Akiri: The Scepter of Xarbaal Read online

  Akiri bowed his head. “Goodbye, uncle,” he said quietly. He regretted that the killing was necessary, but he dared not risk the Scepter’s location being learned by another from Tuvarius’ lips.

  After cleaning his blade on the sheets and tucking it away, he hurried over to an old chest that was shoved against the wardrobe. Inside this he found the small purse of gold coins he had noticed on an earlier visit. It wasn’t much, but it would probably be enough to purchase supplies and a decent horse if necessary. That was all he would need.

  He returned to his room and changed into a comfortable set of clothing suitable for a long journey. With his father’s sword attached to his belt, he entered the hall.

  As he made his way through the palace, the guards he encountered nodded to him respectfully. He could not help but feel a sense of pride in knowing that what he had passed on to them had improved them as soldiers, making them far more capable of protecting their king and his family.

  For a moment the queen flashed into his thoughts. He would miss the nights they spent together. It was unlikely he would ever encounter another woman quite like her. He was very tempted to seek her out, if only to set eyes upon her one last time. But that would be a foolish move. He needed to be well away from the palace by the time Tuvarius was discovered.

  As expected, the corridor leading to the queen’s private chamber was guarded. When approaching, he gave the two men a friendly wave.

  “You’re not supposed to be here,” said the guard standing to his left.

  “I know,” he replied. “But the truth is I just don’t like crowds. Especially when it’s a lot of chattering nobles all competing for the king’s attention. You wouldn’t object if I used this way to sneak outside for a short while, would you?”

  The guards looked at each other uncertainly. After a moment, the older of the two shrugged. “What does it matter? The queen isn’t down there anyway. Just tell the guard at the passage entrance that Drayke said to let you pass.”

  “Thank you. I really do need to get some fresh air.”

  The man smiled. “I wish I could come with you. We’ll be standing here with nothing to do all night long.”

  Akiri slapped him fondly on the shoulder. “It could be worse. At least there are no hordes of drunken guests in this part of the palace to make your life difficult.”

  He moved on to where the secret passage led outside. Two more guards stood at the exit, but Akiri’s friendly smile and the mention of Drayke’s name was more than enough to set them at ease. They allowed him to pass without objection.

  Once beyond the palace walls, it was immediately obvious that the public celebrations were just as enthusiastic as those within the royal house. All the street lamps were decorated with streamers of red and gold, as was the front of virtually every building he passed. Unsurprisingly, with so many people packing the thoroughfares, movement was slow. Loud music mingled with a non-stop cacophony of shouting and whistling was further enlivened by the staccato pop and crackle of fireworks. The people of Galfaria unquestionably had a special place in their hearts for their king.

  Navigating his way to the brothel took Akiri more than an hour. When he arrived, he could see the windows were flung wide open, allowing the sounds of merriment from Quarra’s patrons to flood into the street. Apparently, business was especially good that night.

  Inside, it was almost impossible to move without brushing against someone, and he was relieved when he spotted Quarra near the bar. She was talking and laughing with an older man clad in expensive silks, ostentatiously displaying his wealth with a ridiculous amount of gold and jewelry about his person. Her bright smile instantly faded as she spotted Akiri approaching. She whispered something into her client’s ear, and brushing her hand across his plump cheek, she moved across to head him off.

  “What do you want?” she demanded.

  “I assume that you still have my belongings?”

  She snorted indignantly, but without replying, she led him through to the back and into the room where he had stayed when he had first arrived. Quarra rummaged through a dresser until finally producing a small pouch of gold coins.

  “I had to sell your horse and sword,” she said. “This is what’s left of your gold. It took nearly everything I had to keep the queen from throwing me into prison.” She tossed the pouch over to him. “I should never have let Geridia talk me into helping you. Now he’s dead, and I’m penniless.”

