The King's Executioner

by Donna Fletcher

  Anin hugged her mum. “I am grateful you were brave enough to save me and grateful my mum was brave enough to give me to you.”

  “You have my heart, Anin, and you always will.”

  “And you have my as well, Mum.”

  Mother and daughter hugged and with hands gripped tight they left the room, Paine and Wrath following them into the feasting hall.

  “Tell the truth now,” Comgall demanded, glaring at Blyth. “Tell them all how you took my daughter and left the woman I gave my heart to, to die, leaving your dead daughter in her arms,” Comgall accused.

  “Let her speak,” King Talon ordered.

  Blyth, with Anin by her side, repeated the story she had told Anin, though said nothing of Anin being of the Wyse Tribe.

  The King gave a glance to Anin and she gave a slight nod, letting him know it was all true.

  Comgall disagreed. “Eviot would have never let you take our child. She knew I was searching for her. She knew I would find her.”

  “But you did not find her in time and she would not see your child die and for some reason she feared others finding your daughter, for she made sure I gave my word to keep her safe, and I swore I would give my life to do so,” Blyth said.

  Comgall shut his eyes and shook his head, his hands fisting at his sides.

  “Eviot was your kept woman?” King Talon asked. “Your enemies searched for her?”

  Comgall nodded as he opened his eyes and kept his chin high. “When I found Eviot in that dwelling, she and the baby wrapped together, I thought my enemies had gotten to her and killed them both. But my enemies would have never left them as I found them. They would have slaughtered them. Something was amiss, but it would not be until years later when those on my council attended one of the trading gatherings you began with your reign that he saw Anin,” —Comgall looked to Anin— “the exact image of her mum that I began to wonder what had happened at that dwelling. When I sent a man to speak to the Lammok to find out who the lass was, and he did not return, my suspicions grew. I traveled here while a small troop of my warriors were dispatched to find out what they could and only one returned with news that my troop did not survive an attack by the Drust and the one I searched for was on her way to Pictland with the King’s executioner. I was on your land without permission, without your protection, so I cannot lay blame on you for the loss of my warriors. But I came to claim my daughter, and claim her I will. You had no right joining her with your executioner. Only I, her father, can say who she can wed and I forbid a union between her and the executioner.”

  “You will not take my wife from me,” Paine warned.

  “That is for your King to decide, not you,” Comgall said.

  “We will speak in private,” King Talon ordered and his personal guard followed alongside him as he walked to the High Council chambers, Comgall and his guard trailing behind.

  Paine did not like the King going off to discuss the fate of his wife without him being present, but there was little he could do about it. But no one, absolutely no one was taking his wife away from him. He would take everyone’s head before he would let that happen.

  “You are wed to the executioner?” her mum said as if not believing what she had heard.

  “I am,” Anin confirmed, “and I am pleased and happy to call him my husband.”

  “You chose him?” her mum asked, glancing at Paine as if she still did not quite believe it.

  “I did and he has my heart. We are one,” Anin said with the conviction of one not to be swayed.

  Her mum looked from one to the other several times before saying, “If he is your choice, then nothing more matters. It is what I wanted for you, to choose for yourself as Lammok women do.”

  “Perhaps it is what you wanted,” Cathbad said, “but it will be the King who has the final say.”

  “I do not care what the Kings says. I will not be taken from Paine,” Anin said and stepped closer to her husband.

  “Worry not, no one will take you from me,” Paine said and slipped his arm around her to pull her tight against him as if daring anyone to pry her from him. Yet he did wonder what the King would do to keep at least a tentative peace with the dal Gabran.

  Food and drink were brought to the tables and most sat to eat, though some guards both Picts and dal Gabran remained standing, watchful of all that went on.

  Anin had no wont to eat, concerned too much with her fate. Her insides tightened when she heard the door to the High Council chambers open and the King and Comgall entered the feasting hall.

  The King stopped a moment to speak briefly with Wrath, then he proceed along with Comgall to stand in front of the long table.

  Anin held tight to her husband’s hand, her chest pounding.

  “Anin, come here,” the King called out.

  Paine stepped forward with Anin to stand in front of the King.

  “I order you to go with your father, Comgall of the dal Gabran Tribe.”

  Anin shook her head and turned to Paine just as Wrath and his warriors descended on him, ripping at his hand that held hers. “No! No! I will not go!”

  Paine cursed himself for leaving his battle axe by the table and squeezed Anin’s hand until he thought he would break it.

  Comgall shouted and his guards descended on Anin.

  “No! No!” Anin’s screams echoed through the feasting hall.

  Suddenly her mum was by her. Even though weapons had been taken from her upon entering the stronghold, it did not matter. She used her fists, knocking warriors to the ground. Her da also joined in ripping warriors off Anin.

  Paine roared like a mighty animal and threw off the men who were trying to hold him and tried to get a firmer hold of Anin, but more warriors descended on him.

