by Tanya Bird
‘What is that noise?’ Cora asked.
Leksi turned his horse so he was in front of Petra and pointed his weapon at the trees, knowing it would not be enough.
‘Protect your queen!’ Tyron shouted to the Zoelin guards.
The men formed a circle around Cora and drew their swords.
Leksi snuck a glance at Felipe to gauge his reaction. He looked just as confused as the rest of them.
‘I am so sorry,’ said a broken Petra. ‘He needs you dead in order to forgive me.’
‘Easy,’ Leksi said when his horse shuffled nervously beneath him. He looked over his shoulder at her just as a line of horses appeared on the horizon. ‘Forgive you for what?’
Her eyes were dark pools of pain. ‘For loving you.’
Chapter 36
Leksi estimated there were around four hundred men.
Dear God.
King Nilos had brought an army, which suggested he really wanted Leksi dead. The Zoelin guards would not fight to defend them, only their queen, which meant his odds of getting out of the forest alive were impossible. Add Petra’s protection to the equation, and it would not end well.
The men formed rows of fifty, bows in hand ready for orders. Leksi looked over at Tyron, who was standing in front of his sister, also doing the math.
‘It seems the power has once again shifted,’ Felipe said, acting like it was part of a plan he knew something about. Having dropped his sword on the ground, he retrieved his bow and loaded it to reinforce the point.
Leksi ignored him and watched the men on the other side of the opening, his own bow poised.
‘If you hand me over, he might let you live,’ Petra said unconvincingly.
‘There is not a chance in hell that I’m handing you over to that man for my sake.’
‘Leksi, please. You do not know what he is capable of.’
He had seen the bruises. He knew exactly what that man was capable of.
His gaze moved down the line of soldiers stretching out before them, searching for the king. ‘Perhaps your father got lost,’ Leksi said to Felipe.
At that moment, there was a disruption in the line and King Nilos finally emerged—overdressed, overfed, and a sword at his side that had probably been made especially for the occasion. He stopped his horse halfway between his men and Leksi. His blazing eyes went straight to Petra and did not leave.
‘Good afternoon, Your Majesty,’ Tyron said. ‘Is there a war on that we do not know about?’
The king dragged his eyes away to look at him. ‘If you come into my kingdom, try to take what is mine, then you better be ready to fight.’
‘Always up for a fair fight,’ Leksi said. ‘But this seems a bit much.’
Nilos glared at the knight. ‘Just the man I wanted to see.’ He looked suddenly pleased with himself. ‘I knew you would come for her.’
‘I wish I could say I knew you would bring an army of four hundred men, but I’d be lying.’
Nilos’s face darkened. ‘Did you really think you could put your hands on my queen and live?’
The man really was insane. ‘Your queen? Corneo already has a queen. Perhaps you mean Companion. Or prisoner.’ He snuck a glance at Felipe, who appeared embarrassed by his father’s words.
‘My love, my life,’ Nilos said, one hand outstretched towards Petra. ‘Come to me. We cannot have you getting caught in the crossfire.’
Leksi turned, taking in her defeated expression.
‘If I go with you, will you let them live?’ Her voice barely carried the distance.
The king shook his head. ‘It is for you that I do this, so you can finally be free of him.’
Leksi was torn between telling her to go with the king so she might live and telling her to stay where she was. With two swords, he might stand a chance. Though not a big chance. ‘I might be missing the mark here, but I’m getting the distinct impression that she doesn’t want to return to Masville with you.’
Nilos stared at him. ‘I am really looking forward to killing you.’
‘Oh? Then it looks like you brought your army for nothing.’
Nilos looked past him again. ‘Petra, my queen. Come. Let us finally put this mess behind us.’
Leksi lowered his bow and turned to her, saying nothing. He would let her decide for herself. If she chose to go, he would not stand in her way. If she stayed, he would kill whoever necessary to keep her safe.
