Chapter IX

“Sailors from the coast of Nihilus have discovered a land across the Eastern Sea. Shohan, they call it. The people of Shohan wish to open up trade relations with the people of Nihilus. Your imperial majesty, the largest shipping company in Nihilus is requesting a grant from the imperial coffers. They want enough money to build a new fleet of ships, ones made specifically to survive sailing to Shohan and back.”

Aryn and Tamas sat upon two thrones in the Imperial Court. Representatives from every province, county, march, and duchy in the empire stood before them, all waiting for their chance to beseech favors from this imperial couple. Chancellor Tabor, however, had specifically directed this question at Aryn rather than Tamas. Tamas knew it was a subtle slight at him. Tabor was an Arxian, and there were some Arxians who still resented having a Nihilite ruler on their throne. Tamas would never call him out on it, though. As it was he already had to tread lightly in this new world of imperial politics.

Aryn leaned forward. “How much do we know of these Shohanite people?”

“From every report I've heard? Very little,” said Tabor. “I might suggest sending the Nihilites half of what they are asking. Let them build some ships capable of making the trip, but not the fleet they request. Furthermore, I suggest a high sales tax on all goods imported from Shohan.”

“I have a different suggestion,” said Aryn. “We request that the Shohanites send ambassadors to Nihilus, and we, in turn, will send ambassadors to their land. We will learn more about their culture, they will learn more about ours. Once we know if these are the sorts of people we want to trade with we'll make a decision as to opening trade relations.”

“Most wise,” said Chancellor Tabor. “A cautious approach.”

“I disagree,” said Tamas. Aryn shot him a sharp look, but he ignored her. “Nihilus' economy is always unstable. They have few natural resources, and very little farm-able land. Even most of their food supply comes from trade with Arx. Iron for grain. If they could open up trade with a new, foreign nation, previously undiscovered, then merchants would flock to Nihilus with their goods to trade with Shohan. The Nihilites would no longer struggle just above the poverty line, but rather flourish. Furthermore, the empire at large can become wealthy from this.” The Nihilite representatives in the room, and even a few of the representatives from Arx and the West, applauded Tamas' suggestion. Aryn glared at him. He avoided her gaze. “However, Chancellor, you did have a good point about investing only a little at first. Send a message back to Nihilus. Tell them we will supply them with half the coin they are requesting. Furthermore, inform them of Aryn's plan to exchange ambassadors. We'd love to learn more about these people.”

At that the whole court was in applause, though Tamas suspected that a few of them were just clapping because those around them were.

After the meeting was over, Aryn pulled Tamas aside in the hall, where none but Shamira (their bodyguard) could hear the argument. “What have I told you about second-guessing my decisions in front of everyone?”

“I upheld your decision,” said Tamas. “We're still sending ambassadors to Shohan.”

“The Arxian nobility is constantly on edge about the idea of a Nihilite ruler!” Aryn hissed. “If they see you undermining my authority...”

“And the Nihilites are becoming increasingly uneasy about having an Arxian ruler. If they see my contribution to decision-making as a token gesture even Lady Farrah may not be able to keep them under control,” Tamas said. “Besides, you want to learn more about the Shohanite culture? Well, you learn far more by trading with a culture than you do with ambassadors. Ambassadors paint the prettiest possible picture of their homeland. They pretend everything is wonderful and nice. Traders? Oh, traders complain. Traders tell you every problem they have at home. If we have anything to worry about from Shohan we'll only find out about it through trade.”

“I'm not saying you made a bad decision,” said Aryn.

“Really?”

“No, actually I think you made a great decision. It was a wise choice. What I'm upset about is that you did that in front of everybody.”

“How dare I let everyone know I make a smart choice now and then.”

“Tamas!” Aryn hissed again. “No, it's about showing them that we are united! You should have talked to me aside, then we both could have presented the idea together! We need to show the people of both our lands that the Nihilites and Arxians can make decisions together. That it's an equal partnership!”

“It's hard to have an equal partnership with someone who's always telling me to keep quiet!” Tamas hissed back. “You think the Nihilites don't hear about how I'm basically just here for show?”

Shamira interrupted, “Hey...your majesties...I'm sorry, but might I be excused from this conversation? This is more than a little uncomfortable.”

Tamas and Aryn stopped for a moment, and then both hung their heads in shame.

“Right...”

“Sorry...”

“You're both very dear friends to me,” said Shamira. “It's got to be hard to be in such a tough position, with the weight of most of the known world on your shoulders, but that weight's only going to get heavier if you don't support each other.”

