The Twilight Lord

“The emperor’s son cannot be compared with a mercenary’s son, or a merchant’s son or the son of any common Hetarian citizen,” Gaius Prospero said in lofty tones, as he looked down upon them from the steps where he stood. Stupid women, he thought, irritated.

“We will not send our sons into your war this time, Gaius Prospero,” Lady Gillian said quietly. “The women of Hetar will not support your foolishness any longer.”

“The women of Hetar will do as they are told!” the emperor burst out, his fury evident.

Suddenly an angry murmur arose from among the crowd and the women once again chanted, “No war! No war! No war!”

The young empress stepped forward and held up her hand for silence.

The women stopped to listen, for she was an unknown commodity.

“Women of Hetar,” her girlish voice cried out to them, “you surely cannot comprehend, for I know that I do not, the greater good our emperor brings by his actions. Trust him. I do.”

“We thank the empress for her kind thoughts,” Lady Gillian said, “but she has not the experience of many years or sons to protect as we all do. Know this, Gaius Prospero. The women of Hetar will stand against you in this matter. Think carefully before you commit us to a futile endeavor.” Then Lady Gillian turned, and the crowd parted for her and then followed her as she walked back down the gravel path, across the greensward and toward the gates enclosing the Golden District.

When she reached the gates, the guards, already alerted by Jonah, attempted to take her into custody, but the women protested and their numbers physically overcame the guards pushing them back with great shouts of outrage. Lady Gillian walked on proudly. The guards tried to snatch several others, but their companions would not permit it. Finally, the great crowd of women had exited the Golden District and they walked through the streets chanting. “No war! No war! No war!” Now and again the protesters would stop and one of their number would speak. Soon other women in the streets were joining them.

From the safety of his palace Gaius Prospero was still stunned by what had just occurred. He hurried back to his library, his young wife running behind him with Jonah. “How could this sort of thing happen?” he demanded of the man he called his right hand, slumping into a chair while Shifra poured him a goblet of wine and mopped his forehead, which was beaded with moisture. “Women in revolt against my authority? The authority of Hetar? If it had been ten or even fifty or a hundred I should have taken no heed of them. But there were over a thousand women certainly, Jonah!”

“Surely not a thousand, my lord,” Jonah said in silky tones. “And now they have all gone home. They have had their say, my lord, and that will be the end of it.” He offered his master one of his rare smiles.

“A thousand or more,” Gaius Prospero said firmly. “And who encouraged them to this rebellion? There were women of all castes, Jonah. From the highest to the lowest. Most were bold and showed their faces, but I saw others who were well cloaked that their faces not be seen. Those garments were of the richest fabrics. They were surely wives of Crusader Knights and magnates, as well as Pleasure Women of high rank.”

“Many were from among the mercenary class,” Jonah soothed. “The poor always complain, my lord. It is in their nature.”

“This revolt crosses class barriers, Jonah,” Gaius Prospero said.

“’Tis a little revolt, my lord,” Jonah answered.

“From little revolts come bigger revolts,” the emperor replied. “But no matter. I want to know who is behind it, Jonah. How many were arrested at the gate?”

“I will inquire,” Jonah said.

“I want Gillian questioned. Do what you must but find out what we need to know. I will put a stop to this resistance against my authority immediately,” the emperor said.

“Of course, my lord. Your will is mine to obey,” Jonah told him, then bowed himself from the emperor’s library even as Shifra slipped into her husband’s lap to soothe him, her little hand caressing his face with a gentle touch.

Jonah sent a messenger to the gate to inquire about those arrested. He then directed his personal servant, Lionel, to find his most useful spy, Arcas, and bring him to the palace. He was not pleased to learn that no one had been arrested. And when Arcas finally arrived, Jonah, who knew the emperor would not be pleased to learn this, rounded on the man who was his spy and in Jonah’s debt.

“You have heard what happened?” Jonah asked grimly.

Arcas nodded nervously. “I have, my lord.”

“Women in revolt, Arcas, and you knew nothing of it? The booth in the market where I placed you to toil as a scribe is next to a most popular women’s destination. A large booth dealing in scents, lotions, soaps of the finest quality. It is always filled with women chattering. And you heard nothing of this rebellion? It has been months since you brought me anything of value, Arcas. I wonder if you have lost your ability to be useful,” Jonah murmured, the threat veiled but unmistakable.

“I did hear something in the last few days,” Arcas admitted nervously. “But my lord Jonah, they were babbling women. I did not think it was of any importance.”

“It is not up to you to decide what is important or unimportant,” Jonah said angrily. “You are in my employ to gather information. Everything you hear. I will make the decision if it is important or unimportant. Now tell me what you heard, you useless fool!”

Arcas, who had formerly been a Coastal King and was now exiled from that province, served Jonah as a gatherer of information. Some of that information Jonah passed on to his master, the emperor. But some of it he did not. Arcas suspected that Jonah planned one day to overthrow Gaius Prospero or at least make an attempt. But he had no proof at all that the man known as the emperor’s right hand was disloyal and until he did he dared not speak out. “Recently,” he began, quickly gathering his thoughts, “I have heard women speaking of their dissatisfaction with the emperor’s plans to pursue another war. They say he does it to enrich himself and the magnates. They complain that the ordinary folk gain nothing from these wars. Rather they lose husbands, fathers and sons. That more poor are created by Gaius Prospero’s wars as the women of Hetar and their children are left without their men to support them and protect them. They say that it is time the women of Hetar stood up for their families and told Gaius Prospero that they will not let their men be killed and crippled by his blind ambition and greed.” Arcas stopped a moment to see if Jonah was pleased by his tidings.

Obviously Jonah was, for he said, “What else?”

“They gossip that Terah is no danger to Hetar. That Gaius Prospero lies when he says that they are,” Arcas replied. “They say that in the few years since they learned of Terah’s existence it has remained as it was before. Invisible.”

“Do they mention the faerie woman, Lara?” Jonah wanted to know.

“They do not believe her powers are strong enough to harm Hetar. Besides, she is Hetarian-born,” Arcas answered. “Even I who am her enemy know she would not harm Hetar.”

“Do they not remember her part in the Winter War?” Jonah asked.

“They know the Winter War was won by the Outland clan families by better tactics, not by magic,” Arcas said. “As I told you, my lord, foolish chatter.”

“That foolish chatter brought over a thousand women to the emperor’s palace,” Jonah said softly. “From this moment on you will report to me daily and tell me what you have overheard. As I have told you, it is not up to you to decided what is relevant and what is not. Leave me now.” Jonah impatiently waved his minion away.

Alone he began to consider how this turn of events might play into his hands. He did not believe for one moment that Hetar’s docile women had considered the advantages and disadvantages of war. Someone had planted the idea in their heads, but who? The emperor was eager to arrest the lady Gillian, but Jonah thought not. This burgeoning movement was too volatile right now and it wasn’t just Gillian who was leading it. Besides, her influence would soon wane as his mother, Lady Farah, became the new headmistress of the Pleasure Guild.

Jonah wondered if a war could be avoided. If this women’s conspiracy were allowed to grow, could it be used to topple Gaius Prospero from his seat? He needed to know more and he needed his wife’s counsel. Vilia was a clever creature. She would look at this situation from a completely different point of view. He left the palace and walked the short distance to his own home. Vilia had insisted when they married that they have their own house. While living in the emperor’s palace had been convenient, he understood his wife’s desire to be away from her former husband and his girlish new wife.

He found Vilia in her bath and she invited him to join her, dismissing the bath attendants. Jonah was always