Lies Ripped Open

by Steve McHugh

  “So it’s a trap. This whole thing is a trap so he can get me somewhere of his choosing and kill me?”

  “That’s my summation, yes. He, at best, badly hurts Fiona, devastating Alan, her friends, and hurting Avalon. After that, he gets you, one of Fiona’s friends, to put aside your anger and march him out of the realm. And you can’t kill him until you’ve reached your destination. By which point, I assume there will be an army waiting for you.”

  “So, how do we stop this from happening? Any chance we can just kill him?”

  “No, if we go around killing people who cite the Accords that’s going to lead to a dangerous precedent. If Enfield had given a substitute for him to fight, then we could have substituted anyone else, but the fact that he chose Fiona doesn’t give us a lot of leeway.”

  I wracked my brain for an answer, and then I had that tiny sliver of an idea, the kind that pops into your head and then vanishes just as you begin to grasp it, but you know it was there.

  “How much do you trust me?” I asked Elaine.

  “Like you were my own son,” she told me without pausing.

  “Can you get Fiona and Lucie in here? Probably Alan too since I doubt he’ll be leaving her side anytime soon.”

  “You’ve got a plan?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t think anyone is going to like it.”

  “Does anyone die? And are the rules of Avalon broken?”

  “Maybe and I don’t think so, in that order.”

  Elaine raised an eyebrow in question, but left the chambers to fetch the people I’d asked to see. They all returned, with Olivia and Tommy in tow, a few minutes later.

  “So what’s your plan?” Alan asked.

  “Fiona. You can’t take Enfield. He will kill you,” I said. “You’re injured and only came out of a coma a few hours ago. Frankly, I’m amazed you’re walking at all. I have two plans. The first is . . . Fiona, can you cast an illusion that will make me look like you?”

  “No, that’s not possible. Certainly not well enough to keep you looking like me for an entire fight.”

  “Right, plan two. I need you to forfeit.” And then I told everyone my plan.

  Everyone shouted at once, mostly at me, mostly with swearing and calling into question my mental acuities. I believe the words dumbass and fuckwit were used on more than one occasion.

  “I’m not planning on getting killed,” I assured everyone. “But this is the only way to keep me and Fiona alive.”

  “Does it go against the Accords?” I asked.

  Lucie, Olivia, and Elaine walked off to speak to one another. They weren’t gone long. “No,” Olivia said. “It’s a hell of a gray area though. You can’t just spring this on him once he’s accepted Fiona’s forfeit. You’ll need to be out of the arena, but somewhere open with few chances for his escape.”

  I thought about the best location. “The field we drove past, the one where we were attacked. Have your people in the woods. I’ll tell Enfield there. He might try to run. I guess we’ll see.”

  “You sure you want to do this?” Elaine asked. “He won’t take it well.”

  “I’m not going to let him get away with killing Fiona, or anyone else. This is going to end in Camelot, today.”

  “We’ll make the preparations,” Elaine said. “I suggest you do the same.”

  The place where all Accord disputes are settled is called the arena. Not the most original of names, I’ll grant you, but it does exactly what it says on the arch leading to it. The arena is a large, oval pit, which is covered half in grass and half wooden floor. Seats are all around the arena much like a Roman amphitheater, although on a much smaller scale. The arena seats about five hundred people, although as I walked under the arch and down to the front row, I noticed it was full of members of the council, including a few very powerful figures within Avalon’s world. Whether they were supporting Fiona or Enfield, it was hard to tell.

  Elaine stood in the middle of the oval and raised her hands for silence. Runes had been carved into the wooden floor of the structure so that those in the back of the arena could hear without problems.

  “Tonight a dispute will be settled,” Elaine started. “Enfield has requested Fiona as his opponent.”

  Both contestants were already in the oval. They looked at one another and then nodded to Elaine.

  “Before we start, you will both tell us what you wish to have as your prize if you win.” She pointed to Enfield first.

  “Nathan Garrett will escort me from this city, out of the realm, to a place of my choosing.”

