Ghost Wounds, Episode 17a
“We’re going to find Tylas,” you say. “He’s a centurion in the Imperial Guard. He’ll know where we can find the Emperor. If Croanna’s there, we’ll kill her, and get Lucan back.”
It sounds so easy, when you say it that way.
“Follow me,” you say, and the others fall in line behind you.
You lead them through the vast marble maze of the Imperial Citadel. The corridors remain deserted, which troubles you. Even at this hour, you should have run into a patrol of Imperial Guards by now. But the centurion in charge of the night watch is supposed to remain in the Court of Swords, and you make for it.
The Court of Swords is a broad expanse of stone, dotted with statues of Emperors and lords long dead. Otherwise it is deserted, save for one man in the black armor of an Imperial Guard, pacing back and forth before a bubbling fountain. He’s a tough-looking man in his early thirties, with a face made for scowling, and he’s scowling now, fingering his sword hilt. He whirls at your approach, broadsword flying from its scabbard, purple cloak swirling around him.
“Name yourself,” he says, scowling at your companions.
“Tylas,” you say.
He frowns, lowers his blade. “Countess?” He blinks beneath his helm. “Are you mad, coming here? The Magisterium put a colossal price on your head. Every assassin, thug, and mercenary in Malarae is looking for you.”
“That’s why I’m here,” you say. “The Emperor is in grave danger. I have to get to him at once. Where is he?”
“He’s been closeted in the Tower of Nicokator with the Catekhari Lord Ambassador since sunset,” says Tylas, “and hasn’t emerged since. And he’s got half the nobility and magistrates of the Empire in there with him.” His scowl deepens. “Along with my entire century.”
“What?” you say.
Tylas shakes his head. “The Emperor’s been sending messengers, summoning lords and magistrates to the Tower on urgent business. None of them have come out. The messengers…gah! I don’t know what’s come over them. Men I’ve known half my life, and they’re like glassy-eyed statues now. I can barely get a word out of them.”
You remember how Ark acted while the mindreaver was on his wrist.
“Did you see Lucan Maraeus with them?” you say. “Lord Corbould’s youngest son?”
“No,” says Tylas. “Though Lord Corbould is supposed to meet with the Emperor shortly after dawn.”
“Have you actually seen the Emperor?” you say.
“No,” says Tylas. He hesitates. “But…I have a written order. From the Emperor himself. If I see you, I’m to kill you at once.”
You tell Tylas about the mindreavers.
Tylas curses. “You’re right. We have to get to the Emperor. But how? He’s ordered that no one is to disturb him, and the Tower of Nicokator is sealed. Gods, the Guards at the Tower doors…I thought they were acting strange.”
There is a secret passage that leads into the Tower of Nicokator. You doubt Croanna knows about it – but Lucan and the Emperor do, and since she probably has mindreavers on both of them, she might have thought to ask about it. Alternatively, it would be possible to scale the Tower’s sides and enter through the windows. The climb would be relatively straightforward – assuming Croanna didn’t think of it and post guards.
Finally, you could just walk up to the Imperial Guards at the Tower’s door and surrender yourself. That would get you to Croanna quickly…assuming the Guards don’t have orders to kill you on sight.
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