Ties of Magic (Curse of the Crown Book 2)

by Caitlin Taylor

  Akoni turned to him. "Soon, but not yet."

  Jeffrey nodded, a strained look on his face. He wanted to join the fray, to be beside the men. Akoni empathised, but they needed to wait a little longer.

  Akoni scanned the horizon. There were no other troops in sight. It was only this one scant force. It didn't seem to be as many as had been reported. Something seemed fishy, but he couldn't work it out. He waited just long enough, then a glance at Paul, and he nodded. It was time.

  Akoni gave a new sign, and the cavalry unit on the far side of the battlefield moved. His own guard did, too. Together both units cantered towards the fighting men, veered off, and flanked them but kept riding. They came up behind the main body of the rebels and rode towards them.

  The men's attention split between forces. Those in the rear turned around at the thunder of the hooves, bracing themselves. The wind whipped Akoni, his blood rushing in his ears. He drew his sword, the echo of his men following suit. Screaming, they rode. The rebels didn't have spears which may have proven more challenging.

  His horse tore down several men, and Akoni slashed and pierced anyone he could reach. They swerved, and he found more men to cut down. He'd trained for fighting from horseback but hadn't done it often enough. He needed to be on the ground and so he jumped off, stabbing a rebel. Another man came at him, swinging a heavy mace. He was no soldier, a farmer maybe, or smith.

  Akoni grabbed the shield from his back and changed the grip on his sword. The man swung his mace, and Akoni ducked. The weapon bounced off his shield harmlessly. Staying out of reach, Akoni circled the larger man, watching and assessing. Another strike that Akoni evaded, then another. A picture formed. His opponent was strong but slow. Akoni parried another strike and stabbed his sword forward, tearing the other man's leather jerkin. The man shoved Akoni's sword away with the back of his arm, leaving a trail of blood.

  The rebel's new injuries were enough to get him angry, and with a scream of rage he rushed forward, his height and bulk formidable. But Akoni was faster. He danced around the other man, stabbing and slashing, avoiding the mace, striking again. He struck a leg; the man stumbled and fell. Cautiously, Akoni approached and stuck his sword into the back of the man's neck. He twitched and went still.

  Breathing hard, Akoni surveyed his surroundings. A circle had formed around him, his guards and Paul fighting in his periphery, keeping others away. Jeffrey, nowhere to be found. Akoni stepped closer to Paul, helping to dispatch another rebel.

  "I've lost sight of Jeffrey," he said.

  Paul stared for a moment, then turned to regard the battlefield. He motioned with his head, and they moved, Paul staying on Akoni's left. Always protecting. They wound their way between fighting soldiers, cutting down rebels and aiding their own men as best they could. Akoni and Jeffrey had both dressed in the crownsguards uniform, a blue tunic, metal cuirass, greaves, and bracers, all glinting silver. Jeffrey's helmet had a crest of short horsehair dyed green.

  While there were plenty of crownsguards in similar armour, the silver was reserved for Akoni's guards, the others wearing bronze or leather. And only Akoni, Paul, and Jeffrey had crests on their helmets. It made Jeffrey easier to spot in the chaos, his white crest weaving in and out of sight between the heaving mass of bodies.

  They neared just as Jeffrey executed a ferocious blow that sheared off a man's head. But he was fighting another man, too. Most of the rebels had basic armour, maybe a breastplate, never a full set. This one did, and a blood-red crest trailed his helmet. The rebel commander. Akoni and Paul tried to get closer but were hindered by other rebels in their way. They fought, blocking, parrying and countering. Most of the rebels fought like it was their first time. They were neither experienced nor even fully trained. Still, there were enough of them that it took time to get through to Jeffrey.

  As soon as he did, Akoni positioned himself on Jeffrey's right. The blond didn't acknowledge him, his full attention on the rebel commander, who seemed to notice Akoni well enough, shifting his stance to make it easier to defend against a second opponent.

  Akoni studied their exchanges. While Jeffrey continued to attack and draw the commander's counters, Akoni found an opportunity to strike the commander during a moment when his defences were focused on Jeffrey. He swung and sliced the man's arm, deep enough to break his attack. Jeffrey pushed forward, hammering the man with blow after blow, while Akoni struck again and shoved the point of his sword into the commander's unprotected side.

