The Exodus Sagas: Book II - Of Dragons And Crowns (39 page)

Dismounting quickly, not concerned with the soldiers or the king, Rosana knelt over her beloved lord. Tears choked out any chance for words from the queen, and blood prevented any from escaping Savanno’s lips to the ears of his wife. Her hand lay across his cheek and her face rested on his chest, she sobbed as his body twitched and spasmed in the last moments as life left him.
The unspoken words were interrupted again by the thundering of hooves and armored men from all around. Savanno
smiled as his eyes met those of Richmond and Florin standing over them. He tried to raise his rapier to at least point at his enemies before death, but the tip of the Seneschal’s rapier dove into his heart before he could manage.

Savanno Lisario’s body went still, yet Rosana clung to him like it was her only chance at life. She feared to look up, to think of anything but him. Overtaken by sorrow and grief, the queen was taken from her dead husband by soldiers and bound.
Florin’s hidden ambush came streaming from the forest and surrounded the former queen.
She was numb, eyes closed and sobbing uncontrollably as they cut her long hair to but a few inches. Her cloak and dress were taken off of her in the cold, leaving her in her undergown for a moment. Other clothing and armor was placed upon her by the soldiers, who were silent. She had no idea what was going on, only that she was being disgraced somehow in front of many, but the only person she loved or cared for was ten feet before her, dead.

An hour passed, maybe more, and her eyes could not produce any more moisture nor could her chest heave any more sobs. Breathing was difficult and her head pounded with pain. Ros
ana felt she had been lifted onto a horse, and strapped tightly to it in several places. Her eyes saw the black tabard of the Seneschal upon her own body, along with the armor and boots. She felt her short hair in the wind, and began to understand. Despite the horror of what Richmond and Florin were attempting, her gaze fell once more to Savanno. She had hoped he would get up, try something, return to life and save her. She knew better in her head, but only her broken heart had control now.

The seamstresses and chambermaids backed up a few steps and bowed to the king, signaling to him that they had finished. “Let me see, my queen.”

Florin turned to him, dressed as the escaped fugitive queen had been, the hair of Rosana tied in well from the ladies that had served her
,
giving her the image and façade of the queen herself
. The bits of shade and accents of feminine vanity placed well upon her face, so well that the beautiful Florin looked just like Rosana from as close as ten feet. The crown fit perfectly, the jewelry helped for finishing touches, and the impersonation would fool most anyone. Florin, the false queen of Harlaheim, bowed to Richmond the Second who reached his hand out to one of the royal guards and took his crown that they had brought. He placed it on his head, and bowed to his new queen in return.

“I thank thee for my daring rescue, great king
. However, this Florin woman that tried to take the throne from us would not have surrendered so easily I think. I feel that a few cuts and bruises would ad
d
to her vicious reputation, don’t you?
She did in fact start several deadly riots last night, and nearly killed a bishop.
I believe that she and Savanno there have been at the root of a political mutiny, and shall be punished as such.
” Florin smiled wickedly at Rosana, who looked much like her with the short hair and formal uniform.

“Indeed my queen. Men, the prisoner and traitor to the throne, Seneschal Florin, requires a lesson in manners. Rough her up a bit before we parade her through the city.
And send word ahead that the bishop Javiel is to be arrest
ed for his treasons. The former lord, Savanno, has been killed. His treachery at kidnapping the ruling nobility will stain his name forever.
” Richmond ordered the cosmetic beating that would ensure that the ruse would be believed, for no one would see Rosana behind her garb, her short hair, and the bruises and blood that was to follow. After a few screams and moments of inhumane brutality, Rosana was placed back on the horse.

Her
left
eye swelling rapidly, nostrils bleeding, and her cheek cut; the
Caberran woman felt numb of heart and broken of spirit. She prayed to Alden for mercy, quietly in whispers through her swollen jaw and bloody split lip.
“Why are you doing this, why could you not just let us go?!”

“Because, prisoner, the people despise me and love you. The knights I inherited along with the bishop, the mighty wizard in his tower, and the adulteress queen I was forced to marry
,
have all been nothing but obstacles. The kingdom views me as a young villainous king, which I am. But with the bishop about to be viewed as a conspirator to the throne, the knights slain and replaced, and the mastermind symbol of treason executed for it, the people will have a new villain to blame for it all. You,
Florin
, are the lynchpin and true wickedness that has led our people astray and corrupted the throne. Before the Cardinal returns with the Crossguard Legion from Shanador, the populace will have been cheering in the courtyard up at Rosana and Richmond
,
as the two young rulers faced such adversity to bring peace and justice to the kingdom.” Richmond smiled at Florin, who cackled out a small laugh herself.

“You are insidiously evil, God will punish you more than any words I can speak in your presence. You are sick Richmond, you are the devil himself and I curse you to the same ends that you have caused so many others.” Rosan
a
spit in his face, then in Florin’s. She received a strong backhand from the woman impersonating her
, but at this point she felt very little in her face to begin with. “Yo
u will never get away with this, someone will talk, someone will find out.”

The king’s horse, tied to Rosana
’s, started forward and Florin
followed. Heading back south to the capital, the men remained in position. “You men have your orders to check all who travel this road, you will be relieved tomorrow at noon.” Richmond received the bows from the soldiers
and chambermaids
he expected,
knowing full well that they
would not live another hour. “Your army is ready?”

