by Drae Box
“The kids probably wouldn’t have listened to you, A,” he uttered, resting a hand on her knee. “We’re barely adults ourselves.”
She hummed uncertainly.
Raneth tugged his hoodie off and dumped it on the ground, near enough to the fire to warm it without setting it on fire. He decided to move the topic away from Aldora’s village, to give her the space to process how she felt.
“Ali, what happened to the Kingdom’s Shield? I noticed it’s not in the palace.”
“Denzel Leoma and Broken Crown have it.”
Raneth frowned. “Is that what they’re calling themselves? That name was in a newspaper article yesterday and we heard about it whilst we were in Newer but we didn’t know what it was then.”
Ali nodded. “Yep. Their belief is that the crown is broken and the kingdom needs fixing.”
The crown being Cray, Louise and Lemuela. Raneth rolled his eyes. “How exactly is it broken?”
“Misusing royal officials, apparently. Everything seems to stem from a hatred of royal officials and the king.”
Aldora inhaled sharply. “That would make sense. My uncle was misidentified as a teenager,” stated Aldora as she picked up her cup and gently blew on the tea. “He was bound and dumped on the back of a royal official’s horse and taken to the Icoque royal detectives’ headquarters. They recognised that he wasn’t the guy the royal official was supposed to arrest and let him go.”
“And from all that this mess happens?” uttered Ali. “Talk about a grudge.”
“Uncle Denzel’s gone out of his way to make royal officials fail their assignments before too. I never thought...” Aldora shook her head, clenching her eyes shut as if she were wishing for this all to go away. “I never thought he would do something like this. Maybe get into a fight with a royal official eventually and get himself killed by the royal official defending themselves from him, but not this.”
This is crazy, decided Raneth. What a stupid idiot. Upsetting a whole kingdom because he got mistaken for somebody else.
“Ali, how did Denzel get the Shield?” he asked.
“It happened in Icoque – it was all over the newspapers. Denzel told Cray to meet him to exchange the Kingdom’s Shield for two hundred and seventy-something prisoners – royal officials and army legionaries kidnapped from 2005 onwards.”
“The same year the Dagger was stolen,” said Aldora, glancing at Raneth.
He nodded at her look. “And?” he asked Ali.
“Cray went like a good boy to try and save the hostages, and I think he had a plan to keep hold of the Shield. Your father swooped down in his gift-form and tried to grab it as soon as Cray handed it over, but there were all these Brethren on one side of the stage in the centre of the village – they’re the black jackets you’ve noticed. Your father had to fly back up and abort or get killed by Common Class gifts. The Brethren then killed the hostages and turned on Cray and the two royal officials who were with him. That was the last time anyone saw the King for sure. Rumour is that there were more royal officials a short distance away, with an assignment to rescue the hostages whilst Cray and the other two worked as a distraction.”
“Sounds like Cray,” admitted Raneth, swallowing back an urge to vomit. How could so many trained soldiers get captured without being noticed by Cray, the previous royal official captain and now him? How had the legions not noticed their men going missing? At least with the royal officials, they would have been assumed missing and then killed in action. But the legionaries? Worry about that later, he chided himself. You can’t help them now they’re dead.
He eyed his cup of coffee as he folded his arms. This uncle of Aldora’s sounds careful. If he’s been taking action to get to this point for four years, I bet he’s going to be harder to remove than I’d like. He rubbed at the underside of his chin as he glanced at Aldora. I hope she realises I’m going to have to kill her uncle for treason. That’s the law.
“What about the brown jackets?” asked Raneth.
“Guardsmen. They rely on their weapons and seem to have been trained a bit.”
Quiet fell across them for a while as they sipped their drinks, Raneth desperately trying to process everything Ali had shared. His stomach twisted and churned as he worried. I have to hope Cray and the others did get into Southern Kingdom before they were stopped or killed. He inhaled a slow breath, trying to calm the nerves toying with his gut and the beat of his heart. “Green was the first settlement to get a new city representative,” continued Ali. “They set Leighton on fire for refusing to leave the posters up after the Kingdom’s Shield was lost to Broken Crown. His replacement is a Mening, a retired Royal Mening Guard. If you’re going to get any information about the Kingdom’s Shield, I’d start there. I think she’s the one who trained the Guardsmen too, but that’s just rumour.”
