Michael Stackpole - Chartomancy

“What are the chances that Pyrust would accept the challenge and invade Nalenyr?”

“Knowing my brother, none.” Cyron smiled. “My brother would have our troops in the south and would quickly smash the invaders, then move an army north to punish Pyrust. Aralias would have been able to get Count Vroan to lead the army of the south and keep the invaders occupied. That was his strength, inspiring troops. He was a leader.”

“You inspire as well, Highness.”

“Yes, but what I inspire does not seem to bear on this situation.”

“Do you see no solution at all, Highness?”

The Prince leaned forward, wincing as he rested his left forearm on his thigh. “This is the one problem the Empress Cyrsa did not anticipate. She assumed that by splitting the Empire into the principalities she would guarantee no one was powerful enough to reunite it in her absence. Setting aside the effects of the Time of Black Ice, her plan has proven sensible. No one predominates, so no one launches a large-scale war. The masses avoid the hardships and the chances of triggering another Cataclysm are minimized.

“The difficulty right now is this: outsiders who may be strong enough to take principalities have attacked. We’ve no news from Erumvirine, and none from the Five Princes. If the enemy has overwhelmed all of them, taking the northern principalities is not a matter of if but when.”

The courtesan slipped her hands into the opposite sleeves of her robe. “Were the Empire intact, there would have been a solid response that could have crushed the invasion.”

“I think so.”

“Then why don’t you make Prince Pyrust an offer of unity? Certainly Nalenyr, Helosunde, and Deseirion united could oppose the invaders.”

“That would be my hope, but it is not something I can agree to in good conscience. The war against the invaders would likely be fought here, in Nalenyr. It would lay waste to my nation.”

“But that is likely to happen anyway, isn’t it?”

“True, but I have to hope we can hold them in the mountains. Pyrust and his troops would be of great value there, or even pushing into Erumvirine. I do not doubt his skills as a general-I respect them enough to fear them.” He sighed with exhaustion. “To put him on my southern border, however, requires him to pass through Nalenyr. It is inviting the wolf into your house to help rid it of vermin. The wolf may not choose to leave again. If he were to drive into Erumvirine and liberate it, he would not put the Telanyn family back on the throne. Nalenyr and Helosunde would be trapped. Helosunde would fall because of his wife. Nalenyr would be next, and the Five Princes after that.”

She smiled bravely. “Perhaps that is just your take on things. He may see things differently.”

“No, he’s read things the same way. Likely he read them before I did. He’s coming, and I have to act to save my nation or save my people. It’s a difficult choice, because I cannot save both.”

“Is there no other possible solution?”

He smiled indulgently. “The Stormwolf could return from the other side of the world with a fleet bristling with warriors.”

“Is that so impossible?”

“Perhaps not.” He nodded, then levered himself off the bench with his good hand. “It is a dream that is worth having, I suppose.”

“You don’t think it likely?”

He shook his head. “Most likely is that the invaders learned of us because of the expedition. The Stormwolf found the new continent, which Qiro Anturasi named after himself. I’ve seen the map. He even may have tried to warn us. In his own blood he wrote, ‘Here there be monsters.’ ”

The Lady of Jet and Jade came to him and caressed his temple. “Be careful, Highness, that you let no monsters dwell here. What you face are men. If they were utterly wise or invincible, they would have long since reunited the Empire. That they have not, that Nalenyr yet exists, means there is hope for a solution.”

“Do you truly believe that?”

“Have I any choice?” She took his hand in hers and kissed it. “Your true enemy is despair. Surrender to it, and the gods themselves could not save you or your nation.”

7th day, Planting Season, Year of the Rat

10th Year of Imperial Prince Cyron’s Court

163rd Year of the Komyr Dynasty

737th year since the Cataclysm

Kunjiqui, Anturasixan

“Yes, my lord, it is magnificent.” Nirati’s eyes shone brightly as she hung on Nelesquin’s arm and stared up at the huge ship. In design, it reminded her very much of the Stormwolf, yet this ship was bigger in every dimension. The figurehead was a bear rampant, clawing the air as if, by the strength of his massive arms alone, he could drag the ship through the waves. “What will you call it?”

Nelesquin chuckled warmly. “This is the Crown Bear. I’m having my smiths create a crown of gold for the figurehead.”

She looked up, surprised. “What if it falls off?”

He turned to her and took her face in his large hands. “What if it does? Anturasixan could produce a crown for every person in the Empire-nine times over. The riches in this land know no equal-and the greatest treasure here is you, my love.”

She smiled and stood on tiptoes to kiss him. “You are too kind, my lord.”

“Only to you, Nirati.”

She smiled and looked back at the ship, secretly acknowledging the truth of his comment. Nelesquin had moved heaven and earth for his building projects. He’d required Qiro to find a slice of his continent where vast forests could be raised, then another where creatures suited to harvesting them could be created. Once that work had been done, mountains rose to create the valleys through which rivers would flow to carry the wood to the coast, and there the shipwrights could begin their work. Back in the mountains, yet other creatures burrowed, and fires burned within the mountains as smiths worked day and night-both of which passed swiftly there-fulfilling the demands of Nelesquin’s army.

Nelesquin drove everyone hard, and while he did grant them rewards for their successes, his punishments were often cruel and final. He tolerated no revolt, accepted few excuses, and seemed more content to have her grandfather create a new race that would bend to his will than retraining those who had already failed him.

Only once had she seen his darker side directed at her. Her fondness for Takwee had inspired her to set aside a portion of Anturasixan where surviving members of the races he’d destroyed could live in peace. Ever practical, Nelesquin would not destroy one group until another was ready to take their place, which gave her time to spirit a small population away.

When he discovered what she’d done, his fury had been monumental. She’d quailed and Takwee had bristled, baring her teeth. This show of defiance seemed to amuse him and broke his mood. From that point forward, he allowed Nirati her sanctuary. He referred to it as the Land of Lost Toys, and seemed further amused by what these creatures did when left to their own devices.

Fortunately, he did not have much time to observe them. “The Crown Bear will be magnificent, and I cannot wait to be on the ocean again. I used to love it so. Wind in the face, spray washing the deck. I was quite the mariner in my youth, but then other interests and politics drew me home to Erumvirine.”

He smiled, but his eyes focused differently. “Before the Turasynd ever threatened the Empire, the Dark Sea pirates bedeviled us. A great deal of trade came through Ixyll to Dolosan ports and across the Dark Sea to the Empire. The pirates preyed on all of it. The Emperor tasked me, among others, to crush the pirates. Fight them we did, and ended their scourge. I was part of the conquest of Dreonath.”