  Tears began to cloud Anin’s eyes. She felt the fierce pain that stabbed at her husband at the thought of her being ripped away from him and it tore at her heart. She fought with all her might not to let go of him, not to let the warriors tear them apart. But it proved useless. More warriors piled on Paine until they took him to the ground and her hand slipped from his grasp.

  Her mum and da had been yanked away from her and one large warrior held her firm around the waist as she kicked and fought to break free. She looked to the King. “How could you? He called you friend.”

  “I do what I must,” the King said and looked to Comgall. “Take her.”

  The warrior hoisted her off the floor and as he carried her away, she screamed out, “Paine! Paine!”

  Paine could not move, too many warriors were piled on top of him, holding him down, his arms spread. The pain in his chest at hearing his wife scream out to him for help and him unable to reach her was far worse than any torture he could inflict.

  “I will come get you, Anin! I give you my word, I will come for you!”

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Pain sat in the High Council chamber trussed like a prisoner waiting execution. He dropped his head back against the wall behind him and tried to calm his rage. He needed to think clearly, needed to find a way to free of the rope that bound him tightly and go after Anin. After that they would run and go where they would be safe, but where would that be with King Talon bowing to Comgall’s demand.

  He shook his head. Never would he have thought that Talon would do such a thing to him, but it was not Talon, his friend, who had made the decision, but the King. It came to him suddenly like a whisper in his ear. He would go with Anin to the Wyse Tribe. They would be safe there.

  Death would be the only thing that would stop him from going after Anin and he would not see that happen. He would do what was necessary to see he was freed, and he and Bog would go hunt for Anin.

  Stay strong, Anin, stay strong. I will come for you.

  ~~~

  Her husband’s words repeated over and over in her head. He would come for her. He had given his word he would come for her. Nothing would stop him. But what if they crossed the border of Pictland? It would be that much more difficult for hi
m to rescue her once they left Pictland. Somehow, she had to delay their journey.

  She was placed in front of Comgall on a horse with her wrists tethered and she had not looked upon him since leaving the Pict stronghold nor had she said a word to him. At the moment, she felt nothing but hate for the man.

  “Your mum was a good woman. I often wondered how it was she cared for me as much as she did. I forbid her to go visit her tribe with her being with child. There were my enemies to worry about. I also think I feared she would never return to me. I learned early on with your mum that she did as she pleased and while it often annoyed me, I also admired her strength.”

  Anin turned to look at him. “If you cared for my mum so much, why treat your daughter so cruelly?”

  “I will not see my daughter wed to a savage Pict and certainly not to an executioner whose whole body is marred with drawings.”

  “Paine is no savage. He is a good man and we have given our hearts to each other. I will care for him always and no other but him.”

  “You will forget him in time.”

  “Did you forget and stop caring about my mum?”

  “That was not the same.”

  “How was it not? All tribes beyond your border are Picts and that would include my mum’s tribe.”

  “It was the reason I could never wed your mum.”

  “Then what of me? I am a Pict. Your people will never accept me.”

  “You may be a Pict, but you are also of the Wyse Tribe and will serve me well.”

  “Is that what my mum did, serve you? Did you ever truly care for her?” Anin asked angrily.

  “Your mum was the only woman I ever gave my heart to.”

  “That is a lie. If you truly cared so much for my mum, you could never cause the daughter she gave you such horrible pain and sorrow.”

  “I do what is best for you.”

  “You do what is best for you like most others who rule.”

  “King Talon is a wise man and did what was necessary.”

  Anin turned her head away from him to show she would speak no more to him. The first chance she got, she would run. Paine would find her, and then they would run together. They would go someplace where no one could find them. They would go to her tribe... the Wyse Tribe.

  They camped at dusk and Anin asked that her hands be freed, needing private time.

  “If you run I will find you and you will be kept tethered after that until you accept your fate,” Comgall warned.

  Anin nodded and while it might appear she yielded, by no means did she.

  Her wrists were freed and she walked into the woods with two warriors following. It was not long before the trees began to whisper to her, offering her comfort. Light was fading quickly when she told the two warriors she would be but a few steps away and after warning her not to go far, they let her walk off.

  After only a few steps, darkness settled in and the warriors called out to her.

  “I am here. I will finish soon,” she said for them to hear.

  Would she get far in the dark? Would they find her before she could get far enough away? Could she find a place to hide?

  “Wait for your husband.”

  Anin turned, startled by the soft voice and even more startled to see Esplin standing a short distance away from her.

  Esplin stepped closer to Anin and kept her voice low. “I have little time to speak with you, but there will come a time when we will talk at length.”

  There was so much Anin wanted to say, to ask that she found herself unable to say anything.

  “There was good reason your mum gave you to Blyth. She knew the woman would care and think of you as her own. She also knew that you needed to live among the other tribes so that one day you would lead the Wyse Tribe with knowledge of the outsiders and wisdom.”

  “Lead?” Anin shook her head. “I am no leader.”

  Esplin smiled. “You are a leader and the daughter you carry will be as well.”

  Anin’s hand flew to her middle. “I have been wed only days. How could you know?”

  “You will know yourself soon enough. You know more than you allow yourself to believe. You are already growing in the ways of the Wyse and I will help you learn more, though it all will come with ease to you. It is part of you and you need only to embrace who you are.”

  “Who am I?” Anin asked.

  “You are the daughter of Eviot of the Wyse Tribe, granddaughter of Esplin, leader of the Wyse Tribe, and one day you will lead the Wyse Tribe when my time is done.”

  Anin once again was speechless, though realized why she had felt the way she did the day she had hugged Esplin. The same blood ran through them. They were family.

  “You must stay with your father and wait for Paine. He will come for you. Paine is a good man. He cares for you more deeply than I have ever felt a man care for a woman. He gives you far more than his heart. I told him some about the Wyse, you will teach him the rest. You both will live a long life and do well together.”

  “But the King—”

  “The King does not rule the Wyse people nor will he or future Kings ever rule us. We were here long before they came and will be here long after they are gone. Now go and return to your father and wait.”

  “I have so many questions. I will see you again... soon, Grandmother?”

  “You will see me soon and I am never far from you. You need only reach out to me.” Esplin stepped forward and wrapped Anin in her arms.

  Anin held tightly to her and the depth of caring that poured from the woman into Anin was astounding and brought tears to Anin’s eyes.

  Esplin eased her away. “You must go, but know this, Anin. King Talon is a true friend to Paine.”

  “Are you done?” one of the warriors shouted.

  Anin turned her head to call out. “I will be right there.” When she turned back again Esplin was gone.

  “Grandmother,” she whispered and it was then she realized that she had spoken in a different tongue with her grandmother. It was the language she had spoken when in the forest of the Giantess, the one she had not known she had spoken. It was the ancient tongue of the Wyse and the Giantess had recognized it and had known she was a Wyse woman.

  She would do as her grandmother said. She would wait for Paine. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked to where the warriors waited.

  Once back at camp, her father approached her. “You were wise not to run. I had my warriors circle the area where you were. You would not have gotten far.”

  Anin wondered how no one had seen Esplin. That was one of many question she had for her grandmother when they met again.

  “There is no reason for me to run. My husband comes for me. I will wait for him.”

  “You think Paine, one man, will conquer my whole troop?” Comgall asked with a laugh.

  Anin smiled. “He does not have to conquer your whole troop. He needs to conquer only one man—you.”

