The Rising King (28 page)

I’ve never seen Kera more shocked or so heartbroken. “How can you think that? Baun is your father, but you are nothing like him.”

My cheeks warm with shame. “Kera…” It’s all I can do to say her name, but I force the rest out. She needs to know the real me. “I struggle not to be like him every day.”

“I know.” She wraps her arms around my neck and whispers softly in my ear, “And that is why I love you. You choose to do what’s right.” Her hot tears mingle with the cool rain as she hugs me close.

My breath stutters in and out of my chest. She knows. Of course she does. She had the same horrible power within her. If anyone understands me, it’s Kera. “How am I supposed to end this?”

“You will know when the time comes.”

I brush a sodden strand of hair off of her cheek. “You have a lot of faith in me.”

“Not just me. They do too. They deserve a king who cares.” She nods to the weary people shuffling down the street. “It stopped being about us when I crossed the barrier and found you. They believe in you, Dylan. Now you need to believe in yourself. If you don’t, there is no point in following them, because all we will see is them dying, and I don’t want to see that.”

I take her hand in mine. “Neither do I.”

Fatherless Son

The streets of the Ruined City are eerily quiet and completely deserted. The shops stand abandoned, as if the owners temporarily stepped out. Tables at an outdoor café still have plates of food on them. An empty pram sits on the sidewalk, a baby blanket spilling over the side as if the baby was snatched in a moment of terror. A riderless horse trots down the street, dragging the reins along the cobblestones. Everywhere I look, I see snapshots of what panic left behind.

We’re a scruffy band. Dirty. Tired. Bruised and bloody. It’s been a long day, one I want over as much as the next person. Kera constantly checks her weapons and worries at her bottom lip. Not knowing what Baun has planned for Signe is torture. He’s made it very clear he doesn’t care who he hurts so long as he gets what he wants.

An eerie light shines from the top of the coliseum. We don’t sneak up on it. Why should we? Baun led us there, and it’s not long before the towering structure rises before us. We gather in front of it, rows and rows of
firsts
who dare to defy their power-hungry king. It’s an impressive sight. Almost as impressive as the arena with its stone facade intricately carved with scenes of warriors and maidens battling all sorts of creatures I’ve never seen.

“He sure likes flash and bang,” I mutter.

The gladiatorial style of the carvings should have been a red flag. When I first saw the coliseum after he’d built it, I only thought my dad had a love of ancient civilization, a time when there was only one ruler and everyone was a subject to his whims. Yeah. Huge red flag.

“It’s disturbing. Lucinda told me underneath it is a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers filled with lost souls Baun deemed harmful to the success of our people. She tried to warn me then Baun wasn’t the man we thought he was.” Her full lips turn down with sadness. “How could I have been so blind to who he really was?”

“We all were.” I squeeze her hand. “We wanted to believe he’d changed. I think even he wanted to believe it.” But it was an unspoken lie.

My dad is crazy—he always has been—and it’s time we ended his reign of terror.

The rain around us is heavy, but over the arena it’s dry. Reece, Halim, Kera, and I stay toward the back of the
firsts
who silently wait, a stark contrast to the crowd’s raucous cheers pouring from the arena.

I don’t even want to know what they’re doing in there. Halim nervously scratches his arms, peering at Reece, who paces, unable to stand still. Suddenly, he whirls around. The light of an idea shines from his eyes. He calls Cahl over. “Can we get into the labyrinth beneath the arena without being seen?”

The soldier isn’t fazed by the rain. While I shield my eyes and resist the urge to shake the water from my hair, he stands, back straight, hands on his weapons, and ignores the fact that his dark hair is plastered to his head. “I know a way, but once in, there are guards everywhere.”

“And they’re all loyal to Baun?”

“Terrifyingly loyal. Just like everyone else. If they didn’t swear their allegiance to him, they were threatened with death and stripped of their powers.”

“What are you thinking?” I ask.

“While you deal with Baun, I’ll find Signe.”

He can’t be serious. “Do you know what’s in there?”

“All I need is a little Rodarian-style change in my appearance and they won’t have a clue.”

Cahl smiles. “I’ve always wanted to be a redhead.”

“Wait, you want me to turn both of you into Signe?”

Reece scowls at me. “If those idiots can do it, it can’t be that hard of a makeover, right?”

I feel a spark of hope ignite. “I actually think I can do that.”

Reece turns to Cahl. “We’ll need some men to act as prisoners. While I find Signe, you and your men can release anyone he has locked up down there.”

