The Two Kings

by Marian Gray

  “Speaking of showing you things,” the king said as he set his cup on a stand near the bed. “I have a present for you.”

  “A present?” I sat up.

  “Don’t sound so surprised. You make me feel as though I’ve neglected you since you came under my wing.” He stood from the bed and crossed the room to where his trunks were stacked in the corner. He picked up the first one that he came to. It was small compared to the rest, no bigger than a child’s torso.

  “What’s inside?” I asked.

  “Open it and see.” When he returned to the bed, he promptly handed it to me.

  It was heavy, but I couldn’t be sure if the weight was due to the trunk itself or the object inside. My fingers pulled back the metal latch. It was cold and dry to the touch. Several flakes of rusted metal clung to my skin. The top reeled back with a groan and came to a sudden stop when the hinges refused to give any more.

  The inside was lined with an indigo velvet. The fine fibers were raised by only half a centimeter. But what caught my attention was the gleam of sapphires and blue-tinted emeralds. The stones had been cut by a master jeweler and laid perfectly against the handle without bump or groove. At the base of the hilt, was a small golden stub that had been chiseled into the shape of the sun. A blade nearing a foot long slid out from the dazzling grip.

  I should’ve been awestruck from the richness and beauty of both the gems and craftsmanship, but my eyes feasted on the steel. I had figured I would strangle the man, but with this…

  “Speechless?” he asked, an amused smile painted across his face. It was plain to see Audrios derived a lot of pleasure from showing off his wealth.

  “Yes, truly. I don’t know how to thank you, and I almost feel like this gift is far above my blood.” I had to tell him the words I knew he wanted to hear.

  “It is above your blood, but now that you are the king’s sorceress, or more importantly, my sorceress, you are worthy of such sparkling items.” He lifted the dagger out of its case and set it plainly before me. “The first time we ride into battle, I want you carrying this on your hip. That way, all of our foes will know that you are of Essony. The sapphire is a signature gem from these lands. They come from other parts of the world, but those other parts are far from us.”

  I stared at the weapon. It was beautiful and amazing, but all my mind could focus on was the fact that soon this blade would sink into his flesh and ply spirit from bone.

  “Pick it up. Feel its weight. Tell me what you think.” His hand stretched to the goblet at his side and he took thirsty drink.

  I licked my lips, and my fingers curled around the cold jewels. He was giving me the command to end his life, and he didn’t even know it. “It’s heavier than I would’ve expected.”

  “That’s because the surface isn’t just gilded. Those are full-sized stones encrusted in gold.”

  “It’s beautiful. I shall forever treasure it more than any other item I have ever owned in my life.” I meant it, too. Chances were I would never come across anything as glorious as this.

  The king sank into his bed as he placed the drained cup beside him. His head rested nimbly on the pillow beneath him, and his neck was splayed wide for the taking. “I know I said you aren’t my flavor, but a little lick and suck would be appreciated. It’s an excellent way to show that you’re grateful while also allowing me try you out.”

  My brow knitted together. Payment for a gift? Not to mention he had just bed three women. “Yes, King Audrios.”

  My arm lifted to end it all but dropped when he opened his mouth. “No. We agreed you would only call me Audrios.” He opened his eyes with a teasing smile.

  I blushed. “Apologies.”

  He snuggled into the cushioned surface before shutting his eyes once again. A relaxed breath left his lungs, and his arms rested at his side, preparing for my mouth to wrap around him.

  This was my opportunity.

  My hand dashed to meet his neck. With a solid slice, I dragged the metal across his throat. The flesh split with ease; bright red spilled from the opening.

  With a gurgled howl, he bucked to get away from me.

  Once more, I slashed across his neck. The blade bit deeper this time and caught on his windpipe. I yanked back hard, and it gave.

  The king’s hands wrapped around his wound. His eyes bulged in disbelief, but his attempts were feeble. There was nothing he could do. His life was draining from him second by second, and I had stolen his voice.

