Proditor : Book 5 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “Yes”

  Kyle sighed and took the Spanish crusher from her hands, “Stop it.”

  “Simple then?” Sotomar asked. “A fight… she runs… guards chase… she gets away… Exavior catches her and finds himself surrounded?”

  “Yeah, that’ll be hard to pretend,” Emily said, irritated.

  “We need to prearrange a spot for her to end up. Somewhere that we can have guards hide for days, so no one will know they are there,” Chevalier said.

  “The Durango?” Emily suggested.

  “That’d work. Exavior knows you go there often,” Kyle told them.

  “Course, not since you ripped the door off,” Emily reminded him.

  Mark slipped his cape off and pulled it over Emily’s shoulders when she shivered. The room was damp and cold.

  “So maybe the Durango won’t work, where else is a good landmark?” William asked.

  “Just name it, I can get bucked anywhere,” Emily told them.

  “You can make a horse buck on command?” Silas asked.

  Emily shrugged, “Not exactly, but I do have a snake’s rattle out in the stable. One shake and it’ll buck.”

  “You could get hurt doing that,” Kyle said.

  “Not too bad,” Emily assured him.

  “So where then?” Chevalier asked.

  “The guard’s party area,” Mark suggested. “Can you get there?”

  “Yes,” Emily said, tapping the cat’o nine tails against her leg.

  “So we station them all around it. Em can get bucked off in the clearing,” Chevalier said. “Can you act injured?”

  Emily grinned slightly, “I think I have that covered.”

  “Have the Valle take the north line, the Encala can take southwest, and the Equites will take the southeast, forming a triangle. Then we’ll post Powan and Thukil in a circle around that,” Chevalier said.

  “Sounds good,” Sotomar said. “How long do we want to leave them there before this happens?”

  “I say at least four days,” William said. “The problem will be leaving without being seen.”

  “If we go in the light of day, it’ll be easier,” Mark said.

  “In small groups, say, two or three,” Sotomar suggested.

  “Why won’t you tell me what this does?” Emily asked, turning the top crank on a metal device as the four leaves began to spread.

  William’s eyes grew wide, and he took it from her, “You… it’s… no.”

  “Then it’s set,” Chevalier said, chuckling. “We all in agreement? A lot of this needs to be impromptu. If it’s too staged, it could give us away.”

  “We’ll reinforce with eight of our…” Sotomar’s voice trailed off as Emily began to look around the room.

  In her boredom, she looked up and her eyes focused in on the shackles hanging on the wall. She saw images of the starving heku grabbing at her legs, and she instinctively pulled her knees up to her chest and rocked, still watching the shackles. Her mind replayed the feel of Exavior’s rough hands and his eyes as he watched her hanging, unable to get free.

  “I’ve never had such an exquisite creature in my control before. It’s quite stimulating.”

  Emily exhaled slowly, her eyes fixed on the bloody shackles. She felt the rack sitting beside her, the feel of her arms and legs being pulled painfully apart from her body, how Exavior ran his hands along her body and pressed his teeth into the flesh of her neck.

  “I see that something also needs to happen between us for this to continue. How exactly am I going to prove to you that I am better for you than that Equites?”

  Emily buried her face between her arms, leaning her forehead on her knees in as small of a ball as she could get. She rocked slowly, trying to wipe the images from her mind and erase the memory of the pain.

  “Equuelius… escalera… banc de torture… schlimme liesel… streckbank… la veglia…” Emily whispered into her arms, words that Exavior repeatedly used as he chatted with her during her time of intense pain on the rack. “Errare humanum est, ego te absolvo, meus uxor.”

  “Em?” Kyle asked softly, and knelt down beside her.

  The room had grown quiet as she chanted foreign words for the rack torture that Chevalier was sitting on, and rocked back and forth on the blood stained dirt floor.

  “Errare humanum est, ego te absolvo, meus uxor,” Emily whispered frantically, repeating a phrase that Exavior said to her often while she was in pain.