  Akiri frowned. This would slow him down. He needed a horse and supplies, and it was most unlikely he would find an open shop or livery. Apart from Quarra’s brothel, every business in the city seemed to have shut down for the celebration.

  “Geridia’s death was unfortunate,” he told her. “But as you are still alive and your establishment is thriving, I am certain that you will recover your losses in time.”

  “Just get the hell out of here,” she retorted, her eyes sending spears of hate into him.

  Akiri inspected the pouch contents. After a brief calculation, he removed a few coins and tossed the rest of the gold back. “I have enough for my purpose. Take this as compensation.”

  Her surprise showing, Quarra placed the offering on a nearby table. After bowing to her, Akiri headed for the door.

  “Is it true?” she called after him. “Did you kill Geridia yourself?”

  He paused. “No. But I did nothing to prevent his death, either. His fate was sealed from the moment he first spoke to me.”

  He did not wait for a response. Quickly leaving the room, he pushed his way through the crowd and back onto the street. Geridia had only himself to blame. He would still be alive had his overwhelming greed not blinded him to the simple fact that he would always be the prime suspect for the theft of Barsyn Bartone’s precious pendant. Or, as it turned out, his murder. But what Akiri had just told Quarra still held true. It was his own success that had ultimately doomed the man. There was little chance of Geridia ever finding anyone else with even the smallest hope of penetrating Barsyn Bartone’s security, so the situation that followed would never have arisen. However, once they had met by chance and their deal made, the die was irrevocably cast.

  How many fates had he altered merely by crossing their paths? For sure, many who would have otherwise lived were now dead. On the other hand, there were a great number of Acharians who owed their continuing existence to him. If the stories of the gods were to be believed, then he would one day be called to answer for his deeds. Many men feared what might come on their judgment day, but not he. He feared nothing. The gods least of all.

  After a fruitless search for a livestock trader that was open, he settled for striking a bargain with a passerby and paying twice what the animal was worth. Food and supplies would have to wait until he was well away from this place. Once Tuvarius’ body was discovered, there was sure to be a search party sent out for him. But with a day’s head start, he should easily be able to avoid any pursuers.

  The guards at the main city gate took no notice of his departure. Their attention was focused almost entirely on those still trying to enter the city. He left the road and followed the city wall west until the point where it turned north. Straight ahead, the moonlight illuminated a tree line about a half mile away. From there it was only twenty miles to a small village where he could pick up some of the supplies he needed. He spurred his horse to a trot. Every yard he traveled brought him closer to getting his old life back… and closer to banishing all the unwanted doubts forever.

  It wasn’t long before he felt a strange presence. He didn’t understand what it was at first. Then a distant cry from high above announced the return of the dragon; or perhaps she had never left and had merely been waiting for his reappearance.

  He could feel her raw emotions coursing through him – a combination of concern and relief. She was happy to see him again. He was pleased, too. Having such a creature as an ally would be a great advantage. Then, almost immediately, a sinking thought occurred. King Zemel had outlawed dragons. T
hey were all to be killed on sight. But surely, he reasoned, if he returned the Scepter, the king would be glad to make an exception. Or would he? Nothing could be certain.

  The dragon let out a piercing screech as though she could feel the conflict troubling Akiri’s soul. They were truly connected. That might prove an issue with what was to come, he considered. But to come meant it was a problem for another day.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tuvarius stared out of the window. His eyes were looking down upon the lights of the city, but his mind was elsewhere. Even the pounding on his door did not shake him from his trance-like state.

  “Lord Tuvarius,” called a woman’s voice from outside his chamber.

  The pounding became louder and more urgent.

  Finally, he became aware of the noise. After letting out a deep sigh, he turned. But before he could answer the door, it swung open. Just beyond the threshold stood an older woman with silver hair and sharp angular features. She wore an extravagant white satin gown, with scores of tiny jewels stitched into swirling patterns down the front and blood rubies down the sides – a fitting display of wealth for the celebration now consuming the entire palace. She had apparently breezed by all of the guards he had put in place to discourage unwanted visitors. This was a woman not accustomed to being kept waiting. He couldn’t help but admire that.

