The Gods' Games Volume 1 & 2: Graphic Edition (The Gods' Games Series)

by Quil Carter

  The King of Lelan’s eyes narrowed at this and he nodded stiffly. “Thank you, Ben. You may join your friends.”

  Ben stepped back, letting out a deep breath, and walked back to Teal and Malagant. He avoided the stricken look of Teal though prepared himself for an earful once they were out of this.

  “Lord Gaevon, un-gag my son.” Korivander turned around and motioned Lord Gorat over. “Lord Firemane, this is your hall which you have been kind enough to let me use. I humbly ask your permission to pass judgement on your land.”

  Lord Gorat nodded. “Of course, Korivander.”

  “I want judgement in Lelan. I want judgement in my home!” Taugis’s voice sounded.

  “I will not waste my time bringing you to my kingdom, I have a council to attend,” Korivander said caustically. “I have two kingdoms I need to save and a daughter I need to bury. I will not inconvenience Alcove any more by delaying the council that may save it. Especially considering the elf who is causing this seems hell-bent on aiding its destruction!”

  “Then kill me and get it over with!” Taugis cried, trying to wrench himself free from the lords; it took both of them to hold the prince back. “Kill your son to avenge the worthless life of a human. A HUMAN!”

  “I’m not a fucking human!” Ben suddenly yelled. He started stalking towards Taugis but he felt hands on his shoulders holding him back. “I’m a fucking hibrid and I was brought here to help save Alcove. You almost condemned the entire kingdom over something I never–”

  “Don’t you fucking dare talk to me, you’re a godless fink!” Taugis screamed, his voice bordering on hysterical and his mutilated face making him look demonic in the firelight.

  Ben tried to wrench himself free of Malagant and Teal. “I came from my damn world, to SAVE YOURS! You should be thanking me not fucking trying to kill me, you pathetic pompous piece of shit!” Ben yelled. “I’ve shot little pricks like you in my world.”

  “Okay, he gets it. Ben, quiet,” Teal hissed in his ear.

  Ben had to clamp his mouth shut to avoid himself from yelling further. Taugis bared his teeth at him; Gaevon, Fideus, and Grady were now holding him back.

  “Taugis Luceon.” Korivander’s voice echoed through the halls. Immediately, Taugis stopped struggling, his bloodied face tightening as he turned to his father. Ben did the same.

  “For attempted murder of the pendant carrier Ben, and for the murder of your sister Princess Aurelle Luceon. I strip you of your title –”

  “NO!” Taugis shouted. He fell to his knees; Korivander continued.

  “– I strip you of any claim to the throne of Lelan, I strip you of your right to father children, and I… King Korivander Luceon, Hand of the God Lelander, Overlord of Lelan and all of its holds, exile you from all Lelan claims and Valewind. Let it be known that after you are escorted to the border of Valewind, if you are caught in this hold, or mine, or if the prophecy walkers ever lay eyes on you, it will be just that your punishment be death, carried out by those who found you.” Korivander raised his booming voice even higher so it could be heard above Taugis’s screams of protest. “I also sentence to you, to be carried out immediately, Lelander’s Shame.” Korivander reached to a dagger sheathed in his belt and took it out of its scabbard.

  “Oh, oh, bloody Shol,” Malagant whispered. He pulled Ben’s shoulder making him step back. “Watch this, Ben,” he hissed into Ben’s ear. “I won’t blame you if you close your eyes.”

  “He’s… oh gods,” Teal whispered. Ben looked at them in confusion and alarm, but Taugis was screaming too loud for him to even bother talking.

  He watched as Prince Eliander, supported by Migheer, walked over to his father and stood beside him.

  “I ask you, Lordling Migheer, Lord Gorat, and you, Grady, to hold him down. Lord Gaevon, bring me one of the stone top tables in the corner.”

  Ben’s eyes widened but he was still silent. He watched as Gorat, Grady, and Migheer grabbed the prince and dragged him, screaming, to Korivander. Moments later with a loud thunk, a grey table was placed in front of them.

  Korivander, with a blade in hand, watched as Gorat firmly grabbed Taugis’s struggling hand and laid it on the table’s surface.

