Dark Legion Page 22

  “I thought we were equal partners. Are you going to take control of the tavern, as you tried to do to me?” Marcus asked.

  He was a childish bastard. More and more, he came to use my foolish act to pressure me into things. I thought to raise the point that bullying people into doing what he wanted was not too far removed from what I had done. But I was too tired to raise the energy for the argument. “Fine, two more people,” I said.

  The interviews continued well into the evening, and when the last hopeful applicant walked out, we looked at each other and sighed. It was an exhausting day. A small mountain of paper sat in front of me, covered in notes on each applicant. The actual list of potential employees was much smaller. “The way I see it, we have a good list of people for our openings. Except one,” I said.

  “Someone to manage this whole thing?” Marcus asked.

  “Exactly. It’s probably the most important role, and no one fits the bill.” I stood, walked to the fireplace, and tossed the largest part of my paper mountain into the fire. The pages curled into black ash.

  “A bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

  “You know me, always a show-off,” I said, sitting back down.

  The door burst open, and the fire swayed and danced in the fireplace beside me. The wind curled around the room, sending two leaves of paper flying. They slowly glided to the floor as the door was shut. A figure stood silhouetted, a wide brim hat on his head. “Evening, Adair,” I said. “We will be closing shortly—how can we help you?”

  Warden Adair walked in, pulled up a chair, and sat down at our table. “I am here to apply for a position,” Adair said.

  I looked at Marcus. “I don’t think the taverns need a warden… sorry, Adair.”

  Adair took off his hat and tossed it on the table behind him. “Pfft—I don’t want to be a damned warden,” Adair spat. “I want to run this business,” he said, gesturing at the tavern.

  “Convince us that you are up to the task,” I said.

  “Does this information stay confidential?” Marcus and I looked at each other before nodding.

  Adair’s answer was long in coming. “I wasn’t always a warden,” he said at last, twiddling his fingers. “I once ran a branch of the Imperial Bank in Morwynne.” It surprised me, but the job instantly seemed more fitting for the man. “I was good at my job. Very good. But one of the noble-born arseholes running another branch had aspirations of moving up in the world, dealing with imperial taxes. Word got out that I was the chief candidate for the position. So he planted false information and alerted the emperor. He made it look as though I’d had my hand in the bank’s purse. There was a trial, and though the evidence looked sketchy, the noble arsehole was given the benefit of the doubt. Lacking the proof to hang me from a tree, they stripped me of my job and everything I owned and sent me to this chamberpot of a town as the new warden. The people here hated me, still do, for taking the place of the former warden. He was a well-liked man, and truth be told, a much better warden than I. I am sick of this thankless job. I work tirelessly, but no one gives a damn. The legion are forever getting in the way of me doing my job, and that’s if the bloody Dark Legion doesn’t throw me into my own cells.” He took a deep breath, then released it as a long sigh. “I am the only man even remotely qualified for this job, and I would appreciate it if you would consider me,” Adair said. He stood up, retrieved his hat, and bowed to us before spinning on his heels and making for the door.

  I looked at Marcus, who nodded. “Adair,” I said. The man spun around to face us. “You start tomorrow—don’t be late.” Marcus walked to the shocked former warden and hugged him. To my surprise, Adair giggled like a boy. “You know…” I said. “When we first met, you struck me as an accountant. I guess that wasn’t too far from the mark, after all.”

  The next day, we were most of the way through Adair’s introduction to the Bleeding Wolf when an incessant raven showed up. We made our excuses and once more found ourselves on the path to Malakai’s house. Perhaps it should be “a” path, as I had walked a few at that point.

  An hour had passed when we noticed the change in temperature—much hotter, but with almost no humidity. It felt as though a burden had been lifted from me and I could breathe again. Before long, we came to a clearing with a pool of water as blue as Neysa’s eyes, and crystal clear. Palm trees surrounded the pool, and we could make out Malakai’s house through a clearing. Marcus and Neysa walked toward it, but I decided to look around first. I walked around the pool and through a cluster of palms, and on the other side, I saw what I was expecting.

