The King's Executioner (26 page)

Pain sat in the High Council chamber trussed like a prisoner waiting execution. He dropped his head back against the wall behind him and tried to calm his rage. He needed to think clearly, needed to find a way to free of the rope that bound him tightly and go after Anin. After that they would run and go where they would be safe, but where would that be with King Talon bowing to Comgall’s demand.

He shook his head. Never would he have thought that Talon would do such a thing to him, but it was not Talon, his friend, who had made the decision, but the King. It came to him suddenly like a whisper in his ear. He would go with Anin to the Wyse Tribe. They would be safe there.

Death would be the only thing that would stop him from going after Anin and he would not see that happen. He would do what was necessary to see he was freed, and he and Bog would go hunt for Anin.

Stay strong, Anin, stay strong. I will come for you.

~~~

Her husband’s words repeated over and over in her head. He would come for her. He had given his word he would come for her. Nothing would stop him. But what if they crossed the border of Pictland? It would be that much more difficult for him to rescue her once they left Pictland. Somehow, she had to delay their journey.

She was placed in front of Comgall on a horse with her wrists tethered and she had not looked upon him since leaving the Pict stronghold nor had she said a word to him. At the moment, she felt nothing but hate for the man.

“Your mum was a good woman. I often wondered how it was she cared for me as much as she did. I forbid her to go visit her tribe with her being with child. There were my enemies to worry about. I also think I feared she would never return to me. I learned early on with your mum that she did as she pleased and while it often annoyed me, I also admired her strength.”

Anin turned to look at him. “If you cared for my mum so much, why treat your daughter so cruelly?”

“I will not see my daughter wed to a savage Pict and certainly not to an executioner whose whole body is marred with drawings.”

“Paine is no savage. He is a good man and we have given our hearts to each other. I will care for him always and no other but him.”

“You will forget him in time.”

“Did you forget and stop caring about my mum?”

“That was not the same.”

“How was it not? All tribes beyond your border are Picts and that would include my mum’s tribe.”

“It was the reason I could never wed your mum.”

“Then what of me? I am a Pict. Your people will never accept me.”

“You may be a Pict, but you are also of the Wyse Tribe and will serve me well.”

“Is that what my mum did, serve you? Did you ever truly care for her?” Anin asked angrily.

“Your mum was the only woman I ever gave my heart to.”

“That is a lie. If you truly cared so much for my mum, you could never cause the daughter she gave you such horrible pain and sorrow.”

“I do what is best for you.”

“You do what is best for
you
like most others who rule.”

“King Talon is a wise man and did what was necessary.”

Anin turned her head away from him to show she would speak no more to him. The first chance she got, she would run. Paine would find her, and then they would run together. They would go someplace where no one could find them. They would go to her tribe... the Wyse Tribe.

They camped at dusk and Anin asked that her hands be freed, needing private time.

“If you run I will find you and you will be kept tethered after that until you accept your fate,” Comgall warned.

Anin nodded and while it might appear she yielded, by no means did she.

Her wrists were freed and she walked into the woods with two warriors following. It was not long before the trees began to whisper to her, offering her comfort. Light was fading quickly when she told the two warriors she would be but a few steps away and after warning her not to go far, they let her walk off.

After only a few steps, darkness settled in and the warriors called out to her.

“I am here. I will finish soon,” she said for them to hear.

Would she get far in the dark? Would they find her before she could get far enough away? Could she find a place to hide?

“Wait for your husband.”

Anin turned, startled by the soft voice and even more startled to see Esplin standing a short distance away from her.

Esplin stepped closer to Anin and kept her voice low. “I have little time to speak with you, but there will come a time when we will talk at length.”

There was so much Anin wanted to say, to ask that she found herself unable to say anything.

“There was good reason your mum gave you to Blyth. She knew the woman would care and think of you as her own. She also knew that you needed to live among the other tribes so that one day you would lead the Wyse Tribe with knowledge of the outsiders and wisdom.”

“Lead?” Anin shook her head. “I am no leader.”

Esplin smiled. “You are a leader and the daughter you carry will be as well.”

Anin’s hand flew to her middle. “I have been wed only days. How could you know?”

“You will know yourself soon enough. You know more than you allow yourself to believe. You are already growing in the ways of the Wyse and I will help you learn more, though it all will come with ease to you. It is part of you and you need only to embrace who you are.”

“Who am I?” Anin asked.

“You are the daughter of Eviot of the Wyse Tribe, granddaughter of Esplin, leader of the Wyse Tribe, and one day you will lead the Wyse Tribe when my time is done.”

Anin once again was speechless, though realized why she had felt the way she did the day she had hugged Esplin. The same blood ran through them. They were family.

“You must stay with your father and wait for Paine. He will come for you. Paine is a good man. He cares for you more deeply than I have ever felt a man care for a woman. He gives you far more than his heart. I told him some about the Wyse, you will teach him the rest. You both will live a long life and do well together.”

“But the King—”

“The King does not rule the Wyse people nor will he or future Kings ever rule us. We were here long before they came and will be here long after they are gone. Now go and return to your father and wait.”

“I have so many questions. I will see you again... soon, Grandmother?”

“You will see me soon and I am never far from you. You need only reach out to me.” Esplin stepped forward and wrapped Anin in her arms.

Anin held tightly to her and the depth of caring that poured from the woman into Anin was astounding and brought tears to Anin’s eyes.

Esplin eased her away. “You must go, but know this, Anin. King Talon is a true friend to Paine.”

“Are you done?” one of the warriors shouted.

Anin turned her head to call out. “I will be right there.” When she turned back again Esplin was gone.

“Grandmother,” she whispered and it was then she realized that she had spoken in a different tongue with her grandmother. It was the language she had spoken when in the forest of the Giantess, the one she had not known she had spoken. It was the ancient tongue of the Wyse and the Giantess had recognized it and had known she was a Wyse woman.

She would do as her grandmother said. She would wait for Paine. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked to where the warriors waited.

Once back at camp, her father approached her. “You were wise not to run. I had my warriors circle the area where you were. You would not have gotten far.”

Anin wondered how no one had seen Esplin. That was one of many question she had for her grandmother when they met again.

“There is no reason for me to run. My husband comes for me. I will wait for him.”

“You think Paine, one man, will conquer my whole troop?” Comgall asked with a laugh.

Anin smiled. “He does not have to conquer your whole troop. He needs to conquer only one man—you.”