  In that solitary moment, it was not fear that slipped and slithered through me. It was power, fearlessness.

  King Audrios had sat above me, judged me, and took pleasure in the finer things while me and the rest of his people were given scraps. He pranced around this castle as though his touch were magic. But how much more was he than me, if I could take his life this easily? How was he any better if he could die just like I could, just like all the other women in the world?

  No. It hadn’t been a fair fight, but those types of conflicts were only made real in stories. Winning was about outsmarting your adversary; making your stance more advantageous was the wisest thing to do. The triumphant didn’t conquer through honest battle, and neither would I.

  I slid off the bed. “King Erlend and his brother, Prince Torram, send you their regards.”

  His face burned red, and his lips parted to release an agonizing choke.

  I cleansed the blood from my hands in a nearby water basin and slipped one of his fitted tunics overhead in order to mask my gender. The garment wasn’t ideal but at least I’d be able to move in it. My feet dove into my own shoes, and by the time my hand gripped the handle on the chamber door, the king was dead.

  I released the latch with careful fingers and pulled. The hallway outside was lifeless, and the sky black. I slid out the entrance and turned.

  She stood just within the door’s shadow. Her feet moved, coming after me. “What are you—” Her eyes drank in the scene.

  I swallowed hard, and my hand tightened around the sapphire blade that had snatched away the king’s life. She was one of the last people I wanted to kill in the city, but I would do it if it meant my freedom. I braced myself for her incoming attack.

  Astra’s gaze left the bloody king and drifted to me. Her mouth was opened wide, and her jaw bobbled. Somehow, she still managed to get words out. “Take me with you.”

  XXXVI

  The Rains

  I grabbed Astra by the arm, swiftly leading her out of the king’s chamber. “I need you to lead us out of here.”

  “What?” she hissed. “You don’t have an escape plan?”

  I studied her face as we passed through the dark moonlit corridors, trying to see if she was serious. “Not at the moment, I don’t.”

  Her hand wrapped around my arm and tugged. “This way.”

  She pulled me through a door I had never noticed before. It was dimly lit, but we could still see our way down the thin, angular stairs.

  “We can use the servants’ passages to avoid the guards.” Her boots tapped against the stone steps in a rapid but paced rhythm.

  “How far down will this take us?” The path to our freedom began to align in my head.

  “Why? What do you have in mind?”

  “Getting down to the tunnels. We need weapons, and that’s where one of the armories is located. Then, we’ll take the underground routes to the Mont and exit from there.”

  “Not bad,” she said with some pluck in her tone. “If they discover his body before we’re out, they’ll swarm the Keep, leaving the Mont poorly guarded.”

  And the Mont was already rather scant when it came to armed individuals. We’d be able to saunter right out a side door and disappear into the tiers below.

  “How long do you think we have before they find him?” There was someone I still intended to visit before heading north.

  “Given the hour, I’m not entirely sure. I’m assuming he had company since this is his first night back from his scouting venture?”<
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  “Yes.”

  “How long ago did they leave his room before you…”

  I wasn’t sure. Minutes slowed, but the seconds sped by. Time warped while we sat in bed together. “Ten minutes at most.” It was my best guess.

  Our spiral descent abruptly stopped when we came face-to-face with an arched door—the entrance to the tunnels. Astra pulled the door open and strode in, throwing caution to the wind.

  “Good evening,” one of the guards greeted her. His brown eyes flew to me before returning to her. “Going to the Mont?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Why did you take the servants’ passage?” he asked.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Faster.”

  “Efficient as always.” He smiled at her as he nodded his head to the other guards.

  The three of them parted, allowing us to pass through without injury. We met another set of stairs, and descended in an even, leisurely pace. My heart thumped in my chest as my anxiety soared. We were bleeding time. But until their eyes were off of us, we couldn’t run.

  “It’ll be alright,” Astra told me, sensing my frustration. Her hand gripped the handle on the sun-adorned door. Darkness loomed before us. Astra pulled the torch from the sconce nearby before continuing.