  Dry plains stretched as far as the eye could see, with nothing but the tough brown grasses and a few scrubby trees. This was Ubrain, and I was home. Honestly, I nearly cried. For many years, I feared I would never see my homeland again. It felt like a distant, impossible dream.

  My father brought Shakir and me to the oasis once long ago. Perhaps not that oasis, but one much the same. We were but kids at the time, and it was a grand adventure, one we talked about for many years. We traveled with the nomads that roamed the northern reaches of Ubrain and stopped at the Great Oasis to make camp for the night. The wonder of it more than made up for the two days of negotiations that followed. Our father, the king, met with the tribal leaders and made my brother and me sit in on the proceedings. I snapped out of my memories of the past when I heard the others shouting my name.

  “You’d think that the old goat could transport the house closer to us, as opposed to all over the Gods-damned world,” Neysa said. “Or at least save us the hour’s walk. On the upside, Saul wasn’t savaged by the wildlife this time.”

  “Which is much appreciated,” I said. We walked in through the open door, along the corridor and into the messy room. Only it was not messy at all. The room was mostly clear, with a narrow red carpet leading to the desk and a range of bipedal animals arranged along the walls. This time they were not limited to reptiles, but included a variety of large apes I had no name for, each wearing a set of armor.

  “Where do you find the time?” Marcus asked. Malakai was leaning back in his chair, his feet propped up on his desk. He smiled and shrugged, taking a puff on his long pipe.

  “What do you want this time, old man? We are very busy,” Neysa said as we sat down.

  “To bask in the pleasure of your company, child,” Malakai said. “I do so love your pleasant way with words.”

  “Eat it,” Neysa said, sneering. Malakai sat up and held his stomach as he laughed.

  “So,” Malakai said as his laughter died away, holding his arms wide. “Our sails are hoisted and our course is set. But are you ready up here?” he asked, tapping his temple. The three of us looked at each other and shrugged in unison. “So confident! I like it. With that attitude, how could you fail?”

  I wished I could punch the old bastard. “Well, what have you done to help? As far as I can see, you have just as much to gain as the rest of us, but you contributed the least.”

  Malakai raised his eyebrows and puffed a thick cloud of smoke. “Oh, really? Was it not my yeast that enabled you to win that competition? Did my student not save you? Did my distractions not lure the Inquisition away from your door? Did I not make good your escape, Neysa? Oh, I have done much. And much more besides that you will never know, child. And…” He got to his feet. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you my latest creation.”

  We followed Malakai outside and walked to the rear of the house. He led us to a barrel that sat some distance away, and as we approached, he gestured to it with an expectant smile. “Do you like it?”

  “It’s a nice barrel,” Marcus said.

  Malakai dropped his hands to his side and rolled his eyes. “It’s not just a barrel… it’s a fantastic lock pick. If you recall, some months back I offered to provide you with a backup plan in case dear Saul’s abilities let him down. Well, this is it. It’s filled with the explosive liquid that was vexing me for so long. It makes for a very big bang, so Neysa, I need you to form
a shield when I set the charge. Don’t mess it up, unless you have lost the will to live.”

  “Can’t we just run?” I asked.

  “Maybe, maybe not. Do you want to risk it? Besides, when the time comes to use it, you may not have much room or time to run. Neysa needs to be ready.” Malakai took a step closer to the barrel and went down on one knee. “Now, you two… to set the charge, open the tap, then kick it in. When you hear the click, you will have to the count of ten… more or less. Ready, Neysa?” When she nodded, he went through the motion, then stood and took several steps back.

  A shimmering cone appeared in front of us as Neysa hummed a wordless song, her face the picture of concentration. But, nothing happened. “Malakai, I think—”

  Boom!

