by MJ Schutte
‘As I was saying, the Justice Squads uphold the law. The people will provide whatever they need as payment…’
‘The law?’ Brighton shouted, his anger boiling over. ‘There is no law anymore. Those thugs do as they please. You are doing the same thing the Supremes did for three thousand years! You rule through fear and intimidation!’
‘Brighton, I’m warning you. Don’t…’ Graham started but Brighton stormed forward and smashed his fist down on the table.
‘No, you have this backwards. I’m warning you. Stop this madness or I will,’ he growled at Graham.
Graham took a step back. He was clearly not used to anyone challenging him or speaking to him in this manner.
‘Guards, arrest these people!’ he shouted.
Without taking his eyes off Graham, Brighton shouted, ‘Touch any of us and it will be the last thing you ever touch!’
The guards looked at each other uncertain what to do. All of them had already realized exactly who Brighton was. They were unwilling to go up against him but also knew they dare not defy Graham.
Brighton turned around and walked towards the door. His little group followed close behind.
‘You have one day to sort this out. I’ll be back tomorrow,’ he shouted over his shoulder at Graham.
‘Arrest them now!’ Graham shrieked.
One guard, a burly man, stepped forward and put his hand out towards Brighton.
‘You are hereby arrested…’
Without stopping Brighton grabbed the outstretched hand and twisted it violently. The man’s wrist broke with a loud pop that echoed through the quiet hall.
None of the other guards had the courage to try, they stepped back and let Brighton’s group pass.
Chapter 22
BRAC LED THE group deep into some very thick forest. The last thing Brighton wanted was to battle hundreds of the Council’s guards, for the moment it would be better to hide.
‘This looks good,’ he said to Brac.
They were in a tiny open space between some thick undergrowth and many large trees.
Brac agreed.
‘It will be hard for them to find us here,’ he commented. ‘But I’m going to take some precautions anyway.’
He disappeared into the bush. Brighton and the two women settled down to wait for nightfall. They had to make do with cold food since Brighton didn’t want a fire to give away their position.
A while later Brac returned.
‘Nobody will get close to this place without us knowing,’ he said confidently.
‘I’ll use my sense anyway to scan the area from time to time,’ Brighton said.
‘I thought you might do that, but you also have to sleep at some point. I’ve set up my own “sense” to warn us when intruders are coming,’ Brac said with a wink.
‘How did you do that?’ Lilian asked.
Brac smiled and said, ‘There are all kinds of things that will make a sound when you step on it or walk through it; dry twigs, leaves, sand and pebbles. Nothing and nobody can get here without making some sort of noise.’
Brac sat down and accepted some of the cold food Adri offered him.
Brac, Lilian and Adri spoke about unimportant things for a while. Brighton was deep in thought; he didn’t even hear their conversation. Nobody really wanted to discuss what had happened earlier but they were all curious as to what Brighton was planning.
Eventually Lilian looked at Brighton.
‘What do you think will happen tomorrow?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Brighton sighed. ‘I’m hoping that the members of the Council will see their mistakes and rectify them.’
Everybody knew there was almost no chance of that happening. Lilian knew that Brighton had already decided what to do should the Council persist in their ways. He was going to remove them from power just as he did with the Supremes.
‘How are your defences against arrows and spears these days?’ Brac asked.
‘I’m getting better at it. I practiced a few things while we were living in Avarya,’ Brighton answered.
Adri punched his shoulder and said, ‘Probably because you were bored seeing as I didn’t allow you in the kitchen.’
It brought a small smile from Brighton.
Twigs snapped not far from them.
‘It’s Mischief,’ Brighton said quickly.
Brac had a wide smile on his face.
‘See, not even the demon cat can get here without us knowing it,’ he said proudly.
Brighton was glad Brac was with them.
‘I think we should go to sleep. Brac, you take first watch, I’ll relieve you at midnight,’ Brighton said.
‘You will need to be well rested tomorrow. I’ll take the second watch so you don’t have to break up your sleep tonight,’ Brac suggested.
Brighton didn’t argue, what Brac said made a lot of sense.
The next morning Brighton was awake before sunrise. Lilian was still sleeping so he didn’t move. Just as the sun started rising, she woke up.
‘Good morning my love,’ she said in a sleepy voice.
Brighton got up on one elbow and kissed her forehead in reply.
She smiled and said, ‘I had a wonderful dream. The twins were born and we were living in Four Mountains.’
Brighton smiled at her. There was nothing he wanted more.
He stroked her stomach softly. Lilian lifted her head and gave Brighton a long, tender kiss.
Adri, who had been watching them, pulled a face and said, ‘Stop it. That’s the reason your stomach is getting so big.’
Lilian giggled and said, ‘Yes, I suppose you’re right.’
All of them got up.
Brighton walked to where Brac was sitting on a rock.
‘Any disturbances?’ he asked.
‘Nothing,’ Brac reported.
Brighton spoke quietly to Brac.
‘I want you, Adri and Mischief to stay here today. I would have liked Lilian to stay as well but I probably have a better chance of convincing this rock to get up and walk,’ he said.
Brac chuckled a bit.
‘No problem. I’ll keep Miss Adri out of harms way. Just promise me if you pick up some trouble you will run straight for this spot. Miss Adri, Mischief and I will make anybody that dare follow you very sorry,’ he agreed.
‘We will, thank you,’ Brighton smiled.
He was thankful Brac didn’t argue.
Convincing Adri will probably be a different story.
Deciding there was no point in putting it off he walked over to her.
‘You’re staying here with Brac today,’ he said to her.
‘No way, I…’ she started but a quick shake of the head from Lilian made her swallow her words.
‘Fine,’ she said folding her arms.
Brighton gave Adri a quick hug and said, ‘Thank you for not arguing again.’
He held out his hand to Lilian.
‘Let’s go. I want to get there early,’ he said to her.
Graham walked into the hall.
He stopped so abruptly that Lars bumped into him.
‘What…’ Lars started but then also saw what Graham was staring at.
Brighton was sitting behind the big table at the other end of the hall. Lilian was seated to his left. There was not another chair in the entire hall that was whole.
‘Please come in,’ Brighton called to them.
Graham slowly walked into the hall followed by Lars and the rest of the High Council members.
Graham finally found his voice.
‘What have you done? How dare you come in here and desecrate the High Council like this?’ he shrieked.
One of the Council members ran out.
Moments later guards started pouring through the door.
‘…twenty-three, twenty-four….’ Brighton counted.
When it seemed no more guards would come in Brighton said softly to Lilian, ‘Thirty-one guards.’
‘This is going to get ver
y interesting,’ she muttered.
Graham stormed forward screaming, ‘Arrest them! Hang them!’
‘Let’s talk,’ Brighton suggested.
Graham kept screaming as the guards rushed forward.
Brighton pointed at the leader. The man dropped his spear and clutched his chest with both hands. He dropped to the floor, stone dead.
Brighton pointed at the next man. He was hoping this would discourage the guards but they kept coming. Brighton concentrated hard. All thirty guards dropped to the floor instantly.
Lilian whispered, ‘How did you do that?’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ Brighton whispered back.
The Council members where stunned. Most of them ran for the door. They crushed each other trying to get out of the hall. Finally only Graham and Lars remained.
Lars had a panicked look on his face.
Graham was glaring at Brighton.
‘Come forward, let’s talk,’ Brighton said to them.
Lars started walking but Graham stood dead still.
‘I am the first member of the High Council. I will not be ordered by anyone,’ he said defiantly.
‘Graham! Do as he says before he kills us,’ Lars urged him.
Graham ignored the plea.
‘You can come closer willingly or I could make you come closer,’ Brighton said calmly.
Graham turned his back on Brighton and took a step towards the door. A small white energy ball, no bigger than a man’s hand, hung in midair blocking his way. Graham stopped, carefully reached out, and touched it. He screamed in pain as the pure energy instantly burnt the skin off his hand. He retreated quickly holding his injured hand.
Lilian knew Brighton had been practicing to use his gift but this left her speechless.
Is there anything he can’t do? she wondered in amazement.
The energy ball moved closer to Graham forcing him to retreat further.
Lars ran to the big table. He fell to his knees and started begging Brighton to spare their lives.
Graham tried to go around the white ball but it blocked his way every time. Still it kept coming at the Councillor.
He turned to face Brighton.
‘All right, I will talk to you,’ he blurted out.
The little white ball disappeared.
‘Then come over here, I don’t feel like shouting,’ Brighton said.
Lilian looked at him carefully. He showed no signs of strain. This display of raw power frightened her a little.
Graham came over and stood in front of the table.
‘You broke all the chairs. Where will I sit?’ he said to Brighton.
‘You will stand,’ Brighton replied.
Graham looked unhappy about this but didn’t argue.
‘What do you want?’ he asked Brighton.
‘I told you yesterday: Stop the madness or I will,’ Brighton said calmly.
‘Madness? I don’t know what you mean,’ Graham exclaimed.
‘You know exactly what I’m talking about. The People’s Council was formed to serve the best interest of the people. No more Justice Squads, no more palace on top of the hill, no more ridiculous laws,’ Brighton answered.
‘We can’t just call off everything we’ve started. A lot of hard work has gone into creating law and order and getting out from under the Supremes’ rule. We struggled long and hard for this, I will not let it go to waste now,’ Graham complained.
‘You did not do any of that, I did. It was me who brought an end to the Supremes and I will do the same with this preposterous “High Council” of yours.’
‘But…you can’t…’ Graham stuttered.
Brighton slammed both hands down on the table so hard the wood cracked straight through.
‘Enough arguments! It’s clear you are not willing to do what has to be done. Fine, I will. Lars, go fetch all the members of your council. Be quick, I’m losing my patience,’ Brighton screamed.
Lars ran out as fast as his trembling legs could carry him.
Graham sank to the floor still clutching his burnt hand.
‘What are you going to do?’ Graham asked.
