She was grinning. “I’m just trying to make you look fast.”
He slammed the door shut and snapped the padlock into place. “Come on.”
Brighten went forward, popping out on the other side of the wooden porch.
A man turned the corner of the house. “What are y’all doin’ back here?”
“What’s it to ya, mister?” Kris asked, stepping forward. “Last time I checked, Rendal runs this place, and from the looks of it, you ain’t him.”
“You had bags over your shoulders. Where are they?” the man asked, completely ignoring Kris’s challenge.
“Oh, those bags?” Kris grinned devilishly. “We left them at your mom’s. We were so tired when we left, we couldn’t carry them, if you know what I’m sayin’.”
The man’s eyes widened, and his face glowed red. “You two are coming with me.”
“Fat chance!” Kris shouted, and took off around the man.
She was far too quick for the stranger, and he turned around, his hand flailing to grab her but missing. Brighten wasn’t dumb. He knew why Kris had gone that way; to give him a chance to run in the opposite direction.
Brighten took off, his feet carrying him as fast as they possibly could, but not as fast as Kris’s carried her.
The world passed him in a blur—green and brown, people and horses. Brighten didn’t care. He simply didn’t want to be caught, and this was nothing new to him. He’d grown up running from people just like that man.
He didn’t know if the stranger was behind him or how close. He just knew to keep going.
He took a left, a right, and another left, winding through the kingdom as he made his way back to home base.
Finally, twenty minutes later, he fell into Mac’s Lodge.
Brighten leaned over, his hands on his knees, sucking in air. He looked up into the dark atmosphere of the lobby. “Kris? She make it back?”
He was so out of breath that he could barely speak.
“I been back a while.” Kris grinned from her chair across the lobby.
“You did good, kid,” Eisen said.
Erin walked over and handed him a glass of water. “Here, drink this. She told us you guys got chased but that you managed to leave the cargo?”
Brighten took the water but didn’t drink it yet. He didn’t want to throw it up.
“Hurry up,” Kris said. “Eisen says we’ve got more cargo to take.”
Her eyes were shining.
“I hate you all,” Brighten said, and vomited in front of his feet.
The room erupted in good-natured laughter.
Chapter Ten
The sun beat down oppressively.
Harold sat beneath it, his camel handling it much better than he.
He didn’t want to be out here, and he really didn’t want to be chasing this dumb bitch. Riley Trident was going to be the death of him, and yet Harold continued doing Rendal’s bidding. Looking for her, and trying to bring her to him.
“They’re beneath the ground,” Belarus said.
“Beneath?” Harold didn’t believe it, but what the hell was he going to do? Tell these mages they were wrong?
“That’s what they say, boss. A group of mages under the ground.”
“Bring me one of them. One of the ones saying it. I want to talk to him.”
“Aye, boss,” Belarus responded. He spurred his camel forward.
They’d been traveling for days without seeing much of anything. Harold hadn’t even spotted any tent cities yet, although he knew that was just a matter of time. An hour ago, the mages in front of him had sent word that they were sensing other magic users. They’d continued traveling, and now the fools were saying the people lived beneath the ground.
The force in front of Harold was large, spreading out across the sand. It took them an hour to make camp and an hour to pack it all up, which slowed them down. Yet, they were necessary—Harold knew that. If they came upon the bitch, Riley, she was going to give them a run for their money, even with this many people.
Minutes passed, and then Belarus returned with one of the mages.
Harold didn’t care about the man’s name.
“What’s this? You’re telling me people live beneath the ground?”
“Yes, sir. They use magic, and they’re using it against us right now.”
“Against us?” Harold asked.
“Psychic magic, trying to understand what we’re doing.”
Harold looked at the sand beneath his feet. “They’re right below me?”
“Below all of us, sir.”
“Are we using magic against them?”
“Not yet,” the mage answered. “Waiting on your orders.”
“Well, hell, go on and get started. I need to know what they know.”
“It may…it may cause a battle, sir,” the mage said. “They may come above ground and try to fend us off.”
“Let them come. I hope they do. Go on and get started,” Harold repeated.
The mage left, but Belarus stayed.
“What do ya want me to do, boss? If they come up, you think the soldiers should be prepared?”
“When the Father and Mother gave out brains,” Harold mused, “they decided to give you fewer than should even be legal. Someone should arrest them for how dumb you are. Yes, Belarus, go prepare the fucking soldiers.”
Belarus grinned at the joke, clearly not understanding that Harold was serious. The man was an idiot. He spurred his camel again and trotted off.
An hour passed in relative peace. Harold watched the mages work, although he had no idea what they were doing. Some sat in the sand. Some waved their hands around like fools. All of their eyes were bright red.
“HERE THEY COME!” one of them shouted, cracking through the silence.
Harold grew alert, unsheathing his sword. “Who?!” he shouted.
“They’re coming up from beneath the ground!”
As if on cue, sand exploded a hundred feet in front of Harold. It flew into the air, spraying the sky and everyone around it.
Red-eyed hellions flew up from beneath, fire blazing from their hands.
