Queen of Jastain (39 page)

A soldier jumped on the hood of the vehicle. Avant revved the engine and lurched the car forward. The sentry fell to the ground and Avant rolled over him. Aesdil’s men surrounded the car. They began to rock and shake the SUV. Soon they would dump it to its side, and it would be useless. Worse, he would be trapped. Realizing he had to exit, he parked the car and jumped out, engaging the two sentries nearest his door.

The clanking of metal on metal rang through the air. These soldiers had been trained by his standards. Their skill made it difficult for him to engage more than one. The blades whipped through the air, their flashing sparks catching the attention of more soldiers. Avant was surrounded. He struck a man across the neck, sending his head over the yard to hit another soldier. When the soldier saw what struck him, he dropped his sword in shock and Avant's horseman ran him through.

Avant held his sword in front of him as he paced in a circle, holding at least a dozen soldiers at bay.

“Avant, distract the king, and I'll open the gates again to let our troops in.”

“
I’ll hasten to do that after I fend off these twelve men, Abigail.”

“Just do it, Avant!”
The authority in her tone offended and compelled him. He gathered his energy and knocked Aesdil’s feet out from under him. That gave him the idea to do the same to his opponents.

* * * *

“Go, Abigail.”
Avant’s voice thundered in her mind. Abby pushed the gates open with her Implanting and eight men stole into the castle grounds before the gates closed again. She grabbed every soldier she could within arm's reach and put their hands on her as she Implanted to Avant. The light flashed. She and ten soldiers appeared next to Avant in front of a garrison of twenty men.

Aesdil stood on a balcony above them. “That is impressive, Chosen One, but it will not help your lost cause.” He gaze cut to the soldiers and commanded, “Take them and bring me the Crown!”

Avant glared at the king, his rage fierce, powerful enough to cause a fissure in the foundations of Jastain.

“Remember who the enemy is. Keep your wits.”
She reminded Avant, and then focused her attention on Aesdil. “Aesdil, you won’t win, no matter what you think. You can’t stand against the Light.”

“Damnable Darkness, Abigail. Get out of here.”
Avant roared inside her head.

Soldiers surrounded them, but adrenaline must've taken hold, because she felt neither fear nor rage. Instead, confidence surged through her veins. They weren’t in this battle alone. They’d been sent, and the One who had sent them would keep them safe.

She studied Avant as he fought beside his men and now understood how Aesdil had tried to kill him. Avant would never leave his men in battle, even if they left him. And if he wouldn’t, neither would she.
“You know I can't leave any more than you can. What do we need to do to win?”

He cursed again. She knew this had been his fear about letting her come along, but he couldn't stop destiny, and he knew it.
“I estimate twenty-five soldiers here and at least that many more right inside that door. We need to capture Aesdil to break their allegiance to him. If one of us can make it to the car and cause a diversion, we could give the other an advantage to take the king. I trained most of these men, Abigail. As long as he holds power, the soldiers will follow him, but if we can lay hands on him….”

Abby assessed the distance between her and the X-terra. She could make it to the passenger side if she went quickly.

“I’ll make it to the car. How much time do you need to capture him?”

“A few moments only.”

Abby gathered her inner strength and with her Implanting, pushed a group of six soldiers to the ground in front of the SUV. She ran like hell and jumped in, locking the doors and sliding to the driver’s side. She drove over the soldiers she'd knocked down. Their bodies crunching under the car tied her stomach in a knot. Their howls of pain ripped at her.
Damn.

Knocking people in the head was one thing, but running them down in a car was something else. All their lives were at stake, the kingdom, the Light hung in the balance. Spinning the giant erection around, she accelerated for the largest concentration of soldiers that stood between Avant and Aesdil. She winced and said a silent prayer as she neared the cluster. They scattered like mice before the aroused SUV. She hit two more sentries before wheeling around the other direction to make another pass.

Along the steps leading to the balcony, Avant had already defeated ten men with only three soldiers at his flanks. He could almost reach Aesdil. The king would not stand to fight face-to-face. Even from this distance and speed, she could see the fear that filled his eyes.

