She shook him off and glared at the group. Ka-Sedial is preparing to move. Decide!

Etzi blinked back at her for a moment, then gestured to the rest of the Household heads. “A vote, then, for our small quorum. Those willing to back Ka-poel as the Great Ka?” He raised his hand.

Two more hands shot up immediately. Three followed slowly. Meln-Sika grimaced and hesitantly raised her own, and once she had acquiesced, the remaining four joined her. Another unanimous vote, though Styke could tell that many of them were unhappy with the speed at which the discussion had taken place. Good, Ka-poel gestured. Styke, gather your Lancers. We go to the imperial palace immediately.

Even Etzi was surprised by the declaration. “We should gather our forces,” he said. “We can risk an hour or two to bring more Household heads and soldiers to our cause.”

No, Ka-poel gestured. We cannot. Sedial has begun the ritual to wake the godstones. If we do not go now, it will be too late.

Styke heard a shout from Etzi’s front gate and, within a few moments, the hammering of running feet. It was Maetle who burst into the meeting, shoving aside one of the Household head guards. “Meln-Etzi, Meln-Sika, Ka-poel! Something is happening to the godstone! The whole city glows red!”

While the others fell into confusion, Styke turned to Ka-poel. Her face grew determined, and she gestured to one side so that only he could see what she said.

Get me to the godstone. These fools have no idea what is about to happen. If I do not challenge Ka-Sedial now, there will be no challenge.