Ascension (Blight Book 1)

by Terry Schott

  "Are you ready to have kids?"

  "You might have waited too long for that. I’m an old hag now. Likely barren as death comes knocking on my door."

  Leo laughed and shook his head. "Stop it."

  "Of course I’m ready for kids. As long as you don’t expect me to stop working."

  "Not at all."

  "All right then." She leaned over and kissed him on the lips, biting as she drew away. "Let’s get married."

  "Big event or small?"

  "I see no point in having a big celebration, unless you want one."

  Leo shook his head.

  "Okay then. Get the Doc to do the ceremony this week."

  "Are you sure you don’t want a big party?"

  "Future husband." She ruffled his hair. "It would disrupt our business and set our plans back by months just to have a silly party."

  "It’s not romantic."

  "Make up for that in the bedroom and I will call it a fair trade."

  Leo grinned. "You have a deal."

  ***

  Prince Adam began to climb the stairs to retire for the evening and sensed that something was wrong.

  The torches are out.

  He took the remaining steps two at a time and stopped at the top of the landing, listening for any sounds. Hearing none, he walked slowly toward his father’s chambers, reaching out to feel for the wall, inching forward until he felt a metal torch holder. The torch was nestled in place and it was still warm.

  He pulled a chain from under his shirt to expose a pendant. It glowed with a soft blue light which penetrated the darkness and allowed him to see the hallway ahead.

  "Damn it," he whispered.

  Two guards lay a few feet away. He went to them. Their throats had been slit.

  They didn’t draw their swords. There must be two attackers.

  The prince drew a sword from one guard’s scabbard and a dagger from the other’s, then crept toward his father’s bedroom door.

  He removed his pendant and listened. After a moment, he pushed it open with one hand while closing his eyes and tossing the blue gem into the room. As the chain lost contact with his hand, the gem flashed from blue to a bright yellow, lighting the room. Prince Adam opened his eyes and rushed in.

  The prince’s eyes widened in horror. His father lay in bed, eyes wide and vacant, with a knife protruding from his throat as blood seeped out of the wound to form a large pool on the mattress around him.

  The assassin was still in the room, struggling to force a window open to escape. Adam yelled and ran forward. When the attacker turned, his legs stopped working. All he could do was stand frozen and stare in disbelief.

  Leo’s smirking face stared at him for a second before he turned away and leapt out of the open window. The prince regained control of his muscles and rushed to the window, leaning out in time to see the shadow of his friend grab onto a rope and swing silently to the ground.

  "Assassin!" the prince yelled. "Someone on the ground stop him!"

  The shadowed form touched the ground and ran away, disappearing into the darkness. A wave of dizziness overwhelmed the prince. His face became hot and he gasped for breath. His vision began to dim and he gripped the window sill, looking down at his feet and willing himself to stay conscious. After what felt like eternity, the feeling lessened. He turned and rushed to his dead father’s side, cradling the king’s head in his lap as he screamed for help.

  49

  Oak ran through the alley as fast as he could, pushing aside anyone slow enough to be in his way. He reached Lord Argon’s building and stopped to rap a sequence on the door which deactivated the magical wards protecting unwanted intruders from entering.

  "Father!" He strode into the main hall and stopped.

  "What?" Lord Argon’s groggy voice sounded from a room upstairs.

  "We have trouble." Oak stood in front of the throne, his shoulders heaving as he took large gulps of air. As his breathing slowed, the large doors slammed open and Lord Argon came stalking in, his long black hair messy and strewn in different directions, a large black fur thrown around his muscled frame to cover his otherwise naked body.

  "You have trouble." Argon’s voice was deep and his eyes were wide, making him appear more like a wild bear than man. "What in the nine hells has happened that you come storming into my lair in the middle of the night?"

  "Leo has been arrested."

  "What?" Argon shook his head and went to pour a glass of wine. "That makes no sense. He is established enough that no one would arrest him. Not in the middle of the night, at least."

