The Ring Keeper, page 48
Talon helped Allia and Ana get Callonen upright. With assistance, Callonen made it to the horse, and Talon helped him into the saddle. Ana mounted behind Zarek, who was still slung over the horse. She would make sure he didn’t fall off.
The land was quiet. The only other people moving were Aran patrols. The day was cold, and Ana warmed her frozen fingers against Zarek’s feverish skin.
They increased their pace. The way grew easier as they approached the city. Soon, they were on smooth roads. Almost there.
“Our men are going to shoot us from the walls,” Talon said, shaking his head and looking up at the city. “I would.”
In the bright afternoon sunshine, they paused a little distance from the gate.
“Stay here, all of you, out of bowshot,” Ana ordered. She took her helmet off and shook out her hair. She gave Talon her weapon and rode forward with Zarek.
When she reached the city gate, a voice demanded, “Who are you? Speak quickly. We’re ready to shoot.”
She knew the voice. In her years there, she’d gotten to know nearly everyone in the palace. “Is that any way to welcome me home, Renard?” she called back. “I know you couldn’t hit a barn at this distance, but I don’t want to risk it. So please don’t shoot.”
She heard an oath and then a laugh, followed by several voices arguing. “They ordered no one gets in,” one protested.
“But it’s Lady Cirana,” Renard countered. “I don’t want to be the man who tells the emperor we refused to let her in.”
Ana heard murmurs of agreement from the others. The gate opened, and she rode in. They surrounded her with welcomes and questions. Renard’s tall frame and bright blue eyes foremost among them. Ana glanced back outside. “There are three more friends out there. I need you to trust me and let them in as well. We’ve been hiding from Aran soldiers. We had to disguise ourselves with their uniforms.”
The guards appeared to be uncomfortable, but they didn’t object as Ana waved the others in. She dismounted and gathered the soldiers close around her. “Something terrible has happened,” she said. “You all saw Callonen leave the city?”
“Yes,” Renard replied, “But he came back the next day. He seemed fine. The king of Ara didn’t hurt him. I think they made some kind of deal.”
“No,” Ana explained. “It wasn’t Callonen who came back. It was his twin brother Haldreth.”
They made exclamations of shock.
“He looked just like Emperor Callonen,” Renard protested. “How can you be sure he wasn’t?”
“Because I am the emperor,” Callonen said, pulling his hood back. For a long moment, they stared in shock at his injured face.
Renard gasped, his blue eyes wide. “Emperor! What did they do to you?”
“That’s not important now,” Callonen said. “You can stop staring. It’s me. I saw you the day before they attacked, Renard. I asked you if your mother was feeling better yet. And Wes, you hurt your shoulder when we were sparring last week. I hope it hasn’t given you too much trouble.”
Renard leaned close and stared hard at him. “It is you,” he said, straightening up and saluting. The others followed his example. “What is your command, Emperor?”
Callonen put his hand on the unconscious Zarek’s shoulder. “This is Zarek. He might be dressed like an Aran now, but he saved Sarine. Wes, please take him someplace safe until this is all over and guard him.”
Ana put her hand on Wes’s arm. “Please, please make sure he’s safe.”
“I will, my lady,” Wes replied. “We have a wagon nearby. We’ll take him to the healers at the palace. He’ll be safe there, and they will do what they can to help him.” He and another of the guards brought a stretcher from the guardhouse. They slid Zarek off the horse and onto it, throwing a blanket over him to hide his blue uniform. Then they lifted him and carried him to the wagon.
Ana wanted to go with him, but they had to finish this first.
“Now,” Callonen said, “Will you find out where my brother is?”
Another guard saluted and hurried off.
“Renard, we can’t walk through my city looking like the enemy. But we can’t be recognized either. Please bring us something to wear,” Callonen requested.
Talon dismounted and began helping Callonen down.
“Don’t try to walk, Emperor,” Renard and a soldier had brought another stretcher.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Of course, I can walk,” Callonen objected. He hobbled a single step, and his face tightened in pain.
“Now is not the time to be stubborn,” Talon said. “Lie down.”
