Brighten and Kris sat in the back of the basement. The group had ventured farther into town because it was easier for everyone to meet that way. A whole bunch of people going out to Mac’s would surely draw attention, but having them randomly walk around a busier part of the kingdom wouldn’t be noticed.
The basement was dark, with candles around the walls. Brighten didn’t know what the place was, and he didn’t really care. Erin told him to come here, so he had, although it obviously wasn’t something he wanted to be doing.
About fifty people sat in front of him. Brighten knew the Honor Guards’ faces, and Eisen specifically. The rest of these people were a mystery to him. Most likely, a lot of them were the people he and Kris had been making deliveries to.
Erin stood in front of them all, with Lucie sitting on a chair on the front row.
“I’m sure by now you’ve heard the rumors that Riley is returning,” Erin began.
“Heard a rumor that she surrendered, and her and the other Right Hand are coming back like dogs with their tails between their legs!”
The shout came from somewhere in the middle of the room. Brighten heard others agree with it, although not as loudly.
“I’m not signing up for this to get myself killed,” someone else called.
“Hear, hear!”
“Agreed!”
Erin raised her hand, asking for silence. The room slowly grew quiet.
“We’ve heard rumors that she’s coming back, and we’ve heard rumors it’s as a prisoner. All of that’s true, and I won’t deny it.”
Erin put her hand down.
“How many of you know the Right Hand personally? How many of you know Riley?”
Maybe seven out of the fifty or so people raised their hands.
Erin nodded.
“And how many have heard of her? Know of her?”
The rest of the room raised their hands.
“So, all of you know something about Riley, and William too, I’m sure. How many of you have ever heard about another time these two people surrendered? How many of you have ever heard that they could be described as ‘dogs?’”
There was a hesitation, and slowly all the hands dropped.
“That’s what I thought. I’ve seen Riley fight her way through battles she should have never won. I’ve seen her face insurmountable odds time and time again. I have never seen her surrender. I have never seen her give up. So if any of you think that is the case right now, and you want to give up, then I suggest you do it. Go ahead and get out of here. Those who remain will fight for this damn kingdom.”
An awkward silence fell over the room, and Brighten wasn’t sure what would happen. Of course, his first instinct was to stand and get out of there, but he pushed it down quickly. That was the old Brighten, and while he might give Erin and everyone hell about how dangerous this all was, he wasn’t leaving. His ass was remaining on his chair.
And, to Brighten’s shock, no one else left either.
“Good,” Erin said to the silent room. “We might be scared, and that’s okay. This mage is a fucking psychopath, and if you aren’t scared, you might be a psychopath too.” She smiled, letting everyone know it was a joke. Brighten felt the mood in the room shift slightly.
“Now,” Erin continued, “what we have to do is somewhat simple. We have to be ready when Riley makes her move.”
“How will we know?” someone shouted from the back.
Erin looked at Lucie and rolled her eyes. “Do none of the men in this place have any manners?”
“Aye, they do,” Lucie replied. “They just forget ‘em sometimes.” She looked over her shoulder. “Can you all shut yer traps until the lady is done speakin’? She didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday, and she’s thought through all this. If ya got any questions, save ‘em for the end.”
“Aye, Lucie. I apologize,” the man in the back said. “Go on. Tell us what ya think.”
Erin gave them her dazzling smile again, letting the room know all was forgiven.
“I’ve seen these two battle before, Riley and Rendal. It’s not something that’s easily hidden. We’ll know when Riley goes after him, most likely because there will be fire in the sky. What many of you don’t know yet is that Riley has learned to use magic. She’s a mage.”
Erin paused, but no one said a word. The room was deathly still.
Brighten understood why. Everyone knew how dangerous Riley was with a sword. No one in here could imagine how much more dangerous she would be combining that with magic. She would be like Death’s Right Hand instead of Mason’s.
“The moment we see fire in the sky, we have to be ready to do our part. Every guard, every sentry, every mage of Rendal’s, they have to be either imprisoned or killed. Do you all understand?”
“Aye, we hear you, ma’am, but how are we going to do that?”
“That’s a good question.” Erin nodded. “We’re going to have to be deceptive. Every one of you, and everyone beneath you, should have a weapon on them at all times. We’ve made our deliveries. We’ve gotten you all the weapons we could get our hands on. That’s key. No one knows we’re planning this, or none outside of our own ranks.”
Erin took a step closer to the group.
“So when we see the fire in the sky, we attack. I know many of us haven’t killed before, and it might be frightening, but you need to remember that if we don’t kill them, they will kill us. We’re already in a fight for our lives, and I, for one, plan to win it. Riley will defeat Rendal. It’s our job to show his soldiers that once he’s dead, they have no chance. We’re backing Riley up, but we’re also putting fear into his guards.”
Kris leaned over to Brighten’s ear. “Hey, No Nuts, you think you’ll be able to contribute or do you need to hide behind my skirt?”
She snickered as she drew away.
Brighten leaned over to her, the conversation in front of them still going on.
“You know how William and Riley are always betting?”
Kris nodded.
