Had they known in truth it was Lady Cecily standing before them wearing Lord Devin Ragget’s facade, he doubted they would have reacted the same way. Especially Lord Pilarro. By rights, he and his family were next in line for the throne.
The crown had barely settled on King Devin Ragget’s head when he cut the ceremony short, waved away the Archbishop and turned to face the congregation.
“There will be a time and place for words and revelry later once our country is safe and our borders are secure. Only then will we celebrate this new day and this new rule. As your king, I promise you, we will eradicate the Gyunwarian stain that has too long sullied our great country and its great people. We will stand strong against foreign influences and rediscover our pure Yordician values and traditions. The traitors responsible for causing much of the chaos, destruction and death this past week will be found, and they will be executed. Captain Rivers,” At this, King Ragget gestured to a man standing on the edge of the dais. A silver half mask covered one side of his face. “Will take three warships and sail after those criminals who have escaped via the sea. And Captain Straegar,” He gestured again. “And his wardens will hunt down those who have made for the Gyunwarian border. We will have justice for our slain Yordician men, woman and children.”
Hearty applause shook the old cathedral walls.
A wretched-looking man, a scarred, black-haired Gyunwarian dressed in rags streaked from the wings and charged the dais. He had a rusty knife clutched in one hand. Captain Rivers and Captain Straegar reached for their swords. Screams erupted throughout the cathedral. King Ragget turned to face the would-be assassin.
A massive winged figure dropped from the rafters and landed square on the attacker’s head and shoulders squashing him like a bug and reducing him to little more than a bloody red mess. The creature, resembling a towering gargoyle, folded its wings behind its broad back and bowed its head to the new king.
“Amarias?” Neko Blood gasped.
Stephano Di Rygazzo glanced over at his suddenly white-faced companion. “You know that . . . thing?”
She frowned. “No . . . not really. Not anymore.”
He was certain there was something more to the story, but he didn’t press her for details. Not with Tomm sitting there glaring at him. He might just have to do something to that vile little man.
King Ragget pointed to the bloody mess leaking out from under the gargoyle’s talons. “The world will know that THIS is what happens to those who try to do us harm!”
The smattering of screams turned into another thunderous cheer. King Ragget offered the congregation a satisfied smile before he marched out of the cathedral, followed by his winged bodyguard and his entourage.
Stephano Di Rygazzo rose to leave. In his case, hidden away inside his cloak, another Mantle waited, returned to him when the real Lord Devin Ragget had died. He was off to find a new Vessel. Perhaps he’d head back across the sea to Euclacia. Considering how the world’s events were shaping up, he had a feeling he’d find the perfect candidate somewhere in that depraved city.
Neko Blood touched his sleeve.
“What about our bargain?”
“Our bargain?” he asked.
“You know . . .” She tilted her head and gave him a look. “The soul.”
“Oh. Of course.” He fished in a pocket and pulled out a small gemstone. “Place this diamond on your choice of body, directly over the heart and say the word, ‘Awake’, and he will be returned to you.”
“That’s it?”
He smiled. Sometimes the simplest magic was the best. “That’s it.”
She took the diamond and immediately handed it to Tomm. “Take this to Bolodenko. If he agrees that our debt is paid in full, relay to him the proper instructions. Do you understand?”
The little man snorted. “I’m not an idiot.” And he disappeared amongst the exiting crowd.
“Doesn’t he know you two are the same person?” Stephano Di Rygazzo asked.
“Probably, but if he does, he’s kept it to himself.”
“I wonder why.”
“You heard him,” Neko flashed a smile. “He’s not an idiot.”
Stephano Di Rygazzo caught the dark meaning in her words and chuckled. “I’ve always liked you, Neko.”
“And I’ve always found you useful, Stephano.”
He nodded. “To that end, a word of warning before I go. As much as it pains me to admit it, I couldn’t break him.”
“Oh, I have no intention of breaking him.”
“Really?” He stroked his long beard. “I’m curious, how do you plan to get the information you want out of him then?”
