A Kingdom Falls (The Mancer Trilogy Book 1) (6 page)

“True,” agreed Tania.

Glass in hand, Rab walked over to a cabinet set against the far wall.  Picking up the wine bottle, he refreshed Tania’s glass and returned it to her.  Sitting down opposite her and crossing his legs, Rab waited.

Tania asked.  “Are you sitting comfortably?”

“I am, thank you.”

“Then I shall begin,” said Tania as she leaned back into her chair.  “The battle at the town of Malton was not so much a battle, more like a slaughter.  Once the banner of the Warlord Sica Lang fell, what was left of his Horde broke ranks and fled.  For reasons unknown, the Brethren of the Night did not follow them.

“With no leader, the Horde broke down into its separate factions and even more men died as they warred among themselves for what was left of the food and resources.  It was a pitiful few men that finally managed to return to the town of Mon-Li, and those that did were but shadows of their former selves.”  Tania raised her glass, wet her lips, and, for the first time that evening, looked serious.

“Our country was on the brink of dark times, with hardly any men in the tribes and the raiding ships severely undermanned.  We were open to invasion, rape, and pillage.”  Tania gave an ironic smile.  “The only secure border we had was our northern one, as the Brethren of the Night guarded that.”  Looking at Rab, Tania added, “Ironic that, eh?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Anyway, the women of my country discovered the vast riches their husbands, brothers, and fathers had looted from other countries, and a few of them in the town of Dil–Gi pooled that money together to form the first office of the Red Bank.  They hired foreign fighting men to defend their Bank and they lent the money out at very competitive rates.  With the money they made, they hired more guards and a fledgling navy to protect the tribes of the Red Coast.

“They, of course, made mistakes in the beginning.  Money was lost, as well as lives, but they learnt from their mistakes and, within five years, had established a firm base and a number of branches.  It was the branch in Mon–Li, however, that would change the entire history of the Red Bank.”

“Oh, yes, the famous ‘three day siege’,” nodded Rab.

“Yes,” confirmed Tania.  “There are many versions of the events over those three days, many of them just wildly fantastic; however, the truth is simply this: the Bank held out against the attack, and despite the losses, opened for business on day four.”

Rab raised his glass.  “To those that died.”

“To those that died.”  Tania raised her glass.  “After the siege, the Red Bank motto became – ‘Your Money: Our Blood’ and our symbol became a gold circle within a black square, and within the gold circle, a red teardrop.  The reputation we gained that day stood us well, as more and more people wanted to keep their money safe with us.  New branches opened throughout the Red Coast and then, slowly, in the Twin Kingdoms and the other nearby realms.”

“And now you are the most powerful bank in this region of Talocants,” stated Rab.

“That is correct.”

“And the branch at Mon-Li became your headquarters.”

“That is also correct.”

“I would love to visit Mon-Li.  I hear it is now a very beautiful city,” said Rab, wistfully.

“It is a very wealthy city, Rab Cregg.  It has its rougher side, as do all cities, but wealth has brought beauty.”  Tania yawned.

“I’m sorry.  I’ve kept you up too long, Tania.”

“No... no, it’s ok, Rab.”  Tania placed her hand over her mouth as she yawned again.

“I insist, Senior Banker Stone.”  Rab stood and setting down his glass.  “May I escort you to your room?”

“No, Master Cregg.  I wish to sit here a moment longer before retiring.”  Tania stifled a yawn and rubbed her forehead.

“Are you sure I can’t….”

Tania waved away Rab’s words.  “It is ok, Master Cregg.”  She smiled.  “I will be fine.  My guard is outside this wonderful meeting room and will make sure that I get to my room in one piece.”

Rab Cregg gave a short bow of his head.  “In that case, I will say good night.”

Tania smiled sweetly.  Rab turned and left the room.

Tania stood up and stretched, before taking a drink from her wine glass.  “
Men,
” she thought to herself.  “
So easy for a beautiful smart woman to manipulate.  It was amazing how often the Bank got what it wanted by using a beautiful smart woman or, if that failed, the wonderfully subtle influence of the true power behind the Red Bank
.”

A light laugh escaped her lips.  There were many fantastic versions of how the branch at Mon-Li had survived the final attack on it; however, none of them were even close to the truth.  The truth was that the Brethren of the Night had founded the Red Bank, had protected the Red Bank, and on that one night, raised it from being an unheard-of bank to one of great fame and notoriety.

She had been there at the siege and she had seen the true power of the Brethren unleashed on those that dared defy them – the animalistic savagery of the Brethren and the wild frenzied assault of the Lady Joanna Harris with her wild unkempt hair and zealot eyes. 
There
was a truly powerful woman, a woman to look up to and admire.

Tania Stone moved to the window and looked out towards the palace.  With one beautifully manicured finger, Tania caressed the windowsill.  “
One day, the palace will be mine and the people of Deep Lake my slaves
,” she whispered to herself before taking another sip of her wine.  “
One day
.”

***

Alicia Saunt stood up as the shadow-door opened and watched as Gideon Sandhu stepped through.  “My Lord Sandhu.”  Alicia curtsied.

“Saunt.”  Gideon held out his hand.

Alicia took the offered hand and allowed herself to be taken through the still open shadow-door.

***

Stumbling slightly, as she always did, Alicia exited the portal and let go of Gideon’s hand.

“Follow me, Alicia,” Gideon commanded as he walked purposefully down the natural stone corridor.

“Yes, my lord.”  Alicia walked silently behind her lord as he exited the stone corridor and made his way through a large natural cavern.  Leaping flames from large bonfires, placed strategically around the room to heat the space, caused shadows to dance on the walls.  Screams of pleasure and pain could be heard coming from behind numerous doors in the wall of the cavern.