Relenting, Callonen got onto the stretcher and allowed the soldiers to carry him into the guardhouse. His friends followed along.
Before long, they had dressed to blend in with the Emperor’s Guard.
The soldier who had gone to look for Haldreth returned. “Your brother is on his way to the throne room. Many members of the court are already there.”
“It’s time to finish this,” Callonen said grimly. “Help me up.”
Ana felt her stomach tighten. It was time to face her father. But this was her home, and she didn’t need to stand alone.
“Don’t get up, Emperor Callonen,” Renard protested. “I’ll find a carriage for you. And when we get to the palace, perhaps Lady Cirana would help me gather reinforcements?”
A few moments later, they helped Callonen into a borrowed carriage. Allia and Ana got in with him. Talon, Renard and his friends followed on horseback. It didn’t take long to pass through the city and up the hill, stopping at the palace gates.
Ana followed Renard to the barracks where the Emperor’s Guard was housed, while the others waited in the carriage. She spoke to the sentry at the door. “We need your help. It’s very important.”
He bowed with one hand on his heart. “Anything, Lady Cirana. What can I do?”
“Haldreth is pretending to be Emperor Callonen. I need to stop him. Will you help me?”
“But how—?”
“Wake everyone up. We need to go now,” Ana said. “I’ll explain when the men are gathered.”
“Yes, Lady Cirana. Wait here.” He opened the door to the barracks and yelled, “Everyone up! It’s time to serve our empire.”
Only a few moments later, the entire company of guards came out. Some looked half awake, but they were dressed and armed.
Ana gave them a quick explanation. “Emperor Callonen’s twin brother is impersonating him. We need to protect the emperor as he confronts Haldreth. Callonen is badly hurt and needs our help.”
Their faces registered shock and disbelief, but prepared to serve, they all followed her back to where she had left the emperor. They waited in silence as Talon and Renard helped Callonen out of the carriage. He stood there, leaning heavily on them, looking around at the guards. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your loyalty right now,” he said.
“We’re with you, Emperor,” one of them said. The others nodded.
Callonen looked at Ana. She took a deep breath. It was time. She led the way to the throne room.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Year of Warding 42, White City, Sarine
Ana
DESPITE ANA’S TIME AWAY FROM SARINE, the palace halls were familiar. It felt strange to be leading so many people, but she felt supported by their presence. They gathered more with them as they went—guards, courtiers and friends.
Ana paused at the door to the throne room, her heart pounding. The king was in there. Haldreth. Her father. Her missing finger throbbed. She would rather have run the other way and never stopped running than confront him. But it was time to be brave.
She glanced at the others. Renard and his friends helped Callonen. Allia and Talon stood beside him, and the rest of the guards surrounded them.
“Ready?” Ana asked.
Everyone nodded.
“Stay out of sight until it’s time,” she directed them. “Renard, will you walk with me?”
He smiled. “Gladly, my lady. Wherever you lead.” Another man took his place supporting Callonen.
“Thanks,” she said. She inhaled deeply and entered the room.
Though her heart was racing, Ana kept her expression calm and happy as she met the eyes of the man on the throne. She walked forward eagerly. His eyes widened slightly, and his lips tightened for a moment.
He stood up and opened his arms. “Lady Cirana! Home safely! It’s a miracle, and we are so grateful.” He embraced her. “I’ve been so worried! I was afraid he had killed you. Cirana, I am so relieved to have you back.”
Even without the ring, his kind tone never would have fooled Ana.
He turned back to the people. “Let everyone rejoice with us! The heir to our empire, my beautiful Cirana, has returned safely.” The crowd cheered and applauded.
Ana took a deep breath. “And I…” The room quieted to hear her. She felt like she was going to throw up. But she couldn’t fail now. She could not let him win. And she wasn’t going to live in fear of him anymore. She took another breath. “I’m so grateful to be home, but imagine my surprise to find you here, my father, Haldreth, king of Ara.”
The room exploded with noise, everyone speaking at once. The man in the crown held up his hand for silence.
