Blood & Stone: The Saboteur Chronicles Book 3

by J. V. Roberts

  “You’re a fool, Roserine. Anthena is the enemy. Can’t you see that?” He pounded his chest. “This wretched place has taken everything from us! Let her burn! Run from the flames while you still can!”

  “The words of a traitor!” Eirik shouted.

  “Shut your mouth, Eirik! These men would be happy to tear you apart, all I’ve gotta do is ask!”

  “Try your luck, boy!” Eirik held his sword up, the blade bisecting his face. “I think there are a few spots left on my armor that have yet to be marked by Eval blood.”

  “Hey, you big, metal fuck! I’m the one holding the knife to this cunt’s throat! Posture some more and I’ll cut her fucking head off!”

  “Perhaps I don’t care. Perhaps losing her is a small price to pay for wiping out the rest of you.” Eirik gestured to the growing crowd of Anthenian soldiers at his back.

  “No!” Roserine shouted. “Stand down Eirik!”

  “You’re not running this—”

  “Stand down or I’ll stand you down!” Roserine screamed.

  Dominic made himself visible to Eirik. Made sure he could see the blood staining his blade and the promise of retribution in his eyes if he didn’t fall in line.

  “Hey, Queen, eyes over here. I’m the one holding the knife.” The man with dreadlocks lifted the blade, turning it back and forth.

  “You let her go, then we’ll talk.”

  “Afraid that’s not how it works. This bitch means something to you, yes?”

  Roserine didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. It was written all over her face.

  “As I thought, so I’ll be dictating the terms of this exchange.”

  “You lead the Eval?” Roserine asked.

  “Did my good looks give it away?” Some of his men laughed. “The name is Draxus. And yes, I lead the Eval.”

  “What do you want, Draxus?” Roserine raised her chin, doing her best to play the role of the stoic leader, but she couldn’t hide the adrenaline pulsing through her veins, causing her hands to tremble and her voice to break.

  Draxus made a show of looking out across Anthena, his eyes scanning everything from the castle to the marketplace. “I want what’s mine. I want that which belonged to my father and his father. I want this land that you now call Anthena.”

  “Over my dead body,” Roserine spit.

  “Or hers.” Draxus pressed the knife harder to Emily’s throat.

  “Stop!” Roserine reached out with an empty hand as a trickle of blood slipped down Emily’s neck. “Please, stop!”

  “Don’t give into this monster, my Queen!” Emily was holding it together remarkably well for someone a hand gesture away from death.

  Draxus laughed and whacked Emily in the temple with the heel of his palm; she winced and whimpered. “Mouthy cunt! Shut up and play hostage.”

  “I’ve gotta say, you’re something.” Dominic stepped ahead of Roserine, his sword hanging loosely at his side.

  Draxus looked him up and down. “Okay, I’ll bite. What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You consider yourself a warrior, yet you hide behind an unarmed woman.”

  Draxus’ face twitched. “I don’t remember telling you what I consider myself, motherfucker. Byron, do you know this big, mouthy piece of shit?”

  Byron shook his head. “I’ve never seen the man. It appears my sister found a new sword to wield against me.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself, kid. I didn’t come here looking for a fight, but I’ve also never been the sort to turn one down.”

  “You’re not Anthenian, so what are you?” Draxus asked.

  “Why don’t you step off that boat? We’ll go have a drink and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  “Think I’ll stay right here, thanks. I wouldn’t want my girl Emily to catch a cold. Perhaps I’ll just bring you with me. Fetch him, boys.”

  Two burly, stone-fisted bastards closed in from two sides. The Anthenian soldiers at his back began to shift, ready to assist him in the fight.

  “I’ve got this, fellas; just back off for now.”

  “You sure, Dominic?” Roserine whispered.

  “Yeah, Dom; don’t be a hero,” Lerah pleaded.

  “A little faith would be nice, ladies.” Both of his hands gripped the handle of his sword as his eyes moved between his aggressors. “Just hang back and don’t get in my way.”

  “Stubborn bastard,” Lerah sighed.

  “Stupid bastard,” Roserine added.