By his sheer will, Avant stormed the last five soldiers and climbed over the balustrade to put Aesdil at the end of his blade.
OMG!
Her man was a force to be reckoned with. A sexy shiver ran through her
. For God's sakes. Not the time or place, Abs.
Apparently, it was true what they said about adrenaline rushes and sexual arousal.

* * * *

“Finally,
Brother
, I see my enemy face-to-face. I've wished for this many times,” Avant growled.

“You look well,
Lord Ventium
. I'm certain that my queen will wish to greet you.” Aesdil sneered and taunted.

“You dare mention her to me, Aesdil?” Desire to run his sword through the king pulsed like sweet wine in his fingers. His hands vibrated with bloodlust for his stolen life.

“You need not feel alone, Avant. It seems you're not the only husband Sentieve betrayed.” Aesdil trembled but his voice remained even.

“You're not her husband, Aesdil. As you can see, I'm alive, so you are not joined to her.”

“But we are joined in other ways you couldn’t understand. Were you aware we have a son, an heir to the throne? I believe you've met him. Bring out my son and my queen.”

Two sentries stepped onto the balcony, shoving Chad and Sentieve in front of them. Chains bound their hands in front of them. Chad was badly beaten, and Sentieve looked as if she hadn’t eaten or bathed for weeks. Avant turned his head, swallowing back the bile that rose in his throat.

“Surely, Avant, you didn’t think this boy could be your son? He doesn’t have your strength or boldness; he has my clever mind.”

“Let them go, Aesdil, or I'll run you through with my sword!” Avant snarled.

Seppitent appeared. He stepped even with Aesdil and his wicked voice chimed, “Perhaps, Avant, if you'd known your wife better, you would have realized she'd given herself to another long before your unfortunate accident.”

* * * *

When Seppitent appeared, Abby slammed on the breaks and jumped out of the car. Now it was time for her battle. “Men of the Kingdom, Aesdil has lied to you. He has betrayed the Light. Abandon the works of Darkness and align with us.”

Avant’s men had already defeated the bulk of the king’s soldiers. Four horsemen opened the gates. Two battalions, led by Petra, flooded into the keep. Many of the king’s soldiers dropped their swords and surrendered to the regal looking Petra as he entered.

Abby’s gaze met Petra’s brown eyes. He gave her a reassuring nod. With Petra’s assistance on the ground, she rushed up the stairs to support Avant.
“Close your ears to that monster. He's trying to ensnare you.”

She bolted up the last steps and stood beside Avant. “Seppitent, you don’t belong here. This is not your world, and you are not welcome.”

“You’re the one who is unwelcome, Chosen One.” He laughed a hideous laugh that pierced her ears, but she knew it hypnotized and deceived those under his spell. “I have the Stone of Light. I told you this journey would only mean ruin for you. Now your quest has failed, and all those you love will die.”

She gazed around the gathering faces, lost and remote. She was the only one who saw his hideousness and heard the truth of his soul-scraping voice. Even Avant was not immune, and his face clouded with confusion.

“You're mistaken, Seppitent.” She reached for her backpack and pulled out the diadem. A bright light shone from her, illuminating the circlet as she held it in front of her.

A collective gasp sounded from those around her. His deception broke in the light of the Crown. Even Aesdil stared, horrified, at the reality of Seppitent’s loathsome appearance.

The creature laughed. The shrieking sound sickened her soul. “Abby, you are. As long as the hearts of men choose to listen, I'm welcome. I will eventually rule in Jastain as I do in other worlds.”

Abby looked directly at the hideous creature. The Light within her built in intensity until it beamed out of her toward the deceiver. He shielded his eyes from the rays. She spoke with a power beyond her ability. “I am the Chosen One of the Light and you, Seppitent, are under my authority. I bind your words from you, and your tongue is tied in a knot.
Begone!
”

Seppitent let out a screech that forced hands to every ear; then he vanished.

All within the castle wall, including Aesdil and Avant, had halted to listen to the exchange between Abby and Seppitent. Upon his departure, a cheer rose from the crowd of mixed soldiers gathered on the grounds. Even the king’s men lifted arms in triumph and praise at the defeat of the evil creature.