  Ben watched, his mouth open in shock, as the Lelan King grabbed Taugis’s middle finger with his left hand and held it firmly, then, with his right, he held the shining dagger to the digit and started to saw it off.

  Ben could hear the grinding sound as the knife sliced through the socket which connected the finger bone to the hand, before a scrape when it cut the top of the stone table.

  Taugis screamed, a shrill scream so pain-filled it should have horrified Ben, but, in truth, he was hiding a satisfied smile. He watched, smugly, as a spurt of blood erupted from Taugis’s finger stump like a small geyser, before Korivander nodded to Gorat to bring up the prince’s other hand. The act was repeated, and Ben was treated to the same grinding crunch followed by the scraping as the knife cut through the finger and onto the stone table.

  “Take him to the next room, the last gift I will give my son is that this is only witnessed by his family and the healer,” Korivander said quietly. He handed the bloody knife back to Eliander. “Instruct Torasen to stem the blood flow and treat his wounds as well.”

  Then he turned to the three. “Prophecy walkers, this court is dismissed. I only pray the justice I have given Taugis is sufficient.”

  “It has,” Malagant spoke for them. “We’ll take our leave.”

  King Korivander inclined his head. “I’ll be by tonight. Please do not stray far or leave Rhastt. I need to offer my sincere apologies in private.”

  And with that the king turned away from them. He walked to a door off to the side, with Eliander behind him. Then following the two, Gorat and Grady dragged Taugis, who had gone silent.

  It was a quiet walk back to their quarters. As soon as the door closed behind them Ben leaned up against the wall. There was a nauseous pit inside of his stomach and he knew it wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Why did he cut his middle fingers off?” Ben asked. He watched as Malagant sat wordlessly on his bed. Teal was already getting out the silverwine from his canvas bag.

  “It’s the biggest shame you can bestow a Lelander,” Teal explained quietly. He leaned his head back and shot a stream of the orange stone peach wine into his mouth before pouring all three of them goblets. “The Lelander’s middle finger is the one needed to draw their bows; Taugis will never be able to use a bow and arrow again.”

  “Good.” Ben took his cup from Teal. He took a long drink and sat down on one of the chairs in front of their oak mantle fireplace. Then his eyes took him to Malagant; he hadn’t said a word since they had left the hall.

  “Mel, are you okay?” Ben said quietly. Of course he wasn’t okay, he had just lost his cousin, but Ben wanted to reach out to his friend somehow.

  Malagant, who was staring, unblinking, at his own leather boots, slowly looked up at Ben.

  Ben looked back, not really knowing if he should say something else.

  “Where did you learn how to growl like that?” Malagant asked, straight-faced.

  Ben blinked and looked at Teal. “Don’t – don’t all hibrids growl?”

  “Not the tame ones!” Malagant suddenly exclaimed; he turned to Teal. “You taught our human to growl? Growl like a feral? And you bit him? Bit him? Savages. I’m friends with feral little savages.”

  And that was it for Teal; the poor high-strung hibrid’s face dissolved and he started to cry.

  At the absurdity of it all, or perhaps it was the stress reaching a crippling point, Ben started to laugh and Malagant wasn’t too far behind. Though Teal just stood there like a lost puppy, standing with his hands to his side with tears rolling down his face.

  “You’re all cruel maniacs,” Teal sobbed, turning away from them. “Why are you laughing? Nothing’s funny here!”

  “Aww, Teal.” Malagant got up and put his arms around Teal. He held his friend close and sq
ueezed him. “If I don’t laugh, I’m going to run back to the hall and gut Taugis like a fish. Laughing is all I have.”

  Teal sniffed, his head turned to the side as it rested on Malagant’s chest. “I’m sorry, Malagant. I’m sorry about Aurelle; I should’ve kept a better eye on him.”

  Malagant let out a long sigh as he released Teal. He turned and grabbed the silverwine and drank the entire contents with one gulp. When he was finished he refilled the cup and sat down on the bed. “No one could have predicted it. Please, Tee, don’t play the blame game, no one could’ve predicted this happening. Taugis got his sentence, Ben’s fine, and we’re leaving tomorrow, and when we do we’re never mentioning this again. Just please, please don’t mention Aurelle. That I’ll be unable to handle right now.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry, Malagant.” Teal sat down beside him. Ben walked over and sat on the other side of Malagant. They both leaned their heads on Malagant’s shoulder.