  Kyle glanced up at Chevalier and then back to Emily. He reached out and softly touched her arm, “Emily…”

  Emily screamed and jerked away from him, immediately returning to her tiny ball.

  “Leave us,” Chevalier whispered.

  The heku all blurred from the room, but Chevalier held his hand out when Kyle tried to leave, “Stay.”

  Kyle nodded and took the cat’o nine tails from beside her and hung it back up.

  “Emily,” Chevalier said, crouching down beside her. “Look at me.”

  Emily shook her head, “They’re starving.”

  “They aren’t here,” he whispered. “Look at me.”

  Emily looked up at him and he hated the way she looked at him, terrified, a look that was normally uncharacteristic for her. He reached under her slowly and stood up, cradling her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her face against his neck.

  “Errare humanum est, ego te absolvo, meus uxor,” she whispered.

  Kyle opened the door for them, and Chevalier stepped out of the interrogation room and then headed up the stairs.

  “Valle 1 is here,” Sotomar whispered. “Everyone’s on board.”

  Chevalier nodded and followed Sotomar and Kyle up to the helicopter. He easily jumped on board and belted himself in, still holding Emily.

  “Equites’ Council City… go…” Sotomar yelled.

  The helicopter took off, followed by four other helicopters, and headed out over the water.

  “Errare humanum est, ego te absolvo, meus uxor,” Emily whispered again. “He kept saying it.”

  Allen sighed, “To err is human, but I have forgiven you, my wife.”

  Chevalier glared at him, and Allen sat back against his chair and looked out the window.

  “Get rid of that room,” Emily whispered.

  Chevalier grinned slightly at Sotomar and then whispered to Emily, “I can’t get rid of it.”

  “It all hurts.”

  “I know, but I can’t get rid of it.”

  “Swear you’ll never put me in there,” Emily muttered.

  “I swear,” Chevalier said, and kissed the top of her head.

  The helicopters split up just before reaching Council City. The helicopter with the Elders landed softly on the roof while the others disappeared from sight. Emily was asleep in Chevalier’s arms, and even the loud bang of the doors opening didn’t wake her.

  Zohn jumped out first and turned to the others, “Put her in bed. Make sure she stays there while we meet.”

  Chevalier nodded, “Mark, Silas, do it.”

  Mark took Emily from Chevalier, and she stirred slightly and leaned her head against his neck. Silas and Mark headed down the stairs first.

  William sighed, “She’s becoming a problem.”

  “It won’t be much longer,” Chevalier said. “Just keep up the pretense for a few more days and once we know for sure if she’s pregnant, then we can decide.”

  “Just remember, if she is, it comes to the Valle,” Sotomar said, grinning.

  “I don’t care, now that Alexis was promised to us,” William said, walking inside.

  Sotomar chuckled, “I prefer an infant, easier to train.”

  Allen glared at his Dad and disappeared down the stairs. The Elders walked down toward the council chambers, no longer speaking.

  ***

  The three Equites Elders, along with Sotomar and William, sat alone in the council chambers, discussing the upcoming trial. Zohn and Richard, the Equites Chief Interrogator, had discovered m
ore of Exavior’s heku within their midst, and was able to find more attacks planned on not only Emily, but the children.

  “Sir,” Derrick said, entering the chambers. “We’re bringing them up now.”

  Chevalier nodded, “Very well, we’re ready.”

  Derrick looked over, still shocked to see the three factions working together, and then left the room.

  Eight heku were pushed into the council chambers by members of the palace guards and forced to their knees in front of the Elders. There were three Equites, four Valle, and one Encala present, their capes showing who belonged to which faction.

  Sotomar sighed, “I don’t have to tell you how disappointed I am that the greater number of you belong to my faction.”

  “We didn’t do anything,” one of the Valle said. “It’s a setup. The Equites are trying to get rid of us.”

  “Shut up,” Sotomar growled.

  “There’s no use even lying to us,” Zohn explained. “This trial is a mere formality. I’ve seen enough to convict you.”

  “Let’s begin then,” Quinn said, standing up. “You eight are charged with high treason, and attempted murder of a member of the Equites Council, how do you plead?”

