Child, God, Dust: The Pure
Tjenkha, Central Nekhtou, the Kikhepis.
The Third Day of the First Moon, 2400 BD.
"Your Magnificence? Please, I apologise for rousing you at such an hour."
Amerys rose, bleary eyed and tired. Why had he been awoken? Was it morning already?
"What? What's happened?"
The servant who roused him was his father's spymaster, responsible for knowing what everyone was doing all the time. Amerys didn't really understand what was happening, nor did he really know the man's name, but that wasn't really important. The man was a servant, a 'functionary', or whatever he called himself. Amerys didn't need to know him properly for many years yet. The man stayed silent, looking at the young boy with pity, and so Amerys tried again.
"It's not my name-day for a few days yet. Why have you woken me up?"
"Come with me, your Magnificence. I'll explain on the way."
The child nodded and made to follow the man, who walked him to a chamber a few rooms down where several slaves were preparing what seemed to be a smaller version of his father's courtly clothes. The spymaster spoke.
"Are they ready yet?
One of the slaves, who seemed to be in charge of his wardrobe, gave a deferential nod.
"Almost, master. A few more moments, I beseech you."
The spymaster nodded and turned to Amerys.
"I am sorry, my young Magnificence. Your mother and father... bad men came in the night. Your divine father ascended to take his place alongside Djaf the Undying after attempting to protect your divine mother. She joined him an hour ago. I am sorry."
Amerys blinked in confusion.
"But... how can father be by Djaf's side if he's the King-of-Kings? He can't be in both places at once, can he?"
The spymaster ran a hand through his black hair, and closed his eyes for a moment. The slaves in the room had gone deathly still, each seemingly too afraid to break the tension in the room. Amerys took a moment to look over the outfit that had been made for him. There were a pair of purple baggy sleeves connected by a length of gold fabric running just under where his neck would be, a pure silver usekh, and a purple linen kilt. To the side was a selection of fine jewellery; bracelets of precious metal, golden earrings, amulets and necklaces of precious stones. His favourite was a pectoral to be attached to a necklace, which was little more than an uncut fist-sized sapphire. He gazed into the sapphire as he was want to do, seeing his reflection cast back at him from its polished surface.
Then the realisation of what the spymaster meant this whole time hit him.
"Wait, mother and father are-"
The spymaster cut him off with a curt word and a nod.
"Yes."
Something about the way he said it, the thing that he said, the fact that his parents were no longer here...
Amerys sniffled, and wiped at his eyes with the sleeves of his nightclothes. The spymaster started, and rushed forwards. He knelt to be able to look Amerys in the eyes, a steely glint in his gaze.
"No your Magnificence, you must not weep. Weeping is most unbecoming for one as divine as yourself."
"But father-"
"IS DEAD. There, I have said it. I tried to keep my words gentle, but if that is the only way you will understand then it is how I shall speak to you. Your father is dead, and I am taking you to sit the throne before one of your cousins tries something stupid. Come."
The walk to the throneroom was conducted in silence. Every now and again they would pass a pair of guards wearing animal-faced helmets who would fall in line behind them, the sounds of their marching feet all that could be heard in the night. Amerys had always enjoyed the artistry in the great corridor leading to the throneroom; he might have been five, almost six, but even he could somewhat appreciate the artwork on the walls and ceiling of the room. Great battles in which Nekhtoudum armies clashed with southern rebels or northern legions, of nomadic bands kneeling before Amenrut the Breaker, of the great monsters slain by Harakhty Dune-Tamer in the days before Djaf had united their people. It was truly a magnificent sight that would captivate him on any other day.
But today was not any other day. Today his mother and father had been killed, and he was to sit the throne before they had even gone cold. It wasn't fair, why wasn't he allowed to cry?
Because I am divine. I am of the gods, not mortal ken. I am above such displays.
He repeated the words as a mantra in his head, trying to stave off tears. He looked to the walls once more to try and distract himself, but all he could see were bad men where the triumphant were, and father dead at their feet.
He felt fury rising within him.
"Who did it."
The spymaster smiled.
"I knew it would not take long for one as just as yourself to ask that question, your Magnificence. I believe it was a group of nomads whom your father had been feuding with over a proposed plan of his."
Amerys scrunched up his face in confusion.
"What plan?"
