25 Mai, 1353

  ‘HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?’ The King roared.

  The throne room filled with silence. The King was half out of his throne, his face red with rage. ‘WELL?’ he demanded as his gaze raked the room. Jacques carefully slid behind a tall young man, lest the King’s ire fall on him. The King had met him a few times, in the company of his superior.

  ‘Father,’ a calm voice cut through the tense silence, ‘if I may speak?’

  ‘Out with it, Alexandre!’

  ‘We were unprepared. All of the Lakashan shadow mages attacked at once, Father. The candles stationed in Allonce were too few to deal with it, and our own shadow mages were outnumbered.’

  ‘Yes.’ The King replied coldly. ‘I am aware of that. And now Allonce lies in ruins!’

  ‘Yes!’ Prince Michel of Jolune piped up, anger leaving deep creases in his face, ‘my beloved city, jewel of the kingdom! What is to be done?’

  ‘That is the question...’ The King said, slowly sitting back down in his throne. ‘How will we respond?’

  ‘We must counter-attack!’ answered Silvain, the King’s second son. ‘Attack Iskerashdo and burn it to the ground!’

  ‘How do you expect we do that, brother?’ Alexandre answered. ‘Iskerashdo is far better protected than Allonce was.’

  ‘We need more shadow mages, obviously! Soldiers do not count in this war, it is magic that will decide the victor!’

  ‘You are right, my son.’ The King said, nodding approvingly at Silvain. ‘It is all too clear now. Dashiell!’ The King turned his gaze on the Duke of Belcanon, who up til now had been silent, a mere spectator shivering with the other members of the court. ‘You said I must go through you before approaching Emerré! So be it! Send word to her at once! If that boy, Autin, can kill a dozen sons and daughters of the nobles of Lakasha, what can she do, hmm? Have her find a way! Iskerashdo will feel the consequences of an attack on Mance-Jolune!’

  ‘Theuder!’ Dashiell stepped forward from the crowd, his mouth set in a deep frown. ‘My niece is pregnant, she cannot possibly use her shadow magic, as I have said before.’

  The King’s face darkened as he observed Dashiell quietly. ‘Allonce has been attacked.’ he said in a soft voice. ‘Mance-Jolune will respond. I have given you a command, Duke of Belcanon, do not make me repeat myself.’

  ‘Father,’ Alexandre said, ‘the Duke is right. Besides, Emerré Albier is only one woman, I think you are overestimating her abilities.’

  ‘Alexandre, when I want your opinion I will ask for it.’

  ‘Father, we must consider the other shadow mages-’

  ‘I have let you play enough, Alexandre, with your secret, spying men. Has this latitude made you forget your place? Have you forgotten that every man, woman and child in this Kingdom exists to do my will, and my will alone? I am sovereign, absolute ruler over everything that exists within the borders of Mance-Jolune. If I tell the shadow mages to attack Iskerashdo, they will attack. If I tell the Duke of Belcanon to have his niece use her shadow magic, he will do so, and his niece will comply. Anything else is treason.’

  All the blood rushed from Duke Dashiell’s face. His expression flickered from outrage to disbelief.

  His feelings were mirrored on every other face in the room. Eventually, the Duke bowed smartly, at exactly the right angle and in clipped tones said, ‘I will return to Belcanon, your Majesty.’

  The Duke turned and strode from the throne room, his heels clicking on the marble floor.

  The King watched him go, glowering darkly.

  ‘If I may?’ Loic Macon, the ambassador from Sontmor, stepped forward and bowed low, his bald head shining in the light of the candles around the room.

  Jacques frowned, wondering at this man’s arrogance or bravery to step forward now.

  ‘The shadow mages are difficult creatures, your Majesty, and do not understand the basic truths of the world, that Kings lead and all else follows. Let me and my men circumvent those difficulties. You know how successful I have been in the past.’

  The room was silent. Jacques could see the assembled lords and ladies sharing confused looks. They were too cowed to actually say anything though.

  The King smiled. ‘Perhaps. Lady Emerré will be given one more chance to obey my wishes. She may be a shadow mage, but she is subject to the same rules as everyone else in my Kingdom.’ The King’s smile faded, and his brows furrowed darkly, his voice as heavy and unyielding as steel. ‘One way or the other, her shadow magic will be used in defence of my Kingdom.’

