The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1 (84 page)

“
Because you have
me
at your side, emperor. You have resisted Mahalia’s
interference alone,
admirably
, for years. But with me by your side, we
can
control both
Aslemer and Olindia, and cut off the wizards’ strength yet further!
We can move on across Triska, conquering other lands, driving them
back, until their influence will dwindle! Half of the strength of
my people lies in their influence in the world! Without that
control of Triska, they will be impotent.”

“
It
is the other half that can wield the earth power that is of greater
concern to me,” Chalize mused.

“
You have an army of mages!” Silar balled his hand
into a fist. “Creatures just as skilled in using the energies of
this world as them! The wizard’s
are
afraid of them. That is why they do not challenge
Aslemer further than they have done so far. It is
why
I fled here,
instead
of Olindia.
You
are
superior to them, in
so
many ways!”

“
Flattery will only get you so far with me Silar,” Chalize
smiled. “I have the Senate to convince of your good will towards my
empire. Many of them still oppose my granting you asylum in our
lands. They fear it will bring reprisals from Mahalia.”

“
Which is why it is imperative Mahalia does not know of my
presence here, My Lord,” Silar continued. “The wizards will fear
you all the more as a leader because of your insight into their
ways and their lack of understanding as to how you know so much. We
will breed more of the mages, until you have an army that will
outmatch the wizards’ own numbers.”

Chalize paced in a circuit of his study slowly, one hand
behind his back and the other pressed to his lips as he thought.
“You would have me invade Olindia whilst Sikaris rampages across
their lands?”

“
It
is the perfect time, when they cannot defend themselves against us
both!”

“
And what of
my
men? Can you guarantee their safety in Olindia against the
dragon?”

“
There are always casualties in war, My Lord,” Silar said
regretfully. “But once we have overcome the remaining soldiers of
Olindia, my associates and I will then call off the dragon. Your
people will be safe then and Olindia under your
occupation.”

Chalize turned away from Silar and clasped his hands behind
his back as he thought.

“
This is…. an
outlandish
plan. Perhaps the most ill – advised and dangerous
plan for conquest I have
ever
heard. Its entire success hinges on a creature
you
claim
to control, but that
all
evidence to the contrary, all historical teachings
tell me is
impossible!
” The man took a breath and stared out the window to the
clear, blue sky. “But
then
, as you managed to
free
the beast in the first place, the power of your
little cabal
is
clearly impressive.” He shook his head and took a deep
intake of breath.

“
What else is there that worries you, My Lord?”
Silar asked. “Please,
tell
me so I can assuage your
concerns.”

“
There is still
much
I need to know of your past, Silar. You have told
me stories of your time in Mahalia, but not enough that we have
been able to verify them. The Senate have dug into your identity
and have found no evidence for its very existence. I accepted your
request for asylum in exchange for your abilities,
against
their judgement,
but you have remained a mystery to
me
as well. How
can
I put my faith - put the fate of my
entire
empire - in a man I
know next to nothing about?”

Silar nodded thoughtfully and weighed his words.
“I can appreciate that, My Lord.” He turned and strode around the
room. “Were I in your position I would ask myself the same
questions. The reason for the lack of information about my life is
the same as if you were to try to delve into the past of any of my
kind. Mahalia is a closed book; sealed with a lock only those in
power in the Council of Mahalia can open.
All
the proof I can offer comes from the words
I speak, the stories I tell you and in the actions I take. And
those actions so far have
all
been geared towards helping you. I am grateful for
your taking me in and I intend to repay that generosity in kind, by
handing your oldest enemy, Olindia,
to
you, in exchange for my own security and
the
eventual
destruction of Mahalia.” Silar smiled. “All of which
is
in your interests,
My Lord.”

Chalize stared at the man for a time with a
penetrating gaze. “Your eyes do not betray a hidden agenda to me,”
he said. “I have always prided myself on knowing a person’s true
self, peeling back the veneer and seeing the man beneath the
bluster.” He scoffed. “And you can
certainly
bluster!” He shook his head. “I may be a
mad man myself, but I believe you and I
can
see merit in your
insane
plot.” He clicked his tongue and then
raised a finger. “If you can
promise
me the dragon
can
be stopped once we take Olindia - if you
swear
on your life that
it is the case - then I will speak with the Senate and I will
convince them that invasion is the way forward. But if you
are
lying, if somehow
you
have
deceived me, then I
will
make you regret it, wizard or not,” he said
gravely.

Silar kneeled and grasped the emperor’s hand. “My
Lord, I
promise
you with all that I hold dear that I will call off the
dragon when the time comes. I swear this to you on my
life
.”

Chalize regarded the man at his feet a moment
longer and then nodded. “
Well
then,” he said, freeing his hand from the man’s
own. “I had best convene a meeting with the Senate. There will
be
much
to do to ready ourselves for war.”

