19. Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Erik
T he main dungeon had never been so full. At least, not to Erik's knowledge. Sure, there had been times over the years when the cells were doubled—tripled, even. But those occasions had been nothing like this. Each cell contained at least fifteen men, packed so tightly he wasn’t sure they would be able to lie down to sleep.
At least three hundred royal soldiers were crammed into the stuffy, windowless chamber. Three hundred men pleading for Erik to let them go, begging on their knees for mercy. The ones who could manage to get to their knees, at least.
“They haven't stopped since my men rounded them up. Each one of them claims they had no choice, that they want to join our side,” Tanad said, coming to stand by Erik.
“Of course they’re saying that now,” Erik said, crossing his arms as his eyes skipped across the prisoners. He didn’t know exactly what he was looking for, though he did know who. It had been on his mind ever since Janelle had told him about her past. Had been hanging over his head and heavy on his shoulders every moment of every day.
Erik wondered if he would know the bastard when he saw him. If he’d be able to identify the man who had hurt Janelle .
“We took their weapons,” Tanad said, mistaking Erik’s reason for his attention on the prisoners. But, even though he had countless things he should be doing, including ensuring the prisoners were unarmed and safely behind bars, he wasn’t here on official business. Certainly wasn’t here to make sure they had been properly disarmed.
“Don’t trust a word they say,” Erik told Tanad, lifting his chin. “None of them are to be released without Gray’s orders.” Tanad nodded, likely already coming to that conclusion on his own. It probably went without saying, but these were the men who hadn’t been deemed worthy of joining the rebellion. So loyal to the king and Alaric that they’d known it was either a lost cause or an unnecessary risk to try to sway them.
Erik and Gray would have to discuss how to handle these prisoners, now that they’d taken back control of Auropera. He was certain that many of them did despise Alaric, especially after he had abandoned them in a ruined castle with no guidance or protection. But there were too many variables to simply let these prisoners pledge their allegiance to the cause and trust that they wouldn't turn on them once the time was right.
“Thank you for handling it,” Erik said.
“Of course. Shall we reconvene with Gray to determine our next steps?” Tanad asked.
“Soon,” Erik said. “I have something rather important I must see to first.”
Tanad leaned back, narrowing his eyes, but he didn't say a word. With a knowing look and a nod, he left, and Erik followed behind, making sure the door was firmly shut behind him.
A buzz of magic brushed against Erik’s neck, pulling his head toward the door, and all sound from outside the dungeons suddenly ceased. As if sensing whatever Erik was planning was likely private, and possibly loud, Tanad seemed to have placed an enchantment to block out whatever screams would come of what he was planning to do next.
Erik couldn’t help but smile. He’d always liked that guy.
The prisoners shouted, begging for anyone to free them, but it was of no use. No one would hear them, thanks to Tanad.
“Quiet,” Erik said, his voice low. Lethal. The men around him instantly stopped their pleading, silence spreading throughout the entire dungeon like a plague. Fire crackled off his skin as he let his rage feed his magic, the stone beneath his feet charring. Erik continued to search each face, some of them familiar, some of them strangers, hoping that somehow, he would know when he saw Stefan and Jakob.
“I'm looking for someone,” he said as he slowly stepped forward, the heels of his boots clicking on the damp floor. “A man named Jakob.” Hushed whispers bounced off the domed ceilings, but no one stepped forward. Not a single soldier.
“Then I'm looking for a man—any man—who knows a Jakob.”
Shuffling sounded from the back corner, followed by a “Shut up!” Erik's head snapped toward the noise, bringing fire to his fingertips. “Tell me what you know. Now .”
The silence was deafening, and rage churned through Erik’s blood. He called fire to his fingertips, allowing it to drip from his hands like lava. “It would be a shame for the whole lot of you to die to protect one lowlife. Trust me, the man I'm looking for isn’t worthy of your protection.” He pushed more fire through his hands, causing the dungeons to glow a vibrant orange. “ Or your death.”
More hushed whispers. Erik lowered his chin and raised his hands.
“Wait—” A voice called from the back cell, the men inside parting around a young boy as he stepped forward. A boy who couldn't be more than eighteen years old. Tears shined in his eyes, his throat bobbing as he walked.
“I’m Jakob,” he said, his voice so small and terrified Erik wondered if he was even younger than seventeen.
“Don't lie to me, boy. Don't take the fall for someone else.”
“I'm not lying, I swear it.”
Erik wished Lea was with him with her sword in her hand to discern the truth.
“It's not you who I'm looking for. His name is Jakob. His brother is named Stefan.” Erik's blood heated, just uttering their names. “Them, and their group of friends.”
The young boy cleared his throat, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “There is another with the same name. I don’t know him well. He's older than I am, but I believe he has a brother.”
“Where is he?” Erik asked, believing him.
The boy blanched, turning white. “I don't know.”
“Where is he?” Erik roared to the entire dungeon, spinning in a circle and shooting fire from his hands, so hot it singed the uniforms of the nearby soldiers.
“We don't know! None of us know.” A man stepped forward, one Erik knew well. Colin. A soldier he and Gray had very specifically not recruited to join their cause. “Even if we did, why would we give his location away to a traitor like you?” he hissed, spitting at Erik’s feet.
Erik froze, and the men around Colin backed away, as if sensing the charge crackling in the air. “I hope he finds you,” Colin continued. “And I hope he kills you for what you've done to us. For betraying our king.”
“If anyone's memory is triggered,” Erik said, ignoring Colin’s words as he stalked past him, “and you remember Jakob’s location, you'll be rewarded. Lead me to him or his brother, and I will promise you won't meet the same fate as your brother in arms,” Erik said, raising his hand and sending a steady stream of fire directly into Colin’s chest.
Colin hardly had time to scream before he collapsed into a pile of smoldering ash. The silence somehow felt even louder this time, the only sound the pop of smoldering embers.
Erik turned to leave, waving away the smell of singed flesh.
“What did he do? What is Jakob's crime?” a soldier called out, and Erik froze in the doorway, not bothering to turn around.
“He hurt the woman I love,” Erik said, slamming the door shut firmly behind him.