Empire Imperiled

  Ink Sorceress: Book Two

  Author: D. L. Harrison

  Copyright 2022. This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, Places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Afterword:

  About the Author

  Other books by D. L. Harrison:

  Book Description

  Prologue

  The torches flickered and cast shadows in the dimly lit hallway. The hallway through the secret door in the king’s study led to the secret counterintelligence section of the castle. It was a highly shielded part of the castle, protected from all manner of spying through magic and mundane means. King Janus attempted to quiet his mind as it ran away from him in several directions with worry. It wasn’t often that Mage Kadian dared to declare an emergency and request his presence via magic during the morning hours, when he was with his advisors in the war room.

  It was only mid-morning, a mere three hours after dawn.

  He pushed open the door to a brightly lit room with steady light. Mage lights were far gentler on the eyes than torches. Kadian stood up from behind his desk and bowed with a face of stone. The king couldn’t read his face at all, the man was very good at his job. Kadian was six feet in height, fifty-seven years old, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was nondescript and average in looks, the kind of man who could blend in almost anywhere if dressed for the occasion.

  The king felt pensive and paranoid, but projected confidence as he said, “What is it Kadian, that couldn’t wait?”

  Kadian replied, “Your Majesty, the grand palace in the capital of Thaenid is destroyed, and they lost more than half the city to fire. The emperor and his family are dead, save the youngest prince, Sebastian.”

  Janus froze a moment in shock, and then felt an exultant thrill run through his body, so much so that he took a seat and forced his face to remain calm.

  “How?”

  Kadian said, “Red dragons. We’re not sure what prompted it yet, but a score of dragons appeared over the city just after daybreak led by a great ancient dragon, and they burned it to the ground.”

  “Is my niece still in Land’s End keep?”

  Kadian nodded, “She’s in service to the prince. I don’t think it will be long before they move however, news of the capital should reach them soon if it hasn’t already. I expect they’ll be moving within hours. There is also the not so small matter of what they discovered in the valley. An enemy force of thirty thousand monsters that could march any day now.”

  Janus scowled, “How sure are you of that?”

  Kadian said, “The news is all over the keep. The prince is still ignorant of what happened, and he’s still working on the report. But the scouts on the mission have spread the word and our spies passed it on.”

  Janus nodded and forced himself to think. The empire would fall now, nothing could stop that. The dire news did give him pause, but he also had no doubt they could survive the onslaught without his niece or the young callow prince. He’d have to put his own invasion plans to redress the insults given to the ruling family of Doryn over the years of the empire in abeyance, until that was taken care of. But he didn’t have to suffer the danger of his niece being alive, not when her protection was just taken down.

  Besides, it would be prudent to take out the last member of Thaenid’s ruling family and break their dynastic rule.

  “I want assassins sent immediately, for my niece and for Prince Sebastian.”

  Kadian didn’t look surprised at all by that order, “It will be done, though by the time the assassins got to Land’s End I’m sure they’ll have gone. I’ll wait and see where they go first, though I’d bet my coin the boy will run to Castlerest.”

  Janus grunted. That was a likely guess. Castlerest was the old capital of Thaenid, before they’d built the empire and the newer city and grand palace. It was also ruled by Duke Embry, whose family had been a stalwart supporter of the royal family for centuries. It was the obvious place for the prince to go to claim the Thaenid kingdom as his own.

  “Excellent. Try to find out why the dragons attacked.”

  Kadian nodded deeply, “Yes, your majesty. It’s just a matter of time. The monstrous army?”

  Janus waved his hand, “That will be dealt with out in the open through ambassadors and planned in the war room with my advisors and sons. King Sigurd is a fool but not that big of one. He will see the necessity of settling our old scores later, once that danger has been dealt with.”

  The king stood, and Kadian stood and bowed as he walked out. There were many things to be done.

  Chapter One

  The prince’s study in the tower room was brightly lit with the late morning sun streaming in the windows. The prince was hard at work while Princess Luna tried not to worry about what they didn’t know about the enemy’s plans and intentions. She’d been turning it around in her head for two hours, and it just didn’t make sense that they hadn’t marched from the valley yet.

  She was also a little tired, after the long walk the previous night and the fighting a few hours ago, the adrenaline surge had passed, and she needed sleep. Of course, she knew they needed to get back on a day schedule, so she needed to tough it out. She knew she’d no doubt pass out as soon as her head hit the pillow that night.

  It could be worse, at least her magic was energizing, and she’d been embracing it and letting it go every fifteen minutes or so to stay alert. The heal spell also seemed to help a little, though it surely wasn’t meant to fend off exhaustion. She’d survive, she was still young, just over three weeks sixteen, so a night of missed sleep wouldn’t kill her.

