by Candy Crum
"As a clothier, I made things for the very poor all the way to up to the throne. I never allowed my association with you and the princesses to make me feel entitled or better than anyone else. I was what I was, and that was that. As such, I had travelers, farmers, wanderers, and everyone in between come across my stand. I heard stories."
"What kind of stories?" the queen asked. "About the portals?"
He nodded. "Yes. People flocked to see it. It was a long tear through our world, and they said it looked like it was bleeding with how red it was. Who wouldn't be curious?" He waited for a moment, but Asim said nothing, so he continued. "I too grew curious, and I went to see it for myself. When I tell you that was the most horrifying thing I've ever seen, trust me that it's an understatement. Seeing something like that…it changes you."
"Changes you how? It makes you turn your back on a long-time friend? On the crown? The people?" Asim demanded, her voice growing louder with every question.
"No, Your Highness. It terrified me. I became far more afraid of what might come through that thing than of any man, and two days later, something the size of a horse came through and ripped a large group of people apart. When I heard that, my fear grew. I had this inescapable terror that something bad was going to happen.
"There were some who said they believed it was a hell portal. The old religions have been lost and forgotten by most, but those who still believed thought it was the gates of hell opening to release the apocalypse on us. Others…" He paused.
Her eyes narrowed. "Others what? What do the others believe?"
Nafari took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. She could hear a quiver in it and knew he was afraid.
"The attacks after that were random and came slowly at first. A couple weeks between them, give or take. It seemed the smaller beasts that came through were scouts, checking out the area to report back to the larger ones. When they came through, they hit one village, then another, and another. Within a month, they had cleared out a five-mile radius."
"That doesn't answer the question, Nafari," she said, impatience leaking into her voice.
He nodded. "I know. I'm getting there."
"Good. Perhaps you should hurry because I know these stories, too. It's why I'm working my ass off to protect the city—the same city you and your new friends seem hell-bent on sacking. So please, continue. Quickly."
He swallowed hard and nodded. "As you know, it's not like anyone could get close enough to the monsters to study them. The only thing anyone had to go on was behavior. What they'd learned was that large groups were a magnet for them. People were convinced of that, and even the most intelligent of us who have studied animals believed it. To me, that was proof enough.
"I packed my things and got the hell out of Jadid. If they were attracted to larger groups of people, I didn't want to be anywhere near here. It seemed everyone would be safer if they split up. As I traveled, trying to find a little place to carve out for myself where I could continue my business, I met people who had done the same. That's how I met Zuri."
"Zuri. That’s the man we've heard so much about?" Asim asked.
Nafari nodded. "If you've heard about him, I assume so. Charismatic? Persuasive?"
She nodded. "He is the one, yes. No one we’ve spoken to is afraid of him. Those who would speak said good things, but some have had bad feelings about him, regardless of how nice he seemed."
Nafari nodded again, placing his hands flat on the table and staring at them for a moment before continuing.
"There’s a good reason for that. He’s an excellent actor. A manipulator. He’ll say, do, or act any way he must to achieve his goal. To twist people into doing what he wants. When I first met him, he came off as very driven. He seemed stubborn, but not in a bad way. He had a goal in mind—safety and security for the country, or so he’d have anyone believe—so I didn’t question it. Not at first.
“I've met some of your soldiers and personal Queen's Guard, and they give off that same energy. I was used to it, so I overlooked it. He said he believed, much as I and many others did, that smaller groups equaled a better chance of survival. They also believed the portals weren't from hell."
"Then where did they think they came from?" Shai asked before Asim could.
"They think the Matriarch and Patriarch are behind this," Nafari stated flatly. Asim could see the disbelief in his expression. He found it to be just as ridiculous as she did.
"They think…the Queen is behind all this?"
Nafari nodded. "Yes. They think she’s been watching the world from the stars and is angry at what she sees. They think she's opened portals to another world to send those demons in to start the apocalypse."
