A Parliament of Owls Read online

  A Parliament of Owls

  Copyright 2015 Beth Hilgartner

  Published by Beth Hilgartner at Smashwords

  Smashwords Edition License Notes

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  Cover design by Caligraphics (http://www.caligraphics.net)

  Cover photos from (c) Can Stock Photo (http://www.canstockphoto.com)

  For Dad and Martha—the next installment

  Table of Contents

  Author's Note

  Dramatis Personae

  Prologue

  Chapter One—Gathering the Players

  Chapter Two—The Woman with the Red Hair

  Chapter Three—The Windbringer's High Priest

  Chapter Four—Assembling Pieces

  Chapter Five—Lynx

  Chapter Six—A Visit to the Queen

  Chapter Seven—Assassins

  Chapter Eight—Feint and Thrust

  Chapter Nine—Parry and Riposte

  Chapter Ten—Followers of the Bone King

  Chapter Eleven—Sorting Fragments

  Chapter Twelve—Blood Rites

  Chapter Thirteen—Binding

  Chapter Fourteen—Blade and Venom

  Chapter Fifteen—Repercussions

  Chapter Sixteen—More Puzzle Pieces

  Chapter Seventeen—Ambush

  Chapter Eighteen—Gossip and Speculation

  Chapter Nineteen—The Emperor's Dreaded Reception

  Chapter Twenty—Arguments and Councils

  Chapter Twenty-one—Analysis

  Chapter Twenty-two—Schemes and Schemers

  Chapter Twenty-three—Yverri

  Chapter Twenty-four—Trouble at the Ivory Comb

  Chapter Twenty-five—Complications

  Chapter Twenty-six—Warrant

  Chapter Twenty-seven—Fourth Attempt

  Chapter Twenty-eight—Petitions

  Chapter Twenty-nine—The Upper Town House

  Chapter Thirty —Klarhynne

  Chapter Thirty-one—The Pastry Cook

  Chapter Thirty-two—Mounting Tensions

  Chapter Thirty-three—Temple War

  Chapter Thirty-four—Aftermath

  Chapter Thirty-five—Pulling the Strings

  Chapter Thirty-six—Propositions

  Chapter Thirty-seven—Decisions

  Chapter Thirty-eight—Reaction

  Chapter Thirty-nine—Tidying Up

  Epilogue

  About this Author

  Other Books by this Author

  Connect with Beth Hilgartner

  Author's Note

  When the first two books of the Bharaghlafi series were published—in 2000 and 2002, respectively—with the third (unwritten) volume under contract, I thought I had finally found a permanent publishing home. Unfortunately, before the third volume of this series (which wasn't written)—or, for that matter, the sequel to Cats in Cyberspace (which was)—could be published, the publisher went out of business, casting me and my books adrift. My search for a traditional publishing house to pick up the Bharaghlafi series was unsuccessful, so I set the project aside until a later time. The publishing industry as a whole went through a period of turmoil, which corresponded with deep changes in my life situation—with the result that my time and creative energies were absorbed by things other than writing novels. While A Pariliament of Owls doesn't have a cliff-hanger of an ending, it's nonetheless clear there is more story left to tell. I have felt a certain amount of guilt for leaving readers hanging, and have had to respond to many, many queries from readers wanting to know whatever happened to Ferret, Owl, and their friends.

  One of the reasons I am putting my "backlist" books into e-book format is because I hope that making these titles available will provide sufficient income to justify my spending a greater part of my time actually writing—and An Ambush of Tigers is a top priority for that writing time. That said, I'm not a particularly fast writer, and it is a complicated story, so it won't be out this year. But I am committed to getting it written, so, while you shouldn't hold your breath or go on a hunger strike, you also should not lose hope. I wouldn't make this effort to introduce a new generation of readers to the world of the Bharaghlafi Empire if I didn't intend to continue the story arc in subsequent volumes.

  The two most common questions I receive from fans of the Bharaghlafi series are: 1. When is An Ambush of Tigers coming out? and 2. How do you pronounce the names? I'm fairly sure that the uncomplicated-but-true answers to these two questions (1. Well, sometime after I finish it; and 2. However you like.) are not satisfying; I trust that this author's note will provide a more nuanced response.