The royal official looked down into his lap. Ex-Royal Mening Guard? That spells trouble. They’re pretty good in a fight, from what I’ve heard. Maybe good enough to beat up a royal official. It’s up to me twice over.
“Now, I’m off to bed,” stated Ali. “There’s a curfew on every night right now, so no going out again until seven if you can help it. They’re on the lookout for royal officials, but quite a lot of them will recognise you two even if Raneth isn’t in his uniform.”
“That’s already happened once or twice,” admitted Raneth.
Aldora nodded.
“You two can sleep in here. Keep the fire going, if you’d like. I don’t mind.” Ali glanced towards the corridor. “And if anybody does break in, Raneth, I would appreciate it if you would rough them up a little.”
Raneth nodded. “I’ll teach them you’re off limits, no problem.”
Ali headed out of the room, gently shutting the door behind him.
“Aldora,” said Raneth gently, “I have to fix this.” He lifted his head. “Bayres are supposed to put the Giften or Southern royal families back into power if they get kicked off their thrones, because we’re distant relations to them. And it’s also my job because I’m the royal official captain.
“Why isn’t your dad here fixing this? Why must you do it?” asked Aldora.
The royal official captain plucked the Bayre Talisman from his neck; it was shaped like a dragon in an S shape, its mouth chomping down on a diamond. He rubbed it with his thumb and index finger as he frowned, carefully feeling for the invisible tug of his father that the talisman gave him.
“My dad feels like he’s in Twelinor City – the capital of Southern. That means it’s highly likely he’s over there being Cray’s personal guard.”
“Not much can defeat an angry dragon,” uttered Pedibastet.
Raneth smiled, thinking of his father’s gift-form, and nodded. He had to tell Aldora now about his obligation. Make sure she understood that he had to kill her uncle. He looked down at his lap for a moment, gathering his hope that she would understand. “Aldora,” he said, uttering her name so softly he wasn’t even sure he’d said it aloud. He cleared his throat and continued. “I have to take out your uncle.”
Aldora frowned at Raneth, her cup halfway to her lips. “No,” she said. She shook her head. “Please don’t.” She put her cup on the floor.
Raneth swallowed and he felt as if icicles had speared his gut. “Aldora, I’m legally bound to follow my oath to the Three Ks.” He paused, watching her closely but she was looking down, preventing him from seeing her face. “Aldora, will you help me put Cray back in power?”
Aldora tucked her hands into her lap as she looked down. “I will, but you have to promise me something.”
“OK,” uttered Raneth. He leaned down, closer to his own lap so he could see Aldora’s face. “What is it?”
She lifted her head enough to make eye contact with him. “I want you to promise not to kill my uncle. Just arrest him. Please?”
Raneth glanced at Pedibastet to see that the Prince of the Cats had stopped drinking to stare at Aldora, his ears flattened back against his skull. That’s
exactly how I feel too. Raneth rubbed at his left thigh as he tried to decide how to tell Aldora no. If she was anybody else, I’d be swearing, he realised. But she probably loves this guy despite what he’s done. I can’t imagine being in that position. Dad always taught me that if anyone betrayed me, I should hunt them down and kill them, then declare Lords’ Law Act.
“I can’t promise that, Aldora. I’ve already sworn an oath to the Three Ks. I can’t turn my back on the Kingdom’s People, the Kingdom’s King and the Kingdom Herself just so you don’t lose your uncle.” He swallowed. “The idea of forgiving your uncle leaves a funny taste in my mouth too.”
“I’m not saying let him go,” snapped Aldora. “He should be arrested! But not killed. Please, Raneth.”
Raneth fidgeted around to face the fire instead of her. “I can’t promise anything. Your uncle is a traitor.” He bundled his hoodie into his lap and hugged it to his chest. “You don’t threaten a kingdom’s stability and get rid of its royalty. Every time that’s happened in anybody’s history, the kingdom has suffered a heck of a lot before it has recovered.”
Aldora stood up. “Just don’t kill him!” she shouted. “How is that so hard to agree to?”
