Delios
"He wants to do an evaluation of the gods that should be considered," Delia said, recounting the discussion she had witnessed the previous night.
"What does that mean?" Delios asked, suppressing a yawn. The fire and its aftermath had kept him busy all night. He'd hoped to give his father a quick report before catching at least a couple hours of sleep. The runner, sent to fetch him, had met him right outside the door. Memnostis wanted him to hear Delia's report.
"First", Delia said," master Mar'Doug wants to make a list of the gods that could potentially become Atissa's patron. Then he wants to collect knowledge about them. Essentially, he seeks to find the most favorable relationship for her."
Delios and his father looked at each other.
"…I did not know that it was done that way," Memnostis said, slowly leaning backward in his chair. "The legends of our heroes do not speak of such proceedings."
Delios rubbed his eyes. "It sounds more like the way you look for a spouse for your son or daughter, does it not? When you search for the most favorable connection." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself. Quickly glancing from one to the other, he ensured that neither the anax nor his sister showed a reaction to the mention of marriage. He thanked the gods, it was just the three of them in the audience hall.
"Yes", Dealia said, "I think that is a good way to describe what master Mar'Doug has in mind."
"I always thought the gods chose their champions," Memnostis said. "Could this not be insulting to them?"
Delios nodded. The last thing they needed right now was the bad will of more deities. The very direct involvement of their enemy's god was concerning enough. They would have to face the citizens' reaction to the news of the nightly intrusion in the next couple of hours as well.
"I do not know," Delia said. "Mistress Bel'Sara did not quite agree with this approach either."
"What does she want to do?" Delios asked.
"She wants to introduce Atissa to the goddess Inashtar," Delia said. "The goddess has a following in Riadnos."
Memnostis's eyes narrowed. "What about our gods? Seidos and Rehala are strong here."
"I am afraid, mistress Bel'Sara is less interested in Riadnos' fate than in the wider prophecy. I am very sure that she would like to bring Atissa south to Saggab."
If she hadn't had it already, that would have gotten Delia the men's attention.
"She wants to leave with her?" Delios asked.
"What about master Mar'Doug?" the anax asked. "Does he want to leave, too?"
Losing both sages would be a major blow to the defense of Riadnos. Short of an intervention of Rehala, it might be a fatal one.
Right now, news about the nightly attack would be spreading all through the city. The column of smoke was still rising from the palace hill. By midday, anybody in the surrounding countryside would know what it meant. Ships would carry the news to their allies.
"We cannot afford for them to leave," Delios said, quietly. "Too many people saw the sages strike down the magus. Everybody knows the Assanaten sar has more magi serving his court than any other ruler. After what happened last night…without them with us, the citizen's morale might collapse."
"Ha! The citizens you say," Memnostis said. "Half my basileis will switch sides before the rabble has made up his mind." He emptied the wine cup in front of him in one gulp.
"I think", Delia said, rising to refill the anax's cup, "no, I am certain, master Mar'Doug is the key. Mistress Bel'Sara cannot force Atissa to accept her fate. And the girl looks to master Mar'Doug for guidance."
"So, if we can convince him to stay, the girl will stay," the anax said.
Delia nodded while pouring the wine. "And if Atissa stays, mistress Bel'Sara will almost certainly stay as well."
"Which brings us to the question, what does he want?" Delios asked, looking at his sister.
Delia took her time to answer. "I can read master Mar'Doug as good as any man. In some ways better than my former teacher. He displays desires and preferences openly. His fondness for Atissa is clear even if his face or words never show it directly." She paused, apparently thinking about her next words.
"So?" the anax asked. "What is the problem?"
"I do not understand him, father," she said. "I can read a man's emotion easily enough. Anger, lust. Which woman in a room he fancies, which men he fears. But to understand I need to know about him. His culture. His standing. We know nothing about master Mar'Doug. And so much of what we learn doesn't make sense."
Delios was surprised. His sister rarely showed her frustrations. Either the situation had absorbed her to an overwhelming degree, or she had a deeper purpose. He would have to figure out which. Or asked her and be scolded again.
He sighed.