~~~

Paine pushed his back hard against the wall so he could help himself get to his feet when he heard footfalls approaching the door.

The King walked in first, though a snarling Bog hurried around from behind him and straight to Paine. Wrath followed in, shutting the door behind him.

Bog took a stance in front of Paine, his front legs spread and his snarl strong.

“That wolf of yours is a clever one,” the King said. “He snuck his way into the feasting house and waited in the shadows, then jumped out when we opened the door to push his way in here.”

“Sit, Bog,” Paine ordered and the wolf sat in front of him, a low snarl remaining. “As clever as the King? You would not let the wolf in here if you did not want him here.”

“One thing I can say about you, Paine, you were never a fool.”

“Either are you, though of course I could not see that until my anger abated. Then I realized you would have never turned Anin over to Comgall with the intentions that she remain with him, not when she is so valuable to you. But more importantly, I believe as my friend, you would not take my wife from me.”

“I thought you would figure that out once you calmed down, though I needed your anger for the plan to work,” the King said and turned to Wrath. “Get those ropes off him.”

Wrath stepped forward and Bog jumped at him, snarling.

“Enough, Bog!” Paine snapped and the wolf gave one last growl at Wrath before he moved aside.

Wrath undid the ties. “It took twenty warriors to hold you down.”

“You should be grateful I did not have my axe or they would have lost their limbs and some their lives.” Paine threw off the last of the ties and looked to the King.

“I made an agreement with Comgall. I would hold you only for so long, then I would unleash you. If you were successful in rescuing your wife, then Anin would remain here in Pictland and he would never demand her return again. If you failed, Anin was his to keep.”

“I will not fail.”

“I never thought you would or I would not have struck the bargain with him. As you told me, you would have fought me for Anin, so I knew this would be an easy task for you. I also agreed that no warriors would join you on this quest. It was for you and you alone to do.”

