The Broken Kingdoms of Osvolta (Kingdoms of Osvolta #1)

33. Swift and Terrible Justice

Chapter thirty-three

Swift and Terrible Justice

T hat night, what lingered of the blistering heat from the south shattered as rain pounded Marrelin City. The streets flooded and the rivers beyond the stone walls overflowed, yet two figures sat on a raised surface in the castle grounds, hidden from public view. A hooded figure stood beside them, daggers at their hips, sword at their back. The rain soaked the black leather ensemble they wore.

The two figures cowered in fear as they looked up, “P… p… please.” One of them stuttered. “We were trying to protect her, protect all of them.”

“There is little use in begging. Your fate has already been decided. For the crime of harbouring a manifested child. We have sentenced you to death. Do you have any last words?” The icy, unfeeling voice of the princess declared. Her hands shook, but she hid it well. Fighting to block from her mind the thoughts of how many more citizens she would kill before she could bring her family down. “We loved them. Everything we did was to protect them.”

“Your children will never hear that message. They will grow up in the care of those who will teach them that your actions were criminal. You tried to deny that child the right to her magic.”

The princess grabbed each of them by the throat as their screams filled the night, moving through the otherwise silent grounds like smoke. It wasn’t long before the eerie quiet took hold as they slumped to the ground and the wraith towered over them, placing gloves over her hands.

The execution had taken place under the shadows of night, away from the city, to hide the identities of the victims. The king was wary of the uproar a full public display would cause amongst those who already dissented. Publicly, the conviction would be life imprisonment at Luxenal, a secret to protect the peace within the kingdom.

Yet a figure stood in the shadows, watching the scene unfold. They’d listened to their screams and cries. Watched as they slumped to the ground lifeless, before walking away, leaving the Reaper to deal with the mess of her own making.

Solveig’s clothes dripped rainwater on the stones of the entryway as she pulled off her gloves and cloak. She made to climb the stairs and disappear to her chambers unseen and unheard when a voice called out to her from the shadows.

“The laws of my country would have me strike you down for what you have done.” Solveig paused on the steps, one hand gripping the cold railing.

“Then it’s good we aren’t in your country, we’re in mine. And our laws state I carried out justice.”

“I thought the rumours were exaggerated. Now I see every one of them rings true.”

“Who are you to pass judgement upon me, Dark Prince?”

“Take one step inside, Elithiend, Princess, and you won’t hear those words uttered against me. I don’t even have to leave the castle to hear nightmarish stories of the things you’ve done.”

“Why are you still here, desperate to work with me, if I repulse you?” Solveig questioned with an irritated sigh.

The prince stepped out of the darkness, and she gazed upon his handsome face, turned hard as stone, devoid of all warmth. “I don’t have to like you to get what I need from you.”

“Good, the feeling is mutual.”

“Training tomorrow?”

“I’m busy with the new recruits at the guild tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll tag along.”

“You’re here to figure out why elementals are dying. You do not need to see our training methods.”

“I disagree,” he took another step closer. “I need a complete picture if I’m to root out the cause.”

Solveig shook her head at a loss. “Then you’ll need permission that I don’t have the authority to grant.”

“And who does?”

“My father, of course,” she said saccharinely. “Good night, Prince.”

Solveig could feel his gaze burning her like hellfire as she ascended the stairs. “You know, for someone who proclaims to hate every piece of me, you spend an awful lot of time watching me,” she fired over her shoulder.

“It’s possible to abhor someone and still find them pleasant to look at. Sweet dreams, Princess.”