The Invisible Chains - Part 2: Bonds of Fear by Andrew Ashling Page A
Authors: Andrew Ashling
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day of the week. As if
that wasn’t enough he made this captain an autarch. Autarchs are
appointed in desperate situations by the high kings of Ximerion,
when they themselves are otherwise engaged and can’t attend to
very important situations in person. There are only two limits to
their power. The autarchy is given for a limited period. In most cases
a very short time. Think months at the most, but more often only
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Andrew Ashling
weeks. The second limit is that the autarchy can only be exercised
in a strictly circumscribed area, but within that area the authority
of the autarch supersedes even that of the high king himself. He can
make or break treaties and they will be honored. He can condemn
anyone, and I mean anyone, to death without trial, or without giving
even the least justification. There is no possibility of appeal. He
himself is completely immune against any prosecution, retaliation,
or reprimand, even from the high king, for any action he takes while
exercising the autarchy. In short, his powers are literally unlimited in
his designated area and for the time he wields them. You’ll understand
that it is not often the high kings give anyone such authority. I think
that old lizard Portonas never did.”
“No wonder Anaxantis wants to know if his father is planning
something along those lines. An autarch would be the only person
who would outrank a prince of the royal blood.”
“Yes, and it stands to reason that Tenax might eventually resort
to this extreme measure.”
Sobrathi looked at the queen questioningly.
“So you say, and rather easily too, but I don’t see it. As you said, it
is only a border skirmish, and isn’t appointing an autarch for such a
limited theater of war sort of overkill?”
“You’re perfectly right. That’s what’s so intriguing about this
whole situation. But I base my assessment on the fact that Tenax
thought it necessary to appoint one twelve years ago.”
“Ah... I see. Still, what was so important about not resisting the
Mukthars? You would think that what essentially amounts to a gang
of robbers — granted, a big gang of robbers — wouldn’t stand a
chance against the military might of the kingdom of Ximerion.”
“Yes, you would think so, wouldn’t you? Oh, there is one thing
Bonds of Fear
101
more we found out at the time. Guess who Tenax sent as autarch to
the Northern Marches.”
“I’m sure I have no idea, my dear.”
“Nobody less than...” the queen said, tantalizingly.
“Oh, out with it, you evil woman,” Sobrathi grinned.
“Damydas.”
Sobrathi’s grin froze on her mouth and she slumped back in her
chair.
“Wasn’t that worth a whistle?” Emelasuntha asked softly.
“Are you serious? He sent the Scourge, the man with a hundred
faces?”
“Gerrubald, Baron Damydas. No less.”
“They say he once murdered a whole village during the short
lived Mattinian Rebellion.”
“No, he didn’t. He merely ordered his soldiers to build a wall
around it, while the villagers, from very young to very old, were
inside of course. He warned them his soldiers would shoot anybody
who tried to climb over it. It was his first autarchy. He ordered that
nobody should enter the village for the coming one hundred years.
Until now, nobody has. The story spread like wildfire. It is the main
reason why the Mattinian Rebellion never took hold and was indeed
short lived, as you rightly called it.”
“Is it true he had one of his sons who had offended him tied by
his feet to a horse and then ordered it to be whipped, causing it to
gallop away with the young man helpless behind it?”
Emelasuntha made a dismissive gesture and shrugged.
“More likely the lad got caught in the stirrups, which made an
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Andrew Ashling
already nervous animal panic, causing the young man to meet an
untimely and very unfortunate end. You mustn’t be too gullible. On
the other hand, it just might be true. Who’s to
that wasn’t enough he made this captain an autarch. Autarchs are
appointed in desperate situations by the high kings of Ximerion,
when they themselves are otherwise engaged and can’t attend to
very important situations in person. There are only two limits to
their power. The autarchy is given for a limited period. In most cases
a very short time. Think months at the most, but more often only
100
Andrew Ashling
weeks. The second limit is that the autarchy can only be exercised
in a strictly circumscribed area, but within that area the authority
of the autarch supersedes even that of the high king himself. He can
make or break treaties and they will be honored. He can condemn
anyone, and I mean anyone, to death without trial, or without giving
even the least justification. There is no possibility of appeal. He
himself is completely immune against any prosecution, retaliation,
or reprimand, even from the high king, for any action he takes while
exercising the autarchy. In short, his powers are literally unlimited in
his designated area and for the time he wields them. You’ll understand
that it is not often the high kings give anyone such authority. I think
that old lizard Portonas never did.”
“No wonder Anaxantis wants to know if his father is planning
something along those lines. An autarch would be the only person
who would outrank a prince of the royal blood.”
“Yes, and it stands to reason that Tenax might eventually resort
to this extreme measure.”
Sobrathi looked at the queen questioningly.
“So you say, and rather easily too, but I don’t see it. As you said, it
is only a border skirmish, and isn’t appointing an autarch for such a
limited theater of war sort of overkill?”
“You’re perfectly right. That’s what’s so intriguing about this
whole situation. But I base my assessment on the fact that Tenax
thought it necessary to appoint one twelve years ago.”
“Ah... I see. Still, what was so important about not resisting the
Mukthars? You would think that what essentially amounts to a gang
of robbers — granted, a big gang of robbers — wouldn’t stand a
chance against the military might of the kingdom of Ximerion.”
“Yes, you would think so, wouldn’t you? Oh, there is one thing
Bonds of Fear
101
more we found out at the time. Guess who Tenax sent as autarch to
the Northern Marches.”
“I’m sure I have no idea, my dear.”
“Nobody less than...” the queen said, tantalizingly.
“Oh, out with it, you evil woman,” Sobrathi grinned.
“Damydas.”
Sobrathi’s grin froze on her mouth and she slumped back in her
chair.
“Wasn’t that worth a whistle?” Emelasuntha asked softly.
“Are you serious? He sent the Scourge, the man with a hundred
faces?”
“Gerrubald, Baron Damydas. No less.”
“They say he once murdered a whole village during the short
lived Mattinian Rebellion.”
“No, he didn’t. He merely ordered his soldiers to build a wall
around it, while the villagers, from very young to very old, were
inside of course. He warned them his soldiers would shoot anybody
who tried to climb over it. It was his first autarchy. He ordered that
nobody should enter the village for the coming one hundred years.
Until now, nobody has. The story spread like wildfire. It is the main
reason why the Mattinian Rebellion never took hold and was indeed
short lived, as you rightly called it.”
“Is it true he had one of his sons who had offended him tied by
his feet to a horse and then ordered it to be whipped, causing it to
gallop away with the young man helpless behind it?”
Emelasuntha made a dismissive gesture and shrugged.
“More likely the lad got caught in the stirrups, which made an
102
Andrew Ashling
already nervous animal panic, causing the young man to meet an
untimely and very unfortunate end. You mustn’t be too gullible. On
the other hand, it just might be true. Who’s to
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