Expiation (Shadeward Book 4) Read online

  Trumpets sounded. Two young girls brought a dark purple velvet cushion out between them and stood alongside Vandare. Upon it lay an ornate crown.

  Vandare turned and took it, nodding to Rihanna.

  She knelt before him.

  ‘By the powers vested in me as servant to the monarchy of Taloon,’ he said. ‘I crown you, Rihanna.’

  Vandare placed the crown upon her head. It was heavy, pressing down on her with a surprising weight.

  ‘Rise my Queen.’

  Rihanna got to her feet. Vandare and the nobles bowed to her.

  There was some sort of commotion behind them. Some of the phaunts trumpeted.

  Rihanna turned to see a large troupe of men walking into the piazza in rigid formation, twenty abreast in several rows.

  ‘What is this?’ she demanded.

  ‘The army of Taloon,’ Vandare said. ‘Your honour guard.’

  The men wore thick leather armour over their bodies, necks and heads. Rihanna could see they marched with swords at their belts and pikes in their hands.

  They marched down the centre of the piazza towards the palace, coming to a halt in their formation.

  A man, dressed in a more decorated uniform, marched down their flanks, turned smartly and walked to the middle of the group and then turned on his heel to face them. At some unspoken command, the pikes were lowered and the men stood to attention.

  ‘The army of Taloon,’ the man called out. ‘Stands ready for her majesty, Queen Rihanna.’

  ‘Captain of the guard,’ Vandare said to Rihanna. ‘For your inspection.’

  Rihanna nodded, stepping out towards the ranks of men. The other priestesses spread out around her. She walked towards them.

  Without warning, out of the ranks of men, crossbow bolts flew. Rihanna saw two of her fellow priestesses slain before she could react. Their dachs screeched in fury above.

  Treachery! Kill them!

  The armed men before them yelled, breaking ranks and running towards the priestesses, pikes outstretched and swords drawn. They closed, their swords rising ready to cut down the women, still in a precise military line. Others hung back, reloading the crossbows ready to unleash them again.

  But the priestesses were trained too.

  At Rihanna’s imperious mental command, they unleashed their own wrath. The crown slipped from her head and was lost in the fray.

  Many of the men fell screaming as the priestesses turned their mental powers on them. Others found that the priestesses’ staffs could be used to deadly effect at close range. Few of the men even managed to land a blow, the priestesses able to sense their movements and counter them as if they could tell where they were going to attack before they’d even begun.

  The dachs descended too, their talons outstretched and ripping into the ranks of men, grabbing some of them and wrenching them up into the air only to drop them and see them dashed against the pavements far below.

  In dismay the men reloading the crossbows saw their companions cut down in moments. Seeing they could not be ready in time, they abandoned their ranged weapons and pulled out in their own swords, turning to the attack.

  Swords crashed, screams rent the air as men fell one after another, the priestesses now striding forwards, Rihanna in the lead, cutting down each man as they brought their attack. The men had never faced such speed, fury and precision before.

  Now the men’s resolve failed. They fell back, trying to protect a single man in their group. Rihanna signalled for the attack to pause.

  ‘Bow to your queen,’ she snarled at him.

  ‘Taloon will not bow to Drayden,’ he answered. ‘And you are not my queen.’

  Rihanna hoisted her kai and strode towards him, battering down the men that stood between him and her, despatching each with a furious strength leaving broken necks and crushed bodies until she stood across from him.

  She held out her kai, raising it above his head.

  ‘Bow,’ she hissed.

  She saw him take a final look around at his fallen comrades, a hundred men at arms, cut down by less than twenty of the Drayden priestesses, who all stood behind Rihanna, their staffs ready. Other than those who had been slain in the initial hail of crossbow bolts they were all standing uninjured, calm, showing no sign of exertion.

  He shook his head.

  ‘Never.’

  With a yell he swung his sword at her.

  Rihanna parried, twisted and struck at his chest. He doubled over and the kai crashed down upon his neck, ending him. She grabbed his sword from his lifeless hand and skewered him through the chest with a shriek of rage.