Harold rode into action. This was what he was made for—to fight. To kill. Not to go fetch young women for his master.
His soldiers did the same.
Fire and electricity blazed around him, striking men dead. The heat was severe, but Harold paid it no mind. He hopped off his camel in front of the first man he saw, slicing him through the middle and leaving his guts bleeding on the sand.
He heard screams, and at least once fire latched onto his leg, burning through his pants and flesh. He swatted it out and kept going.
More men fell at his feet. Women, too. Harold cared not.
Finally, he stood with his sword at his side, his chest heaving up and down, the dead all around him.
He blinked. He felt the bloodlust leaving him. Was there no one left to kill? People screamed and moaned, some on his side, some with the enemy.
“BELARUS!” he shouted, half-hoping the dimwit had died.
The Father and Mother truly hated Harold though, because Belarus came running.
“Here, boss! Killed at least seven of ‘em!”
“Are any alive?” Harold asked.
“This one is!” a mage shouted.
Harold looked to his right and saw the mage dragging the man by his shirt through the sand. The prisoner was bleeding badly; Harold didn’t think he had much longer to live.
“They know who she is,” the mage said. “All of them know Riley Trident. That’s why they came up here. Not because we were trying to use psychic magic, but because they realized we were hunting her.”
Harold looked down at the wounded man.
“My name is Thomas, and I’m one of The Chosen,” the dying mage said. “She’s going to kill you—you and the one you serve.”
“So, you do know who she is. Maybe my mages aren’t useless after all.” Harold ignored the look his mage gave him. “Where is she?”
; “I’d sooner cut my throat than tell you,” Thomas said.
“Hmmm...” Harold looked at the mage holding the dying man. “Ask around. Find out if anyone knew where Riley went.”
His mage’s eyes lit red for about thirty seconds. Harold knew he was communicating with the rest, trying to find out if anyone had broken through using their psychic magic.
Finally, his eyes faded back to their normal color. “We know where she is.”
“You’re sure?” Harold asked.
The mage nodded.
Harold smiled and looked down at the wounded man. “No need to slit your own throat, pal.”
Harold shoved his sword through the man’s neck. His cry was sharp and short. Harold removed his sword and looked at his mage. “Where is she?”
“They went to the northeast. They’re looking for a woman named Linda.”
“To the Great Dead Reef?” Harold asked. “North of Sidnie?”
“Yes, sir.”
Linda. Harold had heard the name. Rendal had spoken of her, but briefly, and not often. Rendal somehow knew the woman, although Harold didn’t think she mattered much to him. He only needed to bring back Riley. The rest didn’t concern Rendal.
“Belarus, how many people are still alive?”
“Us or them, boss?”
“Them?”
“Not a lot,” Belarus answered.
The mage spoke next. “There are more beneath the ground. They didn’t send everyone up after us. We can go beneath and finish them off if you want.”
Harold considered it for a moment.
“No. We don’t have time. Leave them. They’re no threat.”
“What about us, boss?” Belarus asked. “We got some injured.”
“Those who can come should come. Those who will only slow us down… Damn it. I guess set up a camp for them, and we’ll get them on our way back.”
Harold really didn’t want to do any such thing, but he couldn’t very well say that aloud in front of the men.
“Okay, boss. What about…you know, making sure everyone is healthy?”
Harold whipped around to him. “Leave them provisions, but we’re not here to keep them healthy. We’re here to get that bitch Riley and bring her back to Rendal. If we don’t accomplish that, are you going to tell Rendal? Is that something you’d like me to let you do?”
“Nuh-nuh-no, boss. I was just wonderin’, ya know. I’ll get the camp started.”
“Yes, you do that, Belarus.” Harold looked across the desert.
This had been fortuitous. Now they would find her and bring her back. Maybe she’d fight, and maybe Harold’s army could kill her. Maybe they wouldn’t have to deal with her anymore.
Chapter Eleven
“What the hell?”
William dropped his plate as Riley spun to see what was happening.
William moved across the porch, although he was too slow to catch Alexandra. Her plate hit the floor and shattered. She was on her hands and knees, her eyes closed and pain on her face.
William bent over her back and placed his hands on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head but said nothing.
Riley and Worth forgot about the food he was handing out and hustled over to the fallen queen.
Riley knelt in front of her and saw the tears in Alexandra’s eyes.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
The only person on the porch who didn’t move was Linda. She remained standing in the doorway, watching the other four.
“Thomas,” Alexandra whispered. “Oh, Father and Mother, Thomas...”
“What the hell are you talkin’ about, woman?” William asked, although his voice was full of care.
“They’re dead.” Alexandra shook her head, the tears falling now. “So many of them are dead.”
“Who? Who’s dead?” Riley asked.
“The Chosen. They killed so many.” Alexandra began sobbing, her body shaking.
Riley stood up, although she kept her eyes on the woman. “What is it? You have to tell us, Alexandra. Get hold of yourself and tell us what happened.”
Alexandra slowly sat down, William and Worth backing up some. “Rendal came for them. Came for us. Him or someone he sent, I couldn’t tell.” The tears were still streaming down her face, but she managed to speak. “Thomas used the last of his life to tell me. Or show me. I saw them lying in the sand dead. My people. Your people, Riley.”