“My dear, you must be exhausted after your long journey and distraught after whatever they did to you in Ara. You’re safe. You’re back in Sarine. Don’t you recognize me? Please tell me how I can help you.”
“I recognize you perfectly,” Ana’s voice rang in the silent room. “You took Callonen from the city, stripped him, and ordered your men to beat him. Then you came back here to replace him, wearing his clothes. I’m sure you only did it because, without the Shekkar, it will be too hard to defeat us. The demons are dead!” She yelled it to the entire room, and they cheered. “The emperor’s sword, Blackbane, defeated them all. Now there’s no one left to fight against Sarine but ordinary men!”
For a moment, Haldreth seemed paralyzed by shock, but he quickly recovered. “Guards!” he cried. “Send for the healers, and take Lady Cirana someplace safe, where she can rest until her delusions have passed.” Four of his own guards surrounded Ana and Renard. As they tried to seize Ana, he jumped forward with a yell, knocking the foremost of them down. The others drew their swords, and Renard’s friends rushed to join the fight.
“Stop!”
Everyone paused, looking around to see who had spoken. The voice commanded everyone’s attention.
Leaning heavily on a guard, the emperor hobbled to the front of the room. “I am Callonen, son of Caldoreth, Emperor of Sarine.”
Everyone stared at him in shock. His damaged face bore little resemblance to the emperor they knew.
“He is Emperor Callonen!” Ana yelled, still struggling against the guards, who refused to release her. One clamped a hand over her mouth, silencing her.
Slowly, Callonen stepped forward to face his brother, Talon at his side. “It’s over, Haldreth. I am the emperor. The Warding belongs to me.”
“The Warding is broken!” Haldreth protested. “It’s gone.”
“It disappeared for a while,” Callonen agreed. “But it has returned. I know how much you hate me and that you tortured Allia and Cirana. She’s your own child. How could you?”
“You’re very bold to confront me in my throne room and claim I am not myself,” Haldreth said. “Guards. Seize the impostor.”
As Haldreth’s soldiers hurried forward, Callonen called out to his own men. He knew every one of them by name, and when he called, they gathered to him.
“Well, Haldreth? Do you know their names?”
While all the soldiers wore the white-and-gold uniform of the Emperor’s Guard, they had divided themselves into two groups. The crowd in the hall pushed closer to Callonen as if to express support.
“Release Lady Cirana,” Callonen ordered.
Ana struggled against the men holding her, but they were loyal to Haldreth and didn’t obey the emperor’s command.
The impostor moved a step nearer, his eyes locked with his brother’s. “This is my empire.” His tone was icy.
As his hand moved suddenly toward Callonen, Ana couldn’t see a weapon, but the emperor stiffened, his battered features tightening in pain. She fought against the guards holding her. Her father had attacked his brother somehow.
Ana barely saw Talon move, but his knife appeared, buried in Haldreth’s throat.
Disbelief on his face, Haldreth jerked the blade out as he crumpled, and the weapon fell from his hand. His soldiers attacked Talon and the rest of the Emperor’s Guard.
In the confusion, Ana saw a man slip between the combatants. Horrified, she realized it was Gavin.
She tried to shout a warning, but the guard still had his hand over her mouth. She drove her bootheel into his foot and her elbow into his belly. He grunted in pain and his grip loosened, allowing her to twist free.
But it was too late. Gavin was already reaching for Haldreth with her ring on his finger. Talon dove toward him, but the young man reached Haldreth first and touched him.
With a flash of green light, Gavin screamed in agony and collapsed to the floor just before Talon’s blade struck him.
Haldreth leapt back to his feet, heedless of the bright blood staining his neck. He retreated a few steps, and his guards blocked Callonen’s men. Now the king of Ara stood in the center of a black circle that had been drawn on the marble floor.
Ana fought her way through the crowd, trying to reach Callonen.
“So that’s how it is!” Haldreth stared at his brother in fury. “You feel justified in attempting to assassinate me? After all this time, you still think you’re better than me. You think the people love you and want you to take care of them? That ends today. This empire is mine!”