“Because he’s going to come after me with everything he’s got,” snapped Raneth, facing her. “He already is. I’m your ‘kidnapper’, remember? He wants me dead or alive, Aldora. He doesn’t care. He must know the royal official captain will be responsible for taking him out.”
“Stop it!” hissed Aldora. “Just because he thinks you’ve kidnapped me, and he wants royal officials killed or arrested, doesn’t mean he’s singling you out.”
“Have you forgotten that article?” growled Raneth. “I could clip him so he can’t flee, but I bet none of the men he has working for him will resist a death shot on me.”
“You realise you’re just proving my uncle right?” Aldora asked. “That you all are licensed murderers if you kill him?”
“Nobody had a problem with me killing convicted murderers,” stated Raneth. “And if your uncle condoned the killing of all those hostages, he’s got some serious charges against him: treason, blackmail, kidnapping, multiple first-count murders and a whole shed’s worth of organised crime stuff that probably spans as far back as the Dagger’s theft.”
“I don’t care. If you kill my uncle, you’re no better than him. You could show him mercy and promise not to kill him. That’s all I’m asking for, Raneth.”
“I can’t promise anything,” snapped Raneth as he stood up. “What if I have to kill him in a fight? If he resists and tries to kill me, I’m not going to stay my blade or my gifts. If I have to defend myself, I’m going to do so properly. The same goes for the Three Ks. I’m not putting myself at a disadvantage over a stupid promise.”
“Fine,” snapped Aldora. She moved towards the newly painted door tucked beside the oven.
Pedibastet moved a step away from the fireplace, the tip of his tail curling. “Where are you going?”
“Out, to find a decent royal official who’ll promise the Dagger Bearer that they won’t kill her uncle when they arrest him. If I can just talk to my uncle, I might be able to clear Raneth’s name.” She glared at him. “Not that he deserves it right now.”
Raneth watched her unlock the deadbolt and step out into Ali’s back garden. He repositioned the beanie on his head. Not that I deserve it right now? He scowled.
Pedibastet pressed his weight into Raneth’s foot with a paw. “Go after her. Stop her from being an idiot, please.”
“Gladly,” replied Raneth, yanking his hoodie back on.
“I’ll stay with Ali until Cray’s back in power,” stated Pedibastet. “I’ll just get in your way.”
“Be safe.” Raneth stepped into the garden and followed Aldora.
“Wait!” he called as he followed her down the garden path, catching the gate she let swing shut between them before it could slam. “Hey, Aldora.” He sped up as she turned into the alleyway that ran along the back of all the shops in this terrace. “Aldora.” He grabbed her wrist as they emerged into the street. She snatched her arm back and whirled around to face him.
“You’re treading a fine line between monster and murderer right now, Raneth Bayre,” she growled.
Raneth inhaled sharply and took a step back. He clenched his jaw as he felt a cyclone of tears irritate his eyes. He looked away from her, deeper into the street.
“I’m not a monster,” he whispered. “And I don’t want to murder people. It’s…” My job, he finished to himself. He sniffed and rubbed at a watery eye with the heel of his hand. He’d been called a freak growing up. ‘Monster’ wasn’t that different an alternative. His breath caught as he inhaled, forcing the tears back before they could fall.
“Aldora.” He lifted his gaze as she started to walk away from him. “Hey,” he snapped as he pulled up his hood to hide his eyes, knowing they were probably a little puffy from almost crying. “We have to stick together.”
“Why?” she asked as she folded her arms. “It seems like I’m not in danger. Only you are.”
Raneth tucked his hands into the pockets at the front of his hoodie. “I’m not a freak. I’m a Bayre.”
“I never called you a freak. Why should I stay with you, Raneth?”
Why? She’s not going to listen if I say I think her uncle can’t be trusted. “Have you considered why your uncle chose to say I’d kidnapped you?”
“Because you’re a problem, as far as he’s concerned. Maybe he thinks that’s actually what happened, if he hasn’t gotten any facts from the rest of my family.”
“Have you ever considered that he chose that story so people would report it if they saw you, so he could get hold of you?”
“Raneth,” uttered Aldora. “I think if I’m in the same room as my uncle, I can convince him to stop any more harm coming to the royal officials who behave. He’s just trying to fix a problem he thinks the kingdom has. Don’t you understand?”