"Your father wished to build a monument greater than any other to honour Djaf the Undying, an undertaking the likes of which have never been attempted. He wished to make a statue of one of the mountains that line the Valley of the Gods. Do you know where the Valley of the Gods is, my young Magnificence?"
Amerys shook his head, and the spymaster continued.
"Ah, it is no matter. It seems such a plan is not meant to be anymore."
Amerys started, turning to face the spymaster.
"NO! No! Father died because the bad men didn't want him to build it, so I'll build it for him! To spite them!"
This seemed to give the spymaster pause.
"You... you wish to undertake your father's ambition?"
"Yes. Wait, no. He didn't go far enough. He put Djaf above the other gods, but that was my divine father's only mistake. I will not just build his monument to Djaf; I would build monuments to Abuskhau, Abayomi, Ini-Herit, Tskal, and all the other gods beside them. This valley will live up to its name, by my will. I will not let my father die for nothing."
The spymaster sighed and continued walking.
"If that is your will, your Magnificence. Come, the throne awaits."
If the corridor leading to the throneroom was beautiful, then the throneroom itself was beyond words. The entire chamber was a masterpiece of art; carved statues of great heroes were draped with fine linen robes and jewellery of precious metals and stones, the walls were covered by tapestries and almost divine-looking works of artistry, and the ceiling above him was engraved in scenes of death and rebirth. He loved the throneroom. But now he was to sit the throne, and far too soon at that.
The spymaster bade him sit, and so he took his place upon the raised throne. When he was seated comfortably his spymaster nodded at the captain of the palace guards, and stepped forwards.
"Your Magnificence, I strongly urge you to send your illustrious guardians out to find your cousins, so as to bring them here."
"Why? Can they not await the morning to see me seated on my father's throne?"
The man sighed gently.
"It is your throne now, your Magnificence. But no, they can not. I fear their reaction to you taking your rightful place as your father's heir. Many of them likely believe they are better suited to rulership, seeing as they have lived longer than you. Your eldest cousin I especially fear. He is popular enough that many may choose to follow him over you, in what I can only describe as foolishness of the highest order."
Amerys nodded, and stifled a yawn. Even as he did he felt himself grow nervous. Cousin Khypra would never hurt him, would he? His older cousin was his friend, and would oft play games with him throughout the palace.
"Khypra is dangerous?"
The spymaster nodded.
"Yes, your Magnificence. He is friendly towards you not from a place of genuine love, but from some twisted desire to see you laid low whilst he ascends. He seeks power. I will not let him harm you, you have my word."
Khypra had always been kind. He had always made time for Amerys, and as such Amerys had no need to fear him. But nonetheless, he felt fear. Maybe it was that he had just learned of his parent's deaths. Maybe it was being roused at such an early hour. Maybe it was because the man telling him this was his father's spymaster- no, not father's anymore, my spymaster. Perhaps it was a mix of all three. Whatever the reason, he was as malleable as clay in the hands of the experienced spymaster.
"Bring them here, but do not harm them."
The captain of the guard slammed the butt of his halberd on the tiled floor of the throneroom, the bronze blade glinting as it seemed to catch a beam of moonlight that peered through an open balcony. Two dozen men wearing bronze animal-headed helmets mimicked the motion before falling in line behind him. They then filed out into the palace, and Amerys yawned so wide he heard a crack in his jaw.
"A most just commandment, your Magnificence."
Amerys smiled at the spymaster, pleased at the praise. He might have been young, but if he could do well enough then surely that wouldn't matter, would it? If even his late-father's spymaster was pleased with him, then that must have meant he was doing relatively well, right?
It didn't take long for his cousins to be escorted into the room. There might have been a dozen of them in total, and all seemed confused.
All except Khypra.
"Your Magnificence. It is good to see you sit the throne, though I truly wish the circumstances of your ascent were better. May I ask as to our summons?"
Khypra's voice was as smooth as ever, though there was a hint of strain behind it when he caught sight of the spymaster.
The spymaster just smiled at him.
"You cannot trust him, cousin. He drips poison in people's ears."
Amerys felt somewhat confused at the expression, and none too anxious at being in the same room as his cousins, whom he had been told would be happy to watch him fall. Some of that fear must have shown on his face, for Khypra's reaction was immediate. He seemed almost shocked, as though he had been physically struck.
