by Michael Karr
The soldiers promptly arrested the injured pair and took them into one of the outpost buildings for questioning. Despite Endrick’s legs, the soldiers handled him roughly, dragging his stout bulk when his legs failed him. They were brought into a sparse room, with a desk, a few chairs, and an assortment of charts pinned to the back wall. For several tense minutes, they stood there.
“I don’t suppose you’d let a man with broken legs sit in one of those chairs?” said Endrick.
He grunted as one of the soldiers struck him in reply.
Skylar clenched his fists at his side. If there were anything he could have done or said to help his friend…
The stamp of boots sounded outside the room. An officer burst through the side door, his face red and his stride stiff. He walked right up to Endrick and stared him down.
“Are these the two miscreants wreaking havoc on my landing field?” he demanded, speaking through Endrick.
“Yes, commander.”
He struck Endrick across the face with the back of his hand. Then came over and did the same to Skylar. The blow momentarily blinded Skylar. His ears rang with the sting of it. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
“If I didn’t need answers from you two, I’d tear out your tongues with my own hands,” he growled.
He turned his back to them abruptly.
“Who is on the ship, and where are they going?” he continued.
Neither Skylar nor Endrick responded. The commander whirled around, his face livid.
“I said, who’s on the ship!” He lifted his arm again to strike Skylar.
Skylar tried but failed to keep from flinching. He closed his eyes and waited.
The blow didn’t come. Tentatively, he opened his eyes again. When he did the commander’s expression had transformed. The commander was looking at him, studying him intently. After a moment, he broke off his gaze and marched over to his desk, where he retrieved a letter and examined it.
He looked back at Skylar, his eyes narrowed.
“You’re Ahlderion, aren’t you?” he said. Skylar swallowed, but remained silent.
“Aren’t you!” he shouted.
Seeing Skylar’s intent to remain tight-lipped, the commander signaled to one of his men. Skylar turned just in time to see one of the soldiers take a cudgel and strike it across Endrick’s leg.
The howl of pain which escaped Endrick’s mouth could have made even the hardest heart bleed.
“Leave him alone!” plead Skylar, fighting to break free of the men who held him bound so he could help Endrick. “I’ll talk. Just let him be.”
The commander held up his hand for his men to halt any further abuse of Endrick.
“I am Ahlderion,” said Skylar with a sighed. “I’m the one you’re looking for.”
The commander gave a triumphant sneer.
“Prepare a transport,” he said. “Immediately.”
No doubt as to where the transport was bound or for whom it was intended existed in Skylar’s mind. He berated himself for not being quick-witted enough to handle the commander’s interrogation. Even now, he wished he could collect himself to form a plan of escape. If nothing else, a way to save Endrick. But the jabbing pain in his back addled his brain and weakened his resolve to continue fighting.
They arrived at the empress’ stronghold within a quarter of an hour. They might have arrived sooner, had their original transport not broken down before it left the landing the field gates. The commander, more than eager to claim his reward from the empress, cast maledictions at everything in sight until another transport arrived.
The castle stood as foreboding as ever. As the transport rumbled across the narrow bridge, all his nightmares of the place overcame him. In spite of the insulated suit he still wore, a shiver ran through him.
Inside, the soldiers hauled him up the stairs, while four of them dragged Endrick. Under his breath, Skylar maligned them for handling him so roughly. Skylar’s own wound, though still throbbing, was likely nothing compared to what Endrick endured.
Up seven flights of stairs, they were made to climb. Skylar remembered well the seventh floor. He knew precisely where the soldiers were taking them. Two sentries flanked the door to the apartment. A sign that someone of consequence was within. Though the thought of meeting the empress face-to-face made his blood run cold, he felt some comfort to have Endrick at his side. Little difference it would make in the end, though. A dismal death awaited them both.
