Chapter 12 #2
Colm was being quite rational, which left me with an even better opportunity.
I could leverage the guard’s actions and inform the Aureline Council, and an investigation could be launched to pressure Colm.
But this guard had harmed Briar, and I had an opportunity to avenge what was mine.
I already had a plan to pressure Colm. Oathfeln’s death would eliminate at least one person who had and would continue to harm her.
I kept my hand at Briar’s throat, and my gaze seared into Colm.
Even after I made him take the vow, his guards might cause issues.
All of those vows of protection could be easily undone by one person stupid enough to not obey.
My gut warned me that, if I left him alive, Oathfeln would be a particular problem.
I’d have preferred to draw out his suffering, but Briar had bitten off his partner’s nose, and he had tried to strike her after being told not to.
Then, of course, he had tried to stab me.
I inclined my head slightly to Colm. “Then his life is forfeit for this crime.”
I tightened my shadows around him with suffocating strength. A helpless gurgle escaped his lips, and they turned blue, every tendon in his neck pulled taut. His ribs creaked, and his spine arched, his legs kicking, boots scraping across stone as he writhed in the hold of the magic.
Colm’s eyes widened slightly before he steeled his expression.
Briar tensed. I despised making her uncomfortable, but this had to be done.
However, my shadows continued to support her. I moved my head, pretending I wanted a better view of Oathfeln so she didn’t have to see yet another violent death.
Oathfeln’s fingers clawed at the air, twitching helplessly, his arms still twisted behind his back.
Half the shadows wrapped around him pulled down, and the other half pulled up.
The tension built as his eyes bugged out.
Then his spine and neck snapped with a heavy, wet crack, and he folded in half like a snapped branch in flood waters.
Another pang of nausea passed through me, twisting in my guts. Gritting my teeth, I bit back the urge to snap all my shadows back in. Fatigue burned my eyes, and a dull ringing sounded in my ears. Time to wrap this up and pray that not much more would be needed for my demonstration.
My shadows flung Oathfeln across the room.
His body crunched against the opposite stone wall and then slid down into the pool of shadows.
I turned my focus back to Colm. “At least here, justice has been done, though I admit I would have preferred something more prolonged and arduous, given the nature of his crime.”
Colm tipped his chin up and tapped of his claw tips together. “You are far more…proactive than I expected, Your Highness. Certainly more so than your father.”
I gave him a tight, cold smile, though my limbs were numb from the overuse of my borrowed magic. Not much left. I’d probably shortened my time a day or two by using so much.
I folded my shadows inward to keep the edges from flickering. “You Aurelines are bound to neutrality. I am of the Shadows, and I am at home in chaos, darkness, and pain.”
“Your reign will be most intriguing to see unfold, Your Highness.”
I didn’t acknowledge him as I turned my focus back to Briar.
“As for this one, she is exactly what I thought,” I said.
It was a careful matter of trickery to hold her in this way, and I feared hurting her if I held her too tightly or at too awkward an angle, especially with my control wavering. “No mercy will be shown in this matter.
“The only reason I do not make you scream is because the screams I intend to draw from you will be far longer and louder than any I would hear now from your weary throat. But cross me, and…” I clenched my shadows tighter around her like a strong embrace, and she gave a strangled cry in response. “I don’t think more needs to be said.”
Every cell in my body screamed not to release her, but I steeled my breath and forced my hand from her mouth.
..and dropped her. Her arms flailed, and she shrieked.
My shadows struck the ground, mimicking the sound of flesh striking stone.
She let out a squeak of protest and ducked her head.
Her matted copper hair slid over her shoulders and tickled my shadows.
I left the one shadow tendril curled along her ankle and up her calf. “Do you understand me?”
She nodded and flinched. She seemed small and fragile, as if an errant wind might break her. She clutched her throat protectively, shielding the reddened skin. I flinched inwardly at the sight of my marks on her, not knowing whether they caused pain, nor being able to kiss them away.
I couldn’t focus on that now. I drew my shadows in like a rippling tide of ink and fog. Another spasm of nausea swept over me, but I squared my shoulders. There could be no outward signs of weakness. Not now.
I fixed Colm with a stern gaze and gestured at Briar.
“I need to execute someone who is strong and cunning. I need my people to see her at her best and watch the murderer be taken out by my strength.” I inwardly smirked, knowing that she would not only be seen in her best health but as their queen.
“She is too thin, too injured, and appears weak. See to it that she is fed with non-moldy bread and given better clothing so the elements will not harm her. If food poisoning, illness, or another element eliminates her, I will treat the matter as if justice has been denied my kingdom and respond with the full force of our law.”
“Of course. We will ensure she is fed and clothed. She will be well prepared when it is time for justice.” Colm eyed her and stepped farther into the room now that my shadows no longer covered the floor. Not that it would take long for me to seize him.
I conserved my energy, knowing better than to press my luck.
“Good. We do not want anyone to pity her. And right now, well…look at her.” I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “Let her dread her death, not welcome it.”
Colm clicked his tongue. “Yes, she is pathetic, Your Highness.”
Selvan stood on shaky legs and groped for his dagger. Oathfeln’s mangled corpse lay in a grisly pile, blood and spittle leaking from his mouth. An unpleasant sight and a stark warning.
I pointed at Briar and rasped, “And you will not give these men any further trouble, else I will return and determine what can be risked in the preparations for your execution and what manner of pain should be added to your demise. Do you understand?”
She nodded meekly, keeping her eyes averted from me.
In that moment, she seemed a ghost of herself, and it hurt to see her weak and not fighting But she’d made my job easier, and soon, I’d lay out the second half.
I turned to Thalen and nodded. He gave a quick nod in return, understanding it was time to leave.
The floor seemed to shift under my feet, and searing pain lanced through my skull.
I blinked hard, forcing my expression to remain impassive. To Colm, I commanded, “See to it that your remaining guards understand what is at stake. My people will not be denied their justice. I have vowed it, and it is the only way there will be peace.”
"As you wish, Your Highness." Colm bowed, his claw tips clicking together. His tone was simpering, but I could feel the dark edges of his anger.
Fortunately, that wasn't going to be an issue for long. I knew precisely how to handle him and further separate him from the Aurelines.
I strode beyond the doorway as Colm moved to Selvan and spoke with him.
I heard his mumbles, informing Selvan about getting Briar food and suitable attire while Briar huddled, quivering, in the back of the room.
Did I hurt her? My heart throbbed, and bile inched up my throat.
I’d tried to be careful with her while making my anger believable.
I’d wanted to check in with her and take care of her, but there was too much at stake.
The yank in my chest toward her almost had my legs moving.
But if I misstepped now, then all of this would have been for naught.
The room seemed to close in on me. We had to get out of here so we could get her back to me sooner.
Taking a ragged breath, I whispered to Thalen, “Return to the entry point and retrieve the merlinite orb from my chambers. It’s on the second shelf in an onyx setting. Place the orb in one of the polished boxes. Then bring it here.”
Thalen curled his fingers to further hide our voices from anyone listening. “That orb was your mother's, wasn't it? It was part of a set shared with your father. Isn’t it quite powerful?” His normally warm amber eyes turned dark, and I could almost see his mind swirling. “It’s irreplaceable.”
So is Briar. “Leave and get it now .”