Light the Reign (The Forgotten: Book 3)

by Cole, Laura R

  “They found another one?”

  “Yes! There’s only one left other than the stone of the tribe she’s traveling with who are bound to just give it to her!” he was nearly foaming at the mouth he was so frantic. “And not only that, but there’s talk of not even needing the last stone, that the items the party has sent back from the north have been so successful in stopping the progression and spread that they think they can cure it with just these and not have to bother with trying to get the last one. They are going to find the cure before us, and they could be stopping taking the chokeroot any time now!”

  “What?” Kali clenched her teeth. She was so close. She couldn’t let them stop her plans when they were so close to coming to fruition. She would have to show them that the disease was worse than they thought.

  The blubbering man was still talking. “Once they have the cure, they will not be happy to find out that I have been harboring the Bricrui in my manor. I should have told them right away! Now I will not be the one to find the cure, but will need to beg their assistance to cure mine! Not only that, but people in the manor who shouldn’t have the curse are starting to become ill. I think it might be spreading!”

  Starting to become ill? Kali thought. Had he not been keeping track of the infected at all? She knew that the Bricrui had already spread throughout the entire manor and she had ensured that it had advanced quickly.

  “They’ll stop taking the chokeroot and their talents will return, and I’ll be doomed! Doomed, I tell you! We need to finish our cure right now.”

  One of the ways she’d been manipulating him was by convincing him that they could come up with the cure to the disease themselves, before Gelendan did, proving to Treymayne that they didn’t need the merger, and making him a hero. She’d even actually broken the curse on one of the worst cases to prove to him that they were making progress. Of course, she’d lied and said the man wasn’t totally cured – though he was – and he’d unfortunately had to stay at the manor…where he was immediately re-infected.

  The man was hyperventilating and mumbling about telling the Ieldran and the Council everything. The time was upon her.

  Swiftly, she pulled out her knife and drew the sharp blade over his throat. Before his body hit the ground, she was strolling out his front door, and none of the servants tried to stop her. She felt the rush of power flow past her as his death released the wards on the manor, letting the Bricrui free.

  She immediately made for the main part of town, searching the signs for a tavern. Spying one, she went inside and sat herself in the most crowded area. Sticking her finger into the ribs of the patron next to her, she leaned over and said loudly, “Have you heard? There’s an outbreak of the Bricrui curse right here in town!”

  *

  Sir Ruawn finished his report and Layna chewed on her lip. Indeed, the bodies had been piling up in the North End, and all within the wee hours of the morning. It seemed that their concern over something disturbing occurring was correct. Layna hated to think that there could be someone so depraved to be murdering the Bricrui for fun, but given all that she had experienced these last few years, very little was beyond her realm of imagination.

  “We’ll have to go back again tonight,” Gryffon stated and Layna nodded absently. That was obvious, the question would be how they were going to find out what was going on when they had seen no indication of any foul play any of the other times they had observed the area.

  “Perhaps we could draw them out,” she said slowly and both Sir Ruawn and Gryffon turned to her. “If we gave them something they want…”

  “You mean a Bricrui?” Gryffon asked with a hint of disgust in his voice.

  “I don’t mean use someone actually infected, or–” she paused uncomfortably in the face of the situation; that probably every person in the city was infected, “at least not one who’s showing the signs of the last stages. But we could make it look like we were and it might attract whatever person it is.”

  “You cannot be serious, Majesty,” Sir Ruawn exclaimed in alarm. “It is one thing to go into the city to sneak around to see what’s going on, but it is quite another to dress yourself up to be targeted! It may be something as simple as someone who views themselves as a vigilante, thinking that they’re doing the right thing killing off the Bricrui.”

  “Except for the state of the bodies,” Gryffon pointed out. “They are torn to pieces. That is not the work of an honorable person trying to keep the streets safe.”

  “And all the more reason for you not to put yourself in danger. Whoever this person is, you don’t want to put yourself in the situation of being their next victim.”

  “It just might work,” Gryffon murmured, ignoring Sir Ruawn’s protests.

  “We could use make-up to make our skin look pale and glue on something to make it look as though we have pustules all over. Magic would have been easier, but…”

  “We can do it without,” Gryffon said firmly. “It’s decided then, the only thing left to determine is who we’re going to use as bait, me or you.”

  Sir Ruawn opened his mouth again, but wisely chose to shut it again, once they had made up their mind, there was no swaying their decision. Instead he said a moment later, “At least let me put together a few men to follow you in at a discrete distance for this outing. That way once you find this madman we can come to your aid.”

  Layna nodded, “That would be acceptable. And as for who will be the bait, I will.” The tone she used broached no argument, though she could see one formulating in Gryffon’s mind. “That way you will be unhindered by disguise to protect me,” she pointed out.

  Sir Ruawn’s immediate relief that they would at least allow guards with them on this escapade evaporated and his face filled with worry once more. “One of the men, or myself, would be better suited to be the bait,” he said.

  “Nonsense,” Layna shook her head, “We couldn’t possibly expect one of you to do such a thing, it is far above and beyond your duties.”

