Dragonlord of the Savage Empire

//-Are not the only Readers in Tiberium,// Lenardo told him, although he wondered whether even Master Clement would approve of his plan. Ill cannot reach Tiberium from where I am now, and I shall be no nearer for months. But Torio, under Oath of Truth, tell Clement and Portia that when I return, I hope to bring an end to the conflict and stop the savage encroachment upon our borders.//

//But I'm to leave here next week, Master Lenardo. You can't contact my replacement-he won't know. Oh, please, please come home now.//

//Torio, you are almost fully grown. You must complete your studies and take your examinations, for I shall have work for Readers.//

//I don't understand. Why do you want to stay there with the savages? You haven't really turned traitor?//

//Do you think I could?//

//No, but Portia fears it.//

//Did Master Clement tell you that?//

//He didn't mean to. I felt it beneath what he told me. He trusts you, but Portia-//

//And he fears you may not pass your examinations? Torio, I've never known a Reader of your age who could Read what a Master Reader didn't want him to. No, I am no traitor, but I must have time to make preparations. A year, at the most-//

//A year!// Torio was horrified. //They'll never trust you after that long. Master Lenardo, you must come home now.//

//And start another war? I cannot do that, Torio. But don't you worry. When I do come to Tiberium, the Emperor will have to listen to me.//

Thinking back over that conversation with Torio, Lenardo realized again that Aradia was right. He was now trapped into seeking peace the way she wanted, from a position of power. And it was not Aradia who had trapped him-it was his own people. No, he could not hand over his lands to the Emperor. That would result in an immediate attack, using those lands as a base, on Aradia, Lilith, and Wulfston. His lands would be a wedge separating the three allies, which meant that Aradia trusted him not to make them such.

Thus hope and apprehension battled in Lenardo's mind as he rode toward Zendi at the head of an army-some soldiers but mostly civilians who had chosen to go with him into his new land. My land. It would never sound right. Nonetheless, he must live up to his duties to land and people until the day he could safely make the treaty he sought.

Lenardo noticed the well-developed crops beginning to wither in the fields. "No rain since the battle," he commented to Helmuth. "If we can find some clouds, we'll put Josa right to work. We can't afford to lose what food there is, or we'll be in for a hard winter." Josa was Helmuth's niece, one of the many people with minor Adept talents the old man had gathered for Lenardo's entourage.

"I'll help," said Arkus, who was riding on Lenardo's other side. "I can move anything light."

The young captain, promoted to commander of all that was left of Zendi's troops, was eager to dispel any doubts Lenardo had left about him. Arkus's future rested on Lenardo's. Human nature, as Aradia said. As long as it was in his own self-interest, Arkus would work faithfully for Lenardo.

Northgate stood open when they approached Zendi. At least no one opposed their entry. In the warmth of the day, the stench was unbelievable. Within the walls, all Lenardo could do was rein in and stare, too stunned even to Read.

The main market way through the city was strewn with corpses, human and animal. Debris littered the streets. What buildings were not burnt-out shells were looted, doors and shutters hanging, broken furniture tossed on the doorsteps.

People hid in the shadows, staring out in fear and hate-crowds of people in rags supplemented with bits of stolen finery. There was no coherent thought to be Read; they were like trapped animals: hungry, terrified, and desperate. '

The gods help me, he thought. Is this my capital city? Are these the people I'm supposed to teach to trust me?

Paralyzed even beyond nausea, he sat hopelessly staring at… my land.

Chapter Two

Before Lenardo could even think of a command, Arkus turned his horse and began firing orders to his troops to clear people out of the looted buildings.

Helmuth shouted, "Greg, Vona! Up here and make us a clean path."

As two people rode forward, the corpses began to go up one by one in the roaring blaze of funeral pyres. The other debris burned with the bodies, and the paving stones were purified in the wake of the flames.

The obvious done, people began turning to Lenardo for orders. Dragging himself out of lethargy, he said, "We need a place to stay and a clean place to set up a kitchen and a hospital."

"Where, my lord?"

He Read the shambles all around them, despairing of clearing an area large enough to let his people-my people- sleep without the stench of death in their nostrils and rats crawling over their feet.

But there was one building… He laughed as he realized it "The one place Drakonius never used-the baths!"