Staring at the king, Petra said. ‘I will never be your queen. If you are asking me to choose a life with you, or certain death facing your army, I choose to stand with Leksi. I would choose him every time.’
Leksi released the breath he had been holding, feeling both relieved that she had taken a stand and terrified that he had just sentenced her to death. Clearing his throat, he said, ‘I’ll be honest with you. I may be in a little over my head this time.’
She reached for him, tipping forwards, eyes filled with complete faith that he would catch her. He did. With one hand, he pulled her behind him. Her forehead rested on his back, and for the briefest moment, everything was right in the world.
‘Tell me Xander is safe,’ she said. ‘That he is loved.’
Leksi looked at King Nilos as he spoke. ‘He is safe. He is loved.’
He felt her exhale.
‘Thank you,’ she breathed.
‘It seems your plan has some minor flaws,’ Leksi called to the king. ‘Like the fact that she would rather die than spend one more minute with you.’
The king’s face glowed red, and his cheeks trembled.
‘No one wants Petra to die,’ Tyron said, taking a step forwards. ‘Let her leave here safely with Queen Cora, and then you can have your war.’
King Nilos looked over at the queen, as though noticing her for the first time. Then his gaze returned to the delicate hands clutching Leksi’s armour. ‘No one leaves!’
Felipe walked his horse forwards a few paces. ‘Father, you have been out in the sun too long. Let Queen Cora leave.’
Nilos’s eyes were wide and almost as red as the rest of him. ‘She is against us—a spy.’
The Zoelin guards might not have spoken their language, but judging by the way they readied their swords, they understood what was happening.
‘Oh God,’ Petra said. ‘What have I done?’
‘Your father is mad,’ Leksi stated, turning to Felipe. ‘You kill the queen, and King Jayr will crush you. His army will knock your castle to the ground and kill every member of your family. Corneo will cease to exist.’
‘And they will have the full strength of the Syrasan army when they do it,’ Tyron added.
Sweat gathered on Felipe’s brow as he looked over at Tyron. ‘Queen Cora is free to go, along with her guards.’ He hesitated. ‘And the Companion with her.’ The words seemed to sour in his mouth.
‘No,’ Nilos said, hand going to his sword.
‘And Prince Tyron,’ Leksi added. ‘It’s me your father wants. Let everyone else leave unharmed.’
Tyron looped his bow over his shoulder and drew his sword. ‘I fight alongside Leksi.’ He looked back at Cora, who was watching the exchange from behind her guards. ‘Sister, take the Companion with you.’
Petra’s grip tightened on him. ‘You will both be dead within minutes.’
‘It’s all right,’ Leksi said, pressing his lips to the top of her head. ‘Go with Cora. You can trust her.’
King Nilos drew his sword. ‘Did you hear me? No one is going anywhere.’ He raised his weapon above his head. ‘Ready your bows!’ he instructed his men.
‘You will kill her,’ Leksi shouted as the first row of soldiers raised their bows.
Tyron swung his horse around and called to his sister’s guards. ‘Get her out of here. Now!’ He spoke Zoelin so there would be no confusion as to what was about to happen. The men had already raised their shields and were forming a protective wall around her.
‘Nock!’ Nilos shouted. Arrows were loaded.
He was reall
y going to do it.
Leksi turned to Felipe. ‘For the sake of your kingdom, stop him.’
The prince kicked his horse into a canter, still clutching his bow. ‘Lay down your weapons,’ he called to the men. ‘Do not shoot!’
The soldier’s bows wavered for a moment, and they looked between each other.
‘Draw!’ Nilos continued, as though his son had not spoken. Bows creaked.
But before the king had a chance to finish the command, Felipe raised his bow and shot an arrow at his father.
Chapter 37
The arrow struck the king’s side, and he doubled over in the saddle. He managed to keep hold of his sword, while his free hand went to the arrow protruding from his hip. Petra’s eyes locked on his, and she saw fear in them.
