The Fall of Vaasar

Chapter 10

Edgar lay in bed and thumped his fist on the wall behind him. It was early morning and he had woken with big plans, as was his custom. For a few moments after his eyes opened, he spoke his ambitions, as if his mind had conjured them during the night and by saying them aloud Edgar was confirming that he'd heard, and he was progressing. "I'm going to rip this shabby palace down and build another with stone. Not a palace though, more of a fortress. Something that cannot be burnt and taken so easily as we took this place.

"My brother Horace is building back in Fertilian with stone bricks. The sentimental fool has called the construction a 'castle' after our dear bitch of a mother, Castella. But that's what I'll have here, a stone castle. How is mudbrick made anyway?"

Tamza was so miserable she could barely bring herself to speak. And she was exhausted, berating herself the entire night in place of sleep. She had failed to kill Edgar, but she had to keep up the act. I must enchant him so deeply that I have an unyielding influence over him. Atone for my cowardice by forcing him to be fair, less cruel, respectful of life. My chances of success are slight, he's strong-willed, but I have to do something.

She forced a smile onto her lips, and in the voice she used to speak to her nephews with when they were small, explained sweetly, "The mud mixture is put in moulds and left to bake in the sun. Once solid it is strong enough to hold up walls. Specially shaped mudbricks were used for the palace domes, but they burnt in the fire the day you arrived. Out by the crop fields, to the east, are the brick works. Have you not seen them?"

"Aye, that is near where the Xayans are camped. And that is where we go tonight. With the bears. An invite arrived last night, I accepted."

Here goes, let's try my influence. "No. I'm not taking my bears into that camp with those... animals."

Edgar laughed. "The bears are animals, not the Xayans. You want to see your bears, now you can. They'll dance. I'm the guest of honour at some feast tonight. I'm bringing the entertainment."

Push harder. "I will dance, not my bears."

"No, you're not dancing tonight. They'll all just want to fuck you. The Xayans are not to be stopped when it comes to women. They have some strange honour codes... The bears dance."

Failed.

Tamza led Rae-bear and Ursah-bear through the town behind Orpey, Burrington and King Edgar. Fert soldiers lined the alleyways, swords ready to turn on the bears if required. The soldiers stopped at the edge of town, by the old brick works. Edgar led the small procession through the endless, redundant rows of brick moulds towards the Xayan camp.

Edgar had told her before they set off, "Do as I say, otherwise we die, bears and all. The Xayans are easily offended. They have invited me here with three companions to test my bravery and strength. They do not frighten me, don't let them frighten you or the bears."

Tamza had decided to bring her two strongest bears, in case of any trouble, and the two best dancers, to perform the dance that they had learnt for the Festival of Many Gods. She hadn't trained them in many weeks, and she prayed to Bear-God that the choreography was still etched in their minds.

Edgar reached the edge of the Xayan camp and paused. It was gigantic, perhaps half the size of Vaasar. And it stank worse than the public latrine in the marketplace. They had set up circular dome tents in rings around one large dome tent, like a pebble dropped in water. Each tent was made from animal hide, and had a pole flying flags of various patterns and sizes. The little homes housed a family. Women tended to animals in pens, children ran around after chickens and men either lazed, brushed their stocky horses or sharpened their swords, some even played with the children. An idyllic scene, in complete contrast to the brutality Tamza had witnessed on the day of the attack. The entrances to the tents all faced the mountains, towards their home, Tamza guessed. She scanned the crowds for a glimpse of Yaseena, but did not see one Vaasarian woman.