Blood Betrayal Read online

  “And you’ll find him almost arrogantly humble,” added Keth with a curious smile.

  “I assume Dahken Keth has explained our situation fully?”

  “I assure you, my lord, that I am able to turn this around for you, but might I ask a favor?” Shuan asked, continuing at Cor’s nod, “We’ve been riding for two weeks. My ass is sore, my back stiff and my senses exhausted. Might we retire to the tower for a few hours for me to freshen up? It’s early yet, and then we can discuss into the late hours of the night, should you so desire.”

  Cor assented and so began hours of anxious waiting, pacing and learning. Shuan spoke to him of the value of labor and how its worth varied on the job being done and level of skill required. But it wasn’t that simple, for the value of the labor could vary based on market conditions, whatever that meant. If there were four thousand farmers available, but only enough work for two thousand, the value of their work dropped immensely. Whereas if a nation had few smiths trained in the art of making fine weapons and armor, and a war broke out – well, individuals with such skill would find themselves in tremendous demand, therefore able to charge a great amount for their services.

  They discussed what the Tigolean termed “the cost of living”, which was apparently some nebulous and always changing thing which depended on so many different factors, including but not limited to where a person lived, what size home, what sort of repairs it needed, how they furnished it, what and how often they chose to eat. Cor had never thought of such things; his father was a farmer and a land owner, but Cor had left that behind as a boy. Since then, he had always been earning his way through his sword or as a direct retainer of the king, and all of Shuan’s talk made him realize just how frightening being a normal person truly was.

  “And let’s not forget taxes,” the Tigolean added.

  About two hours in, Cor held up his hand to stop Shuan as he discussed cash flow and living wage credits, a subject that Cor found completely bewildering, and in fact, it made him dizzy. “Shouldn’t we discuss all this with the Loszians?” he asked.

  “Oh,” Shuan replied, looking at the floor as if something occurred to him, “not really. Most of this is just economic theory.”

  “Huh?”

  “It’s really more for me to understand,” Shuan replied.

  “Then… what was the point of all this?”

  Shuan smiled cruelly, “Just to make sure you know that I know what I’m talking about.”

  Cor slumped his shoulders and hung his head. “Yes, you’ve made your point.”

  “Excellent! Then we can meet your Loszian lords first thing in the morning?” asked Shuan.

  Cor would have agreed to basically anything to end the horror that was being visited upon him. Now he understood why wars broke out so easily over such pitifully small matters – killing others was simply a lot easier than figuring out the way the world of money works.

  Cor led Shuan up the steps just after sunrise, emerging into Than’Tok’s giant room with its by comparison tiny table to find the Loszian waiting patiently by himself. He eyed the Tigolean closely, a gaze full of curiosity and maybe a hint of suspicion, for he knew this was the man who would solve all of their problems. As always, three chairs were available to Cor’s side of the table, and one of these he pulled out to leave sitting almost ten feet away from its matches, allowing he and Shuan a bit more space, as if they deserved it more, when they sat upon the remaining two.

  Cor looked at the other two empty chairs in annoyance, and as Cor was never someone to hide his thoughts or feelings, Than’Tok immediately picked up on his chagrin. “Joru’us and Routan are… a bit late,” he said, the minimal detail providing little explanation and only vexing Cor further.

  “How is that? I thought it was very clear we would start early today.”

  “I think they enjoyed each other’s company into the late hours last night,” Than’Tok shrugged. “They will be here in a few minutes.”

  “It seems like a poor choice of evenings to stay up late. As much as Keth and I are brothers, I wouldn’t have spent all of last night talking and drinking with him,” Cor replied.

  Than’Tok looked away across the room and one spindly hand went to the top of his head as he tried to word his next statement. When his eyes returned to Cor’s face, they seemed to widen in meaning as he said, “I don’t think that brothers would share the same relationship as they.”