  “And Fiona.”

  “You tell us where Kay is.”

  Enfield smiled. “Deal.”

  “This fight will be until one can no longer compete through being rendered unconscious or submits. Do either of you have anything else to say?”

  Fiona nodded. “I forfeit.”

  The crowd exploded with noise; most appeared to be unimpressed with the verdict. Enfield smiled; in fact he beamed, before looking at me and winking.

  I made my way to the oval and the crowd grew quiet again.

  “It is Fiona’s right to forfeit,” Elaine said.

  “You did the right thing,” Enfield said. “I really didn’t bear you any ill will.” He turned toward me. “I guess you’re mine now.”

  “That’s what people tell me,” I said.

  “We’re leaving,” he said to Elaine.

  Elaine stood between him and me.

  “Move aside, Lady Elaine. You’re impeding Avalon’s own law.”

  She stepped aside and Enfield completed his journey toward me, stopping a foot away. “I know you want to kill me, Nathan. I get that. But you can’t, not without going against Avalon law.”

  I was aware that his words had traveled to everyone in the arena.

  “We should leave,” I said softly. “Now.”

  “Don’t want me to revel in my victory?” Enfield laughed, and I had to remember not to attack him.

  “I’ll be coming with you,” Elaine said, and the faintest flicker of anger shone on Enfield’s face. “It’ll be easier for me to explain to Avalon agents what you’re doing. It will ensure no one tries to stop you.”

  “You can’t actually pull anything, so that’s fine with me,” he told her, his tone full of snide. “Can’t possibly go against Avalon law, now can we?”

  It wasn’t long until we set off out of the Arena, with Elaine walking a few meters in front of us, telling guards and anyone else who tried to interfere that it was fine. By the time we went back to the palace—nothing more than a five-minute walk—we’d been stopped half a dozen times.

  “We’d be best walking around to the east and then double back when we’re closer,” I said. “Otherwise we’re going to be stopped every few seconds.”

  “And that bothers you?” Enfield asked.

  “If you die, it falls to Elaine and her people. I couldn’t give two shits what happens to you, but I care about her.”

  Enfield sighed. “Fine, we’ll do it your way. No matter to me.”

  As we reached the park, a fairly large crowd had decided to join us, mostly consisting of those who had been deprived of a real contest at the arena, along with guards, agents, and a general mix of people who simply wondered what the hell was going on.

  “You know, I’ve got some stories to tell you,” Enfield said. “Would you like to hear them?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Do you remember Montana? The first time you met Sky?”

  “Of course.”

  “You weren’t meant to meet her. I jumped her before she could get to that ranch. You were meant to be long gone before she arrived, but obviously you found that body and the rest is history.”

  I stopped walking. “Are you telling you were involved in Montana, with the lich?” The lich in question had taken over a small town; its inhabitants believed that it was there to help make them rich and powerful. He’d lied to them all. And I’d made sure they’d all been punish
ed for their crimes.

  “Someone got that book to the man who would use it to become the lich; that someone was me.”

  The book was a step-by-step guide for a sorcerer to turn themselves into one of the most terrifying monsters I’d ever encountered. One that had left me for dead.

  “People died,” I said, keeping my anger in check.

  “My masters wanted it done, so I did it. I believe it was a test to see how liches perform. Unfortunately, after that disaster and then the death of another lich only a few years ago, one you personally killed, it was decided the experiment was over. Shame really.”

  I didn’t bother telling him that it was Olivia who’d killed the lich in the end. “Anything else?”

  “Oh, Simon Olson in Maine. Remember him? Do you remember that he had visitors? That someone was checking up on his progress to find some people we needed? Guess who?”

  “You were there too?” I kept the shock out of my voice, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me even slightly flustered.

  “I’ve been lots of places. Simon was meant to find someone who could create his own guardians. We could have marched into any realm we felt like with guardians we could create ourselves. You managed to fuck all of that up too. Do you see why my masters don’t like you? You’re always in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s infuriating.”

