King’s Wrath (17 page)

‘Lily!’

‘I’m so sorry,’ she choked out, her voice trembling. ‘They hunted us down.’

Another voice broke in. ‘Kirin, forgive me.’

‘Father Briar?’ He frowned, turned to the voice, his staring eyes seeing nothing.

‘What’s happened to you?’ It was Lily again. ‘Your eyes, Kirin. Can you not see?’ She sounded even more anguished.

‘It’s not important. My eyes are nothing. I would give my life for you, Lily.’

‘Oh, Kirin.’ She broke down.

He couldn’t bear to hear her weeping and hugged her closer, despite the trauma, helplessly glad of one last chance to hold her tight. ‘I’m so sorry I brought this upon you.’ He kissed her head. ‘I love you, Lily. And I will love you through eternity. I will bargain for your life.’

‘Too late, Master Felt,’ said a chillingly familiar voice. Stracker laughed. ‘This is a very touching scene, I must say. And Father Briar. I’ve long wanted to see you pay your dues.’

‘Dues?’ Briar said, his tone querulous.

‘I’ve never trusted you, priest. You and Freath … and Felt … conniving, I thought.’

‘May Lo forgive you,’ Briar said firmly. Kirin silently applauded his friend’s courage.

‘I don’t need his or any other gods’ forgiveness, priest.’

‘Perhaps you’ll need your half-brother’s, though, Stracker,’ Kirin joined in, enjoying the sound of defiance in his voice.

‘Too bad for you Loethar’s not here now,’ Stracker cackled. ‘Let’s begin … perhaps Mrs Felt first?’

‘Be done, general,’ Lily railed at him, clearly finding her own well of courage. ‘You and your kind sicken me. It was merely a charade that you primitive people could live within a civilised structure.’

Kirin heard her cry out. She had been struck. The crowd began to protest.

‘Yes, we’ll do the slut first, shall we? Obviously your dark magic takes its price. Pity you can’t watch, Master Felt, but I can assure you you’ll fully experience all that Mrs Felt does very soon.’ Stracker laughed close to Kirin’s face.

‘I enjoyed tampering with your mind,’ Kirin said, shocking himself by admitting the level of magic he had guarded so rigorously for so long. There was a telling pause from Stracker and Kirin pressed on. ‘Yes, general, I manipulated you and the disgusting creature known as Vulpan. And we nearly got away with it. Perhaps you should have slaughtered me along with all the innocents ten anni ago.’

‘I’ve changed my mind. We will execute Kirin Felt first. His wife can go next.’

‘For what crime, general?’ Kirin challenged as loudly as he could make his voice carry.

‘Treason!’ the general roared.

‘Can I not defend myself?’ Kirin demanded.

‘You are guilty!’ roared Stracker.

‘We cannot call ourselves a just society unless we allow the people to hear all sides of any argument.’ Kirin turned his blind eyes to where he knew the crowd stood and used all his strength
to challenge Stracker’s charges. He could feel the discontent rippling through the audience. ‘Emperor Loethar would permit me to answer all accusations levelled at me. His general does not. All of you bear witness to this charade. This is simply an excuse for the general to get rid of anyone who challenges him as he makes his attempt to usurp the throne from his —’ Kirin felt the side of his head explode in sharp pain and he fell to his knees, feeling dizzy.

‘You brute!’ he heard Lily hurl at the general.

‘Get him in position,’ Stracker ordered. ‘I’ll do him myself.’

Kirin was hauled to his feet and dragged forward. He realised death was hurtling towards him.

‘Spare my wife, General Stracker, and I will admit to any accusation you care to level at me.’

‘Too late, Felt. She defied me.’

‘But that’s her only crime. Do you hear that, Denovians? General Stracker is executing Lily Felt simply for being my wife and trying to escape an unfair death.’

The crowd roared its disapproval. Kirin felt a small stab of satisfaction. As hollow as it was, it was a tiny triumph to hear them turning against the ruling authority.

‘Kirin Felt has been proven guilty of treason. You should all be howling for his head.’

‘What did he do?’ someone yelled.

Stracker shouldn’t have fallen for the baiting, but he did. ‘The man was plotting to kill the emperor,’ he yelled.

‘Where’s the proof?’ shouted another voice from the same region, Kirin thought.

‘Let them go! Let them go!’ the first man chanted.

