“We can still go with you,” Jebido said as my men and I sat our horses outside the city. Gandertown was bedecked in celebration, with colorful streamers and pennants draped across the towers and walls in honor of the new king.
I shook my head regretfully. “No, you have to stay here and wait until the time is right.”
Jebido sighed in resignation. “I know, but I’ve never been much good at waiting.”
I glanced around at the grim faces of my men, then I smiled, letting them see a confidence in me that I wasn’t sure I felt. “The hard part is over, lads,” I said. “So, wipe those looks off your faces. We’ll all be free men in an hour from now.”
“Or swinging from a noose,” Putt said gloomily.
I laughed and waved a hand dismissively at him as I guided Angry toward the city. Putt might be right, I knew, but I was damned if I would walk into Gandertown shaking in my boots. Whatever happened this day, the Outlaw of Corwick was done hiding.
I reached the city gates, where eager peasants had congregated along the road in the rain, watching as lords and ladies arrived for the coronation on fine horses, or riding in elegant carts. No one paid much attention to me, fixated as they were on grander sights. I was thankful for that fact, not wanting to cause a scene similar to the first time I’d entered Gandertown. Soldiers carefully checked the lords and ladies for royal invitations before letting them in, something which seemed to affront many of the highborn as they impatiently stood in line. I had no invitation, but I was certain I wouldn’t need one. If I knew Lord Corwick like I thought I did, then my name alone should suffice to gain me entrance.
I waited as a fat, bald lord with a red face and sweaty brow produced his papers, all the while lamenting the fact that he was being given no respect. Finally, just as the rain stopped, the fat lord moved on, still grumbling as I halted in front of a squat soldier who held out his hand expectantly.
“Your invitation,” the soldier said in a bored voice.
“I haven’t one,” I replied.
The soldier looked as though he wasn’t sure he’d heard me correctly. Finally, he sighed and waved me away. “Then move on, you worthless dog, so that those that do may enter.”
“I’m here to see the new king,” I persisted in a growl.
The soldier scowled. “So are a thousand others, every one of them more important than you. So, either move along, or I’ll break something on you. Whichever choice will suit me just fine.”
“How about we do neither?” I said, controlling my temper. Now was not the time to put this obnoxious man in his place. “Please inform the new king that Hadrack, the Outlaw of Corwick, has come to see him as agreed upon.” The soldier’s eyes widened and he stared up at me in shock. “Hurry now,” I said mockingly. “I don’t have all day.”
The soldier swallowed in indecision, and then he walked briskly over to a grey-haired man standing by the gates. They talked for a moment, then the grey-haired man strode toward me, his face hard, his hand on his sword.
He studied my features carefully, saying nothing, then finally nodded. “I had thought the order was some kind of jest, but I see that it is not. You really have come.”
“I have,” I said as trumpets flared from the walls. “Now, are you going to let me in, or am I to miss the coronation?”
“We’ll need your weapons first.”
“You can have them,” I said softly, “but only when you pry them from my dead fingers.”
The grey-haired man frowned, then he motioned that I should dismount. “Very well. My men will see to your horse.” He pointed at me. “No tricks from you, understand? We have orders to bring you to the king unharmed, but try anything, and I promise you, orders or not, your blood will flow on the ground. Now follow me.”
A thin youth looking awkward and wet in his over-sized armor took Angry’s reins. “If any harm comes to him,” I said, holding the boy’s eyes. “I’ll hold you responsible.”
The youth just stared at me in awe, saying nothing as I was led away through the gates. I followed the grey-haired man down a wide street as a contingent of soldiers marched behind us, most of them fingering their swords nervously as they watched me. I shifted my father’s axe on my back and several men tensed, one even moaning slightly. I grinned, taking a perverse pleasure from the effect I was having on them. My smile quickly disappeared, however, as we reached the palace ramp where Hervi Desh stood awaiting me.
“I didn’t think you would come,” Desh said as I climbed to meet him.
The soldiers moved to follow and Desh waved them off. I could tell by the look on his face that he considered me of little threat. He was right. I wasn’t the threat at all, as he’d soon come to learn.