  The grunt of confused surprise drew her eyes to the prince, her charge and liege lord. He was quite attractive, and four years older than she was. He was six foot two, with a medium athletic build, blond hair, and light gray eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, not quite worried, but concerned.

  Sebastian shook his head, “The report is finished. When I attempted to transport it to my father’s study, the spell failed.”

  He shook his head, and then pulled out another device from his flowing robes.

  A wave of concern went through her when the blood drained from his face, and he stared at her in shocked disbelief.

  She wanted to ask what again, but she bit her tongue and waited. The emotions and shock on his face wasn’t a familiar sight. Despite her youth and desire to demand an explanation, she’d learned patience a long time ago, as a princess that was seen but not heard.

  The silence stretched out, and when he spoke his voice was filled with shock and grief.

  “The grand palace has been destroyed, and the capital city is heavily damaged by fire.”

  She shook her head, as if to negate what he just said. It didn’t seem possible, as nothing but a great army could threaten the imperial family’s seat of power. That was a threat they’d have heard of long before the palace was lost.

  “How?”

  He shook his head, “I don’t know yet, but I suspect who arranged it.”

  Her thoughts spun for a moment, until understanding came in a flash of insight.

  “The monster races, this is what their army has been waiting for?”

  He nodded slowly, “It makes sense, and explains their delay despite their nature. I just have no idea how they did it. Worse, I expect they will wait until we go to war, against each other. With my family’s power lost, I’ll be lucky to claim my rightful kingship of Thaenid, much less as emperor of the empire.”

  “Your family?”

  The deep loss in his eyes at that question made her want to comfort him, but she didn’t dare take that liberty. She knew he was a good man, but they didn’t have that kind of relationship. She almost cringed at the thought of looking compassionless like her mother. Yet… what else could she do? She was his personal guard and advisor, not his friend and confidant. At least, not yet.

  He said, “I need to figure out what happened. I want your thoughts on our next steps once I do.”

  She tried to put her mind on it, but it wasn’t easy. Honestly, given what just happened she wanted to crawl under the covers and go to sleep. She couldn’t afford to be in denial. The empire was in for a very rough time, and it was likely done for. Her mind wandered back and forth, as several dangers and problems occurred to her.

  Including a selfish one.

  She’d come and sworn her service to Prince Sebastian because that would deter her father from trying to have her killed. From sending assassins. That umbrella of protection was gone with Emperor Melor’s death, and the deaths of the rest of his family. But mostly the loss of the Grand Palace, and their greater understanding of magical forces.

  M
ore than that, her father was likely to want them both dead, so she was back to the expectation of dodging assassins for the rest of her life. Of course, it was still slightly better, she had a powerful prince at her side that would aid her in it. If he didn’t dismiss her from service that is, because of this development. She didn’t think that likely, they’d be stronger together, and he was in just as much danger as her most likely.

  The prince put down the latest device he’d used, and then sighed.

  “Dragons. Several flights of them, including an ancient dragon. They destroyed the grand palace, and set the city aflame. The only reason half of it is left is the magic users managed to put out the fires when the dragons left.”

  She shook her head, “The dragons don’t heed the other monster races any more than they heed humanity.”

  The prince grunted, “True, but they obviously figured out a way. It’s too coincidental to dismiss. Suggestions?”

  She replied, “We need to be focused on the monster race threat to the east. Working backwards from that we need an agreement of all the kingdoms not to pursue revenge or war and to pledge support and another fifteen hundred troops to the eastern border. That’s another two hundred and fifty soldiers per kingdom. More mages wouldn’t go amiss either who can precast defensive spells on the walls to prevent magic from taking them down.”

  She paused for a moment, a little nervous.

  Sebastian said, “Just say it.”

  She bit her lip, “The empire is doomed, it will break down into kingdoms. The best way to ensure cooperation is to ask for a new temporary mutual defense treaty against the monster races until their army is broken. A short moment of peace before war among kingdoms happens. Anything more, and you risk the monarchs refusing to help at all. Especially the western kingdoms, who won’t be threatened in the beginning. It’ll be hard enough as it is, to convince them seeing Doryn and Pirean burn isn’t a good idea.”

  He grunted, “Go on.”

  She nodded, “Going backwards again from there. In order to make that plan work, you need to have the authority to sign that temporary treaty with six other monarchs. So, the first step despite being a delay in dealing with the enemy, needs to be claiming Thaenid as king and receiving oaths of fealty from all your nobles.

  “Lastly, I suspect there will be assassins after both of us in short order. I think we’d do better together but if you choose to release me from service in the hopes of not dealing with my father’s assassins I’ll understand.