  So: about the names... If you're not one of those people who needs to know how the author pronounces her characters' names, feel free to skip this part; but for the curious, here's my attempt at a pronounciation guide. The weird-looking consonant combinations (kh, zh, bh, etc.) approximate sounds that don't exist or are uncommon in English. Kh is a back-of-the-throat gutteral, much like ch in German (ach); zh is a voiced sh-sound (as in azure); bh falls somewhere between (in English) b and p; c is pronounced as English ch (church), cc is a k'ch sound (as in the phrase slick chimp), dh as in the phrase ad hoc; rh denotes a flipped r sound and rr a rolled r. The vowel y is usually a short i sound (as in bit), except as an initial letter, where it is closer to a long e (beet), or after kh, where it has a long i sound (wild); a is either an ah sound or short (as in cat); e is usually eh (as in best), and is pronounced (though never stressed) when it is the last letter in a word; i is pronounced ee, and o as in overt. There is (alas) no consistent rule for which syllable is stressed, though in two syllable names, it's generally the first (RHY-dev, CYF-fe); in three syllable names, either the first syllable (KHE-thy-ran AN-zhi-bhar, VEN-y-khar) or the second (y-CE-vi ghyt-TE-ve, ci-THAN-ekh) is stressed.

  Beth Hilgartner, July 2015

  Dramatis Personae

  At the Court

  The Emperor's Household

  Emperor Khethyran Anzhibhar (the Scholar King) • Emperor of Bharaghlaf

  Queen Celave Azhere Anzhibhar • the Emperor's wife

  Khecelle Anzhibhar • eldest of the Emperor's daughters

  Thylave Anzhibhar • the Emperor's second daughter

  Ranve and Khece Anzhibhar • the Emperor's twin daughters

  Khethcel Anzhibhar • the Emperor's infant son

  Arre of Kalledann • a Seer and bard of the Kellande School; the Emperor’s lover

  Thantor (Donkey) • the Emperor's spymaster

  Bhenekh (Commander) • Commander in the Imperial Guard

  The Queen's Household

  Azhine Azhere Glakhyre (Lady) • the chief among Queen Celave's ladies in waiting; Ymlakh Glakhyre's wife

  Yverri Ambhere • one of Queen Celave's ladies in waiting

  Centyffe Azhere • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting

  Klarhynne Dhenykhare • one of Queen's ladies in waiting

  Lyssemarhe Ghytteve • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting; Marhysse

  Ghytteve's sister

  Zhylande Glakhyre • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting

  Ceghorre Khyghafe Glakhyre • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting

  Averhacce Mebhare • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting

  Pakhrielle Ykhave • one of the Queen's ladies in wai
ting

  Elyrrothe Ythande Mebhare • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting

  Ysmenarr (Captain) • Captain of the Queen's Guard

  Council Houses

  Anzhibhar • the Royal House

  Ambhere • Mining

  Azhere • Silk

  Dhenykhare • Shipbuilding

  Ghytteve • Coffee (drugs)

  Glakhyre • Wool

  Mebhare • Farming

  Ykhave • Artisans

  Ythande • Woodsdwellers/timber

  Khyghafe • Nomads/horses

  The Council of Advice

  Mylazhe Ambhere (Lady) • Councilor for House Ambhere

  Cithanekh Anzhibhar-Ghytteve • Councilor for House Ghytteve

  Rhydev Azhere • Councilor for House Azhere

  Dhyrakh Dhenykhare (Duke) • Duke and Councilor for House Dhenykhare

  Venykhar Ghobhezh-Ykhave • Councilor for House Ykhave

  Ymlakh Glakhyre • Duke and Councilor for House Glakhyre

  The Warlord (Ykhyf Khyghafe Kh'Cizhanne) • Councilor for the Khyghafe nomads; commander of the Cavalry.

