Fate of the Tyrant (The Eoriel Saga Book 3)

by Kal Spriggs

  His father, though, would not allow him to live if he told their family's secrets. Walker shuddered as he thought about what his father would do to him. Maybe, maybe if he became stronger he might dare to face his father, but as it was...

  Walker shuddered again, well aware that to face his father on anything resembling even terms was to invite a painful and agonizing death.

  Walker rose and went to the door. He paused in the doorway and gave his room a last look. His eyes caught on the crumpled parchment note in the far corner. I will not let him pull me back into his manipulations, Walker thought defiantly, even as he pulled he door shut.

  ***

  Chapter XIV

  Kara

  Ember Castle, Duchy of Masov

  Sixth of Shallob, Cycle 1000 Post Sundering

  Kara slipped out the door, head down and her sleeping child in her arms. She heard Lord Lukas's footsteps behind her as they moved down the corridor away from the two false guards. As they neared the stairs at the end, she held out a moment of hope that they might escape.

  "You, there, hold where you are," a voice called out from behind them. Kara glanced over her shoulder and saw one of the two men had started after them.

  "Run," Lord Lukas said.

  Kara didn't argue, she broke into a run, her son starting to cry in her arms.

  The shout behind signaled that at least one of the false guards was in pursuit. She and Lord Lukas ran down the stairs to the next floor. The fastest way to the Great Hall lay ahead and she clutched her son tight against her as she ran. She was too breathless to shush him as he wailed, sensing her fear.

  Kara rounded the corner to the stairwell and almost ran into a group of men in Katarina's red and white colors. A single look told her that these were more impostors and as they stared at her and Lord Lukas in surprise, she dashed past them and down a different corridor.

  "Stop them!" A voice called out behind her.

  Kara knew that another stairwell lay at the end of this corridor, but she knew she couldn't outrun those men down the stairs, not carrying her son. "We can't make it together," Kara gasped as they neared the stairs. She looked over her shoulder to see a half dozen of the false guards in pursuit.

  "Keep running!" Lord Lukas barked.

  Before she knew what he intended to do, she saw him skid to a halt and then slam the last door behind her. "Bar the door!" He shouted through the thick door, "I'll hold them as long as I can!"

  "No, damn you!" Kara shouted, but it was already to late. She heard the clash of steel behind her, their pursuers had caught up to him already.

  Kara fumbled one handed and managed to get the bar to drop on the door. She felt tears well up as she heard a scream on the other side of the door, but the sound of fighting didn't stop. Damn him, she thought, I hate him... he's not supposed to do something brave like this... like Josef would have done.

  She would have to make his sacrifice worthwhile. Kara rushed down the stairs, determined to bring warning to Lady Katarina.

  ***

  Captain Aerion Swordbreaker

  Aerion gave Lord Jarek and his wife Lady Eustasia a nod as he sat down at the table next to them. He was glad that he had brought his own wine goblet as he noticed the others had theirs out. His was a gift from the Wold and he set his on the table in front of him, even as he looked around the Great Hall.

  His gaze went to the raised table where Lady Katarina sat. She looked as beautiful as before and his heart ached as he caught her gaze. He tore his eye away and nodded at a servant woman who had come up beside him with a bottle of wine. "Yes," Aerion said, his voice sounding distant, "Fill it up." The serving woman peeled the wax off the bottle and started to open it.

  "That's the spirit!" Lord Jack clapped him on the shoulder and took the empty seat beside him. "I always say that if it's worth doing, it is worth doing right! Let's drink the Usurper's wine gentlemen!" The servant gave a flirtatious smile as she finished pouring wine in Aerion's glass and stepped around him to start filling Lord Jack's goblet.

  Aerion saw Walker come in across the way. Their gazes caught each other and Aerion gave him a nod. His friend looked angry and worried, but Aerion was glad to see him anyway. As soon as I can leave here without drawing attention, he thought, I'm going to corner him and beat on him till he tells me what is bothering him so much.

  Aerion frowned though as he saw Walker's eyes go wide. His friend wasn't looking at Aerion, not anymore, he was looking behind him, at the serving woman.

