Her eyes narrowed, following Arcell’s movements with contempt. Traitor. It was as she feared when Arcell wasn’t found with the rest of the prisoners from Rothdara. Koyl said he had left with Deliao. At the time, she was unwilling to believe it. After everything they had accomplished together, why would a man like Arcell choose to betray his people? She wanted to scold him. Accuse him openly of the betrayal he was guilty of, but she couldn’t. To say anything about Arcell’s involvement with the rebels would incriminate her if Arcell hadn’t already done so. She would have to be careful what she said until she was able to deduce how much information he let slip to save his own life.
At his approach, the soldiers pulled Kaori back to her feet, twisting her gruffly to face toward Sivar, her eyes opening wide in horror to see the guards at his side placing the noose around his neck. “What are you doing?” she gasped, her eyes shifting to stare at Sulel. Therek implied her arrest was ordered for the sake of using her to obtain information from Sivar. If that was accurate, it made more sense for the soldiers to prepare her for torture, not her brother.
“An experiment,” Sulel smiled, the sight causing Kaori’s stomach to turn. He looked pleased. Enjoying the desperation in Kaori’s eyes. “Your brother has been less than forthcoming with the details we requested of him. Let us see how much you are willing to make him endure before you decide to start talking.”
“My sister has nothing to tell you,” Sivar’s hoarse voice was almost inaudible. Strained but steady.
Deliao gave a derisive snort, motioning toward the guards to tighten the rope around Sivar’s throat. “We will be the judge of that,” he sneered. “Her behavior in Rothdara has kept me curious. She is a violent girl. Out of control. Rebellious. Just the sort of woman who might be capable of lashing out against the Emperor.”
A soft choke could be heard from Sivar as the noose pressed harder against his neck. Impeding airflow, making it difficult for him to speak. Still, he managed to find his vocal cords, struggling to get the words out. “She is a woman. How can you possibly think her capable of leading anyone into a fight? She does not even know how to use a blade.”
“Oh, I think she does.” Casual in his motions, Deliao made his way to stand in front of Kaori, the smug expression never leaving his face as he grabbed onto Kaori’s arms, lifting her hands to present the palms to the people around them. She cringed to see the soft calluses which had begun to form over the skin from the time she spent wielding her sword, the sides of her fingers somewhat hardened where the string of her bow had torn through the surface time and again until building a resistance. Not the gentle hands of a lady. Anyone with experience in combat would recognize the cause of such marks. Deliao’s eyes lifted to meet Kaori’s, his smile growing broader with satisfaction. “I do not think knitting stockings can cause this. What have you to say, Kaori?”
There was nothing to say. She couldn’t deny the imperfections in her skin. Turning her head away, she grimaced to feel Deliao grab her by the cheeks, twisting her face back to his. He wasn’t going to leave it be. They brought her here for a specific purpose and Deliao wasn’t the type of man who would give up asking simply because she was being stubborn.
He stared hard into her eyes. Searching them. Attempting to decipher her thoughts without needing to hear her speak. “If you hold your tongue for the sake of your brother, you waste your time. We are already aware that he is guilty of assaulting my men. What I want to learn is just how much you know of his endeavors.” With a hard tug on her face he tilted her chin upward, leaning closer to look deeper into the silver glow of her eyes. “Who is working with your brother, Kaori? If you tell us who has helped him conspire against the Emperor, we may be willing to lessen your brother’s sentence.”
“I may be a girl, but I am no fool,” she spat in disgust. The offer was tempting, but she knew it was a lie. Sulel enjoyed his power too much. Even if Kaori divulged the names Deliao requested, Sulel would order Sivar’s death out of spite. In the back of her mind, she feared they already possessed the names in question. Arcell knew everyone who arranged the initial rebellion. For the right price, he may have been convinced to expose everything. His very presence in this courtyard lessened her faith in that man. The way he stood next to the Emperor, haughty and proud, saying nothing in Kaori’s defense.
