House of Lust (50 page)

“Ten years?  That’s too long….” Anglis was cut short by Astiras.

“Are you keen to end my reign before then?  What of Jorqel here?  You imply that he has no right to take the throne.  Speak to him direct.”  Astiras sat down and waved Jorqel to stand.

Jorqel did, facing Lord Anglis.  “Lord Anglis, are you disputing my right as heir?  If so, please put your faith in your martial ability against me.  I challenge your claim.”  He laid his right hand on the hilt of his sword, almost begging Anglis to take it up.  “If you do not challenge it, then be silent and raise this issue no more.”

Lord Anglis paled and leaned back in his chair, suddenly sweating.  His allies had not been so friendly in the recent disputes, and he had few friends he could rely on.  It would take time to reform alliances.  “No, sire, I do not.”

Jorqel relaxed.  “Then I can count on your support once I become emperor?”

Lord Anglis looked about the room.  Nobody looked as if they were going to jump to his defence.  Vosgaris smiled thinly.  He didn’t know whether he wanted to support Jorqel or not; his loyalty currently extended only as far as Isbel, and maybe Argan.  Astiras he didn’t give a damn about and he certainly wouldn’t support Istan.  Amne, well, yes, but she was married to that humourless stone-faced Elas and he felt no attachment to him.  Merely being a Koros didn’t automatically buy his loyalty.  However, if he disliked some of the Koros, he liked most of the others even less.  He’d quite happily run some of the useless lot through, given the chance.

“I trust we never see the spectre of civil war again,” Astiras was saying.  “The imperial army is loyal to me, and I wouldn’t wish to unleash it on any of you, but please be advised that I’m quite prepared to should any of you foment treason.  We are at war, and therefore wartime conditions exist.”

He prodded the tabletop again.  “We need to agree on a united policy against Venn – and possibly Zilcia, although they have not yet made any move, despite their alliance with Venn.  Since the destruction of the Venn Kral army, they are not in a position to take offensive action in Bragal, but we do know there are forces in Epros and Cratia.  I am building up the imperial army here by adding three companies of spearmen, and come the new year we ought to have enough men to efficiently patrol Bragal and be able to take the initiative.  Commander Taboz here,” the emperor indicated Vosgaris, “has been appointed military commander of Bathenia and is building up a strike force there, based in Niake, ready to deal with any incursion there should the Tybar start anything, and we have the Army of the West in Slenna.

“In Kastan City we have the KIMM, a mobile reaction force under Prince Elas, and they will rush to the assistance of any area under attack, or deal with any internal unrest.  They are led by an ex-Tybar officer and are trained in their tactics, so anyone opposing them will have a tough fight on their hands.”  He eyed the silent twin rows of men who were watching him intently.  He was well aware some of them there despised him, and he was comfortable with that.  He despised some of them in turn.  “So, esteemed Lords, what is it you recommend that imperial policy should be both in the next year, and in the long term?”

The Council looked surprised; up to now the emperor had decided policy and informed the Council as to what was going to happen.  Now he was asking them.

Jorqel raised an eyebrow.  He leaned towards his father.  “Are you setting a new policy of giving these people a say in our affairs?  Is that not dangerous?”

Astiras shook his head.  He waved at the nobles who were looking at each other, at a loss for words.  “We need more support; you saw their reaction when I fell ill.  You would have little foundation to be able to drive imperial policy if this continues.  I’m merely asking for their advice; I will either take it or ignore it, but they must be made to feel they are involved in the decision making.  That way they’ll feel policy is theirs, too.  I’m tired of watching my back and hearing about this uprising here and that uprising there.  Its saps our vitality.”

“Sire, do I understand you’re passing the policy making decision to the table?” Lord Anglis asked.

“I am – of course if you cannot come to a majority agreement I shall have to decide on policy myself.  I wish to hear what you good people have to offer.  We are, after all, all Kastanians and it is our empire in danger from our aggressive neighbour.”

The lords put their heads together.  Vosgaris stayed out of the discourse.  Astiras noted that.  “Commander, are you not getting involved?  Policy decisions are yours to suggest, too.”