“I do,” admitted Raneth. “But this is not the way to go about it.”
“Like you’d know, with your stupid Lords’ Law Act.”
“I’ve never used that except when I was investigating why the Dagger was taken. Only my dad’s taken full advantage of it, and only for the Bayre–Frey Feud.”
Aldora started to say something else, but Raneth spotted three Brethren in their black jackets strolling up the street towards them. He backed up a few steps. They’ve already noticed us. He swallowed and returned his gaze to Aldora to see her frowning at him.
“Brethren.” He nodded past her shoulder.
Aldora turned. “Giften’s soil,” she hissed.
“Come on,” urged Raneth, turning and heading down the first side turning in view. He couldn’t go back to Ali’s. He couldn’t lead them to Pedibastet or his friend. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted Aldora sprinting further along the path, completely ignoring where he had gone. “Damn it, Aldora!” he grumbled. The Brethren came into view, two of them sweeping straight towards Raneth as the other ran after Aldora.
Chapter Four
Aldora
“Let go,” snapped Aldora, yanking at her arm. The Brethren who had followed her just squeezed her wrist more tightly. “I’m warning you. I have a gift, you know.”
“So do I.” The Brethren shoved Aldora with his chest, pinning her to the front wall of somebody’s unlit home. “Now, hold still.” He lifted his other hand, aiming his fist at her face.
Aldora stamped a heel onto his toes. I’m not making anything easy for you! He howled and stepped back, but his hand was still firmly clamped around her wrist. No more chances, decided Aldora. She sucked in a breath, thought of the yap of a fox and yelled into the Brethren’s face. He flew back as the boom of a louder-than-normal bark was imitated on Aldora’s lips, and he landed on his butt. He looked up at her with a stunned expression.
Rubbing her wrist, Aldora took a wary step closer. “Why were you going to punch me?”
“Orders. Make the royal official scum you love look bad.”
“Orders from who?” growled Aldora. This isn’t right.
“My handler.” The Brethren started to climb to his feet. “Now, stop resisting. I don’t want to use my gift on you.”
Sod that. Aldora ran.
I should have stayed with Raneth! Aldora thought as she surged towards a metal door that was tapping against its frame in the rippling wind. The door was part of some kind of abandoned factory. Glancing over her shoulder as she grabbed its broken handle, she noticed that the Brethren who had come after her wasn’t in sight. I lost him. She ducked inside and yanked the door shut but it continued to tap against its frame. She slowly crept forwards into the darkness.
She could barely see anything in front of her, though she could hear the crunch of leaves beneath her feet. She didn’t know where she was. It was stupid to leave Raneth. He knows Green’s streets. He wouldn’t have gotten lost. She closed her eyes, murmuring a profanity but winced as something in her pocket poked her leg. The grebunar! She fished it out and held the small gold sphere close to her eyes. Just squeeze and think of Raneth, she remembered. She squeezed the small sphere in her hand and thought of Raneth’s lopsided grin and his dazzling eyes. The softness of his skin, and the way his short black hair was so fluffy when he dried it with a towel. The grebunar buzzed in her hand, like a trembling terrified mouse. She let go but it didn’t lift off her hand. She frowned. Did I do something wrong?
The wind howled as it burst through the door, and Aldora looked to see Thane Frey standing in the doorway, peering in at her. Where’d he come from? How’d he find me? And why’s he in Green? She slipped the grebunar back into her pocket, hoping he hadn’t been able to see what it was. Thane Frey was Raneth’s enemy, the reason the Bayre-Frey Feud couldn’t be put to bed. It was Thane’s job to terrorise and chase Raneth to learn how he thought, ready for when he became the Master Bayre, and it was Raneth’s father’s misfortune as the current Master Bayre to have to try and protect Raneth and kill Thane. Preferably even find the Frey Mansion, hidden by the same magic that made the royal palace protect the royals’ lives. In return, Thane had to try and kill Raneth’s father. Whilst the Bayres would be happy to wipe out the Frey entirely, the Frey were more careful; too much of their way of life revolved around the Bayre-Frey Feud to willingly end it.