by Autumn Dawn
Nikon looked mildly surprised, but kept his council.
“That was for my wife, and for the women you would have murdered out of spite,” Dagon said coldly. “You’ve never had a hand laid on you in your entire life, and you’ll not have another. Guards, take her outside and shoot her. Burn the body where it falls and scatter the ashes outside the city in the barren lands. She’s not worthy of a proper burial.”
“Dagon,” Ellyn whimpered as the guards prodded her with their guns. “Son!”
“You have none,” he said coldly. “You gave them to the woman you tried to murder.” Composed and deadly, he watched as she was forced away, his eyes glittering dangerously in the night.
“Now what?” Nikon said when only two guards remained. “Aren’t you going to kill me, too?”
Dagon glanced at him. “You weren’t part of this plot. I’m even grateful you chose to draw her out.”
Nikon relaxed a little. “Least I could do, since I knew you had to be watching. She mentioned another, though. Don’t you want to question her to find out who?”
“No need. He’s been dead for weeks. It was the medic Vana took such a dislike to. A former spy, too.” Dagon stared at Nikon.
Who raised his hands. “I had no part of their plot. I didn’t want the women harmed.”
“I know. That’s why you’ll live, along with the women I promised you. You’ll leave tomorrow.”
Nikon took a deep breath and expelled it slowly, shaken from his legendary control. “Thank you,” he said gruffly.
Dagon inclined his head. That part of his story had closed. Taking a deep breath of his own, he left to find his wife.
Vana listened silently, then released a shaky sigh. “So it’s over. She’s dead.”
“She’s dead,” he said gravely. A part of him bled—he’d ordered his mother’s death that night. It had been a just punishment, and his honor, his sense of justice, were firmly satisfied. It would take time for the man inside to heal, though. Perhaps it would never truly happen.
Vana took one look at his face and came to him, laying her head on his chest, stroking him slowly with her hands, soothing him even as she sought comfort. “It will be all right,” she said softly. “It will be all right.”
Author’s Note
Vana’s prediction came true. In time she gave birth to many daughters, sweet, beautiful girls who grew into strong women. Though she never got to bear sons of her own, she watched in satisfaction as first her adopted sons, then her blood children, bred both granddaughters and grandsons of their own. Though she never lifted a sword, both Vana and the women of her generation managed to save an entire race from destruction.
As for their enemies, Nikon’s twisted nation, they eventually grew old and died out, unable to produce issue. Perhaps that was both justice, and mercy, enough.
The End
About the author:
I'm a stay at home mom with three kids, a dog and an active imagination. I spent the first 34 years of my life in Alaska, land of the midnight sun, but these days I'm located in Washington, and am enjoying a much warmer sun :)
I'm married to my high school sweetheart, John, who is known to bring me flowers "just because".
My leisure time is filled with gardening, crochet, knitting, sewing, art and reading.
Connect with me online at:
www.autumndawnbooks.com
http://authorautumndawn.blogspot.com
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9