  The man stilled, shield and sword dropping, and Akoni pushed harder, sliding his sword deeper still. Then Jeffrey's sword rammed into the man's throat. With a kick against the chest, Jeffrey freed his blade again and turned to the nearest rebel, continuing to fight without ever acknowledging Akoni.

  Mouth hanging open, Akoni watched Jeffrey slice two more rebels apart in quick succession. "Jeffrey," he shouted over the din of battle.

  Jeffrey wheeled around at the sound, his armour covered in as much blood as his sword. Akoni's gaze found Jeffrey's, and he froze. Jeffrey's eyes showed his bloodlust, reigned with it even.

  Jeffrey's sword lowered. He swayed and jerked his head. Stepping closer, Akoni found at least some of the blood was Jeffrey's. A cut on his arm was bleeding profusely, his thigh also smeared red, possibly his own.

  In a voice faint among the chaos around them, Jeffrey said, "We're not done, it's too early...you shouldn't have stopped me."

  "Jeffrey, what are you saying?"

  Instead of a reply, Jeffrey groaned and reached for his side, an awkward action with a sword in his hand.

  "You're injured, I need--"

  "No," Jeffrey said. "We need to finish this." He tried to take a step and stumbled, falling into Akoni's arms.

  Akoni caught him, cautious of his own sword still in his hand. He looked around. Paul was fighting a rebel. Some of his other guards had followed, forming a defensive line again. He cast his gaze farther out. They were almost done. Only a handful of rebels were still standing. It would only be a few more minutes.

  He turned back to Jeffrey. "We're done, Jeffrey, we've won."

  "Oh good, then I can..." Jeffrey sank to his knees, hands flat against the blood-soaked ground, his sword discarded. He breathed hard, his eyes closed.

  Akoni sank down beside him, casting his gaze about to make sure they wouldn't get any surprises. "What's happening, Jeffrey?"

  "I'll be fine...just, need a minute."

  Akoni checked Jeffrey over as best he could, trying to find any injuries in need of tending. His arm and thigh definitely required attention, but there was a far more worrying dent in the front of Jeffrey's cuirass, above his right hip. Because of the amount of blood, Akoni couldn't see enough to tell how bad it was. They'd need a physician to take a look at it soon.

  As the fighting died down and quiet surrounded them, a strange sensation overcame Akoni. There was an echo of the fighting, but it was faint and far away. He got to his feet and lifted his gaze towards the city. There was no sign of movement, but wafts of smoke drifted above the rooftops. It could be mistaken for smoking chimneys, but the weather was too mild for that, the smoke too dark, the atmosphere too sinister. Akoni's chest constricted.

  "Paul, the city!" Akoni shouted.

  The marshal turned to look. It was only a moment that Paul stood staring, then he jumped into action to gather the men into formation. Maybe the fighting wasn't over after all.

  "Akoni, you can't go back." Jeffrey had also risen to his feet, holding his injured side. "If they took the palace, it's a death trap," he wheezed.

  "What else am I supposed to do? Hide? Run? I can't abandon my people!"

  "You need to live most of all. If you're dead, you're no use to your people. I've sworn to protect you but as I am now, I cannot." Jeffrey gestured at himself, drenched in blood, too much of it his own.

  "I can't leave," Akoni whispered, torn. Jeffrey was right, but how could he sacrifice the city and its people?

  "The force we engaged was too sma
ll based on the reports we got," Jeffrey argued. "The remainder would have gone to the city. How they passed us and the scouts, who knows? But they would have likely found supporters. There'll be more people than we can deal with. We may have won here but we're not fresh now. We can't win if we go back. You know this, Akoni."

  "So what should I do?"

  "Where else can you go? Can we meet the reinforcements and come back with them?"

  Akoni stood in indecision, his thoughts scrambled as he went through his options. A shout from Paul brought him back to the present. People were leaving the city and heading straight for them. The sun reflected off the weapons they held in their hands.

  "Looks like they won't let us leave so easily."

