His eyes glowed red, and he flicked his hand at the ceiling. Tiny bright explosions went off above, and as they did, the ceiling disappeared, revealing the sky.
It was only an illusion, but she would get the point.
Orbs appeared in that sky, just as they were placed in reality—hanging above the kingdom.
“Your Prefect and Assistant Prefect are in jail. Your fellow Right Hand is also imprisoned. Your friends are either dead or in hiding, and overlooking them all are my creations—explosives that will decimate this place at my whim. There is nowhere for you to run. There is nothing you can do. So, Right Hand, what is your choice? You will join me, or you will die right here and now.”
The woman stared at the ceiling, seeing the orbs as they would look if the building did not exist.
Rendal’s eyes still blazed red.
“I’ll serve you, Rendal,” Riley said, her voice strong. “On one condition, though. Those I love will go free. Mason, his father, my friends…they all get to live in peace.”
Rendal laughed. “Do you think you are in a position to bargain?”
“I think I’m giving you what you want.” Riley looked at him. “I’m giving you me. I met your mentor, and you can tell that my power has grown. You can tell that after only a very brief time, I’m nearly as great a sorcerer as you, and I still haven’t reached my potential. I’m asking for something simple. Let them live.”
Rendal glanced at Harold. “Rise, rise.” He gestured quickly with his hand. “What is this, Harold? Does she sound mad, or is it just me? Her friends and loved ones, do they not smell like gutter trash?”
Harold smiled. “Never in life have there been such foul odors emanating from people.”
Rendal grinned back, knowing what he’d do, but enjoying fucking with Riley. “Yet she’s asking me to allow people giving off such a stench to walk freely around this kingdom? Around my kingdom?”
“She must truly think your kindness knows no bounds.”
Rendal chuckled and glanced at the Right Hand. She wore no smile.
“I’ll let them live, but not here. They can go into exile, perhaps up there with Linda in that dead city she calls home. None of them will stay here, though, and there will be no debating that.”
Riley nodded. “Okay.”
“Annnnnd,” Rendal said playfully, “I require one other thing, since we’re making deals.”
“What is it?”
“You will tell William here, in front of me, what you’re going to do.”
Rendal enjoyed the shock on Riley’s face.
“Did you think I would make it easy on you, given how hard you’ve made it for me?”
“Why?” she asked.
“Oh, you know why, Riley. Because while you may bend when you see no other option, he won’t. He’ll fight you tooth and nail, and I’m going to need a little more than your word that you’re joining me. Sure, all your friends and loved ones can leave, except William isn’t going to willingly do that. When he knows you’ve joined me, you’ll have to prove your loyalty.”
The Right Hand looked at her feet. Rendal could see her gritting her teeth from where he sat.
“What’s it going to be, Riley? There’s nowhere else to go. Your friends live, and you tell William whose side you’re on, or everyone dies.”
Finally, Riley nodded and looked up. “I’ll do it.”
Rendal grinned and turned to Harold. “That is good news, is it not?”
“Yes, Your Grace. It certainly is.”
“We’ll do this in public, then. I think it’ll be good for the kingdom to see that we are joining forces, and it will also be good for them to see you prove your loyalty. It’ll give your friends who are on the run a chance to get out of here, too. What do you say?”
Riley held his gaze. “If that’s how you want it.”
“You’ll take a loyalty oath in front of everyone?”
“If that’s how you want it,” she repeated.
“It is, Right Hand. It is exactly how I want it.”
“It… It can’t be true.”
Erin looked around the room in disbelief.
There were tears in Lucie’s eyes, and Kris and Brighten stared listlessly.
Mac stood in the middle of the lobby. He held the sheet of paper in his hand.
That in and of itself showed how true it was, because to print such a thing on paper was unheard of. Paper wasn’t the most valuable commodity in the kingdom, but one certainly didn’t print rumors on it.
“No,” Erin said, shaking her head. “No, I don’t believe it.”
The paper was a simple thing, thin and ready to tear. The words on it were just a simple: Riley Trident, Right Hand, joins Prefect Rendal Hemmons in loyalty pledge. Kingdom Square, tomorrow at noon.
“All of this…what was it for? Why did we do it?” Brighten asked, though who he queried, no one could say.
Erin turned to Mac. “Where did you get that?”
“They’re posted all over. The biggest use of paper I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Did you talk to anyone about it?” she asked.
“Just Lionel. He works at the grocery. Said the whole place is gossipin’ about it, that Trident done decided to join up with the mage.”
Erin sat down in the first chair she saw, feeling like her legs might buckle if she didn’t.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Finally, Lucie blinked. A tear fell down her face, and she didn’t try to wipe it away. “Naw, I don’t believe it.”
“The hell you mean you don’t believe it, Lucie?” Mac asked. “It’s right there in black ’n white for you to read.”
“Oh, Mac, don’t tell me shit ‘bout readin’. I know you had to have Lionel read it for ya anyway. Hell, when ya put that sign up outside, I had to tell ya how to spell lodge, ain’t I?”
“Hush, Lucie. That was years ago!” Mac’s face flushed red.
