This appeared to alleviate much of the lingering displeasure. Salazar crossed over to the left side of the doors and pressed his finger to a mana pad. With a heavy clunk and grinding of gears, the doors slid open.
“Now if you would be so kind as to join me.” He gestured for Linx to walk beside him. The royal guard, who were gathered a few yards away, hastened ahead, entering just in front of the king.
The interior was a vast empty room with a low round dais placed in the center. In ones and twos, the nobles followed the guards, who directed them to stand between the dais and the doors. Once all were gathered, the door closed with a resounding boom.
Salazar stood on the dais, waiting for Linx to join him before turning and smiling at the
nobles.
“Gentle lords and kind ladies, I bid you welcome.” His voice echoed from the concrete floor, metal walls, and ceiling. “I have brought you here today to give you news of wondrous proportion. News that will change the lives of every man, woman, and child in Vale.
“Our land is plagued by a sickness, a disease that if not remedied will consume us. Our people will die, and Vale will crumble to dust. Not even a memory will remain to tell of our passing. Raise your voices now if you know the suffering of which I speak.”
With mock enthusiasm, the nobles nodded and voiced their agreement. Beneath her feet Linx felt the dais shake.
Salazar’s countenance darkened. “So you think you know the plight of the people? You imagine that you fathom their suffering? You, who have never felt hunger? Never felt pain? Never once questioned whether you would live to witness another sunrise?” Reaching over, he took Linx’s hand and raised her arm. “Do you see this woman? Not yet twenty, but she has experienced more hardship than the combined nobles in the whole of Troi. Look at her. Look at what you can never be: strong, capable, caring. She feels the pain of others as if it were her own.” He released her and stepped to the edge. “Look at you. Secure in the knowledge that the horrors of Vale can never touch you. Never once venturing out to see what has become of our precious land.”
The dais shook again, this time accompanied by a series of distant bangs, like someone was trying to force their way through the floor with a massive hammer.
“Did you bring us here to insult us?” called a voice from the crowd.
“If by that you mean speaking the truth, then I suppose I did. Because standing at my side is but one of the people in Vale who are worth ten times what I see before me. Yes. Our land
suffers. And while I cannot set things to rights with a wave of my hand, I can see that in a new era, the festering corpse that is the nobility does not remain; that it does not live on to infect the lives of those who are worthy to call our magnificent land their home.”
“I have heard quite enough,” shouted a man near the front. “I will not stand here while you insult and berate us. I demand you return us to Troi this instant.”
Two men separated from the crowd and started toward the door. A moment later more followed until the entire assembly was all pressing at the exit, searching for a way to open it.
“Let us out!” one demanded furiously.
Voices rose, insisting that the king let them out and return them to their homes. They would stay there no longer.
“At least they showed some backbone,” said Salazar, so that only Linx could hear.
The floor shook again, and the banging became louder, loud enough to get the attention of the nobles.
“What is that?” someone shouted. “Yes. What is this place?”
“I was wondering when you would ask,” replied Salazar. “This is where it all begins. I have decided there are none among you worthy of the life you have been afforded through your wealth and title. Rest assured your children are safe, but you…I am sad to say, are no longer welcome among us.”
The nobles rushed toward the dais, but the royal guard drew their weapons, halting the advancing mob.
“I promised you peace. And you shall have it. But no longer at the expense of others. I am lifting your boots from their neck as of this moment.” He turned to Linx. “Come. It is time.”
They descended the rear of the dais and strode toward a door at the far left corner of the building. The guards fell back, sending off warning shots when someone would get too close. Salazar waited until the guards were almost to the door before removing a silver box from his pocket and pressing a blue mana pad set in the middle. There was a loud hiss, and the dais began to move to the left, revealing that it had been covering a circular opening in the floor.
Quickly the guards filed out. Salazar paused, holding Linx’s hand, and looked back at the now frantic nobles. An ear-rending scream tore through air, joined by another, as the king’s intentions were laid bare. Almost as one the entire gathering erupted in terrified cries and pleas for help. Linx turned her head just as a hellspawn rounded the dais, the mangled body of a nobleman gripped in its taloned hand. Six more appeared, spitting and snarling, their fangs dripping with saliva. Then as if a floodgate had opened, they poured from the opening.
Salazar ushered Linx through the door and closed it behind him. The royal guards were already entering their vehicles and firing their engines. Cal was waiting a few yards away, right where Linx had left her two days prior.
Her hands were shaking as she settled into the driver’s seat and placed them on the wheel. “The building will not hold them long, my dear,” said Salazar.
“Why did you do it that way?’ she asked, ignoring the warning. “Why not have them all
shot?”
“There were more than three hundred nobles,” he explained, almost casually. “I could not ask that of my guard. They are my protection. And they are loyal. I chose not to abuse that loyalty. Now, if you please, we should be going.”
