Sins of Basilia (Shrouded Thrones Book 4) Page 21

  Leda frowned and stared at her lap. “No, the princesses did not come.” The woman had shed her veil, but her grief most definitely remained. “We chose to leave the girls in Oros. They are not old enough to witness such an event and the possibility of their father being harmed.”

  “This is a match of strength.” Angeline pushed out her most reassuring smile. “Unless your husband trips over himself, no harm will befall him.”

  Leda twisted her fingers into knots. “I pray you are correct.”

  It would take a miracle from God for the frail woman to survive the day.

  With another brief smile, Angeline turned her attention to the field.

  Denali positioned himself at the base of the platform, off to the side by the steps. She could have claimed to need him nearer—considering her condition—but with all the women taking space, no room remained for him. Even so, he had a good view of the field, and she felt comforted knowing he was close. She prayed all would transpire as they had planned, yet if things went poorly, she would need him.

  Darius had been scarce as of late, but she spotted him in the crowd not far from her. Shireen stood at his side. Unlike every other servant in the castle, Angeline had allowed her to attend. She insisted the others remain behind to clean up after the many guests who would soon depart. In one way or another.

  She assumed Shireen and Darius had finally shared a bed. After Denali told the girl she was cured of her ailments, she may have sought out a real man for some ongoing treatments. Darius intended to return to Thanwine and his family after the match, but he could very well change his mind. Regardless, it mattered not. He had served his purpose, and Angeline had no further use for him. True, she required more instruction in swordplay and archery, yet if everything progressed as she hoped, those skills would not be necessary.

  The banner of Basilia fluttered above her. To her right, armored guards of Oros stood bearing their own. And to her left, the Thanwinian flag fluttered, held proudly by her brother, Varlan. He stood rigidly alongside several dozen Thanwinian warriors.

  So many people had come to Basilia, the inns were overcrowded, and tents were erected in the fields outside the village. Others placed their canvas lodgings within the ruins of Crenia. Horses, carts, and carriages congested the area further.

  Issan wine freely flowed. Aside from that, she had been told only a handful of human representatives had come from Issa. Not a single royal, merely commoners. Of course, all people of lower stature looked the same, so whether from Issa or elsewhere she could not fully distinguish.

  Basilian trumpets blared. She startled and jumped, then stifled a giggle.

  Queen Leda gripped the arms of her chair and leaned forward. “I despise this.” She faced Angeline. “How have we come to such barbarism?”

  “Barbarism? Do you not see the beauty in this?” Angeline fanned her hand toward the display below. “Our realms have gathered for a magnificent ritual. Regardless of the outcome, history is unfolding before our eyes.”

  Leda breathed heavily and clutched one hand to her bosom. “I fear for Callum. He is not as youthful as he once was.”

  “Talman and he are the same age, so they are well-matched.” Angeline took Leda’s hand. “I believe, they will both easily tire, and this event will end not long after it begins.” She squeezed in a loving fashion. “You have other more troubling issues with which to cope, worry not over what transpires here.”

  Satisfied, Angeline pulled her hand to herself, then rested it on her lap.

  Leda looked nothing like the woman Angeline had met many years ago. The queen of Oros had become frail and aged. She had been shattered in multiple ways, and almost all of them were orchestrated by Angeline. The best of all was yet to come.

  The trumpets sounded a second time, and King Callum strode onto the field. Leda sat slightly taller, and his people rose to their feet and cheered. He waved his sword in the air as if already victorious.

  At the third blare of the trumpet, Talman emerged from the crowd, wielding his own shining blade. It glimmered far brighter than Callum’s, and Angeline breathed a relieved sigh. Surely, Kendor had carried out his task.

  Just as the people of Oros had cheered, Thanwinians did all they could to best the volume of their cries. Not only did they shout their encouragement, some jeered and cast foul gestures at those on the other side.

  Such a beautiful sight to see.

