Cheilin Saga ~ 27

Cheilin Saga ~ 27 The Parade

By Len Morgan

‘Are our agents well disposed?   He must die today, without fail, there can be no excuses, all our planning and efforts depend on it.   This is the culmination of your planning and sacrifice, we are relying on you.   His assassination will negate their primary means of defence.   The Tylywoch will become renegades & outcasts overnight.   Through you, we will control the new emperor, and the Cheilin Empire will become a satellite controlled by Blutt Central and no one will know it until it is too late.   With our combined resources we will sweep North and destroy all opposition!’   

‘Yes my master, victory is at hand, we will not fail you,’Efelel promised.

‘See that you do not!   You will not want to survive to report failure! All that has gone before would be as nothing to what I would do to you,’ warned Bedelacq.   Her throat constricted and she experienced visions of torture and pain, her own cries of anguish accompanied them.   ‘You understand don’t you, Efelel!’

‘Yes master’ she cried gasping for breath; stricken with abject misery.   Then she felt the tension relax, the mist and the green glow dissipated, she felt relieved.    He was always an overpowering drain on her energy.   Such she supposed was the way of the god, though gone now she remained aware of his continued presence like a sentinel overseeing all that she did.

She felt for the first time another was present in the room.

“You had another visit from the master,” said Mawld.

“There can be no mistakes here today, do you understand,” she lashed out with her mind, bringing beads of sweat to his brow.   ‘The invasion is upon us.   If we fail he will demand the ultimate sacrifice, and, death will be a long time coming.’

Our agents are in position, they know what is expected of them, we can only wait and see what comes to pass…”

“For all our sakes it had better be a resounding success,” she hissed.

.-…-. 

Bector lay on his cot, eyes wide open, staring into nothingness and mumbling under his breath.   His fellow quad members whispered together, out of earshot, aware his actions were not normal.   They had already sent for Tyse and awaited his arrival with concern.

“This is not the Bector we know,” he said.   “I want him locked up securely and restrained until this day is over, we cannot take the chance that he might be taken over.”   He handed over a vial of milky fluid to one of them, “He should be drugged and kept in an unconscious state.   Keep him under observation an armed guard would not be excessive but make it as painless as possible for him.

Do it now before I take my leave,” said Tyse. 

.-…-. 

“There is a problem,” she said.   “I cannot reach Bector.”

“What does that mean?” asked Mawld, “is he dead, or sick.”

“ I don’t know,” said Efelel.

“It may prove more difficult but they are still seeking the old man, which will work to our advantage, we do have other agents, but none as close to the seat of power,” said Mawld.

“How many do you have, capable of handling this?”

“Two, maybe three,” he said.

“Including yourself?” she asked.

“Four,” he said.

“I want Daidan dead,” she said, “if it means sacrificing all our agents, ourselves included, it must happen today, if you fail we will all be better off dead anyway!”

.-…-.

“What news,” asked Daidan.

“The Bluttlanders are massing on the far banks of the Staalbech River.   They are ready to embark at the news of your death,” said Aldor.

“What are their numbers,” Dan asked.

“The last estimate was 300,000 in the first wave, but there will be at least that number again ready to cross as soon as a beachhead has been established.”

“So what are you doing about it?”

“There are a hundred thousand seasoned troops waiting to defend the Empire with their lives, and we have a few other surprises in store for them as soon as they are afloat, I doubt that half their force will reach our side of the river.” said Aldor.

“Then they will only have half as many again as we have?”

“There is a lot resting on your survival Dan, you cannot attend these games, your life is in very real danger…”

“Do not presume to dictate to me Aldor!   I have not missed the first day of the games in forty years, and I will not allow Bluttland to deny me one of my few remaining pleasures in life.   I will be at the opening of these games as planned.   You may as well get used to that here and now,” said Dan.

“I am not suggesting you should miss the event, rather that you should attend as somebody else.”

“Monstrous!” Dan roared with indignation.

“You hold the rank of commander in chief of the Imperial forces,” said Aldor.

“Indeed that is so,” said Dan.