  “Nah,” Lerah said, “he’s a Saboteur. Outnumbered, with the odds stacked against him, that’s where he performs best. The only stupid ones are the two assholes he’s about to kill.”

  The two Eval swung at almost the same time from different angles. Dominic deflected, pivoted, and moved around the one on his right.

  “Look at this fucker move.” There was a hint of admiration in Draxus’ voice.

  The shorter of the two Eval swung first this time, blazing downward with his spiked hammer as his partner came in horizontally with a bulky greatsword. Dominic deflected the downward swing and used it to block the horizontal deathblow, momentarily entangling his attackers and giving him enough time to bury his sword under the ribs of the shorter man; the Eval let loose of the hammer and pulled frantically at the blade protruding from his body. Dominic let go of the sword and grabbed the hammer before it could finish falling.

  Draxus whistled. “Look at this sonofabitch go!”

  Dominic and the last Eval faced each other in a stuttering standoff, lunging forward and backing away, trying to find that edge, that chink in the armor. Dominic missed his guns. He’d have kneecapped the motherfucker, put two in Byron’s chest, and turned Draxus’ head into a canoe. Battle over. War won.

  Dominic was tired of waiting.

  He swung the hammer high, without much commitment, just enough to distract the Eval, causing him to duck back. Without losing any momentum, Dominic came around and went low. He smashed the Eval in the side of his right knee. There was a crunch as the bones split. The leg turned limp and useless and the Eval fell over sideways, clutching at his flopping limb.

  “For fuck sake, this asshole is making you boys look incompetent,” Draxus shouted.

  The broken Eval was rolling around like an overturned tortoise. Dominic dropped the hammer, took up the greatsword, and beheaded him without ceremony.

  He turned to face Draxus, leaning the enormous blade across the back of his shoulders. “Any other men you wanna send to an early grave?”

  “What are you?” Draxus asked.

  “Someone that’s sick and tired of men like you.”

  “You know nothing of men like me.” Draxus flexed his muscles and cracked his neck. “You’ll soon come to find that out.”

  “Where I come from, men like you are a dime a dozen; evil, cold-eyed bastards, that spread blankets of cruelty with armies of misguided underlings. They carry different names—captain, general, commander, king—but they all look the same.”

  “I prefer master.”

  “Of course you do. Without these dip-shits guarding your back, you’d just be another rabid psychotic with a fever-dream.”

  “I’m the psychotic?” Draxus’ laughter was unstable. “Do you know what these fucks did when they took this land from my people? Did your precious Queen fill you in? They did a lot worse than destroying some mining equipment.”

  “Yeah, I heard you’ve got history. But that was her father and your father. I reckon if we walked around trying to fight our ancestor’s battles all the time we’d never find any peace. You’re the one holding the knife right now. You’re the aggressor.”

  “That’s right, you fuck. I’m holding the knife. I’m in charge. So how about you drop your weapon and kneel, otherwise I’ll saw this fat cunt’s head off.” Draxus placed his face next to Emily’s and smiled.

  Roserine gasped.

  “I’m not dropping shit and you ain’t gonna do shit.”

  “And why is that?” Draxus asked, coc
king his head.

  Lerah sauntered up beside Dominic. “Because she’s the only thing keeping us from killing you.”

  “You two must be a couple.” Draxus pointed with the tip of the knife. “But yes, admittedly, we are outnumbered. Still, I think I’ve got the stronger position here, seeing as how your Queen loves this little bitch.”

  Coen appeared as if summoned. He broke through the crowd in a blind panic, his frenzied words heralding his arrival. “Emily! Emily! Oh gods, no! Let her go you sonofabitch!”

  Dominic grabbed the back of his collar and wrangled him in. “Calm down, we’re handling it. There’s nothing you can do.”

  “It would appear you are a popular girl.” Draxus looked down at her, but Emily’s eyes were on Coen.

  “I’m okay, love. Listen to the Queen. Listen to Dominic. It’s going to be fine.” Emily was the bravest of them all.

  “I’ll kill him! I’ll kill all of them!” Coen raged.

