Swords of the Imperium (Dark Fantasy Novel) (The Polaris Chronicles Book 2) (17 page)

“The enemy will give
no mercy
if she disarms you! Fight!” Aslatiel said, and came after her with his sword. Enilna scowled, hopped to her feet, and charged. She dove under the arc of his blade and tried to tackle him by the waist. Aslatiel drove an elbow between her shoulders, and she convulsed and dropped to the deck. She had barely rolled over before he threw her across the deck to skid next to Taki.

He sheathed his sword. “That’s enough for today. You both need to concentrate on the fundamentals, though your blade control has improved. You’re at liberty until supper.”

“You okay?” Taki asked, and extended a hand to Enilna.

“Ugh, I think he broke something I can’t even name.” She struggled to her feet.

Taki smiled. “At least he didn’t nick you this time.”

“I thought Irulan was a hardass, but Aslatiel’s a
sadist
.”

“He’s a hard taskmaster, but I’m also getting fewer scratches these days. Here, let’s go back to quarters. This canvas is itchy, and I’m getting blood everywhere.” Taki chuckled as he led Enilna below decks. At her quarters, he was about to take his leave.

“Wait. Help me, and I’ll help you,” Enilna said. She pointed to the back of her training jerkin. Designed to protect vital organs from an errant sword thrust, the jerkins laced up in back and were as cumbersome to remove as they were to put on.

“Fine,” Taki said, and started to undo her knots. Halfway down, he realized that she wasn’t wearing a camisole underneath. He averted his eyes, and his fingers became clumsy as a result.

“I’ll take the rest. Here, turn and I’ll get you started,” Enilna said. Relieved to not be facing her anymore, Taki acquiesced and let her fingers work at the cords. She was far more dexterous than he, and the vest was off before he knew it.

“Thanks, I’ll see you,” Taki said.

She stopped him. “That’s a nasty one.” Her finger traced the cut over his shoulder. “Here, an old-fashioned remedy.”

Taki’s eyes widened as he felt her place her lips to the wound and start to suck. “What are you doing?” He turned and stumbled when he saw her vest was off entirely.

“Isn’t it obvious? I like you. I want you,” she said. “And I’m sure you’re tired of being a virgin.”

Taki felt his heart thump in his chest. A pleasant, irrational fog suffused his brain. It was unlikely anyone would catch them, and there was no telling when another opportunity like this would come up. She was beautiful and willing. Now he would really become a man. He hoped he wouldn’t finish too early and disappoint her. He stepped closer and placed his hands on her waist. She raised her head and closed her eyes for a kiss.

She was trembling. Aslatiel’s words from earlier nagged at Taki and wouldn’t let go. But even more than that, he sensed something strange, whether from her demeanor or her touch. What was the best word for what she emanated?
Fear,
he realized.

“No. Not like this.” He backed away and hurriedly gathered his jerkin up. Enilna opened her eyes and blinked in confusion.

“Don’t you like me?” she asked, looking wounded.

“I think so, but I want to do this
right
.” Taki clenched his teeth and left without a word.

The next time they trained, Enilna didn’t speak with him once. For the rest of the journey, their exchanges were terse at best, and she chose to spend all of her spare time anywhere but with him. Taki considered talking with Aslatiel but decided not to. He didn’t want to see her disciplined or pulled from a choice apprenticeship. And he didn’t want to arouse suspicion of being—how had Hadassah put it?—a “Chomeo.”
Fuck my life,
he thought to himself as he gazed over the wastelands.

“I never thought I’d see it in my life, and certainly not from on high,” Lotte muttered as she surveyed the city below from the top deck of the
Lyudmila
.

Taki raised a brow in concern, for his captain seemed apt to pitch over the railing she leaned over. He considered grasping the back of her shirt to steady her, but reasoned that there was an equal chance of mistakenly pushing her to her doom by mistake. “Captain, is this really Sevastopol?”

“Aye,” Lotte said, and pointed. “See the white obelisk rising from the water, near the harbor mouth? Do you see the stone griffin perched atop it?”

Taki squinted at the monument. “I…I’m sorry, but I can’t make it out from here.”

