Chapter Sixty Nine
The Chancellor's Endgame
HANS
"Ladies. Gentlemen." Hans spread his hands, standing behind the speaker's rostrum before the tens of thousands of fresh Exonian soldiers who had not yet been worn down by months of war.
The soldiers stood in their dark red uniforms, standing at attention in battalion formation as Hans addressed them. Their numbers stretched as far as the eye could see, spreading across the open-air stadium in the centre of the capital. The sight of so many soldiers shouldering their muskets and standing in column was quite impressive, Hans had to admit.
Citizens filled the grandstands, packed to full. Even outside the stadium, people observed and watched from the cafés, shophouses, and their windows. Everyone seemed to know what a critical moment this was, hopefully being the turning point of the war.
On the right side of the stage at the bottom of the spiral staircase that led up to the podium, the Exonian ministers milled about, speaking in hushed tones amongst themselves. Hans suppressed a smile. He'd managed to get them to agree to this course of action, under the false pretext that Eleanor had ordered it. All of them were too afraid to raise any objections, and he played the political situation to his advantage. Things were falling into place very nicely.
And on the left side of the stage were the replacements of the failed First Imperial Guard. The Imperial Blitzguard stood in their brilliant red and white uniforms, pressed to perfection and boots shining in the late morning sun. Their rifles rested against their shoulders, and they stood in a line, looking far more professional than the common Exonian soldier. Hans had picked out the best men from every battalion in the Imperial Horde to form the Blitzguard as personal bodyguards of the Empress.
However, what no one knew was that they functioned as an intelligence network for Hans, feeding him information all over the city and even from the Empress' private chambers. Because of them, Hans knew everything that went on in the capital. It was the dream of every chancellor, and Hans had achieved it perfectly. He expected no less from himself.
From the corner of his eye, he could see the castle fortress where the Empress was holed up in. He couldn't see her from this distance of course, but he knew she would be watching from her window. Hans had been tipped off by the Blitzguard that Eleanor was becoming suspicious. She knew somehow, that he was hiding something from her. But no matter. Hans was too close to the end to let that bother him now. Nothing could stop him anymore. In any case, it worked in his favour. He wanted her to see this.
Holding up his hands, Hans patiently waited for the stadium to quiet down. Eventually, the commotion died down when people realised their beloved Chancellor of Exon was ready to speak. He put on a wide smile, making sure everyone could see it.
"Thank you." He began in Exonite. "Ladies and gentlemen. We've faced some incomparably difficult times in the past year. The war has been tough on us all, and I'm sure we can all agree that we wish for this to be over. And it will be."
He paused for a brief but dramatic moment, and continued. "As I speak, the Coalition of the North is mere days away from arriving at our great capital."
Shocked gasps and terrified murmuring filled the stadium, and he held up a hand for silence.
"But we are ready." Hans said in a loud voice. "We have assembled another hundred thousand fresh troops to join with the remnant force that is being pursued across our own territory. Our Field Marshal here-" he waved at Kane, who was decked out in full ceremonial uniform and seated with the ministers. "-has devised a plan to crush the enemy once and for all.
"By the time the Coalition realises that they've walked right into our trap, it will be too late for them to turn back. We will destroy them once and for all, and peace shall return to our great Empire!" Hans lifted his voice to cheers from the crowd. "As Chancellor of Exon, I promise you. I will not allow any foreign army to invade our fair nation. If necessary, I will take up arms myself and defend Exon with my dying breath!"
More shouts erupted from the grandstands.
"Men of Exon!" He roared at the battalions in the centre of the stadium. "Are you with me?"
The tens of thousands answered by slamming the butts of their muskets against the ground in unison, resulting in a thunderous thumping that showed their loyalty and commitment.
Hans raised a fist. "For Her Imperial Majesty!"
"For Her Imperial Majesty!" The voices thundered back and cheers broke out throughout the stadium, filling the air.
His job here was done. Smiling and waving, Hans took his leave, descending down the spiral staircase to where the rest of the ministers were.
"Your Excellency. I think that went quite well." Count Schulzmacher said, and the others around him agreed with nods.
