A week later, Sahshir entered the capital's gates ahead of the central column. He had a few new scars and a great deal more frustration. Very little else had been gained besides more bodies.

Romilis met him there, flanked by guards. He looked concerned. "King Sahshir, you've returned. What news? And why do you come alone?"

Sahshir looked at him and drew aside his mask to drink some water. Romilis recoiled at the sight of what lay beneath, but Sahshir did not care. "I have come ahead. We've saved all we can but found more ruins than plantations. So I'm going to withdraw everyone into the city. Narcissa is escorting men from the plantations here as we speak. My men are with her.

"They are taking all the food and supplies we can manage."

"Is that necessary?" asked Romilis.

"Yes," said Sahshir. "Garacel is gathering an army to him, and we've only fragments. So I've sent out scouts to see if I can find him and strike while the iron is hot.

"But none of them have reported back.

"What news here?"

"The last of the fires have been put out," said Romilis, shifting. "We're working to repair some of the damage. We are housing people who've lost their homes in the warehouses.

"There have been vast losses of material and men."

"Get me a list of everything we have left," said Sahshir. "Then order these defenses reinforced. We may well come under siege." He paused. "Is there any news from Nagos?"

"Yes, King Sahshir," said Romilis. "He made an alliance with several pirates. They raided Sornian shipping repeatedly and drew the attention of the Sornian Fleets. One such fleet pursued the pirates into an ambush that King Nagos set.

"He fell on them and sank every one of them. I wrote to some friends in Sorn, and it appears the great houses are panicking. They've called up their full strength for the coming war. They offered a truce with only small concessions on the part of Dinis."

"Then the war is over?" guessed Sahshir.

Romilis paused, and Sahshir got a bad feeling about this. There was something he didn't want to say. "What of the fleet from Chaminus?" asked Sahshir.

Romilus opened his mouth, then shut it again.

"Well?" asked Sahshir.

"After the Sornians made their offer, Emperor Octavus refused," said Romilis. "He would accept no terms that did not leave the Empire intact. Trade agreements meant nothing to him. Thus he led the Dinis fleets out to confront Sorn. With him were his Eastern Kalthakian allies.

"There was a great battle, and the two sides fought for nearly a day. The Emperor led his forces into combat personally and fought valiantly. He nearly drove in the enemy fleet and broke it.

"But he was struck with an arrow and was wounded. The battle fell apart after that. The Eastern Kalthakians broke away from the battle, and the fleet was scattered.

"Emperor Octavus led his ship forward and attacked the Sornian Fleet to cover the retreat. It drew the attention of the Sornian Captains; they all wanted to capture him. However, he and his men fought to the bitter end and let the fleet escape. The Emperor was killed in battle.

"They say Sen Kaba cut his throat in single combat.

"The fleet is scattered, and even now, Sorn is on its way."

Sahshir considered his situation. It was not a good one, and they were all likely to die, but death was inevitable. On the other hand, with proper strategy, they could make a glorious end and a costly victory for Sorn. Octavus had already done that, and Sahshir considered his death a redemption. No doubt his time on a ship had hardened him somewhat, and he had fallen as a warrior. "Where did Nagos say he was?"

"The last I heard, he was trying to link up with the Eastern Kalthakians," said Romilis. "He was now present for the battle."

"How far from us is the Sornian Fleet?" asked Sahshir.

"Perhaps a week," said Romilis.

Sahshir moved past him, looked up at one of the white stone buildings, and focused on slanted shingles. "Where is Marius?"

"He has been trying to gather a militia from the people here," said Romilis. "However..."

"Yes?" asked Sahshir. He was beginning to grow tired of this man constantly hesitating. It was a show of weakness. Why was he so nervous and resentful of his allies?

"He's ordered the slaves liberated en masse," said Romilis. "He promised them freedom if they would fight for us. We nearly had a riot."

"Would you prefer to cut their throats?" asked Sahshir.

"Of course not," said Romilis.

"Then we have little choice," said Sahshir. "We can't afford to have a hostile population inside our walls when we're under siege, and we need all the help we can get.