She couldn’t see Therek, though she could hear him moving closer, the sound of his voice becoming louder with every step he took. “Lady Kaori cannot have been involved with the rebellion,” he argued, adamant in his protests. “She was with me prior to and following the events in Rothdara. At no time did she have contact with those involved.”
“That doesn’t mean she didn’t know they would be there,” Deliao released his grasp on Kaori’s chin to straighten his posture, a flash of irritation visible in his eyes. “Her brother’s followers would have paid visits to the Levadis home. She has seen their faces. Knows their identities. If he won’t tell us, we have no choice than to move on to a source which may be easier to break.”
Offended by the remark, Kaori furrowed her brow. Easier to break? Deliao thought her weak-willed. It made her laugh inside. “You think that because I am a woman you can make me talk?”
“It is a fact! Women are prone to emotions. Easy to coerce. Admit it, Kaori,” Deliao smirked. “There are things I could do to you which would destroy that fire I see in your eyes.”
“General, that is uncalled for,” a feminine voice floated upon the air, authoritative. Confident. Curious by the unexpected interjection, Kaori let her gaze drift away from Deliao, thrown off to find a woman coming to stand not far from Therek’s tensed figure. She looked familiar. Images floated through Kaori’s mind, taking her back to the first night she spent at court. There in the dining hall, this woman had been seated at Sulel’s side, though at the time her appearance had been unimportant. Kaori’s attention was focused on the Emperor. So much so that she failed to consider those around him. But there was no ignoring the woman now. She moved with a grace only royalty possessed, her long blonde locks falling in gentle waves over her shoulders. Human. The lack of light in her green eyes made her heritage easy to deduce. Her slender figure was wrapped tightly in a crimson bodice, the long skirts flowing elegantly to the ground, lightly brushing over her feet until she paused next to Therek, a stern, disapproving gaze settled on Deliao. “The Duke was correct in that no law gives you the right to behave with such impropriety toward a female prisoner. Do what you must to obtain the information you require, but keep it within the confines of the law.”
Irritated, Deliao released his hold on Kaori’s face, straightening once again to stand tall and proud, never letting his gaze stray to the Empress, ignoring her presence. He didn’t like it when people told him how to do his job. Kaori feared he may act out against the warnings for no better reason than to rebel against the woman for interfering with his business. “I ask you again, Kaori,” he stated loudly, his hands clasped behind his back, turning away from her for effect as he directed his attention toward the soldiers positioned at Sivar’s sides. “Give me the names of those who collaborated with your brother. My offer will not be on the table forever.”
She didn’t know what to do. Uncomfortably, her eyes drifted from one face to another, aware of the discontent in Therek’s gaze, mirrored also in the deep green eyes of the Empress. The only one other than Deliao who looked sure of himself was Sulel. At his side Arcell squirmed, uneasy at being in front of so many people. Exposed as a traitor before those he once considered allies. No one could help her. If Arcell had provided sensitive information to Deliao and Sulel, he couldn’t take it back now. And Therek… the mistakes of his past made it impossible for him to step in and stop this circus. Deliao took orders from Sulel and Sulel would never be swayed to let Sivar go. “Your offer is not on the table,” she replied quietly. It seemed best to make it known that she wasn’t going to fall for Deliao’s games. “Nothing I say will prevent the deaths of myself or my brother, therefore I will m
aintain the dignity of my family through silence.”
“Very well,” Deliao was matter-of-fact in his statement, stepping closer to the guards near Sivar. “She wants to see her brother dead, it seems. Let us not keep her waiting.”
“I do not desire my brother’s death,” Kaori interjected. Angered by the insinuation. Just because she wasn’t willing to be played a fool, didn’t mean she wanted to see Sivar killed. It was bound to happen eventually, but she hoped to buy him at least a little more time. A few more days until she could think of something that might be able to save him.
“No?” Deliao peered at her quizzically. “Have you changed your mind about talking?”
“Of course not –”
“Then string him up!” Deliao turned away swiftly, pointing toward one of the soldiers. Obedient, the man moved to stand behind Sivar, grabbing onto the other end of the rope which formed the noose, strung over the top of the makeshift gallows. At the sight of the soldier tugging the rope taut, Kaori began to feel a wave of uncertainty, no longer sure whether she was making the right decision to remain silent. What if Deliao was telling the truth and Sivar’s life would be spared? Her lack of cooperation would be the death of her brother much the same as her unwillingness to be violated by the soldiers had been the death of her parents.
