Kaz stood over the body with his massive shoulders rising with each intake of breath. Kaz rubbed at his eyes with the palms of his hands.
How did he do that?
The horn sounded again, long and low, three successive blasts announcing victory.
We won. Jonrell looked at the bodies of his men and those of Tomalt’s strewn about, enemies who months before had been countrymen. His gaze kept returning to Glacar.
But at what cost?
Chapter 30
Light headed, Elyse sat on the splintered remains of an old siege tower. She had ridden through the charred ruins of Cathyrium with Kroke shortly after the battle. But in her haste to see her brother, she avoided the carnage around her. Now as she surveyed the battlefield and looked over the thousands of corpses, the blood and gore assaulted her senses. She found her legs weak and her mind in a whirl.
It reminds me of that day in the courtyard when Nareash killed without prejudice. The day everything changed. Only this is worse.
“Are you ok?” asked Jonrell sitting down next to her. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I’m fine. I need to do this. Some of these men gave their lives to preserve my rule. The others to end it. The least I can do is walk among them where they’ve fallen and pay my respects by saying a prayer to the One Above for their souls.”
Jonrell nodded. “You’ve changed a lot in the weeks since you’ve been gone. You’re stronger.”
Elyse shrugged. “Circumstances forced my hand.”
“The assassination attempt?”
She nodded. “Yes. The whole process was a turning point of sorts I guess.”
“You kept your head in the end. And because of that we won here today.”
Elyse cast her gaze upon the destruction before her, watching soldiers strip the dead before throwing the naked bodies into massive piles where they would later be burned. “Victory is an awful thing.”
Silence stretched as neither said a word. They sat there for some time together and Elyse realized she clutched her brother’s hand like she so often did as a child. She smiled at him. “It’s so good to have you home. I missed you.”
He squeezed her hand tight. “I missed you too.” He let out a sigh, barely audible.
“You don’t sound completely convinced.”
“No, it’s not that. I was thinking about the attempt on your life and then Glacar’s attempt on mine. Both would have succeeded had Kroke not been watching over you and Kaz over me.”
She nodded. “They are both good men. You are lucky to have found them.”
“Aye. But the death of your guards and that of Glacar puts me no closer to discovering who was behind the deception. I’m almost inclined to believe that the same person had a hand in both attempts.”
“Was Kroke unable to help? I saw you questioning him.”
“He doesn’t know his letters and Glacar had carried the names I had them look into while in Lyrosene. Kroke was only following Glacar’s lead.”
“So that person is still out there,” said Elyse, a bit of fear in her voice.
“Yes. And given that they were able to sway your guards and a member of my crew, even a disgruntled one, tells me that the person has a great deal of power.” He turned to his sister. “You need to be extra cautious going forward.”
“As do you,” she added.
He smiled. “Of course.”
“So what’s next?”
“I’ve sent messengers for Jeldor to return here so we can regroup. I know he wanted to keep pushing Tomalt, but with his supplies so far behind his main force, he’s going to find himself in a less favorable position than Tomalt in two or three days. Besides, our forces need as much time to mend as Tomalt’s does. I expect Jeldor to arrive in a few hours.”
“But won’t Tomalt just retreat back to Namaris and wait for us there?”
“He’ll try, but when he gets there he’ll be quite upset with what awaits him.”
Elyse noticed the slightest of grins. She cocked her head to one side. “What are you hiding?”
“Oh nothing. I gambled a bit while you were gone and only moments ago discovered it paid off.” He pulled out a smooth, polished, light green stone from his boot. He handed it to her.
“What is it?”
“A little something I had Krytien make for me before I sent him away. I sent him to Floroson shortly after you left for Ithanthul and commissioned Lady Jaendora to release several thousand troops under his command.”
“But he’s not a soldier.”
“Maybe not in the traditional sense but he understands strategy better than most. Anyway, I knew Tomalt would leave only a small garrison behind to defend Namaris when he decided to finally march against Cathyrium. So I tasked Krytien with retaking the city. Tomalt will think twice about attempting another siege on Namaris with Lady Jaendora’s troops garrisoned there and after his losses here.” He gestured to the stone. “That green color is telling me that Krytien succeeded.”
“But if I hadn’t been able to convince Jeldor of an alliance, or if we hadn’t arrived on time, you may have lost and Namaris would hardly matter then.”
Jonrell shrugged. “Perhaps, but you did convince Jeldor so that’s a moot point.”
Elyse nodded. He is so sure of himself, even with a gamble. A good commander has to trust their gut and go with it, never looking back. “What else is there to do?”
“Plenty,” said Jonrell, pushing himself to his feet. “But first, I need to help my men. There are still a lot of pyres to build. Then a solid meal and a good night’s rest. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”
* * *
The door closed with a click and Jonrell turned to face his room. He found himself staring down the sight of a cocked crossbow aimed at his unprotected chest. He had just given his armor to Cisod for repairs.
And what did I tell Elyse earlier today about being careful?