Abby turned back toward Aesdil, seeing him through the Light that now possessed her. She saw, as through a window, into his mind and heart. Though he'd seen the truth of Seppitent’s deception, his heart was too hardened to seek repentance and too proud to admit defeat. Looking into his tortured soul, Abby realized how very similar to Avant he was.

Aesdil grabbed Chad and held a knife to his throat. “Would either of you risk this boy’s life? Back up or I'll kill him. Chosen One—I'll take my Crown now.”

She shook her head and spoke with power. “Think of your life, Aesdil. Do you believe the Light will allow you to reign with this Crown? You're a mockery, and your covetousness will destroy you as it destroyed your father.”

His hand trembled. Shaken by the truth and authority of her words, he considered them but would not drop the knife.

Still seeing clearly the intent of his heart, Abby entreated him. “You have the opportunity for repentance, but the window is closing even as I speak. Drop your knife.”

“I will kill this boy then I will dispose of his mother.” Aesdil glanced back at Sentieve. Abby looked into the hollow eyes of the queen, a flicker of hate flaming from the woman toward him.

Aesdil’s heart iced over and became implacable. His opportunity had past. He was lost. “You are the one for whom opportunity passes, Chosen One. Hand me the Crown.”

“Abigail, I will chop off your hand if you hand him that Crown.”
Avant did not break eye contact with Aesdil.

“I wasn’t planning on it, but thanks for the warning, honey.”

Avant’s rage burned within him, and Abby feared it might consume them all. Aesdil’s hand twitched. Sentieve caught Abby’s eye, the woman's intent written in the depth of her gaze. Abby opened her mouth to speak, but her voice was lost.

Abby became a spectator outside the action, the events happened as the Light allowed them to unfold. Everything ensued in slow motion, and she was helplessly frozen in place.

Sentieve grabbed the sword of the sentry holding her and stepped in front of Aesdil. Raising the blade above her head, she stabbed him through the heart with her bound hands.

With unbridled rage, Avant lunged at the same moment, piercing through Sentieve’s back and into the stomach of Aesdil, both skewered on his blade. The life immediately left Aesdil. He fell to the ground. Dropping his hold on Chad, his body slipped from the weapon that impaled him.

Avant released his sword, frozen with palms up.

Abby, still unable to move, held her breath. A lump formed in her throat.

Sentieve slowly turned and fell to her knees before Avant. Tears spilled from her. “Avant…I'm sorry, my love…please…forgive me.” She labored to speak. She grasped his arms, her eyes begging for absolution. “I always…loved…you.”

His face contorted as horror and disbelief drove him to his knees. Tears filled his eyes, and Abby tried to swallow around the painful lump in her throat. He supported Sentieve’s frail body and whispered, “I know, my darling, and I always loved you.”

“I didn’t know…but I see…it now…” Into his mind, Sentieve placed a vision.  Abby also witnessed it.

“My Lady, does your husband truly love you?” Seppitent softly sang to Sentieve.

“Who are you, beautiful creature? Yes, he loves me.” But doubts had already begun to form with his toxic words.

“Has he told you that? He is much gone, my Lady? How lonely it must be for you.”

Seppitent’s words had pierced Sentieve’s heart with thorny darts, and she wouldn’t escape them until she heard of Avant’s death in the field several months later.

Sentieve revealed the daily professions of love that had come from Aesdil and his advances on her. The night she betrayed Avant was after he’d left her crying in the threshold of their home and begging him to stay. Aesdil had found her weeping in the garden where he seduced her.

“I forgive you, my love. Rest.” Avant pulled her body to him and wept in her hair.

Her breaths came in shallow gasps. Blood trickled from her mouth as she whispered, “It is only explanation…you did not…deserve to be betrayed.” Her hand lifted to touch his cheek. “It was not your fault…
please
…explain to my son…tell him I love him.”

Sentieve closed her eyes and didn’t breathe again.

As Abby returned to self-awareness, the hush of the court contrasted the earlier turmoil. She reached her hand to her face. Tears coursed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. The Light within her faded and full range of motion returned to her limbs.

Chad lay on the ground, unconscious, and bleeding from a short gash on his throat. Abby rushed to him and ripped the sleeve from her shirt to compress the wound. The cut had narrowly missed his pulsing artery. It was Sentieve’s blow that had saved his life.