The Empress’ eyes widened before she made eye contact with her bodyguard, both of them surprised. Tolomon did everything in his power not to react, though he did look at Indenuel and he could almost see him trying to sort out what he was planning.
“I was told it is deeply offensive in your culture for a man to be shirtless in front of a woman he is not married to,” Empress Minai said.
“Which will give you a taste of how desperately I want to speak to you alone,” Indenuel said, his heart pounding as he glanced at the translator before looking back at Empress Minai.
Empress Minai got over her shock, then again narrowed her eyes. “And if there is Garen’s mark on your chest as I suspect? You will try to have me murdered while I am alone?”
Indenuel felt a chill travel up his arms, bringing goosebumps. Of all the differences he knew were in their culture, the name of the devil remained unchanged. There is no way she would have known, since no one knew the name of the devil in Santollia, and the High Elders would never speak it.
She noticed this reaction. “You know of Garen. No other Santollian we’ve captured has.”
He could almost hear Garen’s laughter. He cleared his throat, trying not to show his uncomfortableness. “I would rather not talk of him right now. And I do not want to kill you, Empress. Too much is at stake right now for me to ever do something that stupid.”
Empress Minai raised her eyebrow. “But clearly stupid enough to undress in front of me?”
Indenuel paused, trying to think of a way to disagree, but found he couldn’t. “Yes. Clearly that stupid.” He cleared his throat. “Please give me the opportunity to speak freely with you, and at the end I will…” Indenuel closed his eyes, feeling the words leave his mouth. “… take off my shirt.”
Empress Minai smiled, then she turned to her translator and nodded. “My bodyguard will of course enter as soon as I call. You cannot deny me that.”
“As long as you do not deny me the same for my bodyguard,” Indenuel said. He turned to Tolomon, trying to smile. Tolomon was still staring at Indenuel, trying to figure out his plan, but took a few steps forward, watching the translator closely.
Indenuel took his glass of wine and drained the entire thing as the door closed. “Who is Garen in your religion?”
Empress Minai paused, again studying Indenuel. “The dark being who caused many of the Gods and Goddesses to fall. The chief of the Fallen, the Illusion God, was evil because He helped spread Garen’s deceit and lies to invite chaos into our world. The Sun God trained the Truth God to keep the Illusion God at bay, but as the Fallen gained power, so did Garen. Soon They grew in enough power for Garen to turn on all creation. The Good captured the Fallen and left to cripple Garen’s power as They searched the heavens to find another world. Once They have finished binding the Fallen, the Good will call those spirits who follow Them to the new paradise They have created, where we shall reside for the rest of eternity under Their care.”
“And… Garen remains on this world?” Indenuel asked.
“Yes. Free to corrupt another age. Those who chose evil deeds reside in his domain, helping him gain the power he once had at the beginning of creation. It is one of my duties as Empress of Kiam to make sure Garen never reaches his full potential again. To keep my people waiting in the next life for our paradise promised to us by the Good Gods and Goddesses,” Empress Minai said. “I am most curious to know who you believe Garen to be.”
Indenuel took this all in, fascinated by the story and knowing there was more. When he thought about his own religious knowledge of the beginning of the world it didn’t seem nearly as grand. “We call him the devil. We do not call him by his actual name, for fear of the power granted to him if we speak it. No one but myself and the High Elders know his name. But… but the names are the same.”
The Empress frowned. “What part does Garen- the devil- have to play in your religion?”
“He is the one that convinced the first woman of the world to use devilish powers to… to kill God,” Indenuel said.
“And was this woman successful?” Empress Minai asked.
“The High Elders are keeping this knowledge to themselves,” Indenuel forced himself to say.
“So, she was successful,” Empress Minai said. Indenuel again said nothing. The Empress took another drink of wine. “I must say, I do not like that Garen has cropped up in both of our legends and myths. And in both he manages to get rid of our deities.” She looked at him again. “Only a silly fool would be marked of him.”
Indenuel leaned back in his chair, clearing his throat. “The reason I wanted you alone is because we have… we have a common enemy.”
“Go on,” the Empress said.
“I do not trust the High Elders either,” Indenuel said, saying it slowly, carefully, and glancing at the door even as he said it. “And I could not say so in the presence of my bodyguard, because he is bound by duty to report this to them.”
The Empress nodded, her face never leaving his. “What is your suggestion?”
“I suggest we end the war. We have whatever negotiations we need that would make you comfortable, and you give me time to change the High Elders themselves,” Indenuel said.
“Speaking as someone who has lived many years, you really think your High Elders would change?” Empress Minai asked.
“I think it will be easier as their own countryman to get them to change, rather than to have their enemy try to,” Indenuel said.
Empress Minai nodded. “So, you wish to be secret allies?”
“I wish to stop killing your people, and I wish to protect my countrymen, especially protect them from the High Elders. My countrymen are good, even if their leaders are not to be trusted. I need to pull the problem from the root if I don’t wish for it to grow back, and killing your people is not the answer.”
“You would like me to step back so you can sort out these problems in your country?” Empress Minai asked.
