The Shadowbearer (An Aegis of the Gods Book)

Chapter 14

Stefan snapped his head around to where he’d last seen the Knight General, but Cerny was no longer there. A cheer drew his attention back to the arena. The gates slid up, a hole the size and shape of a doorway appeared in the shield, and Cerny stepped through.

At the same moment, Nerian released his Warping. The King took in several heavy breaths.

In the arena, the two Raijin glanced around. The wounded one reached down and twisted his leg into place. A yell escaped his lips. Moments passed as his chest heaved then he stood and flexed his leg.

Stefan expected Cerny to press the advantage, but the Knight General didn’t. A devilish smile on his face, green uniform pristine with its three golden knots standing out chest–high, he strolled toward the Raijin.

A hush fell over the amphitheater.

The two Raijin took in Cerny’s leisurely approach before nodding to each other and splitting apart. The entire scene felt surreal to Stefan as the shield not only prevented anyone from entering or leaving, but it also kept in all sound. In the silence, he heard his and King Nerian’s breathing.

There was a sudden blur of movement as both the assassins thrust their hands in Cerny’s direction. Bars of solid white light bright enough to sear one’s vision shot across the distance. A solid slab of earth grew up from the ground in front of Cerny. The bars of light struck it and sent dirt and rock showering into the air.

The earth within the arena heaved and rolled in a wave toward the Raijin. Both men dived out of its path. It slammed into the edge of the shield with an impact that shook the amphitheater.

The crowd cheered. Stefan blocked them out as he watched.

When the two assassins gained their feet, they looked around frantically then their gazes focused on the sky for a moment. Stefan shook his head as they now realized their plight.

They sprinted, throwing their hands out, streaks of lightning and light bars shooting out from them toward Cerny as they attempted to overwhelm him. Cerny simply stopped. The constant protection of earth rose around him, blocking whatever they did. The Raijin continued firing, their attacks growing from streaking bars and bolts to small balls as their power waned.

Then, the earthen shield broke apart into a thousand pieces. As it did so, several balls of incandescent light shot through. Cerny raised a hand. Something flashed into shape around his arm, almost like armor, and he swatted the balls away.

A breath hissed from Stefan’s lips. He did not recognize any of the essences Cerny had used to block the attack. For a moment, he thought he spotted slight mixes of shade among them.

In the same instant, the pieces of earth, still floating, shot toward the Raijin like a thousand arrows. The men had no time to react. Stone and earth ripped through their bodies. Blood spattered the sides of the dome behind them. In silence, they fell to the ground dead.

Cerny strode from the arena.

“And as simple as that, the Raijin fall,” King Nerian said, a satisfied smile on his face. “Proof they can be defeated.”

The crowd’s jubilation rose to a crescendo.

“Stefan.” Nerian’s voice dropped several notches. “Now you know one of the reasons Cerny will take your place if you refuse to lead the men.” The King kept his gaze fixed on the people. “He does not hesitate to kill.”

“I would ask what of the Tribunal’s response, but now I understand why you wanted me to be here and why you wanted this as a public display.”

“Oh?” Nerian’s amused expression didn’t change. “I expected nothing less, but go ahead and tell me.”

“The word will get out about what happened here,” Stefan said. “Killing two Rajin this easily will make the Tribunal plan before risking open war. You showed them a strength they didn’t anticipate.”

“Yes,” the King agreed. “I have also given you time to consider the decision before you.” He no longer smiled. “It has been a pleasure spending time with you again, despite all this … but I have kept you long enough. Besides,” the King’s gaze shifted to the steps above them, “the High Council has been clamoring for my attention. The time has come for me to reveal some of my plans to them.”

A seemingly heated debate was taking place between several members of the Council. Normally it was Stefan who handled such issues before presenting the Council’s concerns to the King, but because he’d kept himself apart since returning and with his absence on the campaigns, the role apparently now belonged to Cerny. The Knight General stood to one side having a conversation with Renaida and Senden. By their gestures and faces, neither of the older men were pleased. Every so often, they peered toward the King and Stefan.

“Send my well wishes to Thania and the children,” the King said. “I look forward to hearing from you soon. Now, go spend some quality time with your family.”

“I will and you shall. Until then, sire.” Stefan bowed from the waist and left.

As he strode through the throngs in the amphitheater, the day’s events nagged at him. He couldn’t blame Nerian for his decision, not after the assassination attempt, but the Tribunal’s potential reaction still worried him. The King was gambling with lives. If they decided to retaliate, he was uncertain whether Seti could handle an immediate attack. At the same time, he knew Nerian for the shrewd, calculating King he was. The King wouldn’t have made this move unless he thought his armies were ready. That, in itself, bothered Stefan the most. How did Nerian plan to deal with the Alzari’s instability? The few High Alzari they used to monitor their own Matii would not be enough. Stefan nodded absently. The King knows everything you do and more. He’s thought of this already. But no matter how he tried, he couldn’t shake his doubts.

Stefan sniffed and stopped. What was that awful smell?

The thud of marching boots echoed from nearby. Without realizing, he’d made his way below the amphitheater where they kept the prisoners in addition to a barracks. Several thousand soldiers were in process of forming up. Stefan frowned. The men were preparing to leave.

The Knight Commander strode over to a man who stood a few feet away from them. The single golden knot on his breast identified him as a Knight Captain, or he would have been one if not for the King changing the titles within the ranks. “Captain.” Stefan made certain to use the King’s new titles. “These men have been reassigned?”

The soldier took one look at Stefan and immediately straightened his posture. “Yes, sir.”

“By whom and to where?”

“Lieutenant Cerny’s orders, sir. We are being sent with Lieutenants Senden and Renaida as part of an advanced party to gather information on the Erastonians.”

“Ah,” Stefan said. “Carry on.” He strode away.

So Cerny is effectively doing away with ones who voiced opposition to the King’s plans. Stefan nodded. Despite his dislike for the man, he appreciated his cleverness.

Several mewls broke Stefan from his thoughts. Over to one side was a dartan pen. His musings had drawn him in so much he’d automatically found his way downstairs for something else that had caught his attention and niggled at the back of his mind. The pungent odor from earlier returned stronger than ever. It was from dartan shit and old rotting meat within the pens.

Dressed in silks, Merchant Vencel was poring over a ledger of some sort and writing information down as he inspected the animals. The beast with the saddle carved into the shell stood alone in another enclosure.

“Merchant Vencel,” Stefan called as he took in the docile way in which Vencel’s strange mount eyed him. “Just the man I wanted to see.” Now, all he needed to do was find the Banai.