  “Not guilty,” they all said nervously.

  “Fine, if you won’t admit to it, then we can proceed,” Quinn said, and sat down.

  “Let’s start with the attempted drowning of a member of the Equites Council,” Zohn said. “Scotty, Bingham, Meiken, Christopher, and Gene were killed in the act. Were you aware of the plan to kill the Winchester?”

  “There were talks… made jokingly, about putting her in her place,” the Encala said.

  “Jokes about killing a member of the Council? That’s still treason,” Zohn said, irritated.

  “Why do you care? We all know you hate her,” one of the Equites said.

  Zohn nodded, “I’ve not hidden my dislike. However, I won’t stand for treason.”

  “We didn’t know they were actually going to do it,” the Encala told them. “We thought they were just joking.”

  “Yet failed to report it to any of the Councils?” William asked. “What is the Encala policy about that?”

  The Encala sighed, “Report it to your Captain immediately.”

  “Did you?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Why don’t we skip this and just ask them, outright,” Sotomar said angrily. “Have any of you joined Exavior’s group?”

  “No,” they all said emphatically.

  “We wouldn’t do that! We’re loyal to our factions,” one of the Equites said.

  “They’re all lying,” Zohn said calmly.

  “You know what?” one of the Valle said. “I did join Exavior, and had I gotten my hands on the Winchester, she would be his right now.”

  Sotomar’s eyes narrowed, “Did these others join him also?”

  “Yes,” the Valle said. “I’m proud to say I joined Elder Exavior and his superior faction.”

  Sotomar growled.

  “What are his plans?” Chevalier asked. “Other than Emily… that is.”

  “We were trying to take the children, especially the eldest,” the Valle said. “We will succeed, I assure you.”

  “You eight won’t,” Chevalier growled. “I suspect you’ll pray for death by the time we’re done.”

  “It’s worth it to see the rise of a powerful faction. The three we have are weak and pathetic,” the Valle scowled.

  “Derrick… take him to the prison,” Quinn hissed, and the room fell silent while the one heku was pulled from the council chambers.

  “Seven left with some explaining to do,” William said, glaring at them.

  “We’re not with him,” the Encala said. “I’m loyal only to the Encala.”

  “I’m not sure what’s more alarming,” Quinn said. “The fact that you were willing to hand a Winchester over to a rogue faction, or the fact that you were willing to kill her.”

  One of the Equites looked at Chevalier, “I wouldn’t kill her or kidnap her. I would give my life to protect her.”

  “Damn I hate to see Equites guards lie to the Council,” Zohn growled. “I’m more irritated at that than the attempted murder.”

  “Sir,” Derrick said, stepping in. “There’s been an attempted escape… do you want to deal with this now or later?”

  Chevalier sighed, “Now, this is getting old.”

  The Council chambers filled with the smell of Winchester blood as Emily and Allen were brought in, both with their hands cuffed behind them. Emily glared at the Council, and Allen jerked away from the guard that was guiding him. They were both forced to their knees at the side of the guards.

  “How did she try to escape now?” Quinn asked angrily.

  “Out the ancient’s room. She and Allen crawled through the bar window and attempted to take Equites 2,” Derrick said scathingly.

  Chevalier’s eyes narrowed, “You can fly?”

  Allen nodded, “You’d be amazed at what I can do.”

  “Take him to the prison. I’ll interrogate him later,” Zohn hissed.

  A guard came and forced Allen out of the room and all eyes turned to Emily.

  “What to do with you…” Quinn said, sighing.

  “How about you start… by kissing my ass,” Emily said angrily.

  “Before we punish you, do you know yet if you are with child?” Sotomar asked, sounding hopeful.

  “Oh… I know,” Emily said, grinning.

  “And?” William asked, irritated.

  “And… it’ll be a cold day in hell before I tell you anything,” Emily yelled.

  “Restrain her to the bed. See how she feels after a day with no food,” Quinn ordered, and the guards drug her away.

