Chapter 30: The Emperor’s Hand

If you were a better person, you wouldn’t be here. This, my dear student, is a truth we rulers think to ourselves. That if life had gone another path, that we had the courage to do what was right, we would have been good.

But in that landscape where memory keeps us all, that type of bravery never exists. Martialing the will to be the better can never exist there. That field of memory doesn’t need to be remembered for it is never forgotten. We never forget our deeds.

We rulers cannot and should not cheat. To take all the moral shortcuts, to scam and play those you love for fools. I did this. And that phrase keeps echoing in all of my organs. I cursed myself.

Runtaii, unbeknownst to himself, cheated too. The force he commanded now resembled a Tripolian battalion rather than an army. Never had he expected the Oligarchs to put up such a unique fight. Instead of attacking directly, they had been sending hordes of archers and skirmishers to pepper them in arrows and spears for the past week.

Even since he reached the border of Periatus, the air has always tasted bittersweet. On the one hand, the unconventional tactics of the Matigas Natao made getting a proper battle near impossible and made their approach slow to a crawl. On the other hand, the recruitment of bandits to accomplish the goals of Operation Stomach Breaker showed great success.

“Haliovid, while I press forward onto the Yutai Basin.” Runtaii muttered the words he told his marshall a month prior. “We’re going to split our forces. You will march to Haliovid.” He recalled the orders he gave months prior.

Funnily enough, the main casualties that upset him were for his harem. Him spending so much time commanding and organizing their plans, he had forgotten about the needs of the women he took. A month ago he had twenty concubines, well fed and maintained. Now it was only three, all trying to make sure that he doesn’t forget them.

Diseases, death by childbirth, and again, very funny, starvation were the main sources of the doom.

“We have tried starving the Oligarchy. Sure, they're hungry, but our armies aren’t able to feed ourselves as well.” Runtaii dedicated as much time as necessary to following the Operation.

Olive trees as old as himself were burned, docks used to fish were destroyed, and tobacco stolen so that their economy would falter.

Despite this, the will of the Iozians didn’t break. In fact, it appeared that it was growing stronger. Runtaii couldn’t forget the eyes of a people united under suffering. And how fierce they were.

A month ago his personal battalion was two thousand men strong. Today, on the thirteenth month and the thirteenth day of the Iozian calendar, his forces numbered a thousand two hundred.

“Damn you Ani. Starvation is a problem we will have to face too.” Runtaii spoke into a closed fist. Any invading Tripolian armies in the future would have to deal with the lack of food to be taken from the land, and have to rely on networks of food transport all the way back home.

Having to wait for wagon trains of food would further cease any offensive, as marching hungry is marching dangerous.

“A tool that is scrawny is a weak tool. Ain’t that the truth, brick of iron.” Runtaii chuckled to himself. He squatted down onto the wooden dock, now gazing out to the Thakian Sea.

His forces were resting beside the seaside town of Suksa, with the homes made of the hill overlooking the body of water. With them resting behind rocky doors and adobe walls, the winter air didn’t feel as freezing cold. Sabere and the rest of the Assassins were resting in a nearby warehouse.

Most of his men now were sleeping within the Arena of the settlement, with it having heating pipes that could be operated by the slaves.

Runtaii couldn’t care for whether out now the slaves would be exhausted by the day and night work, since felt a burning hate in his body.

“When is that bastard going to arrive with the message?” Runtaii didn’t wish to wake up from sleep, so he made the choice to try to stay awake. An azure mist spread across the lake, swallowing any chance to see upcoming ships. The crescent moon looked like a droplet of milk in a bowl of murky water.

“Huh. When you take a moment to look at everything, it all seems so small.” He spoke out loud, sort of at ease by the land around him. But that didn’t cease his bitter hate for his commander. He had followed every part of the Operation, and now Ani was going to send him additional requirements.