"Thank you." Hans dipped his head in gratitude. "Field Marshal, a word?"
Kane narrowed his eyes and got up. Hans knew for a fact that the Field Marshal hated his guts, but there was nothing he could do about it, not when Eleanor was holding him to his bargain. He was still with the Exonian army only because Eleanor had promised him to put in a good word with the Crimson Order to resurrect his dead family. And he was still foolish enough to believe that Eleanor would keep her promise. But no matter, Hans could use that to his advantage.
Hans beckoned for Kane to follow him, and they found a relatively empty spot not too far away, near the side of the stadium where men from the Imperial Blitzguard stood at attention.
"Give me an update." Hans said.
Kane's face was impassive with all the military discipline of a seasoned officer. "General Hydrech is days away. His ploy to cut off the Coalition at Netheide and slow them down worked. The enemy will be re-routing to the Southern border, where I will take my divisions to rendezvous with Hydrech and his remaining forces. We will engage the Coalition on the plains of Luftzeit like I planned, and then we will destroy them."
Hans licked his dry lips, cracked by the relentless winter cold. "And you are certain the Coalition will conform to your plan?"
Kane glowered at him. "They'll have no choice."
"Good." Hans said amicably. He waved a hand at the Imperial Blitzguard. "I want you to take half of them with you."
Kane's lip quirked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"You want me to take half the Empress' elite guard?" Kane snorted. "Are you insane, boy?"
"In case you haven't noticed, these are desperate times." Hans side-eyed him. "And it's 'Your Excellency'."
"You're a fool, boy." Kane's figure was imposing as his muscular frame towered over Hans, who was by no means a small man. "You may delude yourself into thinking you're the most powerful man in Exon, but I know better."
"Oh?" Hans raised an eyebrow. "So perhaps you think you are?"
"You're nothing but a lad craving for attention." Kane put a finger on Hans' chest. "Just a lovesick schoolboy craving approval from the Empress. You're pathetic."
"I suggest you remember your place, Field Marshal." Hans glanced down at Kane's finger on his chest. "Or you might very well lose your good will with the Empress."
Kane scoffed and withdrew his hand slowly.
"Take half of the Imperial Blitzguard, and make sure they rain hell on the Coalition." Hans adjusted the lapels of his thick white coat. "Let me worry about the Empress' safety. You do your job, or I'll make sure you get nothing."
The Field Marshal inched one step closer to Hans, and he stood his ground. After a moment's thought, Kane chuckled and shook his head as if the entire thing was a sick joke, and finally retreated. Triumphant, Hans watched as Kane motioned for the Imperial Blitzguard soldiers to follow him, and they all filed out of view.
"Impressive."
Hans would have jumped, if he wasn't already used to this. He turned calmly. "Brother Salvadore."
Salvadore was in middle class civilian clothes, marking the first time Hans was seeing him that way. Probably meant as a way to blend in with the crowd, given the place they were in. Something told Hans that people would get suspicious if a man in a mysterious brown cloak showed up to talk to him.
Salvadore nodded in return. "It seems you have the Empire in the palm of your hand."
"I'd like to think so." Hans said.
"You requested to know when His Eminence returned."
"Yes, I did. Is he back?"
"We've just returned."
"And how did the meeting go?" Hans was genuinely intrigued.
"I'd reserve my comments." Salvadore's face was blank. "I'm sure His Eminence will tell a better story than I can."
"I'm sure." Hans glanced round to check if anyone was nearby. There was no one. "Shall we?"
Salvadore nodded, and muttered a spell underneath his breath. Familiar dark clouds swirled around them both, and Hans took a calm breath as he and Salvadore were teleported out of the stadium and into the catacombs. The clouds parted, and Hans adjusted his coat again. It was cold and damp in the tunnels in spite of the fact that they were deep below the surface of the capital and far from the snow.
"This way." Salvadore led Hans through the tunnels which had become somewhat recognisable to Hans at this stage. He was taken to the main cavern, where Magnus had just returned with the Mage Slayers - and Jade, the ally of Elsa and her sorcerous cohort.