“In a way, yes,” Indenuel said.
“If I back down, the High Elders will still become a world power,” Empress Minai said. “I do not see how this could solve your problem, or mine.”
“They will not become too powerful, because I will be there, making sure they remember they are not untouchable. And… and we can negotiate something where you, to, are not beholden to them,” Indenuel said.
“Have you tried such an endeavor to change them?” Empress Minai asked.
“I have full faith that the ending of the war will help me be far more successful in this endeavor,” Indenuel said.
“What exactly is your plan to reform them?” Empress Minai asked.
Indenuel looked down, again touching the bottom of his wine glass. “There is one High Elder, and only one, who I trust. Not completely, but enough. With him on my side, I am confident we could change the other High Elders.”
The Empress studied him again. “Would it be the High Elder who was there to greet me? Martin the Healer?”
“Yes, it is,” Indenuel said.
Empress Minai nodded, then looked down at his chest. “I will not make a decision until I see what I believe I will see.”
Stolen novel; please report.
Indenuel hesitated. “And what is that?”
“That your other High Elders are rotten and have not stopped you from stumbling into something you cannot possibly handle because it will benefit them,” the Empress said. “And that in your youth, you did not protect yourself from his powers and have become… what is the Santollian word…” She trailed off, looking toward the ceiling. “Unstable.”
Indenuel did not move. “Would you have me killed if I was marked?”
“No,” Empress Minai said. “Both of us would go on pretending like you weren’t.”
“Why?” Indenuel asked.
She had a ghost of a smile. “I will speak the truth. Keeping you alive as you are will benefit me and my people far more than if I were to have you killed. In my many decades as Empress, I have seen what a person is like when they are marked by Garen. I would rather you take that anger out on the High Elders than my people. You do not like them, that much is clear, and with Garen’s added corruption and lies, I do not need to be strong in my power to prophecy what will happen. It would be better for me and my people to carry on this game and have you beside the High Elders then for you to continue to war with me.”
“And I would rather work on reforming the High Elders than kill your people.”
“Then let me see it,” Empress Minai said.
Indenuel hesitated before he stood, starting to take off his jacket. When he thought about the negotiations this morning, this had never been one of the things he thought would happen. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over himself before dropping it on his chair. The Empress stood, studying the mark.
“It’s pink,” she said.
“You gave me three weeks to get it off. This is what I managed to do.”
“From my reports of the battles, little as they have been, you used much of Garen’s power. An impressive accomplishment that it is already so pink,” Empress Menai said. “May I? Or have I already caused a deep offense by making you do this.”
“Go ahead,” Indenuel said. “It was my choice.”
Empress Menai walked forward, tracing her finger over the main mark across his chest, closing her eyes as she did so. Indenuel recognized the powers of speaking to the dead as she probed the mark. “Garen cares little for the color of our eyes, just as he cared little for the Fallen who pledged their allegiance to him. He simply wants to make everyone miserable.”
“Yes. He does,” Indenuel said.
“You were foolish to attempt this. Your leaders even more so to let you,” Empress Menai said.
“The war needed to end. And your soldiers themselves used corruptive means as well.”
Empress Minai shook her head. “Against my wishes, I assure you. I was led to believe they weren’t using corruptive means, until I got reports to the contrary.” Empress Minai opened her eyes and studied the mark again. “I assured them that anyone caught using corruptive means would be brought home in disgrace, but it seems they found ways around my laws, having Oraminians sympathetic to our cause use corruption. Desperation more than anything pushes people toward Garen, and I have strived to make it so no one feels they have to turn to him. Kiam’s religion, and yours as well, are both enough of a warning for that.”
She once again touched the marks, Indenuel could do nothing more than let her. “Let me make myself perfectly clear, Warrior. I believe you are the type of young boy that would make the decision to fully mark yourself. But you are also driven enough that I believe you would try to reform your High Elders. The fact that you already made it this pink is proof enough for me. I want you to understand that both those options please me. Not that I do not care for your soul, but if you fully mark yourself, you will go after your High Elders with a vengeance, and hopefully leave better leaders for your country. My people will pull away from this war, as long as further negotiations are pleasing to both sides. Try to reform them. I shall warn you if the devil instead convinces you to come after my people, I will have an army break whatever negotiations we put in place and come after you, and once they rid of you, they will then take over Santollia. My military is always ready, and all I have to do is say the word, and five hundred soldiers will be on Santollia’s shores.”
Indenuel tried not to react, but he felt his eyes narrowing, his head cocking to one side. “Five hundred?”
“Yes. I have the means of creating an army of five hundred at a moment’s notice. That may not mean much to you, as you have undoubtably killed thousands, but these men have been specifically trained to take down someone like you, so it is no idle threat.”
“I believe you, Empress Minai.” Five hundred. Like the prophecy said. His true final battle, if he was incapable of reforming the High Elders. Despite what the prophecy said, though, he was going to try his hardest to change them. “I realize this is an incredible amount of trust you have placed on one such as me, and I thank you.”