Asim's eyes widened. "The apocalypse? Started by Bethany Anne? Are they insane?"
She thought for a moment, remembering back to when the man she'd fought called her a bitch. She'd told him she'd like to say, “That's Queen Bitch to you,” but she didn't want to do the Great Queen a disservice. He'd told her Bethany Anne was the one responsible for all this.
"Now that I think about it, I recall your friend saying something about that. So, this Zuri fellow believes the Bitch and the Bastard have become fed up with the world, so they've begun the apocalypse? That they opened a portal to send wicked hellbeasts in to destroy us all for our wicked ways? He thinks all of that, yet his oh-so-wise decision to combat this is to lie, cheat, and steal his way to safety? Because that’s going to redeem mankind?"
Nafari nodded. "They don't think of the Bitch as a goddess. They believe she existed, and they believe she was powerful, but they think she's just like anyone else who has too much power—corrupt and murderous."
Asim rolled her eyes. "Pot, kettle, I suppose. Hmm. I see. How interesting. Well, I don't give a damn if someone believes in her or doesn't or if they think she's a hero or destroyer of worlds. What they will do is leave innocent people alone."
"Sorry to butt in, but how did his crackpot theories shift into creating a whole fucking army to take down the crown?" Faraj snapped.
"I don’t know the full truth. I doubt anyone knows except those closest to him. When I met him, he was obsessed with creating an army to protect the south from the demons. Like those people you mentioned earlier, I had this strange gut feeling, but he seemed like a great man who was deeply concerned about the people. I had no reason to doubt him at the time.
“Zuri believed that living in as small of a group as possible was important, but that we should still have an army in case the worst happened. After all, we were outside the protection of the city walls, and the soldiers were gone for the time being. While we believed Jadid was doomed to get hit, we also knew the thick walls created an exceptionally good barrier. Anyone in the city stood a better chance than we did while out in the open.
"At first, I helped Zuri travel around to different farms, to small villages, and to lonely houses along the river to recruit men who would be willing to fight the monsters if they moved north. We grew the army to several hundred in just two weeks, and we had a plan in place in case the demons came too close. It allowed everyone to stay separated until the time came, then soldiers would gather while word spread of the danger.
“Every location had messengers designated to ride as fast as possible to the next to get help. It wasn't perfect, but it was there. Last night, though…" He stopped, his brows furrowing as he shook his head. "That was something else. That was the first time I'd heard that story."
"You expect me to believe he changed from noble protector to traitor overnight?" Asim asked.
Nafari shook his head. "It wasn't overnight. Like I said, I had no reason to doubt him in the beginning. Over time, I overheard a random loud statement from one of those he trusted most, or I saw the anger in his eyes, or I saw him speak to someone and noticed tell-tale signs of him trying to control himself, something an honest man doesn’t need to do in casual conversation.
“The man, the illusion, dissipated when I saw how hard he had to work to k
eep himself from boiling over. Those he spoke to seemed oblivious, but sitting back and watching, it was pretty obvious. I hated that I not noticed before. For the last week or two, he had seemed to be on edge, ready for a fight. I wasn't in on his private conversations, but I'd heard rumors he might want to take the city. I just didn't believe it until last night."
"Why didn't he go with you? Did he know we would be there?" Shai asked.
He turned his head enough to the left so he could look at Shai. "As far as I know, no. He sent us because he had planning to do. Well, that’s what he said anyway. If I’m honest, I think it was because he was losing control and knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his true nature from coming out. He wanted to achieve his goals, and it was obvious he wanted to skip the pleasantries and the façade and just threaten people into joining him. It would have been easier, especially with his numbers, but it wouldn’t have created loyalty. He needed that."
Shai nodded. “Yeah. And if word spread that he’d threatened them into joining him, those he’d convinced he was a good man with a noble cause would have been lost. They’d have turned on him. Not to mention, if a war with the city did break out, any who’d been threatened into joining him would have no reason to stick around. They would turn tail and join us.”