"Oh, cousin, what has he told you?"
"You mean to seize the throne from me. Is it true?"
The shocked look remained on Khypra's face.
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"Of course not! Your father was the King-of-Kings, not mine. I am your cousin, Amerys. I would never seek to harm you."
Amerys felt himself grow more relaxed as the words were spoken, but then the spymaster stepped forwards.
"If that is true, do you deny that you wish to be named his Magnificence's regent?"
Khypra steeled himself and turned back to Amerys.
"That much is true. You are young, cousin, and the burden of rule should not have been thrust upon you so early in your life. Allow me to pass judgement in your name for a few years whilst you enjoy all your young life has to offer, and when the time is right you will take up your mantle for true."
Amerys swallowed as his spymaster turned to him.
"See, your Magnificence. He wants power, as I said. He claims to serve you with one phrase, and demands power with the next. How can you trust him?"
Another cousin, Atem, stepped forwards towards the spymaster, an affronted and angry aspect to her movements.
"How dare you accuse-"
She was cut off soundly by a backhanded blow from the guard standing next to the spymaster, and reeled backwards into the gathered group of her cousins.
"YOU SWINE!"
There was the sound of bronze blades being drawn from their scabbards as a few of his cousins, Khypra included, brandished their weapons at both the spymaster and the offending guard. The guards in the chamber readied their own halberds, lowering them at Amerys' cousins.
"STOP, PLEASE!"
All movement in the room stopped, no matter which party it was that was moving. It took Amerys a second to realise it had been him that had shouted for peace.
"Please, peace. I don't want anyone to be hurt."
"Your Magnificence, do you see now? He demands power, then he and his followers draw their blades in your own throne room. That is treason, your Magnificence, and there is only one punishment for treason."
"Cousin, please, you must understand that already he is poisoning your reign! He is trying to turn you against your family, to isolate you and make you his to control! Please, heed my words!"
Amerys swallowed hard, forcing down the lump that had formed in his throat. when he spoke his voice was hoarse, and he had to almost force the words out.
"I will not hurt my family, but what you have done is treason."
"Amerys-"
There was a look of deep hurt on his beloved cousin's face as he spoke, and it only intensified when Amerys cut him off.
"I hereby banish you all from the Kingdom of the Kikhepis, never to return on pain of... on pain of death. You will be allowed to take all of your wealth, your slaves, your belongings with you, and any who wish to travel with you may do so. I'm sorry, Khypra, but I hope your exile will at least be comfortable."
There was a look somewhere between hurt and anger on his cousin's face, and Amerys had to stop himself from flinching away. He didn't like someone he loved giving him that look, but what else was he to do? He was King-of-Kings now, and he had to act like this, didn't he?
"Very well, cousin. I wish you good fortune in the years to come, your Magnificence. If he remains at your side, you will need it."
With that his cousins were escorted out, and Amerys slumped into his chair.
"Did I do well?"
The spymaster smiled and nodded kindly at him.
"A most just decision, your Magnificence. You heard his demands and protests, and acted firmly yet fairly. It is my opinion they should be grateful you have not shortened them by a head for their treason. Many, many men would not have been nearly so merciful."
Amerys let himself smile a small smile. Maybe he would not be such a bad ruler after all?
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A little over two years had passed since then, and Amerys felt he was beginning to take true strides towards greatness; work on the project was already well underway, the modified versions of his father's plans making him very popular amongst the stonemasons and architects of the land. But for all the success his project had seen thus far, there never seemed to be enough hands for the work. So, taking advantage of one of the rare periods of peace between the two great nations of Sothena, he had asked his advisors to approach the Sotenari to the north. The Sotenari were hesitant at first, especially given how they'd been at war for most of his divine grandfather's reign, but when they realised just how many slaves he wanted to buy, they couldn't have been friendlier. He entertained and was entertained by dignitaries, presented Sotenari Octarchs with lavish chariots, gemstones the size of his head, and great beasts found nowhere else in the world. In return, the Sotenari lavished him with the greatest slaves their empire had to offer. Slaves trained to perfection, and the result of unparalleled quality and care of breeding; there were slaves trained in the arts of war, of masonry, of guardianship, of tutelage, of pleasure. There were hundreds of them, given over as a 'sample' of what fruits this new relationship could provide. He smiled. He truly was divine; only one with such radiant magnificence could have single-handedly mended relations with their longest and greatest enemy.