“I want Lady Shana,” I growled. “Now.”
Desh chuckled, taking me by the arm and whisking me into the palace. I had to resist the urge to hit him.
“I see you’ve brought your father’s axe,” Desh said, glancing at the weapon.
“Don’t even think about trying to take it,” I said low and threatening.
Desh raised his hands and he smiled. “I wouldn’t even consider it.”
I could hear singing now, sweet, beautiful voices that rang out with both hope and innocence.
“Ah,” Desh said. “They have begun.”
He led me down the corridor to the grand room packed with brightly garbed lords and ladies. The dais at the far end of the room was decked out in plush, bright purple carpeting. Son Oriel, dressed in the fine robes of the First Son, stood at the top of the dais, a glittering crown held in his hands. Lord Corwick knelt on the steps in front of him, dressed in a simple white tunic similar to the one I had worn as a Pilgrim.
Desh guided me forward, causing a stir as my name began to be whispered from one person to another. Son Oriel’s eyes were closed as he mumbled words that I couldn’t make out clearly, nor cared to hear. The ugly priest frowned as the singing stopped at our approach, opening his eyes in annoyance. He blinked when he saw me, then smiled a wolfish grin that laid bare the darkness in his soul. The Son bent and whispered something to Lord Corwick, who turned to look over his shoulder at me.
Lord Corwick stood smoothly, his face breaking out in a delighted grin. I glanced at him in disdain, then sifted through the packed lords and ladies standing to either side of the dais until my eyes met Shana’s. My heart leaped and I had to force myself not to jump the distance between us and take her in my arms. I could see tears of dismay in her eyes and I looked away from them, afraid that I would weaken and do something that might give the moment away.
Shana didn’t know what I knew.
“Well, I must say,” Lord Corwick said loudly, moving to the top of the dais. “I had hoped you would put in an appearance, Hadrack, but I didn’t think you’d actually be this stupid.”
“I’m here to hold you to your vow,” I said. “Release Lady Shana and let us go in peace.”
“Well, I did promise that, didn’t I?” Lord Corwick said, looking thoughtful. I saw Shana’s face brighten in sudden hope out of the corner of my eye, only to be dashed a moment later. “But honestly, did you really think that I would honor a contract made with a common criminal?”
Desh chuckled in amusement, moving away as soldiers with drawn swords surrounded me, staying back a respectful distance. Several ladies screamed, and one rather plump one in the front row fainted, causing a stir when her dress rose up her legs in an unfortunate manner, revealing a goodly portion of her ample behind.
I glanced over my shoulder. Jebido was standing at the back of the corridor, waving to get my attention. He grinned when my eyes fell on him and motioned that all was ready. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been and I almost sagged to the floor in relief. The gamble had paid off. I turned to face Lord Corwick, setting my shoulders back as I felt a jolt of energy flow through me.
“So, you refuse to honor our agreement made in good faith, then?” I demanded.
Lord Corwick paused dramatically, then he
grinned. “I do.”
“That makes you a liar as well as a coward and murderer,” I said with disgust. “I should have known.”
Lord Corwick shrugged. “Yes, perhaps you should have.” He waved a hand casually. “But I’m not an ungracious man, Hadrack. I have decided to allow you to watch as I am crowned king before I have my men kill you. I think it is the least that I can do since your actions, which I whole-heartedly denounce, have turned out to be so beneficial to me.”
“You won’t be crowned king this day, or any other, you bastard,” I said. “There will only be one king crowned here today. The True King!”
I turned with a flourish, gesturing behind me as armed soldiers poured down the corridor to the cries and shouts of the lords and ladies recoiling away in fear. Lord Corwick’s men moved to block their path and a vicious battle quickly began.
“What is the meaning of this!?” Lord Corwick roared over the din of weapons colliding as Son Oriel scurried along the dais to hide behind the First Son’s throne.
“Behold!” I cried as a tall blond man marched into the room with his glittering blue eyes fixated firmly on Lord Corwick. Soldiers with shields and drawn weapons surrounded the blond man protectively as they forged a path through the battling factions. “King Tyden of Ganderland!” I shouted. “The one and only king!”