"Ah." Hans smiled at Jade. "It's good to see you again."
"Go to hell."
"Feisty." Hans turned to Magnus. "You brought her here?"
Magnus regarded him lazily as he removed his mask. "I did not bring you into the Order to question my decisions, Brother Hans."
"Of course not." Hans said politely. "I'm just curious."
"She is to become one of us." Magnus explained irritably. "A Mage Slayer."
"A Mage Slayer?" Hans echoed. "Interesting."
Magnus waved to the Mage Slayers who had returned with him. "Prepare her for conditioning."
"You promised to keep up your end of the bargain." Jade reminded him with a sour look on her face.
"And I will." Magnus said tersely. "But first you must fulfil yours."
Jade let out a low growl as a couple of assassins hustled her away.
"Do you really intend on bringing her brother back from the dead?" Hans asked when she was out of sight.
"Unlike you, Hans, I'm not bound by some absurd code of honour." Magnus sank into a chair. "I do what needs to be done to protect the Order and advance the Holy Crusade. Her concerns are of no importance to me."
"Hmmn." Hans said noncommittally. "And what about the rest of her friends?"
"You're awfully curious about a lot of things, aren't you?" Magnus asked sharply.
"That I am." Hans admitted.
Magnus grunted in vexation. "They're not dead, if that's what you're asking. Yet. We were thwarted by the arrival of the Coalition soldiers. How they knew about the forest meeting, I don't know. But we had no choice but to leave the sorcerers alive for now."
Hans heaved an internal sigh of relief. Good. He wanted them to see what was coming. The end of his game. It wouldn't do for them to be dead before that happened.
"And what's your interest in all this?" Magnus asked sharply.
"You know it's personal." A minute passed, and Hans cleared his throat. "I do have one more request, Your Eminence."
In his irritation, Magnus didn't even look up. "What now?"
"I'd like to visit the demons again. I can't help but find myself enthralled by their dangerous mystique."
"Yes, yes." Magnus waved his hand absentmindedly and fished a key from his cloak, handing it over to Hans. "Whatever you want. God only knows why you're so interested in them. Just be careful in there."
"Thank you." Hans took the key and left the High Priest in the main cavern. Brandishing the key, he unlocked the gates and passed by the priests on guard.
Winding through the tunnels, he came to the deepest section of the catacombs, which led to the cave being used to imprison all of the Order's most dangerous and powerful demons. Unlocking this gate, he pulled it open and shut it behind him with a soft click. Inside, the demon hosts were all caged as usual, and they watched him silently as he passed them by.
Hans ignored them, even though their combined gaze was unsettling. Even though he kept his head straight, he could still feel their eyes on his back. He'd lied to Magnus, of course. He didn't find them so fascinating or enthralling. No. He was only interested in one of the demons in particular, and for a very specific reason.
Catching sight of the demon called Father Time, Hans gave him - or it - a brief nod. The demon host smiled back at him, and Hans did his best to look away. A priest was at the far end of the cavern, sleeping on a small wooden stool beside another large gate, that was locked and bolted. Hans cleared his throat and the man jolted awake.
"I'm here to see the Eternal King." Hans said, the name sending an invisible aura of chills down his body.
The priest stiffened, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "No one is allowed in to see him. No one except His Eminence."
Hans leaned in close. "You know who I am. I'm here by the approval of His Eminence. If you don't let me in, I'll see to it that you're fed to your friends here." He smiled. "Nasty way to go, I can assure you."
Swallowing hard, the priest's eyes grew wide. Getting to his feet, the priest pulled a large key out of his cloak and began undoing the lock with trembling fingers.
"Brother Hans," the priest said shakily. "You must understand the danger of this. I must lock the gate behind you, and-"
"I know the risks, Brother." Hans said calmly.
"V-very well, then." The priest finished undoing the lock and unbolted the gate. He pulled it open with a loud creak that echoed into the dark tunnel beyond the gate. "Good luck, Brother Hans. Ignahon Malkovtoh."
"Ignahon Malkovtoh." Hans repeated, and stepped into the new tunnel.