  My vision went white with the brightness of the explosion, and a warm gust blew past, ruffling my shirt. As the blast dissipated, the shimmering dropped away. I was hit by a sudden force. It lifted me from my feet and threw me back. I got the wind knocked out of me, either by the blast or the fall. Leaning on my elbow and holding my chest, I looked around to see Marcus and Neysa lying beside me. Malakai came walking out of the dust and smoke. He did not look at all bothered by the event.

  “Neysa, you dropped your shield too early, child.”

  “I know… I’m sorry,” she said, and slowly rose and straightened her dress.

  “Just keep it up until you’re sure the blast has done its thing,” Malakai said. “Time can seem to slow down in all the excitement.”

  Marcus and I found our feet and we followed Malakai back inside.

  Malakai reached beneath his desk and retrieved a large roll of paper, tied with a ribbon. “I promised to provide you with plans of the palace,” Malakai said. “I have acquired a few more since our discussion, and I believe you will find them rather interesting.”

  “Thanks,” I said, and took the heavy roll. “Question, are we in Wah ‘ha Gabeera? The Great Oasis?”

  Malakai smiled. “You are indeed.”

  I looked at Marcus, then back at Malakai. “Are there a number of former slaves in the oasis?”

  “There are, yes.” Malakai said. “A rather large number, in fact.”

  “Are we able to go and speak with them?” I asked. “I know Marcus has spent some time with them, but I would like to see them too.”

  “Why, of course,” Malakai said. “That is why I brought you here. I can arrange swift passage here on a more regular basis if you wish.”

  Marcus nodded. “I need to keep up with their training.”

  “Very good,” Malakai said. “My raven will come by a few times a week, but you two can go to them now. Neysa and I have more learning to do.”

  With the meeting concluded, Marcus and I walked to the door. “I will have the explosive barrels sent to you within the next couple of days,” Malakai said. “Make sure you mark them well. I will also be sending some of my fireworks for Harvest Festival, but my people will take care of them. Hopefully when you see them go off, you will be speeding for Sagemont.” Malakai had a wicked grin on his face. “Take the path at the rear of the house. It will lead you to your branded men.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Branded Men

  Marcus and I followed the path from the rear of Malakai’s house to a large clearing, filled with tents. We stood at the end of the path, and I cast my eye over the multitude of tents. There were far more than I had been expecting. “Too much,” I said. “This is too much.” Several men with brands on their foreheads noticed us standing there. They talked amongst themselves but kept an eye on us. A figure moved between the men and came running to me. It was Kaleb.

  “My prince,” Kaleb said. “You came early.”

  “We won’t stay long,” I said. “We still have unfinished business. I came to see the men.”

  “Not just men, my prince,” Kaleb said. “But I am sure they will be pleased to see you.” Kaleb took off, running back to those who stood watching, then left them to run between the tents. Within minutes, a large number of men—and a smaller number of women and children—stood waiting. A very large number, indeed.

  “This is too much,” I said.

  Marcus snorted.

  Kaleb soon returned and stood expectantly beside us. “Kaleb, how many are there?”

  “My count is one thousand six hundred and fifty-two,” Kaleb said.

  I looked over the mass of people. My people.

  “I think they are waiting for a speech,” Marcus said. My stomach knotted itself, and it felt as though my bones had turned to water. Public speaking was not a talent I had, especially when completely unprepared. “No time like the present,” Marcus said.

  I realized I had been standing there for more than a minute. I cleared my throat. “Ah-hum… It pleases me to see you here.” I said. I scrambled for words and could hear a hush of conversation. I closed my eyes and thought back to my father and the way he’d spoken to his people.

  “I am Saul Baz Sharmoun, prince of Ubrain. Your prince.” The crowd fell silent. “You have been shackled by the empire for too long. Now you are free, but our people suffer still. We must act to bring freedom to our people, to our land. We cannot stand by while the blood of our blood are chained like dogs. We will crush the vermin that shit on our land like it is their own. We will throw them from our homes, from our farms, from our cities. I will not rest until this is done!” The crowd went wild, and Marcus put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it. I flinched. Over the past few months, any sort of affection from him was a rare thing, unless you counted too-hard punches, passed off as being playful.