At the other end of the loaded weapon was a boy shaking, tears forming in his red eyes.
“Mal, what’re you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” the boy answered in a quavering voice.
“It looks like you are about to make a big mistake,” said Jonrell while taking a step forward.
Mal stiffened. “Stop right there. Don’t you dare move or I’ll kill you.”
Jonrell froze. “Ok son, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m not your son so quit calling me that.”
“Ok, I’m sorry. I…”
“You’re not sorry,” said Mal cutting in. “You’re not sorry for anything. You ruined my life. I was happy in the Hideaway. I was somebody. I was in charge of my own men and one day Denneth may have placed me in charge of his army. But here? Here I’m nothing. You’ve found something useful for everyone to do. Even Drake who’s two years younger than me is commanding men in battle. You had me shoveling coal in a forge.”
“Look, you’re right. I know I’ve been a real heel to you, but you have to understand, I’ve had an army to command and a battle to win.”
“Don’t give me that. You’ve made time for others. Raker, Yanasi, Kaz, even that idiot Crusher. But you haven’t once talked to me like you said you would when we were back on Slum Isle. And there were more than enough opportunities to do so on the ship, on the ride into Cathyrium and even at the dinner table. But you never did anything for me.”
Jonrell gave a sigh. He knew Mal was right, he just assumed the boy understood the stress he was under. I haven’t been fair to him though. He does deserve better. One Above, it seems I always miss something regardless of how much else I get right.
“Well, aren’t you going to say something?”
Jonrell saw the hurt in Mal’s eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “I can only promise you that I won’t let it happen again and swear to you that it was never my intention to cast you aside.”
The boy’s hurt faded and his eyes narrowed into an intense hatred. “I’m tired of your promises. And I
won’t let you break them to me anymore.”
Jonrell started to speak but found himself suddenly out of breath and staggering backward. He slammed into the door behind him and looked down. A quarrel stuck out from his chest, only the fletching visible. He gasped for air as blood seeped out of the wound and turned his shirt a crimson red.
* * *
Elyse wept. Kneeling in prayer, tears poured from her eyes and fell to the cobble floor beneath her, pooling into a puddle. She had been crying for hours and was surprised she still had tears left to fall.
Jonrell was dead.
His body had been found in his room, killed by one of his own. The reasons would never be known as the boy took his own life after firing the crossbow that ended her brother’s.
Elyse knew little about Mal but remembered the longing in his face at a dinner months ago, and how he had looked up to her brother.
What could have caused him to change? Why would he take Jonrell from me?
She hated Mal, though she knew the One Above would frown upon her for it. Her head tilted upward toward the small altar where she had been praying. It was a contrast from the majestic cathedral of Lyrosene, or some of the more fantastical structures built in honor to the One Above spread throughout Cadonia. After the burning of the city by Tomalt, the small, unadorned chapel nestled in a secluded cove of the castle was the only place left for her to worship the One Above.
Elyse cast her eyes down in shame, not for her hate of Mal, but for how her brother’s death had shaken her faith at the worst of times. She tried to remember her discussions with High Priest Burgeone but they helped little. The same questions kept repeating themselves in her head over and over. One Above, why did you allow this to happen? How could you take him from me now?
She shook her head. This is my fault. If my rule had been stronger, war and all its destruction would have been avoided. She paused, fearing she knew the answer to her previous questions. You took him from me so I would lose the throne, didn’t you? Why else? Someone else must be a better leader for your people. Without Jonrell, our forces will surely fall. She didn’t want to believe such things, but she also recognized the hopelessness in her situation. Jonrell’s death devastated her army. Jeldor had refrained from saying anything just yet, but Elyse caught the brief glimpse in his face, the horror that he had made a mistake aligning with her.
How long will he wait before aligning with someone else?
She heaved into another fit of sobbing. A firm but gentle hand touched her shoulder and she frantically wiped away the tears and sniffled. “I’m sorry for my behavior, it is not befitting of a queen,” she said, apologizing under the assumption that Lord Caliva had enough of her hiding.
“Your brother died. Your grief is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Elyse whipped her head about and saw Kaz standing over her, face drawn in hard lines. She didn’t know why his presence made her more self-conscious, but she stood up anyway and straightened her skirt. She winced at the stiffness in her legs from hours of kneeling. “I had not expected to see you here.”
“Things are getting unruly in your absence.”
“They are angry?”
“Frightened. There are too many questions. They need someone to stand behind, someone to lead them. You must come out and speak to your people.”
“I can’t. I am not the kind of person that inspires.”
“Jonrell thought you were.”
“And now he is dead…” she said, her words trailing off.
“That does not change his opinion of you. Your soldiers and lords both need to see that their queen is resolved in finishing what she has started.”
“I’m not so sure that I am,” Elyse said, looking away. “Perhaps the best thing to do is relinquish my crown and hand it over to someone more fitting.”
Kaz spat and Elyse jumped, aghast. “This is a place of worship and honor. You must not treat it with such disrespect.”
