Overkill
Page 29
“Indeed. I shall add him to the Order of the Garter at least, perhaps an allowance for his trouble?”
“That’d be fitting, mum.”
“What’s done is done and had to be done,” Garnet declared as they stepped to the top of the curtain wall. A huge cheer filtered across the masses gathered below, all terminating to their left at the pile of wood with a wooden pole erected in the outer yard. “Burn them all, that’s what my father used to say.”
“Yes, mum, mine as well.”
“General Appra was wise and a good man.”
Still in his robe, Yannick had been strapped to the stake. Four of Alena’s sisters stood around the pile of wood with torches, waiting.
Gorias La Gaul stepped away from the pile of wood and climbed onto the saddle of Traveler. The crowd applauded him and many bowed as he started to move away from Yannick.
“Terrible thing,” the Queen sighed, arms folded under her breasts. “Yannick murdering the Princess Nykia like that with his dragonfire tablets.”
“I found the pouch of them in his cottage,” Alena said gently, eyes on Gorias, her hands folded at her stomach.
Garnet looked at Alena and then down at her clothes. “You look spectacular dressed as a Princess, Alena.”
Alena curtseyed in her hoop skirt. “Thank you, mum.”
“The land respects you, knows of your lineage and the royal blood of General Appra, plus, you too carry the child of Gorias La Gaul, according to Ellis.” The Queen peered down the wall at other dignitaries, one, the short youth Ellis, now re-outfitted in the doublet of Queen’s prognosticator. “I’m sorry your husband must now leave us, but I’m glad he left the heir within you.”
Alena smiled at Gorias, who also looked up at her. “Do you think he knows?”
Garnet raised an eyebrow, reading Gorias’ face. “Do you think he cares? I think his exact words to me were, The world will end soon, so enjoy that kid while you can.”
“Is he serious?”
“It will be another two hundred years or more in crazy theories, so that is a lifetime even in this era of long-lived men. Who can say if all of those tales are for certain? Maybe the supreme God is really talking to that fool in Shynar, but maybe its more demons having a boy’s rag. Who can say? I refuse to live life afraid for tomorrow. Worry is crushed by action.”
“No regrets, mum?”
“Only that I held my virginity away from that man down there. Still, my life was wonderful and God has shown me a new way to solve life’s disappointments. Gorias indeed will have a son on the throne.” She faced Alena. “Or a daughter that will tear out the lungs of anyone who dares stand against her.”
“Do you love him, mum?”
“Oh, in a way. One cannot help but love Gorias. Do you love him?”
Alena smiled and waved at Gorias. He lifted his chin and bowed his head with pageantry. “In a way, I always will.”
“It’s no sin to love him. It’s just foolishness to try to fence in the wild wind.”
*****
Gorias La Gaul rode down the main avenue of the capitol city in Transalpina, weary of those who pointed at him, looking away from the rising dust cloud still lingering after the final fall of the temple of Ernytel.
The enormous throng around the spectacle in the street cheered him as he left. Of course, when he looked back toward the castle, he again saw the figures up on the curtain wall. The Queen and her Princess, wrapped up tidy. Seeing as the destruction of the temple of Ernytel was seen as a disapproving sign of the gods, Garnet proved rather accepting of a new reality. She even came down to let the people see her watch Yannick put to the pyre.
“Goodbye,” Gorias mouthed at them, unsure if they could tell, uncaring if they could. He hated long goodbyes or goodbyes at all.
The wizard was tied to the stake with metallic bonds to insure he would stay in the flames long enough to burn. The mound of wood and debris flung from the crazed crowd fed the small fire the Appra sisters lit.
Gorias stopped Traveler as he turned back, watching Yannick’s mouth open and close. The wizard stared at Gorias, face pleading emphatically. Mouth agape, no sound emerged as the flames grew higher. The old legend sat for a moment, his hand on his saddlebag full of gold pieces, both from the Queen’s coffer and the wizard’s larder. Gorias’ other hand was a fist and he smiled at it. The crowd had witnessed Gorias’ final action to Yannick seconds before, and cheered it. They understood Gorias’ act on Yannick ensured the wizard would cast no spell to free himself, call down no rains to mute the fire, or worse, bring out any evils capable of releasing him.
La Gaul opened his right hand and looked at Yannick’s tongue. It still felt warm to the touch. Gorias kicked Traveler, cast the tongue to the dogs in the gutters and rode out.
THE END OF
OVERKILL
But Gorias La Gaul will return
In
BORN OF SWORDS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steven L. Shrewsbury, from Central Illinois, enjoys football, books about history, guns, politics, mystery shows and good fiction. 365 of his short stories have been published in print or digital media. His novels THRALL, STRONGER THAN DEATH, HAWG, TORMENTOR, BAD MAGICK, (collaboration with Nate Southard), BEDLAM UNLEASHED (collaboration with Peter Welmerink), HELL BILLY and GODFORSAKEN run from horror to historical fantasy.
Connect with Steven online at:
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
EPILOGUE