  “There’s also holes in the plan. You’re the best person to act as a central point. We need to reestablish command and control over the empire’s forces. Ironically, the best way to do that is use the various kingdoms’ spies in the empire’s service to pass orders. Because of your tours with your sister, you know all the monarchs and their court wizards, so can communicate directly with them. While they can communicate directly with every unit and every ship in the fleet no doubt. The problem there is as Thaenid’s king, it would be irresponsible for you to visit all the other kingdoms in an attempt to get them to sign a treaty.”

  It was true, but at the same time they were in a desperate situation. The danger of the monster races had to take precedence over everything. The problem was kings and queens could be contrary, and ambition, anger, and hatred made people do stupid things.

  She was also a bit nervous at telling the newly elevated emperor apparent that he needed to give up on the idea of ever ruling the empire. That the empire was doomed to fracture back into the kingdoms, and that it could not be saved. That all six of the kingdoms would betray their vassal oaths and even claim revenge. Not just against the other vassal kingdoms, but likely against Thaenid itself.

  She didn’t think ambition ruled Sebastian. Like her, he’d been low on the heir list, behind his siblings. Until a few minutes ago, he’d had no hopes in ruling, so likely dark ambition hadn’t taken root in his heart. She admired him and thought he was a good man, but in truth they’d only been getting to know each other deeper for a handful of days. She truly wasn’t sure how he’d react.

  In essence, she was asking him to risk his life to save kingdoms that would likely turn around and burn his into ashes. For the sake of the people. Was anyone that good?

  Sure, she was willing to fight for Doryn despite her father not deserving her protection, but they were her people in a real way.

  She waited out the long moment of silence, as he digested her advice. It wasn’t an easy thing either. Beyond the fact that she was advising he give up on the empire and focus on the short-term danger of monsters only in a new treaty, he was also dealing with just finding out his father, sister, and brother were dead. That his city was half burned down, and his home and grand palace had been destroyed.

  Anger, grief, a desire for revenge, was in the mix. Of course, that could turn out to be a boon toward him accepting her plan if he was focused on gaining revenge for what the monstrous races had wrought in his home.

  He said, “So you want me to focus on the monster races exclusively, and put off any thoughts or plans to what the other monarchs might do once the danger has passed?”

  She shook her head, “It needs to be considered. I only suggest leaving it out of any treaties or planning in dealing with the evil races that will soon be heading our way. To ensure the greatest chance of the other monarchs buying in on the defense plan. To not try to settle our human internal conflicts at the same time. That doesn’t mean ignore it, or not plan for the chaos that will come. Assuming we win against the evil races. But for right now, we should focus on the largest threat. Once we have things moving on that, we can deal with other things.”

  He laughed, but there wasn’t any humor in the sound.

  “Sound advice, or I should say realistic advice. You’re also right about the holes. I need to be king before I can sign a treaty on behalf of Thaenid to deal with the army that will soon march. We also need to be wary of assassins, and me going to any of the kingdoms would be suicide. I understand why you made the offer to be released from service, but our chances are better if we watch each other’s backs.

  “I appreciate the thought that I’d be an ideal point of central contact and command, and in my own estimate you’re not wrong. But most of the monarchs probably wouldn’t agree with that assessment, and would rather see me, the last of my family, dead.”

  He paused for a moment, and she recognized he was weighing the situation and her advice in his mind while attempting to repress his grief.

  “First things first. We’ll teleport to Castlerest today. Duke Embry is a longtime ally to my family. Once I’m crowned, we’ll send out ambassadors with the treaty, since I won’t be able to go myself. It’d be suicide without the threat of my father and the grand palace behind me. I can at least teleport them there directly, to save some few days of time.

  “We need to move quickly, but it’s also not a simple thing. By tradition there’s a week of mourning, and bypassing that will be difficult, despite the situation. Some of the nobles of my kingdom aren’t pleased with my family, no more than the vassal monarchs are.

  “It seems absurd given the danger we face to the east, but civil war within Thaenid itself over who will be king, the lone kingdom, is a possibility I can’t ignore.”

  That wasn’t all that surprising. She knew if her whole family was killed, that the nobles of Doryn would fight over the crown. Each of them sure they were the best and only choice to take over as king. It was the nature of men and ambition.

  That meant it wouldn’t just be her father’s assassins coming after her, but after him as well. Probably assassins from other monarchs as well, plus more assassins from Thaenid’s nobility that will want to finish off the dynastic family.

  Even if they survived the evil races invasion, which was far from assured, she had no idea how they’d avoid the seven human kingdoms going to war with each other. Too many people would want Prince Sebastian dead. They were in for some tough times.

  It looked like she’d be earning her seven and a half gold per month honestly.

  All of which led her mind in a new direction.

  She said, “I know it’s only been three weeks since I was given the ink array of a sorceress, not four. But I believe I could support four more spells if not five which would take another week. Given the situation, it wouldn’t hurt to ensure your guard was more diverse in battle.”