The King's Executioner

by Donna Fletcher

  “As you say, my King,” Paine said with a bob of his head.

  “Take them,” King Talon ordered.

  Paine turned and slipped his arm around Anin and walked toward the doors, the warrior trailing behind them.

  “What are you about, Talon?” Wrath whispered, addressing him as a close friend, something they had been long before Talon had become King.

  The King’s eyes followed Paine. “The truth.”

  ~~~

  Paine kept his arm around Anin as they walked around to the back of the two story structure, Bog following them. He knew well where the prison chambers were, for he had made use of them many a time. They worked well. They were tightly built huts, not a shred of light entering them and in the cold the small chamber would grow bitter and in the heat the occupant would swelter. Many were more than willing to talk after spending only a few hours in one, though a person was imprisoned no less than three days to ensure he spoke the truth when released.

  Anin had spoken the truth to the King and so had he and he supposed it was the truth that had the King imprisoning her. He could not allow himself to be made to look the fool and that worried Paine. King Talon could very well decide to have Anin executed for betraying him and Paine along with her.

  Why, after all this time of keeping himself from feeling anything, had he allowed himself to feel for this woman meant to be Queen? He could not explain it and when Anin had thrown herself at him begging for help, he knew he could not abandon her—he would never abandon her.

  Anin gripped his hand tightly when she saw the small, confined hut that was the prison chamber.

  “I am with you. You have nothing to fear,” he whispered to her. She looked up at him with such fright that he tightened his hold on her.

  “You will not leave me?” Anin need not ask him, her hand on his arm already giving her the answer. Never! One word so powerful, and uttered with such determination, that it helped ease her concerns not only for this moment, but for the future as well. She was eager to hear it spill from his lips and therefore she was disappointed when he spoke.

  “I will be there for you when in need.”

  Anin wondered why he denied the truth to himself.

  The warrior opened the narrow door and darkness yawned from the narrow opening.

  Paine was not surprised that the warrior did not prod him or Anin with a spear as was usually done to a prisoner. The young warrior was wise enough to know that Bog would have attacked him if he did. Though, Paine would have grabbed it off him and snapped it in half after giving the young warrior a good prod in the middle with the opposite end.

  Paine ordered Bog to guard and the wolf sat in front of the hut. Then he moved his arm from around Anin and took her hand. The entrance was too narrow for them to fit through it together. He entered first and drew Anin in after him. The door closed as soon as she was inside and the board came down hard, locking them in.

  Anin felt the darkness close in around her like a burial chamber. Her chest quickened and her breathing grew heavy. Paine’s hand was instantly at her back, stroking it, and she lowered her head to rest on his hard chest.

  “We will do well,” he whispered and tugged her closer against him as his hand continued to caress her back. Paine waited until her fear receded some before saying, “This chamber is meant for one with little room to stretch or rest.”

  Anin raised her head. “There is not room to sit or sleep?”

  He was glad to hear that her voice held no tremor. “There is only room for one to sit, so you will have to sit atop me.”

  “I do not mind. The closer I am to you, the safer I feel.”

  Having her tucked so close against him, her breasts pressed to his chest, reminded him of how she felt naked in his arms. Her skin was soft and there was not a single body drawing on her body. She was untouched, pure, and he had no right to mark her with his evil ways.

  Paine forced his thoughts on other matters, saying, “There will be no food tonight.”

  “I am not hungry. I am more concerned with how long the King will keep us locked away?”

  “Three days is the least anyone has been released from a prison chamber.”

  “What will happen once we are?”

  “That has always been for me to determine, but since I am now a prisoner, I cannot say what fate we will meet.”

  “What fate did you deliver those who were released?”

  “Those imprisoned here deserved the fate they met.”

  She need not hear the horrible suffering he had inflicted on people or how with one swing of his axe he took their lives.

  “I wonder then what fate the King intends for me and you, though I do not think he will lose his executioner.”

  “The King is a fair man,” Paine said, hoping that he would be more than fair in this matter. “It has been a long journey and a difficult day. We should rest.”

  “Aye, my body grows tired.”

  “I will sit first, then I will ease you down on top of me.” He was struck with a sudden image of her naked, his manhood slipping into her as she came down on him and he grew aroused and annoyed at doing so.

  Once he positioned himself as comfortable as possible on the hard ground, his back against the wall, he said, “Turn so my voice is behind you and remove your cloak. We can use it as a blanket. It will get cold in here tonight. Then stretch your one hand out behind you. I will find it.”

  As she did, she realized how small the space was, her shoulder brushing the opposite wall as she turned after removing her cloak. She stretched her hand out behind her as he told her to do and his hand found hers as he said he would.

  “Come down slowly. I will guide you.”

  She startled when his other hand touched her backside as she lowered herself, though he moved it to her waist quickly.

  It took some maneuvering to finally settle as comfortably as the small space would allow. Their legs were bent at their knees with her legs tucked tightly between his and her back rested against his chest. Her bottom fit snugly in his lap, his arousal pressed firmly against her, though she made no mention of it. How could she when it caused tempting stirrings in her?

