by Emma Merrell
It was lucky that Leona was attempting to be as secretive as possible because this was the only time that they would find her without her personal guard. She didn’t use the mountain people as Bran did, but her old guards, the ones who were there for her reign as queen. It was another reason to get her now, as Jude didn’t trust her people not to turn on Bran and his men the moment that they felt she was in danger.
This was going to be a mess.
Luck held and Leona was still there, performing the spell to refresh her powers. There were all sorts of rocks and candles spread around her, it was unmistakable what she was doing. Jude jumped as Bran cursed vehemently and rose to his full, formidable height. The look on his face froze Jude down to his bones.
Leona whipped around at Bran’s exclamation. She looked flummoxed but recovered herself after only the briefest time. Her hands flew up and her mouth came open. Jude felt the world stop, she was going to cast a curse. Before he was fully aware of what he was doing, he had leaped over the hedge and was barreling into her. He knew that he had to knock her out before she could say anything. If she spoke the words they were in trouble. So, it was with a sick feeling that he grabbed a handful of her hair and slammed her head into the pavers under their bodies. It only took the one blow and she went limp underneath him. Jude scrambled back in a panic but went back to make sure she still had a pulse, which she did.
Everything was still and quiet for a short while, but that was shattered by a shuddering sob. Everyone turned to Bran. He looked caught somewhere between heartbreak and fury, his face twisted up with emotion. He took a couple of deep breaths to get himself under control and then spoke to his guards. “Seize her. Take her to the dungeon, bind her, gag her. Do not let anyone see you.”
The men moved forward and gently lifted her from the ground, one of them throwing her over his shoulder to carry down to the cells. Jude was stunned. He could hardly believe that the plan had worked so perfectly. It was exactly what they had envisioned. He did feel a bit guilty for hurting Bran, but wasn’t it better if he knew the truth anyway?
“I’m so sorry, Uncle.” Petunia said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I can’t believe she was still using her abilities this whole time. Even after she promised you.”
Bran shook his head. “I was a damned fool. I can see that now. She used me and my people to get back everything that she had lost.”
“What will you do with her?” Jude asked.
“I’m not sure yet. Make an example of her, maybe.”
“The people might not like that.”
“The people must see what happens to magic users in my kingdom.”
Bran’s face had gone hard, and Jude knew that whatever course he had just decided on would be next to impossible to sway him from.
“I never thought he would take it this far.” Petunia said, pacing back and forth across the luxe set of rooms that she had been given by Bran.
Jude nodded. “Me either. But is it really the worst thing? We’ll be rid of her entirely this way. People won’t like it.”
“It won’t be in that regard. I just hate what it will turn my uncle into. I don’t think that he will forgive himself for this. He really loves her.”
“If he really loved her wouldn’t be sending her to the execution block. He hates magic more then he loves her. You can’t truly love someone while ignoring the largest part of who they are.”
Petunia bit her lip, frustrated and Jude rose to his feet. He tipped her chin up and saw her raging emotions chasing their way across her face. He didn’t like seeing her this way. “He’ll survive this though. Jonathan will let him live when he takes back his throne. Even if this breaks him, at least you will still have the chance to build him back up again.”
“I know. I guess I just never realized how far he would take it. How much he hates magic. How much he hates part of me.”
There it was, the real thing that was bothering her. “Your uncle loves you very much.”
“He loves part of me, but if he thought for one second that I enjoyed using my magic, would he kill me too? Is that all he would see?”
A tear rolled down her face and Jude drew her into his arms. He didn’t know what to say to make her feel better because she was probably right. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have to hide a part of himself, an integral part, for fear that his family would turn against him. All he could do was hold her.
There was a soft knock on the door, and they pulled apart, Petunia wiping her eyes. “Come in,” she called.
Berenice entered, looking back and forth between the two of them curiously. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No, dear cousin. I was just worked up over what might happen to your father when he does this thing.”
Berenice raised her eyebrows and shrugged. “Me too, but he won’t be dissuaded. That’s why I came. It’s time to come to the throne room. He’s gathered the guild masters.”
Jude met Petunia’s gaze, whatever was about to happen would be decided by the guild in the next hour. It might take time for the effects to be felt, but their hearts would be turned one way or another when Bran executed Leona. They hoped it would end with them turning on Bran.
The scene when they arrived was worth a look. Leona was trussed up, gagged, and blindfolded. To the left of Leona stood the executioner dressed in head to toe black with a razor-sharp ax hanging at his side. To the right stood Bran, he had his arms raised as he tried to explain what was about to happen. Jude knew that he had gathered them without giving a reason as to why, because that would have given any dissenters time to plot against him. The twelve guild masters ringed around the room in wooden chairs, confused and unhappy expressions on their faces. Jude also recognized some of Bran's commanders mixed in among them.