“Where’s Emreis and his spyglass when you need them?” Lotte said. “You’ll just have to take my word for it. The griffin is the city mascot, and the the symbol of the Imperial spetsnaz. No Argead has ever seen this place and survived. The city’s a giant fortress entirely dedicated to rearing soldiers like von Halcon and his ilk. If there’s any place the Imperials consider sacred, it’s here.”

“Like their version of the Cloud Temple, then?”

“You could say that, though the Imperials are a godless bunch, in case you haven’t noticed. They don’t think they need to repent.”

Taki found himself reflexively shaking his head. Polaris like him or Lotte were the descendants of the demons who’d ended the golden age of man. It was impossible to absolve such a crushing burden of sin within one life, let alone a thousand. Thus, it was only right that the demons’ children paid for their parents’ sins. The fact that the taint of prana had grown so weak over the ensuing centuries of Polaris existence was proof that little by little, the debt was being repaid.
But then why would God let us lose to the Imperials?

He promptly forced himself to ignore his own question. One of the unforeseen downsides of spending time with Aslatiel had been an increased propensity for blasphemous thoughts. Draco was already a lost cause on that front and Hadassah was given a pass because she was one of the chosen, but Taki was resolved not to fritter away everlasting life for stupid reasons. “It doesn’t look like a fortress from here,” Taki blurted out. “Hell, it looks like any other burg viewed from a mountainside. I’m sure we’ll live.”

Lotte chuckled. “I won’t let them murder us before we’ve sampled the famous pump showers.”

“What’re those?”

“I don’t actually know. I was hoping to find out, myself.”

As they conversed, the
Lyudmila
began a rapid descent toward the city, into a large clearing encircled by a high curtain wall backed by an imposing keep that bristled with cannon and overlooked the eastern sector of the city. Before long, the zeppelin was securely moored to the ground by lengths of braided metal rope. Crewmen delicately lowered the ship’s ramp to the ground, taking extra care not to let the metal slab slam against the packed earth. Taki and Lotte moved toward it when Aslatiel tapped their shoulders.

“Hold, you two. Do you not see what’s before us?” Aslatiel pointed. “We’ve got an honor guard. And not just any honor guard. Those are attendants of the Imperial Cult.”

Standing in perfect formation nearby were dozens of soldiers armored in shiny black plate and veiled by crimson niqab. Each hefted an ahlspiess taller than a man, and slung on their backs were pristinely-cleaned and oiled rifles. And each one was completely silent and still, to the point where it was hard to tell if they breathed. Taki whistled softly to himself. “Did you just say ‘cult?’”

“Aye, though it’s an archaic and outdated name for the padishah’s personal guard. Remember, he isn’t a god and doesn’t wish to be thought of as such.”

Taki bit his lip. “If they’re here, then is the padishah with them?”

“Yes,” Aslatiel said. “And I need you to answer me sincerely. Will you bend the knee to His Majesty?”

Lotte raised an eyebrow. “Do we have a choice?”

“No. But I don’t wish to pick needlessly at old wounds. If any of your number are thoroughly opposed, then I will give them leave to stay aboard the ship until the padishah has departed.”

Lotte smiled. “That’s…kind of you, Aslatiel. If our positions were reversed, I’d make you kowtow to the basileus whether you wanted to or not. You’d also be in chains, and quite possibly naked. I will bend the knee, as will my men. We’ll do anything to find Mezeta.”

Aslatiel nodded. “I thank you for your cooperation. I only hope that one day, you’ll kneel out of love of the Way, and not lust for revenge.”

“Get us our woman, and I’ll love whatever you want me to,” Lotte said.

Taki’s cheeks reddened again, and he turned and made his way to the ramp. Despite Lotte’s sentiments, Taki was flush with anticipation. He’d known and served two Argead basileioi, and had even killed one of them, but the Imperial padishah decided the fate of millions across a land the size of hundreds of Dominions. And unlike the basileioi, the padishah seemed to hold the welfare of his subjects close to his heart. Perhaps one day, Taki hoped, Lotte would find happiness in her service as well.

