Aurora leaned forward. “Murder is a serious offense, Linette. It demands the noose. Confess your guilt before us now and we’ll lessen your punishment.”
Linette hesitated. She defended herself. She knew that, but what proof did she have? The only witness sought revenge for her killing her father. Linette unbuttoned the back of her dress and showed her back to the Council, revealing the bruise her father gave her when he attacked her a week ago.
“My father abused me regularly for years. He attacked me and I killed him in self-defense. It was his life or mine. I learned yesterday that he also killed my mother. I previously believed she had run away.” Tears flooded down her cheeks. She dared them to prove her otherwise. Her hands glowed with white light, expanding until sphere’s formed. She meant them no harm--the spheres formed involuntarily. Her body tingled and she began to float off the ground. She hovered only a couple of feet off the balcony. The white light flashed brighter, forcing her eyes shut, but her eyelids might as well be windows for all they helped.
Aurora and King Luther conferred in a whisper. Linette didn’t care much for Aurora, but she looked to be sweating profusely. The King then stood, “Linette of the Order of the Eagle, the Council of the Light hereby clears you of any wrong-doing. You are free to go. Mrack Siviln, you are under arrest for murder. Guards, take him away.”
Linette released her magic. She wiped the wetness from her cheeks. The King stood up again. “Linette, in the absence of Master Knilin or Dulius, I declare that you’ve reached the next level in your training. Congratulations.”
Linette nodded in appreciation and in confusion. “I don’t understand. What just happened?”
“You exhibited a unique attribute that only those from your order can manage. The strength of your confidence in yourself provided no choice but to release itself through magic. Your order has proved that one cannot lie when this happens.”
Linette simply nodded and sat down on one of the audience chairs. She felt too weak to walk back to her order now and needed to process this information. She saw Aurora whisper something to the King and she beckoned one of the Eagle wielders to lower her. She descended down below the balcony where Linette sat on and disappeared.
Thomas stood up, holding a scroll in his hands, “Blacksmith Moran to present a sword commemorating the tenth anniversary of King Luther’s reign.”
The Blacksmith, dressed in black leather, entered with a sheathed sword. The pommel bore intricate designs and it included a glass orb at the bottom. A small side door Linette never noticed before opened to reveal King Luther, now standing on the same platform as she did.
She heard a commotion outside and the large wooden door opened, letting Winthrop squeeze through.
Day 5 - Morning
Winthrop entered the castle and sought the head guardsman. As he entered the Bailey, he saw the sword banner hanging above the portcullis. The last sheet signifying the remaining days left was gone. He almost walked passed the banner without another thought, but he considered the spherical part at the bottom of the handle. The sketch didn’t help much, but it reminded him of Markus’s shackles and Aurora’s earrings. Winthrop thought of Belinda the White and Aurora. Her earrings seemed black the first time he saw her. He assumed they were such a dark blue they looked black. When she disposed of his enclosure in the hallway they were blue, but shortly after Markus saw them clear. After she came back from visiting Markus, Winthrop saw them dark again. Winthrop connected that she filled them with Decayed magic when she visited Death. The sword presentation was today. The assassin planned to kill the king with the sword, using Decayed magic.
He found the offices of the head guardsman behind the barracks, giving him privacy from the rest of the troops. Once inside, he found a clerk--the first line of defense.
“Hello, I’m looking for Chief Sewall.”
“He’s in the infirmary. Food poisoning. Can I help you with something?” This clerk seemed to want to help, unlike the King’s clerk.
“Who is presenting the sword today? I believe whoever it is intends to kill the king with it.”
A guard in blue robes ran inside the offices. “Alert Chief Sewall. Moran is formerly a Decayed.”
“He’s presenting the sword any minute now. Where’s your partner?” the clerk asked as the second guard reached them.
“Grab any men you can find on the way. Follow me.”
The four of them ran to the courtyard and then to where the Council of Light met. The number of guards on duty seemed lighter than normal.
“Where are all the guards?” Winthrop asked.
“Several of them are in the infirmary. Some odd illness,” the clerk explained.
“Open those doors!” Winthrop yelled. Two guards blocked it instead. Winthrop’s resolve to save the King and the Kingdom had never been stronger. He trapped both of them in bubbles, leaving them stuck where they stood. Winthrop opened the door, struggling to squeeze through with the guard’s bubbles blocking the path.
He made it in, and the clerk followed along with a contingent of guards they gathered on the way. The King, Moran, and the King’s clerk stood together on the Balcony. A group of guards stood off to one side. Winthrop noticed the two members of the Order of the Ox behind the King, providing protection to him.
“Flank the blacksmith,” Winthrop whispered.
“What’s the meaning of this Winthrop?” King Luther asked.
“The blacksmith is the assassin I warned you about.”
The King’s eyebrows furrowed and the blacksmith placed the sheathed sword on the ground.
“He’s lying, your majesty. I’d never harm you. I labored day and night making this sword for you. At my own cost.”
“Winthrop, do you have any proof?”
