On Blackened Wings Page 6

But first the throne. Its potent presence tugged at him, resonating with his own divine soul force. It was partially awake already. Another little nudge and he would be ready to make use of its power once more.

  “Walk with me, there is much I need to know.” Binder marched through the gate with Ling at his side and the others trailing along behind. “How do you make your living?”

  “I’m a silk merchant, Master,” Ling said. “My business takes me all over the empire. Any questions you have I shall do my best to answer.”

  “Tell me about the satraps—their numbers, strengths, weaknesses, anything useful.”

  “That is a difficult question, Master. Their ranks are ever shifting. One is cast down only to find a new one rise up from the ranks of bandit leaders or mercenary captains. There are six I would say are the strongest and longest ruling. Each commands a force of thousands and rules over an entire province. They all share the same weaknesses: greed and ambition. They constantly squabble amongst themselves while putting down any of the weaker leaders that might get too keen to rise in station.”

  “It’s chaos,” Binder muttered.

  “Yes, that is an excellent way to describe the empire. So much time is spent fighting that much of the farmland lies fallow, leading to food shortages. Now that you have come, I hope things will improve.”

  They left the entry courtyard and started down the long, gold-tiled corridor to the throne room. The red paint and green dragons decorating the walls had long faded to obscurity. Moths had made a meal of the once fine tapestries. Binder no longer expected to find anything better. Everything in the empire was going to have to be rebuilt from the ground up.

  “What about the capital?” Binder asked. “Which satrap claims it?”

  “None. Like the palace, our city is forbidden to the satraps by mutual agreement. We are like an independent city-state. The lord mayor and a council of merchants set few laws and many taxes. Though most of the bureaucrats are so corrupt a little coin in the right place can save a lot in others. It’s just another system you need to learn to survive.”

  “That system will be changing in short order.”

  Binder stopped in front of gold-inlayed doors decorated with angels and chains. He ran a hand along the smooth wood. How long ago had these doors been carved? It wasn’t long after he gifted the throne to the first emperor. Three, maybe four thousand years ago. The soul force preserving them still ran through the wood as strong as the day the protection was put in place.

  With a gentle push the doors swung into the throne room. Pillars ran the length of it holding up a high, domed ceiling. A path ran to a black, straight-backed chair decorated with chains of gold. Should anyone not of the imperial bloodline dare sit in it, they would be instantly torn to pieces.

  Binder marched straight up to it and dropped in the seat. His own magic held no danger for him. The throne shifted under his back and legs, conforming to his body and softening just enough to be comfortable. A pleasant psychic vibration filled his mind as his power resonated with the throne. This was as close to peace as he’d felt since being cast out of Heaven.

  There was little time to revel in it. They had much work to do.

  “Kneel before the throne,” Binder said. While he had no doubts about the loyalty of his followers, the symbolism of them receiving the honor of swearing the ancient oath was powerful.

  Ling and the others took up position in front of him. At his psychic command the golden chains rattled and shot out, coming to rest against each of their foreheads. The excitement of his followers washed over him. They recognized the honor.

  “Do you swear to serve and obey the throne and he who sits in it for all time?”

  “I do,” they said with one voice.

  Binder sent his power flowing down the chains and into his followers.

  Divine soul force slammed into their bodies.

  They writhed and flailed, their faces stretched in ecstatic expressions.

  When the flow stopped Binder said, “Rise, my Chain Knights, and take your places at my side.”

  They got to their feet. All around their body ghostly chains spun. In addition to the power, he had filled them with the knowledge of how to use it. They would make fine servants. Certainly more than a match for anything they were likely to face in this fallen land.

  Binder pointed to six of them at random. “You will bring the six leading satraps and their lieutenants to me.”

  They touched their fists to their hearts. “As you command, Master.”

  He pointed to six more. “You will go west to the Thunder Mountains. Enemies will be coming from the east. When they arrive, you will find and destroy them.”

  They saluted like the first group and took to the air.

  Finally he said to Ling, “Bring me the lord mayor. We have a great deal to discuss regarding his style of leadership.”

  “With pleasure, Master.”

  Binder sighed when the last of his people had gone. It was a beginning at least. But much remained to be done.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The paladins had been flying for hours into the dark when Sir Collin finally called it a night. For a while Marie-Bell had wondered whether he planned to fly right through until morning. Even with divine soul force enhancing their stamina, not stopping to sleep would have left them vulnerable to an attack. Not that she had sensed much in the way of life as they flew across the Badlands. If nothing else, the Fire King’s army appeared to have cleared out all the bandit camps along their route.

  The group landed in a clear, level patch of sand and set to preparing their camp. Marie-Bell always traveled light so she only needed to lay out her bedroll and snuggle in to sleep. While the others set up their tents, she conjured a heat source and put on a pot of tea. The water in her battered old pot boiled quickly and she poured a cup.

  The night was warm, but the mug still felt good in her hands. She took a sip and sighed. No one so much as looked her way as they worked and the same during the flight. They were all afraid that if they had anything to do with her Sir Collin would turn his disdain on them. And he might. It wouldn’t have surprised her if he’d ordered the others to ignore her.