Linx fired the engine, and pulled Cal onto the dirt road that led from the park and back to the highway.
You did it because you enjoyed it. You wanted them to spend their last moments in sheer
terror.
As they rounded a corner, Salazar gave her a curious look. “You have yet to ask.” “Ask what?” Not calling him Your Highness was easy now.
“Why I permitted you to live after you tried to stop me.”
His words should have elicited panic. But she was numb. She didn’t care that he knew. “Why?”
“Because I meant what I said back there. You are worth ten times every noble who ever lived. Your betrayal was an act of love more than an attack on me. I too hold a deep love for our people. But unlike you, I have the will to do what is required to save them. And when it is over, you will be free to realize your true potential, untethered by the demons of poverty and pain or the politics of lesser people. You will see.” He leaned his head back and shut his eyes. “But do not think me a fool. I will not forgive you again. Do you understand?”
“Completely. You have my word. I’ll never betray you again.”
Salazar smiled. “Good. I need you with me. To keep me here. To help me resist. I can’t….not alone.”
She could tell he was drifting off. At every tree they passed, she thought of ramming Cal straight into it. Kill them both. Rid the world of two monsters at once. No. She wouldn’t. She had given her word, and this time she would keep it. Not out of loyalty, but as a punishment. A punishment for failure, for stupidity, and for cowardice.
Between the hellspawn and Troi were thousands of people. They had no idea what was coming. Better off. If they knew, what could they do about it?
As she entered the main highway, Linx pressed down hard on the accelerator. At her back, death was coming. Xavier had been right all along. The king had won. And she was helpless.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bane sat on the edge of the bed, brushing the hair from Clara’s face. They had done a good job repairing the damage to her abdomen, but it would be some time before she was able to move about. Injuries aside, Clara was lucky. Five others had been killed and six wounded in the ass
aults. All for nothing.
Clara opened her eyes, wincing as she shifted in the bed. “You’re here.” “Of course. Where else would I be?”
She reached up and touched the bandage on his cheek. “Is it bad?” “I won’t be quite as handsome,” he replied. “But I’ll be all right.” “I think a nice scar will give you character.”
“That’s good to hear,” he said, playfully. “I was afraid you’d change your mind about spending time with me after this is all over.”
She huffed a sarcastic laugh. “Are you serious? It took me ten years to get your attention.
I wouldn’t care if your whole face was shot off. So don’t try to get out of it.” “I wouldn’t think of it.”
“Then again, we might better get started now. Looks like our time is running out.” A tear fell. “It’s funny how things turn out. Just when you know where you want to go, the road ends.”
Her words struck home. But he would not let her see that he was just as afraid and despondent. “Then we’ll just have to build a new road.”
The door opened, and a young man leaned his head in. “Zara wants to see you.” “I’m busy.”
Clara touched his hand. “Go. You’re needed. Don’t worry. I’ll be right here when you get
back.”
He stood and started to the door, pausing at the threshold. “You wore a yellow ribbon.” She creased her brow.
“You said I never noticed you. But I remember now. You tied your hair back with a yellow ribbon.”
“Someone could have told you that.”
Bane shrugged, grinning impishly. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
As Bane entered the corridor, he wondered what it was about Clara that drew him. In truth, he barely knew her. Still, he could not help the way he felt. He was reminded of the story his father had told him about meeting his mother.
“One look,” he had said. “One look and I knew.”
Maybe it runs in the family, he thought.
Zara was still in the conference room, where she had been since the evacuation. If she’d left to eat or sleep, Bane hadn’t seen it. From the dark circles under her eyes and the way she hunched over the table, he doubted it.
“Reports are already coming in,” she said, without looking up. “Troi is sealed, and the hellspawn are spreading across the provinces. Thousands have already died.”
“It should take them time to reach all of Vale.”
“Yes. About two or three months is our guess. Hellspawn wander randomly. That gives us some time.”
Bane sniffed. “Time for what? To get ready to die?”
She looked up. “If you want to give up, why don’t you just leave?”
“I intend to. But not without Clara and my father.”
“Your father is on his way. As for Clara…she can make up her own mind.”
“So what will you do? You don’t have the weapons or the numbers to kill them. Why stay?” She slammed her fist on the table. “Because Vale is my home! I will not abandon it.” “Your home is being overrun by monsters. Monsters you have no hope of defeating. Stay
if you want. But at least convince the others to leave. Don’t sentence them to death over your stubbornness.”
“We’re safe here for now. No one will die.”
“Salazar surely knows about this place. And even if he doesn’t, what’s the plan? Wait it out? How many people are here – two hundred?”
“Two hundred and ten,” she corrected through gritted teeth. “And any one of them is free to leave whenever they choose.”