The soldiers brought them into a study. Skylar knew it well. It was the same study where he had discovered General Karíknof’s letter and the plans for building a Tracker. The chamber was as dim as Skylar remembered. A thin pall hung in the air from the torch smoke. Why the empress still employed this antiquated source of light, he didn’t understand. Nor did he truly care. He wished the cloud were thicker. That it might shroud them from the figure who loomed behind the desk.
If possible, she looked more menacing sitting there, staring coldly at them. Like a huntress, waiting for the right moment to spring up and drive her fangs into the neck of her prey.
The commander approached the desk and bowed on one knee.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” he said. “I have captured these two criminals. The boy claims to be the one for whom you are searching.”
Eyes still transfixed on Skylar, the empress rose, like a storm cloud swelling. This act was no sign of deference for Skylar’s royal birth, but a show of power. Her iron black hair fell loosely about her shoulders, and she wore only an unadorned scarlet robe.
“You are dismissed, Commander,” she said curtly, her gaze unmoved from Skylar. “And your men, too.”
The commander rose and made an about-face. Skylar thought he detected a hint of sourness on his face. No doubt he expected some show of gratitude from the empress. With a gesture of his head, he signaled to his men to release their captives and follow him.
The guards holding Endrick didn’t care that he couldn’t stand on his own. They dumped him where he stood. Skylar caught Endrick under the arm before he collapsed to the floor, but struggled under Endrick’s weight to keep from collapsing himself.
“So, this is the little prince who ought to have been dead years ago,” said the empress, wholly ignoring Skylar’s efforts to aid his companion.
“Guard!” she hollered.
Behind him, Skylar heard the door to the study open and boots sound on the stone door.
“Fetch my daughter,” commanded the empress. “And Rizain, as well.”
“They should be here to meet our honored guest,” she said, turning back on Skylar with an unsettling smile.
With that same smile disfiguring her face, she came around from behind her desk, drawing nearer to Skylar. Her height at that proximity produced its full effect. Skylar cowered instinctively.
“What do you think of your sister?” she said. “Isn’t she marvelous? Beautiful, tall, powerful, cunning, and an eternal enemy of Ahlderon.” She let out a wicked laugh. “Are you not ever so glad that you found her?” She laughed again.
“She’s mad,” muttered Endrick under his breath.
Skylar shifted his weight, still fighting to keep Endrick upright. He wished the empress would, at least, acknowledge his companion’s debilitated state. Though he wished to open his mouth, to petition any small accommodation for Endrick, he knew it would futile. Out of spite for his audacity to make such a request, the empress might break Endrick’s arm—or worse. No, Endrick was better off without Skylar calling attention to him.
Within minutes, the princess and Rizain Du Kava entered the study.
“Good,” said the empress. “Your sister is here. Together at long last.”
She let out another laugh of derision.
The princess walked over and stood near her mother. She regarded Skylar as he might look upon Morvath, if he ever saw that fiend again.
“Don’t be dower, little prince,” said the empress wit
h feigned politeness.
She’s enjoying this chance to gloat over her victory a little too much, he thought.
“At least you won’t have to watch the destruction of your kingdom. I’d rather hoped you’d get to watch our grand invasion. But having you here simplifies things for us.”
“Ahlderon will never fall to you!” cried Skylar.
“It already has. The Castle Ahlderon is in my power, thanks to your friend and his tutor. Next time you would do well to perform a more thorough background check of your hired help.”
“What do you mean?” said Skylar, feeling a pit growing rapidly in his stomach.
“That so-called tutor you hired was no tutor at all, but the same traitor who helped murder your parents. He and your little school friend helped my soldiers seize your castle. They are there now, waiting for my daughter to take her rightful place on the throne and for my armies to crush anyone who stands in her way.”
Morvath…the tutor?
He refused to comprehend these words. It couldn’t be!
Morvath…how could he…
Too stunned to speak, he simply stood, completely dumbfounded. What of his mother? And Rolander? And Krom? Panic crawled from deep inside his gut, took hold of his heart, and began strangling it.