  “What do you want, Lady Folsa?” he asked, making no attempt at all to hide his irritation.

  “You know full well what I want. Is it done?”

  Stepping away from the door, he gestured for her to enter. “Come see for yourself.”

  She hesitated. “I… I don’t need to actually see him.”

  “I insist,” he said.

  Reluctantly, she did as he instructed. She was barely inside the room when the heavy door boomed shut behind her, making her jump like a startled bird. After taking a moment to settle herself, though still breathing far too rapidly, she advanced toward the bed with tiny nervous steps. The body lying on it was soaked in blood, and more was dripping steadily onto the tile floor. Then, her eyes shot wide and a cry of total anguish flew from her mouth.

  “No! By the gods, no.” She fell to her knees beside the bed. “You were supposed to kill Daresh. Not Shemil.”

  “Indeed,” said Tuvarius. “But should it matter which son of yours is dead? Clearly you had too many.”

  She sprang to her feet, tears of fury and sorrow streaming down her face. “What kind of monster are you? I told you explicitly that it was Daresh I needed to be rid of.”

  Tuvarius chuckled. “You hire me to kill your son and then call me a monster?”

  “You have no right to judge me. He was preventing Shemil from taking his rightful place. Then after I found out about that whore of a servant girl…”

  He silenced her with a sharp move of his hand. “You wanted him dead because you found him inconvenient. And that whore of a servant girl, as you call her, is worth a hundred of you. Not that any of this matters in the slightest.”

  Still standing close to the door, he produced a key from his pocket and turned the lock. The ominous clacking of metal was enough to send Lady Folsa trembling. “Why are you afraid, My Lady?” he asked when facing her again. “Surely you do not believe all the rumors about me?”

  It was obvious that she did. Every one of them. Her haughty demeanor vanished in an instant. “Let me go and I’ll pay you whatever you want,” she begged.

  “Will you?” He clicked his tongue. “What a pity you did not offer me more in the beginning. Now I’m afraid you have nothing left to give.”

  “You are wrong. My family–”

  “Your family is now controlled by Daresh,” he said, cutting her short. “Or I should say, Lord Daresh Folsa. It was good of you to give him your late husband’s name. Though I strongly suspect this was not done out of any great kindness, but merely to ensure that no one would ever know he was born a bastard. However, bastard or not, he is the one who now controls your family’s wealth. Which means he can easily pay me a great deal more than you are able.”

  Lady Folsa’s face was now terror-stricken. “That’s impossible. Daresh would never do such a thing to me. Not to his own mother.”

  “On that score, you would have been right until only a few days ago,” Tuvarius told her. “But once I informed him of your treachery, I was surprised at how ruthless the lad could be.” He cocked his head. “I think the prospect of being free to pursue the woman he loves might have helped to steel his resolve as well. I have never understood why the nobility is incapable of seeing the merit in a person if there isn’t a title before their name. I suppose that is one little mystery I shall never solve.”

  Panic seized Lady Folsa. She made a sudden dash for the door and tried desperately to force it open. Tuvarius was unmoved. While she continued to tug and kick, he merely shook his head and took a seat at the table. After a minute or so, she gave up and collapsed to her knees.

  “Please,” was all she could gasp out through a series of uncontrollable sobs.

  “Normally such a display might sway me,” he said. “But then I remember why you have come here. You wanted to see the body. You wanted to be certain he was gone.” He waved his hand in an elaborate circle. “Look now. Look and see that all is well.”

  Unable to resist his command, Lady Folsa’s eyes shifted upwards. A gasp of astonishment slipped out. There, standing beside the bed, was her son, Shemil. He was smiling warmly. There was no trace of blood on him. He was whole.

  “This… this cannot be,” she whispered. “You were… dead. I just saw you.”