  Enghan Mebhare • Councilor for House Mebhare

  Khycalle Ynghorezh Ythande (Lady) • Councilor for the Ythande (forest dwellers)

  Dharyan (Master) • Master of the Caravan Guild; Council representative from the Guilds

  Bishop Anakher • Bishop of the Horselord's Temple; Council rep. from the Temple District

  Zherekhaf Azhere • the Prime Minister; Rhydev’s uncle

  Cithanekh Ghytteve's household

  Owl Ghytteve • a Seer trained at the Kellande School; Cithanekh's lover

  Cezhar Ghytteve • the chief of the Ghytteve bodyguards

  Rhan Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Cezhar's brother

  Marhysse Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Lyssemarhe Ghytteve's older sister

  Effryn (Squirrel) • the Ghytteve steward

  Yrhenne Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Yrhazh's sister

  Lynx • a renegade Eschaddande; Owl's bodyguard

  Khofyn Ghytteve • a bodyguard

  Yrhazh Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Yrhenne's brother

  Pazhref Ghytteve • the Ghytteve cook

  Rhydev Azhere's household

  Ancith Anzhibhar-Ghytteve • Rhydev's young lover; Cithanekh's brother

  Ghorran Azhere • an Azhere bodyguard

  Hassyn Azhere • an Azhere servant/bodyguard

  Duke Dhyrakh Dhenykhare's household

  Morekheth Anzhibhar-Azhere Dhenykhare • candidate for Admiral; possible royal contender

  Rhyazhe Dhenykhare • Dhyrakh's niece; currently living in Cynteffarhe

  Zhentalle Pykhatheth-Ythande Dhenykhare • Rhyazhe's mother (deceased)

  Khamarh Dhenykhare • the Dhenykhare steward

  Pezh Dhenykhare • a bodyguard and friend of exiled Rhyazhe Dhenykhare

  Zhedhyn Dhenykhare • a bodyguard

  Varykh Dhenykhare • the Admiral

  Akhatheraf Dhenykhare • candidate for Admiral (dissolute and quarrelsome)

  Myrhaf Dhenykhare • candidate for Admiral (rumored senile)

  Krassykh Dhenykhare (Honorable) • corrupt judge of the Fourth Court

  Other Court personages

  Amynne Ykhave (Mouse) • the ward of the Ykhave Councilor; director of the Free School

  Essekh • a Glakhyre bodyguard

  Yverakh Ambhere • Yverri Ambhere's father.

  Arrekh Ambhere • one of Mylazhe Ambhere's bodyguards

  Tharhyll • a pastry chef in the Palace kitchens

  Orandhar Mebhare • a gentleman farmer from the region north of Cynteffarhe.

  Alghaffen Ghytteve (Duke) • Duke of House Ghytteve

  In the Temple District

  Kerigden • High Priest of the Windbringer

  Assakh • Kerigden's assistant

  Lyffath • an acolyte of the Windbringer with Sight Gifts

  Anakher (Bishop) • Bishop of the Horselord’s Temple

  Razhynde • Healer priest attached to the Windbringer Temple

  Thyzhecci • High Priestess of the Dark Lady

  Anesstri • Priestess of the Dark Lady

  Dedemar • a foreign mercenary in the Temple Guard

  Sakhass (Captain) • head of the Temple Guard

  Followers of the Bone King

  Hassyth/Hassythe • an Adept of the Bone King who is able to appear either as a young man or a woman.

  In the City

  Captain Mannakh • a captain of the Watch, familiar with and sympathetic to the Free School.

  Falkhan • a Watchman secretly in the pay of Rhydev Azhere

  At the Free School

  Mouse (Amynne Ykhave) • director and teacher at the Free School; ward of the Ykhave Councilor

  Ghynna • a student at the Free School who was sold to the Dark Lady's Temple.

  Penarh • a student at the Free School

  Ghysse • a student at the Free School

  Eghan • a student at the Free School

  In the Slums

  Anthagh • wealthy slave dealer

  Arkhyd • tavern master of The Trollop's Smile; Thantor's uncle

  Ferret • Master in the Thieves Guild

  Khather • one of Ferret's bravos

  Khorvan Nakhar • a waterfront tough in the pay of the Dhenykhare

  Rhodh • one of Ferret's bravos

  Rhynne • barmaid at the Rusty Anchor

  Vekh • one of Khorvan Nakhar's sneaks

  Vixen • Ferret's most promising Journeyman

  Places

  Slum/waterfront taverns

  Trollop’s Smile

  Beaten Cur

  Ivory Comb (waterfront)