“But you won’t have to worry about that much longer,” the empress went on. “Daughter, would you do the honors of dispatching your little brother?”
The princess did not hesitate for even a breath of a moment.
“With pleasure.”
Retrieving a dagger from her desk, the empress handed the blade to her daughter. With a flash of hatred, the princess took the blade and advanced on Skylar.
“The devil you will!” growled Endrick.
With painful effort, he placed his full weight on his crippled legs, taking a step forward to shield Skylar.
“Your Majesty, if I might be allowed to make a suggestion…”
Rizain Du Kava’s voice cut through the scene like the dagger clutched in the princess’ hands. All halted and turned to the weapons master.
“What is it, Rizain?” asked the empress, impatience turning her words to ice.
“Only that it would seem a pity for the deed to be done with so few witnesses.”
“And why is that?”
“When news of it spreads, the popularity and favor of the princess with the people shall only increase. But consider if she were to end his life in open combat before the very eyes of your people. The Trials require she meet another challenger. Would such not be a fitting test? The strength of arm and will to kill her own brother for the sake of her people.”
“Yes, I see the wisdom in what you say, Rizain. Let it be done then. The other challenger shall be replaced by one…whom the people shall greatly enjoy watching die. We will make a grand spectacle of the event. Everyone must know that we have Ahlderon’s precious son. Rizain, I’m putting his guard strictly in your charge. Nothing is to happen to him between now and then. Nothing!”
“Yes, Your Eminence.” Du Kava bowed at the waist slowly.
“And see that his wounds are dressed.”
“And what of his companion?”
For the first time, the empress seemed to notice Endrick.
“Send him to the executioner and have him remove his head from his body. He is of no importance to me.”
“No!” cried Skylar. “He is Endrick, First Night of Ahlderon. I demand his life be spared. You have me. That’s what you want. Let him return to Ahlderon. Since your army is so powerful, what fear have you of one more? Let him fight you. Unless you are too afraid.”
“Be silent, you insolent little brat!”
The empress sliced her hand through the air as if to cut down an invisible foe.
“You have no power here. Call me a coward? Send the nuisance back to Ahlderon? No, if he’ll share your fate, let him fight with you, what little help he’ll be.”
“Send for the guards.”
“He’ll betray you,” said Skylar, his voice cracking from the raw emotions coursing through him. “Morvath—he’ll make you wish you had stayed on Gorgoroth.”
She turned and looked at him proudly. “Do you think I intend to let that perfidious liar live? I am only using him to get Ahlderon.”
* * *
The empress made better on her words than Skylar could have imagined. In the week leading up the proclaimed battle, Skylar and Endrick received special care. A physician visited every day to apply fresh bandages to Skylar’s back and to check Endrick’s legs. It turned out that but one of his legs was broken, the other only badly sprained. With a splint on the other, he could walk, though feebly. The companions suffered no want of hunger either. A maid brought them regular meals, with sufficient helpings to satisfy even Endrick’s appetite. They were bathed and clothed. Were it not for the bolted door and incessant watch of Rizain Du Kava, Skylar might have imagined himself a guest in the castle.
Any comfort they enjoyed at the empress’ hand was lost on Skylar, though. They might as well have been confined to the sweltering depths of the Inferno for all it mattered to him. The bitterness which raged inside him would not allow him any peace, any comfort or solace. Though death soon came for him, he might have felt at peace. The empress words haunted him. If she spoke the truth, then his defeat was complete. The Castle Ahlderon fallen. How long before the rest of the empire? Grüny and Kendyl were free. But how long before they too were captured?
The day of the battle arrived. Manservants came and dressed Endrick and Skylar for the fight. Skylar felt more like they were undressing them for all that remained covering their bodies after the servants finished. Except for leather bands encasing their forearms, their upper torsos were left bare. About their waists were short pants, cinched tight at mid-thigh. Their feet were shod with light footwear, made for nimble movement.
