by Jeff Gunzel
When Azek spun to face the next threat, an explosion of white rattled through his head. He tried to stay on his feet, but his body simply wouldn’t respond. Knees buckling beneath him, he fell to ground, a smiling cryton gazing down at him.
Ilirra shook her head violently, finally ridding herself of the hood. She took in the horrible scene. There was fighting everywhere. The rebellion had given the common folk enough courage to join in. People in the lower seats were beginning to rush the first stage where Filista and the others were. Shouts of “Save our Queen” cascaded through the arena. “No!” screamed Ilirra, struggling to free herself. “You can’t win! Don’t try to help me. Save yourselves. Run!”
She looked up to the sky in horror. Black clouds began to twist and churn. She looked to the other stage. Azek was down on the ground, five crytons linked beside him! “No!” she screamed again. “They don’t know any better. Don’t hurt them!”
A bolt of yellow energy came streaking down from the sky. It blasted the upper seats with a thunderous boom. Charred bodies went cartwheeling though the air. Another bolt struck the lower deck, producing the same result. Morcel twisted the neck of a cryton he had in his grasp, snapping it like a twig, then turned and began flashing his fingers urgently. Abort the mission. It’s too late, they’ve linked. We can’t save her.
Ilirra watched while wave after wave of civilians came running towards her, determined to cut her loose. But bolts of yellow energy charred them into ashes long before they got there. “No! No more deaths. Not for me!” She glanced back to the first stage. Filista wore a satisfied grin while the carnage ensued. Azek was down but still conscious, his eyes locked with Ilirra’s. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed to him silently.
I’ve done everything I can to protect them. I’ve given up everything so my people would be safe. But as long as I draw breath, they won’t stop fighting. Therefore, they won’t stop dying! Ilirra slammed her foot down on the trapdoor. It rattled loudly. She slammed it down again, and this time it made a hollow cracking sound. She could hear Azek’s bloodcurdling wail begging her to stop. The cry sounded drawn out and far away, like in a dream. She refused to look at him. Refused to see the pain in his eyes.
Hundreds of lives will be saved at the cost of one. A small price to pay. Azek, forgive me. Jade, I love you. She slammed her foot down again, causing the trapdoor to break open. Her fall was short; the rope tightened around her neck like a vise.
The end of an era...
A small price to pay for the lives of hundreds. Such is the way of being a leader. Such is the way of heroes...
Epilogue
Azek lay still on a wooden table, a white bandage wrapped around his head. Eyes wide open, he stared lifelessly up at the ceiling. “What you did was very foolish,” said the cryton caring for him. This woman seemed to be one of the few who spoke common.
She wrapped another piece of thin cloth across his forehead. “You humans are such strange creatures,” she said. “The Queen had already given her power to Filista. Even by your own laws, nothing could have revoked that. Yet so many of you risked your lives trying to save the former Queen. So many had to die, and for what? The only thing that stopped the carnage was your former Queen sacrificing herself. Tell me, why did it have to come to that?” She wrapped another piece of cloth around his head. “Humans are strange creatures indeed.”
Finishing, she clapped her hands together. “There you go. We need you healthy and strong. Filista doesn’t want any harm to come to her newest gladiator. And don’t get it in your head that you’re not going to fight. You will obey your Queen and do exactly as she says. Ilirra Marosia’s passing of the crown was completely within your laws. The Queen had no heir that might challenge for the throne. Your way of life is forever changed.”
The woman left, leaving Azek alone to keep staring up at nothing. Suddenly, he rolled his head back and forth, laughing for no reason. “You think we humans scare so easily?” he said to no one. “I promise you a day of reckoning is not far away. A day when the humans will rise up, and take back what is rightfully theirs. And in that fateful moment, I will see Filista Umyon’s heart impaled upon the tip of my sword.”
He laughed again, longer and louder this time, like he had gone mad. His city taken hostage; the woman he loved dead—who could blame him for losing touch with reality? Then he stopped and began staring up at the ceiling once again.
“And you’re wrong, fool,” he whispered, voice hissing like a snake. “The Queen does have an heir.”
Note from the author:
I hope you’ve all enjoyed book 5 of the Legend of the Gate Keeper Series. If so, I ask that you take the time to leave a review or tell a friend about the series.
Thank you,
Jeff Gunzel
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Table of Contents
Copyright 2014 Jeff Gunzel
Chapter 1
Chapter 2The
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7Shantis
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12An
Chapter 13
Chapter 14 Eric, Eric
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Note from the author: