When the rulers stopped, facing the tree, their subjects bowed or curtsied.
“Begin,” King Corbin bade the priestess.
She obeyed. “Jacque Leblond, you may confess your transgressions to Celestia now.”
Leblond’s eyes moved over the crowd as he spoke. “I, Jacque Leblond, am responsible for the deaths of many. I have betrayed my king.”
The priestess turned, believing he was finished his confession.
“But my king betrayed me,” he went on. “He’s betrayed all of you. He and anyone who follows him will suffer. Vesirus has promised this.”
Gasps of horror fell from mouths surrounding the Tree.
“Madness!” someone shouted.
Another threw a rotten potato at his face.
The king stepped up on the platform behind the traitors as whispers wove through the crowd. “Anyone who continues to follow this man’s example deems themselves a follower of the Dark Lord and will be annihilated and sent to Mnyama.”
Unease erupted throughout the king’s people. Courtiers turned to one another with suspicious glances. Afraid their neighbours may be a follower of Vesirus.
“Get on with it,” King Corbin said to the priestess with distaste.
She bowed her head and then continued while Ger and I placed the rope hanging from the branch around Leblond’s neck.
She repeated the same rights of death for the other two lords. One of them cried and begged to be spared. His words fell on deaf ears. The other hurled all over himself and the boards he kneeled upon. A woman wailed from the edge of the platform.
Four other guards, two for each lord, pushed them forward and positioned ropes around their necks too.
Blaise watched with her arms folded, a fire burning in her eyes. She was finally getting what she wanted; revenge for her parents’ deaths. I didn’t believe it would make her feel any better, but perhaps she’d be able to move on.
The priestess looked up at the three men and spoke the next words loud enough to carry over the whole crowd. “To Vesirus you shall go!”
Ger and I shoved Leblond off the platform with his friends.
Lord Monair’s neck snapped at his fall while Lord Belrose clawed at the rope before stilling.
Leblond dangled in the air, choking for a few moments longer before his face turned purple and he stiffened. When his body slackened and drool dribbled out the corners of his mouth, we knew he’d never draw another breath.
The crowd erupted in cheers, fists raised in the air. “Rot in Mnyama,” someone hollered.
“That was the most interesting execution I’ve been to,” I admitted to Ger, stepping off the platform.
He shook his head. “I need a good cup of ale after that one.”
“That’s always your answer.”
He grinned widely at me and teased, “It’s a good answer. Come on. You can have your usual cup of water.”
I chuckled. For the first time since I could remember, I felt relaxed. My relationship with my father was the best it had been. There would likely be no great danger to the kingdom for a while since Leblond admitted he was a follower of Vesirus and was now dead. And I had people I could call friends. I was almost able to forget the power within my veins. I hadn’t told anyone about it. It was bad enough I was the son of a torturer. Having magic would only cause others to fear me more. I didn’t even understand why I had this power. Witches’ magic was usually passed down through their blood. As far as I knew, no one in my bloodline had any magic. Then again, my father refused to share much about my family.
I was soaking a piece of bread in my leek soup when Constable Bouvant slid into a chair beside us.
“I’m proud of you both, Blaise too,” the constable announced, pulling the chair closer to the square table. “So are the king and queen. Queen Nicola has announced she will be throwing a ball in a fortnight to celebrate.”
“I think there are still Redeemers who will act against the crown,” Ger said into his cup of ale.
“It’s possible,” the constable agreed. “But they won’t be any match for us unless they find a new leader. And word has spread about Leblond’s dealings with Vesirus. Most fear to go down that dark path. Should anymore traitors arise, we will do our best to find and stop them before they can gain the upper hand.”
“Do you think there’s any truth to Leblond’s warning? Would Vesirus really come here and try to destroy our kingdom?” I asked through a mouthful of bread.
The constable let out a laugh. “No, Leblond was taking one last jab at King Corbin. Don’t believe the words of a traitor.”
“We should search the forests anyway. See if there are any Redeemers attempting to regroup.”
“Good thinking, Sepheus. I couldn’t agree more.” Constable Bouvant cracked a smile and pushed himself off his seat. “Tomorrow we ride. Enjoy the rest of your night off.”
As soon as he left, Ger grumbled, “You made more work for us.”
I pushed my empty bowl away. “He was already planning it. There’s always more work to be done.”
He sighed dramatically.
I laughed. “Lazy ass.”
I was right about Blaise. She wasn’t at peace after Leblond’s execution. She rode near the front of the group of soldiers as fierce as ever the next day on our mission to seek out remaining Redeemers.
When we spotted a group of about a dozen people gathering under the cover of thick trees, she shrieked like a cat who’d gotten its tail stepped on and shot a woman with an arrow from atop her horse.
“Blaise!” Constable Bouvant shouted in warning.
She either didn’t hear him, or she didn’t care. She nocked another arrow and let it fly, impaling a young boy through the back of his neck.
“Blaise!” the constable yelled louder, kicking his horse to catch up with her.
Blaise dismounted from her horse and drew her sword.
With two dead, the rest of the group had begun to scatter, crying out with fear.
We surrounded them, but they were unarmed and stared at us wide-eyed, like a herd of frightened animals.
“State your reason for gathering out here in the middle of the woods,” Constable Bouvant demanded, holding his horse still.
“We were mourning the loss of our friends. We meant no harm,” a hunch-backed man came forward.
“Our leader is dead, many of our friends imprisoned. We can do you no harm.” A frail woman moved beside the man. Her sun bleached hair was cropped short.
“No harm? Your group is the reason my parents are dead!” Blaise snarled at the woman and raised her sword.
“Many people are dead,” the hunched man countered. “We are unarmed, as you can see.”
“I don’t care.” She pressed the point of her sword to the woman’s chest.
“Blaise,” Constable Bouvant warned.
I recognized the darkness in her. I knew what that darkness felt like. It was so easy to be pulled into its cold embrace. So much easier.
I dismounted my horse and put a hand over the hand holding her sword. “Not like this. You will only give them reason to spill more of our kingdom’s blood. They can be dealt with in other ways.” Let them suffer in the bowels of the palace, I tried to tell her with my eyes.
She glared at me but lowered her sword.
“Groups are not allowed to gather outside of court. You are all to remain within the kingdom’s walls. If any of you disobey, you will be executed on sight,” Constable Bouvant told them and then added, “King’s orders.”
“Fine,” the man bit out. “We will come back with you, but bring the bodies back too. They deserve a proper burial. They did no wrong.”
Constable Bouvant lifted his brows at the man. “They were Redeemers. They’ll be a feast for the crows.”
The man stepped closer to the constable. Each of us drew our weapons.
The weaponless man backed off.
“Tie their hands. We’ll lead them to Terra like mules,” the constable ordered u
s. “Ignore me again and you’ll find yourself in the dungeon with your enemies,” he said to Blaise.
Though a fire still smoldered in her amber eyes, she replied, “Yes, sir.”
I rode near the back, beside Blaise, our enemies trailing on our return home. “Maybe you should take a break from all of this,” I said to her as our horses slowed to step over a fallen log. “Leblond is dead, and the path you’re on leads to nothing but misery.”
She stared straight through her horse’s ears. “That’s funny coming from you.”
“You don’t want to be like me, trust me.”
“At least we agree on one thing,” she said bitterly.
I was silent a moment, then offered, “I never congratulated you. If it weren’t for your keen sense of distrust, who knows when we would’ve caught Leblond. You should give yourself a break.” I didn’t know why I was trying to make her feel better. She usually annoyed me, but now… now she was one of us, a soldier of Terra.
“My parents never got a break.” She finally looked at me, but tears shone in her fiery eyes. Then her mouth curved up a little in the corners. “Don’t fool yourself. You would’ve never caught Leblond without me.”
“Someone has a big ego.”
She puffed out a half-laugh and edged her horse in front of mine.
When we got back, we took the Redeemers we’d captured to the dungeons to live out the rest of their miserable lives.
We continued to search the forest the following days until Queen Nicola’s celebration. Blaise had insisted on coming each time. She kept to herself and abided Constable Bouvant’s commands. We didn’t find any other Redeemers. If any hadn’t been scared enough by Leblond’s proclamation of his devotion to Vesirus to give up their cause, they remained hidden from our eyes.
I did up the last golden button on my sea green doublet and smoothed my hair with my palms. I’d even shined my leather, knee-high boots for the occasion. While I never loved celebrations, I knew the importance of making a good appearance before the court. I used a rag to quickly polish the hilt of my sword and left my room for the great hall.
The usual courtiers pranced around in their outrageous outfits of silk and lace, pretending to be interested in each other’s prattle. My father studied me for a moment before turning back to his conversation with Constable Bouvant. I hoped my name hadn’t fallen from either of their lips.
I disappeared into the crowd and emerged on the other side, hoping they’d forget about me, and almost bumped into Blaise.
“Watch it,” she scolded, holding her goblet of wine out to avoid spilling its contents.
I barely recognized her in the chartreuse and ivory gown she wore. Her brown hair shimmered red from the candlelight beaming down from the chandelier. It curled just below her ears. My gaze was drawn to the jade earrings dangling against her slender neck. I wondered what it’d be like to kiss that delicate beige skin. I cleared my throat, “Good evening, Blaise. I’ve never seen you look so... womanly.”
“You’re so rude,” she shot.
“You aren’t the most polite person I’ve met.”
She gave me a gesture that would have most ladies tutting, point proven.
She breathed loudly out her nose and faced the crowd. She tasted her wine and then said, “I hate parties.”
I accepted a piece of soft cheese from a servant’s tray. “I do too, but I believe this one is being thrown in our honour. The queen would have us put to death if we didn’t show our faces.”
Musicians played a fast paced tune. Blaise had to raise her voice to be heard above the flute, drum and tambourine. “She doesn’t scare me. Care to dance?” She finished her wine and held out her hand.
I’d never danced before. My father said it was a useless skill, so I’d never learned. I shook my head and backed away. “I don’t dance.”
“Don’t be foolish.” She stretched her arm out further.
But I was already out of reach. “Not tonight.”
Our comrade, Reynard, came just in time to sweep her onto the dancefloor with the throng of other glittering courtiers. He’d shaved his face bare for the occasion and put on a fine doublet of white and gold. Blaise all but swooned over his fresh appearance. I watched her as she laughed and blushed at something he said. He held her close, one hand upon her tiny waist. “Just friends,” I muttered to myself. Friends didn’t dance like that. I imagined my hand on her waist… my comment making her blush. I was being foolish. I didn’t wish to be embarrassed by my inability to move elegantly across a dancefloor, a skill most knew. I shouldn’t have cared she was having fun with someone other than me. I needed a distraction.
I searched the room and found a young lady of average height with luscious curves standing near a corner, alone. She would do just fine.
I took a swig of water and marched up beside her. “No one to dance with?” I let my gaze run down the length of her body.
She smiled playfully. “Are you offering?”
I met her soft brown eyes. “No, but I thought perhaps you’d like company.”
She ran her fingers through her dark curls. “Good, because I don’t like dancing.”
I leaned in and brushed my finger along her jaw. “How about we entertain ourselves another way.” It’d been a long time since I’d had fun with a lady.
I swore I heard Blaise laugh from across the dancefloor. I leaned in for a kiss, to stop myself from thinking about how delightful that laugh sounded—and how furious it made me feel that I wasn’t the cause of it.
I ended the kiss and was about to suggest we find some place more private, not so far as the wine cellar. No, I’d learned my lesson with the lynx-woman. I could easily find an empty corridor to fully enjoy her in. But when I opened my eyes, it wasn’t some random woman staring back at me, it was Claudia.
I stumbled back, knocking goblets filled with wine from a servant’s silver tray.
“What the Mnyama!” the servant dressed in all back snapped.
“What’s wrong with you?” the woman I’d been kissing asked, clearly offended. Her face was her own again. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“I have,” I muttered and strode back through the dancers. Damn Claudia, will you haunt me until the end of my days?
“There you are,” King Corbin exclaimed. He was radiant. The only sign of his wound was the stiffness with which he moved. He had the best healers the kingdom had to offer. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Your Majesty.” I bowed to the king dressed in silky gold and silver. Queen Nicola joined him and smiled warmly down at me.
“Attention!” King Corbin shouted, clapping his hands.
The musicians noticed and stopped playing. Conversations halted. The whole hall faced their king and queen.
“First of all,” King Corbin started. “Thank you all for joining us to celebrate our victory against The Redeemers. Second, it is with great sadness I inform you of the death of Queen Jelena of Solis. She was a just ruler and will not be forgotten by any of the four kingdoms of Sarantoa.”
Many of the courtiers murmured, but then the king added, “She is to be succeeded by her granddaughter, Queen Adelaide. Terra stands with Queen Adelaide as her friend as we did her grandmother. Long live Queen Adelaide!”
“Long live Queen Adelaide!” the hall roared as goblets were raised.
Once the crowd quieted, King Corbin continued, putting a hand on my shoulder. “We have one more thing to celebrate tonight. With pleasure, I am going to knight Sepheus Lequerc. He has shown great bravery. He was the one responsible for catching Leblond, the man who tried to tear this kingdom apart in the name of the Dark Lord.
More cheers of approval.
I felt the blood leave my face. He’d caught me off guard. Claudia laughed in my mind, You? A knight? You’ll be the least honourable knight in history. I ground my teeth and told her to shut up.
“Come,” King Corbin beckoned me with his open hand. “Kneel.”
The ro
om spun, a thousand eyes watched me. Their faces blurred together. I did as I was ordered and focused on the marble floor.
“Do you promise to continue to serve your kingdom and its rulers until the end of your days?” King Corbin began the ceremony.
“I do,” I answered, keeping my head bowed. I was grateful I didn’t have to face the eyes of so many upon me. It was bad enough I could feel them.
“And do you accept this offer of knighthood, given to you by your king and queen?”
“I do.”
I felt the flat of a sword’s blade press to my shoulders, one then the other.
“I hereby knight you Sir Sepheus Lequerc. Arise.”
As I lifted my head, applause filled the hall. I slowly got to my feet, feeling more than a little nauseous. I swallowed hard. Not here. Do not get sick in front of your king and queen. I sucked back a few deep breaths and managed to smile at the king and queen. “Thank you, Your Majesties.”
“We are honoured to have you in our kingdom. Congratulations,” Queen Nicola cooed, gratitude shining on her face. “Let the dancing commence!” She clapped her hands together and the musicians took up another light tune.
My father gave me a tilt of his chin but offered no words, as to be expected.
“A knight, hey?” Ger put his arm around my shoulders, startling me. Where was Blaise?
“It seems so,” I replied, ducking out of his arm. “You and Blaise deserve it as much as I.”
He waved a large hand. “Don’t worry about me. I was knighted long ago for saving the queen.”
I frowned at him. “I never knew.”
A well-groomed Ger shrugged his shoulders. “I thought it was obvious.”
“What about Blaise? She was the one who first suspected Leblond.”
“You don’t get knighted over a lucky hunch,” Ger chuckled.
“Good point.”
As though she’d known we were talking about her, Blaise approached us. “Congratulations, Seph.” Did her voice hold a bitter note? She offered a hand.
I wanted to tell her she deserved to be knighted as much as I. I wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked in that gown. But the words wouldn’t come. So instead I said, “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one night.”
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 56