  "He’s been charged with killing the king."

  Argon’s head snapped around to look at his son and he stopped pouring the wine. "The king is dead?"

  Oak nodded. "Killed in his bed an hour ago by an assassin."

  "And someone is claiming that Leo hired the killer?" Argon considered the glass in his hand for a moment before shaking his head and setting it down. He carried the decanter of wine to the throne and rested the large container on his lap.

  "No." Oak sighed. "They are saying that Leo is the killer."

  Lord Argon tilted his head back and roared with laughter. The sound filled the hall and echoed from the rafters. He stopped laughing and wiped tears from his eyes. "I don’t know what joke you have decided to play on me, boy, but it’s so absurd that I find it hard to remain angry with you."

  "This is no joke, Father."

  "It’s not?"

  Oak closed his eyes and shook his head.

  Argon stroked his beard. "Lissandra?"

  "I am here, Lord." Her smooth voice sounded from behind him and she stepped forward from the shadows.

  "Who makes this claim?" Argon asked.

  "Prince Adam. He was in the room and claims that he saw Leo flee."

  "This does not bode well for Leo." Argon reached out to touch Lissandra. She moved closer to his throne and placed one hand on his arm.

  "They have Leo in custody," Oak said. "Mouse has gone to get the doctor and Stick is taking Syntha to someplace safe."

  In the distance, the bells began to sound, signalling to the city that something terrible had occurred.

  "What can I do to help?" Argon asked.

  "Nothing can be done." Oak shrugged. "Prince Adam saw Leo in the room with his dead father. He’s a dead man. The smartest thing all of us can do is to distance ourselves from him so that we are not implicated as well."

  "This makes no sense," Argon muttered. "Sure, I can see him planning to end the king’s life. There are always reasons for such moves."

  Lissandra and Oak both nodded.

  "But for him to do the deed himself? Leo is not that stupid."

  "Leo did not kill the King."

  Both men glanced at Lissandra. "Are you certain?" Oak asked.

  "Without doubt."

  "That’s excellent news."

  "No, it isn’t." Argon tapped a finger against his forehead. "Lissandra’s testimony would not be accepted. The prince saw him in the room. No one will speak against him."

  "Then he’s done for."

  "Definitely."

  ***

  "I want to see the prince!" Leo pressed his face into the bars of the small, dark cell.

  "Shut yer mouth!" a guard shouted from the other end of the hall. "Or I’ll come in there and knock every one of your teeth out with my own fist. I swear by all the gods I will."

  Leo tilted his head and leaned into the hard iron, willing himself to melt through the barrier and into the freedom of the hallway beyond. "If I could just talk to the prince"—his voice was a whisper—"I could prove I had nothing to do with this."

  For the rest of the night, Leo listening quietly as the bells chimed.

  50

  Leo sat on the filthy ground in the corner of his prison. One torch guttered in the hallway, throwing dim light into the front part of his cell. Muffled sounds of dripping water and the scurrying of rats occasionally broke the silence.

  A different s
ound reached his ears. "I thought you would’ve been to see me sooner," he said without bothering to turn his head.

  "Is that so?" a woman’s voice replied from the darkness of the opposite side of the room. "I’m surprised you expected me to visit, considering I have never done so before."

  "Lissandra?" Leo swivelled his head toward the sound of her voice.

  She stepped from the shadows. "You were expecting your mouse friend?"

  "I was."

  "Lord Argon decided that Mouse’s talents were required elsewhere, so he sent me instead."

  "What can you tell me? No one has said a word since arresting me."

  "The king is dead and you are accused of killing him."

  Leo raised one eyebrow and then nodded. "That’s a clever plan. Apparently I have smarter rivals than I thought. Who would be able to pull that off, I wonder."

  "Pull what off?"

  "Kill the king such that I was implicated."

  Lissandra laughed and moved closer to him. "If this is a case of someone plotting against you then it can be only one person."