“Good, for I and I alone will rescue my wife.”

“Go and bring Anin home and be done with it, while I see to settling things with the Drust and find out who it is that betrays me.”

Paine recalled seeing Atas and Tarn sneaking out of the shadows after a High Council meeting and was quick to tell the King.

“Interesting,” the King said. “Hurry and bring Anin home. I believe I will have need of her to settle this problem once and for all.”

“Come, Bog, we hunt!” Paine said and walked to the door, the wolf at his side.

A roll of thunder woke Anin just as morn began to break and she was surprised she felt no fear, but then a shiver ran through her and she suddenly understood. The thunder was warning her. Something was not right. She looked around and did not see the sentinels that had stood guard around the camp. They were gone. She caught the sound of several rustling branches and as she jumped to her feet, she let out a scream.

The sleeping warriors jolted awake and had their weapons in hand as Drust warriors burst out of the surrounding woods.

“Anin!” her father shouted and fought his way toward her.

As several Drust warriors ran straight for her, she caught the movement of a dark cloak, slipping past a tree. It was the cloak of the King’s warriors. Someone had led the Drust to them.

Anin had nothing to protect herself with, so she turned and ran.

“Drop!”

Anin’s heart soared with relief at her husband’s familiar command and she obeyed, falling to the ground without hesitation. He vaulted over her, swinging his battle axe. Bog followed, his long, lean body leaping over her and straight at the Drust.

“Stay down!” Paine ordered as he took two Drust down with ease.

Anin saw her father take down a Drust and fight off another one as he ran toward her to join Paine in protecting her. She felt helpless lying there doing nothing, but she had no weapon and it would be of no use to her since she was no warrior. It was good she finally understood why and now she would learn a different way of protecting herself.

The battle ended quickly with many Drust lying dead and many dal Gabran warriors wounded and few dead.

Paine was quick to yank his wife up off the ground and tuck her close to his side, his bloody battle axe tight in his hand if anyone dared to try and take Anin from him.

“I am unharmed,” Anin said, knowing the question to how she fared was about to spill from her husband’s lips.

Comgall went to grab Anin’s arm.

“Touch her and you will lose your hand,” Paine warned and Bog jumped in front of Anin, baring his teeth. “Anin belongs to me and I keep what is mine.”

“My agreement with King Talon was that if you rescued her, I would pursue my daughter no longer. I wanted to know you cared enough to come after her.”

“I care enough that I will kill the remainder of your men and you if anyone tries to stop me from taking my wife.”

“After seeing you in battle, I believe you could easily do so. But I will have a moment with my daughter before you take your leave with her.”

Paine hesitated in letting Anin go. His concern eased and he did not stop her after she laid a hand on her father, then nodded to him. She confirmed her da spoke the truth.

Comgall and Anin took a few steps away, Bog following along with them and bracing himself against Anin’s leg.

“It is good that you not only have the protection of the executioner, but his wolf as well,” Comgall said.

“They are my family,” Anin said with a smile.

“You are pleased with your husband?”

Anin pressed her hand to her chest. “More than anyone would ever believe.”

“I am sorry to say I failed to protect your mum, and there is not a day that goes by that I do not remember that, which made me all the more determined to protect you. Your mum made it very clear that a day would come when I would need to make certain that the man our daughter joined with was the man who would never leave her side, always be there for her, always protect and care for her. I gave my word to your mum that I would see it done, so I struck a bargain with King Talon since he refused to let me take you. I told him we would go to war if he did not agree. When he heard the terms, he laughed at me and told me to be careful. That Paine would take my life without hesitation or regret if I stood in the way of him taking you from me.”

Anin smiled, pleased that King Talon had not betrayed his friend. “I had no doubt Paine would come for me.”

“I may not agree with your choice of a husband, but your mum would be pleased with him and that he would remain forever by your side. Something I should have done with your mum. I doubt our paths will ever cross again, my daughter. I am pleased to have known you if only for a brief time and proud to see that you are as strong and courageous as your mum.”

Anin stepped forward and gave her da a hug. Tears clouded her eyes when she felt his sorrow of not having known her and now having to let her go. She knew they would never meet again and her heart ached at the loss of never having known him or her mum.