Neko’s smiled widened. “I’ll offer him something in trade. Something I’m sure he’ll want.” They glanced out the window and watched as the royal carriage headed toward the castle. “I’ll offer him the truth about that one.”
chapter 67
On the outskirts of Hazar, a small village a few miles inside the Gyunwarian border, Kylpin sighted a clearing large enough in the forest to set down. He pointed it out to Josephine and she left the forward cabin and began calling out instructions to the landing crew. Dozens of Gyunwarians, refugees picked up outside of Belyne, swarmed across the deck and began tossing ropes over the side. Kylpin spotted Tyran among the men. The boy had taken the news about his father’s death as well as could be expected. He’d simply nodded his head, gritted his teeth and went back to prowling the deck.
“Should one of us stay with him?” Josephine had asked as the two of them watched him walk away. “You know him better than I.”
Kylpin shook his head. “Give him some time. When he wants to talk, he’ll find us.”
Later that night, as the airship had sailed between two mountain peaks and a cool breeze drifted across the deck, a soft knock sounded at his cabin door.
“Come,” Kylpin called out.
Tyran entered. His eyes looked swollen and red, but the determined look on his face said he was done crying. “May we speak?”
“You and I, my friend? Of course.”
Tyran held the door open and Josephine, Garett, Philson, Gertrude, Alysea and Sebastian filed into the room. Kylpin wasn’t entirely pleased to see the fire mage there, but he had to admit, the young man had shown some real grit and bravery facing off against Lord Ragget and again while saving Alysea. He and the Dardynian woman had been inseparable ever since.
“What is on your mind, Master Tyran?” Kylpin asked.
“Josephine has told me about her brief marriage to my father and her quest to find her grandfather in Bel’yowlye,” Tyran jumped right in. “She believes he will be able to unlock the magic in the discs Lord Ragget used and that the information contained in them will likely prove my father’s innocence.”
Kylpin nodded, not sure what point Tyran was trying to make. Ian was dead. Lord Ragget was dead. The matter seemed moot.
“I want the world to know the truth about what happened in Belyne. I want Gyunwarians to know their Ambassador did not betray them. I want to clear my father’s name.” Tyran stood tall. “And I want what’s mine.”
Sebastian whistled softly. Gertrude grinned and clapped her leathery hands together. Kylpin’s eyebrows rose. “You mean the Yordician crown?”
Tyran nodded as he surveyed the room. “Will you help me reclaim it?”
Wild chatter broke out among the group. Surprisingly, Garett was one of the first to agree, but added the condition he needed to travel to Scylthia first. One by one the rest offered their support and then all eyes turned to him. Tyran stepped toward him. “Well, Kylpin? Will you join us?”
“I made a promise to rescue a Shi’kwaran girl and return her to her Island, but since it seems I have to chase old Lipscombe across the sea anyways . . . yes, I’ll help you, Master Tyran.”
They had talked late into the night over unrolled maps, making plans and deciding how best to proceed, until finally sleep overtook them one by one. Kylpin was the last to turn in, waiting until the
y had cleared the Uldran Mountains and the way ahead looked clear.
That had been a week ago.
Now, as the airship maneuvered toward the clearing and the landing crew was sliding down the rope tethers, a knock sounded at the bow cabin door.
“Come.”
Tyran slipped inside and shut the door.
“Come to say goodbye, Master Tyran?” Kylpin said as he gently pulled back on the last lever and the ship hovered thirty feet above the ground. The landing crew would haul the ship the rest of the way down which would allow the Gyunwarians and their cargo to unload safely. “With any luck and good weather, we should all be back in six months or so.”
“I’ve decided I want to come with you,” Tyran announced.
“No.”
“I wish to see the world,” Tyran added quickly. “And once my arm is fully healed, we can continue my training with the sword.”
“No.”
“When I am king, I will name you Admiral of my navy and I promise you’ll have the finest ship in the world.”
Kylpin hesitated. “Deal, but you have to tell Gertrude about this change in plans.”
Tyran made a face. He turned to leave and nearly ran into Josephine on his way out. “I’m coming with you to Bel’yowlye.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Josephine said. She stood in the doorway with a disheartened look on her face.
“What is it?” Kylpin finally asked.
“The mayor of Hazar is outside,” Josephine said. “He saw the ship and was afraid we might be an invading force from Yordic. Apparently, the new king is keen on war.”