  He chuckled softly. “Dead? Do I look dead to you?”

  “But… you were covered in blood. Lord Tuvarius said… he said…” She covered her face. “No. I don’t believe it. You’re trying to trick me.”

  Shemil crossed over to his mother and leaned down to place his hands tenderly on her shoulders. “You see? I am warm and alive. This is not a trick.”

  Slowly she looked up, her face soaked with tears. “Is it really you?” She touched his cheek with her fingertips. “My darling boy.”

  He lifted her to her feet. “You have been through so much, mother. You need to rest now.”

  She threw her arms around him. But after only a few seconds her legs began to weaken and her vision blurred. “Yes. I think you’re right,” she murmured. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me.”

  Shemil helped her to the bed and gently laid her down. “Sleep now, mother,” he said, taking her by the hand. “All is well. I am here with you.”

  As her eyes closed, a fragile smile crept upon her lips.

  Tuvarius continued holding Lady Folsa’s hand until all traces of life had completely drained from her body. Blood still dribbled from the cut he had made to her jugular, mingling with that of her son lying beside her.

  “Quite the gruesome sight,” came a child’s voice from near the window. “But why so much effort? You could have simply stabbed her through the heart, just like Akiri believes he did to you.” He laughed softly. “Mortal eyes are so easily fooled.”

  Tuvarius scowled over at the small figure standing in the shadows. “What do you want?”

  “Honestly? I was confused. I wondered if you might help to clear my mind.”

  “Ask what you will and be gone.”

  “Just one question. It should not prove to be too difficult to answer. Simply this: why did you give the location to Akiri and yet withhold it from me? One might wonder if it wasn’t entirely… personal?”

  “You know perfectly well why,” he snapped.

  The boy shook his head and sighed. “Mortals and their petty desires. You would risk everything just to curry favor in the hope of receiving some bauble? Quite pitiful, really, when you think about it.”

  “And yet you are no better,” Tuvarius reasoned. “You seek approval and status in your own way, all in a desperate bid to feel the love of a creature that is incapable of giving it. I would say that makes you
far more pathetic than I.”

  “Careful,” he replied, his voice taking an edge. “Do not forget who I am. This form is only for your benefit. Should I anger, I may reveal my true self.”

  Tuvarius huffed. “Do as you will. I do not fear the likes of you. I have slain your kind before.”

  “Yes, you have,” he conceded. “But that was long ago. You do not think you could challenge me now, do you?”

  As the boy finished speaking, the air suddenly became cold and the light from the lanterns dimmed. Tuvarius pulled his robe tightly around him, his breath now coming out in misty clouds. But none of this had affected his confidence. After sneering at the creature and retrieving a bottle from his cabinet, he said: “If your intention is to intimidate me, you are wasting your time.”

  The air and lights returned to normal. “You are right, of course. Any attempt to frighten you is pointless. I think I am spending far too much time with mortals. You and your petty ways are beginning to rub off on me.”

  “Then why do you insist on plaguing me with your presence?”

  He let out a wild laugh. “I will be leaving you soon enough. Now that Akiri has set out on his mission, he has become my main concern.”

  “I hope he guts you,” Tuvarius said.

  “That is always a possibility. I suppose I will need to be extra careful.” He regarded Tuvarius for a moment. “Were you able to heal him?”

  “And if I was?”

  “Oh, nothing really. I was simply being curious. As his fate is already set, I was wondering why you bothered.”

  Tuvarius looked at him sideways. “You should know very well that no one’s fate is totally fixed. Least of all the son of Serhan.”

  A knock sounded at the door. Tuvarius heaved himself up and allowed four guards to enter. They gazed at the bodies in shock.

  “Is that…?” began one of the men.

  “It is,” said Tuvarius after calmly returning to his seat. “Take them to the cellar and inform Lord Daresh Folsa that his mother and brother are both dead.”