  I walked off to a nearby steep bank and glanced down at the stream below.

  Enfield turned to me. “You really want to show all of these people that you won’t follow through with the law?”

  “Oh, I’m following the law,” I explained.

  “This isn’t taking me out of the realm.”

  “No, I’m not going to be doing that.”

  “He dares to defy your laws.” He proclaimed at the top of his voice.

  “Explain, Nate,” Elaine demanded. She had to be seen as having no part in all of this.

  “I don’t want to take him to the realm gate; in fact I refuse to do so.”

  “Do you have any reason why this is the case?” she asked.

  “Because this piece of shit tried to have me killed, tried to have my friends killed, and I don’t see why I should have to help him anymore.”

  “I demand retribution,” Enfield said. “Someone bring me a blade and I’ll take his head here and now.”

  Elaine removed a blade from the scabbard of a nearby Avalon guard, and passed it reluctantly to Enfield.

  “On your knees,” he said to me, pointing the tip of the sword to my heart.

  I did as I was told.

  “Do you have any final words, before I run you through?” he asked.

  “Nate, just take him to the gate,” Elaine pleaded.

  “Fuck you, Enfield,” I said.

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “I invoke the Accords,” I shouted. “And I challenge Enfield to fight.”

  CHAPTER 36

  To say that Enfield was unhappy would downplay his complete tantrum that followed my invocation of the Accords. He had to be wrestled to the ground and his sword removed, while I sat there looking as smug as I possibly could.

  “You can’t do this,” Enfield said for the hundredth time.

  “Actually, that was my concern too,” I told him. We were sitting opposite one another in the park, while the various Avalon representatives who’d followed us now argued amongst themselves about whatever politicians argue about. Everything, and nothing, I assumed.

  “You see, I too was worried that it went against Accord law, but it doesn’t.”

  “Of course it does, you smug prick,” Enfield snapped. “You can’t use the Accords on me when I just used them.”

  “Actually, turns out I can. You see you challenged a member of Avalon, and specifically a member of the SOA. So your problem was with them. I’m not a member of any Avalon agency, and I don’t work for Avalon in any capacity. I’m outside of that remit. So I could challenge you, because the original challenge couldn’t be given to me to perform.”

  Enfield’s face dropped.

  “You thought you were so clever,” I continued. “Turns out you shouldn’t have picked a fight with an agent of Avalon. Maybe you should have picked Tommy, or even Alan, neither of those work for Avalon. But you didn’t. And you’re a stupid idiot for it.”

  “You’re not going to get away with this.”

  “I already have. People like you think they know the law, but they don’t really. You throw about the general idea because you think that’ll scare people off, but you don’t know shit. The Accords were only meant to be used in times of possible war. They weren’t created for a criminal to use to get out of being arrested. I can’t think of many criminals who’d want to do it. But because you picked Fiona, singled her out, you forced yourself to take the part of one organization fighting another. In this case, you picked a fight with Avalon. So, now I am picking a fight with you and your entire organization.

  “The organization of people against you and your masters. It’s not a catchy name, I’ll admit.”

  “How many members do you have in this group?” he demanded. “Otherwise it’s just you and then your declaration of the Accords is still illegal.”

  I stood up, and thankfully everyone fell silent. “How many people here want to join my organization against assholes like Enfield here?”

  Alan, Tommy, and Fiona were the first three who took a step forward, followed by Lucie and Olivia.

  “Ta very much,” I said and sat back down. “Enough people for you?”

  “I won’t tell you anything,” he declared.

  “We already know you can’t tell us anything of use. I don’t care about that.” I leaned forward and whispered, “I’m betting enough of these people work for the same group as you though. And I’d like to send them a message. So, congrats, you get to deliver it. Well, when I say deliver it, I mean I kick the shit out of you.”

  “You think you can take me?”

  I smiled. “With a song and dance in my heart.”

  Enfield was mercifully quiet after that, until Elaine bid everyone for quiet. “The declaration of the Accords is legal. Nate will fight Enfield. However, Enfield gets to pick the stipulations.”

