Victory and Defeat: Book Five of the Restoration Series

by Williams, Christopher

  Darion smiled. “You are mistaken, my dear duke. Telur is not about to slip into civil war.”

  Angaria sneered at him, but then grimaced in pain. “You are so wrong. The church has been working with the four great houses. They are ready to turn on you at a single word from the church.”

  Shaking his head, Darion moved closer. “The mistake the church made was in promising the four houses that they each could have the throne.”

  At Darion’s words, Angaria paled. “What?” he asked numbly. “What are you saying? How do you know that?”

  “Come now,” Darion said, still speaking in that jovial tone. “Surely you know that each of the houses spies on the others. It did not take long for them to learn the church was lying to them, and then they came to me. Unlike the church, the houses can see the troubles that are coming. I have been working with them to strengthen their castles and import weapons for their troops.”

  Angaria shook his head. “That is not possible.”

  “Oh, it is quite possible,” Darion replied. He paused and watched Angaria squirm. “Why do you think my daughter, Cierra, was so quickly married to the son of Lord Steel? It was to strengthen the bond between House Steel and the throne.” He sighed and moved a bit closer. “We are going to war tonight, Angaria. It will be the first battle of this year, but I do not think it will be the last.” He leaned his head in the cell door to emphasize his words. “We attack the church tonight.”

  Angaria gasped in horror. “You can not! It is blasphemy.”

  Darion leaned back out of the cell door. “I wanted to tell you personally about the attack, and to tell you that I have stripped you of your duchy. You are no longer a duke and you live at my pleasure.”

  Some of the horror left Angaria’s features then and he actually smiled. His smile was gone in a flash; smiling with his facial injuries appeared to hurt him. “You cannot do that. Your grandfather signed an agreement with the four houses. You must have a majority of the Council of Lords to remove a duke, and there most certainly has not been time for them to vote tonight.”

  The king did not speak for a moment, but then he reached inside his robe and withdrew a piece of paper. “You are quite right in that I cannot remove you without the blessing of four members of the Council of Lords. You are also correct that they could not have voted tonight.” He paused and smiled a merciless smile. “What you failed to realize is that I prepared for tonight by having the representatives of the four great houses vote on your dismissal months ago.” He held the paper up for Angaria to see.

  Angaria was still pale, but now he also began to sweat, and he looked like he might sick up at any moment. “My king,” he said weakly.

  “Acting with a majority of the Council of Lords, I hereby remove your title from you. You are no longer a duke of Telur. Your lands are returned to me, and the lives of your family are forfeit.”

  “Lord Jared!” King Darion barked, causing all the watchers to jump. “I want the former duke’s head before the sun rises.” Jared did not respond, and Darion turned to look at his spymaster. “Is there a problem?” he asked.

  Jared looked unsure how best to answer, but he took a deep breath and began speaking. “My king, I would advise you to wait on killing him.” Angaria looked horrified at the conversation the two men were having.

  “And why is that?” Darion demanded, his face darkening.

  “Because, my king, he knows much valuable information.”

  Darion nodded. “But he will never tell us anything.”

  Jared shook his head. “After some time with your torturer, he will tell you anything you want to know.”

  Angaria climbed to his feet and made a futile attempt to reach out and grab the king, but the chain on his arm pulled him up short. “Darion! You cannot do this. I am your servant. Please!”

  Angaria began to shout something else, but King Darion stepped back and slammed the door shut, effectively cutting the former duke off in mid-scream. The king smiled around at the group and took a deep breath. “Oh, how I enjoyed that.”

  After a moment, King Darion’s gaze came to rest on Countess Hannah Lells. She simply looked terrified. Darion strode across the hall and stopped at the door to her cell.

  Hannah looked worse now than she had a few moments ago. Pale and sweaty, with tears constantly running down her cheeks; she was a mess. She did not speak, instead she just stared at the king with fear-widened eyes.