“Then this is what I propose,” said Aldor…”

.-…-.

 

The royal procession started out from the palace, moving slowly down ‘E5’ the Central highway.   On either hand, the crowds waved and yelled enthusiastically as the open carriages moved slowly towards ‘C20’.   Daidan III was a popular ruler who had worked consistently and conscientiously for the good of all of the peoples of the Cheilin Empire.   The majority were aware that they prospered under his benevolent patronage.   But, a small minority thought he inhibited their progress, they decided that forty years was enough time for any ruler, it was time for a change.   As the figure in the carriage waved to acknowledge the crowds a figure lurked in the crowd with malevolent intent.   Until recently the ill-dressed figure had been administrator of grain imports.   He had enjoyed a good living charging heavy supplements to importers whilst lining his own pockets.   This had always been considered acceptable practice and encouraged by his superiors whose hands were always extended for their share of the profits.   Suddenly, they were all gone, he was alone accused of bribery and corruption, and everybody was pointing accusing fingers at him.   He was suddenly alone and held accountable for his crimes, all the others had either fled or were adjudged innocent.   Still others gave evidence against their fellows in order to save their own skins.   He was not the best, nor the worst of the bunch, but institutional corruption runs deep.   The difference was that he refused to name others, or accept a demotion, and so was stripped of his office his house, and his wealth.   His family disavowed him and he was reduced to working, in a low class tavern, for food and board.

“That bastard Daidan brought me to this sad state, now I will bring him to a worms feast!” he muttered under his breath as he took up the false cane he had been using for support; all he had retained from his former life.   Unscrewing its head he checked the dart projectile was correctly seated, in the tube, before reversing the cane and removing the iron butt spike.   What he had was a very effective blowpipe.   He waited expectantly.   As the Emperor’s carriage drew nearer, and he judged it to be in range, he raised the pipe to his lips.

.-…-.

 

Gorten wore a Bo’stad, a small crossbow, attached to his wrist with a quarrel held in place, for instant use, by a strategically placed index finger.   Strapped to his right hip three more projectiles ready for rapid use and a mini quiver strapped over his left shoulder.   He gazed down on the crowd below, then slowly he panned his eyes along the road, through the crowd back to the Emperor's carriage, then back through the crowd to his roost high above them.   He glanced across the rooftops to his opposite number, who was still scanning the side nearest to Gorten.   Suddenly he stiffened and made a crows alarm call and pointed down into the crowd on his own side of the street.

A quick glance revealed a man with a blowpipe about to be levelled in the direction of the approaching coach.   He saw the nearest of the Red Guard had received the signal and was aware of the situation.   Should he aim to disable the, would-be assassin, or would the Red Guard reach him in time, it would be a close call.   The blowpipe rose…   He took the shot.   The coaches rumbled by and he started to move on, passing the coaches as he ran on leapfrogging the other three members of his quad, placed at twenty-yard intervals.   He continued to scan the windows and crowds lining the opposite side of the road.   He looked back but was unable to see whether the man was taken for interrogation, or escaped.   Either way, he knew he had prevented the hit, and that was his job.   Gorten moved then moved again, three times, without further incident.   Then he watched a figure hefting an object preparing to throw.   Dragor glanced up at the parapet and saw the signal from a man with a distinctive face and noted it for its potential for a portrait in a quieter moment.    He was quickly beside the man, who explained he had intended on throwing his message into the emperor’s coach.   It was an honest congratulatory note thanking Daidan for making it possible for honest traders to flourish.

 

“I’ll see that the emperor gets it,” Dragor said to the man.   He glanced up to inform the man on the parapet that the potential crisis was over.   He saw a different face now, and the signal was not acknowledged.  

Dragor ran for the nearest roof access yelling instructions to his partner.