  Before anyone else could react she grabbed him by the collar, dragging his body through the dead or wounded bodies of his companions and on towards the steps of the palace, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. Screeching an instruction to the remaining priestesses she coiled a rope around his neck and with their help hoisted him up into the air to hang from the platform, the sword still impaled in his body.

  His body swung there, turning to and fro before hanging still, the sword dripping with blood, sagging from his chest, hilt down.

  Only then did she turn to the shocked people and the nobles around her. She saw Vandare was lying on the ground, with some of the nobles around him. He too had been injured, a crossbow bolt embedded in his shoulder.

  None spoke.

  She gestured to the bodies of the men before her in the courtyard.

  ‘Kill any who remain alive,’ she muttered. The priestesses nodded and walked forward, ending the lives of the wounded.

  Only then did Rihanna step forward. She found the crown amidst the bodies and placed it upon her head once more.

  ‘I am your queen!’ she raged, using the gift to amplify her voice. ‘Let none of you have any further doubts as to my power or my intentions. Those that defy my rule will be punished as he has been. I will leave his body there to be consumed by the nargs as a lesson for you all. The same fate awaits you if you do not pay homage to me.’

  No one spoke. No one moved.

  ‘You will return to your tasks. You will work. You will rebuild the fleet and tend to your duties. Do this and all will be well. Fail to do your duty …’

  Then there was silence all about her, all were staring at the carnage.

  Vandare was on his feet, helped forward by two nobles either side of him.

  ‘Bow before the queen,’ he shouted out in his deep voice.

  For a long moment nothing happened, but then Vandare’s words seemed to penetrate the minds of those around him.

  Rihanna watched as the nobles lowered themselves to their knees alongside him. Then, in a rolling wave, the people edging the piazza did the same.

  ‘Hail the queen,’ Vandare shouted. ‘Priestess Rihanna, Queen of Taloon!’

  Slowly at first, but then in a rising crescendo, the chant was taken up.

  ‘Priestess Rihanna, Queen of Taloon!’

  * * *

  There were no further reprisals.

  The people of Taloon returned to their work, whether it was the hydroponic systems below the city, or the tasks above ground. In the harbour the quays were busy as new ships’ keels were laid. The work kept the people busy for the most part.

  Rihanna ensured the taverns and eating houses were well stocked. Other than the odd sporadic outbreaks of violence, which were subdued, there were no complaints. It seemed that few of the populace cared who was in charge, as long as they had food, work and a roof over their heads.

  The rotting corpse of the army captain, moved away from the palace itself, might have continued to have an effect. Swarms of nargs had infested the body and folks stayed away from it.

  ‘I am pleased,’ Rihanna said, when Vandare provided her with an update.

  ‘Your majesty,’ Vandare said, bowing low.

  ‘A welcome turn around,’ she said. ‘How long will it be before the ships are constructed and the fleet replenished?’

  ‘Construction at such a rate hasn�
�t been attempted before,’ Vandare said, cautiously. ‘The materials, transporting them …’

  ‘How long.’

  ‘The first ships will be ready in ten passes,’ Vandare replied.

  ‘Ten?’ Rihanna replied. ‘Half a round? No, that is not acceptable. They must be built quicker.’

  ‘It cannot be done,’ Vandare replied. ‘That is already far faster than the rate at which the shipbuilders would work and there are only so many with the necessary skills.’

  ‘Do they require further motivation?’ Rihanna asked.

  ‘Only so much work can be completed in so much time,’ Vandare replied.

  ‘It is not enough,’ Rihanna said. ‘Redouble their efforts. If they wish, I will arrange to tour the shipyards.’

  ‘I will do what I can to convince them,’ Vandare replied. ‘Will there be anything else?’

  Rihanna turned to regard him.

  ‘Your injury, is it healing?’

  Vandare nodded. ‘It has been treated and dressed.’

  ‘Not too painful I hope.’

  ‘It is bearable.’

  ‘I appreciated what you did in the piazza,’ Rihanna said. ‘The situation could have been … much worse than it was.’

  ‘I did what I thought was best,’ Vandare replied.