Worth moved to the woman and sat down next to her. He didn’t put his arm around her, but he knew better than anyone what it was like to lose family to the dark mage.
“What did he say, Alexandra? Rendal is coming for me?”
“I don’t know. Not exactly. It could be him, it could be an army he sent, but yes, they’re coming for you. Thomas said they’re coming here.”
“Here?” Linda asked.
Riley turned to her. “Hush.” She looked back at Alexandra. “Careful, now. Think. You’re sure he killed them?”
Alexandra nodded but didn’t look up. “Not everyone, but many. Yes.”
“And they know where we are? I don’t mean to be callous, but we have to know the lay of the land.”
“I understand, Riley. Yes, they’re coming here.” The queen wiped her face with her hands, trying to stop the tears and be strong for the woman she called their Savior.
“Did you see how many?”
“What I did see was frightening, although I can’t give you an exact count. More than we can stop.”
“Fuck that,” William growled. “We can stop whoever Rendal sends.”
Riley backed up and looked at William. “We have to go. We have to meet them.”
Still sitting next to Alexandra, Worth shook his head. “Not ready. Need more time.”
“Time, Worth? What time? They’re on the way. I don’t have time to fucking train anymore. They’re going to come here, and they’re going to kill us. At least if we meet them, Linda won’t have to die.”
Worth only shook his head.
“I don’t ever like agreeing with you, but you’re right,” William said. “There’s no sense staying here if they know where we are. They’re, what, five days away? A week?”
Riley went to Alexandra and knelt before her.
She took the queen’s hands in her own.
“They will be avenged. I promise you that. Rendal and his entire army will pay for what they did.”
Alexandra met Riley’s eyes. “I know. I still have faith, Riley.”
Riley nodded and then stood. “Linda, I’d like to speak to you alone.”
Linda went inside the house, and Riley followed. She didn’t want to leave Alexandra right now, but time was short. She had to be a leader and decide what was coming next.
Linda didn’t stop in the house but walked outside. She went to the crumbling street and then paused, allowing Riley to catch up.
“I’d want to walk while we talk,” the old woman said.
“It doesn’t matter.” Riley’s mind was like a hawk now, focusing solely on what needed to be done. “Can you see them?”
“I tried when you all were speaking. I can see a large force, but no details. They have many mages, and some are actively distorting my view. They want me to see their numbers but nothing else.”
“And you can’t get through?” Riley asked.
Linda shook her head.
“If they come here, can you stop them?”
The old woman chuckled. “Maybe when I was younger, but that’s a big maybe. Now? No. I’ll be fish food within an hour.”
“What about with all of us? Are they too strong?”
“We’d have a chance, yes, but in the end, what does it matter, Riley?”
Her face grew perplexed. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s say we luck out and stop them. Then what? You sit here and train more with me? Sooner or later, you’re going to have to go back and face Rendal. Most likely, if you try to stop them, you’ll die. There’s just too many.
Maybe hundreds. They’re coming for you, Riley. Not me. Not William. Not your other friends.”
Linda grew quiet for a second.
“It just doesn’t matter whether you fight them here or there. Either way, your fate rests with Rendal. If you want a chance at saving your kingdom, you have to return.”
“Can I beat him?” Riley asked.
Linda chuckled. “I swear, people get dumber and dumber. You already know the answer to that, so why are you asking me?”
Riley said nothing.
“No, you can’t beat him. The mere fact that you asked the question shows you can’t beat him. You won’t beat him until you believe in yourself.”
“Can you beat him?”
“I tire of your questions, and I tire of you being here. You and your lot. All you’ve brought me is a whole bunch of stress.” Linda stopped and turned around to look at Riley. “I can’t beat him, and you can’t beat him. However, it’s not my damned kingdom that he is going to destroy, it’s yours, so stop hiding here and trying to train. Go meet his army, then go to him. You say he wants you to join him?”
Riley nodded.
“Then why not do it?”
“Are you fucking insane?” Riley asked.
“Seriously. Why not? If you rule with him, perhaps you can help your kingdom. Right now, you’re doing nothing.”
Riley laughed in disbelief. She turned in a circle and looked at the crumbling city. “You didn’t join him, you just fled. You left your duties. I won’t do the same. I’ll die and let that kingdom burn to the ground before I join him.”
“Well then, girl, there’s no sense staying here. Go meet him, die, and let your kingdom burn.”
“She said that?” William asked.
Riley shook her head. “Yeah, just like that. ‘Go meet him, die, and let your kingdom burn.’”
The five of them were on the beach, sitting in the sand. Night had come, and the water was black before them.
“Once I kill Rendal,” William commented, “I’m going to come back here and kill her. That settles it.”
“’Once you kill Rendal,’ huh?” Riley grinned.
“Yeah, obviously. You’re not going to be able to do it. All this training, and that old woman can still take you. It’ll be me and me alone who kicks his ass, and then I’m going to come back here and kick hers.”
Hand of Justice Boxed Set Page 65
