Chapter Twenty-eight
From a completed epic fantasy novel told across two time periods.
Yara
Her rage had not subsided when the palace servant brought her the Divine King’s summoning. The young man left in even more of a hurry than he had arrived when he saw the whip in her hand. It may also have been the young woman on her hands and knees, staring down at the floor and whimpering that added to the servant’s haste.
The scabs on the adolescent’s back had reopened, which made the scene look worse than it was, Yara reflected. Her own clothes were free from blood save for the black gloves she was wearing. She removed them carefully and tossed them to the servant girl, along with the whip.
“Have those cleaned before I return. Then go back to whatever task you were pretending to do before.”
It would be unwise to be in such a foul mood during an audience with the Divine King. Her back to the door, she took a series of deep breaths before heading to the royal living quarters.
She had been to the Divine King’s private chambers on occasion, but never to his bedroom. In fact, she never heard of anyone being summoned to that intimate location before. A number of possibilities jostled for position in her mind. None of them were particularly pleasing, but then again, her thoughts had been darker than usual. Because of this man, Gregorich. Who is he? Why is he inquiring after Woller while posing as one of my agents? Does Oslian not trust me?
The thought that Richard had fabricated the man’s existence seemed highly unlikely. She did not believe him to be diabolical enough to present an invented story in such an innocent way. She had dozens of questions regarding Richard’s interaction with the man he knew as Gregorich, but she did not have the flexibility to ask them. She could not allow him to know Gregorich did not work for her. Unless of course, she disposed of him afterwards. But he was Esther’s now, and the Royal Herbalist was possessive of her people.
Her next suspicion was a rival on the council. Ilgor was ancient enough to have known Woller back when he was an acquaintance of Oslian’s, but she did not believe Oslian would have spoken to him about the matter. As for Rovellia, she was too dim-witted to hatch any kind of plan. Therefore, her only true suspect on the council was Martin. Oslian asked him for advice on a wide variety of issues, and she would not be surprised if Martin was able to pry information loose which Oslian did not want him to have. She could envision him intending to outdo her and gain favor with the Divine King.
Nevertheless, she was not sure Martin was behind this, or whether she actually preferred that he was. He was dangerously competent, but at least she knew who he was. The idea of someone she did not even know manipulating her was a terrifying possibility, and Yara did not appreciate being made to be fearful.
We will see who else may have been invited to the royal bedchambers. That will be quite telling.
Yara was granted permission to enter the Divine King’s living chambers on the top floor of the palace by the half dozen royal life defenders who guarded the passage at all hours. The foyer within displayed a decadence which would make the common man weep. Precious gemstones lined the framework of each piece of furniture, all of which sat upon a carpet of blood-red velvet. The mirrors were made of glass with solid gold trim, a purple sapphire the size of a fist inset at the top of the twin set on either side of the room. It was here that she had spoken with Oslian once before, when he had been ill and had been advised not to leave his bed. He had stubbornly refused, which came as no surprise to anyone. If he truly did not leave his bed for this summoning, it was not a large leap to assume the worst.
She came to the door which she believed led to the bedchamber. Even before touching her hand to its surface, she could tell how incredibly thick the painted wood and iron door was. She paused to take another set of deep breaths, then rapped upon the door.
“Enter.” Oslian’s voice. Strong enough to carry through the door. A good sign.
The first thing Yara saw inside the bedchamber was the Divine King’s bed, unoccupied. The white sheets with violet trim looked as though they had not been used that day. Instead, Oslian sat on an expansive couch. To his side stood Esther. There was no one else in the room.
“Sit down, Yara,” Oslian said.
Thankful for the direction, Yara bowed and took a seat at the far end of the couch.
Oslian attempted to clear his throat, then broke into a coughing fit. Yara wisely chose to look away until the Divine King had composed himself. “There are two purposes for your summoning,” he said. “The first is that I require an update regarding the information you have gathered on Woller.”
And the second?
“I have uncovered the fact that the reason he was purported to have disappeared is facetious. A relationship between Woller and a student never occurred. She told me this herself, multiple times, under… a myriad of circumstances.”
Oslian looked up to Esther. Yara was not sure what passed between the two of them, but when he looked back at her, he said, “That is not a surprise. Woller was always too blunt and rigid to seduce a woman. My suspicion that he created a lie to cover his tracks was correct. This means he is hiding something and must be found immediately.”
“I agree, Your Excellency,” Yara said cautiously. “I have agents following former friends and colleagues of Woller’s.” She wished to add more, but that was all she had. She was unprepared to deliver a report on the investigation’s progress. Saying the meager actions she had taken out loud made it all the worse. And she had left out the complications regarding the man who called himself Gregorich. In fact, she wished to glean something from Oslian or Esther which could help her determine who the man was, or for whom he was employed. But admitting there was an element to the investigation that was beyond her control was out of the question.
“Very good,” said Oslian. “I know you will find him. You have never let me down, Yara. That is why I requested your presence here.”
And yet, you do not grant me the title of Grand Advisor. A carrot for me to continue to chase, no doubt.
Oslian gave no hint as to his feelings. Speaking tonelessly, he stated, “Esther will explain the second purpose of this meeting.”
