Rendal laughed alone as the two continued their walk.
William watched the only door in the room swing open. Alexandra was awake, but Worth and Eric had fallen asleep in their cells.
William didn’t move. He was sitting on the floor and leaning against the bars. He’d ended up scattering the pebbles across the floor, although the parchment was still in his pocket. He had to find a way to tell Riley; he was only waiting for his chance.
The man entered the room silently, and William recognized him immediately. The mage’s lackey—Harold. The door closed quietly, not waking either Worth or Eric. Harold glanced at the other three, then his eyes fell on William.
“You should open my cell, Harry,” William said. “Then we can finish our little dance that got interrupted back in Sidnie.”
Harold was quiet as he walked forward.
“Do you think if I kill you now, your daddy will save you?” William grinned. “Because that’s what happened last time, right? Daddy had to step in because you couldn’t handle the big bad Right Hand?”
“When I’m done with you, I think I’m going have your tongue removed, then have you beheaded,” the lackey said.
“Do it now, then. No one is going to stop you—except for me.”
“I forgot. You don’t know what’s happening outside your little cell here, do you?”
William’s grin faded.
Harold’s grew wide.
“That’s right, you haven’t heard. Well, in a few hours, we’re going to bring you all outside. All four of you, plus Mason and Goland. You will all get to witness Riley Trident swearing an oath of allegiance and servitude to Rendal. Then, to top it all off, she’s going to be forced to watch me kill you.”
“That’s not true,” Alexandra said from the other side of the room.
“Hell no, it ain’t,” William agreed. “I mean, you know where you fucked up with that lie? The last part. Saying you’re goin’ to kill me. That’ll happen the day your dick grows bigger than mine.”
William smiled again, although inside his rage was boiling. He didn’t want to show it to this lackey, however.
“Make your jokes now, Right Hand. Soon your tongue is going to be in some bird’s intestines. There will be soldiers coming to get you soon. Please don’t give them a hard time. I’m really looking forward to killing you in front of the entire kingdom.”
“You know what, Harry? I was thinking about paying your mother a visit when all this was done. I’m sure she’d like some of the Big Willie lovin’, as they call it, but when I look at you, I can’t imagine anyone birthing such an ugly son of a bitch being any more attractive. I mean, she must be one ugly whore, am I right?”
A flush rose in Harold’s face at that. Finally, something was getting to him.
“Please, William, continue this when we get outside. I look forward to shutting you up for good.”
“Oh, you can bet on it, Harry.”
The lackey turned and left the room, moving just as silently as when he’d entered.
Worth and Eric were both awake. William looked at Alexandra. “Sorry ‘bout that. I don’t normally talk about women in such ways, I just really hate that guy.”
“No worries. I’m sure she is an ugly whore to have birthed an abomination like that.” The queen of the Chosen grinned.
“It not true,” Worth spoke up. “Riley no betray us. She no take new oath.”
“Of course she fuckin’ won’t,” William nearly shouted. “It’s just another trick from Rendal, is all. Just another mind game.”
“But what about you?” Alexandra asked. “If it is a mind game or a trick—which of course it has to be—what part are you playing in it? He says you’re going to fight in front of the kingdom?”
William shook his head and stared at the ground. “I’m not sure. I ain’t worried about fighting Harold over there. Even if they keep this damned necklace on me, I’ll be able to take him out—”
“William,” Eric said from the opposite corner. “They’re not going to make this a fair fight. You know that, right? There’s no way Harold is going to face you in front of the entire citizenry and have any chance at losing. You’re walking into something rigged.”
“Aye, I think you’re right on that count. It ain’t gonna be fair, but I still think I can take him. That’s not what concerns me.”
“What does?” Alexandra asked.
William wanted to tell them about what was in his pocket, but he couldn’t. He didn’t even want to risk passing the parchment around.
“Riley worries me, what’s happening to her. Goland and Mason worry me, what the plan is for them.” William looked at the three. He finally sighed, deciding that they needed to be ready and the risk had to be assumed.
He stood, walked to the edge of his cell, and picked up one of the pebbles he’d discarded. He pulled the parchment from his pocket and wrapped it around the rock.
“Worth, I know you ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed and your fighting skills are shot from all you’re boozing, but be smart and quick here.”
Worth grinned. “Worth smarter than William.”
William tossed the rock and Worth snatched it out of the air, his hand as quick as a serpent’s strike.
He unrolled the parchment, read it, and looked up. William nodded. Worth moved to the other side of his cell and tossed the rock and parchment to Alexandra. She read it, then sent it to Eric, and finally, the small rock made its way back to William.
He placed both the rock and the parchment back in his pocket.
He stared at all three of them, making sure each understood the meaning. Something was going to happen today out there in Kingdom Square, and when it did, they’d need to be ready.
Chapter Twenty
Old Harry hadn’t been lyin’.
The soldiers showed up, opened the cells, and shuffled everyone out. Chains were placed on their wrists and ankles. William felt he could have lumped up quite a few of the soldiers, but in the end, he would have gone down, especially without a weapon or magic.