  ~~~

  Paine pushed his back hard against the wall so he could help himself get to his feet when he heard footfalls approaching the door.

  The King walked in first, though a snarling Bog hurried around from behind him and straight to Paine. Wrath followed in, shutting the door behind him.

  Bog took a stance in front of Paine, his front legs spread and his snarl strong.

  “That wolf of yours is a clever one,” the King said. “He snuck his way into the feasting house and waited in the shadows, then jumped out when we opened the door to push his way in here.”

  “Sit, Bog,” Paine ordered and the wolf sat in front of him, a low snarl remaining. “As clever as the King? You would not let the wolf in here if you did not want him here.”

  “One thing I can say about you, Paine, you were never a fool.”

  “Either are you, though of course I could not see that until my anger abated. Then I realized you would have never turned Anin over to Comgall with the intentions that she remain with him, not when she is so valuable to you. But more importan
tly, I believe as my friend, you would not take my wife from me.”

  “I thought you would figure that out once you calmed down, though I needed your anger for the plan to work,” the King said and turned to Wrath. “Get those ropes off him.”

  Wrath stepped forward and Bog jumped at him, snarling.

  “Enough, Bog!” Paine snapped and the wolf gave one last growl at Wrath before he moved aside.

  Wrath undid the ties. “It took twenty warriors to hold you down.”

  “You should be grateful I did not have my axe or they would have lost their limbs and some their lives.” Paine threw off the last of the ties and looked to the King.

  “I made an agreement with Comgall. I would hold you only for so long, then I would unleash you. If you were successful in rescuing your wife, then Anin would remain here in Pictland and he would never demand her return again. If you failed, Anin was his to keep.”

  “I will not fail.”

  “I never thought you would or I would not have struck the bargain with him. As you told me, you would have fought me for Anin, so I knew this would be an easy task for you. I also agreed that no warriors would join you on this quest. It was for you and you alone to do.”

  “Good, for I and I alone will rescue my wife.”

  “Go and bring Anin home and be done with it, while I see to settling things with the Drust and find out who it is that betrays me.”

  Paine recalled seeing Atas and Tarn sneaking out of the shadows after a High Council meeting and was quick to tell the King.

  “Interesting,” the King said. “Hurry and bring Anin home. I believe I will have need of her to settle this problem once and for all.”

  “Come, Bog, we hunt!” Paine said and walked to the door, the wolf at his side.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  A roll of thunder woke Anin just as morn began to break and she was surprised she felt no fear, but then a shiver ran through her and she suddenly understood. The thunder was warning her. Something was not right. She looked around and did not see the sentinels that had stood guard around the camp. They were gone. She caught the sound of several rustling branches and as she jumped to her feet, she let out a scream.