The second man joined in the demand and within a few heartbeats the crowd around them had picked up the mantra and was yelling it back.

Kirin felt the sound like a wave of noise that almost made him sway it was so loud, so intense. He began to grin.

The chant had picked up momentum and it was now sounding angry. The crowd was raising its collective fist, many individuals punching the air. Lily was sorry Kirin could see none of it. She wasn’t sure if the tears she wept were for his courage and the sorrow of his new affliction, or for the recognition of two voices that she loved in the crowd.

Kilt was here. And so was Jewd. She would know their voices anywhere. She could pick out Kilt now with his ridiculous dark beard and thatch of dark hair. Not far away stood huge Jewd. He couldn’t hide his size but he was in full disguise with his own long, dark wig of dun brown hair and robes that suggested he belonged to the church — not a priest but … She mentally shook her head. What did it matter! They were here. And, bless them, they were urging the crowd to revolt.

Stracker looked like a man possessed by a devil. The tatua of his face was contorted as his mouth pulled back in an angry snarl. He was barking orders in the tribal language of the Steppes that only his soldiers understood.

And now Lily felt her panic take flight because darling Kirin was being pushed to his knees. She watched, petrified, her screams dying in her throat as General Stracker drew his huge, ghastly sword. She’d heard the rumour that he sharpened it but never washed it and, true enough, there were spatters of dark, dried blood at the top of the sword and over its hilt. Its edge looked keen, though, as though sharpening it kept it clean of all guilt from its battles.

Do something!
her desperate glance at Kilt begged, but he too looked shocked, either mesmerised by the chanting of the crowd or unaccepting that death was really coming. She looked at Kirin and was glad he appeared lost within himself and his prayers.

There was nothing anyone could do. She knew that now. Kirin was about to lose his head and she was next. Father Briar had his eyes closed and was murmuring in prayer for all of them.

She wanted to close her eyes too. She couldn’t bear to watch Kirin die but she needed to bear witness. She was his wife.
Until death part us
— wasn’t that part of her vow?

‘Lily,’ he called in her direction, just for her hearing, and her heart broke. ‘I love you.’

Her tears flowed freely now for him and she shocked herself by responding so affirmatively. ‘I love you too, Kirin.’

And Stracker’s gleeful blade swept down.

Even more lost than he had felt when his aegis magic had responded to Loethar’s Valisar magic, Kilt watched with a sense of guilt as Kirin Felt paid the ultimate price for his loyalty to the grand royal dynasty that most people had already set aside. He gave the signal to Jewd.

The idea to use a catapult was about as desperate as they had ever stooped. It would bring a pile of soldiers crashing into the crowd seeking out the attacker and they had to at least injure Stracker enough to stall proceedings. But Kilt wouldn’t see Lily fall to this bastard’s blade, not for any reason.

He heard Kirin yell his love for her and Kilt’s gut twisted when he heard her anguished response.

The crowd too had fallen silent as in a single vicious blow General Stracker cleaved through Kirin Felt’s neck. Kilt looked down at the moment of execution. He didn’t want to see the man’s head spin from his shoulders. But he knew it had occurred when the people who had gathered gave a collective groan. Swallowing, he raised his gaze to see Stracker holding up Felt’s severed head.

‘This is what we do to people who commit treason against our emperor. We did him the honour of executing him in the Denovian way. He would have suffered far more if we’d punished him in the manner of the Steppes.’

‘Thank you for your leniency, general,’ someone yelled out, sarcasm cutting through the hush.

Kilt didn’t have to look around, as those in front were, to know it was Jewd. He also knew Jewd would have rapidly changed position, melting back into another area of the crowd so that locating him would be difficult.

Stracker kicked Kirin’s fallen body out of his way and flung the head into a waiting basket as he turned now to Lily. She looked pale and suddenly paralysed; her mouth was forming words but no sound issued as far as Kilt could tell.

‘Bring her over here,’ Stracker commanded, ‘I’ve got a taste for it now.’

Kilt felt the panic rise. For what felt like the first time in his life he had no cunning plan, not even the seed of an idea. The catapult was useless in this crowd. His attempt to use the mob’s opinion as a tide of conscience, a way to make Stracker reconsider had resulted in only stalling proceedings.