The guards who came with Winthrop flanked the blacksmith while the others surrounded Winthrop, not taking any chances.
Winthrop took another look at the room. Everyone stood on the large balcony, except a few members of the Order of the Eagle floated above the crowd. It had dozens of guards, a mix of those from every Order and those with swords instead. How might he harm the King? Was he wrong? He saw that King Luther remained armored by two members of the Order of the Ox. He noticed Eagle members floating thirty paces above the King and three Lion members with spheres ready to strike an assassin with lightning or fire. Plus, a dozen guards now stood within five paces of Luther.
“Speak, Winthrop.”
Was he wrong? Did he just make a fool of himself? He knew Moran’s secret. He needed to at least warn the King.
“He’s a former Decayed. Look at his hands.”
“Your Highness. I am a former Decayed. I have never denied it. Yet, without my middle fingers, I have no power. I couldn’t use magic if I wanted to.” He pulled off his gloves and showed his missing fingers.
“Moran, we will speak about this later. But, he’s right, Winthrop. Do you have any other proof?”
“Half of the Ox guard lies in the infirmary from some kind of poisoning. I believe that they somehow have been poisoned by Decayed magic. I think Aurora collected it from Death and used it to poison your guards and fill the orb on your sword. I thought Moran might somehow be able to use magic even though he lacks his middle fingers.”
“That’s not possible Winthrop. Once the middle fingers are removed, magic isn’t possible and I won’t hear another accusation against Aurora. Plus, the orb is empty.”
He glanced over and noticed Linette sitting against the wall. He missed her meeting before the Council. Her lack of chains led him to believe they cleared her of all charges. He had to admit that he might be wrong this time—that the blacksmith was innocent.
“My apologies, your Highness. I had a hunch and it seems I must be wrong.” He went and sat down next to Linette.
“Be more careful next time, Winthrop. Yet, I can’t begrudge your desire to keep me safe. Now, let’s see that sword.”
The blacksmith picked up the sword and pulled it from its she
ath with caution. He handed it to Thomas. Tensions in the room began to melt away and everyone continued their celebrations.
Servants floated through the room, providing sparkling wine to everyone in preparation for a toast. Once everyone had a glass, the King began his speech.
“Ten years ago…”
Winthrop noticed the glass orb in the pommel. It reminded him of a magical sphere, yet clear instead of a color. He noticed the clerk wore a loose fitting jacket. It gave him a more formal look, but the sizing was wrong. He observed him display the sword in a few different angles, showing off the impressive work of the blacksmith. With a grace Winthrop hadn’t expected, the clerk replaced the clear orb with a black one. The King chuckled at something a guard said, not aware of what the clerk had done.
“Wait!” Winthrop called. King Luther’s face turned bright red and his mouth clenched.
“Winthrop, sit down!”
“The sword, it’s full of dark magic!”
The magical armor protecting the King vanished, leaving him exposed. The clerk’s hands around the hilt flashed a glossy black that surrounded the blade and he thrust the sword toward the King, trying to stab him in the stomach. Luther jumped back and red spheres appeared in his palms. The sword nicked the king’s side as he shot lightning at the clerk, dropping him to the floor. Black smoke rose from his charred body. The other guards jolted into activity, trying to determine if anyone else planned to attack the King. The two members of the Order of the Ox covered themselves in protection and jumped off the balcony, fleeing for their lives. Two members of the Order of Eagle and five guards took off after them.
Winthrop kept an eye on the King’s surroundings and noticed several guards surrounding the King. Luther and his remaining protection detail dispatched each, leaving a pile of smoking bodies on the floor. They neutralized the threat, but Winthrop dug deep for his resolve and found it, surprised it worked. He protected Luther to keep him safe from further harm. He hadn’t noticed, and neither did anyone else, an archer standing on a higher balcony who shot at the King just as Winthrop’s protection took effect. The arrow bounced off the King who turned toward the assailant and burned him to a crisp in seconds. The remaining guard ushered the king through a side door. Winthrop saw him holding his side as he escaped.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Day 6 - Morning
“Knilin!” Markus jumped up from the ground, trying to draw closer to Knilin.
Knilin approached and reached his arm between the bars, grabbing Markus’s shoulder firmly.
“I’m awake. Thank you for saving me. Forgive me for leaving you three on your own. I thought I retained the strength to last longer. My encounter with Atwix aged my body more than I had realized.”
Markus noticed the toll those battles and the travalling had taken on Knilin. He retained his slender, yet tight frame, but he looked to have added ten years. “I’m glad you’re okay. Have you heard about Linette and Winthrop?”
“Yes, the news reached me when I awoke in the infirmary. I also heard about you.”
Markus saw the sadness in Knilin’s eyes, the pity.
“Spare me your pity, Knilin. I’m Decayed. It is what it is. I’ll deal with it like I do with everything. With—”
“With excellence.”
Markus stopped. He’d been about to say with arrogance. He turned away from Knilin, tears forming in his eyes.
“I’ve known you your whole life, Markus. I know your heart. If anyone is loyal to our Kingdom, it is you.”