  Angeline believed there were more Orosian commoners than Thanwinians, but she concerned herself only with the number of armed warriors. Both sides boasted nearly fifty men. Thankfully, both Talman and Callum wore minimal armor—merely breastplates—but their armies were fully suited. Perhaps to show their magnificence. There had never been an occasion to wear their protective mail, so polishing it up for display seemed appropriate.

  Becca grabbed onto Angeline’s hand. “I have never been so frightened.”

  “Silly girl. Do you not see your husband and his fineness? There is nothing to fear.”

  The high priest, Chan, ascended the steps of the platform and stood in front of Angeline. He lifted his hands high and hushed the crowd. “Today we honor the laws of old! God will surely choose the victor!” He motioned both kings to the center of the field. “You may begin!”

  Becca whimpered, as did Queen Leda. Without a husband in the fray, Estelle was utterly quiet, although the rate of her breathing had substantially increased.

  Angeline sat up high and craned her neck, not wanting to miss a moment of the fight.

  Talman was larger than Callum, yet both men were strong. They took slow, steady steps until they were within a blade’s reach of one another. Their eyes remained locked together, as if trying to anticipate the other’s moves.

  Talman struck first and swung his sword. Callum’s skillfully met it. The large clang brought forth more cheers, and from that moment on, Angeline could scarcely hear herself think. Shouting carried on, up and down in volume, with every lunge.

  The ability of the pair was undeniable. Angeline recognized Darius’ techniques in Talman. He carried himself well, stood in the proper stance, and kept his balance. Callum’s form lacked in sharpness, but he moved well and with surprising quickness. Neither seemed to be tiring.

  “Do you think you are better than I?” Talman chided as they locked their blades high in the air.

  “I fight for my daughter!” Callum spit out the words. “Marni was to be high queen, and it was stripped from her in your realm!”

  Leda covered her face and lowered her head.

  “You blame me?” Talman screamed. “I did not poison her!”

  Angeline could barely sit still. The warmth in the air greatly increased from their heated exchange. Anger heightened, just as she knew it would.

  She shifted her eyes briefly to Denali, who she swore was smirking. The man needed to wipe it away before someone discovered his unfitting expression.

  She had no time to concern herself with him at present and returned her gaze to the match, tempted to lift her veil. If only it would not be deemed disrespectful to her dead husband.

  The men circled each other, seemingly catching their breath. The crowd jeered and screamed vulgarities, no doubt bored by the lack of action.

  Callum’s chest expanded, and he struck. “For Marni!” His attack left a cut along Talman’s cheek.

  The first droplets of blood hit the ground.

  “Foul!” someone cried out, and loud hateful shouts abounded.

  Talman stepped back, swiped across his face, then looked at his bloody hand. “Damn you!” He charged Callum, swung his sword wildly, and sliced across his arm.

  Angeline gasped. Delightful warmth flooded over her, for God had smiled upon her.

  “No!” Leda screamed. “There was to be no bloodshed!”

  Callum looked her way. “Fear not, my love! It is merely a scratch!” He spun toward Talman. “Is this the game you wish to play?”

  “This is no game!” Talman charged again and the clas
hing of their swords grew louder. Strike after strike, the two showed even more vigor.

  Callum’s arm readily bled. Not a scratch in the least. The wound was deep, yet somehow did not hinder his performance.

  Denali swore it would not take long, so Angeline held her breath.

  Talman pressed forward and struck a blow to Callum’s breastplate. He stumbled backward and landed on his rump. Laughter erupted from the Thanwinians, followed by repetitive shouts of yield.

  Callum attempted to stand, but dropped back onto the ground. He rubbed his eyes, then pointed at Talman. “What have you done?”

  Talman proudly strutted toward the crowd, raised his sword high, and shook it in victory.

  “I said, what have you done?” Callum screamed with much greater intensity.

  Hushed murmurs replaced the cries of the audience.

  Still puffed up with conceit, Talman lowered his blade, pivoted around, and cautiously approached Callum. “Do you yield?”