“Warn Sloan, there’s something strange happening on the roof.   Tell him I need some backup and fast…”   He headed up, two steps at a time, moving swiftly to where the man had been.   “Where is the man who was here” he demanded knowing, even as he spoke, that these men were not Tylywoch.   All eyes turned on him, “I need some information…” he said lamely, five Bo’stad were levelled at him.   He dived for the nearest man, drawing his blade, on the move.   Three quarrels hit him together, an instant after he moved, the fourth man lay beneath him unmoving.   He did not see Gorten and his quad loosed their projectiles, two of his killers fell dead, the third disappeared behind a structure.   Aldor arrived and signalled to Gorten that he was in pursuit but could use assistance.   He followed the man to the rear parapet, he turned to face Aldor.

“You,” said Aldor in surprise.

Mawld just smiled, taking advantage of the situation, he loosed his shaft.   Aldor swayed economically to his left and the quarrel passed within half an inch of his chest.

“Well, well, you are an ugly cove,” said Aldor “they said you looked like me?  Can't see it!”

Mawld re-cocked the bo’stad and reached for a quarrel.   Aldor piled into him as he slotted it.   Bo’stad and quiver fell over the side of the parapet.   Mawld was half balanced in mid-air, on the edge, fighting to retain his balance.   When he did, he kicked out viciously catching Aldor in the vitals, gaining sufficient respite to right himself and draw his sword.    Aldor ducked under a sweeping blow and drew his own blade, but was off-balance as he delivered a short slashing blow at thigh height.   Mawld partially blocked it but the three quarrels at his hip were snapped in halves, and now hampered his movements, so he ripped off what remained of the device and threw it at Aldor.   He looked closely into Mawld’s eyes but saw no fear, or expression of any kind, there.

Mawld made an exploratory stab at Aldor’s chest.   Aldor stepped around it and threw a punch hard into his opponents face.   Mawld stepped back aware of a trickle from his upper lip, he was bleeding from the nose.

 

“First blood,” said Aldor without emotion.

The reply was fast and frenzied causing Aldor to smile.

“The Emperor's cause is five pigs down, soon to be six and then, after he dies, your entire Tylywoch brood will be hunted down and slaughtered by those you protect.   Rather ironic don’t you think?”

“You are forgetting something rather important,” said Aldor.      

“But I’m sure you will enlighten me?”

Aldor easily parried an overhead cut and delivered a kick to his opponent's lead leg, “you will have to kill me first.”

“Precisely,” said Mawld.

“Your running out of time” Aldor goaded, “you have ten minutes at most then the opportunity will be gone…”

“Oh!   So you think this is our only gambit.   You’re even more gullible than we thought.”   It was Aldor’s turn to feel pressured.

“Fortunately I have an invisible helper…”

Aldor felt Efelel’s mental assault; at the same instant, his opponent renewed his attack; a perfectly coordinated effort.

He ejected her violently from his mind and instantly erected a shield about him, to prevent a repetition.   He countered forcing Mawld back against the parapet, once more.

 

“Hold fast, both of you,” a commanding voice bellowed, “Now!”

Aldor disengaged and stepped back.   Mawld lunged with a dagger catching Aldor in the right shoulder.

“Ahh!”   He yelled pulling the blade from his arm as if a firebrand had been touched to his naked flesh, he turned angrily to face the wielder of that voice.

“Sloan” said Mawld, “Thank the gods you got my message.   We have him now, red-handed; he has agents on the opposite side of the street.   Give me your bo’stad, I can pick them off from here…”

“Ho,” said Aldor, ”I would not countenance that…”

“Hold your distance both of you,” Sloan levelled his bo’stad to cover them both.   He looked at them wide-eyed, “Gods you’re as alike as two feathers on a ducks…”

“Except he is an impostor,” said Mawld.

“That will be for me to decide,” said Sloan.

“There is not much time,” said Aldor, “if time overtakes us I might be forced to act.   If you loose that shaft at me, be ready with some other means of defense.   This man is both clever and deadly.”

“Why would you be so foolish?”

“Dan’s safety must always come first,” Aldor replied.

“I am General of Internal Security!   You will obey my orders,” Mawld yelled, “shoot the impostor NOW!”

Aldor remained silent.

Sloan fired.

(To be continued)

Copyright Len Morgan