A Shout for the Dead by James Barclay Read Free Book Online Page B

and Conquord legions stand on your borders keeping them back. The Tsardon have not gone away. Like us, they await a return to full strength. My own son is in Sirrane, trying to forge an alliance that might just save us next time they threaten invasion. You think you will be safe because my flag doesn't fly over the palace of Cabrius? You and your Marshal Defender are deluded if you believe that. Remove yourself from the Conquord and make yourself weak.'
    'Not so, Herine. We are only under threat because we are part of the Conquord. The Omari are no threat to those who do not threaten them. We have alliances going back generations which were only broken when your flag began to fly in our lands. There is no other way for Dornos. You cannot force your will upon us any longer. When I return to Cabrius, the Estorean consul and all non-Dornosean legions will be expelled. Our agreement with Omari is already in place.'
    Herine rose. 'Then go,' she said. 'And do not look to us for aid when your folly is revealed to you and your people are dying in front of you. You think you're clever, timing this when we are diverted to Atreska and Bahkir. It is indeed a clever piece of work. But flawed. Because as all Atreska now knows, and as you will discover, we always come back for what is ours. And the second time, we are not so flexible with our rule.
    'Go home and look to your borders north, south and east. Enemies will come and you will beg me for forgiveness before the end. You will get none. I do not know you, Ambassador Tharin.'
    'We must still work together as independent nations,' said Tharin.
    'We will do no such thing. Dornos belongs to the Conquord. And any who think our relative weakness permanent is making a grave mistake. It is now that I look to my friends and know those who believe in my vision. This chamber is bereft of them.'
    Chapter Five
    859th cycle of God, 4th day of Genasrise
    Herine walked towards the Ascendancy Academy with Jhered at her side. She'd ignored the problems too long. She had hoped the citizens would see the good running through the veins of the Ascendants. But the suspicion had lingered. And the mistrust was stoked by the Chancellor, her large army of faithful Readers and Speakers and, of course, the Armour of God.
    Felice Koroyan had proved an implacable opponent. Herine had believed that nothing but time would expose her fears for the falsehoods they were. Nothing but numbers of Ascendants growing to maturity and being seeded from all across the Conquord. The process had begun but it would be a long one. And in the intervening period, more of her doubting territories would question their allegiance. Something had to change.
    Herine was scared she was losing the battle for the hearts of her citizens.
    They walked into the Academy, its hypocaust-fed warmth comforting now the genastro sun had lost its potency. The former halls of the Chancellor of the Omniscient had been quickly converted into a centre of excellence for all that Felice despised. Herine still remembered the moment. Sweet at the time but she had miscalculated the persistency of Koroyan's hate and the groundswell of support that the Chancellor had maintained this past decade.
    It wasn't just Dornos or Bahkir. There was discontent everywhere. Even in Estorr, capital of the Conquord. And she needed strength and solidarity right now or her rule might begin to slip.
    Jhered directed her along a marbled corridor, recessed and set with busts of Chancellors and heroes of the Omniscient past. It also held a bust of Ardol Kessian at its western end, welcoming all to the
    Academy. The most famous recent Father of the Ascendancy, killed by a Chancellor whose faith he followed so unstintingly. A man Herine had never met but whom Jhered had respected enormously.
    'Was it folly, do you think, bringing the Ascendancy in here?' asked Herine.
    'It was the only place,' said Jhered. 'Not just because they needed the security of the palace complex. You had to make