  Loic bowed low again and said, ‘thank you, your Majesty. My lord, Julius Sontmor, will also be pleased to know he has been of use to you.’

  The King chuckled. ‘Perhaps Julius will come to Manus himself next time!’

  As the King laughed the hall broke out into laughter, the lords and ladies following their King’s lead. To Jacques, the laughter sounded forced and hollow, with a frightened edge. He made sure to chuckle as well, lest he call attention to himself. Never before in the history of Mance-Jolune had women been forced to fight. Even sorceresses were entirely within their rights to withdraw from war at any time without bringing shame upon their family...

  ‘Come!’ The King commanded, ‘I have spent too much time today in an ill humour!’ and he stood.

  The assembled peers of the realm took this a cue to congregate around him, and the King made a slow procession out of the throne room. Eventually, the hall was empty but for a few stragglers. Jacques caught the eye of Prince Alexandre and followed him out into the hallway.

  ‘That was illuminating.’ Prince Alexandre said with a smile.

  ‘I had suspicions, but the ambassador has just confirmed it.’ Jacques said. So Julius Sontmor’s ambassador, Loic Macon, is funding Quince and his little projects. Would Julius Sontmor really be happy to know how his man is insulting the Duke of Belcanon? Jacques wondered whether the Duke of Sontmor knew what his money was buying.

  ‘It explains a lot.’ Alexandre’s smile faded. ‘I fear this bodes ill. I can only hope my father calms down and does not truly insult the Duke of Belcanon like he suggested.’

  ‘Insults? Your Highness, what Loic Macon suggested was far more than an insult!’ One more chance, and then Loic Macon and Quince Abelard get their turn with her...

  ‘Exactly. The other lords will not like it either, it sets a bad precedent. Even if she were not pregnant, to insist that she take part in the war.... No, my father will calm down, he must. He is not a foolish man.’

  Jacques did not share the prince’s belief. It was well known that King Theuder preferred his second son, Silvain, to Alexandre. Alexandre was an intelligent man, not prone to wild bursts of passion like his father and brother. If the rumours were to be believed, Theuder was ready to bypass his first son and make Silvain his heir.

  Instead of saying all that, Jacques said, ‘do you know what Macon was referring to, his being successful in the past?’

  ‘Since he’s just confirmed his involvement with Abelard... he must be referring to that particular project...’

  ‘How successful has it been, exactly?’

  ‘Gossip from the Imperial Palace of Iskerashdo.’ Alexandre shrugged, but his eyes flashed. ‘Not particularly useful for the war, since it is being fought over a thousand kilometres away. That sort of information has other uses though.’

  It didn’t seem as though Alexandre was going to offer anymore, though Jacques interest was piqued. Has Abelard discovered the identity of the Lakashan Spymaster? War or no war, that would be precious information... what else might he know about the inner workings of the Imperial Palace? Jacques interest died, suddenly replaced with a darker mood. Quince Abelard has certainly proved his worth to the King then... and my position becomes ever more tenuous...

  ‘If my father does not relent...’ Alexandre said quietly, changing the subject, his grey eyes serious, ‘we must respond, Jacques.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Jacques said, already having an idea where this was going and not liking it one bit.

  ‘Insulting the Duke of Belcanon would be bad enough, but this war... it is like none the world has ever seen. No wonder the Walmese outlawed shadow magic... but it is done, my father has started it. We need the cooperation of the shadow mages, Jacques, we cannot insult both the Duke and the shadow mages all in one stroke. How is the Chelleskan shadow mage?’

  ‘I see what you are suggesting.’ Jacques said tersely. ‘To go behind the King’s back... your father would not hesitate to throw you in a dungeon for treason.’ Like your mother... The king had been disturbingly quiet about the reasons for the Queen’s incarceration four years ago. Her family knew, Jacques was sure, otherwise they would never have stood for it. There were rumours of course, rumours that perhaps explained his recent attitude towards Alexandre, but...