“Wait…” Her voice was soft. Hesitant. She didn’t want to say anything. Fear forced her to speak out, afraid to let the soldier pull the rope any tighter.
Sivar’s eyes opened wide to hear Kaori’s protest, their silver glow flashing brightly with reproach. “Don’t tell them anything, Kaori,” he insisted, his words cut short by the pressure of the rope, a painful cough the only sound he could manage.
Terrified of what would happen if she didn’t talk, Kaori leaned forward, held firm by the soldiers, unable to get free. She needed to get to Sivar. If she was able to get away from these men, she might be able to find a way to cut the rope and save her brother from certain death. “Sivar! I…”
“No,” he grimaced, the bottoms of his feet slowly lifted off the ground until he was balanced on the tips of his toes to try and keep from choking. “Don’t do it, Kaori. Don’t give them what they want.”
“But they’ll kill you!” Her voice was shrill. Unrecognizable. Not since her parents’ execution had she felt so helpless. Torn over what to do. If she didn’t provide the names of her friends, Deliao would kill her brother. But she knew it was a trick. In her heart she couldn’t deny the truth. Deliao was merciless. If she betrayed her friends, Sivar would still die – along with everyone else she cared about. Sivar knew it as well. She could see it in his eyes. It was just so hard to accept! Her brother would die regardless and she was powerless to stop it.
Bringing his shackled hands to his neck, Sivar fought to loosen the rope. His face was turning red. The restriction of air to his lungs making it harder for him to breathe. “Be strong,” he coughed, gagging harder as the soldiers pulled his hands away.
Sulel’s laughter did nothing to ease Kaori’s racing heart. His voice in her ear made her want to scream, increasing her efforts to break the grip of the soldiers. “One last chance,” Sulel leaned toward Kaori, an impish grin adding to his already vexatious appearance. “Tell us the names, woman. You have until the count of three before I give the order to finish this.”
Fear mounting, Kaori stared in desperation at her brother, praying the gods would give her the strength she needed to escape these men. “Sivar, I can’t!” she pleaded with him. She wasn’t entirely sure what she referenced with her protest. She couldn’t tell Sulel what he wanted but she couldn’t just stand there and let them kill her brother. There was no simple answer. No magical sign from the gods to tell her what she needed to do.
“One…”
Kaori’s movements became more frantic. This wasn’t happening. It had to be a nightmare. Just wake up. Why wouldn’t she wake up?
“Your Majesty, stop this!” Therek argued, coming forward in Sivar’s defense. Sulel glared at him, a snap of his fingers directing the guards to stop Therek from moving closer.
“He is a criminal, Losuva. His crimes are punishable by death.”
“We are not barbarians. If he must die in order to enact justice, do not force the girl to witness it.”
“The girl is a traitor!” Sulel shouted. “She deserves far worse.”
The Empress stepped forward, her slender hand rested upon Sulel’s shoulder. Her elegant features were fixed in a stern, critical expression, eyes narrowed disapprovingly at her husband. “I must agree with the Duke, dear. She has already endured the deaths of her parents. This once, can you not show her mercy?”
“You are a woman. You know nothing of justice.” Eyes wide, Sulel slapped his wife’s hand away, his attention directed back to Kaori, staring her down with an intensity unlike anything Kaori had seen before. “Two!”
Kaori’s heart pounded painfully against her chest until she feared it might burst through her breast to land at Sulel’s feet. Nothing she said could get her out of this predicament. In her mind she was taken back to that day in Rothdara, the executioner poised over her father’s kneeling figure, ax raised high above his head in preparation to strike. She hadn’t been able to help her father. Her mother. Now her brother’s life was also out of her hands. Left to the mercy of Deliao. “I’m so sorry!” she cried. There was nothing left for her to do than beg her brother’s forgiveness. The only comfort she could offer Sivar in his final moments was to make it clear that she wouldn’t let him down. She wouldn’t betray their friends. She wouldn’t betray him.