  The king held her gaze for a moment and then nodded. “You may speak.”

  “My king,” Hannah began at once, “I will do anything. Please do not kill me. Do not take my title.” At this point, the tears that had been running down her face turned into full-fledged weeping.

  Darion did not answer her right away, instead he just watched her. “Countess, you are accused of drugging your king’s son. In addition, you are also accused of spying on the Telurian monarchy. How do you answer these charges?”

  She shook her head and opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was breathless and seemed unsure how to answer.

  “Let me help you,” Darion said quietly. “If you lie to me, then I will know it and I will kill you here and now.”

  Hannah nodded. “I did what you said, but for the church, and not to hurt Telur or you. We were trying to steer you into making the right decision.”

  “By drugging my son!” Darion bellowed into the quiet of the cell.

  Hannah jumped and cowered against the wall. The sobbing began again. “I’m so sorry, my king. I thought it was the right thing to do . . . ” She trailed off, only occasionally emitting a sob or two.

  Darion knelt down next to her in the small cell. “Under normal circumstances, I would turn you over to the headsman.” Hannah closed her eyes, still gasping for breath. “However,” Darion said after a moment, “I need something of you.” Hannah’s eyes popped open. “I am willing to pardon you for your actions before tonight if you are willing to help us, that is.”

  Hannah blinked several times and then sniffed loudly. “I will do anything, my king. But you will truly spare me?”

  Darion nodded, watching the woman closely. “If you do as I say and answer our questions honestly, then I will spare you. You will remain a countess, but you will be exiled to your country estate. The next time you step foot in the city of Telur, the headsman will come for you.”

  Hannah quickly nodded. “Anything. I will do anything.”

  Darion smiled. “Tell me, what will happen to my son if he wakes before you return. Will your servants harm him?”

  “No, sire. They will simply tell him that I was called away on an urgent matter. No harm will come to him.”

  The king nodded. “And do you know how to work the secret entrance to the temple?”

  “Of course. I watched Angaria open it this very night.” She practically stumbled over her words in her haste to speak.

  “Good,” Darion said, as he stood up and moved toward the cell door. “Jared has some questions for you, and then you can go with them as they attack the temple.”

  For the second time within a matter of moments, Hannah Lells looked horrified.

  Darion paused outside Hannah’s cell and leaned close to Jared. “Are you sure this plan of yours will work?”

  Jared watched the king, but he was slow in answering. “Every plan of attack has the chance to fail, my king.”

  “That is not reassuring,” Darion replied.

  Jared smiled at the king. “I have never lied to before. Would you have me start now?”

  Darion snorted and began to move past his spymaster. “I have plans of my own to make.” He looked back at Jared, “Plans for your success, or for your failure. I pray that you succeed.”

  Jared bowed his head. “As do I, sire.”

  Darion hesitated. “If you fail, then I will be forced to send troops against the temple. The citizenry will not like seeing their king send soldiers against their god’s temple. Even with the four houses supporting me, this could still
spark a civil war.” He did not add that some of his soldiers might refuse to attack the temple; that would prove truly catastrophic.

  Chapter 28

  Atock, Warren, and Jared stood in the shadows across from the temple wall. It had taken them precious time to get here and it would be light soon. They did not have much time to wait. They were standing where a small side street intersected with the main thoroughfare that ran along the temple’s walls.

  Atock glanced back up the narrow street. Even though he knew they were there, he had a difficult time spotting the hundred men that Jared had brought with him. These men were . . . well, he was not sure exactly what to call them. They were not soldiers exactly. Oh, to be sure, these men carried swords, and he believed they were well trained in their use, but he would not have called them soldiers, even if it was partially fitting. Perhaps they were spies, then. That also had the feeling of being close to the truth but not quite right.