Runtaii wasn’t mad at the losses he took. No, he was mad that it wasn’t glorious. Not a story to tell, not something charming to tell to his future children. An attrition by both arrow and stomach doesn’t exactly bring excitement.

But his eyes saw his prize, only a couple hundred miles away. The Yutai Basin. The city of Uvi Jantok. And of course, the Lai Bank. His raid would be the most infamous in all of Iozian history, Runtaii thought.

He wondered what great prizes it would have. Gold beyond measure? Gemstones galore? Perhaps items and artifacts belonging to their pathetic religion? All of these options keep Runtaii’s forces moving through, until they meet the docks.

Luckily for him, Ani’s tip about recruiting bandits to transport his troops was effective. Furthermore, he had begun to collect more personal rewards for himself. He didn’t believe mermaids existed, but when the bandit crew of Iron Sails brought him the hand of one, he couldn’t be more entranced.

If Runtaii could give Iozia a compliment, it would be that their lands are beautiful in their own twisted way.

“Master! I have brought Ani’s message!” A eunuch rushed to his side, kneeling before him.

“Understood, present it.” Runtaii ordered. The eunuch presented a fine wooden case, made out of a tree native to his home province. Runtaii appreciated the gestures Ani would take, but he loathed whatever messages he sent.

“Good. Your duties for the night are over. Get some rest.” Runtaii told, with the eunuch nodding and moving back to the Arena. Taking in a long breath through his nose and exhaling a fog of air from his mouth, Runtaii opened the case.

A quartz crystal sitting on a bed of silk.

“What? He sends me a trinket instead of orders? It’s not even shaped. Just raw crystal.” He expressed, annoyed that Ani had seemingly been playing a trick on him. He wasn’t.

“Hello…” A voice came from the case, from the silk, and from the crystal.

“What?”

“I said hello…” Raging light bursted out of the stone, blinding Runtaii. Stumbling backward, he put his hands in front of him to block the light. This light transferred into a smoky flame with a moon white color. No heat came from it, in fact, everything around the case froze solid. Ice and snows spun around the flame, even more intense than the winters of Iozia.

When the blizzard ceased, the voice continued.

“Runtaii? Are you there? I swear if this gem got captured.” The flame took on the form of his commander, Ani Arma.

“Ani?” Runtaii asked, amazed at his appearance.

“Ah. Good. We have many topics to discuss.”

“Yes we do! What the hell is this heresy?” Ani stood up and drew his blade at his waist.

“Calm down. This is only a recent development I’ve achieved for us.” Ani put great emphasis that this achievement was his and his only.

“Explain… this witchcraft.”

“Ah. You remember the process of making Snake Skins, correct?” The flame paced from side to side. Runtaii examined it for any defect, any fall. And he found none. This was unbelievable, only the divine could achieve this, Runtaii believed.

“Yes, yes I do. It creates a Soul Gem, yes?” Runtaii stroked his beard, trying to connect his limited knowledge of Ani’s studies together.

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“Good. Glad someone remembers.” Ani chuckled, finally a person spared an interest in his work aside from the Emperor. “I discovered the ritual of Gem Sacrifice from the Galtian elfs. Not the brightest bunch, but more than willing to aid me and the war effort. By the way, you wouldn’t mind checking up on them?”

“Get to the point, brick of iron.”

“Ah, yes. Ever since the year started, I tested whether or not parts of sentient beings could produce Soul Gems.” Ani loved explaining the features of his exploits, and liked to display nuggets of knowledge to build up drama. Ani, if anything, was quite the gossiper.

“After running a series of tests, I learned that so long as it's valuable enough, the loss and death of body parts can create them. So, Runtaii, guess what I did?”

“What?”

“I caught off the ears of a Snake Skin and placed it right besides its own Soul Gem. And now, we can speak through them.” Ani raised a fragmented piece of the quartz, now a thousand miles away.

“How? How did it create flames and snow?” Runtaii asked swiftly.

