“Me, too,” Kris agreed.
Brighten shook his head. “I just can’t hardly believe it. Everything I did was because I believed in her. I believed she would stop this psychopath, and if she’s going to join him, it was all for nothing.”
“That’s not true.” Erin walked to where Brighten was sitting. She squatted so they were eye to eye. “The person I met in Sidnie and the person before me now are completely different. This young man right here wouldn’t even recognize the one that William grabbed back then. What you did—it wasn’t for nothing. You are turning into a man, and you didn’t do it only for Riley. You did it for us. For me. For yourself. You found yourself over these past few weeks, and you’re a strong fucking person, Brighten.”
He nodded, and Erin understood he was trying to believe her.
She patted his cheek lightly and stood up.
“If she does trade sides, I’m still going forward. I’ll talk to Eisen today, but I’m not going down without a fight. Riley can do as she wishes, but I’m the same person I was before all this. My boy is locked up somewhere in this kingdom, and when we revolt, I’m going to get him back, too.”
Her jaw was set, and determination blazed in her eyes.
“Regardless of what Riley does tomorrow, I’m going to do my best to burn that bastard mage to the ground.”
Chapter Nineteen
Lucie knew she was doing something extremely dangerous, yet she couldn’t help herself.
She’d stolen out of Mac’s and ventured deep into the city, and she was now standing just outside the castle’s walls. The night sky was dark, which made the orbs above the kingdom stand out more prominently, their green lights glowing brightly. She couldn’t believe how much things had changed in such a small amount of time. Her life had been altered to a point where she hardly recognized it.
She wore a hood and kept to the back alleys, slowing when she drew close to people. She didn’t want to be seen, and she knew the kingdom’s streets well enough to remain hidden.
Lucie remained in an alley looking up at the castle. She didn’t know if Riley was still locked down, but she wanted to try to speak to the Right Hand.
Her eyes turned red, and she sent a message.
It was a brief one, telling Riley only where she was and that they needed to talk. She knew Riley’s psychic magic wasn’t strong enough to respond, so all she could do was wait. More, she didn’t know if the woman was still wearing the necklace. If so, it wouldn’t matter how many messages she sent.
She had come to see if it was true. Was Riley joining Rendal? If she discovered it wasn’t, then Riley needed to know what they had been preparing for—that the kingdom was ready to fight back.
And if she was joining him? Then Riley had become the enemy.
Time slipped by, the night air growing cold around her. Still Lucie waited.
Perhaps she wasn’t able to come; perhaps leaving the castle was impossible now. Perhaps she still wore the necklace and had not received the message.
Lucie leaned against the wall, her eyelids seeming to gain weight.
“You’re not old enough to be falling asleep standing up.”
The words came from Lucie’s right, the opposite end of the alley that she’d been expecting Riley to come from. Lucie’s eyes flew open and she turned, her eyes red, prepared to fight if need be.
“Just me, Lucie. Rendal took the necklace off tonight. He said it’s going back on tomorrow, but we needed to start building some trust.”
The old woman let her eyes fade to normal. Riley stood before her, wearing her own hood. Lucie couldn’t see any weapons on her, certainly not the sword Worth had made.
Riley grinned. “Did you call me out here to take a nap with you?”
“I called you out here to understand what in the hell is going on.” She pulled a flyer from inside her jacket and handed it over. “You’re joining with Rendal?”
Riley didn’t take it. “You should leave, Lucie. You and everyone you’re with.”
“Why?”
“Because of what you hold in your hand. Things are going to change in New Perth tomorrow. You don’t want to be around for them.”
“What’s going to change, Riley?” Lucie asked.
The Right Hand just shook her head.
“That’s it? That’s all I get, after everything we’ve been through?”
“Look around you, Lucie. Everything you need to see is right here. It’s all right in front of you.”
Lucie grew quiet for a moment, understanding what the woman was saying. There was no use fighting. It would only mean death for everyone. “So Rendal has truly won?”
“Lucie, you need to leave. You need to gather Erin and anyone else you’re with, and all of you leave. I love you. I love them. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Lucie’s face had turned to steel. “Girl, I’m too old to need you to care about me. I also don’t serve you. I ain’t served no one since the madman you apparently serve now, and I sure as hell ain’t gonna start. You go back up to your castle, and you prepare to sell your soul tomorrow. I’ll do what I think is best for me, and I’ll let my friends decide the same.”
Riley was silent for long seconds. When she spoke, her voice was a whisper. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me, Lucie. I’ve only wanted to make you proud, ever since I was a little girl.”
“Yeah, well, what you’re doing here is making me wish you’d never been born.”
Riley nodded. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Truly.”
“Go then,” Lucie scolded. “This was a waste of my time.”
Riley turned and started back down the alley.
Neither said anything more as the Right Hand left.
“It all ends today,” Rendal said.
The sun was rising, but the morning air still held a chill.
He and Harold were walking in one of the castle’s gardens. Rendal’s bracelet was on. He was refueling, knowing that he might need it today. It was a big day, but anything could happen.