His horse shuffled sideways as an eerie silence fell over the forest. Felipe pulled his gelding beside his father’s and leapt from the saddle just in time to catch him as he tipped sideways. He lay the injured man on the ground.
‘Traitor,’ Nilos said, his face paling.
Felipe crouched next to him, eyes going to the wound. ‘Killing the Queen of Zoelin would have been the end of Corneo. If you had just listened…’
Nilos’s icy stare remained unchanged. ‘Traitor,’ he repeated.
Felipe stood, a look of disgust on his face. He turned to the waiting army and saw that some of the men were pointing their bows at him. It seemed their loyalties were divided.
‘Do not aim your weapons at me.’ He took a few menacing steps in their direction. ‘I just saved all of your lives, and those of your families. You want to go against the Syrasan and Zoelin armies? You think you would have stood a chance against them?’
Nilos was not even listening. He was searching for Petra. ‘Where is my queen?’ He reached in her direction, but she did not move. ‘My queen.’
She heard the desperation in his voice as blood pooled beneath him. When she moved to dismount, Leksi caught her arm.
‘What are you doing?’
Her eyes never left the king. ‘I need to go to him.’
He hesitated before lowering her to the ground. ‘You don’t owe that man anything.’
She was already walking away, her legs surprisingly steady. Perhaps she drew strength from the king’s disempowerment.
‘My love,’ he whispered when she came to a stop beside him. He reached for her, his bloodied fingers brushing her foot. She glanced at the blood on her shoe, captivated by the sight of it. The puddle beneath him grew because no one had tried to stop the bleeding, not even his own son. How many times had she imagined this moment? She had always thought she would be the one to do it and could not decide if she felt relieved or robbed.
‘I am dying,’ he said, sensing his end.
She looked down at the arrow, wondering if she had it in her to pull it free and apply pressure to the wound. He might live if she did.
Her gaze returned to his pale face. There was spit in his beard, and he looked every bit the mad king.
‘He is not fit to rule,’ Felipe said to no one in particular, his eyes on the ground. There was grief in his voice, yet he did not move to help his father.
Nilos gestured for her to come closer. ‘Please.’
She obeyed, kneeling, her palms pressing against the ground either side of her. She felt the warmth of his blood between her fingers. Staring down at him, she waited to feel something, pity perhaps, but she was depleted of emotion. Her eyes went to her blood-painted hand, remembering the day she had been confronted by a dead Companion lying on the floor. It might have been labelled a suicide, but Petra knew who was really responsible.
‘Tell me you love me,’ Nilos said.
Her gaze darted to meet his. He coughed and twitched, life bleeding from him while she just sat there watching. She should have tried to save her king. They all should have.
‘Tell me you love me,’ he pleaded. ‘Give me that.’
She leaned closer, the acidic smell of his blood overwhelming. ‘Love you?’ Her eyes moved over his grey face and pale lips. ‘I cannot even forgive you.’ She straightened. ‘Even in death.’ Pushing herself to her feet, she walked away, the king’s pleas following her.
Leksi had dismounted and stood waiting for her. When she reached him, he laced his fingers through her bloodied ones. His other hand cradled her head, pulling her to him, his armour cool against her cheek. The king’s strangled breathing reached them, and Petra closed her eyes as he drew his final breath. A horse whinnied, the only noise amid the deathly silence. No one moved.
Queen Cora was first to break the silence, pushing her horse through her barrier of guards to stand beside her brother. They looked at one another, siblings above all else.
‘What a mess,’ she said, turning to Felipe.
The prince raked his fingers through his hair as he stared down at his father. Tyron approached him on horseback, stopping a few feet away and looking out at the army of men. ‘You are not dead yet, so that is a good sign.’
‘Because every man here knows he was about to ruin us. I did what any good leader would do—I put my kingdom first.’ Turning to the soldiers, he shouted, ‘I will be ten times the king my father was.’
No one spoke.