  "Who?"

  "The man who swears that he saw you in the room over the dead king."

  Leo shook his head, unable to guess.

  "Prince Adam."

  "What? That’s not possible. I was never in the king’s room."

  Lissandra shrugged. "The prince says that you were, and that’s all they need to execute you."

  Leo crossed his legs and sat on the floor. "That makes no sense, unless someone used magic to look like me."

  "The Council of Law scoured the entire area for scents of magic." She shook her head. "They found none."

  "Perhaps they missed it."

  "I checked as well. No magic was used."

  Leo sighed and rubbed his face. "It wasn’t me. If there was no magic—". He stared at Lissandra, then stood. "Damn it! Of course. It makes perfect sense, how could I have missed it?"

  "Missed what?"

  "When do they plan to execute me?"

  "Two days from now."

  "There will be no trial, right?"

  Lissandra shook her head. "With the prince testifying, there is no need for a trial. You will be drawn and quartered as the sun rises two days hence."

  Leo pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

  "You must come with me."

  "Come where?"

  "Away from the city."

  "I can’t."

  "You must, Leo. If you want to live, then you must run far away where Adam will not be able to touch you."

  Leo’s eyes became hard and he shook his head. "My life is here. I have spent years building, and I will not begin again. I can’t begin again. There is no time to rebuild from scratch." He paused and then nodded. "Of course. That must be it."

  "What?"

  "Yes." A smile appeared on his face. Leo shook his head and laughed. "By the gods, it’s brilliant. I should have seen it sooner."

  Lissandra frowned. "I’m surprised that the thought of execution excites you so."

  "What?" He glanced at her as if he’d forgotten she was in the cell. He laughed again. "The thought of dying doesn’t excite me. Lissandra, I need your help."

  "That’s why I am here."

  "Bring Prince Adam to speak with me."

  "If he hasn’t visited you by now, I doubt that he will."

  "Someone must convince him to come here."

  "He might try to kill you himself."

  Leo laughed and shook his head. "He will release me if he wants to catch his father’s killer."

  "Leo, you are raving. In the prince’s mind, you are the assassin."

  "That’s right." Leo nodded. "I am."

  "I don’t understand."

  "You will eventually, but right now there’s no time to explain. If you possess any skills, use them to have the prince come speak to me."

  Lissandra frowned, but nodded and stepped back into the shadows. She was gone.

  ***

  Prince Adam slumped in a chair in his study, looking down at the full drink in his hand. He had not slept since his father’s death. Maybe alcohol will bring me some rest.

  "Prince Adam?"

  He sighed and looked up at the man standing in front of him. "Have you come to kill me, Mouse?"

  "No, Your Grace."

  "This is not a good time to sneak into the castle."

  "I am only following orders. If I had come to kill you, we would not be speaking."

  "Leo sent you?"

  "Yes."

  Prince Adam lifted the glass to his mouth and drained it. "Even locked away in the bowels of the earth, he can access help. Has he escaped, then?"

  "No."

  The prince glared at Mouse and then threw the glass against a nearby wall, standing as it shattered. "What then? What is it he wants now?"

  Mouse expression remained calm. "He wants to speak with you, Your Grace."

  "He was my friend." Adam spat the words and tears filled his eyes. "My friend, and he killed my father!"

  "He did not."

  "Lies!" The prince grabbed a small table and threw it against the wall. "I saw him flee as my father bled to death with a dagger in his throat." Hatred boiled in the prince’s throat as he took a step towards Mouse, his fists clenched. "He laughed at me, Mouse. He killed my father, the king, and then he laughed at me as he fled."

  Mouse said nothing as the prince stood in front of him, his shoulders heaving with each angry breath. "I am sorry for your loss, Your Grace. King Edward was beloved by everyone in the kingdom. I have known Leo for many years, and I know him better than anyone. He did not commit this crime."