“You spoke to her last night?” Rendal asked.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“What did you think?”
Harold shook his head. “I think that even when she serves you, she’s still going to be a bitch.”
Rendal laughed. “Did she give you a hard time?”
“She’s too smart, and she likes to joke too much.”
“Joke?” Rendal asked.
“’Mock me’ is probably more accurate, Your Grace.”
“That is one of her most endearing traits,” Rendal said. “But enough with your own personal issues. We’re bringing her in front of the entire kingdom today. What do you think she’s going to do? That’s why I sent you to her, is it not? To give me your honest read?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Rendal chuckled. “Well, get to it, man.”
“I think that if she takes the oath, she’s going to abide by it.”
“Why?”
“Look at what she did for her first oath,” Harold said. “She followed you on ships, across deserts, and to strange kingdoms. She did everything within her power to kill you. If she takes another oath, I think you’ll get the same dedication.”
“And what of her first one?” Rendal asked. That was the crux. If she would betray her first oath, why not the second?
“You heard the conversation she had with Mason and Goland?”
“Of course,” Rendal answered.
“She thinks she’s honoring her oath by taking another one, and in a way, she is. She can’t stop you. She’s strong, yes, but if she could have killed you, she would have. I think she recognizes that. More, their kingdom is no longer theirs. It’s yours, so I don’t see that as a huge paradox. The only way to protect her people and Mason is to join you.”
Harold shrugged as if it were the simplest answer in the world.
“It’s what you always set out to do—force her to join you. Now you have.”
“And William?” Rendal finally asked. “Do you think she’ll fight him?”
“That’s a much tougher question.”
“That’s why we pay you the big bucks, Harold. To think through the tough questions.”
“Your Grace, you know that I’m not paid, right?”
Rendal grinned. “Of course I do. But what good is coin when you have the world at your disposal, am I right?”
Harold nodded but said nothing. Rendal felt slight anger beneath Harold’s surface, and he enjoyed it. Rendal could give this man all the money in the world, different currencies from different kingdoms, but it would never add up to the power he currently held.
“Tell me, do you think she’ll fight the other Right Hand?”
“I don’t think so.”
“She agreed to, though,” Rendal said. This part had been bothering him greatly because he felt the same as Harold about it. To join Rendal was one thing, but to kill her friend? That seemed to be too much.
“I know, but... I just wonder if that won’t push her to the edge. If that won’t make her revolt against the oath, and in public.”
Rendal nodded. “This is why I like you, Harold. I mean, you can’t really fight for shit, as you showed with William back in Sidnie, but you tell me the hard truths. The things I need to hear.”
“Maybe,” Harold said, “she doesn’t need to kill him. Maybe she only needs to watch him die.”
Rendal raised one eyebrow. “And how do you propose to make that happen?”
“By my hand. She watches us fight, and that’ll be enough. So long as she stands by and does nothing, that should be plenty to show her loyalty.”
“You’re going to kill him?” Rendal smirked. “You had some trouble last time. If I remember correctly, I had to step in to keep you from not only embarrassing yourself but dying.”
“That won’t happen this time, Your Grace.”
“Care to tell me why it’ll be different?”
Harold reached into his pocket and pulled out a small orb. “Artino modified it. I press down on the top, and when I throw it, the detonation will be small enough to only hurt those within a few feet.”
“Not bad, Harold. You are smart, even if you can’t fight.” Rendal was enjoying his small digs. Once Riley came on board, he would not see very much of Harold anymore. The man would be cast farther down the totem pole. Perhaps Harold would like taking orders from Riley?
Harold ignored the comment. “That’s my opinion. I can kill him, Your Grace, and it won’t push Riley over the edge. You can still have exactly what you want.”
It actually sounded like a good idea. A better one than Rendal’s own, actually.
“Okay, then,” Rendal said. “If you die, I’ll step in and kill him. And if you live, I guess that’s a positive too.”
Rendal laughed alone as the two continued their walk.
William watched the only door in the room swing open. Alexandra was awake, but Worth and Eric had fallen asleep in their cells.
William didn’t move. He was sitting on the floor and leaning against the bars. He’d ended up scattering the pebbles across the floor, although the parchment was still in his pocket. He had to find a way to tell Riley; he was only waiting for his chance.
The man entered the room silently, and William recognized him immediately. The mage’s lackey—Harold. The door closed quietly, not waking either Worth or Eric. Harold glanced at the other three, then his eyes fell on William.
“You should open my cell, Harry,” William said. “Then we can finish our little dance that got interrupted back in Sidnie.”
Harold was quiet as he walked forward.
“Do you think if I kill you now, your daddy will save you?” William grinned. “Because that’s what happened last time, right? Daddy had to step in because you couldn’t handle the big bad Right Hand?”
“When I’m done with you, I think I’m going have your tongue removed, then have you beheaded,” the lackey said.
“Do it now, then. No one is going to stop you—except for me.”