Tamas nodded. “Shamira has a point. I'm sorry, dear.”

“It's alright, I understand,” said Aryn. “Your passion for taking care of your people is one of the things I loved about you in the first place. I can't fault you for it now.”

The two of them embraced tightly, and Shamira smiled at them both.

Once they pulled away from the embrace Tamas said, “Listen, I'm having a thought. See, the people of Nihilus can make up all sorts of stories about me so long as I am far away. All they will hear is second, or even third-hand reports of what goes on here. What if I traveled to Nihilus to help them set up the trade fleet with Shohan?”

“That's a great idea!” said Aryn. “I mean, I'd hate to see you leave, but you could remind the people of Nihilus your hand is in all of this.”

“That's what I was thinking,” said Tamas. “Now, that being said...I also would like to take Khol with me.”

Aryn's face turned from a smile to a frown instantly. “Why?”

“The boy's ten years old and he's never been to Nihilus or the West. Don't you think he should at least see the lands he's going to rule over some day?”

Aryn shrugged. “Well...I suppose...but...I just worry...with that recent assassination attempt.”

“That assassination attempt happened here,” said Tamas. “And more Arxian kings have been killed within the capital than anywhere else.”

“That's true,” said Aryn, nodding.

“Besides, if something does happen and his friend Sitri makes an appearance again it's probably better that he makes an appearance around the Nihilites than around the Arxians. The Arxians at the tournament panicked, but Nihilites will cheer for him if Sitri appears. A much better reaction, at least until we can think of a more permanent solution.”

Aryn nodded. “Alright. Take Khol with you when you go to Nihilus, but make sure you also take extra protection. Bodyguards, paladins, warlocks, geomancers, everything. You need to be prepared if something goes wrong.”

Tamas chuckled. “Of course. All the protection we can get. Don't worry, I've survived countless trips to Nihilus.”

“And you died on one of those trips,” said Aryn. “Don't forget that.”

Tamas' face turned solemn and he held both of her hands. “Yes, I'll take the threat very seriously. I won't let anything happen to our oldest boy. Or any of our children, for that-” Just then, Tamas tensed up and his eyes widened.

“What? What's wrong?” Aryn asked.

“I need a quiet room for a moment,” said Tamas. “Pardon me...”

Tamas slipped past Shamira and Aryn and ducked into one of the small rooms nearby. The room was one of the guest rooms, unused at the moment. He locked the door behind him, sat down on the bed, and closed his eyes. “What is it?” he silently asked.

“There are dozens of us just waiting at the Firmament. Please, open the way for us. We don't want to wander Erets for all eternity!”

Tamas felt a pang of guilt. “I've been derelict in my duties. Terribly sorry. Busy and all...I'll get to the roof right away.” Tamas left the room and rushed down the hallways of the castle. Servants and castle guards alike had seen him rush about like this dozens of times before, and knew to simply clear the way. Tamas took a flight of stairs up to the battlements over the keep and stared up at the blue sky above him. “Just a moment...I'll provide an opening.” Tamas held his hand up towards the sky and closed his eyes. The sensation he felt as he meditated on the sky above could only be described as thus: it felt as if his body was stretched out across the Firmament, and now he looked both down upon Erets and out into the Void. Below him he could see all of the hills, mountains, plains, oceans, deserts, and jungles of the world, and above him he could see blackness, with stars and moons dancing in that infinity. From here, he could also see the dozens of souls of the deceased that wished to leave Erets. Each of them looked like a cloud of mist wrapped around a white flame. Above him he could see the daemons of the Void as well. They floated around the surface of the Firmament. Some of them even tried to claw their way in, but to no avail. Other daemons came by and attacked those trying to get in, struggling to maintain peace with the God of Erets.

Tamas searched for a place in the Firmament where the daemons were not near, and he said to the dozens of souls, “Right here. Be ready to rush through as soon as it's open.”

The guards on the battlements watched Tamas as he stood with his eyes closed and a single arm extended towards the sky. He stood there for several minutes, unmoving. Then a black spot appeared in the sky, as if night was just peeking through in the middle of the day. It was only black for a second, though, for immediately afterward Tamas closed his hand into a fist, brought his arm down, opened his eyes, and the black spot was filled with blue sky again.

All of the guards cheered as Tamas completed his ritual. He smiled at them and gave a theatrical bow, as if he had just performed a circus trick.