Fifty Six #2
“May Elvanan protect you, little one,” I tell it, once more holding it close to me.
I sink to the ground and Escor curls protectively around me, exhaustion weighing me down.
“Guards, take him, kill him now!” the king roars, and my head snaps up.
Rohan has the king by an ankle, pulling him toward me, but at his words, Rohan drops his foot and punches him in the face, growling down at him.
“Anyone want to take him from me?” he challenges the guards, Escor’s threatening growl backing him up.
The guards stay silent, moving further away and shaking their heads.
“The egg?” Rohan shouts across to me.
“I have it!”
People who fled the city begin to gather closer again, whispering and pointing at the king, fear on their faces.
Rohan twirls his axe in his hand as the king rummages in his pocket then holds out a port stone.
He’s going to get away, going to regroup and continue his tyranny.
I expect Rohan to go for him again, grab him in some way, but he just tilts his head to the side and watches.
“You will not kill me this day,” Halen says as a raven flies over. “But this will be the end of you, boy.” And then he vanishes, only to reappear in front of Rohan a moment later.
The smug smile of relief on Halen’s mouth instantly fades, and his face drains of color as Rohan grabs him by the throat, lifting him up off the ground.
“I am not your only child who wants you gone,” Rohan says. “It’s over. You have no army, no guards, no one here to protect you from me.”
The king scrambles for the sword at his side, and Rohan quickly disarms him on a laugh, all the while holding the king’s throat.
“Remember what I told you? How I would kill you?” Rohan asks.
The king’s face turns purple, gasping for breath as he grabs hold of Rohan’s wrist, trying to remove it. The crowd around us gasp, holding each other close.
“I said I would kill you with my bare fucking hands,” Rohan says, pulling the kings face closer with each word. “And I will.”
He releases Halen who drops to his knees, sputtering and gasping for breath.
“But not quite yet.”
Then he punches the king, knocking him out cold.
Rohan stands over him a moment, chest heaving.
“Anyone else?” he shouts at the people watching in horror, issuing the challenge.
No one moves, no one seems to breathe in his direction.
I get to my feet shakily, hearing dragons roar and growl in the distance, and I can only hope they have gotten to the eggs with Herja.
The people look at us in disgust, and I keep an eye on them as I walk toward Rohan while Escor growls at them behind me.
“You… you killed him,” someone shouts.
“You killed our king, you’ll pay for this!”
“Yeah,” another says. “You’re a traitor, Dragorie scum.”
“Hey!” I shout before I can stop myself.
“Shut up, elf!” A man spits.
“Don’t speak to her like that.” Rohan warns the man in a deadly tone, and he instantly backs down, disappearing into the crowd that has now formed.
“Justice will be served!” a man says, fear in his tone and Rohan laughs.
“You’re correct, it will be served.”
“Let’s get him, take him to the dungeons,” another whispers, and fear spears through me as Escor turns to them, snarling.
“Be calm, everyone,” a new voice says, and we turn as the king’s brother, Ivor, walks through the collapsed wall, Alexandar at his side, an unusual raven perched on his shoulder. “All will be well.”
“The Dragorie killed the king, we saw it!” A woman shouts.
“He’s dead! The king is dead!” Another says.
“Justice has been served,” Ivor proclaims when he stops just across from Rohan, looking down at his brother.
“The king has committed atrocities unknown to the public, but believe me, I speak for the entire royal family when I tell you he was an unfit king, consumed by greed and hate. The Lothmere family approved of this execution.”
The people gasp in shock, chattering amongst themselves.
“What he has done to the people of these lands, including the Dragorie and dragons, is a crime against Dracozar that has long been allowed to happen. It’s wrong and has been wrong for a long time.” He looks at the people. “Change is coming, don’t be frightened of it.”
Then to Rohan. “You burned our city, but you have done us a service. This will be the end of our conflict considering what my brother has put you through.”
Rohan says nothing, and I fear he won’t agree, but he dips his head, once.
“Come and see me before you leave. Healing supplies, food and water have already been distributed to your people. Let Alexandar know if you need anything else and it’s yours.”
Rohan doesn’t say anything to that.
“There will be no issue with what transpired today,” Ivor announces. “Now, come, let us help the wounded and take care of these fires.” He eyes Rohan. “And let the Dragorie and their dragons be, that’s the order of your new king.”
“My king,” someone says, bowing, and the others follow suit, going to the new king as Alexandar comes over to Rohan, just as I reach him too.
“The deal has been met,” Alexandar says as his raven chirps.
“A deal is a deal,” Rohan replies, looking at his half-brother. “It will be met when he’s dead.”
“I have no doubt it will be done.” Alexandar looks down at his father. “Make it hurt.”
Then without another word, Alexandar turns back toward the castle.
“Oh,” he says suddenly, looking back at me. “Tell your sister I expect her back soon.”
I blink and watch him go as Rohan grabs the king’s ankle and begins to drag him to Drogonah, who appears to be waking up with a terrifying growl.
“There is much to do,” Rohan tells me.
“Just… just like that?” I ask, weariness weighing down on me as I clutch the egg. Escor nudges Drogonah, who grumbles.
Rohan runs the back of his knuckles down my cheek, and I lean into the touch.
“No,” he says, exhaustion in his voice. “But it’s a start.”