“I don’t believe it.” Lucie seemed to be speaking only to herself. “I mean, I can read it. I know what it’s tellin’ me, but I’ve known Riley a lot longer than I’ve known that damned sheet of paper, and I ain’t ‘bout to believe it over the woman. She ain’t joinin’ up.”
Erin gazed at the older lady. “Then why post this?”
“I don’t know Rendal’s motives. Misdirection? Maybe some kind of grand gesture in which he vests power in himself—an illusion, even—but I know Riley ain’t simply saddlin’ up with the likes of him after everything we’ve been through.”
“Maybe she is,” Brighten muttered. “Look at what he’s done. He’s taken the kingdom. He’s taken her leader. What can she do?”
“I’ll have to see it with my own eyes,” Erin responded. “Otherwise, I’m not going to believe it. We’re going to have to go.”
“Watch her?” Kris asked. “Watch her betray us?”
“She’s not trading,” Lucie said. “Something else is happening, but she’s not switching sides.”
Erin ignored Lucie and responded to Kris. “Yes, I’m going. You should all come too. We’ve gone this far. If this is really happening, we need to see it.”
“I’ll go,” Lucie replied, although she stared off at an empty part of the room.
“Me, too,” Kris agreed.
Brighten shook his head. “I just can’t hardly believe it. Everything I did was because I believed in her. I believed she would stop this psychopath, and if she’s going to join him, it was all for nothing.”
“That’s not true.” Erin walked to where Brighten was sitting. She squatted so they were eye to eye. “The person I met in Sidnie and the person before me now are completely different. This young man right here wouldn’t even recognize the one that William grabbed back then. What you did—it wasn’t for nothing. You are turning into a man, and you didn’t do it only for Riley. You did it for us. For me. For yourself. You found yourself over these past few weeks, and you’re a strong fucking person, Brighten.”
He nodded, and Erin understoo
d he was trying to believe her.
She patted his cheek lightly and stood up.
“If she does trade sides, I’m still going forward. I’ll talk to Eisen today, but I’m not going down without a fight. Riley can do as she wishes, but I’m the same person I was before all this. My boy is locked up somewhere in this kingdom, and when we revolt, I’m going to get him back, too.”
Her jaw was set, and determination blazed in her eyes.
“Regardless of what Riley does tomorrow, I’m going to do my best to burn that bastard mage to the ground.”
Chapter Nineteen
Lucie knew she was doing something extremely dangerous, yet she couldn’t help herself.
She’d stolen out of Mac’s and ventured deep into the city, and she was now standing just outside the castle’s walls. The night sky was dark, which made the orbs above the kingdom stand out more prominently, their green lights glowing brightly. She couldn’t believe how much things had changed in such a small amount of time. Her life had been altered to a point where she hardly recognized it.
She wore a hood and kept to the back alleys, slowing when she drew close to people. She didn’t want to be seen, and she knew the kingdom’s streets well enough to remain hidden.
Lucie remained in an alley looking up at the castle. She didn’t know if Riley was still locked down, but she wanted to try to speak to the Right Hand.
Her eyes turned red, and she sent a message.
It was a brief one, telling Riley only where she was and that they needed to talk. She knew Riley’s psychic magic wasn’t strong enough to respond, so all she could do was wait. More, she didn’t know if the woman was still wearing the necklace. If so, it wouldn’t matter how many messages she sent.
She had come to see if it was true. Was Riley joining Rendal? If she discovered it wasn’t, then Riley needed to know what they had been preparing for—that the kingdom was ready to fight back.
And if she was joining him? Then Riley had become the enemy.
Time slipped by, the night air growing cold around her. Still Lucie waited.
Perhaps she wasn’t able to come; perhaps leaving the castle was impossible now. Perhaps she still wore the necklace and had not received the message.
Lucie leaned against the wall, her eyelids seeming to gain weight.
“You’re not old enough to be falling asleep standing up.”
The words came from Lucie’s right, the opposite end of the alley that she’d been expecting Riley to come from. Lucie’s eyes flew open and she turned, her eyes red, prepared to fight if need be.
“Just me, Lucie. Rendal took the necklace off tonight. He said it’s going back on tomorrow, but we needed to start building some trust.”
The old woman let her eyes fade to normal. Riley stood before her, wearing her own hood. Lucie couldn’t see any weapons on her, certainly not the sword Worth had made.
Riley grinned. “Did you call me out here to take a nap with you?”
“I called you out here to understand what in the hell is going on.” She pulled a flyer from inside her jacket and handed it over. “You’re joining with Rendal?”
Riley didn’t take it. “You should leave, Lucie. You and everyone you’re with.”
“Why?”
“Because of what you hold in your hand. Things are going to change in New Perth tomorrow. You don’t want to be around for them.”
“What’s going to change, Riley?” Lucie asked.
The Right Hand just shook her head.
“That’s it? That’s all I get, after everything we’ve been through?”
“Look around you, Lucie. Everything you need to see is right here. It’s all right in front of you.”
Lucie grew quiet for a moment, understanding what the woman was saying. There was no use fighting. It would only mean death for everyone. “So Rendal has truly won?”