“Sire,” Vosgaris straightened.  “I plead conflict of interest.  I command nine hundred men and if I were to make policy decisions it could be seen as an imposition by some of my, ah, associates.  I defer to imperial policy as an imperial military commander, not make it as the temporary leader of my House.”

Astiras chuckled and turned to Isbel.  “There, that’s loyalty.  I wish there were more like him here.  Thank you, Commander, I shall note your reasons.”

Jorqel looked thoughtfully at the commander, while Isbel smiled with approval.  Vosgaris bowed to Jorqel, Astiras, and then Isbel, smiling back at her.  Isbel felt a thrill run through her body and silently told herself to remain calm.

Lord Pelgion came walking over to the head of the table.  “Sire, surely you cannot be serious when you ask the Council here to make imperial policy; there are too many disparate factions and wishes.  Nobody here will be able to secure enough votes to make a majority in anything.”

“Then I shall have to continue making policy, Lord Pelgion, won’t I?” Astiras smiled.

Lord Pelgion thought for a moment, then nodded in sudden understanding.  “Ah, yes sire, I see.  Very clever.”  He bowed and returned to his seat.

Astiras eyed Jorqel.  “Important lesson, my son.  Appear to give these fools power, yet knowing they are incapable of coming to any united decision, so to progress anything, I must still – regretfully – carry on as before.”  He grinned maliciously.

“Father you’re very Kastanian,” Jorqel said.  “Your long predecessors would be full of admiration.”

“Wouldn’t they?  Remember this lesson well.  You have to treat these like a particularly stupid equine.  Always nudge it in the right direction and be ready to use the reins or whip, or even a tasty fruit, as the situation may demand.”

“I will bear that in mind,” Jorqel said and waited for the animated discussions to abate, which after what seemed a long, long time, they did. 

It was an exasperated Lord Kanzet who took the floor.  He waved angrily at Astiras.  “You manipulated this, Koros!  You knew full well none of us could come to any agreement which is why you seemed to give us this responsibility.  Bah!  He’s having fun at our expense, can’t you all see this?”

“Lord Kanzet,” Vosgaris finally stirred and stood.  “His reasons may be underhand but you had the chance to come up with a policy and it’s slipped through your fingers.  Don’t go blaming the ruling House for your inability to make an effective decision.  I myself can’t get involved as I am also a military commander, so I shall abstain from any vote.”

“You’re in the Koros’ pockets anyway, Taboz, so we would be wasting our time trying to secure it.”

“For what purpose, Kanzet?” Vosgaris asked, his hands out wide.  “Surely it’s a straight forward issue here.  What to do against Venn?  What’s difficult in coming to a united policy against them?  You’re talking as if there needs to be a vote made against the Koros, which in wartime is a very dangerous course to take.  Are you seriously asking for support in a policy against the ruling House during wartime?”

Kanzet stood with his face staining red.  “No, of course not!  And don’t try to make me out to be a damned traitor, either.”

Vosgaris shrugged and looked at the others.  “Then I fail to see what the problem could possibly be.  Shall we have a suggestion or two and discuss them?  Be a Council, not a bunch of squabbling children.”  

“How dare you insult us so, Taboz!” another lord stood up, indignantly.

“If you think I have insulted you, then challenge me here and now.  I’ve already cut down one of your kind who challenged me, a few years ago remember?  Another one will make little difference to my conscience.”

The nobleman paled.  Memories of one of the Fokis clan dying at Vosgaris’ hand in Kastan City was vividly in his mind.  He sat down unsteadily.  Vosgaris grunted and sat, too.

Lord Ebrel Kanzet was not pleased, however.  “Yes I recall your slaying of Cledin Fokis.  That cost your family a lot of support; if you do that again you may well find your House loses any remaining allies.”

“So you mean I would not count on any help from any of you?”

“That is very likely; think carefully about your next few words.”

Vosgaris pursed his lips.  “I have; frankly I’m tired of your petty squabbling.  If I can’t rely on any of your assistance then at least I know where I stand.  It probably strengthens my position in fact.  Go away, Kanzet; your family have done no good to the empire in the past, and I can’t see that changing under your misguided leadership.”

Kanzet sucked his breath in through his teeth indignantly.  “How dare you!  I outrank you socially, Taboz!  Show some respect!”

