The Invisible Chains - Part 2: Bonds of Fear (31 page)

Iramid senior laughed out loud. He filled his cup from the wine

jug.

“That’s it? Son, that was what I was talking about. You’re the lord.

If you want them to stand on their head, they’d better well stand on

their head and deem it an honor too. They might act as if they don’t

like it, but deep down they know that you are their superior, and that

in fact they need that to be demonstrated to them once and again. I

suspect that, secretly, they even like it. That feeling you talk about

just proves my point. You’re a noble, hence different. The normal

rules don’t apply to you.”

“They have feelings too.”

“Yes, of course. Primitive, coarse feelings. They feel cold and don’t

like it. They feel attached to their young. They feel hunger, and then

they eat everything that is in sight until they almost burst as if there

is literally no tomorrow. They will fornicate, forcefully if necessary,

with everything, female, male, or animal that is weaker than them,

whenever and wherever the fancy takes them. Yes, they will not

like it when you demonstrate in how far you are their superior and

subjugate them sexually. So what? It seems all innocent enough to

me.”

Lorcko played with his cup, deep furrows on his brow. His father

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looked at him, slightly worried.

“Listen, son,” he said softly, “if you want we can talk the rest of

the evening about this. You know you can tell me anything. I won’t

reproach you. I won’t judge you. I am your father, and I will help you

as much as I can. Whatever it takes. I don’t like to see you unhappy.”

Lorcko looked up. His father was caressing his immaculately

shaped goatee. For the first time it struck him that his sire was a

good-looking man and must have been a very handsome youth.

“I suppose that’s where I got it. My looks and my outlook on life.

Bit by bit he must have imbued me with these thoughts from a very

young age. As long as I was in Iramid and everybody I met was my

social inferior it worked. Was I happy? I wouldn’t even know. It was

just what it was. No longer. Not here. How do I tell you that, father?

That you have ill equipped me to deal with my equals?”

“Thank you, father. I know you mean well, and that you want the

best for me.”

Volcko had seen his son looking at him and smiled.

“You looked at me as if you were looking in some future mirror.

But you have your mother’s eyes and her full lips. Her fingers too.”

Lorcko smiled back and looked at his outstretched, elegant

fingers. He barely remembered his mother. He had been too young

when she died to retain a clear picture of her.

“Well,” Volcko continued, “if there’s nothing else, I’d like to come

to the order of the day. I’ve always told you that the most stupid

thing you can do is try to deceive yourself. Do be prepared for some

harsh truths. Our House is not exactly at the top of the list. Barely

four generations ago the Iramids were simple knights. How your

great-grandfather managed to get himself created a baron is a tale

for another day. We’ve done relatively well for ourselves over the

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generations. I myself, by marrying your mother, the only child of a

very rich baronet, managed to expand our demesne and refill our

coffers. However, that was about all I accomplished until now.”

He paused to think.

“I’m afraid if our House is to rise any further, it will be up to you

to make that happen, son. You see, I simply haven’t the necessary

influence to do it myself. When the Army of the North was formed

and everybody with any name declined a commission as general, I

remained silent. I reckoned sooner or later they would come to me,

and after some show of hesitation I would accept. They didn’t come,

and yet they hadn’t filled all the positions. So, very discreetly I let it

be known that I might be interested. Still nothing. Then I indicated

that, if asked, I would say yes. Nothing. After that I openly declared

that I wanted the commission. They still hesitated. I had to call in

about every favor owed to me to get the appointment. To be brutally

frank: the generals in this poor excuse for an army would have found

it hard to get a commission as captain in the Army of the South. But,

then again, I got the rank.”

“I’m sorry, father. I didn’t know,” Lorcko said, stunned.

“That is how things are. Don’t be sorry. Do something about it.

I can’t. I’m afraid I have exhausted all my resources. I’m not a very

good general, son, even according to the lamentable standards of

this horde. So, it’s obvious this is as far as I’ll ever get. I had hoped

that this commission would be just a step up to greater things, but

there you are.”

Lorcko looked at his father with compassion.

“I’m sure you’re being far too hard on yourself, father,” he said.

“No. I’m not. I’m just being impartial. I don’t know which useful

capacities you may have, but if you do have any, I don’t see them.

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However, you’re extremely handsome, and you are far from prudish.

In fact, you’re quite the opposite. Basically you have two thing to work

with: your angel face and your ass. I suggest you put both to good use.

Rumor has it that the prince is not averse to male companionship.

Have you ever thought of bedding him?”

“Funny you should say that,” Lorcko replied with a painful grin.

“I have indeed.”

“And? Have you taken any practical steps? Remember, just being

associated with a Tanahkos could benefit our House enormously,

never mind the nature of that association.”

“Not yet.”

“What’s keeping you? As a page, you have regular access to his

highness. Are you not his type?”

Lorcko blushed.

“I wouldn’t know about that.”

“Then find out. Or maybe you don’t feel attracted to him? If that

is the case, let me remind you: we are nobility, we don’t—”

“We don’t live for ourselves. I know. We live to serve the land and

the people.”