  Paul rushed over to them. "Your Majesty, you must leave. There are too many, we can't beat them, only buy you time."

  "I'm not--"

  "Yes, you are, Akoni," Paul said with determination. "You must stay alive at all costs. The men have sworn oaths to protect you with their lives if need be. We'll buy you as much time as we can before surrendering. Don't tell me where you're going, just go and come back with enough men to take the city back. I've not spent years training you for you to die here like this, overrun by dissident city folk. I believe in you. Be the king I know you can be. Your Majesty." He saluted, bowing his head deep.

  "Oh, Paul."

  A soldier came over leading two horses. Paul motioned for Jeffrey to take the reins and then dismissed the man.

  "I wish we'd had the foresight to bring at least one car out here. Travelling on horseback isn't going to be easy now, but you must go." Paul gave Jeffrey a look. There'd be no time to tend his injuries, not yet. "They won't follow two sole riders, not right away. By the time they realise it's you, it'll be too late. Go and live, Akoni."

  Akoni embraced the man who had done so much for him. "Thank you, Paul, for everything."

  "You must go, Your Majesty."

  "Gaia be with you."

  "And you. Be safe."

  Jeffrey already sat on his horse, his helmet discarded. Akoni took his off, too, leaving them less recognisable from a distance, and mounted.

  "Keep him safe, Jeffrey, and look after him," Paul said, nodding at Jeffrey.

  "You know I will."

  They rode away, driving the horses to go as fast as they could. Akoni kept glancing over his shoulder, praying the men would survive. It was difficult to see more than two masses of people joining, becoming one heaving mess. The farther away they got, the less he could identify individuals. In the end, the city itself became a tiny dot on the horizon, dwarfed by the smoke cloud above it. When they were out of sight of the city, they slowed the horses. There was some way to go yet.

  "Where are we going?" Jeffrey asked after what felt like an endless silence.

  "The only nearby place where I know you'll get the care you need."

  "Me? I'm fine." Jeffrey waved a hand dismissively, hiding a wince.

  "You're bleeding from multiple cuts. You can hardly stay upright in your saddle. Don't think I can't see it."

  "We need to get help for the others, not me."

  "There's no help for them now," Akoni said quietly. They had sacrificed themselves for him, a king who planned to abandon them. "You saw the amount of men coming out of the city. They may have been peasants, but numbers can overwhelm. Paul will do his best, but it won't be enough. Tempesta willing, they'll be taken captive rather than killed."

  "So that's it? Just like that?"

  "There's nothing else I can do, Jeffrey. You both told me I had to leave. Don't tell me different now."

  Jeffrey remained silent, allowing Akoni to get lost in his thoughts. Had he done the wrong thing by leaving the palace? At least almost everyone else had also left. Many more lives could have been lost. Eight hundred years the palace had been the centre of the realm, the place from where the kings ruled. Now there was no king on the throne. Or would the rebels crown their own ruler?

  "We should have brought cars. Let's remember in future, yeah?"

  "I'm sorry, Jeffrey. Will you be all right?"

  "I'll live." He shrugged.

  Akoni prayed he would. At the next stream, they'd have to stop, and he'd wash Jeffrey's wounds and see about at least bandaging him up some, not that he had any idea of treating an injury. "Cars are useless in a fight. They aren't nearly mobile enough and off the roads they are worse. We don't have many either, even at the palace. Most were used to evacuate people. But we should have brought some for emergencies--like this." If there'd be a next time, Akoni vowed to not make the same mistakes. Never again would he underestimate the rebels.

  "Think it'd be a good time to have that conversation now? The one about us?"

  "Now?" Akoni laughed, though it sounded forced and painful, even to his own ears.

  "I'm guessing there's hours of riding ahead of us. I could do with a distraction."

  "How can we work out what we are, when I don't even know what tomorrow holds? I'm a king without a throne, without an army or support."

  "Hardly true. The lords loyal to you won't change allegiance because you're not in Corunia anymore."

  "But how do I communicate with them when..." So much lost in the space of a few hours.

  "Find a new place to rule from. Do you have any other holdings? Other than Extraneo?"

  Akoni shook his head in reply.