Comgall walked with her back to Paine, Bog following close beside her. “I know you will protect her and keep her safe.”

“I swear on my life, I will never let harm come to her,” Paine said and reached out to take hold of Anin and ease her against him. “With the Drust on a rampage, I would leave Pictland as fast as I could if I were you.”

“There is unrest with the Drust?” Comgall asked.

“A small band of troublesome Drust that will be dealt with swiftly,” Paine said, not wanting the tribes south to think trouble was brewing within the Pict Kingdom and give them reason to believe they could forge a successful attack against the King.

“As soon as we gather our dead and see to our wounded, we will be on our way. Be well, my daughter,” Comgall said and with that he turned away from them and joined his warriors, busy with the wounded.

Paine hurried Anin away into the surrounding woods. A short distance in, he stopped abruptly and pulled Anin into his arms. “I should keep you shackled to me.”

“Fate shackles us. No one will ever separate us.”

“I wish there was time to,” —he kissed her quick—“we need to keep moving. A horse is tethered not far from here. We need to let the King know that you are still being hunted by the Drust.”

“You did not speak the truth to Comgall about the Drust,” Anin said.

“The King would not want him to know that there is unrest among the Pict tribes,” Paine said and hurried her along, keeping a quick pace.

“I saw someone wearing the cloak of the King’s warriors just as the Drust attacked.”

Paine stopped suddenly.