Emary awoke from a deep sleep as light began to creep up
from the horizon. Birdsong penetrated the near silent calm of the
valley. The only other sound came from the light breeze that
stirred the leaves on a nearby tree. Grunting, she pushed herself
up from the ground. Her cheek blushed with the imprint of the
grassy ground she had slept on. She rubbed at it irritably and then
dusted herself off. They had been trying to find the princess for
days now, going this way and that through Olindia, adjusting their
route when they heard talk of the dragon nearby.

She
looked around. Luccius was still asleep. Glancing around further,
she spotted Matthias sitting cross - legged further down the hill,
his back to her. Meditating again she supposed. He did that a lot.
Stifling a yawn she got to her feet, grimacing as she noticed
another red imprint on her stomach and knees, and strode over. It
surprised her when she realised Matthias had his eyes open, staring
into the distance. He barely regarded her when she dropped down
beside him.

“
What is wrong with you
now
wielder?” she asked. She resisted the urge
to flinch as Matthias jerked his head quickly, wildly, to face her.
The whites of his eyes were red and his face pale. He did not look
well at all: he looked as if he were going to be
sick.

“
I
can feel them dying,” he whispered. He gulped as if he was holding
back from vomiting on the spot.

Emary studied him, puzzled. “Can feel
who
dying?” she asked.
Matthias seemed far away for a moment, eyes glazing, turning
inward. Emary grabbed him by the arm and gave him a gentle shake.
“Wielder!
Who
is dying?”

“
People.
Lots
of people. Hundreds.
Thousands
. Perhaps more.”

Emary scanned the landscape. “Where?” she asked
incredulously. “I don’t see anything. I don’t
understand
you!”

“
It’s a skill we learn in Mahalia. Everything is
connected. The trees, the birds, the people… on this world
we’re
all
linked in one way or another.” He gulped again and licked
his dry, parched lips before he continued. “Wizards learn to sense
the threads running through all things, through a kind of
meditation. It takes a lot of training.
Years
of practice…” He went quiet again, inward
and still.

“
An
impressive skill that you can do that,” Emary commented and shook
her head. “Can you read minds?”

Matthias smiled thinly. “It’s not that precise.
But it’s always been a great comfort to me. Being able to feel life
pulsing around me. But
now
…” he shook his head. “Now all I can feel is death and pain
for
miles
. A
piercing
wail of people being burned out of the world in their
masses.” He swallowed. “I’ve failed them all. I should have done
more.” He stared into the distance, and they sat a moment as the
birdsong continued around them.

“
I am unaccustomed to comforting people,” Emary
said after the pause. “But I do know that
brooding
over one’s mistakes does little to
help matters. Besides, from the tales you’ve told me there was
no
way
of stopping that dragon,” she said. “You fought it as best
you could.”

Matthias stared down to where he had unlatched his sword and
placed it by his side, and picked it up, handling it lightly. “You
know I actually thought I could win. When I was on his back
attacking him with this, I thought that the gods had given me an
opportunity to stop him.” He snorted. “But they have deserted me
yet again. They are supposed to have helped Josephine, and yet now
she is lost as well.”

Emary sniffed. “Our people do not seem to see the
gods in the same way as most of your ‘Triska' does. Many of the
people here worship the gods as almighty beings who are unable to
do wrong.” She shook her head. “Not in Lantai. We see them for what
they
really
are.”

“
Which is?” Matthias asked curiously.

“
Fallen warriors,” she replied. “Creatures who made
this world but who then fell on the swords of demons. They are as
our ancestors were, to be respected and learned from. But they
are
not
our superiors, as many in
these
lands present them to
be.”

Matthias nodded his head with intrigue. “An interesting
belief,” he said.

“
And what do
you
believe?” Emary asked him, brushing her hair from
out of her face.

Matthias shrugged. “I don’t know anymore. I used
to worship the gods like everyone else when I was younger. But now
I feel that they haven’t given us much to work with to save this
world, for all that prayer and worship.” He nodded. “I think you’re
right. They’re creatures, just like us. They are limited in their
strength. But I still feel like they
can
make a difference. They wouldn’t be giving us
seeing stones and warnings if they
didn’t
want to help. Maybe, just maybe, they will
surprise me.”

Emary shrugged. “Perhaps. But you should never place your
destiny in the hands of others.”

Matthias nodded. Then he winced and shut his eyes
a moment. “
Again
,” he said. “It must have been
hundreds
of deaths,
all
at once.” He took a shuddering
breath.

“
These deaths, they are nearby?” Emary asked. Matthias nodded.
“How far?” she added.

“
I’m
not sure, but it is getting closer.”

“
Then we should
not
remain here,” She replied gravely. “You have had
your time to mourn. But sitting here crying over the dead is not
going to save the living. So
get
up,” she barked, rising and placing her hands on
her hips. "Or do I have to kick you up the
backside?"

For
a moment Matthias just sat there, staring at Emary as she stared
him right back. Then his lips twitched and a smile began to form on
his paled face.