Wolves of Empire [EPIC DARK FANTASY] [Book One Complete]

Four

Endarion

Varanos, Kalduran

3rd of Satimus

The Baltanos hosted the meeting in his office. As they entered, Endarion thought it more apt to call the room a solarium. Glass comprised the ceiling, the midmorning sun an assault against the spotless marble floor. A statue of the Arisen godking, Skiron, stood at the far end, a blooded blade in one hand and a severed head in the other. Bookshelves lined the side walls, though he ignored them in favour of the table in the room's centre.

The disapproving council of elders, the superiors meant to try his treason, stood in a curved line around one side of the table, facing off against him. Kavan moved to join them, leaving him and Ricardus and Daria, both halting slightly behind him, as the sole occupants of the other side.

Aladar stood in his proper place in the middle, his favoured black greatcoat as plain as the man himself. His features betrayed nothing, his unremarkable face as bland as one could be without being a statue. His hair had grown out slightly since Endarion had last seen him at the negotiations at Dujaro, and now brushed his shoulders, awarding him a roguish aura.

Grey-haired Tanas, his husband, stood to his left, comfortably close, their hands touching in the unconscious manner of established partners. Tanas was equally as unreadable, his presence at his Baltanos's side a silent, steady one.

Three of the kandras lined up beside Tanas, and Endarion was familiar with them by name if not by reputation. Aged Ilona and easy-going Laszlo, both refusing to look at him but aiming frowns in his vague direction. Elek, young and lean, poised for a fight, met Endarion's eyes. His mouth was a slash of anger, as if he wanted nothing more than for Endarion to act out and earn a blow in reprimand.

And lastly, at Aladar's right, the proper place for his heir, stood Estrid Elerius.

It had only been a couple of days since he'd seen her last, since she'd pulled him into an embrace and promised to fight by his side, but he still sucked in a heavy breath.

Unlike at Dujaro, where she'd studiously avoided his gaze, here she watched him with a predator's intensity. When their eyes clashed, she held his look, her crooked jaw clenched, her blue eyes deep and cold. She raised one brow slightly, almost in a silent question, then moved her gaze towards Daria, where her eyes softened noticeably.

"Paramount-General Boratorren," Aladar said.

"Not any longer," he said, "I think it's safe to say."

Aladar smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, I suppose you're right. You quit your role in just about the most cataclysmic way I can imagine. We should be grateful for your defection."

Elek Danukos snorted, then emphasised it by leaning forward and bracing himself against the table. He didn't say anything, and Aladar didn't spare him any attention.

"There are things that need to be addressed, now you and your armies sit outside my city," Aladar continued. "Your Imperium's pointless campaign against us has ended, for now. But I'm sure no one here is ignorant enough to think the matter is resolved."

The Baltanos stopped, the silence he left pregnant and strained. Endarion saw his opening, the opportunity the man had given him to justify himself.

"No, it's not," he said, raising his voice. "I've already spoken to Kandras Elerius of this, but it bears repeating." He let his eyes glide across the line opposite him. "The Caetoran instigated this most recent war himself. He accused the Baltanos's envoy of assassinating Warmaster Boratorren, though in truth he ordered the murder himself. At Dujaro, I was attacked by another assassin, and in my blindness, I believed Kalduran responsible, when again it was the Caetoran. He also targeted my older brother, one of my ex-paramours, and several of my family's key allies.

"I asked an agent of mine to investigate the Warmaster's death, and they discovered that the Caetoran was employing a cabal of assassins called the Caesidi to remove those he deemed his enemies. Caesidi, by the way, being the name of the assassins the Arisen godkings employed during the later years of the Theocracies."

Elek cleared his throat and shook his head. "Do we look like we need a history lesson?"

Endarion folded his arms across his chest and regarded the younger man, trying to wear what he hoped was his most severe stare. "The history is relevant, because the Caesidi are actually being led by a surviving Arisen."

Aladar, Estrid, and Tanas already knew this, but to the others it was new information. He hesitated, letting it settle, and watched as they digested it with doubtful frowns.

"Who is this Arisen?" Ilona, the eldest of them all, asked.