“I know why I am hunted,” Anin said. “It is best we hurry to the stronghold and speak with the King.”

~~~

It was well passed nightfall by the time Paine and Anin reached the stronghold and they went immediately to find the King. Paine sent Bog to his shelter after telling him he did well. The wolf reluctantly did as Paine commanded.

King Talon walked done the stairs into the feasting hall barefoot with only his long split tunic on, tied loosely at the waist. He was not at all pleased about being disturbed. “You rescued your wife, all is well. Why disturb me? You should be home busy filling your wife with a bairn.”

“The Drust attacked the dal Gabran and tried to kill Anin. During the attack she caught sight of someone wearing the cloaked hood of your warriors. Someone led the Drust to the dal Gabran.”

King Talon’s eyes turned wide with fury. “Comgall?”

“He survived, but some of his men did not, though the Drust lost more warriors. Anin believes she knows why the Drust want her dead.”

King Talon looked to Anin.

“It is not the Drust who wish me dead, but the man who has made them believe you have turned against them. He worries that I will learn who he is and of their plans and ruin their chances of taking the throne from you.”

“You saw the one who betrays me?”

“No, but I know a way to find out who it is,” she said.

“Tell me.”

“The one who betrays you would have had to hurry back to the stronghold before the gates closed for the night as Paine and I did.”

“That proves nothing, since sentinels drift in late.”

“I believe the man, who betrays you, sits on the High Council.”

“What makes you think that?”

“The High Council members are the only ones who would know the intimate workings of the council and the stronghold. They know the problems you face in finding a wife and keeping tribes content so that they do not rise up against you. They learn of things outside the stronghold and bring to you what is important. I believe one of your council members found out about me and fearing it would ruin his plans sent the Drust after me.”

The King nodded. “The first missing dal Gabran warrior that was never found.”

Anin nodded. “I believe he was captured by the Drust and he had no choice but to reveal his mission, find Comgall’s daughter... a Wyse woman.”

“If what you say is true, it would make sense that the leader of this attempt to take the throne from me is a council member?”

“I do not know if he is the leader, but once we discover who it is, we can find out the rest with one touch.”

“I will call the council to the feasting hall, all but Tarn. He is not the traitor. He has been restricted to his dwelling since your departure and will remain there until I determine what to do with him. After you told me, Paine, of seeing him and Atas together, I spoke to them both. Atas wanted information about Anin from Tarn and persuaded him to tell her what he knew by means she is quite adept at, pleasing a man. She is in a prisoner chamber and after being there for a few days, she will be assigned a most unfavorable daily chore. But that is unimportant as to what goes on here. We will see who arrives and who is absent or arrives late. Anin you will wait in the shadows. ” The King summoned two of his personal guard and sent them to inform the council members that they were to come immediately to the feasting hall.

Paine found a spot consumed by shadows and left his wife there, after saying, “I will not be far from you.”

The members started entering the hall. Ebit, the Crop Master was the first to arrive. He was unsteady on his feet, wiping sleep from his eyes as he approached the King. The King waved him to stand aside and he did.

Wrath entered, his garments appearing as if he hastened into them and looked questioningly at Paine, then cast his eyes around the hall, knowing Paine would not be standing there so calmly if he had failed to bring Anin home. He went and stood alongside Ebit, continuing to search the room with his eyes.

Next came both Midrent, the Tariff Collector, and Gelhard, the King’s High Counselor. Gelhard looked annoyed that he had not been the first to arrive and grew even more annoyed when he went to stand beside the King and he waved him aside to join the others. Though, he knew better than to object.

When Gelhard saw Midrent acknowledge Paine with a nod, he reluctantly did the same.

The council stood quiet while waiting for the last member to arrive.

It was some time before Bodu, the Master Builder, hurried into the hall out of breath, his face appearing freshly scrubbed. He bobbed his head to the King and joined the other council members.

The King turned to the council members. “Wrath, go stand with Paine.”

Wrath did as ordered.

“A traitor stands among you,” the King said an angry rumble in his voice.

They all protested at once.

“Silence!” the King ordered and glared at each one of them. “I will not abide a traitor. Step forward and speak the truth or suffer for it.” When none moved, the King called out, “Anin, come here.”

Bodu’s eyes turned wide when Anin stepped out of the shadows, and he turned and ran. Paine and Wrath chased after him and were near upon him when he stopped, turned, and took the dagger he had already slipped from his sheath and shoved it hard into his chest.

Paine and Wrath grabbed him as he fell to the floor. His last words, “Death to King Talon.”

Anin hurried over to him and laid a hand on his shoulder as he struggled for a last breath. She had never felt life draining from someone. It felt as if her own breath was draining from her and she sensed she had to let go, but there was a small spark of light and if she could reach it, she could possible learn something. She reached out for it as her breath faded from her.

She suddenly felt as if someone had blown breath back into her and she gasped and coughed and looked to see that her husband had hold of her hand. He had yanked it off Bodu.

“You will never touch a dying person again,” Paine ordered. “You were gasping for breath yourself.”

Anin took several deep breathes and smiled, grateful he was there with her. Her smile quickly faded and she grabbed her husband’s arm. “Bodu led the Drust to the dal Gabran, but he does not lead the traitorous group that fights to claim the throne from the King—it is Tarn.”

Paine stood, pulling Anin to her feet along with him.

The King had his sword in hand and was headed for the door. Wrath and his personal guard were close behind him and Paine followed, ordering Anin to stay close by him.

Flaming torches on tall poles lit paths through the village. The King’s personal guard kept pace with him as he walked with determined strides toward Tarn’s dwelling. A sudden shout halted their steps and changed their course.

Anin and Paine followed and Anin stared in shock as they came upon a King’s warrior who lay dead on the ground not far from the prison chambers and at Tarn, holding a dagger to Atas’s throat while several of the King’s warriors circled him.

Anin shivered, seeing the fear in Atas’s wide eyes.

“Help me, my King,” Atas begged, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.

“Let her go, Tarn, the King ordered. “There is no place for you to run.”

“Give me your word I will have a swift death and I will let her go,” Atas said.

“You have my word. Paine’s blade will see it done quickly.”

Tarn nodded. “I am sorry I will not see the day the throne is taken from you.”

“That day will never come,” the King said. “Now release Atas.”

Tarn nodded and looked about to release her when he suddenly rushed forward with her and before flinging her at the King, he ran his blade across her face. Her screams pierced the night as sharply as the blade had pierced her face and she crashed into the King, taking him to the ground with her.

While everyone ran to help him, Tarn launched himself at Anin, screaming, “Die!”

Anin felt herself being shoved back so hard she fell to the ground and for the second time that day her husband leaped over her, swinging his battle axe, this time giving Tarn what he had asked for—a swift death.