They were led up long flights of stairs, and finally out into daylight.
“I really hope he kills the four of ya,” one of the soldiers said. “I’m so tired of taking care of ya bastards.”
“Undo these chains, and you won’t have to take care of anything ever again, sweetie,” Alexandra shot back.
The soldier shoved her forward.
“Careful, tough guy,” William said. “It’s easy to push around women who’re chained up and wearing these damned necklaces, but I’m gonna remember your face. I imagine Alexandra will too. It’s gonna be a bad day for ya, I bet.”
The guard laughed dismissively. “I’d wait until ya see what’s in store for ya before ya start bettin’.”
The crowd was enormous, larger than anything William had seen before. It appeared to stretch forever, yet when the soldiers marching the four of them reached the outer limits, it began to part.
William watched as soldiers pushed and shoved, some of the citizens actually catching a pretty hard licking. Their group was heading to the platform in the middle. So far, it was empty.
William noticed the new elements, though—the roped-off area and the addition of more cinderblocks.
What the hell is all that for? he thought.
Shouts of support pulled him from his thinking.
“We’re behind you, Right Hand!”
“You’ll kick all their asses!”
William stared ahead, thinking only of the parchment in his pocket. How many of these people were prepared to fight? How many would grow scared when the moment came?
He had to keep his faith.
They made their way through the crowd, finally reaching the platform, and were led up on it. A smaller platform had been constructed on top of the concrete one, this one made out of wood. It had thronelike chairs on it, although not the one from the castle. William looked beneath this new platform, able to see through to the other side, and there he
witnessed the Prefect and his son being led from the opposite direction.
William swallowed, wanting to murder every son of a bitch involved in their capture.
Goland and Mason reached the platform and were brought around to William’s side.
William lowered himself to one knee. “Your Grace.”
“GET UP!” a soldier shouted, slapping William across the face.
William’s mouth twisted to the side and he looked up at the man, hate spilling from his eyes. It was the same man who had shoved Alexandra. “Very soon, you’re going to regret that.”
The soldier didn’t so much as look at William, but shouted, “All of ya stand over here to the side!”
William reached his feet and was led to the platform’s edge. Mason stood on one side of him, Goland the other.
“You’ve heard what they’re saying, Your Grace?” he asked.
“I’ve heard,” Goland answered.
“Have you talked to Riley?”
“She came by our cell,” Mason answered.
“And?”
“There’s not much to say. She said she is going to remember her duty.”
“’Remember her duty?’” William raised an eyebrow. “Forgive me, Mason, but you do not sound very confident.”
Mason sighed. “She didn’t sound very confident.”
William looked out at the crowd, seeing more people arriving in the distance. Truly, this would be the most people this square had ever held.
“What do you mean, Assistant Prefect?”
“He means,” Goland interrupted, “that she sounded like she was lost.”
William shook his head. “You cannot believe that, Your Grace.”
“William, I can only tell you what we both saw. She said she would remember her oath, and that whatever happens, we should know that she remembers it.”
William looked at Mason. “You know her as well as anyone, sir. Is that your opinion too?”
“I don’t know.”
Both men sounded lost to William, and he wasn’t going to put up with it. Perhaps they had been beaten down, but he hadn’t. Linda had asked him if he was a hero, and he hadn’t known the answer, only that he had a duty to uphold.
He still did.
“May I ask you both a question?”
“Of course,” Goland answered.
“When did you both become complete pussies?”
Mason and Goland turned to him then, their eyes wide and shock written on their faces.
William grinned. “Seriously, though. Did it happen overnight, or has this been a gradual thing?”
It was Goland who smiled first, and then Mason joined, and both started laughing.
“Riley won’t betray us,” William said, staring at the back of one of the guards in front of him. “I don’t know what’s happening, but I believe in her.”
Mason’s and Goland’s laughter subsided.
“I want to,” Mason said. “But we heard what is to happen. She’s going to swear allegiance.”
“There’s that weakness rising in you again.” William grinned. “I was told I’m going to fight Harold. I trust you two have met that asshole?”
Both nodded.
“Well, I plan on killing him quite nicely in front of everyone, and there’s other news, too.”
Again the two rulers looked at him.
William gauged the distance between the guards and him and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Out there, right now, is an army. In the crowd. They’re waiting for us. When we fight, they’ll fight.”
“How do you know?” Goland whispered back.
“The rugrats got word to me.”
“The who?” Goland asked.
“Shhh. Don’t worry about it, Father. I know who they are,” Mason responded.
William nodded. “Riley doesn’t know, but it doesn’t matter. That woman is the toughest bitch I’ve ever met, and she’s not going to bow to Rendal or anyone besides the two of you. And if I may speak frankly, I pray I never have to tell her you’ve recently turned into pussies.” He chuckled, knowing that he would never get a chance to make fun of them like this again.
“If you’re right, and we get out of this, William, I’m going to make you my court jester.” Now Goland was grinning, and William finally felt good despite what was coming.
