Island Shifters: Book 02 - An Oath of the Mage (31 page)

“I don’t agree. Like you said, there will always be evil. Even as a Mage you cannot possibly save everyone from harm. It is unrealistic.”

“No, not everybody, but I can save you, Kenley, Kellan, and Kane,” he said softly.

She turned from him then and rubbed her arms to rid her body of the awful premonition that gripped her whenever they had this discussion. She turned back, tears in her eyes this time. “I never told you this before, but Diamond had a vision about you and it concerned a journey you would take one day.” She looked him in the eye. “It ended with your death.”

“Kiernan…”

“I believe in my heart, that if you leave me to become a Mage, you will never come back.”

He took her hands. “You know that Diamond’s visions do not always come true. And, it does not mean that it was
this
journey that she saw. It could have been me journeying into the Grayan for a blacktail hunt at the age of ninety-nine. I will be back, Kiernan, I give you my word.”

“No.” She turned her back to him. “You are asking me to choose between the safety of a family that is not in danger and you. I cannot do it, Beck. I will not gamble with your life. Living without you is not something I can survive. Please do not ask me again.”

When he did not respond, she walked out of the stables.

Beck knew he was late and raced through the palace corridors tugging at the sleeves of his black coat. He spent more time in the stables than he intended and when he arrived back at the suite, Kiernan had already left.

Straining his neck to catch glimpses out of the row of windows as he ran, it looked to him like every citizen in Nysa had turned out for the trial. The courtyard and streets beyond were crammed full of spectators. Opinions regarding the proper punishment for the felonious nobles ranged from a public stoning to a life sentence in the palace dungeons. Beck was just as curious as the people to see how Maximus would rule.

The Sabers at the front doors held them open for him, and he dashed out into the courtyard. Hastily stepping up onto the newly constructed dais, he nodded to the drastically reduced Court members before taking his seat next to Kiernan. She did not glance his way, but stared straight ahead, sitting regally and breathtaking beautiful in a scarlet, silk dress and arm veils.

“Still angry with me?” he whispered.

“I could ask the same of you.”

“Why would I be angry?”

“Because of how weak I am when it comes to you.”

He reached out and turned her chin his way. “You are the bravest and strongest woman I know. And, the discussion is over. I will not ask it of you again.”

She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”

The royal trumpeter heralded the appearance of the King. A procession of Scarlet Sabers in their crisp scarlet tunics and black sashes marched out of the palace and down the stairs, shiny Sabers glinting in what was left of the late afternoon sun.

All those seated rose to their feet.

“Where is Kenley?” Kiernan asked him in a hushed voice.

“In the suite with Kirby and Miss Belle. She is not very happy to be confined to the rooms.”

“I wonder where she gets that stubborn streak of hers?”

Beck turned to her and lifted his eyebrows. “Yes, I wonder, indeed.”

Kiernan punched him in the arm just as Maximus descended the palace steps. Usually, Kiernan’s father shunned wearing the royal crown with its surfeit of rubies and black onyx, but it was sitting atop his head today

The King strode to the dais and took his place on the throne in the center. “Please be seated,” he ordered, and all on the platform sat back down with the exception of Lord Gage Gregaros.

Gage walked down one stair of the dais to address the crowd. “We are gathered here today to stand witness in the trial of Abram Winslow and Ava Conry. Will the guards bring the accused forward.” Stepping back, Gage returned to his seat.

A murmur rippled through the crowd as four Iserlohn guardsmen brought forth the two former members of the King’s Court.

Beck was shocked by the appearance of both. Abram, nearing his ninetieth year, looked even older, his face gaunt and hollow and his clothes hanging on his thin frame as he shuffled along between two guards. Ava Conry, usually dressed in the finest of clothes, was wearing a plain, disheveled dress and her face was streaked with dirt. Unlike Abram, though, she walked stiff, her chin jutting forward.

“Hang them, I say!” someone shouted from the assemblage and cheers of support followed. Beck noticed Ava’s shoulders flinch when a tomato thrown from the crowd hit her in the back and the juice splattered over her dress.

The guards led the nobles directly before the dais, and all was hushed for a long moment before the King finally rose to his feet.

“Ava Conry, step forward,” he demanded.

The guards let go of the woman’s arms, and she stumbled slightly before righting herself to approach.

She knelt before Maximus.

“Ava Conry, you have been accused of high treason against the Crown in an attempt to undermine the lawful lines of succession, plotting murder against your Sovereign, waging war against your Sovereign, and conspiring to spill the blood of your fellow citizens.”

Ava’s composure began to crack under the charges and she let out a tiny sob.

“How do you plead?” the King asked.

She reached for Maximus’ hand. “I…I plead guilty, Your Grace, but I beg you to show mercy. Lord Etin tricked me with his lies and duplicity. I am as much an innocent victim in this as the rest of Nysa.”