“Sounds like even though he was losing control, he still had common sense,” Asim said. “His choice to send the other man, who was less invested and therefore more likely to keep his cool, was wise.”
Nafari turned back to face the queen. "I'm so sorry. I had a bad feeling, but I didn't realize the plan had come to that. There were so many secret meetings and whispers. He has a core group he keeps close, and I suspect it’s because those men are just like him. The rest of us are pawns, and no one has realized it. That was why I surrendered. I didn't want to fight, especially when I realized it was the royal guard we were up against. I knew it was wrong, but part of me worried at least some of the men I was with were as unaware as I was."
"Judging by how dedicated they are to your man Zuri, I'd have to say that's a big fucking no," Faraj said. He sighed. “Or I suppose you could be right. It’s unsurprising a charismatic man could take control of a large number of people by using their fears against them while offering a friendly smile and the promise of hope.”
Nafari faced Faraj. "I didn't see anyone else in the cells. Was there a man with light brown skin and green eyes? He had braids he kept tied up high, and the hair on the sides and back of his head was shaved off."
"No," Faraj. "He wasn't among the living. He was one of the bodies we buried east of the farm."
Nafari's eyes widened. "Oh, no."
"What?" Asim asked roughly.
"That was Zuri's only son. He was everything to him. Whatever plans he had against you before—" Nafari shook his head, obvious concern showing in his sad eyes, "I worry that was only the beginning. If he finds out the royal guard killed his son, he will stop at nothing to come for the city."
Asim sighed, knowing this was only the beginning. Things were about to get much worse. She stood and stared down at the table. "My daughters can't get back here soon enough. Let's hope the rumors about the people from the magical Valley are true." She locked eyes with Nafari. "Thank you for your honesty. I have to think about this, so for now, you're going back to your cell."
"For now?" Faraj asked. "Forgive me, my Queen, but what does that mean?"
"I need to think. That's what it means." Her voice had a tone that strongly suggested the conversation was over. Faraj took the hint and nodded, allowing her to pass without further questions.
Chapter Thirteen
Zuri sat outside by a large fire he'd started with his physical magic. His men kept their distance, but he could hear them whispering. He only allowed those closest to him to surround him at night or if he was in a bad mood. If he needed to speak to anyone or make plans in a hurry, he didn’t want outsiders around. The image he’d created was everything, and he wouldn’t risk that for any reason. Especially now.
His eyes, still coal-black, stared with utter hatred into the flames.
Initially, he hadn’t worried when his crew hadn't returned. He'd told his son to go, and his son knew better than anyone what he wanted to achieve. He understood what Zuri wanted to achieve. He trusted his son implicitly to carry out his orders, and he hadn’t expected anything bad to happen.
It was nearly four the following afternoon when he became worried. Zuri hurried to gather a search party and headed toward the farm he'd ordered them to visit.
When they’d arrived earlier that evening, they found only a farmer and his wife and their thirteen-year-old daughter. Rage fueled him, but he forced himself to remain as calm as possible. He wanted answers. Either his son was off doing who knew what or something bad had happened. One way or another, Zuri would figure it out.
The farmer had been kind at first, but it didn't take long for him to start squirming as the questions became more detailed. It was obvious he knew more than he was letting on, and nothing pissed Zuri off more than being lied to or stolen from.
"Zuri," one of his men said, daring to speak his name.
The feared leader slowly turned his head, his eyes focusing on the man who’d torn him from his thoughts. "What?" he ground out.
"I-I'm sorry, boss. It's just, we'd like to do something to help. Anything."
Zuri stared at him for several moments before glancing at the ground to his right, where his murdered son's corpse lay, wrapped and ready for a proper burial.
His throat tightened as tears stung his eyes. He cleared his throat and sniffed once before putting on his stony expression again. "The brat. Tell Asher to bring her."