‘Your actions saved our lives,’ Tyron said. ‘If you walk away, I will attest to the fact that you acted in the best interest of the Corneon people, and that you were left with no choice but to shoot him.’ He glanced at the dead king, whose head was turned in Petra’s direction, one arm still outstretched. ‘I will even say that you tried to save your father’s life, as any son would his own father.’
They stared at one another, and then Felipe looked past him to Cora.
‘Is that what you also witnessed, Your Majesty?’
She studied him for a moment before nodding. ‘Yes.’
Felipe released a breath, then pointed at Petra. ‘I never want to see that woman again. She is a curse on my household.’
Petra turned to face the glaring prince, his words hanging between them. Leksi kept hold of her, and she was fairly certain he was the only reason she was still standing.
‘And keep your bastard child away from my throne,’ Felipe added.
She had no intention of letting her son anywhere near it.
‘Then we have an agreement,’ Tyron said.
Felipe nodded. ‘It seems we do.’
‘Then best you take charge of your army, Your Majesty.’ He bowed his head at the new king.
Petra turned back to Leksi. He was really letting her go.
Leksi hoisted her onto his horse before going to speak with Tyron. She watched as Prince Felipe approached his soldiers, addressing them as only a king would. They followed his orders to tend the dead, two men required to lift King Nilos. They wrapped him in a flag of gold and hefted him onto his horse to be transported back to Masville for what would surely be an elaborate funeral.
She realised how few people would be saddened by the news of his death. Not his wife, not his children, not his people. A new king would bring fresh hope. He could win them over with food and promises of a brighter future. If he could just make it rain, he would be hailed a god.
When the task was complete, Felipe looked in their direction and, with a parting nod, led his army south.
The rest of them travelled east to Nuwien, then stood together at the intersection outside of the village, saying their goodbyes.
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?’ Leksi offered. ‘It’s my mess, after all.’
Tyron shook his head. ‘Best I deal with Pandarus.’
‘They have developed a certain rapport that comes with years of sibling rivalry,’ Cora explained. ‘Pandarus will be less likely to behead his own brother.’
‘What about you?’ Leksi said. ‘Your husband will be far from pleased when he hears of your escapades.’
‘My husband will be none the wiser. I told him I was going to Archdale, and I am.’
‘You trust your
guards to keep your secrets?’
She flashed a wicked smile at him. ‘Do you honestly think I would surround myself with men I did not trust?’
‘Foolish of you to suggest such a thing,’ Tyron said to Leksi, his tone dry.
‘Thank you for your help, Your Majesty,’ Leksi replied, bowing his head.
Cora pushed her horse forwards. ‘Good luck with that one.’ She gestured to Petra as her guards moved into place around her.
‘Your Majesty.’ Petra bowed her head.
‘I will see you back in Wripis,’ Tyron said. ‘When you are ready.’
‘Assuming Pandarus lets you leave.’
Tyron turned his horse. ‘If he locks me up, I expect you to be first in line to rescue me.’
Leksi laughed and watched them until they were out of sight. Petra continued to stare at the empty road long after they had disappeared. She owed her life to those people.
Leksi’s warm hand slid over her bloodstained one, his touch still familiar. Turning to her, he said, ‘I’m taking you home.’
She raised her eyes to him and drew a shaky breath. ‘Where is that?’
He frowned like she should know the answer. ‘Where it’s always been. With your son.’
Chapter 38
When the manor came into sight, Petra’s hands went clammy and her heart raced. The last time she had seen him, it had all been a mess. She had not even had time to say goodbye. This time would be different: no one pursuing them, no façade, just hard truths and a long road of healing. What would he think of the woman presented as his mother? She was a stranger even to herself.
Before the horse had even come to a stop, the front door of the manor opened and Xander burst through it. He came at a run, round-faced and rosy-cheeked, an enormous grin splitting his face. She froze atop the horse, captivated by the sight of him. He was a stark contrast to the neglected boy she had met at the well months earlier.
Leksi dismounted and turned to help her down. The moment her feet touched the ground, he let go of her and jogged off in the direction of the steps.