“Well, let’s make a bet. Whoever takes out the most guards gets to pick a tattoo for the other one and they have to get it, deal?”
“Where’s the tattoo going to be?” Kris asked.
“Wherever the winner wants.”
“Hell, that’s fine. You’re slower than an old lady telling a story that happened twenty years ago. I’ll take that bet.”
Brighten grinned. “Good, because your tattoo is going to say ‘No Nuts.’”
Chapter Fifteen
“I know I can’t kill her, but I don’t think Rendal would mind me killin’ the big one, right, boss?”
Riley couldn’t believe Belarus was doing this.
“Yeah, Harold,” William shouted from behind. “Let him come kill me. It’ll be good for everyone involved. Rendal will love it.”
Riley looked over her shoulder at William, who was four animals behind her. He grinned and gave her a wink. He’d been talking shit to Belarus for the past two days, and Belarus apparently couldn’t take it anymore.
“Do you really think you can beat him, Belarus? Your arm is still somewhat injured from when you tried to fight the woman.” Harold didn’t turn to address his second in command.
“Yes, boss, I can take him easily. He’s just a big dumb animal, plus he can’t use any of his magic, neither.”
Riley watched Harold suppress a smile, and she knew what was about to happen.
Harold was going to let the two fight, just as he had before. He enjoyed it.
You’re a sick fuck, Harold, she thought, although she couldn’t quite make herself feel bad for Belarus. The man was a buffoon, and evil.
“Okay, Belarus. If that’s what you want, I’ll let you fight the man. And what if he gets in a position to kill you? Should I let him do that?”
Belarus looked a bit confused. “Well, that ain’t gonna happen, boss, but if he does get the upper hand, you’ll pull him off me, right?”
Harold still didn’t glance at
him. “Sure, sure. That’s what we’ll do.” He stopped and turned his camel around. Throughout the line of military and mages, the cry, “Halt!” was heard. Slowly, painstakingly, the huge group ground to a stop.
All so Harold can have some fun with Belarus, Riley thought, wanting to spit. This wasn’t leadership, and it wasn’t duty; it was simple cruelty. This is what Rendal breeds. It’s what he’s infecting my kingdom with right now.
“Thank ya, boss,” Belarus said, getting off his camel. “Let’s go, ya big dumb animal!”
“Harold, I can’t kill you yet,” William said as he climbed off his own camel, “but I will make sure that when I do, it won’t be as painful. I appreciate you giving me the chance to stop this little doggy’s yapping.”
William grinned.
He wouldn’t get a sword, an axe, or any other weapon, but Riley knew he wouldn’t need one.
Belarus took two long knives from his belt. Riley understood why he was using them; his right hand was still injured, and he’d be able to maneuver the shorter blades better. Plus, two would allow his left hand to be involved as well.
William had only the chain connecting his wrists as a weapon, but he was smiling broadly.
“Belarus, what would you like on your tombstone? I promise I’ll make it happen. What about, ‘Here lies Belarus. His mouth was much bigger than his prick?’ That sound good?”
Riley snickered although she tried to keep it from reaching anyone else.
William glanced at her. “Aye, Riley, no need to not let this dimwit hear ya. He can get as angry as he wants that people are laughin’; it ain’t gonna change nothin’.” He turned back to Belarus, who was already moving forward. “Let’s dance, chump.”
Belarus lashed out with his left blade, and William skipped back. Riley knew this type of fighting actually put William at a great disadvantage. He wasn’t as fast or as lithe as her; he relied on his strength and brute force to get things done. Right now, he couldn’t do that.
Belarus slashed with the knife in his right hand, nearly touching William’s shirt. He just managed to get away in time.
“See, you ain’t shit, ya dumb animal. Just a lot of talk. This is going to be easier than I thought.” Belarus was smiling now, gaining confidence behind his words.
William didn’t look winded, but he did look a bit unsure. He couldn’t throw himself at Belarus for fear of being impaled. He couldn’t really punch either, due to the chains on his wrists.
For the first time, Riley was slightly worried.
She didn’t get off her camel, but she would if the time came.
She felt a slight prick in her back. It was the first time someone had snuck up on her, and it had happened because of her concern for William.
“No, ma’am,” Harold informed her. “That’s not going to happen. You’re not jumping in there. If your man dies, he dies.”
William glanced at the two of them. “Riley, once I finish this light work and kill Harold, you’re going to get it for doubting me.” He winked, giving her a little grin.
He was letting her know not to worry.
Belarus came forward again, this time slicing with both knives at the same time.
Riley almost fell off her damned camel at what came next.
William let Belarus get within a foot of him, and the blades came together in a chopping motion to take off William’s head.
William ducked. He looked goofy as hell doing it, his huge body not used to such agile movements, but he was fast.
The blades missed his head and William surged upward, slamming into Belarus with his shoulder. The smaller man flew back, and William went with him.
Belarus landed on the ground, and William scrambled on top of him. The big man put his hands together, turning them into one giant fist. He started pummeling Belarus. Once, twice, three times, then four.
Blood spouted up from the smaller man’s nose and mouth.