  Alexandre’s grey eyes revealed nothing. Jacques thought it was far more likely he would end up in a dungeon, not the prince.

  ‘It may give us another advantage, Jacques. I haven’t seen Lady Emerré in many years, but we always used to get on well, and she is friends with Asmara.’

  ‘They’re all very close.’

  The prince nodded. ‘I imagine Abelard will act in secret, if the King does allow it. If so, perhaps Emerré can be persuaded to keep it to herself.’

  Jacques considered that for a good long moment. ‘I see what you mean.’

  ‘We all know what Emerré will say if asked to use her power, though I doubt Dashiell will follow my father’s instructions. We have an opportunity here. It is a great risk, but with a payoff we cannot afford to ignore.’

  Jacques bowed. ‘I see your meaning clearly, your highness. I will arrange it.’

  CHAPTER 53

  27 Mai, 1353

  Idris considered his ceiling as he chewed his breakfast slowly. He finished and swallowed.

  ‘Why,’ he said, summoning a fake smile, ‘are there so many cobwebs on my ceiling?’

  ‘Oh!’ The maid froze in the act of stealing a slice of mandarin from his plate, ‘oh, I don’t know, sir! There have been so many around of late, we’ve been hard pressed to get rid of them all!’

  Idris kept his fake smile in place as he thought, well, you’re failing! I wonder if Lord Haroun has cobwebs on his ceiling!

  ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I have a busy day ahead, lots of important things to do!’

  ‘Oh, of course.’ and she hid a giggle behind her hand.

  ‘Please,’ and he gestured to his plate, ‘keep eating, I’d hate for it to go to waste!’

  ‘You’re so kind!’

  Greedy little creature! He thought as he made his exit from his room. You’d eat it whether I gave you permission or not! One of these days he was going to leave a box of poisoned chocolates in his room.

  In a foul mood, Idris made his way to Salamah’s quarters. The attack on Allonce had failed in several respects but been successful in many other ways. Amiri couldn’t stop crowing about it! Never mind that his shadow mages had failed to kill the Alloncian shadow mage, who somehow knows who I am! and they had managed to kill a candle in the process! That was a fact Idris had only recently discovered, and one Amiri had tried to keep secret.

  He did not get far before he spotted Elira, reclining upon a coach and looking out of a window. Startled, he realized he’d taken a route past one of her favourite spots in the palace. He paused, considering his options, when Elira turned and noticed him. She gracefully rose from the couch and glided over to him. She was not what one would call a classic beauty, but her unusual features had a way of sticking in a man’s head. Elira’s thick, dark hair was carefully braided in a style that suited her but was unfashionable. Her dress, a deep red colour, had only a modest neckline, that he knew she disliked. Elira like to attract attention, although her desire to remain unmarried meant she couldn’t dress too nicely. She hated it, Idris knew. Elira was a vain woman.

  He hated it too. Her other dresses were so much more interesting.

  ‘Am I to believe you came looking for me, Lord Haider?’

  ‘I’m afraid not, my dear, I had hoped to sneak past you.’

  She chuckled. ‘You know,’ she said, moving closer and putting a hand on his arm, ‘I could arrange for you to get me pregnant and force you to marry me that way.’

  He did not bother denying the possibility of that, and instead said, ‘dear Elira, I could simply deny it and present an alternative culprit to your father.’

  ‘Mmhmm, but as I’m afraid you are the only man I’ve been with, any other young man you accuse will know it wasn’t him.’

  ‘There are plenty of young men in Iskerashdo who drink themselves into oblivion on a regular basis, my dear, I’ll make sure I choose carefully.’

  Elira laughed in response, ‘I’m sure you would.’ she made a move to leave but Idris held her hand tightly and pulled her back. Irrationally, he was overcome by a powerful urge to follow through with her plan and see who would win, Elira, or himself?

  ‘My dear, you know I do not want children. I will have to ensnare you another way.’

  ‘I remember.’

  ‘And unless you have suddenly decided you would like such inconvenient creatures running around your rooms, it makes us very well suited to each other.’

  Elira smiled at him, her eyes twinkling, and made another move to leave. Instead, he pulled her tightly to him and kissed her. He pressed her body firmly against his. His other hand tangled in her dark hair. Her arms went around his neck, holding him just as tightly.