"Let me think." He sat down and thought things through. "If we can hunt down and destroy Garacel before the Sorn Fleet arrives... no, no, by the time we get his location, they may be here. And we can't spend long hunting him."

"We'll fortify the harbor first. Then, if we can repulse the Sornian's initial assault, Nagos may have time to help us.

"Who is this Sen Kaiban anyway?"

"They call him the Young Conqueror," said Romilis. "He was adopted into the Kaba family with his brother. He managed to seize numerous islands in the name of Sorn. He established many sugar plantations. It is said he killed Emperor Octavus personally."

"And he was not here before?" asked Sahshir.

"The fleet sent against us before was from House Magnious. They are an ancient and venerable Sorn House," said Romilis. "They and the Kaba's have hated each other for years.

"Sornian Houses all have their own personal forces and fleets."

"Very well then," said Sahshir. "Can we get a ship to Chaminus?"

"It is possible, though they may be overtaken," said Romilis.

"Find a volunteer to take a message there," said Sahshir. "I must know for certain if the Emperor still lives and what part of our forces remain."

"This is madness!" blurted Romilis. "The war is lost!"

"We have not lost the war," said Sahshir. "Nor will we lose it."

"This is not your land," said Romilis. "If we come to terms with Sorn now, we can gain a reasonable deal. Freeing the slaves to use as soldiers will only destroy our society. All to pursue an impossible victory.

"Forcing Sorn to suffer a pyrrhic victory will only ensure our destruction! You must see that!" Sahshir imagined Chaminus in flames as a Sornian flag was raised above the palace. He thought about slaughter and death. All for what? Sugar and gold?

"All men die. In a hundred years, every one of us will die," said Sahshir. "Sorn may destroy you, even if you negotiate with them.

"You can face your enemy with dignity and perhaps gain the glory that outlives you. Or you can cower in fear and be forgotten. If we defeat Sorn here, you can negotiate far better terms with Dinis next Emperor. Surrender, and you will be made weaker either way."

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Romilis looked at him hard for a moment, then sighed. "Very well, I'll make the arrangements," He moved off.

Sahshir looked to some men, then glanced to see the troops approaching. "You, men. Take me to Marius."

As it turned out, Marius was drilling the militia and ensuring they consisted of mixed races. There were glares directed between both sides. But all were working at drills, practicing marching and shield walls. Marius himself observed, occasionally giving orders. As Sahshir arrived, he glanced up. "Sahshir, you've returned. Where are the others?"

"Escorting refugees and supplies to this location," said Sahshir. "Are these the slaves you freed?"

"Some of them," said Marius. "The masters objected, but they've no steel in them. It isn't in my nature to make an army of mixed races. While I respect your kind, our armies ought not to mix. Even so, I felt it was necessary."

"Why?" asked Sahshir, having suspicions about the reason himself.

"Everyone hates everyone else," says Marius. "The lower class freemen resent the higher-ranked ones and hate the slaves. The upper classes hold lower-class freemen and slaves in contempt. The slaves want them all dead.

"If any stability is to be established here, they need to have something in common.

"So I drafted men from all classes and forced them to train under my soldiers. If they fight a few battles together, they may reach some form of understanding."

"You're taking it very well that your Emperor is dead," noted Sahshir.

Marius sighed and finally looked grim at last. "We've lost Emperor's before. But, at least he died well, fighting in glory. He didn't beg for mercy or try to buy his way out. I heard that he took his own life rather than be captured. And at least his successor didn't murder him."

"Who is his successor?" asked Sahshir.

"Does it matter?" asked Marius. "Some noble who has bought favors in the right places, I expect. They'll marry the Empress Mother, or failing that, kill her. Believe me, it could be worse.

"In my Father's twentieth year, we had four Emperor's in one year. Every single one of them killed his predecessor and murdered his family.

"Though Octavus I was the exception to murdering the families of his enemies. He let most of them live unless they were openly treasonous. Most of them even did the things he accused them of. His son was much the same in that."