"So, how many head of our stock would your Magnificence wish to purchase from our wares? As you know, your contracts will always take precedence over any others, even the Octarchs themselves acknowledge their position beneath those contracts your radiance provides us with, and as such there is little worry of delay or lacking quality, so it please your Magnificence."
He tilted his chin upwards and looked down at the representative prostrating before him.
"Rise. Remind me, how many slaves have been sent to me with the contracts I have already graced your masters with?"
"Two-hundred thousand head of slaves have been purchased by your most illustrious Magnificence, so please you, not counting the four-hundred and forty-four given as a gift by Octarch Ashtad."
Amerys smiled down magnanimously. He'd purchased more slaves than any other man on the planet, that much was certain, and he had only just seen his eighth winter.
And yet the Valley of the Gods demanded a far higher price than a paltry two-hundred thousand slaves.
"Double it."
The man did a double take, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"I- your magnificence, of course! It shall be as you command! If it please your Magnificence, would you mind clarifying something for me, so my own feeble mind is not overturned by your meaning?"
Amerys smiled wider at the man. Truly, these lesser-types were so primitive in the mind. Not at all like his divine self.
"You may."
"Thank you, your radiance. If it please you, when you say to 'double it', are you saying I should double the number of our slaves in your possession, providing another two-hundred thousand? Or would your radiant self wish for me to double the number and then provide them to you, giving you a further four-hundred thousand?"
The throne room went silent, awaiting his response. For certain, he had originally intended for another two-hundred thousand to be purchased. But then they had been blessed with some truly great harvests recently, not to mention the gold coming through from the eastern traders purchasing the black diamonds from the southern mines at truly staggering prices, so his realm could definitely afford such a magnificent purchase.
"Four-hundred thousand. Be they man or woman I care not, only that they can perform the physical labours they are purchased for. I would be willing to buy each for half an ankh. I trust your masters will find this satisfactory?"
The man and his delegation were shocked for a moment into stunned silence, before a grin spread across his face.
"Oh, your Magnificence! You honour us beyond measure! My masters would be most pleased to receive such a great offer! I can only apologise at the length of time gathering so many slaves will take, but I swear to you that within a year they will be with you."
Amerys nodded, ignoring his rising annoyance. He knew it would take time to get that many slaves, he wasn't stupid. Even still, waiting a full year would bore him.
"In fact, your Magnificence, in light of your most radiant patronage of our guild, many of our senior members wished to provide you a truly great gift; Shaya! Bring forth his Magnificence's gift!"
There was the sound of rattling chains and a bellowed roar as a man brought forth two chained figures into the throne room. Amerys' noticed how his guards' gripped their halberds tighter. Odd. He'd never known his masked champions fear anything before.
But then the two figures in front of him seemed truly strange. He had never seen men that big before in his life.
"Before you stand two premium examples of our greatest success with fleshsmithing to date. Ogyrs, they are known as. A blending of human servility and the strength of the Umbra-in-the-Shapes-of-Men, they will surely be a great boon towards your efforts, especially given the physical requirements of those slaves you request. There are two-dozen such creations awaiting you to take up their whip, if fit pleases your Magnificence."
Amerys grinned a true grin, and waved a hand beckoning the whipmaster forwards. The man knelt before his ruby-encrusted throne, and raised an onyx-handled ceremonial whip with trembling hands. There was a beautiful diamond set into the pommel of the whip, polished and cut to perfection.
It did not matter that the man was five times his age, nor that he was just as many times his size and built of pure muscle. He trembled nonetheless. Amerys smiled. All trembled before divinity.
"Magnificent, are they not?"
Amerys nodded at the man, too pleased by the performance of the Ogyrs to chastise the Sotenari representative for his informality. The man, Fardin, had earned it, especially if more creations like this could be sent his way. Each of the hulking brutes had the strength of a dozen men, and as such made for perfect manual labourers for working at the Valley of the Gods.
"Indeed, Ambassador Fardin. Please give my commendations to your ruling council, the Octarchs and Slaver's Guild both. These creations truly are magnificent. Tell me, if you may, how much would they cost, per-head, in Ankhs?"