  They broke apart. Idris stared at her intently, possibilities whirling through his mind.

  With a disgruntled sigh he released her.

  To his frustration she didn’t appear the least perturbed as she sauntered back over to her coach, her hands going to her hair to redo it. ‘I’m sure Lord Haider has many important things to do today.’

  Idris watched her, torn. The infuriating creature is torturing me on purpose! There was no one else around, no one to witness anything that a shadow mage might use... But she has no candle... he wondered again whether or not he should just give her one. He knew she would keep it secret. Then he thought of all those dead young men and women. No, a shadow mage could sense the candle and send someone else to poison her...if they thought she was important...

  ‘You are being careful with your food, aren’t you Elira?’

  ‘Of course. You know I’m terribly picky.’

  He nodded curtly. He would not give her a candle. Anonymity was still her best defence. He sighed. That also meant he would have to stay away from her. ‘You might want to consider leaving Iskerashdo for a while, Elira, at least until the war is over.’

  Elira turned to him, a frown on her face. ‘I dislike my family home, Idris, as you know. I will stay for the foreseeable future. Don’t look at me like that, I’ve been staying away from you.’

  ‘And after you went to all that trouble to seek me out and threaten me!’

  Elira laughed, ‘why, are you disappointed?’

  ‘No, relieved, quite relieved, Lady Kouri, now, I really must be on my way.’

  Elira turned back to the window and nodded. Idris walked past, his eyes locked on her until he rounded a corner. He let out a heavy sigh. For a moment the idea of marrying her, giving her a candle, and keeping her safe in his quarters, with someone to test her food, did not seem so bad. He shook that thought from his head immediately. No, no, he truly would not marry her. The woman would be too much of an inconvenience, ferreting out his business without even trying. She made it too difficult to keep the separate parts of his life separate.

  I’ve spent too long thinking about her, Salamah is waiting and I must think on how I will approach this.

  He strode quickly towards the Emperor’s rooms, refusing to think of anything else. It was still a fair walk through the circuitous halls of the Imperial Palace, and by the time he arrived Elira was far from his thoughts.

  When Idris entered the Emperor’s chambers he found Salamah reclining on his couch, Amiri already in attendance.

  ‘You Imperial Majesty,’ Idris said, bowing low to the Emperor.

  Salamah inclined his head in greeting. Idris took the cue and began, ‘the candles are blaming us, your Imperial Majesty, they have not changed their agreement with Mance-Jolune.’

  Amiri scowled. ‘What do they expect? If they take part in a war, then this is what happens!’

  ‘Amiri.’ Salamah said quietly, shutting him up instantly. ‘The leader of the candles demands an apology and recompense for the death of their member. You are to oblige.’

  ‘Me?!’

  Salamah turned and regarded him quietly with his dark eyes.

  ‘Yes, father.’ Amiri said, chastened. ‘I will pay what they ask out of my own funds and render an apology immediately. However,’ and his tone became less obliging, ‘they are still willing to work for us! It is not as devastating as Idris would have you believe!’

  ‘They are a greedy lot.’ Idris replied, ‘but it is still unfortunate, prince. Mance-Jolune will respond with a counter, and now the candles are charging us more, when we need them most. Your Majesty, I request permission to assassinate the Manunian shadow mages. I have men in place in Mance-Jolune already, I need only send the word.’

  ‘Why haven’t you done so previously?’ Amiri said.

  Idris looked at Salamah as he answered. ‘They are difficult creatures to kill, and able to take vengeance even after the death of their body. I did not take the risk before, now...’

  Salamah bowed his head in agreement. ‘Yes. They have fewer than us, but they appear to be far more skilled than ours.’

  Amiri flushed.

  ‘Amiri,’ Salamah continued, ‘the priority of your shadow mages must be defence. The Spymaster is correct, Theuder will respond. I will not have Iskerashdo suffer the same fate as Allonce.’

  CHAPTER 54

  30 Mai, 1353

  Asmara yawned. ‘I’m tired.’

  ‘Really? You went to bed early last night.’ Dorian said.