Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Her eyes closed.
They opened on hearing him snarl and the hair of the Firenz woman was dragged from sight. She heard a terrible ripping noise, saw a spurt of crimson desecrate the white.
And her eyes did not close again.
But they could see no longer.
King Cassius
Upper Hall, Sky Citadel, Sky Bay
AIREN
He stood, ignoring the boom of fireworks above, the sounds of celebrations that rose up from the bottom gate, and stared at Reginald standing before him.
“I have situated her in the room she had before, but she shall be moved at your direction, if this is your requirement. As ever, your orders will be carried out to the letter,” Reginald said.
Cassius said nothing.
When he did not, Reginald did.
“If you wish my bars, sire, I will give them to you,” he declared. “My watch. My responsibility. And as I’ve failed it, not only with this, but also not knowing communications were getting through my guard, if you intend to relieve me of it, this is something I will not argue.”
Cassius continued to say nothing.
“I am sorry, my king, that my failure in my duties has put a pall on such a triumphant day,” Reginald muttered. “I am also sorry for your loss.”
“What did you say?” Cassius asked.
Reginald studied him a moment before asking, “Which part?”
“What did you call me?”
“Um…my king?” Reginald queried, as if Cassius’s confirmation was needed to state he did, or did not, call him that.
“Fuck, I am,” Cassius said.
“Sorry, sire?”
Cassius snapped into the conversation.
“Your king,” he said. “I’m your king.”
“Well, yes, uh, since, you see, the other one is rather…um…dead,” Reginald replied.
Cass studied his uncomfortable warden.
Then he made his decision.
“We have spoken of the other,” Cassius began. “I understand feeling responsible for the entirety of your men. I would have no man in your position who didn’t. But no one is all-knowing and all-seeing. The men who are responsible have been identified and dealt with. And that is all that needs said about that.”
Reginald inclined his head.
“And he ordered today’s nonsense through his council, Reginald,” Cassius told the man. “One hundred and fifty-seven Airenzian men are dead today because of him. A stand they should not have taken that could never have been won, ordered by a king who was no longer in the position to put his people in the path of harm. I would have had to take his head, Reginald. Through sheer obstinacy, he is responsible for what befell my citizens today. For even if they stood against the changes I’ve made, they’re still Airenzian. So, it’s rather fortunate that Horatia saved me from needing to order the execution of my father.”
“Well, I suppose, if you’re looking for a bright side,” Reginald mumbled.
“He was a terrible king, a dreadful father and a hideous husband. He will be missed by few, and those would do as such, in the doing, do not matter,” Cassius said.
Reginald nodded. “And what do you wish for her Lady Royal?”
“Perform an investigation,” Cass commanded. “We obviously can’t have guard or staff at the Bailey circumventing justice. If you discover her conspirator, we’ll deal with him, or her, then. Horatia will serve, in her current quarters, the sentence of a seditious soldier who defies the orders of a commanding officer. This is six months confinement then dismissal from service. As she’s not a member of my army, when she’s done with her confinement, she’ll simply be returned to her manor in the south. Done.”
Reginald dipped his chin. “Yes, my king.”
“Reg?”
“Yes, my king?”
“Bloody call me Cass, would you?”
Reginald smiled. “Yes…Cass.”
“Go home and celebrate,” he ordered.
“Righty ho.”
Reginald affected a cocky salute, turned and walked away.
Cass watched him, then he too turned, but he did not take that first step.
This was because Ellie was coming out of the red room.
She exited it only enough to step to the side of the door and lean her back there.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she whispered.
She’d heard.
No.
She’d been listening.
“He will not be mourned,” he told her something he knew she knew.
“I’m not sorry for his loss, for he was horrid. I’m sorry you did not have a good father. I’m sorry his last command acted out on this earth proved that beyond all doubt. And I’m sorry because I know you, you’ll draw that in and allow it to harm you until me and Aelia and Dora can dig it out from where it never should be, for he is no part of you. You left him behind long, long ago.”
Cassius did nothing and said nothing but expel a deep breath.
“And her legacy is complete,” she said softly.
His gut burned as he stared at her.
“She is standing beside my mother and they are very proud of you, my king.”
“We agreed not to call each other such,” he growled.
“Just this once,” she whispered.
And he was upon her, pressing her against the wall of his bloody Citadel, in his bloody capital, in his bloody realm.