“I forgot. You don’t know what’s happening outside your little cell here, do you?”
William’s grin faded.
Harold’s grew wide.
“That’s right, you haven’t heard. Well, in a few hours, we’re going to bring you all outside. All four of you, plus Mason and Goland. You will all get to witness Riley Trident swearing an oath of allegiance and servitude to Rendal. Then, to top it all off, she’s going to be forced to watch me kill you.”
“That’s not true,” Alexandra said from the other side of the room.
“Hell no, it ain’t,” William agreed. “I mean, you know where you fucked up with that lie? The last part. Saying you’re goin’ to kill me. That’ll happen the day your dick grows bigger than mine.”
William smiled again, although inside his rage was boiling. He didn’t want to show it to this lackey, however.
“Make your jokes now, Right Hand. Soon your tongue is going to be in some bird’s intestines. There will be soldiers coming to get you soon. Please don’t give them a hard time. I’m really looking forward to killing you in front of the entire kingdom.”
“You know what, Harry? I was thinking about paying your mother a visit when all this was done. I’m sure she’d like some of the Big Willie lovin’, as they call it, but when I look at you, I can’t imagine anyone birthing such an ugly son of a bitch being any more attractive. I mean, she must be one ugly whore, am I right?”
A flush rose in Harold’s face at that. Finally, something was getting to him.
“Please, William, continue this when we get outside. I look forward to shutting you up for good.”
“Oh, you can bet on it, Harry.”
The lackey turned and left the room, moving just as silently as when he’d entered.
Worth and Eric were both awake. William looked at Alexandra. “Sorry ‘bout that. I don’t normally talk about women in such ways, I just really hate that guy.”
“No worries. I’m sure she is an ugly whore to have birthed an abomination like that.” The queen of the Chosen grinned.
“It not true,” Worth spoke up. “Riley no betray us. She no take new oath.”
“Of course she fuckin’ won’t,” William nearly shouted. “It’s just another trick from Rendal, is all. Just another mind game.”
“But what about you?” Alexandra asked. “If it is a mind game or a trick—which of course it has to be—what part are you playing in it? He says you’re going to fight in front of the kingdom?”
William shook his head and stared at the ground. “I’m not sure. I ain’t worried about fighting Harold over there. Even if they keep this damned necklace on me, I’ll be able to take him out—”
“William,” Eric said from the opposite corner. “They’re not going to make this a fair fight. You know that, right? There’s no way Harold is going to face you in front of the entire citizenry and have any chance at losing. You’re walking into something rigged.”
“Aye, I think you’re right on that count. It ain’t gonna be fair, but I still think I can take him. That’s not what concerns me.”
“What does?” Alexandra asked.
William wanted to tell them about what was in his pocket, but he couldn’t. He didn’t even want to risk passing the parchment around.
“Riley worries me, what’s happening to her. Goland and Mason worry me, what the plan is for them.” William looked at the three. He finally sighed, deciding that they needed to be ready and the risk had to be assumed.
He stood, walked to the edge of his cell, and picked up one of the pebbles he’d discarded. He pulled the parchment from his pocket and wrapped it around the rock.
“Worth, I know you ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed and your fighting skills are shot from all
you’re boozing, but be smart and quick here.”
Worth grinned. “Worth smarter than William.”
William tossed the rock and Worth snatched it out of the air, his hand as quick as a serpent’s strike.
He unrolled the parchment, read it, and looked up. William nodded. Worth moved to the other side of his cell and tossed the rock and parchment to Alexandra. She read it, then sent it to Eric, and finally, the small rock made its way back to William.
He placed both the rock and the parchment back in his pocket.
He stared at all three of them, making sure each understood the meaning. Something was going to happen today out there in Kingdom Square, and when it did, they’d need to be ready.
Chapter Twenty
Old Harry hadn’t been lyin’.
The soldiers showed up, opened the cells, and shuffled everyone out. Chains were placed on their wrists and ankles. William felt he could have lumped up quite a few of the soldiers, but in the end, he would have gone down, especially without a weapon or magic.
They were led up long flights of stairs, and finally out into daylight.
“I really hope he kills the four of ya,” one of the soldiers said. “I’m so tired of taking care of ya bastards.”
“Undo these chains, and you won’t have to take care of anything ever again, sweetie,” Alexandra shot back.
The soldier shoved her forward.
“Careful, tough guy,” William said. “It’s easy to push around women who’re chained up and wearing these damned necklaces, but I’m gonna remember your face. I imagine Alexandra will too. It’s gonna be a bad day for ya, I bet.”
The guard laughed dismissively. “I’d wait until ya see what’s in store for ya before ya start bettin’.”
The crowd was enormous, larger than anything William had seen before. It appeared to stretch forever, yet when the soldiers marching the four of them reached the outer limits, it began to part.
William watched as soldiers pushed and shoved, some of the citizens actually catching a pretty hard licking. Their group was heading to the platform in the middle. So far, it was empty.
Hand of Justice Boxed Set Page 70