The Royal Herbalist had listened without comment thus far, as she always did. She would never deign to interrupt the Divine King, despite the fact, or perhaps because of the fact, that they had known each other for many years. Yara did not know the origin of their friendship, but she did know they had been close for decades and in the years before Oslian became the sole ruler of Vinredor. She was closer to him than anyone, by a large margin. Even when the Divine King had been known to have taken lovers, there were times when he would meet alone with Esther. The true nature of their relationship remained a mystery, even to Yara. She wished to know more, but Oslian never volunteered information regarding his relationships or his past. Caution was also always wise when dealing with the Divine King.
The Royal Herbalist clasped her hands in front of herself. “A recent examination of the royal personage was conducted. During this examination, a tumor was found within a vital organ.”
She paused then. He is dying?
No doubt Oslian had had the same thought. He would not, of course, speak it aloud, at least not in front of her. Esther as well would have known the blasphemous implications of this diagnosis. Yet nothing would be spoken. Nothing could ever be said to anyone about Oslian’s condition.
Yara could not look at Oslian. He sat on the periphery of her vision, but she refused to analyze his image. She had not prepared herself sufficiently to receive this news. Her mentor, the man who had lifted her out of poverty, was dying. She knew that with a certainty she did not want to admit. Oslian was old, and increasingly frail. He had shown signs of illness for the past few months, but Yara had chosen to ignore them. She needed Oslian to stay alive. As long as he lived, her position and status were beyond reproach. Without him… well, she could only fear the worst.
The fragility of her role as royal councilor was becoming increasingly clear. The matter of succession was never mentioned around Oslian, and he had never spoken of it as far as she knew. The common belief was that he had sired multiple bastards, but that those children, likely now adults, were being kept unaware of their royal blood until a time which the Divine King deemed appropriate, or rather, safe. Oslian also had distant relatives, who he likewise kept far away. Vinredor had not always been this way, but that was the last topic to ever address in front of the Divine King.
If, when, Oslian died, Yara now knew she would need a plan.
This day has grown unfathomably dark.
Eyes on the floor, Esther continued. “It is difficult to say how much time the Divine King has until the tumor,” here she swallowed, then tightened the grip of her grasp. “Until the tumor deactivates vital functioning.”
“Unless,” Oslian added.
Esther looked up. Yara met her eyes, then looked to Oslian whose gaze was focused on the Royal Herbalist.
“Unless we can find a cure,” Esther said.
Oslian stood then. He looked to consider reaching for support from an arm rest, then defiantly chose otherwise. “I will defeat this, as I have defeated all other obstacles in my many years. Yara, thanks to your efforts at shutting off the wastefulness of the university, the royal herbalism laboratory has obtained a tonic which grants permanent effects to its user. Esther and I are in agreement on the possibilities which this opens. It is not delusional now to say that a body could be kept healthy indefinitely. This is what I seek. This is what I shall have.”
“Our efforts have increased with our newly acquired staff,” Esther said. “The Divine King’s health is in danger, but he has time, and hope. Our priorities are shifting so that we dedicate one hundred percent of our time to curing the person most responsible for the safety and well-being of the public.”
“Yes,’ Oslian said. “The injustice of this news has not sat well with me.”
Yara and Esther both nodded. Whether from a sense of duty, due to agreement, or simply out of habit was difficult to discern.
“I have done more for this realm than any man before me. This was a nation of poverty and ignorance before I came to power. Under my guidance, schools, hospitals, factories, laboratories, and more have come into existence. The average man and woman in Vinredor has seen their wealth more than double under my rule. I have been in control of the most powerful nation in the world for the longest period of time in recorded history. Now I am to die? While others, people who have accomplished nothing in their lives, people who have wasted the very opportunities I have given them will continue to live. This is what I have earned? No. There must be a solution to this dilemma. It is only right that I live. I have earned that and more.”
He sat back down then, shaking his head. Esther went to put her hand on his shoulder, then pulled back at the last moment.
The truth of Oslian’s words is not lost on me. He is being punished while others continue to live in large part due to the improvements he has given this world. He does not deserve this, but there are many people who do.
Yara unclenched her fists. “Your words ring true, Your Excellency. And I would add, not just this nation owes you, but the world. Have not others benefitted from knowledge and developments which originated here, under your rule? The people of the world are in your debt, yet most of them are either ignorant of that fact, or resentful of it. For much of the world does not recognize you as a divine representative. When so many willfully deny the truth, there is nothing more unjust than that.”
Oslian shot up again, showing a strength that he had not displayed in months. “This is the truth of it! Yes, Yara, you have it right. Not only the people of Vinredor, but the people of the world, they owe me a great debt. Esther,” he said looking to the Royal Herbalist, “there is no time to spare. Go now and begin work on this project of utmost importance. I must hear of every step up the ladder of progress. You are dismissed, my friend.”
Esther bowed, then hurried out of the room, leaving Yara alone with the Divine King.
“Before you leave, Yara, I want you to know that your words have inspired me. When we speak again, I want you to remember them. I have been at a crucial fork in the road, and the clarity of your thoughts has pushed me in the direction I knew was correct. Thank you, Yara, my friend. My grand advisor.”
Grand Advisor. I am honored. And he has trusted me with the most secretive of information. I will not let him down.
“I am pleased I could be of service, Your Excellency. I will continue my investigation with vigor.”
“You will. I know you will.” Oslian coughed then, the horrible retching sound difficult to endure. “You are dismissed,” he said, wiping his mouth before concealing his sleeve behind a cushion.