  She couldn’t do anything about it so she tried to put the unpleasant thoughts out of her mind. As she took another sip of tea a summons tickled her brain. It seemed His High and Mightiness wanted to talk about something.

  The other paladins dropped what they were doing and hurried toward the center of the camp where Sir Collin waited. Marie-Bell fell in with the last of the group and made the short walk to where their leader stood with crossed arms and a hard look on his face that made his wrinkles appear even deeper.

  “Tomorrow, according to the scouts I dispatched, we will cross into the Fire King’s territory,” Sir Collin said. “The dragon has claimed that he is on our side, but we mustn't take anything for granted. To that end we will be avoiding any towns and settlements along our path. We fly hard and fast for the port and once we board the ship we keep a close watch on the crew. Questions?”

  Marie-Bell raised her hand, as much to see if he’d ignore her as to ask her question.

  Sir Collin favored her with a longsuffering look. “What?”

  “Once we’re on the ship, what should we be on the lookout for? I’m no sailor. I couldn’t navigate across the ocean if I wanted to.”

  There were murmurs among the gathered paladins. She felt a little better that she wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what to look for.

  Sir Collin blew out a long sigh. “Would someone from the Port Valcane chapter be kind enough to give a short primer on ocean travel? If anyone else wants to listen, feel free. I’m going to get my dinner.”

  Sir Collin stalked off with his guards. A paladin not much older than Marie-Bell moved to take his place. He started droning on about stars and the wind. The gathering broke up quickly until only Marie-Bell remained.

  He fell silent, shrugged and said, “If you think something looks off ju
st tell me and I’ll check it out. I couldn’t really teach anything worthwhile in an hour or two anyway.”

  Especially if he didn’t want to make the effort. She forced a smile. “Thanks anyway. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Marie-Bell.” She stuck out her hand.

  He looked around to make sure no one was watching before shaking. “Cord. I was a fisherman before I felt the call to serve.”

  “I was a maid. Nice to meet you.”

  “I know. Everyone knows your story. Chosen while polishing the altar plate. That definitely makes you unique in the Order.” He looked around again. “I should finish setting up my tent. So long.”

  He scurried away before anyone could see him talking with the outcast. Marie-Bell scrubbed a hand across her face. It was going to be a long journey.

  She returned to her little patch of sand, ate from her provisions, and settled in to sleep, the Sword of Demon Slaying resting unsheathed under her hand.

  Minutes after she closed her eyes, she found herself floating face to face with Al Elan. His spirit form looked exactly like his real body only she could see through him.

  “You guys really covered a lot of territory today. I spent nearly ten minutes getting here. Any trouble?”

  He probably didn’t care about her personal issues with Sir Collin so she shook her head. “Aside from being a little sore from so much time flying I’m fine. So far the trip has just been tedious. You?”

  “I wish I could say the same.” Al Elan filled her in on the Binder cult uprising. When he finished he added, “I don’t know if any of the paladins have sympathy for the fallen archangel, but just in case, watch your back.”

  Marie-Bell swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. Just what she needed, something else to worry about. “I’ll be careful. We hope to reach Port Crimson by tomorrow. With any luck we’ll be on the ocean soon.”

  “I fear your commander may be a little optimistic. Port Crimson is the easternmost city in the Fire Kingdom. You still have thousands of miles to cover. Even flying it will probably take you two full days and nights more.”

  “Thanks for the info.” Sir Collin wasn’t going to be thrilled to find out how far they still had to go and Marie-Bell didn’t plan to tell him. “Will I see you tomorrow night?”

  Al Elan smiled. “If possible. It’s chaos here so I don’t know what might happen. Stay safe.”

  “You too.”

  Al Elan’s ghost vanished and she was alone again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  An especially loud shout woke Damien from a dead sleep. He looked around the pitch-black room and grimaced. For a moment he’d forgotten the emergency shelter was underground. A glow sphere appeared at his command revealing the dusty floor and furniture.

  You’d think someone might pop in to clean the place once a year, but then that would negate the idea of it being a secret sanctuary.

  Another shout focused his mind on the problem at hand. Sounded like Uncle Andy was venting. Damien pulled his boots on and pushed through the door. A round chamber at the center of the sanctuary with a table big enough for ten served as a dining and meeting room.

  The archmage sat in one of the chairs while the king loomed over her. “I’ll ask you once more. How did so many Binder worshippers end up working for the kingdom?”

  His master scrubbed a weary hand over her pale face. “The Binder was an archangel, Andrew, not a demon lord. There’s no law or even a reason why they shouldn’t have been allowed to work in the government. If anything, until their patron fell from grace, they were among the finest and most loyal of our people. The Binder’s philosophy is to obey those of higher rank than you. The only reason we have a problem is that they consider him the ultimate authority. If it’s a choice between obeying a king or an archangel, to them, it’s no choice at all.”

  Uncle Andy slammed his fist on the table and waved a hand in an all-encompassing gesture. “So everything that’s happened is just bad luck?”

  The archmage shrugged. “Basically. If the Binder didn’t get kicked out of Heaven, everything would be back to normal now. You should know better than anyone how big a part luck plays. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. And we haven’t lost yet, not by a long shot.”