“A lot of our Snake Skins come from the Uikakkhan continent, and the people there practiced religions based on oral traditions and flame scrying. The Snake Skin of a priest that mastered that religion is capable of making such wonders!”

“I see. Quite the marvel.”

“Of course it is! For years, our stock pile of Soul Gems has grown massive but useless. Until now! Not only can we produce them, we can give them properties. This is only the beginning, the beginning of a new era in history.”

“That is… good. How many do we have?” Runtaii questioned, knowing a vast amount could end the war.

“Eleven.” Ani told with a pride in his voice. Runtaii’s expression showed a degree of disappointment.

A disappointment that Ani only saw from his late father.

“Is that all you can really do? Runtaii asked, with a weak innocence in his voice. The mighty Ani, the sorcerer that updated the empire. And the number eleven. Never had Runtaii thought that Ani and elven would be in a related sentence. A million is more fitting for a man of his quality. Eleven was uninspiring. Unexciting. A failure from a man as mysterious as he.

“What? What!” Ani yelled with a sickened fury, with the crystal flame growing larger and colder, sending Runtaii backward.

“What you don’t understand is the potential of this! Look at us! We are Emperor knows how many miles apart, and yet we are capable of speaking together. Imagine the possibilities! Imagine the maneuvers we could pull off! Don’t underestimate the power in a few of these. Use your damn brain, Runtaii.”

“Calm yourself, brick of iron. I meant no insult.” Runtaii put out his arms in a friendly position, signaling his truthful response. The flame calmed, and Ani simmered.

“Ah. Of course I shouldn’t get mad at you. You know little.”

“Indeed. It is a power to be considered. Tell me, who else knows about this and how to make it?” Stroking his beard, Runtaii tried to get the conversation back on track.

“No one else besides you and I. I plan to send the Emperor two next week on his birthday. But the recipe…” Ani walked forward until his metal mask reached Runtaii’s face.

“What is it?”

“I am sending a copy to you.” This reveal brought a subtle happiness to him. Finally, he recognized his right to know Ani’s arcane intellect. But, a thought disturbed his mood.

“Well, why isn’t it here now? Why couldn’t you have sent the recipe along with the gem here?”

“Ah. The recipe’s ingredients don’t exist in Iozia, so it would be useless. Though I considered it, I felt it would be unsafe to transport it by land.”

“Why, what happened? Did Galataii defeat the Twenty Seventh legion?” Runtaii asked, concerned for her.

“She did, but a couple Oligarchs began their war season early in order to prevent our invasion. I hoped that they wouldn’t start until next year, but I suppose that’s what we’re going to have to work with.”

“I see. So you couldn’t transport it by land.”

“Yes. But don’t fret,” Ani pulled out a map and presented it to him. It was a Tripolian copy of the Thakian Sea. “Clan Utiamir managed to make an opening in the Iozian fleet. While we could only send an escort of three ships, they should be arriving in a day's time.” Ani placed a frozen flame hand on the shoulder of Runtaii, causing him to shiver.

“I see. Where will they be landing?”

“Tuivi’s Rest. Underneath the silk is a document for the crew that will pick it up, write the ship’s name and give it to them. I have already written instructions.” Ani twisted his head to the side, giving Runtaii room to warm up again. “Positive that you’ll be able to recover it?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good. So now we can-” Ani’s voice ceased, as if he came into a great realization.

“Runtaii, did I tell you about my secret contact? I’m supposed to speak with them soon.”

“Yes and how I was not to interfere with them?”

“Ah, wonderful. Glad someone listens to me.” Ani stood high on his toes, as if admiring the whole plan from the sky.

“Good, then we can discuss your orders and plan for Uvi Jantok.” Ani lectured. “The battle plans are also being transported on the three ships. Can’t risk it being found on land. With twenty of my slave officers, eight hundred men, as well as some battle maps are on the largest galley, so I doubt you’ll miss it.”