  Draxus sighed and rolled his eyes. “Can we not? Can we just get to my terms and then we’ll decide if there’s a future for dear Emily?”

  “Bastard!” Coen shouted.

  “Don’t,” Dominic put a hand on his shoulder, “there’s no good outcome here; not right now. We’ve gotta fight this one smart.”

  Coen relented and was pulled back by Lerah and Hawthorne.

  “What do you want?” Roserine asked.

  “As I said, I want Anthena.” He held up a finger, halting a response. “I don’t want an answer now. Just hear me out. You have two days to have your shit packed and to get your pale asses off of this island. You can take a boat. You can swim. I give no fucks. I just want you and your people out of here. Leave the gates open to signal your departure.”

  “And Emily?” A noticeable air of desperation crept into her words.

  “My Queen! You’re not actually considering this, are you?” Eirik was slack-jawed.

  “Quiet!” Roserine shouted. “I asked you a question, savage! What about Emily?”

  “Have one of your vessels waiting offshore and I’ll make sure she is released into your care; unharmed, of course.”

  Roserine stood, silent, clearly torn between her love for her friend and her duty to Anthena.

  Dominic stepped in. “The Queen has heard your demands.”

  “Good. Then I look forward to seeing those gates open two days from now. Don’t test my patience or Emily will return home in pieces.” Draxus whistled. “Load it up, boys. We’re done here.”

  As the Eval boarded the longboats the Anthenian soldiers looked to one another, confused, as if expecting the attack command to come. But no one was more confused, or enraged, than Eirik.

  “You’re just letting them go?” Eirik was screaming, arm extended toward the departing longboats.

  The crowd—soldiers and citizens alike—joined in, voicing their displeasure over Roserine’s decision.

  “We had them, by the gods, we had them!”

  “I lost my son and husband to those animals! How could you just let them go?”

  “Just let us do our damned job, that’s all we’re asking!” The soldier was kneeling beside the body of one of his fallen comrades.

  Roserine silently cried as she watched her closest friend departing in the arms of her enemy, his wicked smile still taunting her. Strands of her hair stuck to the moisture on her face and she made no effort to move it. Her arms were wrapped across her stomach, her hands clinging to her elbows.

  “You owe me a damned explanation!” Eirik was shouting as he marched toward Roserine.

  Dominic stepped in his path. “I think it’s best you gather your men and take a walk.”

  “You presume to order me around, merchant? You think because you got lucky in a fistfight that I’m afraid of you?”

  “You wanna see if luck strikes twice, Commander?”

  Eirik didn’t dare to put hands on Dominic; he talked past him instead. “You’ve forsaken the Tenets! You’re not fit to lead Anthena! You’re no better than your traitor brother!”

  Everything went silent as if the entire kingdom had heard Eirik’s words.

  “Move, Dominic,” Roserine said with a perfect calm.

  Dominic took two steps to his right.

  Roserine’s lunging left hook was damn near perfect: she turned on the balls of her feet and used her back as a spring. It made a solid connection with Eirik’s jaw and turned him around, knocking him back a few steps.

  Audible gasps reverberated through the crowd.

  “Bitch!” He growled and drew his sword before turning on Roserine.

  Lerah appeared like a shadow at dusk, her sword coming to rest against Eirik’s throat. “I’d strongly advise you against doing that, Commander.”

  “You going to kill me in front of all these people?” He looked at Lerah from the corner of his eyes.

  “If I have to.”

  A slow clap filled the air. Heads began to turn with curiosity. The crowd of battle-torn soldiers and civilians separated to make way for the bizarre display. In the newly formed aisle stood Osiris in all of his cowardly glory. “Citizens of Anthena,” his baritone voice rose above the churning of the ocean, “your Queen seems more interested in fighting her own people than she does the Eval.”

  Dominic walked out to meet him. “An ironic statement seeing as how you tucked your tale and ran away at the first sign of danger.”

