‘An escort of her own? Who?’
‘I’m not sure. Foreigners. One of them killed Rhulad and his chosen brothers.’ Udinaas collected another stone. ‘Look at that, Hull Beddict, a river of gold. Flowing into the sunset.’ He flung the stone, broke the mirrored perfection. Momentarily.
‘You witnessed that killing.’
‘I did. Whoever that foreigner was, he was terrifying.’
‘More terrifying than Rhulad’s return?’
Udinaas said nothing for a time, then he stepped away, down to the water’s edge. He stared into the shallows, saw the muddy bottom swarming with newborn eels. ‘Do you know what is coming, Hull Beddict?’
‘No. Do you?’
‘Dresh Lake. That’s what’s coming.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Doesn’t matter. Don’t mind me, Hull Beddict. Well, I’d best return. The emperor is awake.’
Hull followed him up from the strand. ‘Things like that,’ he said. ‘He’s awake. How do you know?’
‘A stirring in the shadows,’ Udinaas said. ‘Rhulad sets the world to a tremble. Well,’ he amended, ‘a small part of it. But it’s growing. In any case, his fever has broken. He is weak, but alert.’
‘Tell me,’ Hull said as they walked into the vast camp, ‘about Feather Witch.’
Udinaas grimaced. ‘Why?’
‘She is no longer Mayen’s slave. She now serves the Edur healers. Was that your work?’
‘The emperor’s command, Hull Beddict.’
‘You claim no influence on him? Few would believe that now.’
‘Reciprocity.’
‘And in return, you give Rhulad what?’
‘She affects to hold only hatred for you, Udinaas. But I am not convinced.’
‘Oh, I am.’
‘I think, perhaps, she has given her heart to you. Yet would fight it, for all the pointless prohibitions and prejudices of our people. What is the extent of your debt, Udinaas?’
‘My debt? My father’s debt. Seven hundred and twenty-two docks, from the day I was taken as a slave.’
Hull reached out and stopped him. ‘That’s it?’
‘A Beddict might well say that. For most Letherii, that is insurmountable. Especially given the interest.’ Udinaas resumed walking.
Hull came up alongside him. ‘Who holds it?’
‘A minor lender in Letheras. Why are you asking?’
‘The lender’s name?’
‘Huldo.’
‘Huldo.’ After a moment, Hull snorted.
‘You find that amusing?’
‘I do. Udinaas, my brother Tehol
‘Maybe once. As I understand it, Tehol owns nothing these days.’
Let me tell you a story about my brother. He was, I guess, around ten years old, when a family debt was purchased by a particularly unscrupulous lender. The plan was to force us to relinquish a certain holding, and so the debt was called. We couldn’t pay, not all at once, and of course the lender knew it. Now, it was at the time assumed by all that Tehol was at school every day during this crisis, and indeed, that, young as he was, he had no idea of the trouble our parents were in. Only much later did certain facts come to light. The fact that Tehol had finessed a debt of his own, over his tutor. Nothing large, but he was able to coerce the tutor into saying nothing about his absences whilst he operated a business venture of his own down at a flow-out on the river. Two employees, both Nerek, sifting sewage. This particular out-flow issued from an estate district – extraordinary what treasures could be recovered. Jewellery, mostly. Rings, earrings, pearls. In any case, it seemed there was a windfall, a necklace, and the result was Tehol and his two Nerek employees found themselves suddenly flush-’
‘By selling the necklace?’
‘Oh no, from the reward. Their business was returning lost items. Shortly thereafter, the lender pressuring our family received payment in full on our debt, and was then subsequently financially gutted when a host of holdings on
Udinaas grunted. ‘Grateful patrons, indeed.’
‘Probably. We never found out. And Tehol never explained a damned thing. It took me over a year to piece some of it together. My point is, Udinaas, Tehol’s genius is of the diabolical kind. Destitute? Not a chance. Retired from business dealings? Impossible. I am now quite skilled at tracking my brother, you see. Huldo’s not the only lender Tehol owns.’
‘So,’ Udinaas said as they approached the emperor’s tent, ‘I am Indebted to the Beddicts.’
‘Not any more,’ Hull said. ‘I am clearing it. Right now. I am sure Tehol will forgive me, assuming I ever get a chance to corner him.’
Udinaas looked over at the man. Then he nodded. ‘I see. Reciprocity.’
‘I am without expectation, Udinaas.’
‘Good. I knew you were a fast learner.’
Hull Beddict halted outside the entrance. ‘I enjoyed speaking to you,’ he said.
Udinaas hesitated, then smiled.
Seated on his throne, sweat streaming down between and over the gold coins on his face, neck and chest, some horrible insight burning in his eyes, the emperor trembled as if rabid. ‘Udinaas,’ he croaked. ‘As you can see, we are well.’
‘These southlands, Emperor, hold strange diseases-’
‘We were not sick. We were… travelling.’
They were alone in the chamber. Hannan Mosag was overseeing the warriors, where some old feuds between tribes were threatening to breach the unity. Mayen was cloistered among the women, for it was said that Uruth Sengar was coming, summoned via the K’risnan. The air in the tent smelled of sour sweat.
‘A long and difficult journey, then,’ Udinaas said. ‘Do you wish some wine? Food?’
‘No. Not yet. We have… done something. A terrible thing. To achieve an alliance. When we strike the Letherii army outside Letheras, you shall see what has been won this day. We are… pleased. Yes, pleased.’
‘Yet frightened. By your own power.’
The eyes flickered, fixed on Udinaas. ‘We can hide little from you, it seems. Yes, frightened. We… I… have drowned an entire world. A fragment of Kurald Emurlahn, upon which our ships will soon travel. Seeking our lost kin. And… champions.’ He clawed at his face.
The subject needed deflection, Udinaas decided. ‘Champions? I do not understand, Emperor.’
A moment to recover, then a nod. ‘Worthy foes, Udinaas. Skilled fighters capable of killing us. They are needed.’
‘For your power to grow yet stronger.’
‘Yes. Stronger. It is necessary. So many things are necessary, now…’
Udinaas risked a glance away as he said, ‘It is right to fear, then, Emperor.’
‘It is? Explain.’
‘Fear bespeaks of wisdom. Recognition of responsibility.’
‘Wisdom. Yes, it must be so, mustn’t it? We had not considered that before. We fear, because we are becoming wise.’
Rhulad shivered, then raised the sword in his right hand. ‘Who among them will turn away from such a challenge? Those who do are not worth fighting. Or, if they are yet reluctant, they will be compelled. This world is vast, Udinaas, far vaster than you might think. There are other lands, other empires. There are formidable peoples, races. We will search far. We will find those useful to us. And then, one day, we will conquer. Every kingdom. Every continent.’