  "Hmm, I'd offer my home, but you'll need Kendra's permission more so than mine. Anyway, back to us. What am I now? I'm not your guard exactly, I'm not a council member, yet I guard you and attend council sessions."

  "How about being my partner?" Akoni asked, fixing his gaze on Jeffrey.

  "Like...your...possible future husband?"

  Akoni smiled. "And why not?"

  "I can't exactly give you heirs," Jeffrey pointed out.

  "I don't want any."

  "What? But you're the king, you need an heir."

  "Says who? It's been hereditary, of course, but we saw where that led. I will not make a child suffer through what I had to endure. I'd rather my bloodline goes extinct than make another suffer my fate."

  "But then what happens to the empire?"

  "I was planning on reinstating the kind of democratic council of old, where decisions are reached by a majority vote. Adriano presided over such a council and ruled successfully this way for many decades."

  "Storming seas! How is that supposed to work? Considering your current council is utterly inept, corrupt, and at least half the reason we're in this mess."

  "New council members. Coaching them to their new roles over time. I had ideas. Now...well, I'll need a new plan, I guess." Akoni shrugged, feeling less than confident in himself.

  "Tempesta save us," Jeffrey muttered. "I like the idea, but by the storms, it's not going to be easy to make that work."

  "It'll be easier if you stay by my side."

  "As your...partner."

  Akoni nodded.

  Jeffrey scrunched his face. "I don't know that I like the idea."

  "You used to tell me you wouldn't be my secret lover, only relevant when I called you. You wanted to be more than that. Well, here I am offering. And you still don't want it. Explain that to me."

  "I didn't want to be your secret but I never said I wanted to be your partner. I was thinking along the lines of temporary dalliance."

  "I'm thinking you're saying whatever you think will push me away more. But I told you, you're not getting away from me again."

  "What does it mean? Being your partner."

  "I think you know what it means. You'd be my consort."

  "But...there's never been a king without a queen."

  Akoni waggled an eyebrow. "You could be my queen."

  "Sacred earth, never say that again!" Jeffrey snarled.

  "There's never been a king who didn't want the throne, who worked to instate a change in governance. There's a first for everything. Why not have more than one at the same time?"

  "You really don't wan
t it?"

  Akoni shook his head. "Not with the conditions attached to it."

  "The magic, you mean."

  "The cursed magic, yes."

  They rode in silence for a time, both lost in thought.

  "Tell me what happened between you and your father before you left."

  "What?" Jeffrey asked, startled.

  "I want to better understand what happened. Tell me about it."

  "I'd rather not."

  "I thought you wanted distraction. There's hours to go yet, and I still don't know much about you."

  "It really wasn't pleasant, so I prefer not to remember."

  "Please?"

  Jeffrey sighed, hanging his head as though it weighed too heavy. "I told you he held me responsible. He made life unbearable for me. If I sat at the dinner table, he'd ignore me, interrupt conversations I was trying to have with the others. He'd take food out of my hands and put it out of reach. I stopped going. Anytime he saw me, he called me a great many names. Said I was a disappointment, that I'd ruined the family, that I was responsible for what happened. It goes on."

  "Jeffrey..."

  "He whipped me. My first set of scars," Jeffrey sneered.

  "But it was an accident. Even grieving, he must have known that."

  Jeffrey continued as though Akoni hadn't spoken. "Mother invoked the goddess to get him to stop. He'd have killed me if she didn't. She cared for me while I recovered; he didn't even come to check on me. There was no apology, nothing. He acted as though I didn't exist or made my life a misery in a dozen ways. I could not stay there."

  "I'm sorry," Akoni said quietly, almost wishing he hadn't asked, yet glad to know, gaining a sense of understanding.

  Jeffrey shrugged. "Don't be."

  Akoni rode closer and reached for Jeffrey's hand. They were both still covered in blood and grime from the battle. Akoni ignored it and kissed the back of Jeffrey's hand before entwining their fingers.

  "I care, Jeffrey. I'm here for you."

  Jeffrey glared and tried to pull his hand away but couldn't. "I don't need your pity."

  "What's the last time you allowed someone else in?"