  Malagant took another drink. “The only one who should be apologizing is me, to Ben. Ben, I’m sorry I didn’t see that Taugis was a threat to you. I hope his punishment is good enough for you. I personally would have rather seen him killed, but I think what he’s getting done to him right now is worse than death.”

  “Exile and his fingers chopped off? I’ll say,” Ben said.

  Malagant choked a bit on his wine. “No, Ben. The other thing.”

  He looked at his friend and noticed him shuddering. Malagant glanced up at Ben and sensed his confused expression. “His sentence included taking away his right to father children, Ben. Didn’t you hear the last thing Korivander said? Doing it away from the view of everyone? They’re castrating him. Chop chop goes the family jewels.”

  Ben stared at Malagant for a moment, a blank stare as if what his friend had told him had failed to register properly, but slowly the reality of what was in store for Prince Taugis started to come to him.

  And the shock was then replaced by a rather sick satisfaction, especially the fact that it was probably being done right now.

  “He’s smirking – look at him, Teal. He’s smirking!” Malagant said aghast. Then he smiled himself and leaned his head on Ben’s, which was still resting on his shoulder. “If we ever see him again… we’ll have to see how high his voice is. Perhaps they’ll let him keep his balls in a jar. Can you imagine?”

  This did make Ben shudder. “I’m never breaking a law in Lelan.” And at that he felt his legs squeeze together.

  Then Malagant shifted. Ben raised his head and saw his friend lean back until he was slumped on the bed. He stared ahead, the contents in his goblet swirling around as he moved the cup in small circles. “I really want to get out of here as soon as we can. Ben, I know we didn’t test out your riding, and I know you’re a little bit bruised… but do you think you can ride tomorrow?”

  Without even thinking, Ben nodded. Though he was sore and his wounds had been aggravated during the fight with Taugis, he was willing to bite through the pain if it meant leaving Rhastt.

  He looked down at his arm. It felt hot to the touch and it looked like it was swelling again but he could still move it, and his fingers too. But he had been able to climb with it and he’d been able to fight off Taugis, kind of, with it. It was good enough and the rest of the healing could be done on the road.

  “I can,” Ben said. “I’ll find a way. I want to be back on the road as quickly as possible too.” Far away from Taugis, far away from royals, lords, and guards; back on the road with just him and his two best friends. It was less complicated that way.

  “I have to give it to you though,” Malagant said, raising his head and looking at him. “The only reason Taugis almost had you was because he was a big enough fink to try and kill an unarmed elf. Once he lost his bow, you had him. I didn’t know you had it in you, you were ten seconds away from killing him.” He then looked over at Teal. “And you, forest rat. You didn’t just bite him; you destroyed his face too, didn’t you? You have his flesh stuck in your little claws.”

  Teal looked down at his fingers; the usual white claws were caked with dried brown blood.

  Teal extended his claws and picked out a chunk of what Ben realized was skin. “That was me.”

  “Any notion that the two of you couldn’t bring that jewel to Garas alone is folly. You’re vicious, wild little creatures,” Malagant said as he took Teal’s hand into his own and pressed down on Teal’s finger knuckle, making the claw extend further. He examined the sharp claw and let out an impressed whistle. Ben extended his own claws; he was so used to his hibrid body now he sometimes took it for granted just how different it was from not only a human’s, but a regular elf’s as well.

  Teal smiled as Malagant played with his fingers now testing the sharpness against his own skin. “He’s mine to protect. Anyone who messes with my Ben is going to have to answer to me.”

  “They’ll have to answer to the both of us, he’s my human too,” Malagant said, and at that comment he put a hand on Ben’s head and shook it around playfully. Then Malagant got up and grabbed the silverwine. “We’re going to need more of this and some mocco as well. I need to poison my lungs and my liver some.”

  It was several hours of making a point of doing absolutely nothing, when there was a knock on the door.