  After she spread her cloak over them, his arms settled around her beneath the soft wool and his hands hugged her arms she had folded over her chest.

  They sat quiet, Anin’s fear having dissipated, replaced by a stirring that grew as the warmth of their bodies mingled together and she felt his arousal stirring beneath her.

  Paine grew annoyed that he could not stop his desire for her from growing. He could easily poke her here and now and be done with it. After all, she was no longer to be Queen. But that would only prove to the King that he had wanted Anin all along. He had to make the King see that he saw to his task of keeping her safe and no more. Maybe then he would return Anin to her family and it would be done. He would never see her again.

  Sorrow that he had not felt in many years washed over him. He had never thought to feel it again, never wanted to, it hurt much too much. It was why he never allowed himself to care. It was why he made a good executioner. Why he would continue to be a good executioner.

  He forced the sorrow away, burying it deep before it became unbearable as it once did. He would see this done. He would see that the King sent Anin home. He would see her safe and out of his life... no matter how much it hurt.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Paine woke to Bog growling. “Are you out there Wrath?”

  “Aye, and tell this animal of yours to stop and move aside,” Wrath said with an angry tone that intensified Bog’s growl.

  “Let the fool pass, Bog,” Paine ordered.

  Anin stretched, arching her body against Paine and wincing from the ache in her limbs.

  “Stand before Wrath opens the door,” he ordered and grabbed at her waist and hoisted her off him.

  Her limbs were stiff from not moving all night and she remained hunched over, having trouble stretching the aches out.

  P
aine was on his feet with ease and with a hand pressed to her chest and one to her back he eased her up straight just before the door flew open.

  “The King commands both your presence,” Wrath said.

  Anin gathered what courage she could to help meet her fate.

  Though the sky was heavy with clouds, Anin squinted when she stepped out of the hut, the pale light difficult to look upon, at first, after complete darkness.

  Paine shielded his eyes after stepping outside, his hand falling away after a few moments. He knew the consequences of spending time in the prison chamber, though they were far worse after spending three days in one. He looked to Bog waiting patiently for a command and signaled him to do as he pleased, knowing the wolf needed time to roam.

  The short walk to the feasting house helped dissipate the aches in Anin’s limbs, though only made her worry grow. If the King no longer wanted her as his Queen, what would he do with her?

  Anin remained close to Paine when they entered the feasting house and she saw King Talon waiting for them in front of the long table. He appeared even more intimidating than yesterday, garbed in black, his arms crossed and resting on his chest.

  “Take her,” King Talon ordered with a nod at Anin and two of his personal guard stepped forward.

  Paine stepped in front of her. “Tell me you intend her no harm.”

  “You dare question me?” the King snapped angrily.

  “I do,” Paine said without hesitation. “Anin is a kind woman and does not deserve harm.”

  King Talon dropped his crossed arms away from his chest and stepped forward. “That is for me to decide.”

  Anin would not see Paine suffer for defending her. She stepped around him. “I will go with the warriors.” She turned to Paine, sensing he was about to say something and laid her hand on his arm. “I will be fine. See that you are as well.” She could feel her words console him some, but she had not eased his worry. “Truly, I will be fine.” She turned and went with the two warriors before Paine said or did something that would only make the matter worse.

  “Wrath tells me you saw some Drust meet with one of my warriors and that a Drust death trap has been found near Pictland. Tell me about it and I may be lenient with you and Anin.”

  Paine detailed what he had seen and what had happened, though he did not mention that he had kept Anin tethered to him.

  “You could see nothing of the man’s face who betrays me?” the King asked.

  “He kept himself well concealed, but that is not all I have to tell you. Anin and I came upon a Wyse settlement and I requested their chieftain meet with you.” He went on to explain the many things he had learned about the Wyse Tribe and about his brief stay there.

  “You may have just saved Anin’s life,” King Talon said.

  If he told the King the suspicions he had about Anin, he wondered what would happen. Would he use her to his benefit? He certainly would not wed her if it turned out that Anin was from the Wyse Tribe, for their firstborn would be a daughter and he needed a son. And what of Anin’s mum? What would be her fate for lying to the King? It was his duty to speak the truth to the King, but so far it was only a thought on his part. He had no proof to present. Still he was honor bound to inform the King, but what of the consequences for Anin?

  “You do not ask about your own life,” the King said.

  Paine shrugged as if it mattered not to him. “It is for you to decide.”

  “You have nothing to say for yourself.”

  “I did what was necessary to keep Anin safe. If it was not for her, we would have never known about the Drust death trap, then in death the Drust may have claimed one of ours.”

  King Talon tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in question. “How was it that Anin learned of the trap?”

  “She fell into the trap.” Paine wanted to pull his words back once they slipped out. Now he would have to explain it all to the King and Wrath, and he would never hear the end of it from Wrath.

