Page 40 of The Oracle of Dusk

And when she fell, the raging river drawing close, Aurora welcomed the end.

Chapter 9

The Ancient Past

ThesilenceinTheron’sthrone room was thick enough to choke a man. The king of Aureum could be forgiven for hoping the Viridian merchant currently prostrated before him would expire from the force of his displeasure. Having the temerity to arrive without the shipments of grain that his treasury had already paid for in full was an excellent way to ensure one died a painful death. The moment the merchant crossed The Colonnades Of The Colossus without it, he’d made himself an enemy of the kingdom. That the scum had travelled along the winding trade road through the canyons all the way to Altanus just to rub it in his face was an insult not to be borne.

“Repeat yourself.”

The thunderous tone of his voice would leave no doubt in the mind of the merchant what the cost of displeasing him would be. It echoed in the cavernous throne room, bouncing off the sunstone mosaic floors, wrapping around thick columns carved with the painted likenesses of heroic kings and queens long past. The echo settled in the bones of his silent courtiers, all of them watching and waiting for a single misstep in order to pounce—either on him for a perceived failing, or on the merchant to curry his favour.

“The cost of the food has increased, Your Majesty. I must ask that you pay the full price before delivery.”

To the man’s credit, his tone was remarkably even.

And that simply wouldn’t do.

Theron leaned forward on his throne, his deep blue and gold attire accentuating the crimson hue of his long hair. Gold-tooled leather boots had been polished enough to reflect the sunlight. Loose pants of the finest wool dyed dark blue with gold embroidery peeked out beneath a lengthy, shimmering gold tunic with sapphires sparkling in the swirling white patterns. All this cinched with a belt tooled with gold and inlaid with jewels. His crown today was relaxed—an oversight. A gold and sapphire headband cut across his temple, matching the earrings and thickly braided necklace he’d selected as his courtly battle attire. Gold cuffs and rings completed the look. At court, one could not afford to look weak or humble. While the nobles and courtiers in attendance were ostensibly his allies, enough misfortune had already beset his kingdom to make his position tenuous. Placing a hand on his knee and leaning forward, Theron chose his next words carefully.

“The problem before us is one of honour.” Theron stood, stepping down from his dais, every movement calculated to instil fear, to mimic the movements of predators. He held out his hand to his sword bearer, his cousin, who placed the sheathed weapon in his hand. “When a person signs a contract or swears upon their name that something will be done, and then fails to follow through, they are punished and shunned for being without honour. Only a fool would agree to treat with a person who has tarnished themselves in such a way. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Your Majesty, I cannot—”

“You signed a contract. You were paid. Are you telling me that you are a man without honour?”

Theron began pulling his sword from its scabbard. The punishment for such treachery was traditionally whatever the king decided. And kings could not afford to be merciful. His word was law. For now.

“No! No, Your Majesty!”

“Then have you simply misplaced the promised goods?” he asked, the click of his blade falling back into its scabbard echoing in the silent throne room.

The merchant swallowed, weighing the worth of his life. He would die here and now if he failed to produce the shipment. But was the punishment for failure back in Viridis worse than a swift beheading? Though he was intrigued as to what the Viridians had over the man, the shipment of grain was of much greater value than the intelligence. After all, hungry people couldn’t eat secrets.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty. Please forgive me. In my embarrassment, I have misspoken,” the merchant said, trembling, sweat rolling down his neck and into the finely embroidered himation he wore. Perhaps it was not out of fear, but unfounded confidence that he’d come here without the goods. Had he been told that Aureum was weak, desperate? Enough for a simple merchant to harass and insult a king?

“I see. And where was it you misplaced the shipment?” Theron asked, his smile not reaching his eyes.

But his cruel smile was not for the prostrated merchant—it was for the courtiers who thought Theron was weak. Here, everything was a performance, and only the best actor was permitted to walk away with both their power and their head intact.

“On the border, at the end of the Queen’s Road, Your Majesty.”

“How foolish. Have no fear, you will be escorted back to your wayward goods and my people will take possession of them from there.”

“You are most generous, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, I am. Had I not sought clarity, I might have had to send you back in pieces. My honour would have demanded no less. See that you don’t put me in such a position again.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“General Canthus, see our guest back to the border and find the shipment. And if he proves to be without honour, then do what must be done.”

His general bowed deeply, the noontime sun glinting off the bronze of his cuirass. He was a man of honour and could be trusted not to steal or tamper with the shipment. Canthus was also surprisingly content for a man who wielded as much power as he did. He made a fine ally, the same as all those in his inner circle. After all, Theron never trusted anyone whose weakness he didn’t control.

“With pleasure, Your Majesty.”

Canthus grabbed the merchant by his silks and dragged him from the throne room.

Court had begun with the first rays of dawn, and Theron had seen to dozens of cases brought before him for judgment. Farmers fighting over land and cattle, artisans complaining of substandard materials sold to them by merchants who fought over taxes and market stall placements, to say nothing of the nobles with their endless boundary and inheritance disputes. Now that the sun was high in the sky, he had other matters to attend to.

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