‘Kill all of you and take command,’ Brighton said flatly.
Graham started whimpering.
‘Please Brighton, give us a chance. I see now that we were wrong. I will personally see to it that things change,’ he begged.
‘No more Justice Squads?’ Brighton asked.
Graham shook his head.
‘They will be recalled today,’ he promised.
‘Every one of the Justice Squad members must be put on trial. Let the people decide what their punishment should be for the horrible crimes they have committed.’
‘Done,’ Graham agreed.
‘What about the law? Will it be fair to everyone?’ Brighton pressed on.
‘Yes, yes, we will discuss everything in the open so that the people can have a say. I will also stop the building of the palace.’
‘The hunt for talented people will stop immediately,’ Brighton said.
It wasn’t a question but Graham nodded anyway.
The first of the Council members started drifting into the hall. They huddled against the far wall in fear. Brighton looked around the hall.
‘Let’s do this in the town centre where everyone can see,’ he said.
The Council members left the hall again and gathered in the town centre.
Graham came out followed by Brighton and Lilian. By now most of the Council was present. Brighton pushed Graham forward.
‘Tell them,’ he instructed.
Graham slowly relayed everything he and Brighton spoke about. He outlined the changes that will be made and gave instructions for certain things to be done immediately.
When he was finished Brighton said, ‘Good. I will be back often to check that you’re keeping your word.’
‘Yes, of course. We will keep the promises and serve the people,’ Graham quickly reiterated.
Brighton took Lilian’s hand and set off towards their camping spot. Just before they left the town centre, he turned around and called Graham over.
‘Who performs marriage ceremonies now?’ he asked the Councillor.
‘Anyone on the council can but Faye normally does it, why?’ Graham answered.
‘She will perform the ceremony for Lilian and me today. Send her over here, we’ll wait,’ Brighton said.
‘But the law….’ Graham started.
He smiled an apology.
‘Forgive me, I will fetch her immediately.’
Lilian looked radiant.
‘You’re a miracle worker,’ she whispered to Adri as she gave the young girl a quick hug.
Adri wiped a tear from her eye and said, ‘Don’t forget your flowers.’
Lilian smiled as she took the beautiful blue and white arrangement from Adri. The two women stepped into a small clearing next to the river.
Faye was facing them but Brighton had his back turned.
He started looking over his shoulder but Faye quickly said, ‘It’s not allowed.’
Brighton smiled and returned to staring at the ground.
Brac was on Faye’s left side also facing Lilian and Adri.
Lilian stopped behind Brighton and put her hand on his back.
‘Brighton, I come to you willingly. This is my choice,’ she said formally.
Brighton turned around, looked into her eyes and replied, ‘Lily, I come to you willingly. This is my choice.’
Adri quickly went to stand on Faye’s right side.
Faye smiled nervously.
‘Brighton and Lilian have chosen to be here. This is of their own free will. Can anybody dispute that?’ she said to nobody in particular.
She felt a little silly performing a wedding ceremony with only two people next to her. Normally there would be at least twenty or thirty people next to and behind her witnessing this.
Adri and Brac spoke together, ‘We cannot dispute this. Let these people be wed.’
Faye looked at Brighton.
‘Brighton, today you take Lilian to be your wife. You will love her, protect her, honour her and never have desire in your heart for another.’
‘This is my promise,’ Brighton replied.
Faye turned to Lilian.
‘Lilian, today you take Brighton to be your husband. You will love him, protect him, honour him and never have desire in your heart for another.’
Struggling to control her voice Lilian replied, ‘This is my promise.’
Silence fell over the little gathering. Faye poked both Adri and Brac in the ribs.
‘Oh, sorry,’ Adri squeaked.
Together they said, ‘We witness this union.’
Brighton scooped Lilian up in his arms and gave her a long passionate kiss.
‘Well, that’s unusual,’ Faye commented.
‘But does not affect the ceremony,’ she quickly added when Brighton looked at her worriedly.
Formally she said, ‘Brighton and Lilian are now joined as one. This bond cannot be broken.’
Brac stepped forward and shook Brighton’s hand vigorously.
‘Congratulations young man.’
He gave Lilian a small kiss on the cheek.
‘Congratulations Miss Lilian.’
Adri gave Lilian a tight hug. She stretched out her arm and pulled Brighton closer. He put his big arms around both of them.
‘I’m so happy for you both,’ she managed to say past the lump in her throat.
Faye coughed nervously.
When Brighton looked at her she carefully asked, ‘May I go now?’
‘Yes and thank you for your services, we appreciate it,’ Brighton said to her.
‘How many?’ Graham asked impatiently.
‘Only the four of them,’ Faye answered.
‘Are you sure?’ Graham pressed.
‘Yes, I did not see anybody else,’ Faye confirmed.
Graham sat down in his chair.
‘So it’s still only the four that were here yesterday,’ he mused.
Most of the Council members had returned to the big hall.
‘Brighton is powerful, I think we should leave them alone,’ Lars said nervously.