  "You are loyal. I expect you to say that."

  "Yes. I am loyal. If Leo were guilty, I would have helped him escape and flee by now."

  The truth of the statement made Prince Adam pause. "That is true."

  "Leo is as loyal to his friends as they are to him and he considers you to be a friend, Your Grace. He asks that you come meet with him. After speaking with him, if you still believe he is guilty, he says that he will gladly go to the executioner."

  Prince Adam glared at Mouse. "You have delivered your message. I will consider it. Now go."

  Mouse bowed and left.

  51

  Gerald, the prison guard, looked up from cleaning his fingernails with a dagger as the latch to the door rattled. He stood at attention as two royal guards entered, followed by Prince Adam.

  "Hello, Your Grace," Gerald stammered. He was not used to being in the presence of such highborn people and the unannounced audience put him on edge. "I’m truly sorry for your loss." He winced. Shouldn’t be talking to the prince about his da, idiot. Now what do I say? "What I mean is—"

  The prince held up one hand and nodded. "Thank you for your sympathy. I’m sorry to disturb you at such an early hour."

  "Not at all, Your Grace." Gerald knuckled his forehead in a crude salute and then tried to bow, failing miserably. "What can I do for you?"

  "I am here to see the prisoner."

  "The assassin?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh." He fumbled for keys at his belt. "Of course. If you want to follow me, I will take you to him."

  Prince Adam shook his head and stepped forward with one hand extended. "That won’t be necessary, guard. Hand me the keys and I will go to him."

  "Alone?"

  Prince Adam’s face was blank as he met Gerald’s eyes, his hand still outstretched and waiting.

  "Um. Yes." The guard found the key and placed it in the prince’s hand. "Here you are, then. Go out that door." He pointed to a different door behind him. "Turn left. Follow the hall until the end and take the stairs all the way to the bottom floor. Go to the torch and he is in the cell near that."

  Prince Adam nodded and walked to the door. His guards did not follow.

  "He’s the only prisoner on that level," Gerald said as the prince vanished to the lower level. Gerald looked at the two guards. Their expressions were no
t friendly. "Did you boys want to sit down while you wait? Drink of coffee?"

  The royal guards did not answer him.

  "Okay then."

  ***

  Gerald stood at attention as the Prince reappeared over an hour later.

  "Is everything okay, Your Grace?"

  "It’s fine." The prince returned the key to Gerald and moved for the exit. The guards fell into formation behind him.

  Prince Adam opened the door and paused, turning to face Gerald. "Guard?"

  "Yes, Your Grace?"

  "Release the prisoner."

  "I don’t think I heard you correctly, Grace. It sounded like you just said to release the assassin."

  "That’s right." Adam nodded. "Let him go free."

  "Um, okay, Your Grace. I will see to it after the paperwork is created and signed first thing in the morning."

  "No. Do it now." The prince turned and strode through the door. His guards followed and closed the door behind them, leaving Gerald with his mouth open.

  "Well." He sighed. "You heard the prince, Gerald. Let’s go release the assassin."

  52

  Finley looked up from his work and spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

  "Leo!" he shouted, waving to get his friend’s attention, but Leo ignored him.

  "Watch the stall for a moment." Finley removed his apron and tossed it onto the cart beside the apples.

  "Yes, Da." His son continued to pick potatoes from a pile and place them into a bag for the customer standing in front of him.

  Finley scanned the crowd and, after a moment, saw Leo far ahead of him. "Leo!" he shouted again. "Wait up for a moment."

  This time, Leo seemed to hear him. He turned, made eye contact with Finley for an instant, then quickened his pace and disappeared into a nearby alley.

  "What is that boy’s problem today?" Finley pushed through the crowd and made his way towards the alley. He entered the darkened area and, now that there was no crowd to slow him, began to jog to catch up. He had run no more than thirty steps when an arm reached out from behind and grabbed him by the throat, making him gasp for breath.