  Rusty Anchor (waterfront)

  Replete Feline (waterfront)

  Kalledann • an island kingdom across the Sleeping Sea from Yrkhaffe; home of the Kellande School

  The Kellande School • a college specializing in the training of magical, musical, philosophical and poetic talents

  Fytria • a distant land on the continent beyond Kalledann

  Eschadd • an ancient empire; modern Eschadd borders Fytria

  Yrkhaffe • the capitol city of the Bharaghlafi Empire

  Amarta (the Federated States of) • kingdom northeast of Bharaghlaf

  Cynteffarhe • a northwestern port city, in Mebhare lands

  Kharymasse • the Duke of Ghytteve's estate

  Prologue

  The Windbringer stood in the Hall of Stars; in the lofty dark and silence, her cloak and hair flapped in response to her private tempest. At the end of the Hall, the arched Worldgate was opaque as storm clouds.

  "Your champion is dead." The Windbringer's voice was supple as melody. "Do you concede?"

  "No." Her brother's tone was flat. "She was a piece on the khacce table; no more. And you have lost one of your precious children, as well. Even with your penchant for optimism, Sister, you can hardly argue that the Emperor of Bharaghlaf is secure on his throne. I say the matter is not decided; the results are—inconclusive."

  The Windbringer smiled sourly. "What evidence of security will you accept? Mortals die, and their influence fades. How long must my champions hold against yours before you will admit defeat?"

  "Longer than this. Look," he said, sweeping an arm toward the Worldgate; the heavy grayness paled like the coming of dawn, and a shadowy scene filled its heavy arch. "Even now, power and ruthlessness reassert their mastery. Come, Sister: agree to another round; for if we declare the contest a draw, then nothing changes. And surely, the status quo favors me and mine."

  "I will agree to another round, but with conditions: if you will not acknowledge my Ferret's triumph as anything more than a temporary setback, then I, too, must be allowed to disqualify any gains your players make, and proclaim that there is still hope. Hear my conditions: first, the contest isn't over until both of us agree that it has reached a resolution; and second, there shall be no stalemate, no draw. Whatever happens, Broth
er, the status quo is dead. Are we agreed?"

  "Not without a third condition: there shall be no direct interference; no visitations unbidden; no miraculous weather, neither fair nor foul. Priests and seers may have what aid their faithfulness and talents demand, but no more. Now, Sister, is it a wager?"

  She nodded and they touched palms to signify the binding. The Windbringer's face was somber, but her brother laughed.

  "Haven't you learned, even yet, Sister, not to give your heart to your causes?"

  She managed a thin smile. "It isn't the causes I love, but the people who embrace them."

  He turned away, still laughing. "More fool you. Mortals are too weak to bear a god's love. Use your people: teach them, challenge them, inspire them, even—but don't love them. Mortals die; it is their nature. They live their brief span and are forgotten. And then your love is wasted." He swept out of the Hall without waiting for her answer.

  The Windbringer smiled faintly. "You're wrong," she said to the empty hall. "They die—oh yes, they die; but I remember. And love is never wasted."

  From under her cloak, the Windbringer took a harp and pulled a phrase of music, poignant as memories, from the silvery strings. Under its stone arch, the Worldgate blazed gold, and the Windbringer stepped through into light.

  Chapter One—Gathering the Players

  With a carefully inaudible sigh, Khethyran, Emperor of Bharaghlaf, pushed back his chair and stood. He swept his amber gaze around the gathered Council and said quietly, "That's enough for today. Thank you all." He moved to the window. The meeting broke up into small, milling eddies of power and politics as the twelve Council members began to leave. "Cithanekh," the Emperor said without turning, "stay."

  The Council Lord for House Ghytteve, Cithanekh Anzhibhar-Ghytteve, returned to his seat as he waited for the room to empty. He was a tall young man, rather too thin; his sharp-chiseled features and expressive blue eyes showed strain and sleeplessness. His long-fingered hands moved restlessly on the polished mahogany surface of the table, making the green-gemmed ring he wore glint in the light.