  Cor held the Loszian’s gaze for a few moments before understanding finally penetrated his brain. His eyes opened slightly with the realization, and all he could manage was, “Oh,” to which Than’Tok laughed uproariously, a cacophony that Cor had never associated with the overall bearing of Loszians. In fact, it reminded him of a Shet.

  “You seem shocked, Lord Dahken,” the Loszian stated bluntly, but the humor was far from gone in his eyes and voice.

  “I… well, it’s just that I’ve never known anyone who…”

  “Surely you have,” Than’Tok disagreed lightly, “you just weren’t aware of it. The vast majority of us enjoy the opposite sex, likely some imperative instilled in us by nature to aid the process of procreation, so we tend to turn a blind eye to those who do not. Perhaps it’s just an assumption of what we view as normalcy. I’m not sure.”

  “The only person like that I’ve known about was Sovereign Nadav,” Cor said softly, uncertainly.

  “And that’s a poor example. Nadav was a deviant, a dark sadist who derived pleasure from causing as much pain and disturbance as was possible upon those who didn’t enjoy it. I believe Routan and Joru’us are actually in love.”

  “I,” Cor began and he stopped with the realization that he didn’t know what else to say. Than’Tok simply stared at him with a minute smile while Shuan busied himself with a tabletop’s worth of scroll and papers, apparently oblivious to the entire conversation. Then something occurred to Cor, “Wait a moment. Routan gave Thyss a look on that first day that made me want to cleave his head from his shoulders. If he…?”

  “That was Joru’us, and he finds… beauty in almost anyone, man or woman, Westerner, Loszian or otherwise,” Than’Tok explained, and he chuckled at Cor’s continued confusion over the issue. He continued, “You Westerners. No offense, Lord Dahken, but despite your obvious racial qualities, you are very much a Westerner in your sensibilities. You people claim to be so enlightened, so much the champions of what you deem to be moral, and yet you repress such basic tendencies. It surprises you that a man can find love in another man or either a man or woman. Perhaps it is the decadence that was the Loszian Empire that enlightened us, the realization that, in our power, we no longer had to hide what made us different from one another. We have spent thousands of years embracing ourselves without judgement. I think you could learn something from us, eh?”

  Just as the Loszian finished, before Cor could form any sort of answer to his speech, the door to the stairs squealed very slightly as it was opened. Cor turned just enough to look over his shoulder and find the two tardy Loszians shuffling quickly into the room. They split as the approached the table, Joru’us in his black robes heading to the left, Routan in red to the right.

  “Our sincere apologies, Lord Dahken, for our tardiness,” Routan said as he took his chair next to Than’Tok, and he added with a smile, “Something came up.”

  Cor endeavored not to stare at the Loszian at these words, but he couldn’t help glancing at Joru’us, who held a very similar smile. Even Than’Tok looked as if he may burst into laughter at the obvious double meaning, but the Lord Dahken felt confused about what his reaction should be. On one hand, the joke certainly seemed funny enough, but it was the subjects of it that caused his mixed feelings. He felt suddenly uncomfortable in his own skin.

  “Never mind that, now,” Cor said quickly, bringing the conversation to the business at hand. He motioned toward the Tigolean to his right, who now sat with a vengeful array of paperwork before him. “This is Shuan, a key advisor to Lord Karak, who has graciously rele
ased him to me for a time. He’s going to help us sort this out.”

  “You may question Lord Karak’s grace when you see the bill for services rendered,” Shuan replied, dry humor plain in his voice.

  “One problem at a time,” Cor said, somewhat dismissively.

  “Indeed. Gentlemen,” Shuan cleared his voice to address the Loszians directly, “Lord Dahken Cor has made me fully aware of the situation in your lands and how it’s not allowed under King Rederick’s rule. We Tigoleans view slavery more as a financial relationship than either you or Westerners, and I’ve devised a solution somewhat based on that idea. In all fairness, Lord Dahken Cor actually suggested it, but I will make it work. You cannot have slaves in Aquis. Therefore, we will convert all of your slaves into employees.”