“Exactly. And if that requires you taking the bottom position for

a change, then so be it. Don’t be squeamish. It’s just the reverse side

of the privileges you enjoy. It may sound strange, but letting yourself

be fucked by the prince is actually a duty to your House.”

Lorcko had become fiery red.

“It would certainly require some getting used to,” he managed to

say, “but I suppose with some practice—”

“I don’t need the details. Do whatever it takes. We’re agreed then?

I expect to be presented with at least a practical plan next week, and

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upon the prince’s return from the Plains I’ll want regular updates of

how things are progressing.”

“Yes, father, of course,” Lorcko whispered.

“How can I tell him about Ambrick now? He’s driving me back in

the cage I barely managed to break free of.”

“Now. I’ve also started looking out for a wife for you. Don’t be

worried. Your, eh, particular taste is a complication, but only a slight

one. Listen carefully, and if you have anything to add, I’ll gladly hear

you out. I propose that I look out for a girl like your mother was.

Broadly speaking of our own standing, but with a sizable dowry, and

if at all possible, a sole heir. She has to be beautiful of course. Don’t

worry, I’ll make sure that she is docile and doesn’t take exception to

you having, eh, friends. Just see to it that the Iramid line is continued.

That won’t be a problem, I hope, from a technical point of view?”

“I think I can manage, father,” Lorcko answered. He shifted in his

seat.

“Good. If you think you will need assistance from whoever will be

your special acquaintance when the time comes to make sure there

is a next generation of Iramids, now is the moment to tell me. In that

case I will make sure to discuss it with the girl. Save you the trouble.

Make sure there are no misunderstandings. A lot of them won’t even

mind too much, you know.”

“Is he for real? Did I hear him say to bring my boyfriend along to

impregnate my wife?”

“That’s quite all right, father. I will think of the golden fields with

grain and the green meadows of Iramid while performing my duty

to our House.”

“Excellent. That’s my boy. Some more wine?”

Lorcko held out his cup. He reckoned he was going to need a few

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refills.

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Anaxantis and his little army group entered the first village

of Mirkadesh early in the afternoon of the next day. The villagers

looked at them with undisguised curiosity, but without fear, having

recognized the banners of the lord governor and of Ximerion.

“Notice anything particular,” Anaxantis asked of Hemarchidas.

“Not really, no. Just an ordinary village like there are hundreds in

the Northern Marches.”

“Hm. Not exactly. Look how clean the place looks. How well

maintained the houses are.”

Hemarchidas looked right and left. The houses were simple, but

built of good materials. The people wore equally simple clothes,

nothing ostentatious, but they were of an obvious fine quality and

far from threadbare.

“Yes, I see it now,” he said. “Look at the road. It’s in perfect

condition as well.”

When they exited the village, they saw a man on horseback ride

in full gallop in the direction of the next center of habitation.

“Look,” Iftang said, pointing at him, “shall I send some men after

him?”

“No, that’s all right,” Anaxantis answered. “I bet the Assembly

of Elders will be waiting to greet us by the time we get at the head

village.”

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As they rode on he looked at the fields on both sides of them.

“I wish Bortram had come with us,” he mused. “I know next to

nothing about farming, but shouldn’t there be more people on the

fields? Preparing the soil, sowing broad beans and parsnips, planting

garlic, stuff like that?

“Don’t look at me. Just a horse breeder, you know,” Hemarchidas

said.

“The whole county is so quiet. So clean. So neat. I don’t like it,”

Anaxantis said uneasily.

Just as he had expected, the Assembly of Elders was waiting for

the lord governor on the main square of the head village, before the

County House.

Once dismounted, one of the Elders came up to him.

“Welcome to Mirkadesh, your lordship,” he greeted the prince

nervously.

Anaxantis smiled at him, which seemed to make him even more

tense.

“If you and your retinue would like to follow me, my lord. We had

little time to prepare, but we can offer you at least a fresh drink and

some food.”

“That is very kind of you, Elder, please, lead the way,” Anaxantis

replied.

Hemarchidas, Lethoras and about twenty Clansmen followed

him into the County House. They mounted a heavily ornate marble

stairway, guarded by a stone lion, resting one paw upon the escutcheon

of the last count. Opposite the main entrance, were stairs to the first

floor. They climbed them and reached a heavy, elaborately decorated,

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double door, but the Elders lead him into a sparsely furnished room,

at the left end of the landing, with bare walls and only some wooden

banks to fill the austere place. Anaxantis didn’t know it, but in fact it

was the same room in which the Elders had received Ehandar more

than half a year ago. He looked around.

“Gentlemen, I think we’d better find some more comfortable

accommodation,” he said to one of the Elders.

Without waiting for a reply he turned around, exited the room,

and went to the big double door. On his sign, Lethoras went over to

open it.

“Locked,” he said after a few tries.

Anaxantis turned to the Elders.

“Please, open the doors.”

“My lord, that room is being repaired. It’s dangerous. Stones and