Bran caught sight of his family and Jude, motioning them forward to stand at his side. Up close Jude could see just how red his eyes were, how deep the purple rings beneath them. He looked like a man who had been up all night wrestling with a decision that could crack his soul. His voice was gravelly when he spoke, “My people, both new and old. The purpose that I’ve gathered you for today is indeed grave. Queen Leona had been caught using magic. She will be executed today in front of you all for her crime. Let it be an example to you of how much the new laws of this kingdom mean to me, and that no one, not even a queen, is above them.”
The noise level in the room rose as all the guild masters began protesting at once. There may have been a less than pleasant history with the queen, but she had become something of a symbol to the people of a fresh start. She was the one who had broken the curse at long last, although they seemed to have forgotten that she was the one who cast in the first place. Those who had dwelt here for their entire lives didn’t think that she had done anything wrong by using her magic because it was as natural to them as breathing. The restrictions placed upon its use had been a different kind of curse.
Of course, Bran’s people remained calm and still, quite clearly in favor of his plan. And why wouldn’t they be? The man who they had followed for their entire lives was making a bold move that would make him the most powerful man in all the land. Everything would be as they had always wanted it.
Some of those loyal to Leona began to head towards her, the guards quickly lining up in a wall to stop them. Shoving ensued. Jude began to worry about just how messy this would turn out. They hadn’t wanted violence among the people, but it had probably been foolish and naïve not to expect it. Jude turned to Petunia and raised his eyebrows in question. Her voice sounded in his head a moment later, “I’m calling Jonathon and Luce back. The prince might be the only one who can keep this from turning into a bloodbath.”
Jude nodded. It was as good a time as any. Things would be unstable enough for Jonathon to get a good toehold on the people’s emotions. If he could offer them babies, magic, and peace? Well, Jude didn’t think any of the people would turn it down. The only ones who would fight were the mountain people, and
while numerous, they still weren’t as well trained. The enchanted weapons that had won the battle so easily the first time were locked up in the armory.
“Are there still men loyal to Jonathan? We need to send some extra protection their way,” he thought back.
Jude’s attention was drawn back to the front of the room by the movement of the executioner. He was raising his ax. He held it high above his head waiting for Bran to give the command before any of the men could break through the guards to help her.
Bran shouted at the top of his lungs, although it was unsure how many could hear him. “For the high crime of using magic, I, King Bran, sentence Queen Leona to death by beheading in accordance with the laws of this kingdom.”
With that proclamation the ax fell in a quick and smooth arc, sparking off the stone of the throne room floor. Jude didn’t exactly see it happen, where her head went, but he did witness her body fall to the ground in a spray of blood. He was shocked. Horrified. It had happened so quickly.
A guard brushed past Jude, grabbing the fallen queen from the ground and carrying her body away. Bran watched none of it, in fact, he watched nothing at all. His gaze was far away, a vacant expression was on his face. It didn’t seem as though he were handling things well. Jude looked back at Berenice and jerked his head towards her father. She nodded, getting the message, and went to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. As soon as her hand touched, Bran broke out into big, shuddering sobs. He turned into his daughter and cried into her shoulder, not caring who could see.
“He really did love her,” came a whisper in Jude’s ear. He turned his head just slightly so that Petunia could have a better angle to speak with him. “Jonathan and Luce are coming. They will be here within minutes.”
“Will they be safe?”
“After I called them back, I sent word to the more loyal guards to head over to the gate and help to protect them as they come in. They will be brought in through the servant’s passages. Hopefully, it will keep them from being noticed too much.”
“Gods, I hope this works.”
“This is the best chance, while people are angry and confused. They will look to Jonathan’s stability.”
The people certainly were confused, the entire room had broken out in fights. The guild masters trying desperately to get at Bran, while the guards and mountain people did everything that they could to hold them back from the king. Jude hoped that Jonathan and Luce got here quickly.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Luce
It had been a jolt when Petunia told them it was time to return. After all of that time cooped up and waiting, neither of them had been prepared for the day to come. Jonathan and his men had dressed in the armor that they had secreted away as quickly as possible, while Mary had given Luce a quick wash and stuck her in a dress that Petunia had left for her. It was a pretty thing, pale blue with gold brocade sleeves, but nothing like what she had worn in the girl’s court. Of course, Petunia had a growing baby belly to contend with and the Little Mother certainly hadn’t.
She ran a hand over her baby bump, an unconscious gesture that brought her comfort when anxious. And she was certainly anxious now. They were almost through the mass of halls that led to the servant’s entrance of the throne room. “Ready?” she asked.
Jonathan shifted to take her hand. “You know that I will never let anything happen to you. Whatever we are about to face, we will face it together. I am ready. This is my kingdom and those are my people. Let’s get them back.”
Luce felt a fierce smile cross her lips. “Let’s.”
She tried to achieve his level of confidence, that seeming knowledge that everything would work out the way they wanted it to. The guard surrounding them helped her to feel better. They had not only the men that had fled with them but an additional four more trustworthy men that had met them at the servant’s gate. Luce blushed when she remembered how grateful they had been to see Jonathan back, and how they had even bowed low to her.