He'd considered this, even before he'd shared the details with Estrid. To reveal Captain-General Dexion Mendacium's part in the plans made sense, to give them all a single enemy they could unite against. However, his niece Sephara remained safe in her false identity, as far as he knew. Dexion didn't know he'd been uncovered, didn't know the woman he believed to be Silvia Barum was actually a Boratorren working against him. It wouldn't be a huge leap in logic for Dexion to realise who had betrayed him, if word of his true identity spread beyond those few who were already privy to it. To keep his niece safe—the very least he could do now—he shrugged and feigned ignorance.

"It doesn't really matter who it is, because their aim would be the same."

"Enlighten us, then." This, from Laszlo, spoken in a lazy drawl.

"The Caetoran has Arisen support, and he's made it clear he aims to one day conquer the Drasken Empire as a whole. You should consider him a genuine threat."

Elek scoffed, an ugly sound. "You try to inspire fear so we will join you."

Endarion bit back a retort, his eyes briefly flicking towards Kavan. Despite his very recent brush with death, the former arch-general didn't seem much concerned. It would be simple enough to snap again, to stride towards the scoffing kandras and do to him whatever the ravening Iron Wolf desired. If he could turn on an established ally with the slightest provocation, what kept Elek and his colleagues safe?

He looked at Estrid and found his answer.

"I'll act alone if I must, but we share an enemy now. It makes sense to take them on together, where our chances of success are greater." Though he addressed the gathering at large, he aimed his words at Estrid. Before they'd parted in his pavilion after the battle with Dobran, she'd told him she'd fight by his side. Her failure to seek him out since suggested she might have already reconsidered. "My brother and I had plans for an insurrection, but I hardly need to tell anyone here that. I'll turn mine and Ricardus's armies back at the Imperium, topple it if I can. If not, I die in the field, and take as many of the Caetoran's men with me as I can. Or." He raised a pointed forefinger, wielded it like a weapon. "We come to an agreement. We march on the Imperium together, my forces bolstered by yours. We topple it, and place on the Invictum Throne one of our own. After, we arrange the peace treaty your scapegoated agent was in the capital to discuss before his untimely death. A Boratorren Caetoran is guaranteed, on my honour, to provide you with a favourable treaty."

He allowed the proposition to simmer, his eyes locked with Estrid's. For all its chill blueness, her gaze was hot. She knew his intent, had known it for years, and so she'd probably already decided what she would do. If she refused to stand by him—a fate he deserved—he'd make his suicidal stab at Empyria, carve for himself the unenviable legacy of a failed traitor. Another Cnaeus Casus, the man who'd worn the title of Paramount-General hundreds of years ago and, ironically enough, toppled his own empire. If Estrid fought with him, he might succeed.

As much as he wanted her in his arms again, to rest his head on hers, have her look upon him with the love they'd once shared, he'd settle for her at his side, sword in hand.

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"What would we gain from an alliance with you?" she asked after it became clear none of her colleagues would speak.

"Whatever you want," he replied. "I'm at your mercy."

"We're not considering this," Elek said. "We should kill all three of them now and have done with it. Or, better yet, hand them back to the Imperium and win our peace that way."

He saw Daria stiffen in the corner of his eyes and smothered the urge to react. Elek Danukos was just like all his political rivals back home, itching to provoke Endarion, to be provided an excuse to undermine him. He could no more give this man that satisfaction than he could someone like the Caetoran or Dobran.

Aladar and Tanas shared a loaded look, then the Baltanos shifted his attention to Estrid. Something private passed between them.

"We want Tharghest," the Baltanos said.

"Tharghest?" Endarion echoed.

It was Estrid who answered. "Specifically, we want Tharghest's independence returned to it, and the Imperium's promise to help rebuild what it destroyed. Financial aid, first and foremost, and the manpower needed to build the cities and farm the land and protect what few natives remain. I would, of course, be offering my own manpower for this task. We would eventually need to discuss this in more detail with the Borrian Princedoms, where the majority of Tharghest's population fled."