“I love you, Kaori.”
It was the last thing she heard before Sulel gave the final count, everything around her moving in slow motion. She watched her brother’s body hoisted into the air, his feet dangling above the ground, face quickly changing to a deep shade of blue and purple. Struggling against the rope. Coughing. Choking. Her own screams echoed through her head, drowning out the arguments called out by Therek and the Empress while the soldiers held Kaori back. The image burned into Kaori’s mind as Sivar’s limbs gradually became more sluggish, his legs twitching, the final breath of air cut from his lungs. Tears poured forth from Kaori’s eyes, no longer caring who saw them. She was desperate. Overwrought. Her brother was dead and these animals wouldn’t let her close to him.
Lost in despair, Kaori blocked out the voices around her. She didn’t care what anyone said. Sulel’s threats were meaningless now. What more could he possibly do to her? He had slaughtered her parents. Murdered her brother. Physical pain was nothing compared to the anguish already festering inside her heart. Deliao could break every bone in her body and she still would tell him nothing. Their leverage was gone. Used up. Even the thought of death couldn’t frighten her anymore.
Staring at Sivar’s body where it dangled lifelessly from the gallows, her wild cries slowly began to fade. He was dead. Sivar was gone. In this courtyard filled with people, she was alone. Abandoned by the gods. Shock was beginning to set in, her eyes locked on her brother’s face, the light in his eyes extinguished. Dull. Grey. His energy dispersed back into the world around them. Closing her eyes she inhaled a deep breath. He was still there. She could feel his presence. Like a gentle pressure upon her shoulder, an invisible hand positioned under her chin, lifting her head to tear her gaze away from the gruesome sight. The rhythm of her heart eventually began to slow to nothing more than a hard pulse, rocking her body under the force. She couldn’t feel the guards anymore. Their hands pressed against her arms but she was numb to it all. Oblivious to everything around her until something cold came to rest upon the skin of her neck above the collar, drawing her back to reality.
A sword. She didn’t have to see the object to know what it was. Deliao was at her side, arm extended, the tip of his blade pressed tightly against Kaori’s throat as Sulel came to stand in front of her once again, his earlier joy somewhat faded from his hardened expression. “I grow tired of these games,” he frowned, folding his arms
across his chest to emphasize his disappointment. “It is time I make something very clear to you, girl. This man,” Sulel waved absently at Arcell, “has named you as the leader of the rebels. Not that pathetic corpse that was once your brother. Honestly, we thought it would be you who was brought into custody outside Amalo. It was never our intention for things to end this way, but alas – here we are.”
The energy in Kaori’s body created a rush of warmth through her veins with the rage she felt in hearing of Arcell’s betrayal. She suspected as much. Still, there was something about hearing it confirmed which made her chest ache from the hatred she felt toward that man. It ate away at her to think she once called him friend. A trusted ally. Although it was easy to blame herself for the death of her brother and all those who perished on the road to Amalo, it was this man who was the real culprit. Their blood was on Arcell’s hands. Not hers.
At her silence Sulel pressed onward, seemingly in hopes of getting a rise out of Kaori. “By law, your actions make you guilty of treason and therefore deserving of death. However, the Duke here argues that your life should be spared. This cannot be accomplished without receiving something in return. Another head – or two – that can be placed upon the block in your stead. So, what do you say, Kaori? Do you value your own life enough to give me what I need?”
This was insulting. Did he truly think her so vacuous that she would fall for the same trick he already failed to succeed in before? He knows he is out of cards. Sulel had nothing left to bargain with other than her life and he knew that wasn’t going to be enough. He was desperate. Hopeful that he might be wrong. Instead, it brought her pleasure to see him this way. Faltering. Knocked from his proverbial high-horse. Disgusted by the mere sight of him, she tilted her head back slightly, letting a ball of saliva shoot from her mouth into Sulel’s face. It seemed a sufficient response to let him know exactly what she thought of him.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 57