  The king of Oros lay on the field, gasping for air. He clutched his chest. “Your blade,” he panted. “You rendered me with poison!”

  Talman smirked and waved a hand at the man. “I did no such thing! You have simply tired. Now yield, and declare me high king!” He extended a hand and attempted to help Callum to his feet, but the man could not keep hold and flopped flat on his back.

  Eural rushed onto the field and knelt beside him. “Did he pierce you, Father?”

  Angeline leaned as far as she could toward the splendid entertainment, wanting to hear everything said. It helped having the crowd silent. They, too, seemed to be enthralled.

  Callum’s head bobbled to the side. “I am done for.” Odd-looking foam bubbled from his mouth and dribbled down his chin. He lifted a quivering hand and limply pointed at Talman. “Poison…on the blade.” His body wilted onto the earth like a dying weed. He jerked several times, then groaned and stilled entirely.

  Leda slumped over in her chair.

  Wonderful!

  Angeline tucked her hands beneath her rump to keep from applauding.

  “No!” Eural grabbed his father’s sword, jumped to his feet, and charged Talman. “You are a beastly coward!”

  “I did nothing wrong!” Talman jerked to the side, just in time to avoid Eural’s thrust.

  “You could not fight like a man, so you resorted to poison!” Eural spun around and struck again. Their swords clanged together. “You will never be high king!”

  Angeline’s pounding heart could very well burst. She stood, along with Becca and Estelle, and hovered at the edge of the platform. The armies on both sides advanced onto the field, yet kept their distance from the fight.

  Orosians yelled support for their new champion, Eural, and the cries for Talman matched in volume.

  “You killed my father!” Eural swung his blade toward Talman’s face, but Talman ducked out of the way.

  “I placed no poison!” He looked wildly about, then pointed at Kendor, who stood not far from Denali. “He polished my blade! That Basilian is to blame!”

  Although a painful proclamation, Angeline saw it as a blessing.

  Kendor appeared horrified, wildly shaking his head. He snapped it around and glared at Denali, then raised his head high and turned toward her. “Get yourself to safety!”

  As soon as the words left Kendor’s mouth, Lukah rushed up the steps and took Angeline’s arm. “Come now, my queen!”

  Not wanting to miss what was coming, she stood firm. “I cannot. I must bear witness.”

  While Talman’s head was turned, addressing Kendor, Eural plunged his blade into her brother’s neck. He dropped to the ground, squirting blood like a stuck boar. As he lay writhing, Eural finished him off, taking another pronounced slice across his throat.

  Becca shrieked and buried her head into Angeline’s shoulder. The girl trembled out of control, and Angeline reveled in it.

  Varlan threw aside the Thanwinian banner, grabbed a battle axe from one of his men, and charged after Eural. Angeline simply blinked and Eural’s head flew through the air, severed in a single blow from Varlan’s weapon. Her brother’s strength was unmatched.

  The repulsing sight had people both cheering and retching. Estelle fainted and landed with a thump on the platform. No planning could have rendered something so splendid. Things were transpiring much better than Angeline had prayed for.

  The armies stormed the field, and chaos ensued. As the warriors from both Oros and Thanwine battled, women and children scattered in every direction. Shouts of encouragement turned to lamentation and heavy weeping.

  “My queen!” Lukah jerked on her arm. “We must go now!” He looked at Becca. “Retrieve your sister and follow us to the castle!”

  Becca’s eyes widened. “What of Queen Leda?”

  The woman had no doubt fainted, just as Estelle had. Either that, or she was dead from shock.

  Angeline lightly poked her arm, but she did not budge.

  “Leave her to her people,” Lukah said.

  Becca gazed nervously at the queen. “They are Estelle’s people as well.”

  Lukah’s eyes narrowed. “You were both Basilians much longer than you were aligned with any other realm.”

  Agonized cries pierced the air.

  “We have no time for delay!” Lukah’s tone had become fully angered, bearing his frustration. “Bring Estelle and follow me!” He hastened Angeline down the steps and rushed to a waiting carriage.