“I hope it’s warm outside today,” said Endrick. “We’re practically naked.”
Skylar felt too numb on the inside to feel either hot or cold on the outside.
Once garbed, the companions were escorted by four armed guards, with Rizain Du Kava as their master, down to the stable yard. It was there that Skylar saw his first glimpse of his sister since the night he and Endrick were captured. She did not look at him, but walked proudly across the flagstones and climbed into a carriage. Though more modestly attired, she was garbed in similar fashion. Endrick noticed.
“At least she gets some covering on her upper half,” he muttered. “An unfair advantage, without a doubt.”
The guards forced them into a caged cart, not unlike the one Skylar had arrived in as a slave from Rajar Koon’s compound. Iron bars clanged shut behind them.
Within minutes the procession commenced. The carriage carrying the princess led the entourage, flanked by a squadron of mounted castle guards. Skylar believed the carriage must hold the empress as well. Their own cart brought up the rear, in front of which walked a crier, who proclaimed Skylar’s name through all the streets.
“Behold and make way,” he shouted, “for the royal son of Ahlderon, Prince Korbyn Ducädese. Bow before his mighty splendor!”
The people laughed when they beheld the mighty splendor trapped like a bird in a cage. Many cast aspersions at him. Others cast rotting fruit or mud at him.
Skylar did not care. How could anyone possibly hurt him any more than the irreparable damage he’d already suffered?
By the time they reached the arena, Endrick and Skylar were covered in bits of food and dirt.
“They couldn’t throw any pies?” said Endrick, wiping a green liquid from his cheek.
The procession entered through the arena gates and pulled into an alcove. Their guards immediate hauled Endrick and Skylar down a corridor and dumped them into an empty room. One of the guards pointed to a few buckets of water occupying the corner before bolting the door closed.
Using the water, the pair washed.
“I’
m sorry I got you into this,” said Skylar when they had finished washing as best they could.
“I’m not. I’m looking forward to getting back at that sister of yours.”
“You? Look at you. You can’t fight. You can scarcely stand.”
“Can too. Just let her come near me, I’ll whack her toes off.”
Skylar shook his head, unable to keep from smiling.
“This is hardly the time for your jesting, old friend.”
“Who said anything about jesting?”
“That’s very well for you. As for me…I can’t fight her. She’s my own sister.”
“Ah, don’t give me that! She’s your enemy, not your sister. She wants you dead. Besides, you don’t have to kill her, just chop off her arm so she can’t fight. And maybe her tongue, too.”
“It’s a moot argument, anyway,” said Skylar. “She’s ten times the warrior I am.”
“I’d say more like twelve.”
Skylar snorted. Who but Endrick could make levity is such bleak circumstances?
“I was hoping that…that she wouldn’t be able to go through with it.”
Endrick placed a strong arm on Skylar’s shoulder.
“I pray she cannot, Skylar. I wish nothing more than to one day call you king.”
“Good and faithful, Endrick. You’re more friend than any man desires. Though I wish you were safely free of here, it is a comfort to have you at my side to the end.”
Just then, Du Kava unlocked the portal door and entered with two guards.
“It is time,” was all he said, then led them out. Out to meet the grim fate that awaited them. Out to die at the hand of his own sister.
Of all the things that might have passed through his mind, Skylar simply found himself wishing that he could remember what day it was on Ahlderon, and if he had missed his mother’s birthday.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading. It means a lot to me. As and independent author, I don’t have the support of a large publishing company. But I have awesome readers, like you!
You are likely wondering about the next book. It is a trilogy, after all. And I do have plans for book III. At this point, I can't say when it will be out, though. If you want to see it happen sooner, rather than later, the best way to push me to move faster on it is to write a review of this book on Amazon.com. It only takes a few minutes and 1) helps other readers discover my books, and 2) shows me that readers do want more. I need your help for this to happen.