Fardin rubbed his chin, but had a glint in his eye. He was clearly going to enjoy reporting back to his overlords the bulk purchase he had 'negotiated', as if Amerys wouldn't have purchased them regardless. He didn't care, personally. Even at his young age, he recognised that having a man rise high in the Slaver's Guild and potentially gain a seat on the ruling council thanks purely to Amerys himself would be a great boon.
"A most just question, your Magnificence. The creation of such creatures is relatively new, and in confidence, the legions back in Zamettar are hoping for militarised variants soon. I believe we can offer you no more than a hundred and fifty head at the moment, at ten Ankhs each."
"A pity. I would have liked to round their numbers out to two-hundred total."
The man nodded.
"Your Magnificence, if that is what you wish then I promise I shall do my best to see it done. For one such as yourself the additional creations should not take long."
"These militarised variants; I would have twenty dispatched as well. Is there a sort of... smart version? A leader, for lack of a better term. I would have one of those, if such a creature exists."
Fardin was silent a few moments, sweating from what seemed like more than the humidity.
"Your Magnificence... I... I will do my best to see the Ogyr Legionaries sold to you. As for the intelligent one..."
He looked around again, his voice a hushed whisper.
"None outside of the Guild even know of the development of such a creature, but I can assure you it exists. I will see it sold to you, but it will be expensive. Four-hundred ankhs for the twenty Legionaries, another four-hundred for the alpha."
"It is done. I will see you paid in advance for such creatures. They are magnificent."
Next to him one of his champions clenched their fist tighter around their halberd, as they often did when such creatures were seen or mentioned around himself.
"There are other beasts we make, your Magnificence. If you would like, I can see them sent your way, though I will confess there are few that could be of use in such a truly great project as yours."
The nasally voice of his spymaster cut into the conversation from the side, a polite cough drawing the attention of both Amerys and Fardin. Fardin took a step back in surprise, a whispered curse under his breath. He quickly covered his mouth with his hands when he realised he had sworn in front of the King-of-Kings, eyes moving to the champion at Amerys' side who was already hefting their halberd.
Amerys raised his hand, then lowered it slowly. The halberd moved at an almost gentle pace back to the side of the champion, who maintained his glare at the foreigner despite being denied his kill.
"There is no need for such an extreme reaction. Our friend here is not divine in nature as I am. He must be expected to make mistakes every now and again."
His spymaster raised an amused eyebrow before speaking.
"If I may cut in, I have heard some rumours of a beast that could be most useful in his Magnificence's' divine work."
Fardin blinked in confusion a few times before the spymaster continued.
"Tell me, Emissary, does the term 'Titanblooded' mean anything to you?"
Fardin was silent a long while, his eyes going wide. When he spoke it was a babble at first as he tried to string together a coherent sentence, but with a pointed look from Amerys he managed to find his voice.
"I... I have already disclosed one confidential creation to your most magnanimous self, your Magnificence. Please, allow me to take this mass order to the council, and I will argue the case for other such confidential projects to be sold to your most divine self."
"You are unable to tell me of these creatures now? Why?"
He might have asked it as a question, but all present knew it was not. If he didn't like the answer, then Fardin's career might find itself cut short before it had truly begun, and the man himself would similarly find himself shorter by a head.
"The men of the council are not divine, your Magnificence. They will be slower to accept things than your most intelligent self. Please, allow me to take your word back to the council, where I can argue your case to the best of my abilities. This I swear to you."
There was silence in the plaza for a few seconds, and Amerys let it linger. This was power. Silence as all present awaited the word of their god. He was almost tempted to order the man's death on a whim, just to prove the point.
But he was not a mortal mind, constrained by such flights of fancy. He was divine, as Fardin had pointed out.
He allowed a smile to grow across his face.
"Your permission is granted. Make haste north. I expect your council will be most pleased to hear of the purchase I have made here today."
At this the man grinned and nodded profusely at him.
"Oh indeed your Magnificence! Such a huge order will certainly make you by far the single most loved person in the capital, nay, the entire empire. You will be contacted most regularly with news of our progress in fulfilling your order, this I swear. Our peoples, ever enemies, have found friendship in your embrace, your Magnificence. I will ensure your kindness is repaid in kind."
Amerys smiled back at the man as he took his leave. Truly, he had displayed his divinity in the actions he had taken this day.