Riley did as she was asked, although she hated it. Every moment she sat here listening to these people and doing what they wanted? It went against her very being.
Yet, she didn’t have a choice. She wouldn’t get these people killed.
Belarus unsheathed her sword, tossing it to the ground. Riley nearly kicked his fucking head off at such disrespect.
He squatted and started feeling her legs for weapons, although the way he was gripping was far too intimate.
“I wonder, boss. You think if she decides to not go with Rendal, he might let me, ya know, have a go at her?”
“I think, Belarus, that if you say something like that again, I’m going to allow Riley here to disembowel you. Finish the damn job.”
“Yeah, boss, sure thing. Didn’t mean nothin’ by it,” the man said quickly.
He made his way around the group, removing all their weapons and throwing them to the ground.
“All done. They’re clean.”
“Belarus, what are you missing?” Harold asked, his voice sounding as if he were speaking to a child.
“Oh, yeah!”
He went to his camel and pulled chains from the pack.
“You are a damned idiot,” Riley commented, shaking her head. “I mean, I almost feel bad for you.”
“Say another word, and I’ll cut your tongue out, bitch.”
Riley laughed despite her circumstances. “That why you can’t meet my eyes? Because you’re so dangerous?”
Belarus put the chains on everyone and then hopped back up on his camel.
“Okay. All of you get up on your camels,” Harold instructed. “I’ve left your ankle chains off because if you look around, there ain’t nowhere to run unless you want to die of dehydration in a day or so.”
Riley looked at her sword. She couldn’t stand to leave it here in this desert. She’d already lost one sword to Rendal. Two was too many.
“You’re going to want to bring that,” she told Harold, still staring at it.
“Why’s that? You planning on using it?”
“Trust me, Rendal will want me to have it if I join him.”
The entire group looked at Riley then. She’d never spoken such words in her life. She didn’t return their stares but kept her eyes on the sword.
“I think you're a bit of a fibber, Riley dearest,” Harold said. “I think Rendal will probably have you killed within two weeks, but you are right. If you do join him, he’ll want you to have your little weapon, given how much you can do with it. Belarus, grab it, and let’s get on the way.”
He got off his camel again and picked up the blade. “I’mma take real good care of this for you, Riley.” He grinned, knowing how much she hated having his grimy hands on it.
“You can get dirt on it if you want, Belarus,” she told him. “I’ll make sure I clean it with your blood.”
Chapter Fourteen
“They say she’s been captured,” Brighten told the group.
“Riley?” Erin asked.
Brighten nodded.
“Who said it?” Lucie asked.
“We’re hearing chatter on the street,” Kris jumped in. “New Perth doesn’t have nearly as many homeless kids as Sidnie did, but you still got some, and we can move in and out of them. The streets say the Right Hands are returning, and that Harold captured them. Not that they’re coming on their own.”
The four of them were up in one of Mac’s rooms. They had been trying to stay out of the lobby in case someone walked by and wanted a room.
“I’m not sure what that means,” Erin commented. “Lucie, is there any way you can use your magic to see what’s going on?”
“I can try.”
Lucie’s eyes turned red as the other three gazed at her. She stared into space for long moments as everyone waited in silence.
Finally, her eyes turned back to their normal color, but she shook her head.
“No. I can’t see anything. Granted, I can’t search the entire continent, but I looked specifically for Riley, and there was nothing.”
“Which means they put a necklace on her,” Erin said.
“What’s that mean?” Brighten asked. “If they put a necklace on her, does it mean she surrendered?”
“I’m gonna do you a favor, Brighten,” Lucie interjected, “and not tell Riley you said that when this is all said and done. She’d string you up in front of the entire kingdom if she knew you muttered such nonsense.”
“Ha!” Kris laughed. “She wouldn’t have to string him up. All Riley would need to do was stare at him, and scaredy-cat here would shake so bad his whole body would fall apart. Just arms and legs rattling right off his torso.”
“You all need to get serious,” Brighten said. “If she’s got a necklace on her, we need to ask ourselves what that means. We’ve been running around here risking our lives in the hope that she returns as a savior, not as a prisoner.”
“Okay, calm down.” Erin walked over and placed a hand on Brighten’s shoulder. “We don’t know exactly what is happening, and that’s okay. We can’t know everything all the time, but our goal here doesn’t change. We’re trying to help overthrow this evil fucking mage, and we can’t do that if we don’t act.”
She looked at Kris.
“How sure are you that Riley and William are coming back?”
Kris grinned. “Oh, I forgot about Willlliiaaaamm. You going to give him a big kiss the moment this is all over?”
A slight blush rose to Erin’s cheeks, but she smiled. “I think I’m going to give you a kick in the ass if you don’t answer my question.”
Kris’s grin fell away. “Everyone was talking about it. Not just the homeless kids, but we heard adults saying it too. Things like, it’s over—the Right Hands can’t save us because they’ve been caught.”
Erin nodded. “All right, then. We have to go on the idea that Riley is returning and kick our plan into high gear. Lucie, can we get in touch with Eisen and the other leaders? We’re going to need to meet tonight.”
“Yeah, should be able to,” Lucie responded. “Just gotta find the right spot.”
“We don’t need to go, right?” Brighten asked. “Like, Kris and I can just stay here?”
Kris walked over and smacked the back of his head. “I ain’t stayin’ nowhere, scaredy-cat. When this is all over, they’re going to write songs ‘bout my bravery and cunning. I’m sure you’ll be in the songs too, but they’re going to call you Brighten the No-Balls Scaredy-Cat. You will be my sidekick who had to be forced to go everywhere because you were too frightened.”
Brighten rolled his eyes. “The No Balls Scaredy-Cat is the worst joke you’ve ever come up with.”
“And yet, it’s better than anything you’ve ever said.” Kris looked at Erin. “We want to go. We’re a part of this.”
“I know,” Erin replied. “Brighten may bluster about not wanting to do anything, but every time he’s called upon, he’s there. Lucie, let’s get in touch with Eisen and the other town leaders. We’ll meet after midnight and discuss what’s to be done.”
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. R
iley 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.
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