Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [106]
And nearby, Xeries himself appeared. Seemingly very pleased with himself, he stepped up on the dais to look down at Quinn-helpless and unarmed.
"You were right. You did come back for me." He smiled. "I thank you for the warning."
Quinn struggled against his captors, but it was no use. He was held fast. "Don't mention it."
"You realize of course that I'm going to have to make you pay for all of this. All of Erlkazar is going to pay for the damage and difficulty you've caused me."
"Whatever it is you want, you won't get it," Quinn said.
Xeries laughed, his echoed voice multiplying the terrible sound. "I already have almost everything I want." He ran his finger over Mariko's cheek.
The princess pulled back, and the mimmio conveyed her words. "Don't touch me, you filthy beast."
Xeries scowled. "I shall have you despite your defiance. And I shall destroy this little village you call home just for my pleasure."
He slipped his belt off of his waist and let the robe fall from his shoulders. His body was twisted and blackened, a deformed monstrosity that made both Mariko and Quinn look away in disgust.
"But there is something else." Waving his hands over his head, Xeries cast a spell. His bent, twisted body grew upright. His blemished, foul skin became smooth. His withered old hands and face became young again. His whole visage transformed.
A chill ran down Quinn's spine and his chest grew cold. Pinned to the floor, he looked up at an exact doppelganger of himself-complete with one bladed gauntlet.
"You wouldn't dare," spat Quinn.
Xeries smiled. "Oh no?" he said, his voice no longer echoing, but now sounding like Quinn. "I want to see the look on your king's face when I tell him-with your face-that I have betrayed him. That I have turned over his daughter without a fight, and that despite her sacrifice, Erlkazarl’s doomed."
Xeries, wearing the appearance of Quinn, turned and strode out of the throne room. "Move the citadel over the water until I return," he commanded his minions. "And hold those two in my private chamber. I will deal with them both personally when I have finished my business with their king."
+++++
Assassins swirled around King Korox Morkann of Erlkazar and his men, coming in a dozen at a time. They carried all manner of weapons. There seemed no continuity between them except that they wore the same robes and all worked at the same goal-to kill the king.
Already his circle of defenders had dwindled. Four men had died in the opening moments of the battle. Three more and the king's black mount had also been grievously wounded. They tried to hold their ground, but it was no use. There was no way out of this.
Their shouts were muffled by the dead brown foliage on the once-in-bloom trees. The sounds of their blades colliding with those of the assassins wandered off into the dry air, unheard by the waiting troops. Less than a mile from the mustering army, the king, the head of his Magistrates, and their escort were all going to die.
They fought now only to prolong their lives for a few more precious moments. They stayed on their feet, defending themselves and their king for the pride of having been here at the end. If this was the way they were going to go when they were going to fight with every last breath left in them.
"Steady!" shouted the king to his defenders. "You are the bravest this land has to offer! Your courage will earn you a place in history!"
His words moved them. Though they were wounded and outnumbered, they fought with the strength of a hundred men. But even if they'd had that many, it would still not have been enough.
A shower of purplish blue light came down on the assassins. It looked like thirty or more brightly colored spring birds diving into the fray, striking the black-robed men attacking the king. They hissed and popped as they impacted, burning holes in their