“Lucie, you need to leave. You need to gather Erin and anyone else you’re with, and all of you leave. I love you. I love them. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Lucie’s face had turned to steel. “Girl, I’m too old to need you to care about me. I also don’t serve you. I ain’t served no one since the madman you apparently serve now, and I sure as hell ain’t gonna start. You go back up to your castle, and you prepare to sell your soul tomorrow. I’ll do what I think is best for me, and I’ll let my friends decide the same.”
Riley was silent for long seconds. When she spoke, her voice was a whisper. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me, Lucie. I’ve only wanted to make you proud, ever since I was a little girl.”
“Yeah, well, what you’re doing here is making me wish you’d never been born.”
Riley nodded. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Truly.”
“Go then,” Lucie scolded. “This was a waste of my time.”
Riley turned and started back down the alley.
Neither said anything more as the Right Hand left.
“It all ends today,” Rendal said.
The sun was rising, but the morning air still held a chill.
He and Harold were walking in one of the castle’s gardens. Rendal’s bracelet was on. He was refueling, knowing that he might need it today. It was a big day, but anything could happen.
“You spoke to her last night?” Rendal asked.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“What did you think?”
Harold shook his head. “I think that even when she serves you, she’s still going to be a bitch.”
Rendal laughed. “Did she give you a hard time?”
“She’s too smart, and she likes to joke too much.”
“Joke?” Rendal asked.
“’Mock me’ is probably more accurate, Your Grace.”
“That is one of her most endearing traits,” Rendal said. “But enough with your own personal issues. We’re bringing her in front of the entire kingdom today. What do you think she’s going to do? That’s why I sent you to her, is it not? To give me your honest read?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Rendal chuckled. “Well, get to it, man.”
“I think that if she takes the oath, she’s going to abide by it.”
“Why?”
“Look at what she did for her first oath,” Harold said. “She followed you on ships, across deserts, and to strange kingdoms. She did everything within her power to kill you. If she takes another oath, I think you’ll get the same dedication.”
“And what of her first one?” Rendal asked. That was the crux. If she would betray her first oath, why not the second?
“You heard the conversation she had with Mason and Goland?”
“Of course,” Rendal answered.
“She thinks she’s honoring her oath by taking another one, and in a way, she is. She can’t stop you. She’s strong, yes, but if she could have killed you, she would have. I think she recognizes that. More, their kingdom is no longer theirs. It’s yours, so I don’t see that as a huge paradox. The only way to protect her people and Mason is to join you.”
Harold shrugged as if it were the simplest answer in the world.
“It’s what you always set out to do—force her to join you. Now you have.”
Rendal was quiet for a few moments as they walked through the garden. Large bushes and flowers were to their left and right. The morning dew still rested on the grass.
“And William?” Rendal finally asked. “Do you think she’ll fight him?”
“That’s a much tougher question.”
“That’s why we pay you the big bucks, Harold. To think through the tough questions.”
“Your Grace, you know that I’m not paid, right?”
Rendal grinned. “Of course I do. But what good is coin when you have the world at your disposal, am I right?”
Harold nodded but said nothing. Rendal felt slight anger beneath Harold’s surface, and he enjoyed it. Rendal could give this man all the money in the world, different currencies from different kingdoms
, but it would never add up to the power he currently held.
“Tell me, do you think she’ll fight the other Right Hand?”
“I don’t think so.”
“She agreed to, though,” Rendal said. This part had been bothering him greatly because he felt the same as Harold about it. To join Rendal was one thing, but to kill her friend? That seemed to be too much.
“I know, but... I just wonder if that won’t push her to the edge. If that won’t make her revolt against the oath, and in public.”
Rendal nodded. “This is why I like you, Harold. I mean, you can’t really fight for shit, as you showed with William back in Sidnie, but you tell me the hard truths. The things I need to hear.”
“Maybe,” Harold said, “she doesn’t need to kill him. Maybe she only needs to watch him die.”
Rendal raised one eyebrow. “And how do you propose to make that happen?”
“By my hand. She watches us fight, and that’ll be enough. So long as she stands by and does nothing, that should be plenty to show her loyalty.”
“You’re going to kill him?” Rendal smirked. “You had some trouble last time. If I remember correctly, I had to step in to keep you from not only embarrassing yourself but dying.”
“That won’t happen this time, Your Grace.”
“Care to tell me why it’ll be different?”
Harold reached into his pocket and pulled out a small orb. “Artino modified it. I press down on the top, and when I throw it, the detonation will be small enough to only hurt those within a few feet.”
“Not bad, Harold. You are smart, even if you can’t fight.” Rendal was enjoying his small digs. Once Riley came on board, he would not see very much of Harold anymore. The man would be cast farther down the totem pole. Perhaps Harold would like taking orders from Riley?
Harold ignored the comment. “That’s my opinion. I can kill him, Your Grace, and it won’t push Riley over the edge. You can still have exactly what you want.”
It actually sounded like a good idea. A better one than Rendal’s own, actually.
“Okay, then,” Rendal said. “If you die, I’ll step in and kill him. And if you live, I guess that’s a positive too.”
Magic Unchained (Hand Of Justice Book 4) Page 14