  "You're a pretty lass," Lord Jack said in a friendly tone to her, even as he started to lift his goblet to drink. "Tell me, why don't I remember seeing you around?"

  Aerion looked at her. She didn't look familiar, which was odd, especially with how pretty she was. He looked down at his own goblet about to take a drink and froze. The clear crystal had turned a black shade and he remembered what Jasmine had told him. It will turn black in the presence of drugs or poison.

  Aerion acted instantly, batting the goblet out of Lord Jack's hands as he went to take a sip. As the baffled nobleman stared at him, Aerion pointed at his own goblet, "Poison!"

  He must have spoken louder than he realized, for the entire Great Hall went quiet. Aerion looked back over at Walker. Yet his friend didn't show shock and surprise like the others in the hall, he had a grim sort of dread instead. He knew, Aerion thought with shock, somehow he knew.

  "Look out!" Walker shouted.

  Aerion spun, just as the serving woman whipped out a dagger from inside her dress. She lunged forward at Lord Jack with viper speed, but Aerion caught her wrist and held her. "Assassin!" he shouted. He heard shouts and the scuffle of men rising to their feet in response.

  The would-be assassin whipped out another dagger with her other hand, but Aerion caught that hand as well. "How many knives do you have, woman?" He demanded.

  "Not enough apparently," She smirked.

  Aerion saw a man in Katarina's colors coming toward them. "Careful," Aerion said, "she's armed." His gaze flicked over to the man as he approached. He was big, bigger even than Aerion. Which struck Aerion as odd, since he thought he knew most of Katarina's guards on duty and he didn't recognize the man.

  His instincts warned him and Aerion pushed the woman away as the "guard" lowered his spear and lunged. The big man's speed nearly proved too much, but Aerion managed to dodge the first thrust and draw his own blade. "You're fast," the other man said, "You'd be the Swordbreaker, then."

  To Aerion's surprise the big man dropped the spear and stepped inside Aerion's reach. Before Aerion knew what happened, his opponent hit him, hard, in the right side of his head.

  Aerion dropped his his hands and knees as his vision exploded in stars. He fought to clear his head and shoved himself to his feet just in time to see his attacker retreat through one of the side doors, slamming it in Lord Jarek's face.

  Lord Jack caught Aerion's arm, "I say, man, good job there or I'd have been dead for certain!"

  Aerion shook his head, "What happened?"

  "He hit you, I'm surprised he didn't kill you with how hard he hit you," Lady Eustasia said, hurrying up. "You are probably concussed."

  Aerion stumbled over to lean against a column. The entire great hall buzzed with confusion. At the head table, he saw Bulmor rushing Lady Katarina out of the hall, while nobles and officers rushed around in confusion. "Where'd the woman go?" He shook his head, nothing seemed to make sense.

  "Sit still, Aerion," Lady Eustasia said, "let me check you out. I'm certain the situation is well in hand."

  ***

  Lady Katarina Emberhill

  Katarina looked up as someone shouted, "Poison!"

  Her eyes sought out the source and she turned her head just in time to see Aerion bat a goblet out of Lord Jack's hands. Before she could see more than that, Bulmor had pulled her to her feet and started rushing her to the door.

  "What's happening?" Katarina demanded, shaking her arm free and looking back at Aerion. She saw the young man
go down, blindsided by a punch from someone dressed as one of her soldiers. That man and a woman dressed as a servant rushed to a side door, slamming it just before their pursuers could stop them.

  "My Lady," Bulmor growled, "we need to get you out of here!"

  The situation looked to be in hand, but she didn't argue. Bulmor looked uncertain, his gaze swept the Great Hall for threats. There was too much motion, too many people in movement, she realized. He couldn't do his job, not with so many potential threats.

  She let him lead her out a side door and into a cluster of her personal guard. He hesitated there, looking between the chaos of the Great Hall and her. She could see the conflict on his face. On the one hand, his job was to protect her. On the other, someone needed to take charge of the confusion. "Go," Katarina said, "Send Gerlin and Eleanor, I'll be fine for a few minutes."

