Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

T he silver and pink of encroaching dawn made Croak quicken his pace. He made a face, cursing as his foot slid again in the muck near the river while he made his way toward the sewer grate near the western wall of the city.

He had a small window to make it inside and up to the walkway leading out to the garment district of Metilai. From there, it was about a five minute walk to the city square, where the execution was to take place.

Croak reached the grate at last, grimacing when his hands slipped on the slimy bars. A shudder coursed through him. He wiped his hands on his breeches, laced his fingers together and flipped his wrists until his fingers cracked while he twisted his head sharply to either side and cracked his neck.

“You got this. You got this,” he whispered to himself as he wrapped his hands once more around the disgusting bars and pulled. He heaved twice more before the grate gave. He held his breath as he pulled it to the side and dropped down into the sewer.

“I swear to the gods you are the only person I’d ever do this for, Ren,” he said, striding as quickly as possible through the sludge. He gagged. “Maybe Orry. Dunno. Might have to think on that one for a bit.”

A few minutes later, he heard sounds overhead and peered up through the grates as he passed them, trying to gauge where he was. More turns and more sludge. The contents of his stomach almost came up several times as he rushed through the sewage until he came to the bend leading up to his destination.

The stone steps appeared up ahead on the left and he ran the last few feet, climbing the steps two at a time until he reached the iron door. He shoved it open enough to look out. Once he was sure no one was about, he eased the door open, cringing as it squealed.

Not daring any more horrendous sounds leading anyone to find out what had caused it, he slipped through the narrow opening and shut the door behind him.

It was much too early for any of the shopkeepers to be out and about, which gave him enough privacy to navigate the streets and back alleys to the square. He ducked behind a building close enough to the open area and gawked at the scene.

A dais had been set up on one side of the square with a throne and chairs on either side of it. Tiered stands had been erected on the other three sides, already filled with spectators. A large area in the middle lay empty while City Watch stood as a barrier at the foot of the stands.

Croak moved closer, sticking to the side of the building. He had no idea where Rydon and Gabriol were, just that they’d meet him in the square when Terena and Sonah were brought out. He frowned, thinking back on the conversation last night when he’d casually added they’d be rescuing not one but two treasonous damsels. While Gabriol had cursed and blustered, Rydon had simply moved on to adjusting the logistics of their plan.

“What am I doing here?” he asked himself, his voice a singsong. “I’m going to get myself killed, along with my sister, that’s what I’m doing here.”

Croak dropped his chin and rubbed at his eyes with his right hand. His nose wrinkled. “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he groaned as he sniffed his fingers and smelled the shit on them. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his tunic.

He heard shouting and a commotion on the other side of the square, where a mob of spectators had formed. He moved out and got up onto his toes, hoping to see what was happening. His pulse thrummed in his ears as he saw the first of two Imperial Guard riding toward the square. More guards appeared in a procession and finally, a cart with bars and two huddled figures inside rounded a turn to stop near the dais.

The people in the stands began throwing things at Terena and Sonah, both wearing only shifts with their legs and feet bare, the stained clothing hanging pitifully from their bruised and battered bodies.

Croak put a hand to his stomach as bile rose at the sight of his sister. Terena leaned against the bars of the cart and clutched at Sonah’s hands, her right arm hanging limp at her side. One side of her face appeared mangled, and tears slid down his face before he realized he was crying.

He walked forward out of the cover of the building, pulling his hood up as he wended his way through the masses, becoming thicker the closer he came to the stands. Edging close to where the guards were now dragging the girls, Croak looked around.

High Cleric Christos came forward, followed by High Penitent Paros, the emperor’s personal priest and seer, and Ormano bringing up the rear.

As they assembled on the dais, General Peleon strode forward, one hand on the pommel of his sword. His thin, hawklike face was stark as he stopped in front of the throne. Captain Xoran of the Imperial Guard moved to stand at his side, his swarthy countenance sneering.

The people quieted as trumpeters trilled out short bursts. The herald came forward next and stepped smartly to the front of the dais, calling out, “All Hail, Solon of House Angeloi. Emperor of Heylisia.”

Croak stiffened as the emperor emerged. His white robes swirled around him, the large gold crown glittering with pearls and rubies atop his shoulder length raven hair. He strode to the dais without a word and everyone sat once he’d taken the throne.

Croak frowned. Where was Isher?