  She glanced behind her and painfully watched as armored men from Oros surrounded Kendor. They easily beat him to the ground, then plunged blade after blade into his unprotected body.

  Lukah shoved her into the carriage. His boldness caught her off guard, yet she did not scold him, preferring to admire his strength and determination.

  Soon after, Becca and her dazed sister followed. Angeline easily determined which sister better loved her own husband. She believed Becca cared for Talman, but what woman in her right mind could genuinely love him?

  Much to her relief, Lukah hurried Denali into the carriage as well. “Keep him close to you, my queen. The future of our realm lies within you, and he alone can care for you!”

  The time had come to behave as a leader. “Lukah!” She stopped him from shutting the door.

  He stared at her, obviously conflicted. “My queen?” The urgency in his eyes spoke clearly.

  “You are now the leader of my army. See to it your men guide our people to safety. Make certain Chan is unharmed, then gather the women and children. Get them inside the walls of Basilia and raise the drawbridge!”

  “Yes, my queen!” He slammed the door.

  The carriage jerked and sped away from the bloody scene. Her only regret was not seeing Varlan fall.

  While Estelle wept in Becca’s arms, Angeline closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the carriage. Although she and Denali did not speak, the warmth from his arm pressed to hers said all that was needed.

  All kings except one had been slain, and she would take the greatest pleasure of all in killing the last.

  Chapter 17

  Having never attended an Issan wedding, Tesher was uncertain what to expect. Carmela claimed to have never been in Issa at the time of a marriage rite, so they were both quite unsure, as well as curious.

  It may not have been wise to venture outside the safety of the castle walls, but Imran provided them with clothing similar to that of every commoner in Issa, and they covered their heads and faces as they had when they had first arrived in the realm. Although the king had cautioned them never to leave the castle, he assured them they were about to witness something spectacular and did not want them to forego the opportunity.

  Unfortunately, ever since Carmela had told Tesher the details of her visit with Queen Mesha, she had been glum and withdrawn. At an occasion that should be joyful, she was far from it.

  He kept an arm around her shoulder. “Perhaps you should think only of tonight and put all other thoughts aside. Allow yourself
some happiness.”

  She closed her eyes and sighed. “I cannot erase the vision of Mesha, nor the anger in my father’s eyes when he learned I had seen her. He had never looked at me before with such disdain, and it still hurts.”

  Tesher tucked two fingers under her chin and lifted her head. “Look into my eyes and see my love. Hold that in your mind and erase your ill thoughts.”

  She locked onto his gaze, then stood on the tips of her toes, pushed his scarf away from his mouth, and kissed him. “I do see your love, yet worry upon worry plagues me.” She secured his wrap back into place. “Added to my distress over Mesha and my father, I now share the concern you expressed earlier. I wish there was a priest to perform our rite.”

  “One day, we will repeat our vows in a temple with a priest. Yet even without one, as you reminded me, God will be with us. He will hear our words.”

  “I know He will, but…” She sighed, even longer than before. “Regardless of all the trouble in our families, do you not wish yours could witness our vows, as well as God? And as much as my brothers often pain me, I love them, and I wanted them to share in our nuptials.”

  He drew her close and swayed with her in his embrace. “Yes, I do wish my family could be with us. However, if Father were here, he would surely stop us from following through with our rites, then drag me by my ear back to Oros. What I want from him, I cannot have, so I must resign myself to being without him. At least until he calms down enough to accept us.”

  “He was good enough to grant permission for you to claim me.” She kept her head pressed to his chest. “I find comfort in knowing our intentions have been recorded by the scribes and honored by the priests.” Her head tipped back and she peered up at him. “Even if under false pretense.”

  “Must you remind me of that?” He huffed. “I suppose your dismal mood has brought about every ill feeling embedded in your memory. But how could I have expected you to ever forget it? I ruined everything for us. By now, the new high king will have been determined. Either your brother, Talman, or my father, and it saddens me we could not be there to give our support.”