  Bulmor still hesitated, clearly uncertain over leaving her. She understood that and gave him a confident nod, "It will be fine, it was an attempt on one of our guests, probably some nobleman trying to settle a longstanding feud. Take care of it."

  He gave her a nod and then looked at Padrek. "Take care of her, get her back to her quarters."

  "Yes, sir," Padrek responded. He and the others formed a protective ring around her and they started off.

  Katarina thought about what had happened as they hurried along. Her first assumption that it was some nobleman with a grudge didn't feel right. Who was the man who had attacked Aerion and how had he obtained one of her uniforms? For that matter, what of the poison attempt against Lord Jack? The young noble was hardly a threat to anyone, his exuberant personality was larger than life, but his father was the one who made political alliances...

  Her escort led the way past a pair of guards and Katarina hesitated as they passed. She didn't recognize these guards. Besdies that, she didn't know why they might be guarding this door. Yet her escort didn't slow so she didn't say anything, maybe this was something that Bulmor had arranged.

  She spun, though, as one of the two men slammed the door behind her escort. She opened her mouth to question them, just as the other man drew his sword and stabbed Padrek through the throat. Katarina's eyes went wide and she froze, too shocked by the sudden attack to go for her sword.

  A half dozen more “guards” boiled out of doors to either side and her escort had no time to even shout before they were down to a man... and Katarina had a sword held at her throat. Quick hands removed her sword belt and her boot dagger, and one of the men grabbed her by the arm to drag her along with them. “What's going on?” Katarina demanded, “Did Hector send you?”

  She still had her wands, tucked in her hair. If she had the opportunity, she would go for them, but the man who held her had a ready dagger in his hand and with how fast they had all moved, she didn't trust her own fighting ability to save her. Her left hand worked at a seam of her dress and pulled several threads free. It looked like a nervous habit, she knew, so hopefully they wouldn't pay attention.

  Her assailants didn't answer. They hustled her into a side corridor and they moved at a quick pace. She glanced back at the bodies of her escort and she prayed to her ancestors that someone might realize what had happened and lock down the keep before they got her out of it. Just in case they didn't, she dropped the first thread from her dress.

  ***

  Captain Aerion Swordbreaker

  Aerion looked up as Kara raced into the Great Hall, her son wailing in her arms. “Attack, we're under attack!” Kara shouted. “There are assassins, dressed as Lady Katarina's soldiers, in the keep!”

  “What?” Aerion surged to his feet. He spun to look over at where Bulmor stood. Lady Katarina's stocky armsman paled and he spun to look back in the direction that Lady Katarina had departed. Aerion saw him bark out commands and a squad of Katarina's guard raced down the corridor. Aerion turned to face Walker, who stood nearby, his face pale. “We have to check our guard posts,” Aerion snapped. He rose to his feet and then swayed a bit.

  “Captain,” Lady Eustasia said, “you shouldn't be on your feet.”

  “I don't have time, Lady Katarina is in danger,” Aerion said. He looked back over at Walker. “Our guard posts... move!”

  Walker gave him a nod, but Aerion hadn't missed his hesitation. There was something wrong, maybe tied to whatever had bothered his friend for the past few months... but maybe not. “Sergeant Millar has the side gate,” Aerion said, “that's the most likely entry point.” Other than the tunnels, he thought. Someone else had the task of guarding those, however. He would have to trust them to do their duty... and he would do his.

  Aerion gave a glance over his shoulder as Nakkiki and Quinn raced after Bulmor. Please find her, he thought to himself, even as he rushed off in the other direction.

  ***

  Lady Katarina Emberhill

  “Ah, Lady Katarina, a pleasure to meet you,” a woman in servant's dress curtseyed in front of Katarina. “I was just telling my brother that it would be a shame to meet you under such circumstances.” Her attackers had dragged her into one of the guard rooms below the keep. From here they could take a corridor that led to one of the side towers and then head almost anywhere in the castle, entirely unnoticed.

  Even if someone does see us, she thought, they are wearing my soldier's uniforms, no one will know to put the alarm up.

  “I can't say that I disagree,” Katarina said. The memory of her escort dying flashed through her mind, echoed by the death of her little brother. She fought of a wave of despair.