“You are reading my mind. I’ll get volunteers.” Cahl starts calling men forward, and I pull Reece aside. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“It doesn’t matter. I have to save her.”

I can see the desperation in his eyes. He loves her. Risking it all for someone you love is something I know all about. I won’t insult him by trying to talk him out of it. If Cahl thinks Reece has got a chance, then he just might. “Good luck.”

“You too.” He looks at Halim, at the spark of defiance on the boy’s face. “So…ever been a prisoner before?”

A relieved sigh escapes him. “Dude, I can be a prisoner. I know how to look defeated.”

I shake my head. “He says dude now?”

Reece shrugs and ruffles Halim’s messy, wet hair. “He’s picked up a few new words and phrases here and there…”

“You’re determined to make him into a modern human, aren’t you?”

“He’s determined to become one.”

When the men are gathered, I call on my power and turn Reece and Cahl into identical images of Signe, like I did when I created her golem.

“What about the eyes?” Reece’s deep voice asks. It’s strange hearing it come from Signe’s mouth. “Did you make them red?”

“How will she know it’s you if I change those?”

Reece rolls Signe’s eyes. “The woman knows my voice, dude.”

Well, I feel stupid. I make their eyes red and the transformation is complete. They sneak away with a handful of fake prisoners, and it’s just Kera and me.

The two of us make our way to the head of the
firsts
, roughly three hundred who stand warily at the arena entrance. No one has gone in or come out, though we can still hear cheering going on inside. When we break through the soldiers, we’re confronted by a set of massive arched double-wide doors that are wide open.

Kera’s eyes are big and wary. “Do we just go in?”

“It looks like it.”

A band of tiny, brightly lit
pux,
hateful creatures that are more malicious than mischievous, flutter into view and surround me. A long line of dark-haired, identical-looking Rodarians thunder out of the arena, packing the space in front of the doors. The
firsts
visibly grow tense.

“Stay calm,” I whisper to myself. The road I’ve had to walk ends here. Somehow I’ve got to find the strength to deal with my dad, and if he wants me and me alone, then I’m all for it.

As several
pux
try to push Kera away, she latches onto my hand and won’t let go. One gets in Kera’s face and wags a tiny finger at her. Kera sneers. “We both go or neither of us goes.”

When the little beastie doesn’t back down, Kera flicks the
pux
on the stomach and it flies back. I know from experience there’s no talking her out of anything. She does what she wants and no one, not even the king of Teag, will be able to convince her differently.

The swarm of
pux
cuts us from the rest of the
firsts
like cattle being culled from the herd for slaughter. I motion for the soldiers to stay back. Baun has a show planned and I refuse to add to the drama.

Pushed forward, we enter the arena, and as we do, I dry our clothes and shiver at the instant feeling of warmth.

“Why have they left us our weapons?” Kera asks. I shrug, and we’re prodded left. The eerie light we noticed as we approached the arena is coming from hundreds of
pux
overhead, a natural light to the entertainment below where we spy a blindfolded griffin fighting a giant cyclops. It doesn’t seem like a fair match. The cyclops is huge and can see its enemy while the griffin is much smaller and operating blind, but even blindfolded, the griffin manages to pluck out the giant’s eye. When it does, a huge roar rockets through the crowd.

We enter a dark passage. The smell of wet stone and whistle of a cold wind greet us. Within the shadows Nightmare Men loom, their teeth bared as if they’d like nothing better than to rip into us. I put my hand on my sword, and we follow the passageway as it snakes down and around until we’re led to a ramp with a large arched door at the end. With nowhere else to go, we stop and wait. The
pux
flitter around us. One pulls Kera’s hair. Another bites her on the arm. I heat up my hand and spit little pops of fire at the nasty beasts, burning a few of the more persistent ones. When I cool down, none of them are eager to get close anymore. I lace my fingers firmly between Kera’s and she moves even closer.

A huge roar rises from the arena, and the door flies open. The hissing and spitting griffin, no longer blindfolded, is ushered from the arena into the holding area, its beak a bloody mess. It pauses when it sees Kera and bows its head before it’s forced forward. The creature causes more than a handful of trouble for its handlers.

In the center of the arena a blind, and very dead, cyclops is cleared away.

“It’s like the Roman games.” Baun’s flair for dramatics rivals Nero’s. “He’s going to go all Roman emperor on me.” I shouldn’t be surprised; still, fighting in an arena as some sort of sick entertainment seems off, even for him.