Sometimes he wished Delia had been born a man. At least concerning her intellect, she would have been the most qualified to succeed their father. If only Dorios hadn't gotten himself killed, he thought not for the first time.
"If he has desires they will be the same as for any man," the anax said. "We will just have to offer him enough of it."
Delios felt himself stiffen. Memnostis was a strong anax who ruled with a bronze fist. He was a warrior and only respected fellow warriors. But he was also a man of great appetites who thought nothing of indulging himself. It was the right of the strong.
"We have to be careful, father," Delia said calmly. "We have seen the sage enjoy some of the palace's luxuries offered to him. So much so, that I am not sure if he is performing for us. At other times he reacted like a Crimson merchant offered a peasant's shack for the night."
The anax circled the wine in his cup. "Gold? Women?"
Delia shrugged her shoulder. "We sent our most beautiful servant girls to the residence. He did not bed any of them. I saw him look critically at beautiful women as if he found some fault with them."
Memnostis leaned forward in his chair. "What about boys? Or young ones?"
The following silence was a bit too long.
It was Delia who answered first. "We should be careful. We do not know about his people's ways."
Memnostis nodded. He didn't parade his tastes in front of his family but he didn't hide them either. Delios had just been old enough to remember it causing suffering for his mother. That was enough for him to feel resentment.
Following his own thoughts, he watched his sister advising the anax. Her Gift to read others had taught her early on how to hide her thoughts and feelings. If she hadn't shared some of her own goals with him, he would never have guessed she had any at all.
"What do you think?" his father asked all of a sudden.
Delios realized that he'd stopped following the conversation. Damnation, I need sleep, he thought.
"I was just thinking about Atissa," he said, improvising. "Having a champion of the gods on our site might be as valuable as a magus on the level of a sage. Maybe even more so, as a symbol for our people."
"I think that would only work if a Helcenaean god championed her," Delia said, doubtful. "And she is not of Helcenaean blood."
"Worth a try," the anax said. "We have to get close to master Mar'Doug anyway." He straightened in his chair. "Guard!"
A moment later, a youngling, maybe eleven or twelve years old hurried into the hall. He wore an exquisite one-piece tunic and his eyes showed traces of makeup. "I'm the only one out there," he said silently, his eyes never leaving the floor.
"We are stretched thin," Delios said, trying not to look at the boy. "We lost more than half a dozen men last night."
"So, you took my bodyguard?" Memnostis scowled at the already empty cup in his hand.
"I sent out runners to bring in our warriors from their estates," Delios said, ignoring his father's complaint. "The call to arms went out to all villages and farmsteads. Our people are beginning to gather and organize." He was too tired.
Riadnos was a rich city and Memnostis had more armed men and ships under him than most Helcenaean rulers. But only a couple hundred of these were full-time warriors. They guarded the palace and manned their fortifications. In case of war, the majority of their forces were made up of armed citizens. They were farmers, shepherds, and craftsmen. When the anax called they grabbed the best equipment they could effort and marched. This was the reality of most armies. The Assanaten on the other side of the mountain were the notable exception of course.
The anax grimaced. "Boy, go and ask master Mar'Doug to join us. You find him at the healer's house."
The order made the boy look up in shock. His fearful eyes darted from the anax to his children. Like many people, he seemed to be wary of those wielding magic.
Delios glanced at his sister. For once he could see a single line of concern on her forehead. But she kept quiet, so he did too.
When he could find no help from the people present, the boy's eyes sank. "Yes, anax," he said.
"And make sure to be respectful," Memnostis said. "The sage is our most honored guest."
The boy bowed and hurried away.
The three used the time until the sage's arrival to hear a couple of reports.
The guards had found the wagon, the intruders had used to smuggle themselves into the palace. The owner, a merchant, was a man well-known to the guards.
The priests assumed the magus had used his powers to support the deception. The anax ordered them to perform more sacrifices and consult the gods about the events of last night. Delios suggested that they asked about Atissa's fated patron deity, and Memnostis approved.
As always, his sister kept mostly quiet when in the company of non-family members. She used her simple sign language, which only members of their family understood, to comment on the truth behind the words spoken in the audience hall.
Less than an hour later, master Mar'Doug arrived.