“You have given me little choice, but I feel far more confident about this plan of action,” she said as Indenuel picked up his shirt and shoved his arms through the sleeves. “I could keep throwing my men at you until you’ve become fully marked and incredibly unstable, or I could wait and watch as the hidden demons I sense among your leaders finally makes themselves known.” Indenuel straightened his shirt before picking up his jacket. “This war has gone on long enough. I am too old to sign many more certificates thanking parents, wives, and children that the men in their lives have served their country well.”
Indenuel put on his jacket, sensing the weariness from the woman before him. He couldn’t pretend to be an excellent judge of good leadership in the small amount of time he had seen her, but part of him did understand why this woman became Empress and why so many men were willing to fight for her. “I know this doesn’t help, and I fear it might be more of an offense then anything, but… I am sorry.”
Empress Minai looked at him. “You are different from what I expected. In one breath you assure me you will protect your countrymen, and in the next you apologize for doing just that.”
Indenuel brushed off his jacket to give himself something to do. “There are a lot of people here that I want to protect. Friends. Family. I assume you have the same kind of people in your life.”
The Empress nodded. “I do.”
“I don’t want to kill any more than I must. Understand I will, but I don’t want to,” Indenuel said.
The Empress studied his face. “We have a phrase in my language. The best translation I can give is: child born during war. It has two meanings. One meaning is a way to express the sadness the older generation has for the innocence they know a child will never have. That we may have taken for granted living in better times, as opposed to the pain and anguish a child might feel. The other meaning is one of hope, that a child who has grown up in such hard conditions has experienced what he needs in order to make sure the generation after him is taken care of. I express the same sadness and hope with you, Warrior.”
Indenuel nodded. “Thank you, Empress.”
The Empress moved back to her seat and sat down again. So did Indenuel. “I would like you present as I meet with the High Elder of your choice, preferably Martin the Healer, as I, too, have been impressed with the character he has chosen to show me. I shall negotiate only with him about the terms of this cease war. If the terms are to both of our liking, we shall all sign the treaty, and I will go back to my home where I will wait and watch. I do not expect to consider the High Elders as any person above me, nor will I receive your religion as my own, but I will be curious to study the similarities, and I am willing to negotiate trade routes that will benefit us both. Not just Santollia. Do you understand?”
“Completely, ma’am,” he said before he realized what he said and winced. “Uh, Empress Minai.” The Empress smiled, and Indenuel felt warmth travel through his body, to the point where it surprised him. He had a feeling the Empress just forgave him. “Shall we have our bodyguards return?” Indenuel asked.
“Of course.” She then said something in Kiamese that was probably her bodyguard’s name, and he opened the door. Tolomon trailed in soon after. No one else would have noticed the worry on Tolomon’s face, but Indenuel noticed it. He had seen him look so worried so often he couldn’t quite tell why he knew what to look for, but he saw the way Tolomon’s eyes darted between Empress Minai and himself, trying to figure out if the situation needed him.
“Tolomon, could you have the guards send for Martin?” Indenuel asked.
“For… High Elder Martin?” Tolomon asked.
“Yes. Empress Menai would like to discuss a possible treaty and the terms that would be acceptable,” Indenuel said.
The shock was there on his face, if briefly, before he nodded and spoke to a guard right outside.
“I hope I will not offend, but as negotiation isn’t my skill, I doubt I will say much for the remainder of the negotiations,” Indenuel said.
“That is fine. Having you here will be enough,” Empress Minai said.
The door opened and Martin walked in. He came around to Indenuel’s side as a guard placed a chair next to Indenuel. Martin gave a bow, and Empress Minai also stood, bowing. She began speaking in Kiamese again. The translator nodded.
“It is a familiar practice in our culture that the Empress does not speak another person’s language unless she has deep respect for them. She hopes it does not cause any offense for her to switch back to Kiamese in your presence, Martin.”
Indenuel couldn’t help but be surprised before he met Martin’s gaze. Martin smiled before turning back to the Empress. “Of course not.”
Empress Minai shot the smallest of smiles at Indenuel, and he smiled back. Tolomon stared, confusion clear on his face for everyone to read, but did nothing. The Empress continued to speak in Kiamese. “My Empress would like to say that this is not a negotiation of surrender. The Warrior has mentioned the weariness of killing that is reflected on our side as well. He also mentioned a desire to peacefully coexist in this large world. We are here to negotiate such a treaty, one that benefits Santollia as well as Kiam and the rest of the world. She will not recognize you as a government above her, nor will she accept your religion, but she has expressed an interest in how Kiam can benefit in this world we have discovered and wishes it to be mutually in your favor as well.”
Martin stared, then looked at Indenuel, not hiding how impressed he was. Indenuel tried to smile, knowing it was an embarrassed one. “The Warrior has indeed described our true desires for what we hope will be a long, lasting treaty with Kiam for many generations. I pray it brings much peace to all the nations of the world. We, too, are weary of war.”
The Empress said something else and the translator nodded. “Excellent. Let us begin,” the translator said.
Indenuel closed his eyes and gave a tiny sigh of relief. He then picked up a plate and started filling it, finding himself really hungry.