He understood what she offered. Sixteen years ago, after a scuffle between the Imperium and Kalduran over the then-kingdom of Tharghest, Endarion had managed to push the Kaldurani forces back across their own border. With Tharghest then in Imperial possession, the Caetoran had ordered the fielded armies to consolidate their rule and crush native opposition. He and Estrid had been at the forefront of that effort and had rendered Tharghest the empty wasteland it still was in an act many times the scale of what had happened at Dykumas and Vadonis. Though Estrid had been as much involved as he, he'd had the undeniable arrogance to conquer a kingdom whilst courting a paramour of the native people and siring a child on her. Not to mention, he'd been the arch-general in official command of the campaign, and any slaughters Estrid may have carried out could be attributed to him and his orders.

The matter of resurrecting Tharghest would be made more difficult by involving the Borrian Princedoms, a nation that, though neighbouring the Imperium to the west, had shunned all contact with them. He doubted any of its rulers would be interested in anything he had to offer.

"You want me to make promises for the future Caetoran I'd put on the throne," he stated.

"Your nephew Kaeso, yes," Aladar replied. Of course, Estrid had shared with the Baltanos all the intimate details of their insurrectionist plans, including which members of the Boratorren family would claim which political positions after the Tyrannuses were toppled.

In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't an impossible request. Tharghest was owed far more than he could ever give, and his seizing of the Invictum Throne was enough of a distant possibility for its consequences to be barely worth thinking of. The scant likelihood of their success was also a factor, as was Valerian and Kaeso's willingness, or lack thereof, to uphold any deals he made on their behalf. Not that Valerian mattered right now; after all, he'd ordered Endarion to kill Estrid and destroy her army, just before Endarion had done the exact opposite and defected.

He knew they also made the request to hamstring the newly minted Boratorren Dynasty. If he and Val were beholden to resurrecting a destroyed nation and had to divert funds and forces and supplies to the effort, their family would be less able to potentially wage war against Kalduran in the future. They'd also have to attempt to forge a separate agreement with Borria, further tying them down.

But better a hobbled Boratorren Dynasty than no dynasty at all. If they won, there'd be time to expand on these propositions and manoeuvre their way out of the trickiest agreements. His brother would understand.

"Agreed."

The Kaldurani line seemed to visibly deflate, as if his acquiescence had been in question.

"In that case, I will offer you our soldiers," Aladar said.

Elek took umbrage, his fist raised to strike the table again. Before the man could say something that would no doubt ignite his dormant anger, Endarion asked, "How many?"

"You'll have the Dasjuran army and Arch-General Aza's Quendithans, of course," the Baltanos answered, nodding his head in Estrid's direction.

A potent surge of relief washed through his stomach, though he supposed Estrid's involvement was never in doubt. He'd been unfair to think she'd renege on her promise, just as he'd been unfair to think she'd been the one to organise the attempt on his life back at Dujaro, so many weeks ago now.

Aladar continued. "I'll need forces left behind to guard our borders and rebuild what you destroyed." He looked to Laszlo and Ilona. "Kandras Lakatos, I'll want you securing the supply lines and garrisoning in our wake. Kandras Redik, I think it's about time you took your army east. The Imperium never strayed in that direction, so there are city prefects there who need to be apprised of the current situation. We may also need to think about recruiting from our intact cities, to replenish our ranks." His measured gaze shifted to Endarion. "That leaves Kaldurani Prime, which I offer you now."

Endarion almost spluttered in shock. Kaldurani Prime was Elek's army and, at an estimated sixty thousand soldiers at full strength, the largest single force either Kalduran or the Imperium could muster. The dedication of both Elek's and Estrid's armies was almost what Endarion and Ricardus combined could commit, and that was without factoring Kavan into the numbers. It would even the field between him and the Caetoran's loyalists.

"I will take to the field myself," Aladar said, an element of authority entering his tone that had been lacking before. "The command of Kaldurani Prime will be split between myself and Kandras Danukos."

For their lack of reaction, Tanas and Estrid had clearly been informed of this before the meeting. Elek, on the other hand, punched the table with both hands and growled a curse between clenched teeth. "Absolutely not," he seethed. "By all means assist this madman, but not with my men."

Aladar lifted a calming hand in the younger man's direction. "It has already been decided, Elek."

"I refuse."