  The Hundred, as Jared called them, were young men. They were muscular but slight of build. Atock towered over all of them. Some of them had blond hair, others had brown, but they all were plain looking. There was nothing distinctive about them at all. They all carried a short sword, as well as numerous throwing knives. They wore black leather armor. The armor was not the best protection, but it was better than nothing, and it would not interfere with their movements. They moved with precision and in near silence. Perhaps these men were Jared’s assassins; that had the feeling of being even closer to the truth.

  Atock dismissed the wandering thoughts and glanced at Jared. “You think any of those guards spotted us?”

  Jared shook his head in answer, and he continued to study the temple. He could see the alcove that Hannah had mentioned, and the tree that grew through the middle of it. Everything looked as he had hoped. He turned and motioned back up the street. After a moment, two shapes moved out of the shadows and ran toward Jared’s location. They moved quickly, but low to the ground. One of the shapes moved with a nimbleness, while the second look slightly uncoordinated.

  After just a moment, the two shapes resolved into Hannah and Jared’s assistant, Armon. Armon came to a graceful stop and knelt beside Jared. Hannah sort of collapsed, out of breath, but still looking scared.

  Atock shook his head. He didn’t mind going into battle with Jared’s hundred men at his back, but he did not like having this woman around. He suspected the woman capable of unbelievable treachery.

  “Report,” Jared said quietly.

  “All men accounted for and ready,” Armon answered. He spoke just as quietly as Jared had. The Hundred had not simply marched from Darion’s castle to the temple; to do so would have alerted not only the temple, but every resident of the noble’s district. Instead, they had left in groups of two and three and reassembled in the shadow of the behemoth they were about to attack.

  Jared consulted with his assistant for a few moments more, and then he signaled for Armon to retreat. He waited until the young man had rejoined the rest of the Hundred, and then he leaned close to Atock and Warren. “The Countess and I go first. Once we reach the tree, slowly count to ten and then come across. Hurry, but don’t run, and keep your hoods up.”

  Neither Atock nor Warren answered, but the two men did share a glance. They both felt slightly offended, as they both had partaken in raids before. Did the fool spymaster expect them to stroll across the street while they whistled?

  It appeared that Jared could read their thoughts, because he smiled at their hesitation. He turned to Hannah. “Are you ready?”

  If the truth was told, the woman looked anything but ready, but to her credit, she took a deep breath and nodded.

  Jared reached for her hand and, in the next moment, they were hurrying across the street. They kept their heads down and walked at a brisk pace. Running at this point would do more harm than good. If they were spotted now, someone might find them suspicious; if they were running, then the alarm would be raised immediately.

  They reached the wall ten yards short of the alcove. They turned north and hugged the wall until they reached the tree, and then they ducked within the shadow of the alcove.

  “Hurry,” Jared said, but Hannah did not need the urging.

  She was already moving and quickly reached the spot where Angaria had stood several hours ago. She held her hand out, and Jared dumped a white powder onto it. The powder’s purpose was to allow the Hundred to know the runes to open the door. Standing on the tips of her toes, she could just reach up and touch the runes. She quickly touched the first rune, leaving a vertical slash on it. Then she touched the second rune, but this time she left two vertical slashes. In a heartbeat, the third rune was pressed and marked. She stepped back and waited for the door to open. Nothing happened. For the briefest of moments, she feared that she had missed an important step, but then a crack formed in the wall. The crack quickly opened into the narrow opening she remembered. She started to step into the darkness, but Jared grabbed her arm and yanked her back.

  Hannah gasped but managed to avoid shouting. There was a pain through her arm, but her eyes were focused on the knife that Jared held up to her face; the point was just below her right eye.

  “Listen to me carefully, Countess. The king has placed your life in my hands. If you try a trick, or try to alert the guards, you die first.” He pushed the knife closer to her eye, and she pulled her head back as far as she could. “If I so much as suspect you are lying, I will kill you instantly. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes,” Hannah whispered. Her chest heaved and beads of perspiration broke out on her forehead. “I will not betray you.” The knife moved even closer and her breath caught. “Please.”

