Michael Foster - She Who Has No Name

Their barge had now cleared the city and was idling along in the middle of the river at the beckand callof the current. The oarsmen had ceased rowing and stood stiffly in their places, awaiting further command. At this point, the river had grown wide and shallow, so that Samuel could see the bottom not far beneath their vessel.

‘Follow me,’ Alahativa said and stood, offering her hand to Samuel. He took it and she led him to the side of the barge, where she leaned upon the handrail with her slender fingers and looked out upon her fields.

‘This was once a barren land. I brought the river from the stones andmadefields from the sand. I made life where there was none, and from this spring of life came my people, almost as if from my own womb. I have never had children of my own, but I love each and every one of my people, and they love me. How do you think that feels, Samuel, to be the mother of so many? I must care for them always,beeternally worried for them,remainever mindful of their every suffering. I did not go to war wantonly. The desert sands have begun to devour my pastures and there is no force that can prevent that from happening. I have built this Empire from nothing but sand and I will not see it return to that. I sought a treaty with your Emperor long ago, but he treated my diplomats with contempt and refused, instead sending spies into my deserts to find me-but find me he did not. I did not choose war, but it has been forced upon me. Ajaspah is coming and the Star of Osirah has helped fortify my resolve. My people will fight with the strength of lions and only when the lands of theWest are theirs, will they rest. I have only killed when required and there have been many more battles won without a drop of blood being spilt than those that have required a violent resolution. I have never heard of your Empire holdingoutsuch care for life.’

‘Any bloodshed is unacceptable.’

‘That does not reflect reality, Samuel, and you know it. I know that you harboured a desire to ruin the Empire. I would have thought you could share some of my vision. But perhaps you would enjoy proving yourself useful? My warriors are already fierce and loyal and Utik’cah trains them well, but my wizards lack the strength that you and your friends possess.’

She looked at him expectantly and Samuel took the suggestion willingly. ‘Perhaps I can instruct them further. But what of your arch-wizard-Om-rah?’

‘He has become much too focussed on his own experiments and has let the education of the others suffer. I will speak to him about this and see if we cannot find a way to introduce you without upsetting him too much.’

Samuel raised an eyebrow. ‘I didn’t think any of your servants could deny any request you made? Is Om-rah not afraid of your axemen?’

Alahativa feigned offence. ‘Oh, Samuel. What a terrible thing to say. Everyone in myEmpire can speak openly.’

He forced a thoughtful nod of agreement. ‘Forgive me. I have obviously assumed in error.’

She shouted out a command in the Paatin tongue and her oarsmen snapped into life, half-digging their oars in deep while the others reversed their strokes, setting the barge to spin until they were facing back upstream.

‘You know, Samuel, I think your answer to my question was not entirely honest. Perhaps you sought to judge from my reaction?’

‘Oh?’ Samuel responded. ‘What do you mean?’

‘We both know which characteristic you value most. It is inherent in you-as much a part of yourself as your flesh and bones.’

‘And what is that?’

‘Tenacity. The true victor never gives uponanything he begins. I see that in you, Samuel, as I see it in myself. That is what has brought us together.’

‘Perhaps you are right,’ Samuel told her. ‘While others begin what they believe in, it is only the stubborn who persevere long enough to reach their goal.’

The Paatin Queen smiled and nodded in agreement. She stepped lightly back to her chair and Samuel followed as the vessel crawled back towards the city of Hol. She had given him a clear message: she would not trust him just yet and she knew he would not give up on his mission quite so easily.

‘What happened?’ the Koian woman asked, waiting impatiently in his room for his return.

‘We have more time,’ he told her. ‘And I know where the Empress is being kept. At least, I know where she is not. I’m sure she is not in the dungeons, and I feel she is not in the city but perhaps in another place nearby. The Queen would not risk me stumbling upon her-not yet.’

‘So what will you do?’

‘I need to find out more about where she could be. But,even so, I can’t go yet. I still need to find a way to get the ring from Alahativa’s finger.’

‘If that ring is truly the source of her power, I can’t imagine her ever taking it off.’

‘We shall see.’

‘Do you have a plan?’ she asked him.

‘Not yet, but I am thinking of something.’

‘You say that a lot, Magician,’ she said sourly, then after a moment she piped up quite suddenly. ‘I spoke to her a few days ago.’

‘To whom?’

‘That witch-the Paatin Queen.’

‘What did she say?’

‘She didn’t say anything. She asked me some questions and I answered them-but that wasn’t what she wanted.’

‘Oh?’

‘She wanted to see me-compare me to herself. That is how she thinks. She is vain. She walked around me and examined me, like a wolf encircling a sheep. It made me shiver, but,as she spoke,I learned something important about her.’

‘What is that?’

‘Everything she says is a lie. Even when she believes she is speaking the truth, she is only deceiving herself. Her only ambition is to retain her position as their leader,of being adored. Everything she does is to reinforce her own image and to gain even greater power. She is selfish in every way.’

‘Then this may surprise you. She agreed to let Sir Ferse and Ambassador Canyon free.’

At this, the Koian stamped her foot. ‘I don’t want that fiend anywhere near me!’

‘I thought you wanted to kill him?’

‘I do, but not now-when I am ready. He has a way of telling me things and I always end up believing him.’

‘Then just don’t,’ Samuel said.

‘I wish it were that easy, but I cannot help it.’

‘Then suit yourself,’ he told her.

With that, she stormed out from his room and slammed the door behind her once more. He heard her stomp into her own room and slam that door too, before noisily throwing around the furniture, amid wails of dismay from Shara, her old attendant. Samuel smiled at this, for he felt satisfaction at raising the girl’s ire. Every time he broke through her hard exterior and forced her to show some emotion, it felt like a small victory.

The others were freed as promised and Utik’cah described to Samuel where the Emperor and Ambassador Canyon would be roomed. It was one floor above their own, in asuiteof rooms that matched Samuel’s own in size and design. He made his way upstairs and found the two of them standing confounded in the ambassador’s room, with a set of Paatin beauties standing idly nearby, waiting to be told what to do.

‘Samuel!’ the Emperor declared on sight of him. ‘How wonderful to see you! You look as if you’ve been treated well. I see our hosts have taken care of you much better thanthey did of me.’

‘So to speak,’ Samuel replied. ‘You both look well, considering.’

‘I must say the room and meals left much to be desired, but see what enough complaining has brought me? Now we’ve been given the best suites in the palace!’

‘Where did they keep you? In the caverns?’

‘Unfortunately, yes, but we were treated relatively well. I heard several poor sods being tortured and the likes. I can only be thankful we did not receive the same treatment.’