"In that case, you may leave my estate," Aladar said. "I will send someone for your masantra, and they can command in your stead." His tone was as hard and immovable as a mountain, and Elek, on its receiving end, looked diminished. Even Endarion, used to having his commands obeyed and unchallenged, felt a tremor within him, as if he wanted to lower himself to his crippled knee and offer his undying loyalty to this man. He hadn't served beneath anyone for decades, having been the highest-ranking officer in his army since taking his aunt Novissa's place in his mid-twenties, yet he'd readily prostrate himself now.

"That won't be necessary, Baltanos," Elek said, dipping his head beneath the weight of Aladar's words.

Something in the air broke like shattered glass and the effect of Aladar's voice disintegrated, leaving Endarion wondering if he'd experienced it at all, or if it was yet another side effect of his madness.

"Are we in agreement?" Aladar said. "Quendinthan, Prime, and Dasjuran, to bolster you and Arch-General Naevon?"

"Who would be in overall control?" Endarion asked. Not that he vied for the position; his elevation to Paramount-General had been a farce, his authority token at best. He didn't covet supreme power and, after his time in the field over the last couple of months, no longer expected to be given it.

"Jointly, between myself and you," Aladar replied. "That seems fair, does it not?"

"Of course." He lowered his head, not as Elek had done, in obeisance, but rather in respect. Daria and Ricardus mirrored him.

"There is much to arrange," Aladar said, "if we want to leave in time to pursue the routed Imperials. I'm sure we could all benefit with some time to prepare."

With that, he drew the meeting to a close and dismissed his guests. Endarion led Ricardus and Daria out into the hallway beyond the Baltanos's glorified office. "Return to the barracks. I'll follow in a minute," he said.

Daria didn't reply, instead letting Ricardus take the lead in pacing towards the estate's front entrance. Endarion propped himself against the nearest wall, taking the weight off his crippled knee. Though he'd worn his brace, he'd been on his feet almost constantly since the battle and hadn't taken the time to rest the abused joint. He'd pay for the neglect with a few days of heavier limping.

Ilona and Laszlo left first, neither sparing him a glance. That was fine; if they were remaining in Kalduran, he needed neither their friendship nor their acceptance. Elek came next, hovering at the threshold, clearly considering the merits of starting a confrontation. He seemed to think better of it and stormed away as if he believed the loud thuds of his footfalls insult enough. Kavan and Estrid departed together, heads bowed in a gesture of comfortable friendship that made him ache with loss and jealousy.

"Estrid," he said. "Can we talk?"

She paused behind Kavan as he continued down the hallway, her brow creased in a frown, her jaw's crookedness exaggerated by her expression. He wanted to skim a finger across it and tell her how beautiful and battle-hardened he thought it made her look. He remembered then the kiss she'd given him at Dujaro as vividly as if she'd just left it there. Maybe she read something of his thoughts in his eyes because her frown deepened, and she looked away. "We've talked enough, I think."

"Estrid," he said again. "We haven't spoken since the battle."

"By my design," Estrid countered. "How do you think it would look to the other kandras—that poisonous shit Elek especially—if I was seen fraternising with you in the days before Aladar offers you two armies to win you a throne?" She leaned closer to him, her proximity threatening to scald him. "When we embraced each other in your pavilion, it was easy to forget how that might appear to everyone else."

He clenched his jaw, understanding her point, hating the logic of it. She raised one hand as if to pat his shoulder, then seemed to think better of it. "I don't give a fuck how it appears to everyone else," he said.

"My colleagues already think every act I perform is for your benefit, and they aren't wrong," she continued. "I hate that it has to be this way, Wolf, but I can't risk my position here. It's all I have left."

He stepped back and clasped his hands behind his back, using the military gesture to give his hands something to do as he smothered the effect her closeness had on him. "Allies, then," he said, "and nothing more."

"Allies," she agreed flatly, her mouth twitching as if in distaste. "I'm keeping my promise and joining your fight. You'll take the throne, like you always planned, and we'll finally be free of Imperial interference. There's nothing more that needs to be said."

He nodded numbly as she spun away and, with Kavan at her side, paced down the hallway. Had he not deserved such treatment, it might've hurt more. But he was a monster, and redemption wasn't his to claim.