  Ben, Teal, and Malagant looked up from their game of poker. Ben had been dreading this, though he knew it was coming, and he knew it was something they were going to have to get through.

  Malagant set his cards down, all that could be heard was his chair scraping against the hard wood as he rose to his feet. He walked over and opened the door, and just as Ben had suspected, King Korivander walked in. He was alone.

  The Lelan King closed the door behind him and inclined his head to the three. His serene face was worn and he looked incredibly tired. Considering what he had just been through however, Ben thought he looked well; a lot better than he would have been in his place.

  Malagant offered the king a chair but he declined and stood beside the door. It didn’t seem like he intended to stay long.

  “Ben,” Korivander started. “My and Lelan’s deepest apologies for the actions of the elf who was once my son. He has brought not only shame on the great House of Luceon, but also shame to his god. House Luceon and all of Lelan will be in your debt and, rest assured, Lelan and all of its holds will know of the favour that is owed to you. I apologize and want it to be known that no grudge in my House or my kingdom is held against you for your prior origins. It was Taugis’s grudge that he bore alone.”

  Ben bowed to him. “Thank you, King Korivander, and I’m sorry for your loss today.”

  Korivander nodded and continued, “When Taugis is fit for travel, he will be escorted to the border of Valewind. If you ever see him, or if he dares stalk your shadow, I ask you to execute him, and send proof to me so his death can be noted and confirmed in the records.”

  “We will certainly do that, Uncle,” Malagant said, his voice hard. Ben knew why; even the thought of Taugis tracking them down made his stomach queasy. They didn’t need to worry about that on top of everything else they had on their plate.

  “When will you be continuing on your journey?” Korivander asked gently.

  “Tomorrow, Uncle,” Malagant said. “Ben can ride now, and we think it’s best that we depart quicker than planned.”

  Korivander nodded. Then he reached into his robes and took out a small crystal vial. He turned to Malagant and pushed it into his hands.

  “Malagant, my nephew, this is Kova’s Seeve. The last bottle I have. Take this as my gift to you, to aid you on your journeys. Please accept it.”

  Malagant’s mouth dropped open; he stared at the bottle with a look of absolute perplexity. “This will aid me like nothing else. Thank you, Uncle.”

  The king smiled at Malagant though it was a smile that was weighed with sadness.

  Then he turned to Ben. “Ben, I want you to have Taugis’s bow. It is black ironwood, a gift only bestowed o
n the most honourable of Lelans. I want you to have his bow so you can restore its honour, honour that was lost on it when it was drawn against not only a prophecy walker, but a treasured friend to the Luceon House. You’ll find it on your horse when you leave in the morrow.”

  Ben was at a loss for words. He had no idea how to use a bow and arrow but he had always wanted to learn. The thought of being able to practice on the Lelan prince’s bow was something he never thought possible.

  And the fact that it would undoubtedly enrage Taugis was quite the treat as well.

  “And Tee. I have gifted you something as well, you will also find on your horse,” the kind Lelan King said, resting his hand on Teal’s shoulder. “I know that this gift will bring you pride and I only wish I could be there when you see it.” He gave the three one last sad smile, before heading to the door.

  “Lord Gorat’s servants are packing your horses with your belongings and fresh supplies. It is the least Lelan Hold, and Rhastt, can do.”

  “Uncle…” Malagant said, as the king opened the door to leave.

  “Yes, nephew?”

  “I’m – I’m sorry I can’t stay… for her funeral.”

  The king’s hand slid from the door frame; he nodded to himself and looked at Malagant, his eyes heavy. “She would have never wanted you to, Malagant.”

  He bowed his head to the three, and left the room.

  It was still dark out when Malagant roused Ben. Ben stretched and put his bare feet onto the floor. He looked out the only window in their bedroom and could see the hints of purple and dark blue start to appear over top of the mountains. It was foggy this morning, though Ben could still see the faint twinkling of the stars, shining their splendour before they disappeared from the rising sun.

  Malagant handed Ben a bundle wrapped in twine and then a pair of brand-new black leather boots, complete with three silver buckles that went up the sides. Ben admired them for a moment, the aroma of oiled leather a smell he’d come to enjoy, and unwrapped the twine – it was his new travelling clothes.