Still William didn’t stop.
Finally, Harold removed the blade from Riley’s back and dropped off his camel. He walked up to William and put it just in front of his face.
William paused in the middle of bringing his fists down on Belarus again.
“That’s enough.”
William grinned. “Think your master will get angry if I finish him off?”
“I don’t think my master will care one way or the other. Perhaps I’m getting soft in my old age, or perhaps I’m hoping you’ll disobey me and I can run this sword through your eye. It doesn’t really matter. You need to get up and get back on your camel, understand?”
William shot a glance at Riley, still smiling. “You doubted me, skinny! Betcha never seen moves like that before! I’ll teach you some once we finish all this! You’ll be agile like me!”
Riley shook her head, laughing. “You looked like a dingo trying to dance, chubby!”
William backed up and got on his camel. Belarus slowly climbed to his feet, his face a mess. He spat blood on the ground, and there was real hate in his eyes now. Riley knew they’d have to watch him since he’d been beaten—and worse, embarrassed—twice now. When he got the chance, he would murder Riley and William. He’d probably rape Riley first.
She couldn’t feel too bad for the man, because she knew evil lived in his heart—even if he was an idiot.
Harold got back up on his camel and started the long line of soldiers and mages moving again. Riley fell in behind him, but he motioned for her to come forward.
She went, nudging her camel to go a bit faster until she was riding next to him.
“You thought that was cruel?” he asked.
Riley didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to.
A few moments passed before he spoke again. “This is a cruel world, Right Hand, as you’re going to see very soon. Rendal is a cruel master, but he is still a master. He is done playing with you, girl, and I, for one, am glad. I want you to understand that if you do anything once we arrive—anything at all—that makes me think you’re not submitting, I will kill you.”
He didn’t look at her as he spoke, but Riley knew he was telling the truth. This man wanted her dead. Not to join Rendal. Not to become part of their group. He wanted her to die.
“Your kingdom is done. Your heroes are captive. There is nothing left for you except to join or die. Do you understand?”
Riley remained silent.
“Those behind you, all of them—they’re going to die. That’s something else you need to understand. You are the only one Rendal wants. The only reason anyone is still alive—Mason, the ex-Prefect, your Honor Guard—is because Rendal wants you to join. Maybe he’ll let them live if you do. Who can say? But all of this, the way it is now? It’s going to change.”
The two were silent for a few minutes.
“Go on,” Harold said. “Get back there. I just didn’t want you to think there was any hope. That little display with Belarus was for my amusement, nothing else. Your hope is dead, just like those mages I killed in the desert.”
Riley let her camel drop back.
Rage boiled inside her, but she kept her mouth shut.
She thought back to things Linda had said; things that Worth had said. If hope was indeed lost, how did she bring it back?
Chapter Sixteen
Long days passed while Erin and her group waited for Riley’s return. Some grumbled that it wasn’t happening; that they were all wasting their time and risking their lives for nothing.
Erin held firm, though, and finally, they returned.
They heard them coming long before, horns bellowing to announce their arrival.
“Come,” Lucie told the group.
They all left Mac’s, heading to the outer edge of the kingdom, where a wall kept possible invaders out.
“Everyone is going to be at the front, so we’ll be safe,” Lucie told them.
They made their way to the tall walls, and sure enough, Lucie saw no one else out here.
“There are holes placed strategically in
the walls, so that if the archers above are all killed, the military can still see outside,” Lucie explained. “They’re hard to find, but if you look closely, you can make them out.”
“I see them,” Brighten said first, his eyesight the best in the entire group. He paused for a second, then said, “Can I go up to them?”
“Well, why else did we come here?” Lucie joked. “Go on. Here, the rest of you must be blind as bats.”
She led Erin and Kris to two spots against the wall, and Erin finally saw the hole. It was about an inch in diameter but drilled all the way through.
She put her eye to it, and her mouth dropped open.
The army stretched far back, and at the front, she saw Riley riding behind the leader. The woman was tiny from this distance and Erin couldn’t make out much, but she identified her short blonde hair for sure.
“Brighten, what do you see?” she called.
“Riley is up front. William is a little bit behind her,” he answered. “Worth is next, and then Alexandra. Eric is in the rear. Other than that, all I see is Rendal’s men.”
His voice shook as he spoke, and Erin understood his fear. The force approaching them was massive; Riley looked small against that backdrop. What could she possibly have done?
“She’s wearing a necklace,” Brighten added. “All of them are. They can’t use their magic.”
“Are they chained?” Erin asked.
“Yeah. Each of them has chains on their wrists. William looks bloody, although I can’t tell if it’s his or someone else’s.”
“How does Eric look?”
“He’s okay,” Brighten answered.
Erin swallowed, forcing down the fear that wanted to rise in her. She had to focus now. She would worry about her son and William later.
“Lucie, is there any way you can talk to her with that necklace on?”
“No,” Lucie answered. “I could reach out, but them necklaces make it impossible for anyone to hear me.”
Hand of Justice Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4): The Dark Mage, Chasing Magic, Magic Rising, Magic Unchained Page 67