As she followed Lord Sandhu, Alicia noted that near one of the bonfires, a group of six naked individuals writhed on the floor.  Cries of pure sexual pleasure rang out from the group of men and women as they participated in the most deprived sexual acts.  Alicia had to fight against the growing urge to join in.

To her left, chained naked to the wall, a man was being whipped by two women dressed in black leather.  Rivers of blood flowed down his back.  The trembling shadows caused by the bonfire’s flames only added to the sadomasochistic drama that was unfolding.  Alicia smiled in approval as the women moved their whips to the man’s buttocks and the back of his legs.  His screams mixed with others and resounded around the chamber.

Alicia and Gideon finally reached the far side of the cavern and began to climb the sharply rising stone stairs that they found there.  After a good ten minutes had elapsed, Alicia heard the faint noise of waves crashing against rocks and felt the cool night air against her skin.

It was another two minutes before they reached the top.  Gideon stopped and turned to look at Alicia as she took in the view.  “Magnificent,” he simply stated.

“Yes, my lord, it is,” agreed Alicia.

They were standing at the top of an island, which rose sharply out of a savage sea.  Jagged cliffs and sharp rocks formed three of its sides, whilst on the fourth a natural sheltered causeway led to another large island, which rose just as violently out of the sea.

“Come,” said Sandhu as he made his way to the unlit causeway.  Alicia followed, silently.

The causeway was a straight road with high curving inward sides, which did not quite meet at the top, meaning that rain and, if the sea was rough enough, sea spray would soak anyone who walked along it.

Alicia straightened her back as she walked along the unlit path, trying not to jump as the waves fiercely crashed against the sides of the causeway.

“Are you scared, child?” asked Sandhu.

“No, for I am a daughter of the Red Bank and I fear nothing.”

“Nothing?”

Alicia paused for a second.  “Only that He will never return and show the world His light.”

“
He shall cometh again
, Alicia Saunt, have no fear of that. 
The Midnight Man will cometh again
,” assured Sandhu.

“-
Blessed be His name -
” Alicia’s eyes shone with devotion.

“-
for He shall show us the way
,” finished Sandhu.

The pair of them continued walking the causeway as the angry black water crashed all around them.

As they reached the end of the causeway, a large solid-looking building came into view.  It had been carved from the rock itself; the rear of the house was still connected to rock face.  A solid wooden door allowed them entry into a long tunnel, which, in turn, ended in another door, that when opened, gave way to a large hallway with a huge sweeping staircase at the far end.  Numerous servants moved though the hallway, doing their master’s bidding.  “Follow me,” instructed Sandhu as he made his way towards a door on his right.  Upon reaching the door, he opened it and strode straight in, with Alicia following in his wake.

As they entered the room, Alicia looked round and immediately fell to her knees, placing her forehead on the cold stone floor.  “Lady Joanna!” she spluttered.

Joanna Harris, her wild hair framing her harsh angular face, looked down at the trembling woman before her.  “Stand, Alicia Saunt, daughter of the Red Bank.”

Alicia slowly stood, keeping her eyes downcast.

“Do you have a report for us?” another female voice asked.

“Yes, Lady Gregorious,” said Alicia, instantly recognising the voice.

“Raise your eyes, child,” said Joanna.

“Yes… Yes… Lady Harris,” responded Alicia, as she hesitantly looked Joanna in the face.

“Are you not a daughter of the Bank?” asked Joanna Harris.

“Yes, Lady Harris.”

“Then act like one,” snarled Joanna.

Rage flickered behind Alicia Saunt’s eyes for a moment before she composed herself.  “As you command, Lady Harris.”

“Better,” hissed Joanna.

A harsh small laugh escaped Miriam Gregorious’ lips as she watched the minor drama unfold before her.  “This is now boring.  Get on with the report.”

“Yes, Lady Gregorious,” replied Alicia.  “As per your instructions, we activated Agent Farah Sharpe, a minor noble, and had her make an attempt on Queen Rebecca Rothgal’s life.  As we anticipated, the attempt failed.  However, as we know, it did not matter if the attempt failed or not.  In fact, we were rather hoping it did not succeed.”

“We were all present at the planning stage, Alicia,” growled Gideon Sandhu.

“My apologies, my lord.  I was just setting the scene.”

“Just get on with it.”

“My lord.”  Alicia gave a small nod of her head.

Joanna smiled her approval of Alicia not grovelling before Sandhu.

Buoyed up by Lady Harris’s approval, Alicia continued, “What happened next was beyond what we had hoped for.  The crippled lapdog of the Queen, Shadow Killer, sent one of his best Dev’ver to spy on Farah Sharpe.  We caught, bound, and tortured the Dev’ver to within an inch of his sanity.”

“Is it true what they say – that it is simply exquisite to torture a Dev’ver?” asked Miriam.

“It is, my lady,” confirmed Alicia.  “Not only can they survive the most brutal treatment, they heal themselves quickly so you can do it all over again with little fear of killing the subject.”

“I will have to try and capture one for myself,” commented Miriam.  “Anyway, we digress; carry on, Saunt.”

“My lady, we tortured the Dev’ver whilst Lady Sharpe led her staff in the wildest of depraved orgies seen outside this hallowed island. 
He
would have been proud of the emotions set free that night.”

“
Praise be His name
,” intoned those within the room.

“-
for He is the Midnight Man
,” added Alicia.

“-a
nd He cometh
,” finished Joanna.