Kaz shook his head. “This place is neither to me. In a few short hours you entered a strong woman and have now turned into a feeble girl. There is no honor here right now.”
“My brother died!” she yelled at him. “What do you expect me to be?”
“I expect you to be the person Jonrell thought you were. Would you allow his efforts to go to waste?” He paused, staring into her eyes. “Honor him in death as he honored you while he was alive.”
“And what will you do to honor him now that he is gone?” she asked.
He looked down, his voice low. “I said I would aid him in securing your kingdom, and in return he would help me uncover my past and my home. He was a great man and without him I might be dead or lost. His death does not change the promise I made to him.” He took a knee and withdrew his sword, holding it out before Elyse. He bowed his head.
“What are you doing?” she asked in shock.
“I swear to you my sword. I will do all that I can to see your brother’s wishes come to pass. You are of his blood and I see in your eyes just as I saw in his, something good. Something better than what I see in others.”
Elyse fought back tears once again at the gesture. To have someone from another land be so sincere moved her in an odd way. But then a sudden realization came. “Stand up, Kaz, for you are only one man.”
He stood up at her command. “Others will do the same.”
“Out of love and respect for Jonrell? Out of guilt? They will not fight for me.”
“Perhaps not at first,” said Kaz, his blunt honesty wounding her fragile heart. “But in time, that will change.”
“And who will lead my army?” she asked. “I am barely a queen. I know nothing of warfare.”
“General Grayer or perhaps this Jeldor....”
“No,” said Elyse, cutting him off. “Grayer is a smart and good man, but he does not have the skills to command and rally men as my brother did. Jeldor is a better man than many credit him for, but he is still looking out for his own interests, at least for now. Neither will do.”
Kaz shrugged. “Then you have an army without a commander it would seem.”
“No, I do not. I have a great warrior who has just sworn his sword to me and promised he would honor my brother’s name.”
Kaz’s eyes widened. “I cannot. I am too different. The men…”
“Jonrell told me that many of the men who fought next to you have changed their prejudices. Others are likely to do the same over time.”
“But they are soldiers, not nobles. Jeldor might…”
“Jeldor will do as I say,” said Elyse, her voice hardening as a queen’s might. Her voice softened again as she realized she was taking out her anger on the one person who had sought to help her. “The question is, will you? Will you lead my army?”
There was a long pause as Kaz weighed her words, stroking his goatee. “Yes.”
She looked into his eyes and saw his passion and honesty and believed him. “And I will continue the promise my brother made to you. I will try to help you find a way back to your people.”
He nodded.
She turned back to the altar and caught the eyes of the One Above’s likeness. They seemed softer than before after this stranger to her land had calmed her. You took Jonrell but gave me someone in his place. Her hand went up to her neck where a necklace once hung, the green stone her brother had given her. And you gave me someone as well, Jonrell. As you promised, when I need you most, you continue to watch over me.
“Your Majesty?” said Kaz.
Elyse faced Kaz and smiled. “Please, in private call me Elyse.” She stepped forward and found herself wrapping her arms around him, sobbing once again under a mix of emotions. The sadness of Jonrell’s death swirled in her mind but now she was overwhelmed with joy knowing that someone would stand beside her in the times ahead.
Kaz’s body stiffened at her touch. She briefly questioned her gesture. But after a moment, his thick arms enveloped her. Elyse knew it was unfitting for a queen to be caught in such an embrace w
ith anyone, let alone someone such as Kaz. Yet she didn’t care.
Chapter 31
The aftermath of any battle brought as much work as the fighting. Tobin first saw to the well-being of the wounded and then afterward handled the containment of the prisoners. Others already began the process of stripping bodies of their weapons, armor, and valuables. Tomorrow they would complete the process and then bury or burn the bodies, depending on what time allowed for.
Tobin wanted to oversee the entire process personally, but Walor convinced him to see a healer for the gash across his chest first after giving orders. Stripped of his armor, the healer hurried to tend to the wound, shocked that Tobin had not lost more blood. Once bandaged, he returned to the work at hand.
Late that night, he finally allowed himself to return to camp, the last to arrive. A decision he made, unlike the countless times when Kaz ensured Tobin could not enjoy spoils of victory.
Throughout the encampment, bison roasted over bonfires while warriors circled around, celebrating the day's victory. Exhausted, they found renewed energy by filling their bellies with food and drink and enjoying the entertainment Bazraki’s advisors had brought in anticipation of victory. Dancers and singers, both male and female, acted out ancient scenes from their history.
Tobin made his way through camp. Bone tired, he forced himself to stand up straight and avoid shuffling his feet. Though all he wanted to do was sleep in Odala’s arms, he knew it would be some time before he would have a chance to rest. As Warleader, his presence during the celebration would be expected. And he still had to speak with his father.
I’m surprised he didn’t send someone to take me away from the battlefield. He did call for Nachun though. Perhaps whatever he told Father was enough to satiate his curiosity of today’s events.
Rise and Fall (Book 1) Page 53