  When we crossed the threshold, leaving the King’s Keep, the tension in my back dissipated. All I wanted was distance between me and the king’s corpse.

  As soon as the door shut behind us, we kicked off into a run once again, speeding through the tunnels. The flame in her hands whipped and wavered overhead. It struggled to light the path in front of us, but it didn’t slow us done. Both of us had been through these tunnels tens, if not hundreds, of times.

  Astra wheeled around a corner. As I came around, I nearly crashed into her. She had ceased running and was just standing there.

  “What are you doing?”

  Astra didn’t reply but only pointed ahead of her.

  The patriarch stared at us from the other end of the tunnel. At his side, a man clad in thick leather stood with a sword at his hip. It was Brother Thalos. A small, scruffy boy stood at his side. I recognized him. He emptied the king’s piss pot. I hadn’t known he was one of the patriarch’s spies.

  Astra raised the torch high, bringing Menaries’s sharp lines into the light. “Stand aside. We are both armed and willing to use any means necessary.”

  He scoffed. “You’re women. Are your words supposed to scare me?” A confident grin slid across his face. “And why are you going this…” He paused, and his eyebrows raised. “Ah, yes. The armory.” His arms folded across his chest, and he tilted his chin high. He was proud of discovering us, and proud that his little bird had come twittering to him. His tongue switched to Esson as he continued. “Astra, of all people.” He shook his head. “I never suspected you to turn on your king, your land, and your patriarch. After all we’ve given you and all we’ve trusted you with. This is how you repay us? A knife in the back. When the king took you into the castle, you swore an oath.”

  Astra responded in Rekke. “I swore an oath to serve the king’s steward, and that’s what I have done. Now with the king dead, I have no oath to uphold.”

  “With the king dead, your oath of fealty belongs to me,” Menaries said through gritted teeth.

  “No. Neither one of us belongs to you, this keep, or the Mont.” There was fire in her voice.

  “I told him to never trust those that aren’t of full Esson blood. I’m sure the guard will want to be notified of this immediately.” He turned to the boy and hissed out a few choice words. The young servant bowed and took off down another passage, heading to only the spirits know where.

  In one fluid motion, Astra gripped the knife handle at her waist and hurled the weapon forward. It spun through the air with a howling speed. In the blink of an eye, the metal sank into Brother Thalos’s right shoulder.

  But Astra didn’t wait to find out how devastating the blow had been. Her feet pounded forward, driving her toward the two men.

  The element of surprise was on our side, and I kicked off in Astra’s wake. My lungs burned, and my legs pumped. Terror bore into my body, but I didn’t stop.

  With knife in hand, I slammed into the patriarch. The impact forced a grunt from him as bone met bone. Muscles struggled against each other in a spinning mass. The wall shattered our roll, leaving me on top. Pain seared across my shoulder from the impact.

  My teeth clenched from the burn as I pressed down on the knife with all of my might. Menaries’s gaunt hands held my wrist, keeping my attack at bay. His lips squirmed, and his nostrils flared. Spittle flew at me as he choked out foul foreign words.

  I propped myself on my toes, leveraging more weight over the knife. But it wasn’t working. The old man had more strength in him than I would’ve ever guessed. And something had to give, or else I’d soon tire.

  I propelled myself backward, using his upward force. As my body left him, I sank the tip of my blade into his leg. The metal dragged down the limb’s length, slicing both cloth and skin. Crimson seeped from the slit, marring his pristine white robes with a deep red.

  The patriarch cried out. The knife’s teeth had caught a tendon.

  I reeled my arm back with all of my might. The somatic cord snapped.

  He shrieked, and his leg went limp.

  “Let’s go,” Astra called out to me. “The boy has probably warned the guard by now.” She yanked on her weapon’s handle, retrieving the blade from Thalos’s stomach. Deep maroon blood bubbled out.