  A big man, dressed as one of Katarina's guards came into the room behind the woman. “Preparations are made, we should go.”

  “You,” Katarina hissed, “you're the one who hit Aerion.”

  “Aerion...” the man looked confused for a moment, “Ah, you mean Captain Swordbreaker. Yes, I'd have rather that my sister did her job and killed young Lord Jack for a proper distraction, but felling him worked just as well.” The big man shook his hand a bit, “He had a solid head, I'll give him that.”

  “He's still alive,” Katarina said sticking her chin up.

  “It seems you're slipping, Konstantin,” the woman said.

  “Doesn't matter,” Konstantin replied. “We move now. And Lady Katarina, before you go for those wands in your hair, consider this: my father would prefer you alive, but he didn't specify whether you still need your hands. Cause me any issues and I'll cut them off, understand?”

  Katarina gave him an angry nod.

  “Good,” Konstantin said. “Off we go now.”

  “I do so love it when your plans come together, Konstantin,” the woman said. She looked over at Katarina, “Now, lest you think we're uncivilized... my name is Mari. Just so you feel better, I almost never kill someone after I've introduced myself.”

  Konstantin and the others led Katarina down the corridor. “Why are you doing this?” Katarina asked, “Did Hector pay you to kidnap me?”

  “Now, now,” Mari said, “do you think we're common mercenaries?”

  Katarina looked at the woman, “How much did he offer you?”

  Mari shook her head, “She really doesn't get it, does she, Konstantin?” When the big man didn't answer her, she sighed, “Look, I understand you may have lived a sheltered life as a noblewoman, but...”

  “Assassins killed my father when I was a child. I saw them kill my little brother. I've lived my life under threat of assassination and kidnapping since that time. I think I can understand whatever it is you're trying to explain,” Katarina snapped at the shorter woman.

  “Feisty thing aren't you?” Mari smirked. “Well, then, think of it this way. Your people will pay quite the sum for you back. Lord Hector will pay even more for you dead. Then there's all sorts of other interested bidders... really, this is free enterprise at its best. We'll have an auction, stretched out over several months, decide on which bidders have the best offer, and then turn you over to them. Everyone gets what they want.”

  “Or kill you, if that's the
best offer,” Konstantin said absently.

  “Yes, or kill you,” Mari gave a slight frown. “You don't really get what you want in that case.”

  ***

  Captain Aerion Swordbreaker

  Aerion heard the alarm go up as he and Walker ran across the courtyard towards their furthest guard post. They could have headed through the corridors, but it was quicker to run across the castle on foot. At their pace, he didn't have the breath to question Walker about his odd behavior.

  In truth, his head still ached and he stumbled here and there as he ran. Yet he didn't have time to stop. Katarina was in danger... and he would do his duty to protect her as well as he could.

  They drew near Harken Tower, which housed the side gate. In theory, someone could take corridors to one of the outlying towers, several of which had sally ports, but those were exposed and someone might see horses or people gathered and waiting. The side gate out of Harken Tower had room for men and horses to wait, complete with a small stable.

  As they came up on the tower, Aerion slowed his pace as he saw two men on guard outside the door. Yet his eye narrowed as they drew closer and he didn't recognize them. He knew everyone in his company.

  He gave Walker a look and his friend gave him a nod in return. Aerion slowed to a walk as he came up, “We're checking all the posts,” Aerion called in as friendly a tone he could manage, “any issues here?”

  “No,” the first “guard” smiled, “what's going on? Some kind of drill?”

  Aerion shook his head, “We really don't know, yet...” As he continued forward, he saw both men's hands ease towards their weapons. “Some kind of commotion at the Great Hall.”

  “Well,” the second guard spoke, “we're fine here, no problems at all.”

  “Right...” Aerion nodded, his head throbbing. He judged the two men would be fast. They wore leather armor and they stood with their weight balanced, ready to move. Aerion and Walker didn't have their armor, just the clothing they wore. Would that be enough? Jasmine said this finery could turn a dagger, he thought, I suppose I get to put that to the test.