There was no trace of last night's trials in the sage's appearance. Freshly shaven and wearing a clean tunic, he looked immaculate. Above the tunic, he wore the black jacket Delios had heard about. His fingers itched to touch it, wanting to confirm the unnatural smoothness the rumors spoke of.
"Master Mar'Doug!" Memnostis rose from his elevated chair to meet the sage halfway. "We finally meet. I am ashamed that it happens only after you have performed yet another service to us. Again, we are in your debt." Memnostis bowed his head. It was an enormous sign of respect.
"You honor me, anax," master Mar'Doug said, planting his staff on the ground. He lowered his head exactly as deep as the anax. "I only reacted to circumstances. Our thanks should go to the guards that gave their lives."
"Well said!" Memnostis said. "Shall we take a seat? There is much to discuss." The siblings followed the anax and his guest on a terrace, the anax liked to use for private meetings.
It was furnished with a wooden table surrounded by comfortable chairs. An awning provided shade under the summer sun.
The anax took his seat at the head of the table and pointed to the chair on his right. "Please, have a seat. Boy! Bring us wine."
Delios took the seat opposite the sage. Master Mar'Doug acknowledged him with a friendly nod. Delia took her place at the small side table. As usual, she would stay in the background, pretending to take notes for her father. Memnostis brought her to most of his important meetings, depending on her Gift to give him an advantage over his negotiating partners.
"I hope you have been made comfortable," Delios said. "Of course, we will move you to the upper palace today. We should have done so right away."
"We were well taken care of, thank you. I understand that there were more important things, you had to focus on last night."
Delios smiled relieved. It seemed as if master Mar'Doug didn't plan to hold their failure to guarantee their guest's safety against them.
"Were you able to determine how the intruders could enter the palace?" the sage asked.
"We think they were smuggled in with a wagon," Delios said. "The priests believe magic was used to deceive our guards."
"I assume measures have been taken to ensure that this or a similar plan will not succeed again?"
Delios nodded quickly. "The priests are preparing charms and wards."
Master Mar'Doug seemed to consider Delios' answer for a moment before he looked up again. "I am sure the two of you are very busy organizing the defense of the city. How can I be of help?"
Straight to the point, Delios thought, appreciating the sage's directness. This attitude would also endear him to his father.
"Riadnos is in a precarious situation," Delios said, taking his cue from Memnostis leaning back in his chair. "Last night the Assanaten have shown us some of their strength."
Master Mar'Doug nodded but didn't comment.
How should I approach this? Delios asked himself. They'd discussed different strategies to gain the sage's help but had to admit that they didn't know enough. What did this man want? In the end, it was decided that Delios would open the negotiation. Should he misstep, his father could step in.
"We have warriors to man our walls," Delios said. "Our priests will ward us against curses. But the strength and the number of the Assanaten magi is concerning."
"You are confident that you can stop the Assanaten army?"
Thrown off by the unexpected question, Delios hesitated.
"I understand that this city was besieged before?" master Mar'Doug asked. "You were able to repel them successfully, back then."
"The empire of Saggab," Delios said. "That time the enemy approached along the coast."
"That is what I heard," master Mar'Doug said. "I am afraid, my knowledge in matters of war, as well as, on Riadnos' history is limited. Maybe you could describe the overall situation to me? If there is time?" The sage looked from son to father.
True.
In company ways to communicate in a concealed way were limited. Rather than having signals to say a lot of different things, Delia had multiple ways to communicate a small amount of information. Things like true and false, yes and no, and danger.
True. True.
For a moment, Delios was confused by his sister signaling the same thing multiple times. Do you want us to be truthful? He thought.
He glanced at the anax. Memnostis seemed to have come to the same conclusion and nodded.
"The situation is different from the war back then," Delios said. "As I said, Saggab's army came along the Golden Road. It follows the coastline and ends at the channel that connects the lake", he waved in the direction of the harbor, which could be seen from the terrace, "with the sea. To reach Riadnos by land, you must cross the channel and enter a mountain pass. On our side, the entrance to the pass is defended by a high wall."
"That is what you call the seawall?" the sage asked, listening intently.