“I have three
hundred approaching now, when they see us round the turn ahead one mile they will move in and kill them all. No witnesses my king, not one. Well, besides your unfaithful wife with another man’s child in her belly, but she faces the guillotine tomorrow
in grand fashion after Javiel
. I am curious how loud the crowd will cheer for Florin’s beheading. The riots, the taking of the throne, the war on Kalzarius, you have indeed made me into quite a monster.” Florin laughed at the thought of Rosana being beheaded as her, and that Richmond and she had planned it.
Joh
nas will be most envious
,
she thought.

“You are a monster my queen, but no more than I. Let us ride ahead and meet the army that will carry us into the city. How many did you pull from the siege?” Richmond quickened their pace.

“I have two thousand ready outside the city, leavin
g the siege with just one thousand
under Sir Sebastian. If
any loyal to
Bis
hop Javiel make
a stand,
the Order of Saint Tarumin would only be able to gather perh
aps a few hundred
. I am certain his faithful
will surrender, and the
n he gets the guillotine
; quick death versus torture for his conspiraci
es. Also, my king, I have sent three
hundred men to Saint Erinsburg to bring Lord Cristoff to us on counts of treason and conspiracy. I have confirmed that
some of
those men were definitely his that assisted Savanno. All will be in order soon.” Florin looked back at Rosana, checking to make sure she was still there on the horse, and still bleeding a bit.

The three steeds passed a hidden soldier on
the turn in the road south to Harlaheim, and
many
men went into motion to kill the small band of supposed traitors.
Richmond sacrificed his ambush party for the sake of silence.
The nobles continued on to the city to return victorious and
gloriously united with the royal army behind them.

The soldier lay still in the brush, his horse tethered half a mile from the road. He had seen something in the fog when Savanno sent him to protect the rear, and had hidden to avoid notice. The soldier had seen it all happen so quickly, but remained hidden knowing h
e could do nothing against thirty or more
men. His heart burned from seeing what they did to the queen and Savanno. He had heard that she was to be executed as Florin, and that Cristoff would have a trap waiting for him when he arrived back from the mountains. The soldier went to his horse, trying to think of how to get to Cristoff before he arrived in Saint Erinsburg. Though young and merely a guard at Castle Bradswellen, Nor
r
ice Fevrand was not about to let his lord or the queen be
killed. The brave soldier moved
as the sounds of murderous battle ensued up the road from his position, and untethered his horse. Nor
r
ice rode hard to the north and east, in hopes of reaching Lord Cristoff and those he traveled with before anyone else did.
Someone had to know what had happened, someone had to stop the execution, someone had to save the kingdom of Harlaheim. Norrice rode to the only man he knew that had never lost a battle.

LCMVXI
ILCMVXIILCMVXIILCMVX

The stewed lamb and flame roasted root vegetables were delicious along with the breads and fresh fruits that were brought to them. No
ne of them saw who had left the food
, and the dragon refused to reveal it.
Rested, fed, much food packed and waterskins full of fresh water, the six companions knew that lingering here more would only delay the start of the journey they had promised Azenairk to begin. They also had to meet Savanno Lisario in Saint Erinsburg, which James was eagerly awaiting.

“So great dragon, how is it that we find the mines in the Kaki Mountains?” Zen asked as he finished donning his plate armor and tightening the straps.

“From what I know, the route through the west will be most dangerous if taken directly.
Since you are all so very hunted
, stay off
the main ro
ads. T
ravel west, but stay clear of the rotten city of Devonmir. Be careful through the free cities of Willborne, strange folk I have heard of there, but they should not bother you. From there I would head a
cross southern Shanador, but
again
stay hidden
and
head
into the Misathi Mountains. There is a pass through there that is most
dangerous to travelers less skilled than you in battle, Deadman’s Pass
. Go
through
the valleys of the Misathi but be cautious, even
warr
iors such as yourselves should be
concerned. Going through that valley will keep you from ogre entanglements
of Bloodskull
, which are far worse than dealing with a few giants.” Ansharr looked over to James Andellis who seemed a bit perplexed.

“So you would rather us go through a deadly pass with giants than deal with a few ogre? I do not follow your reasoning, ancient one.” James looked to the others, then to the dragon again.

“It is not a few ogre, good knight. The city of Bloodskull borders Shanador, a city of tens of thousands of ogre, a small kingdom in fact. You do not want to draw their attention, I assure you.” Ansharr paused, watching James go blank in the face at the mention of an entire city of his most hated creature
on the continent. “You will have a rest in
the dwarven city of Marlennak,
then carry on to the end of the Misathi Mountains and turn north. When you reach Evermont, the western fortress city of Shanador, you will turn west and seek the
Kaki M
ountains. Somewhere in those mountains are the mines of Kakisteele and the city of Mooncrest, but I could not tell you where.”

“How long a journey is this
, exactly?” Gwenneth looked to the dragon
’
s wings, then to her feet, and then back to her.

“
If I were on foot, I would think more than a
few
month
s, perhaps three
or so if you travel hard and do not get delayed.” Ansharr walked over to her treasury and lay in front of it.

“I wish I could go with you to seek this famed and majestic place, truly, I am envious. I will have the best horses, equipment, and supplies for you.” Cristoff smiled, then looked at the minotaur. “I do not have anything big enough for you to ride, my horned friend, I do apologize.”

“Not needed Cristoff, I am far too comfortable on foot, and my experience with a brahma in Chazzrynn was not pleasant.” Saberrak huffed in return.