  Chevalier watched, pleased, while the seven treasonous guards watched with wide eyes as the Council sentenced Emily and Allen.

  “Back to you…” Chevalier said to the guards. “I trust Zohn, if he says they are lying, then let’s sentence them.”

  “Wait! Please…” one of the Valle said. “We are innocent.”

  “No you’re not! Now shut up,” Sotomar growled.

  “I suggest that we immediately banish all but one,” William said. “Then we’ll send one of them back to Exavior with a message… he’s not getting her.”

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Quinn said, raising his eyebrows.

  “I concur, let’s do it,” Chevalier said.

  “Wait,” the Valle guard said again. “I’ll go… I know where to find him.”

  “Traitor!” the Encala screamed at him.

  “I will deliver the message,” the Valle said.

  “Fine, send the spineless one back to Exavior,” Sotomar said. “I want nothing to do with him anymore.”

  “Tell your Master that the three factions will never honor the presence of a fourth, and that he’s never going to see Emily or the children again,” Quinn hissed. Derrick came in and escorted the Valle out.

  “Now… how to banish these seven when our Chief Enforcers are back on Island Coven,” Zohn asked.

  “Will she?” Sotomar asked Chevalier.

  Chevalier shrugged, “Depends on her mood.”

  Quinn stood up and disappeared from the council chambers, and the room fell silent while they waited.

  “If she understands the situation…” William said, and then stopped talking when all seven fell to ash instantly.

  “That’d be a yes,” Chevalier chuckled.

  “It’s quite amazing. She doesn’t even have to be anywhere near them,” Sotomar said, impressed.

  “Derrick?” Zohn asked.

  “Yes, Sir,” Derrick said, coming in and looking at the ashes.

  “Ancient’s room, please,” Zohn said.

  “What’s up with Emily and the ancient’s room?” Sotomar asked, turning to Chevalier. “Seems you all keep asking her about it, and she blushes at the very mention of it.”

  Chevalier chuckled, “She was being poisoned, and start
ed having panicked hallucinations, and the worst was about the ancient’s room. She even turned all three of us to ash when we took her in there.”

  William gasped, “She turned the three Equites Elders to ash?”

  “Yes… and won’t even give us a hint about what she thought the room was for,” Quinn said. “Quite frustrating, it was such a big deal for months… and years later, we still don’t know.”

  “Is she that stubborn?” Sotomar asked.

  “More so,” Zohn said, and watched as guards came and collected the ashes.

  “You two were even involved, unbeknownst to you,” Chevalier said, grinning.

  “Me? How?” William asked.

  “In her hallucinations, you confirmed the ancient’s room to be… whatever it is… she thought it was,” Chevalier explained.

  “Let’s go ask her. She’s restrained upstairs,” Zohn said, standing up.

  “Good luck,” Chevalier told him, and headed up to the bedroom.

  Emily looked over from the TV when the heku walked in. Zohn was leading them and was grinning mischievously.

  “What?” Emily asked suspiciously.

  Chevalier checked the restrains and noticed they weren’t tight at all. She’d be able to slip them instantly.

  “We have a question for you,” Zohn said, positioning himself on the bed so he could see her closely.

  “Ok”

  “What did you think the ancient’s room was for?” Zohn asked, focusing on her eyes.

  Emily grinned, “You seriously still wondering that?”

  “Yes,” Zohn said.

  Emily’s grinned dropped and her eyes narrowed, “You’re interrogating me on it?”

  “Yes”

  “I’m not telling.”

  “Was it a torture room?”

  Emily pulled from her Encala training and watched him, not moving.

  “Feeding?”

  She just stared at him.

  “Damnit,” Zohn said, frowning. “You’re frustrating.”

  Emily grinned, “Amazing what you can learn after a few hours with a Chief Interrogator.”

  William chuckled.

  “Just tell us,” Quinn said. “We won’t laugh.”

  “No”

  “Does anyone know? Anyone at all?” Sotomar asked.

  “No,” she told him.

  “She is stubborn,” William said, amused.