“And what about the Lai Bank?”

“Hmm?” Ani turned his back on Runtaii, now looking off into the Thakian Sea.

“The Lai Bank. Are you able to summarize my orders for it?”

“Ah. Yes.” Ani’s thin slits for eyes narrowed into edges, cutting Runtaii’s confidence.

“You’re not allowed to raid it.”

With those words, Ani single handedly changed the war’s future, and Runtaii’s life. Forever.

“What?”

“You’re not allowed to raid it for its valuables. The Emperor has ordered its destruction and its destruction only.” The flame that Ani spoke through didn’t turn to speak to the distraught son of Clan Galabag.

“For what reason? This is out of character for the Emperor!” Runtaii was right.

“You raiding its contents isn’t included in the plan. The Assassins will take down the Oligarchs partying, you will burn the city and destroy all of its fields. The bank isn’t a part of this plan, whatsoever.”

“That doesn’t explain a damn thing! I’ve spent the past month freezing and marching my men. Not soldiers, men! We fight for glory, not in service of a dull operation! Why can’t I lay claim to my right to glory?”

“Because I said so.” Ani admitted the whole truth. Both of them were silent for a moment. Runtaii in a bitter one, and Ani in a proud one. The sorcerer knew how much power he had being Runtaii’s only contact and he wanted him to know that.

“The Lai Bank is a jewel to the Oligarchy. Holding the gold stash of twenty Oligarchs, all within its black stone walls. Ah, but do you know what that could mean for you?” Ani waved him forward, with a cruel glare at his upset face.

“What are you implying?”

“It would mean forgetting your purpose. You are a charming young lad. I won’t lie to you. But when it comes to your Clan Galabag, they haven’t earned a single copper all their lives.” Ani hissed out. “You haven't earned it either.”

“You’re telling me, that all that gold in that bank has no benefit to the empire?” Runtaii roared at Ani.

“Yes.” Ani said with sincerity, which confused Runtaii further. “You understand why I haven’t told all the Clans of this messaging system I created? Because it would destroy the whole empire for nothing. Conspiracies form behind hidden places, men organize armies behind our backs, and we lose everything. That is why I have given you one crystal and the Emperor gets two.”

“But all that gold! All of that could-”

“Plunge our economy into chaos.” Ani cut off Runtaii, with a flare of cold cruelty silencing him. “That amount of money destroys any concept of rarity and scarcity. If everyone in your Clan had gold, it becomes worthless within the day.”

“...so that’s your reason. Because I haven’t earned it and it disturbs the balance you make ?” Runatii sarcastically asked.

“No. You have forgotten why I chose you in the first place.” A look of utter fear rose on Runtaii's face, along with a storm of hail rupturing from the crystal.

“I chose you because I know you will follow orders to the mark. When I tell you to march, you march. When I tell you to fight, you fight! When I tell you to die for me, then you will certainly die!”

The blizzard of the flame enveloped Runtaii, stunning him and sending him to the ground. When the blizzard ceased, ice and frost coated his form.

“You are only a tool with no will of your own. Do I make myself clear?”

“...yes…”

“Good. I expect total annihilation of Uvi Jantok. When you are finished, meet up with the forces at Haliovid. I hear that they’re struggling to siege the city down.” Ani stared down at the shocked Runtaii.

“The attack will commence on the first month and twentieth day of the Iozian calendar.” Ani reminded. Runtaii didn’t speak.

“You are only here because I needed a tool that could break things. Nothing more. Nothing less.” And with that reminder, the frozen flame ceased and Ani was no longer able to be seen.

Using his remaining might, Runtaii pushed himself off the dock floor. Coughing up the ice in his throat, Runtaii’s bitter hatred heated him like no other fire could.

Ani believed that Runtaii would follow his orders.

“No. No matter how fragile I am, I have a right to that gold! To your magic! I’m not going to hurt myself for others. Not for anyone. Not anymore!”