"And you honestly tolerate this kind of behavior?" asked Sahshir, shocked at what he hard. Baltoth had never had this kind of succession issue; he ruled eternally.

"We don't have much choice," said Marius. "I suspect Zigildrazia arranged many of those changes in power. It all stopped once we entered the service of Lady Safara."

Sahshir paused and realized they were getting away from the subject. Still, he wondered how Marius dealt with dwelling in an unstable society. To have your Emperor shift in a matter of days and think nothing of it...

It was unimaginable to Sahshir. "We must compensate the planets for their loss of slaves."

"To what end?" asked Marius. "I've had all I can take of good farmers being forced off their lands by slaveholders."

"Have you ever heard the story of God Emperor Valranor?" asked Sahshir instead of a straight answer. Stories made points better than direct statements.

"The God whom Baltoth supplanted," mused Marius. "I have heard of him."

"He was a being of immense power, greater than any other god," said Sahshir. "He had armies beyond count and held dominion over the greatest Empire the world had ever seen. When he conquered a region, those he conquered did as he said. No aspect of their culture that he disapproved of was allowed.

"In terror, they submitted to him.

"But then came Baltoth and dealt him defeat after defeat. Thus the spell was broken. Valranor's subjects saw the chance to restore themselves. They rose in rebellion, and Valranor's Empire was destroyed. When Baltoth took his place, he allowed them to act as they saw fit, so long as they ruled in his name.

"Now his Empire is larger and greater than Valranor. Baltoth has fought many wars and suffered many defeats. But not once has a rebellion succeeded. All are bound by his inexorable will. We must follow his example."

"In Dinis, many once-proud soldiers now walk homeless. While fat planters like these live large in farms tilled by slaves," snapped Marius. "Farms that were stolen from my brothers.

"To be beggared is no more than they deserve."

This conversation needed a dose of reality.

"Look around you, Marius," hissed Sahshir. "We are about to come under attack by overwhelming enemies from all sides. With Octavus dead, these planters might decide surrender is their only option. And if we alienate them, they could turn on us.

"We must pay them for the slaves you freed."

Marius eyed him carefully. "As you say, how will you do it?"

"We have a great deal of loot stolen from the countryside," said Sahshir. "Return it."

"You want us to give up our winnings?" asked Marius incredulously.

"It used to belong to the city anyway," said Sahshir. "If we give it back, we'll ingratiate ourselves with them.

"Keep it, and they'll call us thieves."

"Let them," said Marius. "We seized that plunder ourselves."

"And if we do not give it up, our defense is doomed," said Sahshir. "Which do you value more? Plunder? Or your nation and life? Believe me, I have no great love for this place. But for the sake of Kalthak, I would gladly give up money for duty."

Marius shifted. "...Very well, then. We will give up a portion of the plunder we seized.

"We're all likely to die anyway when the Sornians get here. And if we win, their weapons could be sold for much gold."

"Then let us focus on what we may do to defend against the coming assault," said Sahshir. "Have you fought the Sornians before?"

"No," said Marius. "Not before this war.

"But they'll have to land somewhere. If we stand our ground here, we should be able to hold them off for a long time."

"Perhaps," said Sahshir, thinking of recent battles. Marius' plan seemed like something other than a winning strategy. "Have you heard the story of the Battle of Desora?"

"No," said Marius.

"Desora is a beach in the province of Artarq. It is a domain contested between Calisha and our nemesis, Harlenor," said Sahshir. "It was conquered some years ago when traitors rose in rebellion. They invited Harlenor to protect them.

"King Banir, the rightful leader, was forced to flee. Then, with the river held against him, he raised a fleet from Calisha and attacked by sea.

"But there was a cunning warrior among the Harlenorians. Sir Vanion Gabriel found them landing and gathered a small part of his army. He fell on Banir's army as it landed and drove them into the sea. It was a humiliation, and the fleet was forced back.".

"What's your point?" asked Marius. "And why do you admire an enemy?"

"Baltoth teaches us that one must study their enemy and know their virtues," said Sahshir. "If you understand the greatness of your opponent, you may use that greatness for your own benefit.