The two squads slowly marched their way toward the Imperial Cult until Aslatiel stopped, thrust out an arm, and knelt with a flourish. Taki immediately followed suit, as did the rest of the Alfa. The remainder of Tirefire the Lesser gracelessly got to their knees a moment later.

The Imperial padishah sat on a gilded, velvet-upholstered throne that glided along on spoked wheels. He wore a mink greatcoat draped over the shoulders of an Imperial officer’s dress tunic, and on his head was a thin circlet of unadorned white gold. His features, however, were anything but elegant or imposing. A pair of sunken and clouded eyes spoke of blindness, and the skin over his drawn features was thin to the point of translucency.

Yet it was not the decrepit Imperial ruler that set Taki’s heart pounding, but Chronicler, who pushed the man’s wheeled throne. The mere sight of the wizened easterner made Taki’s throat want to close, and he quickly averted his eyes. He’d not yet forgotten what it had felt like to stand in the man’s soul-draining shadow.

“His Imperial Majesty wishes to commend you, Aslatiel, for a job well done in Xizhang,” Chronicler said. “He wanted to personally view the heroes who punished the vile rebels who threatened our honored teaching men and women.”

Aslatiel pressed a fist to his chest. “Your presence is too high of an honor to bestow on us, Your Majesty. We merely did our duty to preserve the Way for others.”

Chronicler chuckled. “Needless self-effacement is tiresome to hear, my boy. But your work speaks for itself.” He glanced at Tirefire the Lesser. “And it seems we weren’t mistaken about your valor after all, Argeads. Tell me, Taki Natalis, what does it feel like to be a hero of not only your land, but ours?”

I really wish I hadn’t told him my name.
Taki cringed as he felt the stares of his companions, the Imperial Cult, and the padishah all drill into him at once. He raised his head and cleared his throat. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, and Sir Chronicler, I am no hero. That sort of title belongs to people like Enilna over there, who had nothing and came from nothing, but stood up to evil men anyway. She shot Duke Gul Hekmatyar in Kosovo when I didn’t have the guts to do it. She also speared the rebel leader Jamukha, who had me helpless at gunpoint because of my own carelessness. Actually, she’s super effective at killing in general, and…”

The padishah slowly motioned to Chronicler, who bent down to put an ear next to the padishah’s lips. A few seconds later, Chronicler nodded and stood straight again.

“His Majesty enjoys your candor, Taki Natalis. He will reward you and the kadet you mentioned with a sum of milligrad for your efforts. Unfortunately, His Majesty tires and must withdraw for the day. Now rest, my disciples, and enjoy a moment of impermanent peace. War is coming soon.”

Chronicler wheeled the padishah around and pushed the throne back toward the keep. The Imperial Cult followed in perfect silence, without any of the normal clanking or grinding that always came with wearing plate. Once the entourage was a safe distance away, Aslatiel rose to his feet.

“As our liege commands, all are now at liberty until summoned again. Captain Satou, the hauptmann quartermaster will see to your lodging and sundries. I must accompany our wounded off the
Lyudmila
and cannot tarry.”

Taki let out a breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Then, he buried his face in his hands. Once again, he’d failed to make a good impression on royalty. Officers needed to be erudite, not ramble on about inconsequential matters.
And why in the hell was I babbling about stupid Enilna, anyway? At this rate she’ll never talk to me again!
He let out a groan.

Hadassah clapped him on the back. “Natalis, if we’d known that you opening your mouth could drive away the Imperium, we’d still have a country to go home to. Talk about shit luck.”

Taki squatted where he was and wished with all his might for a deep hole to throw himself into.

“He did well, Mikkelsen,” Lotte said. “Milligrad from a king is about as good of a reward as any soldier could ever hope for. And Sir Chronicler violated basic etiquette by talking directly to Natalis. I can’t believe the padishah would let the smug old bastard speak on his behalf.”

“Captain,” Hadassah said, “the padishah seriously looks like a random dead guy they dug out of the graveyard this morning. Just looking at him gave me age spots and lumbago. The guy’s brain has got to be nothing but squid cock at this point. I bet Chronicler’s just using him as a puppet and saying whatever the hell sounds cool.”