“Possible,” Galiana said, “which is why I wonder about the mention of the sword being the first part of the Aegis. If he found out what the Aegis is, that would explain some of his interest in The Chronicles.”
“What is this Aegis?” Stefan asked.
“The Chronicles refer to it very vaguely. It is some type of weapon or power strong enough to defend against or to protect the gods.”
“You seem to suggest they’ll escape the Nether somehow or if they did, would need protection.” Stefan smirked as he touched the sword. “They’re gods. This is simple silversteel.”
“Why the gods would need protection is beyond any of us, my dear,” Thania said.
“Are you certain he isn’t aware of this?” Stefan touched the new weapon’s hilt.
“Unless he can get someone into the heart and soul of the Iluminus past several dozen High Ashishin, Raijin and worse, then, no.”
Stefan whistled. “They moved the Chronicles into the Halls of the Exalted?”
“Indeed,” Galiana replied.
“So, until we find out how to use the sword, what do I do?” Stefan regarded Anton and Celina even now doubting the decision he was being led to make.
“Nerian is willing to give you a year to spend with your family before he begins his campaign,” Galiana said. “He will use the time to recruit. I will translate the other parts of the Chronicles I have copied by then.”
Stefan paced across the room. “I don’t know. If all this is true, if Nerian is threatening my family, if he is now a lunatic like you say ….” He shook his head. “Pretending to side with him, hiding my feelings might be beyond me.” Every fiber of his being told him to take his family and flee, but he also knew he could no such thing without guaranteed safety. Not to mention his men to whom he’d promised peace and a prosperous future. If this was all true, the lives of many rested on his shoulders. He stopped. What if Galiana is lying and this is some Tribunal plot? What if it isn’t? Stefan squeezed his eyes shut.
“My dear heart, I don’t think you will need to hide how you feel,” Thania said. “For this to work, for you to keep us safe, you must let Nerian see your anger. Let him be aware of how this situation fuels you. Only then will he believe you’re sincere in aiding him in this endeavor. Anything less and he will be suspicious. Not only will he not let you close to him then, but he may take us anyway.”
Stefan stared tenderly at his children, gritting his teeth against hopelessness. “What if he decides to take you all regardless of what I do?”
“Until now Nerian has followed the teachings of the Disciplines more closely than anyone,” Galiana said, “including you.”
“‘Demand honor but first show righteousness,’” Stefan quoted, temper flaring. “His recent actions violate the third Discipline.”
“Unless he thinks what he’s doing is righteous,” Thania countered.
Stefan bristled at his wife’s words.
She shrugged. “There’s no distinction to determine exactly what’s righteous.”
He looked to Galiana for support but the wry smile on her face told whose side she supported. “Fine,” he said grudgingly. They were correct. Some of the Disciplines were left open to their moral interpretation. This allowed some freedom in the decision-making process for any leader who followed them. One thing became evident over the passage of years. A leader who followed them developed a strong belief from his men that led to victories skill alone could not achieve His own Unvanquished were living proof. Following this line of thought, Nerian would allow him to lead because the men fought with a fervor for Stefan they might not have for their King.
“One year.” Stefan sighed, and then peered longingly toward Anton and Celina.
Self-sacrifice is often the greatest motivator for man and nation. Another of the Disciplines. He would treasure the time he had left with his children; it could be his last. When Perta entered moments later with a flagon of his wife’s kinai wine, Stefan barely noticed the taste.
After Galiana left, and Perta reported she’d been escorted from the premises, Stefan turned to Thania in the privacy of their room. Both Anton and Celina were asleep on their own bed. “Do you believe her?”
The lamplight shone more golden in his wife’s eyes. “As far as?”
“About all of it. Nerian’s intentions, her translations of the Chronicles … this sword. This is so convenient it must be a trap. Better yet, one of the Tribunal’s intricate conspiracies.”
“Galiana and I have been friends for over a century. In that time, I have yet to see her so adamant about anything except when she led the Tribunal’s Matii against the shade.” Thania kept her gaze locked on his. “But I also know better than to completely trust anyone but you, my love. Whatever you decide, I’ll be here to back you. At least consider what she asked of you.” She glanced away from him toward the children’s bed. “We have more than us to think about now. If you must, give Nerian the benefit of the doubt. I realize what he means to you. Maybe there is more to the Tribunal than Galiana is letting on. Even when I was among them, they kept many secrets. Whatever it is, for our children’s sake, we must support the correct side. And we must be careful in doing so.”
“What if this is some prophecy come true?”
Thania looked at him askance. “You? Believing in gods shaping fate?”
“Not necessarily, but …” Stefan told her about his encounter with the Svenzar.
When he finished, Thania seemed lost in thought.
“Well?” he asked.
“I have seen enough in my life to believe in the gods and their touch on the world, both good and bad. A balance exists in all things, but as far as prophecies go, I’m uncertain.” Thania focused on him. “If we follow the teachings of our philosophers, fate and prophecy are nothing more than the paths a man may weave for himself. It is similar to math: adding or taking away from something produces a certain result. Are the paths limited?” She shrugged. “Who knows? However, I do believe, even more so now since being with you, that whatever it is, a man shapes his own fortune. You made the decision you thought was best. Whatever comes of it we will face that storm together for the sake of our children’s future. Nothing and no one can stand in the way. Not Galiana, not Nerian, not the Svenzar … no one.”
Stefan nodded. For the first time in a while, tightness eased from his shoulders. With Thania’s support, difficulty became a trifle. Patience was his strong point. He strode over to her and took her hand. When he bent to kiss her, all thoughts of his troubles left him for a moment. All that existed was her smell, her silky hair, her body pressing against his as he pushed her down onto the bed.
But as they made love, the meeting with the Svenzar wormed its way into his head. He hoped for the sake of his people he’d made the correct choice.
CHAPTER 10
As the sun drifted high enough to illuminate the broad shoulders and soaring peaks of the Cogal Drin Mountains, Celina and Anton skipped along the garden path. Rose vines climbed up one side of the villa, the red and yellow blooms adding color to the otherwise drab sandstone and granite walls. Two months had passed since Stefan came home, and these daily walks with his children were now a routine he anticipated. His children brought a smile to his face, made him laugh outright at some new antic, or caused him to stare in wide-eyed amazement at how quickly they learned. More often than not, they grasped the wrong things the fastest especially swear words. He needed to remember to watch his mouth in front of them.
A squeal from Celina, followed by Anton’s giggle, revealed the boy chasing her while brandishing some new insect he discovered. They ran around a circular hedge of blue bellflowers. When they returned from the other side, Anton was still after her, but this time she had somehow gotten his favorite toy soldier crafted by one of Benez’s woodworkers from him. Her own doll in her other hand, Celina was the one laughing.