General Peleon frowned down at Terena and Sonah as the guards roughly placed them before the dais. Terena didn’t move fast enough for one guard’s liking and suffered a vicious kick to her left leg. She landed hard on hands and cried out as her broken arm gave out, the side of her face cracking against the ground. Sonah lurched for her and was rewarded with a backhand by another guard.

The crowd erupted, roaring their approval, and Croak shook, his hands balled at his sides. Furtively, he scanned the surroundings, hoping to spot Rydon or Gabriol, both of whom had disguised themselves as Imperial Guard, but all of them wore bronze helmets obscuring much of their faces.

Croak’s stomach pitched as he watched a guard yank on his sister’s arm to lift her up and the black clad executioner stepped forward with a rope. He tied it around her wrist and motioned for another guard to take the other end. Croak closed his eyes as they tied another rope to her right wrist.

When her ankles were tied, a guard stood at her back to keep her upright.

She was barely conscious.

Croak was now at the front of the spectators.

General Peleon raised his arms, and a hush fell over the square.

“Terena Luca,” General Peleon’s harsh, high-pitched voice rang out across the yard. “You are charged with treason against the empire, the murder of Prince Lerek, and the attempted assassination of Prince Isher. Additionally,” he paused and moved his gaze over the crowd who seemed to lean in closer. “Additionally, you have been found guilty of hiding your true nature, for which there is no redemption in the laws of the empire and in the laws of man.”

He turned and faced Terena. Her head hung as she stood with the help of a guard. Croak’s heart was in his throat, waiting for the announcement that would seal her fate.

“You are a god, and the penalty for that alone is death. ”

The people exploded and Croak cringed against the renewed frenzy at the general’s words. He fought to stay at the front as everyone pushed their way forward. Imperial Guard and City Watch rushed out to stop the masses from storming the square.

Peleon smirked down at Terena and opened his mouth to speak again, but Terena lifted her head at last. Croak’s mouth hung open, but he could only see her profile from his vantage point.

“You,” she said, her voice barely a whisper, but as soon as she spoke, the square fell silent.

“You,” she said again, louder, “You do not know what’s coming for you.”

Gasps from the spectators sounded all around, and Croak took a step closer, putting him within reach of one guard. His heart thundered so hard against his ribs he became faint.

“You think you can kill me ?” she yelled, and the guard at her side stepped back. Terena stood on her own for the first time since he’d seen her.

“You think you can kill a god? ”

The blood drained from his face as his sister screamed at the general.

Terena lifted her arm, and all hells broke loose.

Rydon stood at Terena’s side when she lifted her arm, white light illuminating her veins as it raced to her fingers. A pulse of something he’d never felt before rushed out, slamming into the general and everyone on the dais. Their bodies flew to the ground, and the spectators cried out.

Rydon lunged for her when she fell. All around him, people ran in the ensuing chaos, the guards helpless to stop the stampede. Rydon ripped off his helmet and reached down with his dagger, slashing at Terena’s bindings. He surged forward as someone dropped to his side, but he looked up in time to see Croak .

“We need to go! Now!” Rydon roared. “Gabe!” he yelled, not bothering to turn to look for his man. “Get the girl!”

Gabriol grunted in response and Rydon turned to the dais to see Peleon and Xoran and the remaining Imperial Guard shuffling their royal burden toward a waiting carriage.

A cleric darted out from under one guard and ran down the steps of the dais toward them.

“No!” Croak shouted, lunging to grab Rydon’s arm when Rydon sprang at him, intent on gutting the man. “He’s with us!”

Rydon froze and frowned down at Croak, then looked back at the cowering cleric, his face ashen and eyes wide as he stared back at Rydon.

He grunted, bent down and, as carefully as he could, lifted Terena Luca’s broken body into his arms. Croak fussed over her for a second before Rydon snarled at him to move.

“We have maybe ten seconds before the guards reach us,” Gabriol called out, breathless as he rushed past, the frightened girl, Sonah Yahn, in his arms. The look of terror on her face gave way to tears when she caught sight of both Croak and Terena.

Croak, to his credit, narrowed his eyes and turned, no trace of fear on his face. Striding forward, he cleared a path through the mob. Rydon rushed to follow.

“What now?” Croak screamed over the noise. Rydon heard Gabriol swear behind him and several people cry out.

“We move!” he yelled back and shoved Croak aside to barrel through the crowd.