  ‘You have accepted the transfer of power then?’ Rihanna asked.

  ‘If I have learnt anything in my long rounds,’ Vandare replied. ‘It is that power is an ephemeral thing. It changes when least expected. It is best not to resist change when change is inevitable.’

  Rihanna smiled at his words.

  ‘Then you have accepted that the priestesses will rule from now on?’

  ‘My concern is for the people. If they are well treated and cared for then all is good. I will accept any ruler who guarantees their wellbeing.’

  ‘I do not intend to be a tyrant,’ Rihanna replied. ‘But I will not tolerate disobedience. The will of Lacaille has been thwarted for long enough. It will be thwarted no longer. Long ago it was ordained by our founder, Elena, that all lands should be subject to our rule. We have control of Scallia and of Drem. Now Taloon belongs to us too. Only Amar has defied us, and they will fall.’ She looked at Vandare. ‘That change is also … inevitable.’

  ‘There are lands to the sunward too,’ Vandare said. ‘We have fought with them in the past. Kerun for instance.’

  ‘They will bow to us too, in time,’ Rihanna said. ‘Do not doubt it. Perhaps we will make them a province of Taloon. Something to occupy the army, perhaps?’

  ‘Such a thing would greatly please the people here,’ Vandare admitted. ‘Once all this is achieved we will have peace,’ Rihanna said. ‘Do not doubt it. Esurio will be one, whole and calm, as it was in the times of the Voren Empire.’

  Vandare nodded, but didn’t reply.

  ‘Only this time,’ Rihanna said. ‘There will be no emperor, but an Empress. We women will rule with wisdom and strength, as it was supposed to be from the beginning. Esurio will be united.’

  ‘As you say, my queen,’ Vandare said.

  She gestured for him to go, returning to her watch from the palace balconies.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Sunward of Amar, heading sunward

  Round 2307, Seventh pass

  Kiri dozed in the co-pilot’s chair. There was little to do. Meru seemed to be comfortable with the flying machine. He didn’t have to do too much either; the machine was more than capable of managing itself.

  Kiri glanced around her.

  A round ago and this was all magic, myth and legends out of the past. Now here I am, sitting in a machine straight out of those stories …

  She shivered, her thoughts turning to the priestesses.

  Nerina, Merrin and Rihanna … they have schemed all the way through. Schemed and had Charis killed to foment a war, perhaps they killed old Launa too! Nerina wants everything … Nerina always gets her way …

  The words mocked her now. Nerina had got her way, with her at least.

  She has stolen much of my power … she tutored me so my powers would be all the stronger when she finally decided the time was right. She will be unstoppable now.

  But the people of Amar had defied her and lived. Kiri remembered the battle, the fierce and determined defence of the city that had taken the priestesses by surprise.

  What has happened to them? Were the priestesses all killed in the flare, or have they survived?

  She thought about opening her mind to try to search for them, but then decided against it. For now, as far as they knew, she was dead. It was better not to reveal she was alive.

  Something crackled in her mind. A presence, a feeling, a crisp metallic tang that put her on her guard.

  She gasped in horror, a gasp that turned into a stifled scream. She curled up in her seat, shaking, her eyes clenched shut. She heard Meru’s voice calling out.

  ‘Kiri? Kiri! What is it?’

  Kiri couldn’t answer. She saw brown eyes staring at her. Eyes she had last seen with a murderous vindictiveness staring down at her, intending to end her life. Zoella!

  Go away!

  Her reaction was visceral, she tried to blot Zoella’s presence out, but it was insistent and powerful.

  You must listen to me …

  No! How dare you? Leave me alone! Get out of my mind!

  ‘Kiri, what is it?’ Meru demanded from alongside her, a worried expression on his face. ‘Please, you’re scaring me!’

  Kiri managed a shuddering breath.

  ‘It’s her …’

  Meru’s friends need to speak to him. This is the only way. Tell Meru to switch on the radio … please!

  ‘Zoella?’ Meru asked. ‘What does …?’

  Anger rose in her, fierce and burning. Kiri directed it across the link.

  I will tell him. Get out of my thoughts!

