The Rebellion
Page 6
Lucian turned to see the bare chested giant smiling at him. He had a shaved head, braided red beard, and stood two head lengths over a normal man. Blood lay splattered all over his bulging chest and arms from the men he killed while sparring.
"I told him he should have sent me," Karn said.
"You should thank him for not sending you, because if he had, you would be dead,” Lucian shot back.
The big man tensed up.
"No worries, though. I'm sure he will find a job that suits you,” Lucian said. “Like scaring women and children with that big ugly face of yours."
"You must have a death wish, little man," Karn threatened.
Lucian stepped up close to the giant. "Care to find out?"
The big man exuded hate and contempt at Lucian. He put his hand on his dagger.
"The Master will see you now," the old man grunted as he feebly sat back at his desk.
"That's twice he's saved you," Lucian said, turned around, and walked down the tunnel.
The Master's chamber was lit by hundreds of burning candles. He sat behind a large wooden desk littered with papers and maps and looked up as Lucian entered the room. An older man, the Master’s long, black hair had a few streaks of silver sown in and his handsome face bore a short cropped goatee.
"Ah, my apprentice. How are you feeling?" Victor said.
"Like hammered shit,” Lucian replied.
"I trust this task was not too difficult for you?"
"Other than fighting one of the Order's best and almost getting myself killed, just another day in the life."
"And you have the book?"
Lucian cast his eyes down. "After I killed Levi, I searched his shop to no avail. Of course he didn't tell me where it was either."
The Master stood and walked to grab a jug of wine from a shelf. He set two cups on the desk and begin to pour.
"Fret not, my son, your failure does not disappoint me," Victor said, handing Lucian a cup. "It was, in fact, part of my design."
"What are you saying?" Lucian reluctantly took the cup.
"Did you know that Levi had a son?” Victor said. “Levi was on track to locating the Garden of Stones. When you showed up, he gave the book to the boy and told him to find the Prophet."
"How do you know all of this?"
"The Oracle has seen it."
"Then I must go,” Lucian said. “I can intercept the book before the boy ever meets the Prophet."
"No," Victor said, then took a drink. "We will let them do the work for us in locating the garden. I have another task in mind for you."
Here we go again, Lucian thought.
"I need you to go to Kingsport and create chaos. A mass killing in public to drive fear and panic into the hearts of the people should do the trick."
"You can't be serious. Nothing like that has ever been heard of. It's… madness."
Victor smiled and walked behind his desk. Pulling a black silk bag from the drawer, he poured the contents into Lucian's hands.
"These should suffice," Victor said, the light from the stones shining bright in his eyes.
"If I do this, what about the Order?” Lucian asked, incredulous. “Not only do they protect the King; they also police the city. Between the King’s own guards and the Order, I'll be killed on sight."
"You will allow yourself to be captured,” Victor said, casually. “It is then that you demand a trial. The King's Law cannot deny you that right."
"So I'm to be hanged. Great." Lucian drained the cup and sat it on the desk. He closed his hand around the stones and turned to leave.
Victor touched his arm. "No, my son. You have a greater purpose to serve."
"Oh, and what purpose is that?" Lucian asked, exhausted.
The master smiled. "You're going to kill the king."
Thank You
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