  “How was it that Anin did not get hurt from her fall into the trap?” King Talon asked.

  Paine explained, though he had no wont to. “She was tethered to me and I stopped her fall before she suffered any harm.”

  “Tethered?” Wrath said with a grin. “She gave you such trouble that you had to tether her?”

  “She did not obey you?” King Talon asked before Paine could answer.

  Wrath answered for him. “Since he had to tether her, I would say she paid no heed to his word.”

  “The more I hear about this woman, the more I believe you saved me from a dreadful union. I want no wife who will not obey my word or a woman so weak that thunder frightens her.”

  Anin was far from weak and Paine made that known. “Anin has courage as she showed when she met the Giantess.”

  “No one meets the Giantess unless she allows it and it is the same with the Wyse Tribe. They choose who they will let enter their villages,” King Talon said, settling a stern glance on Paine. “What is so special about Anin that not only the Giantess, but the Wyse Tribe welcomes her?”

  Paine caught Wrath’s grin and he knew what he thought. Now he would have to tell the King what he had refused to tell Wrath. Paine saw the disappointment on Wrath’s face when he said, “I would rather be sure of what I suspect than say and be wrong.”

  King Talon turned and poured wine from the small jug on the table into a glass vessel, one of many, a foreign merchant had brought for him. He looked back at Paine and took a sip of wine before asking, “Or is it that you do not tell me for fear of what I may do to Anin if it proves I was deceived?”

  “I believe Anin has been deceived as well, though until I can discover more I cannot say for sure.”

  “I will give you until mid-day to get the truth from her,” King Talon said.

  Paine glared at him. “You expect me to torture her?”

  “If necessary.”

  Paine took two quick steps toward the King.

  King Talon’s hand shot out to stop Paine from taking another step. “So far, Paine, your mission has been more than successful. You delivered Anin safely. You made contact with the Wyse and asked for a meet. You warned that the Drust still war with me. I strongly advise you not to add to that... betrayal. Find out who perpetrated this deception against me and why, and not only will you remain in good stead with me, but I will generously reward you. Now go and see it done.”

  Paine nodded, knowing if he did not do as the King ordered, someone else would be given the task, and that he could not abide. He also wanted no reward. He only wanted Anin safe from harm.

  Wrath followed him out of the feasting house. “Do not challenge the King. He gives you a chance to prove your loyalty. Do not do something foolish.”

  “You think me foolish?” Paine snapped.

  “Aye, you are foolish when you challenge the King.” Wrath went to put his hand on Paine’s shoulder and Bog snarled in warning. He dropped his hand. “He could have had your head for what you did with Anin.”

  “We did nothing,” Paine snapped and heads turned to stare at the two men.

  Wrath pointed to the corner of the feasting house, a more secluded place to talk and Paine followed him there.

  Wrath kept his voice low. “I see the way you look at Anin, the fierce way you protect her, even from the King. She has bewitched you. She has robbed you of your senses. Do the task the King has ordered you to do and discover the truth before you lose your head over a woman that may have been sent to destroy the King.”

  “You are wrong,” Paine said, “and I will prove it.”

  “Good, that is all the King asks of you.”

  Paine walked away, Bog keeping pace beside him. He had little time to prove Anin innocent and he could not let how he felt about her interfere, not if he wanted to keep her safe. But how did he prove her innocence? The thought troubled him all the way to the dwelling that purposely sat a good distance away from the other dwellings in the King’s stronghold. However, the distance stil
l could not keep the horrifying screams from being heard.

  Anin would soon realize how truly evil he was and she would care for him no more.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Anin wondered where two of the King’s personal guards were taking her. When the King had dismissed her, the guards had brought her to a small room where she had been given something to eat and drink. She had eaten little, her thoughts on Paine and what could be happening to him.

  They stopped in front of a dwelling, larger than most. One guard pushed the door open and the other shoved her in, the door closing behind her. Her eyes widened at what she saw and she wrinkled her nose at the unpleasant odor that lingered in the air. She wanted to turn and run, but her legs would not move. Besides, the two guards probably stood outside the door to prevent her from leaving.

  A fire pit sat in the middle of the room and a long narrow table sat to one side of it. Two lengths of ropes lay at either ends of the table, one end appearing to be fastened to something under the table. On another table were different shaped metal and wood objects and it did not take her long to imagine what they were used for or the suffering they brought. Two leather coverings hung on pegs on the wall not far from the table and several empty buckets sat beneath them.

  “These are the tools of my trade.”

  Anin jumped, but was relieved to see Paine step out of the shadows, though at first glance she felt a twinge of fear. The fire’s light flickered across his naked chest, causing his numerous body drawings to appear as if they came to life and moved in a macabre fashion. The look in his blue eyes was far different than it had been when last she saw him. There was a coldness to them that almost caused her to shiver. What had happened since they were last together only a short time ago? She had to touch him. She had to find out what had happened.

  With strength having returned to her legs, she approached Paine slowly. “Why am I here?”

  “The King wants answers.”

  She kept walking towards him. “He need only ask me.”