This time, the mutters spreading through the amphitheater carried hints of anger.
“Tell me what I should do? Should I return these assassins to their rightful owners, apologize, and inform the Tribunal I will do whatever they want? We hold all of Ostania except for Felan and Harna. Should we now give all we own, all we have paid for in blood to the Tribunal? Should I forgive this act, this attempted assassination? Better yet, do you wish to ignore that they almost killed General Dorn, the man who has brought us victory after victory and ensured most of your loved ones came home safely?”
Resounding echoes of ‘No’ rang through the amphitheater. People screamed their outrage.
“Well, Lord Dorn,” Nerian said without facing Stefan, “What do you say? Fight or not to fight.”
As he took in the expectant faces and the boisterous masses Stefan’s shoulders slumped. Nerian had trapped him. The promise he made to his men echoed in his head as he said, “Fight.”
The people’s jubilant roars drowned out his thoughts.
“So be it,” the King shouted, his voice joining the crescendo. “Deploy the Zar.”
All around the amphitheater, Alzari dressed in their green and gold uniforms appeared at the entrances to the stands. They took places overlooking the arena. Stefan lost count after a hundred.
“Today, I will show you why we have nothing to fear from the Tribunal’s Matii. You will learn that our own are as strong if not stronger.” Nervous rumblings rolled through the crowd at what Nerian said. Some attempted to get as far away as possible from the sides of the arena. “Be brave, my people, the Alzari you see shall keep you from harm.”
Eyes narrowing at the King’s words, Stefan opened his Matersense. He gasped. Although neither he nor any other Dagodin could Forge Mater, Thania had been adamant in teaching him how to read what other Matii were doing with the elements.
Hardened by the Alzari’s strength, which lay in manipulating the essences of earth, a shield made primarily of their weakest essence-air-encircled the arena. The shield rose up to form a dome. To the naked eye, the air was clear, but to any Matii capable of reading Forgings, the Alzari had used earth essences to darken their work. By doing so, they limited the essence the Ashishin were strongest at manipulating-Light.
What fascinated Stefan even more was what the King himself did. Stefan knew Nerian’s power ranked him with at least a High Shin or High Zar, but he’d never noticed any particularly strong Forge done by the King until now.
For several hundred feet around the two Raijin, the King had Warped Mater. The essences within the area were so distorted they would feel like oil sliding through one’s hand. The Raijin would not be able to Forge until the effect ended. Stefan took in the soldier’s corpse at his feet. Now he understood. The man’s act had been twofold. Not only had he sacrificed himself for his King, but his death had given Nerian the necessary essences to draw upon to create the Warping. Essences that could only be garnered when something died.
But how long could Nerian maintain the Warping? The King’s face bore the answer. His eyes showed strain, and sweat rolled down his forehead.
“Now to introduce our champion,” the King shouted. “Cerny.”
CHAPTER 14
Stefan snapped his head around to where he’d last seen the Knight General, but Cerny was no longer there. A cheer drew his attention back to the arena. The gates slid up, a hole the size and shape of a doorway appeared in the shield, and Cerny stepped through.
At the same moment, Nerian released his Warping. The King took in several heavy breaths.
In the arena, the two Raijin glanced around. The wounded one reached down and twisted his leg into place. A yell escaped his lips. Moments passed as his chest heaved then he stood and flexed his leg.
Stefan expected Cerny to press the advantage, but the Knight General didn’t. A devilish smile on his face, green uniform pristine with its three golden knots standing out chest-high, he strolled toward the Raijin.
A hush fell over the amphitheater.
The two Raijin took in Cerny’s leisurely approach before nodding to each other and splitting apart. The entire scene felt surreal to Stefan as the shield not only prevented anyone from entering or leaving, but it also kept in all sound. In the silence, he heard his and King Nerian’s breathing.
There was a sudden blur of movement as both the assassins thrust their hands in Cerny’s direction. Bars of solid white light bright enough to sear one’s vision shot across the distance. A solid slab of earth grew up from the ground in front of Cerny. The bars of light struck it and sent dirt and rock showering into the air.
The earth within the arena heaved and rolled in a wave toward the Raijin. Both men dived out of its path. It slammed into the edge of the shield with an impact that shook the amphitheater.
The crowd cheered. Stefan blocked them out as he watched.
When the two assassins gained their feet, they looked around frantically then their gazes focused on the sky for a moment. Stefan shook his head as they now realized their plight.
They sprinted, throwing their hands out, streaks of lightning and light bars shooting out from them toward Cerny as they attempted to overwhelm him. Cerny simply stopped. The constant protection of earth rose around him, blocking whatever they did. The Raijin continued firing, their attacks growing from streaking bars and bolts to small balls as their power waned.
Then, the earthen shield broke apart into a thousand pieces. As it did so, several balls of incandescent light shot through. Cerny raised a hand. Something flashed into shape around his arm, almost like armor, and he swatted the balls away.
A breath hissed from Stefan’s lips. He did not recognize any of the essences Cerny had used to block the attack. For a moment, he thought he spotted slight mixes of shade among them.
In the same instant, the pieces of earth, still floating, shot toward the Raijin like a thousand arrows. The men had no time to react. Stone and earth ripped through their bodies. Blood spattered the sides of the dome behind them. In silence, they fell to the ground dead.
Cerny strode from the arena.
“And as simple as that, the Raijin fall,” King Nerian said, a satisfied smile on his face. “Proof they can be defeated.”
The crowd’s jubilation rose to a crescendo.
“Stefan.” Nerian’s voice dropped several notches. “Now you know one of the reasons Cerny will take your place if you refuse to lead the men.” The King kept his gaze fixed on the people. “He does not hesitate to kill.”
“I would ask what of the Tribunal’s response, but now I understand why you wanted me to be here and why you wanted this as a public display.”
“Oh?” Nerian’s amused expression didn’t change. “I expected nothing less, but go ahead and tell me.”
“The word will get out about what happened here,” Stefan said. “Killing two Rajin this easily will make the Tribunal plan before risking open war. You showed them a strength they didn’t anticipate.”
“Yes,” the King agreed. “I have also given you time to consider the decision before you.” He no longer smiled. “It has been a pleasure spending time with you again, despite all this … but I have kept you long enough. Besides,” the King’s gaze shifted to the steps above them, “the High Council has been clamoring for my attention. The time has come for me to reveal some of my plans to them.”
A seemingly heated debate was taking place between several members of the Council. Normally it was Stefan who handled such issues before presenting the Council’s concerns to the King, but because he’d kept himself apart since returning and with his absence on the campaigns, the role apparently now belonged to Cerny. The Knight General stood to one side having a conversation with Renaida and Senden. By their gestures and faces, neither of the older men were pleased. Every so often, they peered toward the King and Stefan.