  “No magic,” he said immediately.

  “That is standard for all fights,” Elaine pointed out.

  “Yes, but I want us both wearing sorcerer’s bands to ensure it.”

  There were murmurs of approval in the crowd, and Enfield couldn’t have looked more pleased with himself if he’d discovered that he could, in fact, lick his own scrotum. “Let’s see how you cope now, you piece of a shit.”

  I remained quiet, but was a little concerned to the point that I missed the rest of what Elaine was talking about.

  “Do you agree?” she asked me.

  “Eh?” I managed.

  “Enfield has requested that the fight be here, now, and that there be no weapons allowed, save for what you can pick up during the fight. It’s also to the death, Nate.” She leaned over and whispered to me, “A number of those here are quite keen on that idea.”

  “Sounds good to me,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear.

  One of the guards—a young woman with a round face—brought over three sorcerer’s bands and attached the first one to Enfield’s wrist, with an audible click. He shivered for a moment and then smiled. The guard placed the band on my wrist and paused. “I’m sorry, I have to do this,” she said softly, without meeting my gaze. And then attached a second just above the first. “That’s for your necromancy.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” I told her.

  She looked up at me and nodded once, before clicking the band shut. The effect was immediate, as the glyphs that had been in regular use on my arms for several days vanished at once. I dropped to one knee, while Enfield laughed across from me. His laughter stopped when I glanced up at him and winked. I got back to my feet and brushed my knees down.

  “The venom left my body a few hours ago,” I
told him.

  The crowd had grown even larger since we’d arrived at the park, now consisting of a massive group of over a thousand people, who encircled us. I spotted Tommy and Olivia. Tommy gave me the thumbs up, but I noticed that Olivia’s and his hands were squeezed tight against one another.

  “I hope you can do this,” Elaine said as she walked past me.

  Me too, I thought.

  “When you’re ready,” Elaine shouted and then stepped back.

  Enfield sprinted toward me, and when I moved aside, kicked out toward me. I blocked the kick, but he followed it up with a second and a third, each one coming quicker than the last. Even without his magic, Enfield was a formidable opponent. He kicked out at my lower leg, which I blocked, and he lashed out with a fist. I moved aside and snapped a punch of my own at his jaw, but he grabbed my arm, bending it back and locking the joint, before turning and throwing me over his shoulder to the ground. I narrowly missed a stomp to the head as I rolled away, but couldn’t avoid the kick to my chest as I got back to my feet.

  I landed on the ground, the air having left me before I ever reached it. I expected to have Enfield try to follow up immediately and when that didn’t happen, I got back to my feet to discover he was standing there waiting for me.

  “Didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?” I asked.

  I walked over to him and threw a quick jab at his jaw, which he easily avoided, but he walked right into the kick to his knee, which took him down to a kneeling position, before I caught him in the chest with a powerful enough punch that he fell to the dirt. I took a step back and motioned for him to stand.

  He did so, using the back of his hand to wipe the blood that was trickling from his mouth. Without warning he dashed toward me, with more punches and kicks, each one avoided or blocked and returned with more of my own. By the time we were done, we both had split lips and dirt-covered clothes, and I noticed that he changed his fighting stance to protect sore and vulnerable ribs.

  Enfield moved in with a vicious kick to my ribs, but I’d already seen it coming and kicked up at his calf muscle, defusing it of any power and causing him to limp back. Instead of allowing him a moment to breathe, I piled on the pressure, catching his injured calf with my knee, and then smashed my elbow into his exposed ribs. Enfield tried to push me back, and I grabbed his wrist, twisting it and swiping out at his feet, dumping him on the ground headfirst. I kept hold of the wrist and stepped over his arm, locking the elbow in place and then wrenched the limb back as hard as I could. The shoulder popped and Enfield screamed in pain, but I hadn’t expected him to ignore it and roll to the side, dragging me over and forcing me to release my grip.