I have never felt such satisfaction as I did at that moment, watching the expressions of dismay and fear on Lord Corwick and Hervi Desh’s faces. Jin had been the key to everything, just as I’d told Jebido. The Daughter-In-Waiting had met secretly with the prince after I had told her my plan of feigning his death. A pig’s bladder filled with blood and a blunted knife, not to mention the murder witnessed by a respected Daughter, was all it had taken—that, and a lot of faith placed in me by a man that I had never met.
One of Lord Corwick’s men rushed at me from the knot of fighting, cursing men nearby, cutting off my thoughts. I dodged sideways as he swung his sword, then took the weapon from the man and reversed it, gutting him. I let the soldier fall, unconsciously growling as I headed for the dais.
“In the name of the king, you will put down your weapons!” Tyden thundered.
I hesitated as the young prince strode past me, and I reluctantly lowered my sword. The fighting had all but stopped at Tyden’s command, with the great room filled only with the sobbing of the women and the moaning of the wounded. Tyden paused at the dais's base and glared up at Lord Corwick, and then he slowly began to climb the stairs until they stood eye to eye.
“I am disappointed in you, cousin,” Prince Tyden said reproachfully.
Son Oriel squealed and ran, his black robes billowing out behind him as he disappeared through the archway at the back of the dais. Hervi Desh watched him go, holding his ground for a moment longer, then he turned and dashed after him.
Prince Tyden snapped his fingers and pointed. “Bring those two to me.”
Half a dozen soldiers ran to do his bidding as Tyden turned his focus back on Lord Corwick. “It was a good plan, Pernissy,” he said grudgingly. The prince glanced at me. “But you made one mistake. You picked a man to do your bidding who has both honor and integrity.” Tyden chuckled. “And I daresay, a man much smarter than you.”
“Cousin,” Lord Corwick said weakly. “This is all a simple misunderstanding.”
“I think not,” Prince Tyden said. He looked up as movement arose at the back of the dais. A soldier appeared through the doorway, leading Son Oriel by the arm. “Where is the other one?”
“He got away, Highness,” the soldier replied.
“No matter,” Prince Tyden said. “There is nowhere for him to go. We will catch him eventually.” He gestured to Son Oriel. “You were about to perform a coronation, I believe, First Son?”
Son Oriel sniffed, pulling his arm away from the soldier’s grasp. “Indeed,” he said haughtily.
Prince Tyden inclined his head as soldiers dragged Lord Corwick off the dais. “Then, shall we continue?”
“Of course,” Son Oriel said, his voice catching as someone returned the fallen crown to him.
The prince made his way down the steps, kneeling where Lord Corwick had been moments ago. Son Oriel held the crown over Tyden’s blond locks, his hands shaking as he uttered the traditional words that elevated a man into a king. I paid little attention to the cumbersome ceremony, wishing it would just end as I sought out Shana again. Her hair was cut short, I realized, having somehow overlooked that fact earlier. I thought of the long, shimmering strands that had fallen on this same dais weeks ago and how close I’d come to losing her. Shana’s hands were clasped over her chest, her blue eyes brimming with tears of joy as we stared at one another. I found her new look to be very fetching.
I mouthed the words, “I love you,” then grinned with pleasure when she mouthed them back.
Son Oriel continued speaking for several more minutes, while the room waited in respectful silence, until finally, the priest pronounced Tyden to be king. I glanced at Lord Corwick, who looked ashen and sick as King Tyden stood, surveying his subjects as they cheered him. Finally, Tyden waved for silence, then gestured to his men to bring Lord Corwick closer. A Judgement Stool was brought forward and the lord pushed roughly onto it as the king took his place on the throne.
“You are accused of treason, cousin,” Tyden said, getting directly to the point. “How do you plead?”
“This is preposterous!” Lord Corwick exploded. “He pointed a quivering finger at me. “This is all his doing! He’s the one that forced me to do it!”