And then fucking Harold stepped onto the platform.
“Hear ye, hear ye! Our great and wonderful Prefect is arriving.”
“Get ready for fireworks, sirs,” William whispered. “Shit is about to explode.”
Rendal stepped onto the platform next, his Honor Guard spreading out around him. Everyone was dressed in the dark red he loved so much.
He glanced at Mason and the little crew to his left. Rendal wasn’t exactly glad that he was letting the majority of them go, but in the end, it was the best deal.
Rendal had come in from the right side of the platform, and Riley now approached from the left. She wore her sword in her sheath, and her necklace had been replaced. She’d behaved last night, but Rendal wanted the added benefit of the kingdom seeing him remove it.
He watched her, as did the rest of the crowd. Thousands of people were staring at this one woman who would both legitimize his rule and allow it to thrust farther into the world. Goland Ire had told them to submit, but in their hearts, they still thought Riley would return to free them.
Now that she wouldn’t, they’d understand the full truth.
Riley knew where to go. She walked up the short stairway to the chairs that had been built higher up. Her throne. Not a queen, but a disciple.
Harold handed Rendal the amplifier and stepped back to where the rest of the Honor Guard stood.
Rendal looked out at the crowd. His moment was nearly here.
He put the device to his lips.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming once more. I know a lot has happened in a very short amount of time, but I promise you, it’s almost over. Today, in fact, is the last of it.”
Rendal smiled as he turned to Goland’s group.
“I’m a generous ruler, as you’ll all come to know in time. You’ll see this generosity on display today.”
Next, he turned so that he stared up at the chairs. At Riley.
“Riley Trident, Right Hand of New Perth, has decided to take an oath of allegiance to me. In exchange for this, I’ve decided to let the old rulers leave, as well as the rest of her friends and loved ones.”
He turned around once more, staring into the crowd. “I know that there are others who owe loyalty to Riley in this crowd. I know that many of you are frightened by what might come of you if your presence is known. I’m telling you now, step into the light, and you may leave with the rest of her friends. No harm will come to you.”
No one moved. No one in the crowd said a word.
Rendal looked at Riley. “Tell them.”
She stood, taking a step forward. “It’s true!”
Her voice sang out loudly across the gathered.
“If you come forward, you’ll be allowed to leave!”
And still, no one moved.
So be it, Rendal thought.
“There is one man,” he continued, “who refuses to bow. Who refuses to see reason or wisdom. He is, in fact, a traitor to himself, to New Perth, and to you all. I’m bringing peace to this place, but he only wants war. He only wants violence. He is the other Right Hand, William Teller.”
Rendal looked at the big man. He was grinning, almost laughing, and that made Rendal want to spit on him. He held his anger in check, though. Soon Teller would be worm food.
“Despite my pleas for peace and my desire to allow him to leave with the rest of his group, he refuses.” Rendal stared into the crowd. The faces were all frightened and nervous. He smiled warmly. “I could put him to death, but he is a warrior, and I will not do such a thing. I’m a magnanimous leader, and a warrior deserves a warrior’s death. He will fight now, in this square, and he will meet his end.”
“My second in command will fight him, and when that is done, Riley Trident will take her oath.”
His speech finished, Rendal extended his arm, and someone took the amplifier from him. He turned around and looked at Riley. Her eyes were wide, although Rendal couldn’t tell if there was relief in them or not. He hadn’t told her until just now that she wouldn’t have to kill William. She’d only have to watch.
Rendal walked through his Honor Guard and up the stairway. He sat down next to Riley.
“What is this?” she whispered.
William was being dragged up from his knees, the chains removed from his hands and legs.
“I’m not a cruel person, Riley,” Rendal explained. “There’s no need for you to fight him to show your loyalty. I only need you to watch him die.”
Rendal grinned.
Riley stared forward as the Right Hand was handed a sword.
William had grinned at Rendal, but he felt no joy.
He’d listened to Riley say it was true, the evil things Rendal was spouting. She’d taken no oath yet, but now she sat next to the dark mage, watching over all of this like some kind of devilish queen.
Harold threw his robe to the ground. A sword was placed in William’s hand.
He felt the weight of it, but only secondarily.
His eyes were on Riley. She stared down at him, but he couldn’t read her. It was as if she wore a mask.
It can’t be true, he thought. This can’t be happening.
“Eyes over here, fat boy,” Harold mocked. “You keep looking up there, this is going to be a much, much shorter fight than I intend.”
William’s head slowly turned to Harold. “The only person in the world who gets away with calling me fat is sitting up there in that chair, so shut yer fuckin’ mouth.”
“Funny thing, isn’t it?” Harold asked. “She’s up there in that chair, and you’re down here about to die. Did you think this was how it would turn out?”
William gripped his sword hard. It was a light thing, and William knew immediately what was wrong with it. When he struck using all his force, it would break. Maybe at the hilt, or maybe the blade would simply shatter like glass. Either way, the fight wouldn’t be fair; he’d been right about that.
Magic Unchained (Hand Of Justice Book 4) Page 15