“They’ve named a new king already?” Kylpin said. “Who?”
Josephine’s lips trembled. “It’s Ragget. Somehow that bastard survived!”
chapter 68
Bolodenko plucked the diamond off his desk and looked at the hastily scrawled note beneath it. “Consider Neko Blood’s debt paid in full. Keyword: Awake.”
Perhaps he’d been too hasty in his assessment of Tomm’s mental abilities because only a fool would have left a soulstone lying around like this. And why hadn’t the little bastard waited? Was his spy growing tired of their game?
Bolodenko waved a hand in the air as if to dismiss this irritation. He’d handle Tomm’s stupidity later. Now, he had more important matters to concentrate on.
He quickly left his secluded office tucked away in the back of the mausoleum and headed down a tunnel to another crypt. Inside, he found Owen’s body laid out on a cold, stone table and fitted with a stone face. His great strength combined with Ian’s strong will would make a deadly combination. Add to that mix, Ian’s knowledge about Scylthia and the wealth that Dark Continent held . . .
Bolodenko could hardly contain himself. Dreams of riches beyond measure flooded his mind.
With trembling fingers, he placed the diamond over Owen’s still heart.
“Awake.”
With bated breath, he watched as Owen’s eyes opened.
“Who are you?” Bolodenko demanded.
Owen blinked.
“Don’t be afraid,” Bolodenko tried again. “Just tell me your name.”
Owen just stared.
“Can you speak?”
Nothing.
“Can you hear me?”
Owen’s stone face nodded. Good! They were starting to get somewhere.
“I’m going to ask you another question and I want you to tell me the truth. Do you understand?”
Owen nodded again.
“Are you Ian Weatherall?”
Owen shook his head.
Bolodenko’s hands curled into fists.
Tomm was a dead man.
chapter 69
A few miles away, Tomm slipped inside a small cottage and locked the door behind him. He was breathing hard. His legs were short, and the run was long and he was not a young man anymore. He checked the curtains. They were still closed tight. He took another deep breath and let it out slowly. The air was cold and stale and stank of urine and shit and death.
With a wave of one of his tiny hands the candles on the table in the center of the small room ignited revealing a cot in one corner and a locked chest in the other. On the cot lay a young Gyunwarian man killed during the riots in Little Ryerton. In the locked chest, bound and gagged, was the real Tomm.
The little man closed his eyes, concentrated, and when he opened his eyes again, he was a tall dark-haired old man with dark almost black eyes. A forked black beard jutted from his chin.
He placed the diamond on the dead man’s chest, rubbed his lean hands together and in a rich, deep voice said, “Awake.”
The body on the cot stirred. Goosebumps rose up and down the old man’s arms and back. He reached out and gently took the young man’s hand. Already it was starting to feel warm again.
“Hello?” he called softly.
The young man opened his eyes, blinked, and stared up at the old man in stunned silence.
“Ian Weatherall?” the old man tried.
The young man nodded. Tears filled his eyes. Finally, he wet his lips with the tip of his tongue, cleared his throat and with a voice filled with joy he said, “Grandfather, is that really you?”
The old man smiled.
# # #
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shawn Wickersheim lives in historic Woodstock Illinois with his wife and children. He enjoys being an Indie Author and is currently hard at work on his next novel. When he is not writing, working, hanging out with his family, or working around the house, he is usually shocked that he has ‘free’ time. He usually fills this ‘free’ time by reading, watching movies, bike-riding or occasionally sleeping.
BOOKS BY SHAWN WICKERSHEIM
The Penitent Assassin
*The Savage Nobles: Stolen Dagger (Part One)
*The Savage Nobles: Stolen Justice (Part Two)
*The Savage Nobles: Stolen Crown (Part Three)
*(formerly titled The Rush of Betrayal books)
CONNECT WITH SHAWN WICKERSHEIM ONLINE
Twitter: STWick
Facebook: Shawn Wickersheim – Author
Blog: The Ink-Competent Writer
Goodreads: If you’d like to connect with me on Goodreads, please send me a ‘friend request’ and if you feel so inclined, drop me a line and let me know what you think of my books. I’d love to hear from you. Happy Reading!
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