  Shuan stopped, either for dramatic effect or to allow the three Loszians to think on the idea for a moment. They didn’t move a muscle, sitting as still as a sculpture made of stone or perhaps a canvas painting, their faces completely bereft of emotion or reaction. Cor studied each one of their faces in turn, and he saw no glimmer of understanding in any of their eyes.

  Shuan continued, “Slaves are forced to work by their masters. Employees are paid based on the quality of their work and the amount of skill required in the job they perform.”

  “Ridiculous,” Routan spouted, “we cannot possibly afford to pay all of the people that have come to us! Thousands and thousands of Westerners. Where do we come up with such sums of coin?”

  “It is true,” Joru’us added more calmly, “that our stores of gold and silver have dwindled to nothing since the end of the war, and we barely produce enough food to keep those in our ‘employ’ alive. And now you want us to pay them as well?”

  “Please,” Cor answered them both with an upraised hand.

  “It will take time,” Shuan conceded with a nod to both men. “Without even looking at your books, I can agree that none of your lands are profitable. That is a problem to be sure, a problem that prevents you from paying out moneys. We will have to completely change the structure of the way your estates are run. First, you have to begin producing not only food, but excess food or other products that have value when sold. Those profits will pay you for your workforce’s salaries.”

  “And I assume you will expect us to continue housing and feeding them?” Routan asked.

  “Yes, and –”

  Joru’us, “And how do we afford to do that as well?”

  Shuan, “Well the housing basically costs you nothing as it is already in place, but food is most definitely an expense. You will credit against their salaries a fair cost for the home they use, the food they eat, as well as the cost for distributing it to them.”

  “But we still have to pay them, and I don’t think any of us have a full treasury out of which to pay employees in a failing business venture,” argued Than’Tok to the nods of the others.

  “Of course you don’t,” agreed Shuan, “which is why you need me. The first step is understanding both the value and cost of all the laborers at your disposal, as well as the value and cost of everything they consume that you provide. Next we’ll determine what their net pay is and begin to track that, understanding that the coin is not actually there. Every employee will commit to you for five years, during which time both parties, both you and they have to uphold your respective ends. At the end of the five years, they may leave your employ, and you must have the coin on hand to pay all of their owed moneys at that time. We have five years to work it all out.”

  “This is never going to work,” Than’Tok replied glumly. “I don’t have the understanding of all this to make it work. I’m a necromancer, not a merchant.”

  Shuan replied patiently, “I expect to be here for at least two years. I have all the necessary knowledge and skills, and I will pass all of that on to your bookkeepers and exchequers.”

  Routan, “Bookkeepers?”

  Joru’us, “Exchequers?”

  Shuan’s shoulders slumped visibly, and he dropped his head with a heavy sigh, his eyes staring at the papers before him. Cor suppressed a smile as the Tigolean lifted his face toward him and said, “This is going to take a lot of work.”

  “I’ll prepare King Rederick for a hefty bill,” Cor replied with a broad smile.

  Cor’El

  It had been three months since leaving Byrverus, and autumn bore yellow, red and orange colored leaves on a chilly wind as they rode away from Than’Tok’s tower. Cor’El looked around at his father, the other Dahken and even his mother as they sat astride their horses with a bizarre sort of satisfaction that they had corrected some great wrong in the world. He really didn’t understand what the whole thing was about, or why any of them should care. Again, regardless of what his father or King Rederick thought, this Loszian system of slavery had worked for thousands of years, and it kept the betters from being pulled down by the need to do the work of lessers.

  Regardless, it didn’t matter anymore. They began their ride back west, back toward the Spine and then home in Byrverus. Cor’El wished his mother had just asked Menak to transport the two of them back, let Cor and his Dahken take their time riding smelly beasts and sleeping on the cold hard ground. It was such a waste of time, a waste of their precious time, as he could have had at least a month with his mother all to themselves before his father arrived to ruin it all. He had mentioned it to her, but she would have none of it.