Jonathan had questioned the guard on the tone of the kingdom since he had been away, and the report largely matched up with all the information that Petunia had been feeding them. The mountain people were happy, the city people were not, and the tension was growing between the two sides. And, although seen as an improvement, the public wasn’t necessarily very happy to have the woman that had cursed them back on the throne. The main thing that the city people had to be excited about was with a re-formed guild they at least had a voice in how things were run once again.
The guard drew to a halt ahead. One of the men, Tamor, signaled that they were about to step into the room. He had the key ready to turn the heavy lock in the wooden door. When he did, that was it, everything would change. This would either work or it wouldn’t and the fate of thousands would be decided. Jonathan gave a nod and they were moving forward into the throne room behind the guard.
From what Luce could see it had been chaos before their arrival. A man she assumed to be Bran was sobbing on the floor as his men held back a tide of angry city people. Jude and Petunia stood at Bran’s side, looking aghast at what was happening. Their heads had whipped in the direction of the opening door and Jude caught Luce’s eye for just a moment before the guards blocked her view.
Beside her, Jonathan raised his arms in the air, palms out, and spoke in his most commanding tone, “Peace, good people. I will have peace.”
It went very quiet very quickly. The guild masters stopped shoving at the mountain men, turning their heads at the sound of their prince’s voice. The sobbing on the floor slowed to a sniffle and Bran was helped to his feet to see the newcomers. It was only then that Luce could see the puddle of blood on the floor that stained his robes. Something bad had just happened here.
“He murdered the queen,” came Petunia’s voice in her head. Beside her, Jonathan’s eyes widened just a fraction and Luce knew that he had been told as well.
“What is the meaning of this? Seize him.” Bran shouted.
His guard was torn, engaging with Jonathan’s men would mean leaving their king exposed to the wrath of the guild masters. They shifted on their feet, while the ring of protection around Luce grew tighter.
“Enough. I have come to make a deal with King Bran. Not to harm him. If everyone could just step back and be seated, we might be able to come to an accord that would please all.” Jonathan said. “What say you, Your Majesty?”
“Dammit, step back.”
The guard moved away so that Jonathan and Luce had room to breathe, and she could at least get a better picture of the room. The guild masters returned to their seats, and only then did both guards retreat to line the walls of the room. Two servants appeared from the hallway behind Luce carrying additional chairs so that everyone had a seat. She shot a glance at Petunia, who winked in return. Of course, she was behind such an efficient service.
Bran collapsed into the throne brokenly, and it was a sign of Jonathan’s desire for peace that his mouth only tightened a little at the sight. Jonathan took the other, smaller, throne and gestured for Luce to sit by his side. Jude, Petunia, and Berenice remained at Bran’s side, all of them facing the guild masters in a loose sort of circle.
“So, Prince Jonathan, how do you propose we fix this?” one of the guild members asked.
“There’s nothing to fix,” Bran mumbled.
“I beg to differ. You just slew the queen in front of us. The people will not stand for it.”
“She broke the laws that everyone in this room, including her, wrote into being.”
“Yes. And she should have been tried publicly, in front of all the kingdom so that they felt it was fair. All they will have now is your word that she was using magic. And most of them won’t consider that a reason for you to have executed her. Most of them would dearly love to be able to practice their magic freely once again.”
“My people will support their king.”
“Yes, your people only.”
Jonathan had been listening to the two qui
etly, but now took a moment to interject. “If I may, King Bran, why did you desire this throne?”
Bran gave a gruff sort of bark. “Why, you ask? We were happy enough to live on our own in the mountains. When your father divorced Leona for her sister we left. It was an affront to all those loyal to her, all my people included. We knew that it had been some of your mother’s evil sorcery that had stolen the king away from his rightful wife. Leona convinced me and a large group of people to leave this kingdom and its wicked magic behind to start fresh in the mountains.
“So, we went, and for many years we were left alone. We were happy. It all changed when you came of age, Prince Jonathan. It was then that your mother started stealing our beautiful girls, and we knew that it wasn’t just us who were suffering this fate. When your daughters are being taken away to be used as broodmares, it is the sort of thing that makes you want to fight the people doing it. And Leona,” his voice broke, “she was the most passionate of us all, the most against all that this damned place stood for. That’s why her betrayal was so unforgivable.”
A guild member spoke up. “She didn’t betray any of those girls, she only used the magic that was hers by nature.”
“No. You see, she never believed. She used me and mine to take revenge upon her sister. That was her only purpose. She cared nothing for the girls, nothing for me.” Bran’s voice rose as he spoke so that it was almost an angry yell by the time he finished speaking. Glances were exchanged as it became clear just how personal this was to him. He clearly wasn’t thinking with his head.
“The people will not accept this.”
“No. Your people won’t.”
Jonathan cleared his throat and all eyes went back to him. “I have a proposal that I believe could satisfy everyone in this room. Before I start, I would like you all to know that I am willing to hear any ideas that could help my proposal to be a stronger one.”