The gate clanged shut behind him, and he narrowed his eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness. There was something about this tunnel, something far more sinister and overbearing than any of the other parts of the stronghold he had been in. This was different.
Casting about in his coat, he took out a match and struck it against the wall. The faint light of the fire lit up his immediate surroundings. He applied the match to a torch, and the fire instantly made everything more visible. A long, straight tunnel lay ahead of him.
At the end of the tunnel, Hans debouched into a small room. The room was bare except for one important piece of furniture. A huge iron cage, and in the centre of the cage, the emaciated, ancient demon host known as the Eternal King.
Hans swallowed. All this time, all this effort, all so that he could build to this exact moment. He'd been dreaming of this day for the longest time, and with the help of Father Time, he had confirmed what he needed to do to ensure his destiny. But now, standing here in front of the Eternal King, it felt so surreal.
"I see you." A croak from the centre of the cage echoed throughout the small room. The voice was unreal, so much so that Hans didn't even know how to describe it in his mind. "Come closer, please."
Hans knew that this was dangerous, but this was what he was here for. He took a step towards the cage.
"Closer." The emaciated figure stretched a bony finger towards him and beckoned. "I don't bite."
"Forgive me if I'm more than a little cautious." Hans said, his own voice ringing loud in his ears compared to the cracked whisper from the figure. "You do have a reputation of absorbing the life force of everyone who you come into contact with." He paused. "You are the Eternal King, aren't you?"
"Ah." The figure gave a sigh. "It's been so long since I've heard anyone call me by that name. In fact, it's been so long since I've talked to anyone. It's been…centuries."
So you were the ruler of Ancient Hyutreno." Hans was fascinated and unsettled at the same time, a hundred other emotions threatening to overwhelm him in the intensity of the moment.
"Yes, my son."
"Do you know where you are?"
The Eternal King shuffled forward, and Hans could almost hear his bones rattling as he moved. "All I know is that I've traded my old prison for this one. Not that anyone has come to tell me where I am now." He peered out of the shadows at Hans. "I assume that's what you're here for."
Hans studied the Eternal King. An almost skeletal like figure, with nothing but miserable, aged flesh and bones, and absolutely no hair. It was hard to imagine that this was the most dangerous entity on the face of the planet. How could this be the tyrant who ruled over a quarter of the continent with an iron fist for centuries?
"I've come to make you a proposition." Hans said.
The Eternal King regarded him with hollow, lifeless eyes. "A proposition?"
"You are in the depths below the capital of Exon, where a war is raging up on the surface." Hans explained. "An enemy army is almost at our gates, and a group of sorcerers seek to destroy us all."
"And that is my concern, how?"
"You've been trapped in this weak, mortal body for centuries. You've outlived its usefulness. Tell me, is anything left of the host whom you indwell?"
"None."
"Lonely, isn't it?" Hans asked. "Kept isolated, deprived of all food and life force, left alone to rot over the centuries in a useless body that is no longer able to provide you with what you need?"
"And your point is?"
"I think you know very well what I'm offering."
A thin smile formed at the corner of the Eternal King's aged flesh. "Not everyone has the will. You understand the risks."
"Yes."
"Good." The Eternal King stretched a frightfully bony arm through the rusted bars of the cages. "What is your name, my son?"
Hans drew himself up. "Hans Westergaard, Chancellor of Exon…Prince of the Southern Isles."
"Well then, Hans Westergaard." The Eternal King uncurled his hand, revealing long, thin fingers that looked like thorns. "You have my respect and my honour."
Hans smiled and removed his coat, letting it fall to the cave floor. His time had finally come. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and stretched out his hand. A strange new energy began to flow into his body.
Author's Commentary:
A dire end to the first arc of the Empire War Trilogy. Our heroes defeated, the continent still at war, the Crimson Order triumphant and Hans has made a new alliance. Not just any alliance. He made a deal with the devil.
In the next book, we're going to see a new Hans. A different Hans. One that's far more dangerous than anything we've ever seen thus far. I can't wait to reveal the new depths to which he is willing to go. With the powers of the Eternal King backing him up, will our heroes have what it takes to rise from their defeat and meet the challenge?