"As for my point, I believe such a strategy may do us good."

"What do you have in mind?" asked Marius.

"We will find where Kaiban lands his forces," said Sahshir. "We will gather our full force and charge to kill as many as we can."

"You would gamble everything on one battle?" asked Marius, smiling.

"If we wait forever here, we will surely be defeated," said Sahshir. "So let us attack and hope for victory against all odds."

"The plan may have merit," conceded Marius. "But we should have far more of a plan than that."

"Then let us make our plans now and pray for good fortune," said Sahshir.

"I'll send out scouts and consult maps to see if I may find a good place for unloading ships," said Marius. "They may try the harbor again, but they may not."

"Sorn may attempt to make an alliance with the slaves on the island," noted Sahshir. "I suspect elements of their forces have helped to start these revolts."

"That would be wholly in character for Kaba," mused Marius. "In his conquests, he makes alliances with local leaders. Usually, he plays them against one another."

"And what happens to his allies when they are no further use?" asked Sahshir.

"It depends," said Marius. "In some cases, when dealing with Harlenorians, Kaba sticks to the agreement. But when dealing with natives or pirates, he is not nearly so quick to stick to his principles."

"Have you met him?" asked Sahshir.

"Yes," said Marius. "He bought up all the professional healers in my region individually, so they were taking his orders. He then proceeded to raise their rates to obscene levels. So my sister is a priestess of Imogen and began healing people freely who couldn't afford his prices.

"A gang of thugs broke her arm and cut off her fingers. Though no one ever proved it was he who sent them. None of the healers in the area would fix the wound for fear of him, which was beyond her ability. Then Kaba arrived, with one of his personal physicians came and healed her. He politely suggested to Father that she not be sent on such dangerous ventures in the future.

"After that, she stopped healing people, and people started dying much quicker. Eventually, she moved to the capital to practice her trade there."

"How did he strike you?" asked Sahshir. "Beyond the obvious."

"He didn't strike me; that would be out of character for him," Marius scornfully said.

"What was your impression of him?" asked Sahshir.

"Cold, harsh, blunt. He bears none of the courtesy one should expect from a true aristocrat," said Marius. "He wears a long coat and has brown hair, and he often practices with knives. Has a fixation on dragons, too, I think, if the designs on his wall are any indication.

"Most of his operations are done through a man named Lilas these days. Why do you ask?"

"If Sen Kaba seizes this island, he will want the cooperation of the locals, will he not?" asked Sahshir.

"Yes, for the moment," said Marius.

"So that means he may ally with the slaves," mused Sahshir. "But he won't keep it."

"Unless he chooses to exterminate the entire island," noted Marius.

"That would leave the island useless for a long period," said Sahshir. "And make his battle far harder. No, he'll want to use the planters for the moment. If I were him, I'd ally with the slaves, use them as cannon fodder, then put them back in chains."

"Where are you going with this?" asked Marius.

"We may fail to drive the Sornians into the sea, as we hope," said Sahshir. "If so, we will need to have a fallback plan."

"Surely you seek death or glory?" asked Marius.

The conclusion was obvious. "No, I seek a battle with a possibility of success," said Sahshir. "I cannot see any chance of victory against a fleet large enough to route the Emperor. Not by a direct static defense. An aggressive assault may achieve success. But they may land in more than one place or reform and land again.

"If that happens, there must be another means to achieve victory. We can turn the advantage of our enemy against them."

Marius paused. "Your Queen, Narcissa, is close with Garacel."

"She is not my Queen, but she was trained by Garacel, yes," said Sahshir. He thought with revulsion at the idea of sleeping with her. Not anything against her; the idea was merely... unpleasant for him.

"Then I believe I may have a strategy that could yield fruit," noted Marius.

"What is it?" asked Sahshir.

And then Romilus appeared. "Captain Marius, King Sahshir, Narcissa, and her forces have arrived."

Marius stood and called a halt. "We'll discuss the details once she is with us. We will need her help with this."

Once more, they had work to do.