  He rode glumly, staring across plains and rolling hills at the forests in the background as they turned their myriad of colors. Some of his compatriots surely took in the same views, likely enjoying the inherent beauty of nature’s change, but Cor’El took from it all but one lesson. Everything changed at some point, no matter what anyone else wanted or thought they could do about it.

  Part Two

  Queen Mora

  “Majesty, Lady Thyss has arrived,” the robed man said softly. He was the most boring and nondescript of Westerners, perfect for the role of a minor bureaucrat, an announcer of arrivals to see the king or queen.

  “Please have her join me,” Mora replied in kind, standing to see that the haughty sorceress had already followed him into the room. The man turned to do as he was told and didn’t seem the least bit nonplussed at the woman’s apparent intrusion, but he instead bowed briefly to his queen and took his leave.

  Mora smiled warmly as she eased her way around the table at which she took breakfast, taking great care not to bump her belly into it. It was a concern that she would chide herself about later, knowing that what little force would be involved would do little more than to upend the goblets of water. Even still, Thyss approached and leaned in gently to embrace the queen, now seven months gone into her pregnancy with her second child by King Rederick. Finding Thyss would not break it, Mora held the embrace for a number of long seconds before releasing it. Thyss sat easily on a chair cushioned in royal purples and blues while Mora carefully lowered herself opposite the sorceress.

  “It is a real pleasure to see you this morning,” Mora began.

  “As always, I’m honored, Majesty.”

  “Now that we have the official pleasantries aside,” Mora smiled, “we can drop the ostentatious titles. Can we not?”

  “Absolutely,” Thyss answered. “Is Lurana here?”

  “She is.”

  Mora twisted her body to the left gently and turned her head sharply in the same direction and called for her daughter, making sure her voice would carry well into the next room where the child was playing. Soft footsteps sounded at first and then became hurried as the dark haired girl, just over three years old, ran into the room straight for Thyss. She held her arms out as she came, and Thyss happily scooped her up in an embrace and sat the girl across her lap.

  “She’s such a sweet girl,” said Thyss.

  “When she wants to be,” Mora agreed.

  “Help yourself, please,” Mora motioned toward the ornate, silver tray upon which sat a copious amount of fruit, several pieces of toasted bread, fres
hly churned butter and an amount of salted pork. “I won’t eat it all.”

  “Feeling ill again?” Thyss asked, some slight concern showing in her eyes as she selected half of an orange.

  “No, no,” Mora waved it away, “I just find I have less room for food as time goes on.”

  “You should still be sure to eat.”

  “You sound like my husband,” Mora replied with a smile, and Thyss smiled back. “Are you off on one of your runs today?”

  “No… today I’m being… lazy.”

  “I understand,” Mora sighed, “I am lazy every day.”

  “It’s not the same. You’re with child.”

  “I know, but I would give anything to join you in your training,” Mora stared wistfully at her sword and armor where they stood in a corner of the room. Though she had neither hefted her sword in years, nor donned her armor, it remained well kept. “You are gaining back your warrior’s body.”

  “You’ll join me soon enough,” Thyss replied, and an awkward silence filled the room for a long moment, during which Lurana slid down off of Thyss’ lap and went back the way she came. “Do you have plans today?”

  “Rederick demands we go out for a ride.”

  Thyss’ eyes narrowed a bit, and the concern returned, this time showing across her entire face. She said, “Please be careful. I’m sure that riding almost caused me to…”

  “Oh, do not worry. It will only be for a short time today, and Rederick has made certain… accommodations.”

  “What of Lurana?” Thyss asked. “Do you need someone to watch her?”

  “Oh no, she is coming along to keep me company. Riding in a carriage takes away all the joy of riding, turns it to a bore. Besides, I would hate to rob you of your time with Cor,” Mora replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

  “Ha! I wish that were so, but Cor is off about somewhere. He says he has a present for me, something expensive and unnecessary, I am sure.”