“Respect is earned, Kanzet, not automatically bestowed.  It is the man who honours the position, not the other way round.”  Vosgaris looked the furious lord in the eye.  “What I have learned in serving the Koros here,” he indicated the three at the end of the table, “is that they are doing their best to save our empire, despite some of you people here today.  Yes, they make mistakes, and don’t we all?  But our failing as the Council is to automatically seek to oppose everything they attempt, whether it be for the benefit of Kastania or not.  It is this dogmatic stupid attitude I despise and earns nothing but contempt from everyone outside this Council.  You may strut about full of self-importance just because you are nobles on the Council, but it means nothing if you cannot even formulate a proper defence policy to combat our enemies who are waging war upon us.  In all honesty, if you cannot even come to do that then you are not fit to be here.”

There was a stunned silence in the wake of his words.  Isbel wanted to throw herself at him and hug him; he had been brilliant.  Jorqel was nodding slowly, a gleam of respect in his eyes, while Astiras was regarding the commander very thoughtfully.  Vosgaris was a very different person than he had been in Zofela; had the recent experiences changed him thus?  Or was it his new powers as warlord of Bathenia going to his head?  He would have to watch this man carefully; good he may be but he couldn’t afford to let anyone become too good or popular.  That was dangerous.

Lord Pelgion slowly clapped, a lone supporter, and slowly, a few more joined in.  “Bravo!” Lord Varaz said, and Lord Nicate slapped the table top in agreement.  Most of the others remained silent, their disapproval or rage fairly evident.

Astiras stood.  “Commander Taboz has put it quite well.  So, Lord Kanzet, you’re just about my most vocal opponent these days.  Are you in agreement we make plans to defeat Venn, or would you rather Venn defeat the empire?”

Kanzet scowled and sat down.  “War ruins trade.”

“Oh, agreed,” Astiras nodded, “but we didn’t start this war; we were busy trading and the Commander’s father was trapped because of it.  You cannot fault the Taboz in trying to continue to trade, and perhaps they have paid because of it.  I think the Council should send a representative to Drazino, the nearest and most easily reachable garrison post, and try to negotiate the return of these people.  They are your fellow Kastanians, after all.  In the meantime, we need to show we are not helpless; we must make a demonstration somewhere, just to show them we won’t sit back and take it.  We must show we can dish it out, too.”

“But won’t that endanger the negotiation?” Lord Angian, down on the left beyond Lord Kanzet, spoke up.”

“Possibly, but it may also strengthen our hand.  We only earn contempt if we do nothing.  Yes, we have defeated every Venn attack so far, but up to now it’s been the weather or the Mazag who have done the hard work.  We have to act on our own.  Suggestions?”

Lord Nicate looked left and right, then stood up.  “What about blockading their Cratian port of Irokon?”

There were a few ‘ayes’.  Lord Bosua cleared his throat.  “We have a small navy, true, and the Venn have many more ships than us, and they are more powerful, but up to now our navy has done nothing.  We have ports to east and west of Cratia, while the nearest supply point to Port Irokon is in Riliyan.  It’d take an enormous amount of time for news to get to Rhan, and then for a fleet to sail to defeat our ships.  Parsot in Pelponia or Efsia in Lodria, or even Port Romos can supply our ships.  I agree.”

Astiras looked at Lord Kanzet.  “It has merit, yes?”

Kanzet breathed in deeply.  “Yes.  But the ships must be wary – we are outnumbered and under-powered.  The admiral will have to be instructed to save the ships at all costs.  Blockade yes, but fleeing at the first sight of Venn ships would not be considered an act of cowardice.  It would in my view be one of prudence.”

“In that, Lord Kanzet, I am in full agreement with you,” Astiras nodded.  “Any opposition in the Council?”

There were no dissenters. 

Astiras sat down.  “Then it is decided.  Admiral Ermel is the nearest – he regularly sails the western Aester.  He will blockade Irokon as soon as he can.  Rest assured, gentlemen, that we will not tolerate such incursions into our territories again without acting.  For too long our armies have been allowed to wither or die.  No longer.  I am commencing a policy of building up the armies, especially here in the east.”