  “But he’s not dead yet.” I scampered to my feet. I had promised myself that when I left the city, I would take the patriarch’s life with me. I couldn’t leave him to fester and continue to feed on innocence.

  Menaries clutched his leg and howled in sharp agony.

  “He may not be dead now but he’ll bleed out soon enough.” Astra held out her hand to me, hurrying me onward. “We need to get to the armory and get out of here. If we don’t leave soon, we’ll have six locked gates standing between us and our freedom.”

  I took her hand with a pang of regret, and we flew through the tunnels, cutting corners so tight that I could feel the walls’ jagged grip. The stones pulled at my sleeves in an attempt to keep me from escaping.

  We reached the armory in record time and reeled the door open. My eyes lit when I saw my prize. Amongst the rows of swords and bows, my glaive stood out like a sore thumb. It was a foreigner amongst natives. My hand clutched its cold neck, and I yanked it out of its slot. Astra quickly equipped herself with sword and bow. She buckled a full quiver of arrows onto her back, preparing for war.

  We left the small chamber in a sprint. Other than our quick footsteps and the chatter of rats scampering away, the tunnels were dark and quiet. When our feet finally met a staircase, Astra began leaping, taking two or three steps at a time. She was desperate to get out of here. With a great lurch, she shouldered through an unknown door with sharp slant to it. Wooden treads and splinters burst forth with her. I jumped through the narrow opening.

  But instead of powdery hard ground, my feet met wet sludge. The sky had opened wide, and water poured down on my head and shoulders. The drops were large, soaking my tunic in seconds.

  It was raining. I had promised myself that I would complete my mission before the rains came, and now they were upon us.

  Astra reach the stables before me. She dashed in, stopping at the first stall she came to. She ripped the door open as I fetched reins and saddle.

  In seconds, she came out of the stall with horse in hand. “No.” She shook her head. “We haven’t got time for that. Hop on, we’ll have to ride him bareback.”

  I dropped the equipment where I stood and swallowed down my fear. I didn’t know how I was going to stay atop him without a saddle and reins.

  “Come on,” Astra hissed. “We don’t have time to wallow. I’ll get you up first.” She crouched down and cupped her hands, providing a nook for my boot to slip into.


  With a small start, my heels sank into her palms, and she launched me upward. My splayed legs met the horse’s back, and my hands frantically grabbed any tuft of hair I could reach in order to stay on. The horse whinnied as I yanked a little too hard.

  “It’s okay,” Astra whispered to the horse as she stroked its face, doing her best to calm him. When the horse was sated, Astra took a few steps back. She sprinted forward, and with a mighty leap, she got herself on top of the horse. I helped her pull her leg over, and she took her place in front of me. Her fingers sank into the pale mane, and her heel gave the horse’s ribs a slight kick.

  “As we pass through, keep your head down,” Astra said to me over her shoulder. “The guards will ask questions if they see me riding into the night with the king’s sorceress.”

  “Understood.” I wrapped my free arm around her waist and hugged myself close to her.

  When we reached the first gate, the guard held out his hand, stopping us. “Where are you headed?”

  Astra opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. “Oh, it’s you, Astra.” He signaled to the other guard to open the gate. “Be careful as you’re riding tonight. There are people on the streets, and we have the gates open so the city doesn’t flood. The rains are always dangerous.”

  The water was beating down harder by the minute. It was as though the sky was giving the land what it had withheld for the last six months.

  “I’ll be sure to keep an eye out,” Astra said without hesitation.

  We rode out of the top tier at a steady but uncomfortable trot.

  The streets in the fifth tier were vacant. Slaves stood out in front of their homes watching the rain, while their masters relaxed on balconies with their hands held out to get wet. And just as the guard had said, the gate stood with its mouth wide open. The fourth tier was a little more congested but still manageable. The third tier was filled with commoners and craftsmen out on the slick road, celebrating the coming of the rains. It was a slow press to get through the crowd, but they split once the horse’s breath was upon their necks. When we reached the second tier, our pace came to a slow, soul-grinding walk.