  “My lady,” Sir Ruawn protested, “this curse has pushed everyone far above and beyond, including Your Majesties.”

  She smiled at the concern in his voice. “I appreciate you and your men’s willingness to stick by us in these trying times,” she said, “but I cannot be dissuaded. I need your sharp eyes on the lookout for trouble as well.”

  They made their way back to the palace and Layna called one of her most trusted maids into her private rooms.

  “Yes, Your Majesty?” the woman curtsied prettily, looking rather ruffled and still half-asleep. Layna was reminded that though she and Gryffon were now used to the late nights they’d been keeping, most normal people were in bed at this hour. No doubt her summons had woken the girl from sleep and she’d been forced to try and make herself acceptable before answering.

  “I’m sorry to have woken you,” Layna began, “but I need your help with something.”

  The girl’s half-closed eyes brightened a bit. “With what, Your Majesty?”

  “I need you to make me look like one of the Bricrui,” she told her, “Do you think you can do that?”

  The girl’s eyes opened wide now, her brows shooting upwards. “Why on earth would you want me to do that?” she blurted out, disgusted, before catching herself. “Sorry, Your Majesty,” she curtsied again, “Of course, right away.”

  She busied herself gathering the implements she would need for the task and Layna watched her practiced hands fly over the table, pausing to hover over this powder a moment, then flitting to another to add it to the pile. Layna thought about having the girl sworn to secrecy over this request, but decided it would be pointless. As good as the girl’s intentions were, something as juicy as this odd request was bound to slip out sometime. And besides, hopefully after tonight whatever it was that was going on in the North End would be over.

  The girl got to work, and Layna watched in amazement as her reflection changed miraculously by the maid’s careful handiwork. The girl was certainly suited to the task
, and despite having been woken from sleep to perform it, seemed to be enjoying herself. The final result was hideous. Layna hoped she never got to see herself actually turned into one of the Bricrui after this glimpse into what her future could hold. Not that she would much care what she looked like at this stage in the disease…

  “Oh,” exclaimed the girl, wrinkling her nose, “You look awful!” She bit her lip, “I mean good-awful, but…”

  Layna smiled, though when she saw the result in the mirror quickly returned to a more neutral expression. She wasn’t quite sure why, but something about such a menacing-looking countenance bearing a smile was terrifying.

  “Thank you very much,” she dismissed the girl, letting her get back to her rest, “and don’t worry about getting here too early tomorrow, sleep in.”

  The girl smiled her thanks, though still wearing an insanely curious expression and turned to leave after giving Layna a final curtsy.

  “Wait,” Layna held up a hand, sighing inwardly, knowing the feeling all too well. The girl deserved something for her hard work.

  The girl turned back, curiosity turning to worry as she examined Layna’s face, no doubt thinking that she had seen something that needed to be fixed.

  “There is something odd going on in the city,” Layna supplied, not wanting to give away too much information, but also not seeing the harm. The people were well aware by now that the disease was taking hold. Those who had started the chokeroot too late, or who had refused to take it at all were more numerous than Layna had ever expected. It also inexplicably seemed to be progressing faster and faster in the cases in the city. “The number of Bricrui in a particular area has been turning up in greater numbers than would be expected. We believe that someone may be using them to further their own needs, or taking it upon themselves to wipe out those infected, forgetting that we all are.”

  The girl’s eyes widened so wide now that Layna thought they might bulge out of her head. “And you are going to try and catch these people by disguising yourself as something they want?” The incredulity in her voice made Layna doubt the success of their plan for a moment, but at the girl’s next words realized where it really stemmed from. “You can’t do that! You’re the Queen!”

  Layna just smiled – knowing the effect – and sure enough, the maid curtsied quickly and removed herself from the room. She gathered the rest of the things she would need. Though Leoht would have to be left behind since a sword bouncing on her hip would be a rather dead give-away, she was not about to go in empty-handed. She stuffed her clothing with knives, then began ripping them and rubbing dirt all over herself.

  Gryffon entered as she was bent over, trying to get a rip in her pants to tear farther without success, and she jumped at his sudden appearance. Her jerking motion surprised him, and he stepped backwards, drawing his sword.

  “Going to stab your own wife are you?” she asked him, putting a hand on her hip and giving him her widest grin, which she knew must be horrible. She eyed his sword. “You know, I was planning on you impaling me later anyway, but that wasn’t quite the weapon I was thinking of.”

  Gryffon sheathed the sword and moved closer to her. “Normally, that kind of talk would be most endearing, but I have to admit, at the moment you’re rather repulsive.” He wrinkled his nose and raised a hand to touch one of the pustules the maid had so painstakingly painted onto her, but withdrew his hand before it made contact.

  “Thanks so much,” she replied, resisting the urge to plant a wet one on him. It would serve him right, but she didn’t want to ruin the maid’s handiwork. So instead she gestured to the door. “You ready?”

  “Yes,” he agreed, but hesitated, “We need to get you to wear a cloak or something until we’re in position.” He opened up her closet and took out a plain black one. “Otherwise, someone might attack you before we get there, you’re so convincing.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” she murmured, pulling the hood of the cloak tightly around her face. She definitely didn’t want to be skewered on the end of a guard’s sword by being mistaken for one of the unfortunate souls who were past helping.