“Bah!” a man shouted from the crowd. “Soldiers follow the orders of their liege! One of Conry’s legionnaires killed my son when he did not move out of the man’s way fast enough! Lady Conry was there and did nothing to stop it! No clemency was shown to my boy and none should be given to Lady Conry!”

Cries of support for the man echoed through the gathering and more tomatoes were lobbed at the kneeling woman.

King Maximus held up his hand and again the people quieted quickly, anxious to hear the King’s decree.

“Ava Conry, I could show you mercy for conspiring against the Crown.” Ava looked up hopefully. “But, I cannot show mercy for the death of innocent people due to your actions. For your crime of high treason, I sentence you to death by hanging.”

Ava screamed and then fainted.

King Maximus gestured, and two guardsmen rushed forward, picked her up and carried her into the palace, presumably to the cells to await her execution.

“Abram Winslow, step forward.”

The ancient man shuffled forward and knelt before the King.

“Abram Winslow, you have been accused of high treason against the Crown in an attempt to undermine the lawful lines of succession, plotting murder against your Sovereign, waging war against your Sovereign, and conspiring to spill the blood of your fellow citizens. How do you plead?”

“Guilty, Your Grace.”

“Abram Winslow, I could show you mercy for conspiring against the Crown, but I cannot show mercy for the death of innocent people due to your actions. For your crime of high treason, I sentence you to…” The King paused. “I sentence you to banishment.”

The crowd gasped in collective surprise.

Abram lifted his watery eyes to look at his old friend. “Your Grace?”

“As of this day, you are stripped of all lands and title and banished from Iserlohn. You will be allowed time to pack a modest amount of provisions and then you will be escorted to the city gates. Go to Deepstone or Haventhal or to the northern shores of Nordik. I care not which. If your family wishes to join you, they may do so without impunity.”

A single tear dripped down Abram’s face. “Why, Max?”

The King moved down the dais. “Because your grandson was being held against his will and you were under extreme duress when you made the decisions that you did. I have since learned how you reined in your legionnaires and ordered them to protect the people of Nysa when Etin’s and Conry’s were out of control. Many of your soldiers saved innocent people that night who otherwise may have died.”

Abram nodded. “But…but I still was unable to save my grandson. I do not know where he is or if he is alive or dead.”

“Oh, he is very alive, Abram.”

The old man struggled to his feet when the guards brought a teenage boy out of the palace.

“Grandfather!” The boy ran down the steps and into the arms of the man who gave up everything in an attempt to save his life.

Abram looked at Maximus. “But, how did you…?”

“The moment I heard that Davad was holding the boy, I sent the Sabers in search of him. It did not take long to uncover his whereabouts in the basement of Davad’s estate.” The King shook his head remorsefully. “I just wish you would have come to me first, Abram.”

“I am a stupid old man, Max.”

“Old, yes, but not stupid. Desperate would be a better word.” Maximus turned and walked back up the stairs. “You have one hour, Abram Winslow, to pack your belongings and depart Iserlohn never to return.”

The former Lord turned to go, but Beck saw Abram straighten his shoulders when Maximus said loud enough for him to hear. “May the Highworld favor you, old friend.”

C
HAPTER
20

A Cryptic Passage

Once the King and members of the Court departed, the gathered Nysians began to disperse as well. Standing on the platform still, Kiernan looked out over the heads of the people and scanned the crowd for Airron, Rogan and Janin. She knew the two Dwarves were anxious to return to Kondor to reunite with their children and she wanted to say goodbye to them before they left.

She noticed Airron right away, his silver hair and tall frame easily identifiable in the throng. She waved to him, and he began making his way toward her.

Her eyes still on the crowd, she noticed a head of black ringlets dashing through the mass of people and growled.

“What is it?” asked Beck.

“It seems your daughter has managed to escape her confinement.” A flash of white also caught her eye, and she grinned. Kenley did not need a royal protector when she had a Draca Cat as a bondmate. Although often as impetuous as her daughter, the cat would never let harm come to Kenley.

The courtyard was almost completely thinned now and Airron, followed by Rogan and Janin, she was pleased to see, approached and climbed the dais. Airron was gnawing on a piece of grass, but removed it and used the green blade to point at her. “Do not even think about it.”

“Think about what?” she asked in confusion.

“Grilling me about Melania. You know how I feel about marriage. I refuse to tie myself down, and I don’t care how beautiful she is. Or smart. Or talented. Did you know she could play the harp?” He shook his head sharply. “It doesn’t matter! It just would not work and that, my friend, is all I am going to say on the subject!” His rant over, he shoved the grass back into his mouth.

Kiernan shrugged. “So, end the marriage.”

The grass fell from his opened-mouth gape. “End the marriage? What kind of advice is that?”

“Airron, I am on your side. If you feel that strongly against marriage to Melania, just end it. As lovely as she is, she will find another husband in no time.”