“Not much good it does. I was meant to lead. I had plans, Knilin. Big dreams. I can help, but it’s not glamorous. Even if I am the best Decayed in the world, people will despise me for something I had no control over. I’m considering going back to Pinemere, to work with my father. It’ll shame him, but I know his love for me is stronger than his pride.”
Knilin clenched his teeth. “What if I had another option? One that allowed you to help save the Kingdom.”
Markus looked at him, wiped the building moisture from his eyes. “What?”
“The Council of Light and the headmasters don’t believe the Decayed rise again. I’ve seen it with my eyes. They gain numbers daily. King Luther was lucky to have Winthrop’s help. It’s only a matter of time before they strike again. It’s still not glamorous, but it’s dangerous--I’d like you to spy on them.”
Markus felt his head spin. Knilin would help him escape somehow and he’d have to find the Decayed and convince them of his loyalty. It meant hurting people, possibly killing innocent people to help the Kingdom destroy them from the inside. He wasn’t sure he could do that.
Knilin interrupted his thoughts, “It’ll be messy, risky. You’ll do unthinkable things, but it if saves millions of lives, then I think it’s worth it. Think about it, Markus. It’ll give you some freedom and allow you to serve the people you’ve professed loyalty to your whole life. In this battle against the Decayed, your place with the Decayed will give us an advantage over them.”
Markus had nothing to say. Knilin left without another word, leaving Markus with another option to consider. It weighed on him more than the other choices set before him.
Day 6 - Morning
Linette enjoyed her freedom. She’d never felt this light before. It was like she lost fifty pounds. Winthrop sat on the grass outside Claybury castle as she did cartwheels. He chuckled at her silliness, but she didn’t care. As she turned around to start another cartwheel, she saw Knilin approach. “Winthrop, Knilin’s awake.”
They both ran to him, hugging him. “Careful, I’m still weak.”
They backed away, watching him smile. Linette’s happiness grew, knowing that Knilin survived and she’d learn from him over the next several decades. With Winthrop leaving for the Order of the Ox, it’d be nice having another friend nearby. Markus might stay in the dungeons, giving her someone else to talk to. She’d know his choice tonight when they’d promise to discuss it with him.
“Thank you both for helping save King Luther. Without your help and Markus’s, we’d have suffered without him.”
“How is he? I saw the sword cut his side.”
“He’s weak, but those in the Order of the Lion can use the fire from their magic to help cleanse the wound. I don’t think it’ll ever fully heal, but it won’t stop him.”
“Do you know what happened to Aurora?” Winthrop asked.
Knilin sighed. “No, she is gone. We questioned Death and he confirmed his help in this plan. Of course, we take his word with caution, but I don’t think he has reason to lie about this. He knows his worth to the Kingdom.”
“What about Thomas?” Linette asked.
“After some digging into his past, we learned that he lost some of his fingers in an accident before his testing. This happened decades before the Order of Man fell into disrepute. With his accident, his family didn’t bother having him tested, so the records showed him as lacking any talent in wielding magic.” Now, I’ll need both of you to keep your eyes and ears open for any signs of the Decayed. If something seems out of place, inform me immediately.”
They both nodded.
A guard walked up to them, “Master Knilin, there has been an incident at the library.”
“Follow me,” Knilin said to Winthrop and Linette.
They ran back inside the castle and followed Knilin down the hallway that led to the library. A crowd of guards blocked the entrance, only allowing Knilin and them through. Inside, they found the head guardsman looking at the body of the librarian and two guards. They all laid on the ground, staring blankly at the ceiling. Their torsos had burst open. Knilin approached and knelt down. Linette moved closer, noticing a blue residue.
“They’ve been killed by Ox magic. Whoever did this filled their insides until they failed to contain it any longer,” Knilin said.
“A maid alerted me this morning that she saw Aurora leave the library. That’s what brought me here to investigate,” Chief Sewall said.
Knilin glanced at
him. “You’re sure of this?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Did anyone see which direction she went?” Knilin asked the general group.
“Our tower guards said she headed south,” a clerk called out.
Linette saw Winthrop’s face turn bright red.
“Finish up here, send me a full report after you’ve finished,” Knilin said.
“Linette, Winthrop, come with me.”
They made their way to Knilin’s office and sat down before him.
“As I said before, the Decayed are up to something. I’ll need your help to stop them.”
Get it now!
Secret knowledge discovered…
...by a traitor to the Kingdom.
Linette is tasked with uncovering it with no guarantee she can.
She’s all alone. Her friends aren’t there to help her.
One begins his magical training with his father’s murderous reputation hanging over him.
The other flees from the castle guard, doubtful the enemy he runs to will accept him as one of their own.
You’ll love this fantasy, because of the interwoven story lines.
Get it now.
Author's Note
Thank you for reading The King’s Defense. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please consider leaving me a review. For updates on the next book and free short stories, please sign up for my mailing list at shawnroberstsmith.com. I promise not to flood your inbox and I will never sell or give away your information. If you'd like to send me comments or have any questions, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at [email protected]
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