  “Oh,” said Gryffon, turning back around from where he stood by the door. “I almost forgot, here.” He held out two small red blobs. “These go in your eyes; they’ll change your eye color to mimic the red color of the Bricrui. We sometimes used them when I was training to be a spy in times where magical illusion would be detected.”

  Layna carefully inserted the things into her eyes and blinked a few times, expecting them to be uncomfortable, but was pleasantly surprised that she hardly noticed them. A quick glance in the mirror revealed just how horrifying the effect was.

  “You’ll never look at me the same again, will you, my love?” she lamented to Gryffon.

  He grinned at her. “Nope.”

  They rendezvoused with Sir Ruawn and his team back in the tunnels, and Layna received a similar reception by each of the guards. Gryffon was correct to hide her, and even thought to warn them, which was a good thing. Otherwise, a Bricrui so close to the King would immediately have been attacked. Even so, several put their hands to their weapons in response.

  “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Sir Ruawn asked hopefully, obviously wishing he could change her mind somehow.

  “I’m sure, let’s go,” she said determinedly, and led the way towards the North End through the tunnels. When they emerged, she hung back in the shadows while the guards and Gryffon with Sir Ruawn took their positions. When everyone gave the signal that they were ready, Layna sauntered out into the street, mimicking the faltering gait of the Bricrui she had observed.

  Luckily, people now knew not to be on the streets at night, so other than wait for whatever mysterious event was occurring with the Bricrui to take place, she didn’t have to worry too much about being seen and attacked out here. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for real Bricrui. They were not picky about who they attacked, and would kill and eat another infected just as soon as one not. Her hand tightened around the knife in her sleeve and her heart pounded in her chest.

  The valiant show she’d put on for Sir Ruawn and the others was just that – a show. In reality, she was terrified, but knew that it had to be done. It was bad enough that the people were being reduced to blood-thirsty creatures without those lucky enough to still be healthy desecrating them.

  She took another unstable step and spied a rat out of the corner of her eye. Remembering the scene where she and Gryffon had observed one of the Bricrui going after such a vermin once before, she dove for the pest.

  And was immediately covered in a net. She struggled against the bonds, and made hissing noises like the Bricrui did, though hers were utterly lacking in their ferocity and sounded much more like plaintive mewing to her. As she bucked against the netting holding her, she saw Gryffon stepping out of the shadows and surreptitiously shook her head at him. The person or persons responsible had not yet shown their faces.

  Her heart pounding in her ears from fright, she thrashed against her bonds with renewed force, but it was no use. She collapsed into a heap on the ground, panting dramatically loudly. After a few moments, several shadows detached themselves from a nearby building and slunk forward.

  They moved quickly, and before she knew it, Layna had been hauled up onto someone’s shoulder, and a sack thrown over her head. Fear coursed through her now, unable to see whether or not Gryffon and the others had been able to follow the hasty abduction. She moaned every time her head slapped against the back of the person carrying her, hoping it would help them locate her.

  After what seemed like an eternity being thrown around on someone’s back, they finally reached wherever it was they were taking her. Something solid was placed around her neck and secured into place. She was flung unceremoniously onto a cold slab of earth and she heard the scraping of metal followed by the clang of a door shutting. She tried to sit up and immediately hit her head on a hard surface above her.

  She reach
ed up and removed the hood. Before her vision cleared, something moved quickly towards her, banging up against the side of the cage she now realized she was in. She scrambled away from it, pressing against the opposite wall, but not nearly far enough. Something latched onto her hair from behind and pulled it hard. Her eyes watered in pain and she cried out.

  Yanking her hair out of the thing’s grasp, she centered herself in the small cage and peered around at her surroundings. She appeared to be in a metal enclosure, similar to those that people in the cities often used for their dogs, and there were several rows of these. Many contained other ‘guests’ of the Bricrui in various stages of decay and infection. Several looked to be severely injured; one’s blood-red eye had been completely gouged out, leaving one red eye and one gaping red hole.

  She swallowed hard. Above the din of spitting and growling around her, she could hear some sort of commotion in the other room. She strained her ears to make out what was going on. It suddenly hit her what this was. The sounds in the other room grew louder and were followed by a roaring crowd of cheers and jeering.

  This was a fighting ring. Most likely the same people who had previously used these cages to stage illegal dog fights had adapted it to accommodate a new kind of fight: The Bricrui pitted against one another. She felt sick to her stomach. Where were Gryffon and Sir Ruawn?

  The sound of laughter abruptly got louder as the door to the room she was being kept in was opened and two men stepped in.

  “Which one will be the lucky one to fight the champion?” one asked, his beady black eyes scanning the room.

  The eyes lit on her and Layna sucked in her breath. They wouldn’t pick her, would they? She had just arrived. She felt herself beginning to shake. Though Gryffon had insisted since their adventures that she be taught all manner of forms of combat for protection, she still had no desire to go up against one of these creatures.