Haldreth chanted in an unfamiliar language. A sharp tearing noise filled the room. A piercing, unearthly shriek followed and caused everyone to cover their ears. It sounded like one of the demons, only much louder.
Ana stopped and clasped her hands over her ears.
Talon and the emperor’s guards attacked Haldreth’s men, attempting to get through to stop him. The sound of blades clashing filled the room.
Haldreth’s spell had torn a hole in reality. It looked as if the air had split along an invisible seam, revealing an opening to… somewhere else. It was utterly dark inside. Haldreth continued the incantation—his powerful voice carrying above the noise.
Something huge pushed its way out of the hole. Screams and cries of fear echoed throughout the room.
Whatever it was, Ana knew it would be worse than the demons. The thing shrieked again, and the sound felt like it had penetrated her mind.
Where was Callonen? The crowd had closed in, blocking him from view.
At another roar from the creature, her eyes were riveted on it as more became visible. It had sleek, dark, scaly skin and sharp claws. It opened its jaws to display long, deadly teeth.
Talon knocked the last of his opponents to the ground and ran toward the circle. Its boundary stopped him as if he’d hit a solid wall. One of his men shot an arrow, but it rebounded off the invisible barrier.
Haldreth continued reciting. Even more of the creature slid out, proving it was bigger than it had seemed at first. It snapped its jaws, fixing its gaze on the people outside the circle. There were more shouts and screams, and people backed away from the line, the crowd packing together against the walls. Many ran from the room in panic.
Ana caught sight of her mother, nearly invisible in the confusion of the room, kneeling on the floor at the edge of the circle. She was far too close to Haldreth and his spell. Silent and nearly motionless, she worked on something on the floor, concentrating, despite all the chaos happening around her.
Haldreth turned his head and spotted Allia. A look of horror appeared on his face. But he couldn’t stop chanting. Even his slight pause had caused the monster to turn its attention to him. It stared at him now.
Sweat beaded on Haldreth’s face. He kept speaking, increasing his pace. But Allia didn’t stop, even though the creature roared again and everyone in the room shrank from the sound. The monster began pushing a leg through the opening, and a flash of brilliant crimson lit the room.
Haldreth yelled, “Allia, stop!”
But it was too late.
The circle was broken, the binding words interrupted. Now the black creature turned to snap at Haldreth. It lunged at him and clamped his arm in its teeth. He screamed. “Allia! Please! Repair the circle. I’ll give you anything you want… Please!”
Allia stood, the blade still in her hand. “No!” Her voice carried through the hall, clear and powerful.
The scaly creature was being pulled back into the opening. Haldreth struggled desperately as it dragged him with it. His boot heels scraping against the polished floor. “Allia, please! Help me!”
The creature disappeared, taking Haldreth with it. The sound of his screaming abruptly cut off as the tear in reality sealed itself.
Silence fell.
The quiet only lasted for one shocked moment. Then the crowd burst into cheering, yelling and crying in relief.
Allia raised the knife over her head and shouted in triumph. “He’s gone!” she exclaimed. “I’m finally free.” She held up her knife and shouted the words. “I’m free!”
Talon and the rest of Callonen’s guard swarmed over Haldreth’s remaining men, disarming them.
Ana ran to her mother. Leaning heavily on a guard, Callonen hobbled toward them. “Allia! Are you all right?”
Allia held up her knife. “I scraped away the markings. He can only control the magic as long as the circle stays intact.”
“You did it!” Callonen put his good arm around her, pulling her close. He turned to Ana. “Find the ring and save Zarek. Hurry!”
His voice sounded strained, and underneath the bruises, his skin looked pale.
“Are you all right?” she asked him, worry tightening her stomach.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine,” he insisted. “Help Zarek.”
Ana ran to Gavin. He lay on his side where he’d fallen after healing Haldreth. His body was crumpled, one hand across his chest, a pool of blood spreading from a mortal wound. She’d been so terrified of him, but now he looked like nothing more than an ordinary young man. The cruelty was gone from his face.