We’re prodded forward and as we enter, the crowd boos. The arena is filled with Rodarians that look just like Signe.

“How will Reece find her?” Kera whispers.

I don’t say anything. I’m more worried about how I’m going to get Baun to give up his power and then get us out of here.

The doors on the other side of the arena open.
Pux
burst out like fireworks, and behind the bright lights, Baun steps forward. He’s decked out as usual. A Victorian gentleman by looks; a serial killer by nature. The booing turns to cheers, and Kera draws her
incordium
blade and hides it in the folds of her long, billowy jacket.

With each step Baun takes, the arena begins to change. A thick grove of trees appears at one end. At the other, he re-creates the ruins of a stone temple. All around the arena he makes what I’m beginning to understand are hazards, such as boiling geysers, quicksand, and an ice cave. When we meet in the center, the arena grows silent.

“What are you doing?” I ask. He can’t be serious about this crazy contest he’s created.

Pux
swarm around my dad like little flies. “All this?” He motions to his setting. “Just a simple test to see who is worthy of the title king.”

He looks at Kera and smiles. “My greatest regret was your death. I am touched, though frankly surprised, you managed to survive.”

The sincerity in his voice is impressive. “How do you do that?” I ask.

“Do what?” The blank look on his face shows he honestly has no idea what I’m talking about.

“Lie.”

Disgust tugs at his face. “I never lie. It’s the truth. I never wanted her dead. It was an unfortunate necessity…much like your death will be if you insist on keeping what is rightfully mine.”

I look around. “You cut a deal with Navar…and the Rodarians, didn’t you?”

“I only do what I must. If they help me procure absolute rule, they get access to the human realm.”

“You can’t be serious?” I don’t care that my disgust for what he’s done shows on my face. “Allowing them into the human realm will wipe out the human race.”

“What have the humans ever done but bring us to the brink of disaster with their lies and deception? Is it not fitting they face extinction just like every other species?” He sighs at my visible horror. “I have done what’s best for Teag. Purging it of what does not belong and expanding our reign to where it first began. Only one man can lead. To lead one must have unwavering loyalty and all the power at his disposal.” He says that with such certainty, I think he actually believes he’s doing the right thing. “I offer our people sanctuary from the evil that’s ripping through our land. All they have to do is give me their loyalty and magic. A fair trade in my eyes.”

“But you created the evil they’re running from.”

“No.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as if he’s laughing. “I just didn’t hold it back. There is a difference.”

He’s completely crazy. “I won’t give you your powers back, and I won’t let you drain me of mine. You know I can’t let you continue all…this,” I say, pointing to the extravagant arena and the monsters he’s let loose on his own people.

“Those who obey me have nothing to fear.”

“Kera obeyed you. She did everything you asked, and in the end you tried to kill her.”

“Being king requires one to make difficult choices. You cannot fill my shoes. Even if you have my powers, you haven’t the backbone or the vision to be king.”

“News flash. You’re no longer king. You’re done taking what isn’t yours.”

“Sadly, that is what I expected to hear. If you had agreed to my terms, I might have let you go free. But now…” His hand begins to glow. “I did warn you. I want what’s mine, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.”

“Is this yours?” Reggie asks. We all turn to see him standing a few feet away, his shotgun barrel resting on his shoulder as he holds up the ring that controls the Nightmare Men. “I thought there was a reason you were so hot for us to leave. You dropped it in all the muck. Good thing your men found it. It took some convincing, but they finally agreed I should bring it to you.”

Baun’s jaw stiffens. “You have no idea what you hold.”

Reggie’s eyebrows rise. He then drops the ring on the ground. “There, I’m not holding it anymore.” The next thing I know, the heel of his work boot smashes the ring. A ripple of power bursts along the ground and Baun yells, his gaze horrified by what Reggie has destroyed.

Suddenly the arena fills with Nightmare Men no longer bound to the shadows. Orntho waves his sword in the air and points it dramatically at Baun, signaling his intent to come after him. Baun is furious. “Do you know what you have done? You’ve given them their freedom. Not even their leader can keep them in check. None of us are safe.”

“Sounds like an even playing field to me.” Reggie flips his shotgun into his hands and takes a shot at Baun.

The pellets never reach him. Baun stops them in midair and sends them back toward Reggie. I soften the earth beneath his feet. The ground partially swallows him to his chest, and the pellets zip harmlessly over his head. I pop him back up and yell at him to go. Reggie won’t last ten seconds in a confrontation with Baun.

Baun is so angry he turns and faces me, his hand glowing superbright.