  Kiri …

  Get out! Get out! GET OUT!

  The link severed. Kiri cried out, shuddering into sobs.

  ‘Kiri!’

  She opened her eyes. She was in the flying machine. She could see clouds, blue sky, the arc of Lacaille just visible above. She tried to calm herself, taking deep breaths in and out.

  ‘Kiri?’ Meru’s voice was full of concern.

  ‘I’m … it’s …’ She swallowed. ‘I’m alright.’

  ‘What did she try to do?’ Meru demanded. ‘Was she attacking you?’

  Kiri shook her head.

  ‘It’s your friends,’ Kiri said. ‘She said they need to speak to you, but you’ve switched off …’

  ‘Switched off the radio,’ Meru said, heavily. ‘So they got her to relay a message.’

  Kiri nodded.

  ‘I can’t believe them … How could they, knowing …’ Meru swallowed.

  ‘Maybe …’ Kiri began, catching her breath. ‘Maybe you should speak to them.’

  ‘I don’t want to speak to them,’ Meru snapped. ‘They let Ren get killed, they didn’t stop Zoella trying to kill you. Some friends they turned out to be!’

  ‘Perhaps they couldn’t stop her,’ Kiri said. ‘And it sounded important.’

  Meru looked at her. He sighed.

  ‘I’m sorry, this is my fault. They need to know what we’re doing and without the radio … Coran’s used the only way he knows how. I left them no choice. I didn’t mean to …’

  ‘I know,’ Kiri said. ‘Just … speak to them.’

  Meru took a deep breath and flipped the switches on the radio.

  ‘Alright. Let’s do this.’

  * * *

  Zoella’s eyes opened. She gasped, blinking rapidly. She looked up at Coran.

  ‘Well?’ he asked.

  ‘She said she would tell him,’ Zoella said, swallowing. ‘She wouldn’t listen after that. She hates me, she was furious.’

  Coran sighed and nodded, getting to his feet.

  ‘I don’t think we could hope for much more,’ he said. ‘Thank you for trying.’

  ‘Coran …’r />
  He stopped and looked at her.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘There’s … something else you ought to know.’

  ‘Oh yes?’

  ‘When I was … wherever I was … I saw … I saw Nerina …’

  ‘The high priestess?’

  Zoella nodded. ‘She was goading me on to kill Kiri, I saw Meru and he stopped me again … it was a dream but … it felt real.’

  ‘So …?’

  ‘I think she sensed me,’ Zoella said. ‘I don’t think it was just a dream, or a sleepterror. I think she might know about me … know where I am …’

  ‘These powers give you away,’ Coran said.

  Zoella nodded. ‘Kiri and I could see through each other’s eyes at one point. I can’t do that with anyone else … I don’t think I can anyway, but Nerina is so powerful she might be able to …’

  ‘To spy on us.’

  Zoella nodded.

  ‘And she wants me,’ she said. ‘She wants to take my gift like she has taken everyone else’s. The more power she has, the more unstoppable she will be.’

  Coran pursed his lips, thinking it through.

  ‘Doesn’t change our immediate plans,’ he said, after a moment. ‘I’d better get to the Mobilis, in case Meru does switch the radio on.’

  ‘Can I come with you?’ Zoella asked.

  Coran pursed his lips. ‘No, you can’t. The Amaran council has forbidden it.’

  ‘The council?’

  Zoella’s face had gone white.

  ‘Yes,’ Coran said. ‘They won’t have you wandering around given what’s happened and I can’t say I blame them. You have to stay here.’

  ‘But …’

  ‘Count yourself lucky that you’re not in a cell,’ Coran added. ‘You can thank Mel for that kindness.’

  Zoella looked bereft and didn’t answer.

  ‘Listen,’ Coran said. ‘I will talk to them. But I can’t promise anything.’

  Zoella nodded, and then began to cry.

  * * *

  Fitch was sitting in the bridge of the Mobilis, listening to the crackling hum of the radio. Strange whistles of sound rose and fell, punctuated by thumps of static. There was nothing new. He dozed in the warmth of Lacaille.