Audra made no answer as they watched the defenses of Rosethorn Castle rapidly disintegrate. There was resistance from the men of Sinis, and a smattering from the royal guards of King’s Island. Nacht stared unmoving as he spotted a group of Executioners…fighting well against the mounted Temple Knights but falling quickly when a pair of Tars from Noble took to the fight.
Nacht knew he should attempt to flee, but instead he stood rooted to the spot gazing down as the last of the opposition faltered and finally all was quiet. Moments later the door to his room burst open and a host of men rushed in. Nacht dropped his broadsword and whipped out his kali, and without thought threw himself at the invaders. Behind him Audra bent and picked up the heavy sword but did not draw it out. She simply held it before her, the point resting on the ground as the first men in the room rushed toward Nacht. In the lead were a host of soldiers from Massi and three died for their speed, after that the others held their distance until a small group from Noble pushed through the crowd.
“Nacht,” a Tar of Noble said. “Stand down or die.”
Nacht smiled, knowing he would surely die, fight or not, so he launched himself at the Tar with glee. But the Tar was an exceptional fighter and easily blocked the first flurry of blows the High Tar of Sinis threw at him. The Tar of Noble countered but Nacht was also very good and turned away each blade.
More and more soldiers crowded into the room and at least three were also Tars of Noble, but they all remained near the edges of the fight, watching with tangible expectation. Nacht and Tar Endid, who he was fighting, exchanged several more parries before the High Executioner was able to recognize Prince Gwaynn, now the High King, standing near the door next to a broad, shaggy haired Tar. Nacht knew now was the time, the man he was fighting was good, very good and probably younger than he was by a good dozen years. Another flood of strikes rained down on the High Tar of Sinis but he managed to block them with grace and skill. Nacht sent his right arm swinging across the front of his body until it was aligned with his foe then he quickly launched the spring knife from beneath his sleeve, all while neatly blocking a kali aimed to remove his head from his shoulders. The knife shot from its hiding place incredibly fast and covered the distance between the two fighters in a blink. With a sharp thud the knife buried itself into Tar Endid’s left eye.
Endid cried out and wavered for a moment, then staggered a few steps to his right before dropping hard to the floor. Nacht did not hesitate but raised his left arm and pulled the trigger mechanism on his other spring knife. He aimed carefully, directly at Gwaynn’s heart. The young man was standing not twenty feet away, a ridiculously easy shot. As the knife fired and left his sleeve Nacht knew it was going to hit its mark.
‘The new High King is dead!’ He thought with a rush of pure joy and just a touch of pride. Most of those in the room were watching Tar Endid as he staggered and died, but Nacht had eyes only for Gwaynn, who surprisingly was gazing back directly into Nacht’s eyes as the knife streaked across the room. Astonishingly the young man was smiling, apparently unaware of the threat racing toward him.
The knife flashed through the air covering the distance with incredible speed, but Nacht did not follow the path of the knife, did not take his eyes from Gwaynn. He wanted to see the moment of recognition when the knife slammed home. He wanted to see the moment of death. But instead the Tar who stood at Gwaynn’s side moved faster than was possible, faster than the eye could see. He reached out and actually caught the knife by the hilt, holding it steadily less than a foot from Gwaynn’s chest.
“Tsk, tsk,” the strange Tar said shaking his bushy head and Nacht suddenly realized the man was Nev, the legendary Solitary and former Weapons Master to the High King. The Executioner felt a giddy wave of fear as Gwaynn smiled and extended one hand for the knife. Nev handed it over.
Gwaynn paused for a moment. “For my mother and my sister,” he said softly and with another blur of movement too fast to see he threw. It crossed the room in a blink and hit Nacht just below the left shoulder. The Executioner grunted with surprise and looked down briefly then the world tottered and he fell. He felt a blinding pain as he hit the floor and the knife was pushed farther into his body, but then the poison began to work. He died quickly without a last sound or thought.
ǂ
It was late, past midnight, two days after the fall of King’s Island to the Massi forces. Gwaynn now occupied the throne of the High King. He was truly the recognized leader of the Inland Sea, and everything was quiet. Queen Audra and her son Aiden were now under guard, imprisoned in her rooms, awaiting Gwaynn’s decision whether they would live or die. To Audra it was turning into a very long wait.
But it was a decision Gwaynn had no desire to make though he knew it was necessary. The weight of it kept sleep away and when he grew tired of tossing in the unfamiliar bed he dressed and began walking the halls of the palace. He wandered steadily downward until he was near the ground level and happily met Vio, in her nightdress, starting the climb that would lead her back up to her private room. She carried a very large plate filled with an assortment of meats and cheeses in one hand and had her long cotton nightdress hiked up in the other, so as not to trip. She was looking at the tray of food and would have walked right into Gwaynn had he not cleared his throat sharply. Vio looked up, dropped her nightdress and blushed but then smiled and took a bite of turkey.
“Hungry?” Gwaynn asked, very aware of the girl’s body beneath the thin fabric of her nightgown.
Vio giggled and blushed again, fighting the urge to stroke her hair. She wondered vaguely what she looked like and hoped that she wasn’t too scary. “Famished,” she answered. “You?”
Gwaynn nodded and took a hunk of sharp cheese from her plate and popped it in his mouth. “I could eat.”
They were standing just outside the great hall and without a thought made their way inside. Of course at this hour the hall was empty and still, and it seemed all the bigger for the absence of people. They walked silently across its length nibbling off the plate as they went and when they reached the two large throne chairs they sat down. Gwaynn threw one leg over an ornately carved mahogany arm before reaching for another slice of cheese. They ate in silence for a moment, Vio very aware that she was sitting in the Queen’s chair. She was unable to stop or control it as her mind played out a quick fantasy where she was the Queen; where she was Gwaynn’s.
“You could stay you know,” Gwaynn said in between bites and Vio’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at him, hope cruelly swelling in her chest. “I need a Weapons Master,” he finished and Vio rushed to hide her disappointment. She was being foolish; she knew that. She’d seen Gwaynn with Samantha countless times and always his eyes were filled with love. She hated that look, but at the same time longed for it, but she knew, knew deep in her heart, he would never truly be hers.
She didn’t even consider his offer. She knew if she stayed she would be miserable, content on one hand to be close to Gwaynn, but continuously tortured by the denial of her heart’s greatest desire. For her, Gwaynn meant only pain.
“Please don’t ask that of me,” Vio whispered her head down. She was afraid if she looked at Gwaynn the tears she was suddenly fighting would overwhelm her. She was saved from anymore embarrassment when boots clamored at the far end of the hall and moved quickly in their direction. Gwaynn stood as the group crossed into the light and for the first time Vio realized that he was wearing his kali in the middle of the night.
‘Is that what it means to be the High King,’ she thought as a group of guards rushed forward escorting an elderly man she did not know.