“Bullshit.” He cast her a look of pure contempt. “You are their leader, Zara. You let them know what’s right and wrong. They follow your example. How long until the food runs out? We’re less than a mile from the barrier. Do you plan to sneak past the hellspawn, and what? Load up on whatever is left after the slaughter? Pick through the bodies?”
She reached to her side and drew a revolver. Her hand shook, and tears were threatening to fall. “Get out.”
Bane felt a pang of guilt. Zara was a woman of genuine conviction. She truly believed in what she was trying to do. He would wager that if what remained of Exodus did leave, she would carry on alone. But carry on doing what?
He held up his hands. “Take it easy. All I’m saying is that we don’t have a way to fight anymore. Sooner or later the hellspawn will come for us. And if they don’t, Salazar will.”
“And I’m saying, let them come. I’m not surrendering.”
Bane sighed. “Fine. Have it your own way.” He turned to the door. “Why did you call me
here?”
Zara put away her weapon. “Bolton Fisk. You know him?” Bane nodded.
“He’s here.”
“What does he want?” “Sanctuary.”
Bane chuckled. “Is that right? Are you going to give it to him?” “He says he has weapons, food, and medicine.”
Bane turned back to Zara. “Sounds like a good deal. Of course, you realize he helped Salazar create the hellspawn.”
“I know. But we need the supplies.” “Then why call me?”
“Can we trust him?”
Bane shrugged. “If Salazar left him to die, then maybe. One thing about Fisk – he has resources. Or at least he had them. I’m sure he has things still hidden away somewhere.” He started to leave again.
“What would you do with him?”
He paused just outside. “A few days ago, I’d have flayed him alive.” “And now?”
“I don’t know. Fisk deserves to die. But I guess I’m thinking that there’s plenty of killing going on already. Maybe one more wouldn’t matter. But it feels like it does. Even if it’s someone like him.”
Bane wandered the halls for a time. This was the last intact underground Exodus stronghold, and the smallest. People were packed into every room and corridor, where their hopeless expressions and slump-backed bearing made it seem as if the air reeked of the stench of defeat.
And it was true. They were defeated. Why couldn’t Zara see it? Four facilities, maybe more. It seemed likely Salazar had not allowed them all to be discovered. Thousands of mindless savage beasts, with only one purpose – to kill. The memory of their sheer power when he and Drake had fought one was still fresh. It had nearly killed them both. Two experience hawkers, one a former royal guard, could barely find a way to put it down. What chance did the people in the provinces have?
Clara was asleep when he returned to see her, so he retired to the room he’d been assigned. Like the others, it was filled to capacity. To his relief, no one was in the mood to talk and left him to lie in his bunk and close his eyes, though sleep was impossible.
As the minutes turned to hours, he went over in his mind what had led him to this place. How had everything gone so very wrong? He’d wasted too much of his life chasing shadows, building a life that was hollow and without purpose. The arrogant façade he displayed for others was the cloak that concealed his shame. People like Drake, people who’d had everything stripped away, still managed to gather the pieces together and cobble them into something worthwhile. At their lowest, others still regarded them with respect and admiration. But not him. Not Bane.
What have you done? Thrown away every opportunity you’ve been given. Spit in the face of the people who love you. When his father had built Cal for Drake, he’d told himself that he was angry because he had been slighted by his own blood. But the truth was, he was angry because Drake deserved it...and he didn’t.
He heard the door open for what seemed like the thousandth time. Good thing I can’t sleep anyway, he thought.
“Samuel.”
Bane shifted onto his elbows. “Father? How long have you been here?” “Long enough. Get up. Let’s go for a walk.”
Bane sat up and drooped his arms over his knees. He could see that familiar judgmental look in his father’s eyes. “So you spoke to Zara?”
Dorn smiled. “Of course I did. Don’t worry. I’m not going to lecture you.”
Bane ro
se, exited the room, and led his father through the labyrinth of hallways to the main entrance, not speaking until they were outside. The barren landscape and dry, breezeless air drew a frown from Dorn.
“Not exactly eye catching, is it?”
“I don’t think they chose the location for the scenery,” said Bane.
The thirty or so vehicles were scattered randomly, and Bane made a mental note to have someone reposition them to allow for a quick escape should the need arise. And it likely would.
Dorn paused when he spotted Shel. “Let’s go for a ride.” Bane nodded. “Good idea.”
Shel had become Bane’s oasis, and the satisfied grin his father wore told him that he was extremely proud of his work.
“I never thought I could top Cal,” he remarked, running his hand over the dash. “You’re brilliant. No doubt about that.”
Dorn smiled. “It’s good to hear you say. Maybe you’ll listen to me, then.”
Bane moaned. “Let me guess. You think I should be like Zara. Stay and fight the good
fight.”
“You’re wrong. I want you to run as far and as fast as you can. I know what’s coming, and I know how this ends. You think I want my son facing something like that? I want you safe.”
“Then that’s that. We’ll leave Vale together.”
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