"Yes," Delios said. "There is neither much room nor anything else really, between the channel and the wall. Any army that wants to assault it must be constantly supplied from the southern shore. Saggab builds a ship bridge to bring their men and siege equipment over."
Delios paused, giving his father the chance to take over. Memnostis had a clear preference concerning the way the story of his and Ajaxos' greatest triumph was told. But not today it seemed. The anax was just sitting there, watching their guest.
"Saggab's warriors took the wall and secured the pass. Our forces retreated inside Riadnos. It took the enemy some time to bring their equipment and supplies through the pass and to prepare for the siege of the city. Therefore, they established a basecamp on this side. The anax knew that the outcome of a prolonged siege was uncertain, so he prepared a counterattack."
"We looked to the gods for guidance, but the omens were unclear," Memnostis said. "I heard that the great sage Bel'Sara was in Riadnos. The legends say that the seven sages are often found in times and places that are remembered." The anax gave master Mar'Doug a slight bow which the later acknowledged with a courteous smile. "I called for her and asked for her advice. She told me to prepare and wait."
The boy returned, carrying a jug and three cups. The jug was a bit big for his hands, but he managed not to spill any of the red liquid.
Memnostis took it from him and personally filled his guest's cup. "You can go to the chambers now," he said, patting the boy's head. "We won't need you anymore."
Filling his own cup, Delios tried to ignore the boys flinching under his father's hand. He had to be new. At least Delios didn't remember his face. But then he tried not to.
Master Mar'Doug accepted the cup with his usual politeness. "So, what did you have to wait for?"
Memnostis's mouth turned to a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "The Assanaten." He glanced at Delios.
Taking the cue, Delios took up the narrative again. "A group of three Assanaten magi reached Saggab as part of an envoy. The story goes that on their way to the palace, they stopped at a large marketplace. There they proclaimed that the people of Saggab were worshipping false gods and should worship Assan instead. There are different versions of what happened next, but apparently, the crowd got angry and moved on them. The magi proclaimed all people present to be sinners and incinerated themselves as well as anything around them. The subsequent fire destroyed large parts of the city and threw the whole empire into chaos."
"Why do you think, they chose the marketplace and not the palace?" master Mar'Doug asked.
Delios stopped. It was a very good question. One he'd never asked himself. "In the palace, they could have caused much more damage. Killing the court officials and large parts of the ruling family", Delios shook his head, "the aftermath might have been even worse."
"But they would also have had to deal with more warriors and Saggab's own magi," Memnostis said over the rim of his cup.
"The Assanaten made a very calculated move," Mar'Doug said. "They lost three magi, but they successfully disrupted their enemy's center of power."
Memnostis nodded. "A very high prize. But good for us." He reached for the jug to refill his cup. "One day, we noticed a commotion in the enemy's camp. Enough for us to see it from the wall. The day after the sar's tent was taken down. We sent out scouts and those that returned told us that more people were going into the pass than coming out. I immediately called for mistress Bel'Sara and she told me the next morning at dawn was the time. I asked her where and she looked up at me and said, you are the warrior, man, figure it out." The anax grinned into his cup. "We destroyed them. Sadly, the sar had already left."
"Sar Nasser-Umabona moved south with his guard and as much of his army as he could move on short notice," Delios quickly said. "We know he emptied all his garrisons along the Golden Road he passed by. But when he met the Assanaten army under sar Assanadon he was destroyed. The Assanaten then conquered everything along the Crimson coast down to the river Phragris. Today, their empire is almost as big as Saggab's. The merchants say the balance of power shifts more and more in their favor every year."
Delios took a break. Master Mar'Doug had listened attentively and was now considering his words. He couldn't tell if this was truly all news to the sage. All the world had been shaken by Saggab's defeat at the shore of the Phragris river. He had to have lived in a cave somewhere to not have heard about it.
But maybe he did, Delios thought, remembering who he was sitting across.
"Going back to the beginning", master Mar'Doug said, looking up, "you described that your outer defense is built on the channel and the seawall. If the enemy can overcome those you fall back to the city. What is your defensive strategy for the other side? When the enemy comes from the mountains, like we assume he will now."
Father and son exchanged a look.
"There is none," Delios said. "Nobody thought that could ever happen."