  Jen emerged from another door and raised an eyebrow at him. Damien shook his head and cleared his throat. “So what’s for breakfast?”

  Uncle Andy and the archmage looked over at him, neither happily.

  “What? We’ve still got to eat, right?”

  “I’ve got some dried meat and vegetables in my pack,” Jen said. “If there’s a kitchen in this place, I can whip up some soup.”

  “I’ll help,” Damien said. “No offense, but the last time I let you cook it didn’t end well. We don’t want to get smoked out of our hideout.”

  “Are you saying I could burn soup?”

  “Are you saying you couldn’t?”

  Uncle Andy’s laughter cut off their argument. Damien grinned. That was exactly what he’d hoped for.

  “Get cooking, you two,” Uncle Andy said between chuckles. “I promise Lidia and I won’t argue any more until you’re finished.”

  “I wasn’t arguing in the first place,” the archmage said as Damien passed her on his way to the kitchen.

  It took them about an hour to finish fixing breakfast and when they returned to the dining room Al Elan and Imogen had joined the gathering. Damien passed out bowls and they tucked in. It wasn’t the finest meal he’d ever eaten, but it was warm and filling and since Damien hadn’t eaten anything in almost a day he lapped up every drop.

  When the last of the food was eaten Uncle Andy said, “Alright, we’ve got some serious decisions to make. Rescuing Karrie and Audra has to be our first priority. Any ideas about how we might do that?”

  “I could scout out the capital,” Jen said. “See if I can find any weak spots.”

  “I don’t think so,” the archmage said. “You’re too well known. If anyone recognized you the rebels would have you bound and imprisoned before you knew it.”

  “I could do it in ghost form,” Al Elan said. “Assuming someone told me how to find the city. Once I get the lay of the land I can guide Jennifer past any guards to those you wish to rescue.”

  “I didn’t think you could interact with the real world when you were a spirit,” Jen said.

  “Since Dreamer shared his power with me, I’ve discovered I can do a great deal that I couldn’t before. Not that I can do much, but I can do enough to warn you or provide directions.”

  “I’m not crazy about you two going alone,” Damien said. “Maybe I should come too.”

  “No,” the archmage said. “They’d sense you coming from miles away. Your power is like a beacon. You need to stay here and keep the king safe.”

  “If you think I’m waiting here—” Uncle Andy began.

  The archmage raised her hand. “You have bigger responsibilities than those to Karrie and Audra. The entire kingdom looks to you for leadership. With the Binder’s threat hovering over us, if anything happened to you, the kingdom wouldn’t stand a chance. You know I’m right. Despite your occasional minor rebellions, you’re too responsible to do anything stupid.”

  Uncle Andy glowered and crossed his arms. “Fine, but what are you going to be doing?”

  “I need to contact our agents throughout the kingdom to see how things stand elsewhere. If the uprising is contained to the capital we can isolate them, but if this is happening everywhere it makes our task much more difficult. I’ll check in at the Tower and send the scrolls from there. No sense risking someone tracking a message back to us.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Imogen said. “After the ambush it’s best none of us travel alone.”

  To Damien’s surprise his master agreed without arguing. The attack must have really rattled her.

  He glanced at Uncle Andy. “I guess we’re stuck waiting again.”

  The king grunted. Damien had rarely seen him in such a foul mood. Sitting around f
or heaven knew how many days with nothing to do wasn’t going to be fun, but as long as everyone got back safe, Damien could live with that.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Binder had been sitting on the Throne of Chains for three hours, lost in thought, when he sensed Ling returning. The throne room door opened a moment later and she strode through, a fat bald man bound in magical chains floating along behind her. The prisoner wore a fine silk dressing gown embroidered with golden dragons and matching silk slippers. He trembled as much as the chains allowed.

  A fierce scowl twisted Ling’s stern features. Binder raised an eyebrow. “Problems?”

  “No, Master. It took longer to locate the lord mayor than I expected. I apologize for making you wait.” She lowered her head in contrition.

  “I’m immortal, Ling,” Binder said. “A few hours is like the blink of an eye to me. Now, show me what you’ve brought.”

  Ling gestured and the lord mayor plopped to the floor in front of the throne. He looked up at Binder, his dark eyes damp with unshed tears. This was the lord mayor? How could such a pathetic specimen possibly rule an entire city?

  The mayor scrambled to his knees, licked his plump lips, and opened his mouth. No words emerged.

  He cleared his throat and tried again. “Your agent was most insistent that I accompany her to meet you. How may I be of service, sir?”

  Binder smiled. “First let me say how pleased I am to see that you’re not going to bother with bluster and threats, neither of which would do you the least good and would anger me greatly. I must admit that you aren’t at all what I expected in the ruler of the city. How is it a weakling like you can control the capital?”

  If the mayor was insulted at being called a weakling he covered it well. “I fear you may have been misinformed about my role in the city. The council of merchants rules, but they barely trust each other enough to be in the same room. My task is to carry messages from one to the other, mediate disputes, and deal with the citizenry. I have no authority to make laws or even levy taxes, though I do handle the collection of said taxes.”