  Osiris grabbed his bum leg with both hands. “Afraid I’d have been nothing more than an obstacle. But I don’t need two good legs to tell you that letting our enemies go when we had them in our sights is bad leadership.” Osiris stopped and turned, taking in his audience. “Am I right? You boys were ready to cut them down. It’s what they trained you up for. Protect the homeland! Loyalty to Anthena!” The soldiers were beginning to nod in agreement, frustrated over being leashed right before they could strike the death blow.

  Lerah backed toward Roserine, using the tip of her sword to keep Eirik from pursuing.

  “I was…protecting Anthena…Emily is a citizen of Anthena; I’d have done the same for any of you,” Roserine said without conviction, her voice sad and hollow.

  “No one here believes you.” Osiris played to the crowd. “Does anyone here believe she’d have done the same for you? Feel free to answer honestly, there will be no recourse.”

  “I believe she would have.” Lerah was standing vigil beside Roserine.

  “I asked for honest answers, not brainwashed dribble from one of her pawns.”

  “Careful what you say, old man.” Dominic felt a familiar demon scratching the back of his eyeballs, its fire filling his chest. “I’ve got no problem breaking that other leg.

  Osiris laughed. “You’re a hell of a fighter…what’s your name again?”

  “Dominic,” Eirik said, filling in the blank.

  “That’s right. Dominic. You’re a hell of a fighter. But you’re not much of a—and don’t take this the wrong way—but you’re not much of a strategist.” Osiris snapped his fingers and the nearby soldiers formed a line in front of him, their weapons pointed at Dominic. “Eirik and I have been discussing this transition since my last visit and he’s been grooming his men. Did you really think I would stand here and attempt to take the throne with only my words to support me?”

  As Dominic looked around at the faces of the soldiers and civilians it became clear that Roserine’s reign was at an end.

  “So I ask, citizens of Anthena, are you with me? Are you ready to crush the Eval, to take what is rightfully ours, and secure everlasting peace and prosperity for yourselves and your children?”

  The cry of the crowd was deafening.

  They were still cheering their new King when Roserine mumbled, “Take the damned throne.” As she departed with her head down, Lerah attempted to follow. “Just…leave me be. I want to be alone.”

  Osiris was all smiles, shaking hands and accepting oaths of fealty from his new subjects.

  “We’re with you, my King!”
>
  “Just point me in the right direction; we’ll take it to those damned Eval!”

  “It’s something, isn’t it?” Lerah was standing beside Dominic, watching the show.

  “Which part?”

  “How quickly they turned on her.”

  Dominic shook his head. “Nah, not really. Most folks are only loyal to their next meal.”

  “It’s bullshit is what it is; bunch of snakes.”

  “Let’s get out of here.” He put his arm around Lerah’s shoulders.

  “Dominic, a moment of your time.” Osiris strolled toward them as if they were old friends. His army of turncoats and their caballing commander followed close behind.

  “What can I do for the new King?” He hooked his thumbs into the front of his pants, making no effort to hide his disdain.

  “I’ll need you and your lady friend to stick around. Both of you seem to be capable fighters and I’ll need all hands on deck for what’s to come.”

  “You can go fuck yourself. Actually, no, you and Eirik can go fuck each other,” Lerah said with a smile.

  “You heard the lady.” Dominic shrugged.

  “They’ve been nothing but trouble since they arrived,” Eirik was ranting in Osiris’ ear. “Let’s just lock them in the dungeons and be done with it.”

  “Don’t let your pride make you a fool. These two are more seasoned than any man standing here.” Osiris paused for a moment to let his compliment sink in. “That said, neither of you will be leaving Anthena; not until the Eval are exterminated. I’ll have men guarding the docks, so unless you plan on swimming, I’m afraid you’ve got no choice. And if you refuse to pick up a sword, I will take Eirik’s advice and lock you in a cell. Do we have an understanding?” As he awaited their response he pulled brown rolling paper from his pocket and began lining it with tobacco.

  But they didn’t respond. Dominic placed an arm around Lerah’s back and turned with her toward home. “We’ll be seeing you Osiris,” he said over his shoulder.

  31

  Roserine was waiting for Dominic along the well-worn path that led to the mine; she was sitting, still dressed in her armor, picking flowers from among weeds.