  “But…” I said, and waited for the crowd to quiet down. It took a while. “But, this is a big task. It is not one we can rush to. It will take time and preparation. It will take training. Were it that my brother Shakir, your rightful king, stood with us now, he would lead you in this. But he is not present, so this task falls on my shoulders. I have no training with the sword, the spear, or the bow. This is Marcus DeVasco,” I said, clapping Marcus on the back, deliberately hard, in a loud thwack on his sweaty skin. “You have met before, but allow me to introduce him to you. Marcus DeVasco, former rebel leader, and current rebel leader reborn. He is an experienced leader and a master with the sword. He will train you and make you ready to fight.” There was another cheer. “I will not throw you at the empire unprepared. I will arrange for weapons and supplies. These will be with you soon.”

  My words ran dry, and as much as I racked my brain for more, nothing came. It felt as though I might drown in the silence. Then, like a breath of fresh air, another memory of my father’s words came to me. I took a deep breath and bellowed, “We are the lion that stalks in the grass! We rule this land unchallenged. We are Ubrain!” My people cheered and shrieked so loud it hurt my ears. Their voices rang through the oasis for a long time.

  Marcus shook his head. “You surprise me, Saul. I spent years of my life organizing a rebellion. And it was a pitiful thing. You did this,” Marcus said, gesturing at the village that had formed in the oasis. “And mostly by accident. Though I’ll grant you that your tenacity is somewhat contagious.”

  I sighed. “This task weighs heavily on me, Marcus. I am in no way fit for the job. We really need to find Shakir before I waste these men’s lives.”

  Marcus left with Kaleb, and they made their way through the groups of men, stopping to talk with each. I strolled through the tents on my own. I had no idea where they had found so many tents. There were far more people in this oasis than in Sagemont. I noticed a few children swimming in a pool of water. Not many, especially not for a group of people this large, but it warmed me to see them nonetheless. People bowed as I walked past, and while I nodded in return, it made me distinctly uncomfortable. At least none approached me, which was good, as I feared I had spent all my good words. I knew if I said too much, my people would see through my disguise to the scarred monster beneath.

  A couple of hours later, Marcus tracked me down, and we walked back
to Sagemont.

  “It’s quite the army we have,” Marcus said.

  “Slaves without a master do not make an army.”

  “These men are better trained than you realize,” Marcus said. “Many have military training. They are rusty, but they know what they’re doing.”

  “That is good,” I said. “I doubt you will have enough time to train them all.”

  “True,” Marcus said. “But at my last visit, I picked the best of them as leaders. They will continue the training in my absence, and between us, we will forge an army.”

  “Why are there so many?” I asked. “Kaleb can’t have done it all.”

  Marcus laughed. “He freed most. But no, some have led attacks on slave caravans on a road to the south. They freed the slaves and took the supplies. The oasis can supply a lot of food, but not that much.”

  “Yes, we will need to supply them,” I said. “We are fortunate enough to know a merchant who deals with such things. I bet he can get us the weapons we need as well. We are wealthy men, after all.”

  “Ah… Malvin,” Marcus said. “I bet he can.”

  Later that night, Marcus, Neysa and I sat at the Bleeding Wolf with the plans of the palace spread out between us. Two tables were pushed together to give us enough room for all the plans. I did not have to look at the dates to know that they varied greatly in age. The oldest plan dated back more than four hundred years, had several rips, and was incredibly brittle. It was markedly different to the most recent one, which was itself approaching a century old.

  “I don’t think these will help us much,” I said. “If anything, they show that the palace is constantly changing. I doubt even the emperor knows what the Gods-damned place actually looks like. Look here,” I said, pointing at a plan dating two hundred and fifty years back. “It looks like there was a hidden corridor along the main reception hall here. And yet it’s absent from the most recent plan. Either it has been sealed off, or the person who drew the new plan had no knowledge of it. We would be foolish to base our plans on passageways that may or may not exist.”