  Jared held the knife a moment longer and then he lowered it.

  Hannah stared at the man. If she survived this night, she promised herself she would hire an assassin to avenge her on the spymaster, but that was for another time.

  “Do you remember the plan?” Jared asked.

  “Yes,” she said. Her tone was cool, but she tried to mask the hatred that she felt for this man.

  “Good. Let’s go, but if things go badly, then you die first.”

  They had just stepped inside the small dark stone room and were preparing to close the door when Warren and Atock arrived. The two men hurriedly stepped inside and the door closed behind them. Immediately the room burst into light. The four of them stood there, blinking as their eyes adjusted.

  Hannah moved to the trap door and made to open it, but she stopped as Jared held up his hand.

  Jared leaned close to Atock and Warren and pointed to the far wall. “Wait there. We don’t want the guards spotting you.” The two men hastened to obey, and Jared looked around one more time. Satisfied that they were in position, he threw up his cloak’s hood and nodded at Hannah. In truth, the cloak was Angaria’s; they were relying on it to convince the guards that it was the duke and countess returning like they had only hours ago.

  Hannah took a deep breath and heaved the trap door open. She cast one fearful glance at Jared, then she descended the ladder.

  Jared moved to the ladder, pausing only long enough to put a small pipe in his mouth. The pipe was cylindrical and made of wood. He followed her closely, being careful to keep his face hidden by the hood. He hated not being able to see, but if he could see the guards, they could see him.

  He reached the bottom of the ladder and turned, being sure to keep the hood over his face. He could see the floor and Hannah’s legs; at least she had waited for him like she was supposed to. As he watched, she turned and began to head down the tunnel. Jared started after her, but tripped and fell to the ground, letting out a groan as he hit the stone floor.

  “Quickly!” Hannah shouted. “Help the duke.”

  The guard on the right was quicker and reached Jared in two strides. He rolled the prone man over and stared into the spymaster’s face. He blinked in surprise. It was understandable; this was not the man the guard had been expecting.

  There
was a Thumph, and something shot out of the end of the small pipe. The guard felt a stinging in his neck and he instinctively reached upwards. Even before his arm reached his neck, he was going numb. By the time he had pulled the dart free, his vision was already cloudy. After several more heartbeats, the guard collapsed to the ground, where he would die moments later.

  The guard on the left had taken one step toward the duke but had stopped there when his companion reached the duke first. He started to turn around, to return to his post, but he never made it.

  Hannah timed the strike perfectly. The young guard started to turn toward her and she stabbed the knife into the front of his throat. She immediately retreated away from the guard, but she continued to stare at him. She had never killed in this manner before and she was enthralled. The knife still stuck from the man’s throat, both his hands on either side of the hilt. He quickly dropped to his knees, gasping, choking, and bleeding. So much blood. Hannah had never seen anything like it, and she could not withdraw her eyes. After a moment, the man’s gurgling stopped, and she knew he was dead. She continued to stare for several more heartbeats and then she looked around, almost like she was awakening from a dream.

  Jared was stepping away from the ladder. He had climbed back to the top and rapped on the trap door twice. Even before he returned to the bottom, Atock and Warren were hurrying down to join them.

  Jared stopped at the bottom of the ladder and glanced at Hannah. “Are you all right?”

  She blinked at him, momentarily forgetting that she had just promised herself that she would be responsible for his death one day soon. She smiled. “I’m fine. I’ve never killed anyone like that before, and I did not expect it to be like that.”

  Jared cocked his head to one side and studied the woman. He had seen men make their first kill before; most of the time they were sick afterward. Occasionally, a man would find his first kill enchanting. Most times, the men who were enchanted turned out to be the most bloodthirsty of killers. He began to worry about Hannah. It was possible she could be like those bloodthirsty men. He even considered killing her right there, just to be safe. He decided against it though; she hadn’t lied and the king had given her his word.