The men scurried off to do as he'd asked without hesitation.
"Please! We didn't do anything wrong," the farmer had said, pleading on his knees for Zuri not to end them, but it was too late.
He'd sent three of his men off to look around after he saw blood spatter and other signs of a struggle around the farmhouse. Within thirty or so minutes, one of his men returned with the news they'd found several shallow graves, and his son was among them.
"Didn't do anything wrong?" he'd asked the farmer. "You killed my son! You took him from me!"
The man had continued to plead for his family, but it would do him no good. A young teenage girl fought past her mother to run out the door to help her father just then.
"Leave him alone!" she'd shouted at him. So strong. So fearless.
Movement out of the corner of his eye pulled him back to the present again when Asher returned with the girl. Her wrists were tied, and he gave her a light shove every few feet, but she remained quiet. That face, though… Zuri smiled. The rage on her face hadn't left since he'd killed her parents and taken her with his group.
"Well, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you didn’t much care for me," Zuri said.
"No shit," she said and spat on the ground at his feet.
"A little young to use that language, aren't you? Oh, wait, there's no one to get after you for it now, is there?" He laughed as she growled.
"I don't know how yet, but I'm going to kill you for what you did."
Zuri shrugged and sat back in his chair. "Even if it was just you and me, kid, you wouldn't stand a chance. Good fucking luck with all of us. You're just going to have to bide your time until I figure out what to do with you."
"Why did you take me?" she asked.
His eyes narrowed, and he stood. "You're too young to understand, but you're gonna learn today."
He roughly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward him as he walked over to his son's body.
"Your father did this. This is my son. He's dead because of what your spineless father did. Because of his weakness, his stupidity, my son is dead. Your father took my son, so I took his daughter. We're even."
She turned, rage in her teary eyes. "Then kill me! This isn't even! You killed them and left me alive! This isn’t even close."
He took a step fo
rward, lowering his face to hers. "Be careful what you wish for. If I kill you now, how will you get your revenge later?"
The girl's eyes narrowed as a dark smile crossed her lips. "You're absolutely right. Thanks for reminding me."
"Good girl," he said as he straightened and patted her on the head. "Now, unless you want to know how it feels to be thrown into a fire, I suggest you talk. Who killed my son? It sure as shit wasn't your cowardly father."
Her nostrils flared when he mentioned her father, but she managed to keep calm. "I didn't know them. Royal, that's all I know. I've never been to Jadid, but I know the uniform."
Zuri stopped and thought for a moment about the scene. There had been a large crack in the ground in front of the house, nearly twenty feet in length. The ground had been broken apart and resealed, and there was a filled-in hole. It was flush with the rest of the ground, but it was obvious it had been recently disturbed.
He sighed. "Of course. City magic users."
"Am I free to go back to bed?" she asked sternly.
"What's your name, girl?" Zuri asked.
She hesitated for several moments. "Amara."
"Good to know. You can go. Just remember, you're still here because I don't know what to do with you yet. Death isn't off the table, especially if you piss me off or annoy me. Got it?"
"Yup. Got it."
He smiled and shook his head at the level of disdain in her voice. He had to give it to her, though, she’d managed to control her temper quite well. She was a lot better at it than he was.
With a wave, Asher handed the girl off to someone who would take her back to her sleeping quarters. He'd threatened the lives of everyone there not to lay a hand on her, so he was fairly certain no one would.
"What are you going to do?" Asher asked. "We can't let this stand. Those were soldiers, maybe even the queen's personal guard. If they've found out about us…"
Zuri nodded. "We risk word spreading. I know. Trust me, I'm not going to let that bitch get the upper hand." He sighed heavily before looking at Asher. "I think we need to kick this up a notch. Those otherworld demons from the bitch queen attacked again. They're coming farther north, and we can't risk it. We're two or more days' ride away, but I still don't trust it. We need more people."