I snorted and shook my head. The man couldn’t stop lying, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. I felt a nudge and turned to see Jebido beside me, his features twisted in a delighted grin. Tyris, Putt, Sim, and Niko were with him. I nodded to my men in greeting before turning back to the dais.
“Who murdered the First Son?” Tyden demanded in a booming voice.
Again, the quivering finger at me. “He did! The Outlaw of Corwick!”
Tyden sighed and sat back. He flicked his eyes to Son Oriel. “Who murdered the First Son?” he asked the ugly priest. Son Oriel’s lips twitched and the king added, “I would advise you to answer carefully, First Son. Your current position is tenuous at best right now. Lie to me and you will find yourself back to being a lowly Son-In-Waiting before you can even blink.”
Son Oriel shifted his calculating gaze to Lord Corwick. I wasn’t sure if the new king had the power over the House to do as he had claimed, but I’d just seen a sly look appear briefly in the priest’s eyes, so I knew it wouldn’t matter. Son Oriel had just switched allegiances.
“Advisor Desh killed the First Son, Highness,” Son Oriel stated firmly with a bow of his head. He gestured to Lord Corwick. “At this man’s behest.”
“You lying bastard!” Lord Corwick snarled, rising from his stool. A soldier stood to either side of the angry lord and they pushed him back down.
“Very well,” Tyden said. “I will deal with Advisor Desh soon enough.” He fixed his cold eyes on Lord Corwick. “My brother and I were close, once, Pernissy,” he said. “As you well know, since we three played together as boys. It pained me greatly when Tyrale betrayed me, for he knew that I was the elder brother. Many of my subjects lost their lives because of his blind ambition.” Tyden sighed and rubbed his eyes wearily. “That said, the man was still my brother, and what you did to him sickens my stomach.”
“But Tyden—” Lord Corwick began.
“Silence!” the king shouted in sudden fury. “Not another word out of you, Pernissy, or your lying tongue will be cut off and thrown to the dogs.” Lord Corwick looked down, his face flushed. “Now,” Tyden continued, composing himself. “What is done is done and nothing I do can undo it. Our great kingdom has suffered this past year, but now the time has come for both sides to heal and learn forgiveness.” The king glanced at me, then focused back on Lord Corwick. “For all your failings, Pernissy, you are still my cousin, and I am sick of all the death that I hav
e seen this past year. I will not kill you for what you did.” I saw Lord Corwick’s face brighten with hope. “From this day forth, you are hereby stripped of all your lands and titles.” Lord Corwick’s face fell in dismay. “You will spend the rest of your days in the dungeons below the castle you once schemed to rule. That is my decision.” Tyden waved his hand. “Take him away, and may the gods favor me by never having to look upon his face again.”
After Lord Corwick had been dragged away, Tyden crooked a finger at me. “Come,” he said, gesturing to the Judgment Stool.
I shared a worried look with Jebido, then climbed the stairs and sat down.
The king tapped his fingers on the throne while he studied me silently. “There have been many things said about you, Hadrack of Corwick,” Tyden finally rumbled. “Many of them lies and half-truths, facilitated by those close to me.” He indicated to his left, where I hadn’t noticed Daughter Gernet, Malo, and Jin stood within the crowd. Jin and Daughter Gernet were smiling, while Malo had his ever-present frown on his face. “People of Ganderland,” Tyden continued, looking around. “We owe this man a debt that can never be adequately repaid. This man who we thought an enemy, risked everything for our kingdom so that it could be made whole again. Nothing I can give him can express the gratitude we all feel, but even so, I will try.
“To begin with, all warrants for the capture of the Outlaw of Corwick have been rescinded. All crimes attributed to him, whether real or not, are absolved.” The king leaned forward as a playful smile cracked his lips. “But now that he is free, what will we do with him?” Tyden rose and he came to stand over me. “Kneel before me,” he commanded as he drew his sword. I lowered myself to the floor, taking one last confused glance at Shana before I bowed my head. “From this day forth, the man known as Hadrack of Corwick, will now be known as Lord Hadrack, the Lord of Corwick, with all the powers and lands of that holding at his disposal.”
The Wolf On The Run (The Wolf of Corwick Castle Book 3) Page 40