He watched, stunned into inaction, as Lily was dragged to the front of the small landing where Stracker was having his fun. She’d roused herself from whatever stupor she’d been plunged into at Kirin’s death and seemed to be finding a depth of courage he could only marvel at, shoving away the hands of her minders, lifting her chin in clear defiance of the bullies around her. And then she shifted her gaze and looked directly at him. He was devastated to see forgiveness in that look, as though she did not blame him for how events had turned out.

In the forest Kilt’s outlaw gang used a silent sign language. He and Jewd had developed it in their youth and they’d taught it to those they trusted. Lily had been a fast learner. Kilt’s heart felt as though it was being torn to shreds as she looked away from him, so as not to incriminate him, and signed into the air.

This is not your fault. Do not do anything that puts either of you in jeopardy.

‘What’s that she’s doing?’ Stracker bellowed. ‘Stop her!’

Lily burned an angry stare at the general. ‘I am permitted to say my final words. I choose to say them silently.’

The crowd’s murmurings swelled in approval. Stracker gave a wave of dismissal. ‘Get on with it, Mrs Felt. My sword, sticky with your husband’s blood, looks forward to being stained with yours.’

‘How romantic,’ she threw at him with such damning disdain that many in the audience laughed.

Stracker snarled at her. ‘Be quick. My sword is thirsty.’

Lily yelled loudly at him. ‘Loethar is the head of this empire but you are its arse.’

Delighted laughter erupted across the crowd but she paid the price of a belt around her ear for her daring. From her knees, Lily stole a surreptitious glance at Kilt as she signed.
Make our deaths count and put a Valisar on this throne. I have loved you both.

She looked at Stracker. ‘Do what you want,’ she said as carelessly as she could. She hauled herself back to her feet. ‘But I will not kneel for you, Stracker. You will have to cut me down as I stand and look at you.’

Kilt couldn’t fathom where this bravery was coming from but it inspired him. He covertly signed to Jewd.

Ready?

The big man nodded above the heads of others.

Kill that bastard.

You grab Lily.

Kilt nodded.

Then I might take some others down too.

Kilt signed rapidly.
Split up.
Kilt began moving forward but just as he was easing his way closer to the stage, a familiar sensation doubled him over. He took a couple of deep breaths and straightened but he was dizzy. It couldn’t be. His eyes roamed the square as he swayed like a drunk, trying to regain control. People began to push him. He stumbled and fell; crawling through the legs of the crowd he realised too late that he was moving back the way he came. And in fact the crowd, irritated by his behaviour, had managed to shove him so far to the side that he had no time now.

He tried to find Lily but his gaze was locked onto Jewd’s face, which was frowning at him. Kilt took deep breaths and was back in control, but already it was too late.

Jewd glanced her way and saw that Lily was staring with revulsion at the general.

‘You’d have made a good Steppes execution with your defiance,’ he laughed. ‘Go ahead, let me be the last person your eyes see as you die.’

Lily turned away, searching the crowd. Jewd was torn. Was he still supposed to take out Stracker or would it be better to go to Kilt’s aid? His friend seemed to be in trouble … but Lily. Lily needed him! In his hesitation he lost his clear line of sight and attack; it was too late for him to take aim and fire at the general with the pebbles he always kept handy in a pocket.

In fact, the general was already taking aim at Lily’s neck.

Lily had closed her eyes. Jewd held his breath, transfixed with horror.

The sword cleaved through the air with horrible certainty.

And stopped.

Everyone gasped.

Stracker regarded his sword in comic confusion. It looked like a piece of tomfoolery, as though he was going to suddenly mug at the crowd and grin, winning huge applause for the jest.

It was so silent in the main square that Jewd could hear his own ragged breathing.

Stracker looked again at his blade, at his men, at Lily Felt’s exposed neck and back to his sword. He blinked angrily as a soft murmur erupted through the crowd, then roared his perplexion and took another swipe. Again the sword stopped just a hair’s breath from Lily’s unharmed neck.

‘Is this a jest?’ Lily begged into the silence. Her voice was shaking and it was obvious that so were her knees.

Kilt knew this feeling. But it was impossible! He heard Lily ask the question but then he began to chuckle darkly, helplessly, as someone at the back to one side of the square began to clap.

Heads turned, searching for who was applauding in such ironic fashion.

‘Ho, General Stracker! Or should I say General Dungheap?’