Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [88]
Whitman shook his head. "I do not know."
Korox dropped his knee down on the ex-scribe's chest, lowering his entire weight-full armor and all-onto the man. "I will ask you this only one more time. What is her name?"
Whitman struggled to keep himself upright, his back straining under the extra weight, threatening to break. "I swear to-you. I do not know. She keeps her face covered, her identity a secret."
The king stood. "Take him back to the dungeon," he ordered a nearby Magistrate.
Whitman fell over sideways, a gushing sob ushering from his lips as he was dragged out of the room.
Korox watched the man he had once trusted with all of his words disappear from the great hall in shackles. His reign as king was in danger of being characterized simply by the string of betrayals from his advisors and servants.
"Father!"
Korox turned away from Whitman to see his daughter standing at the door to the audience chamber. "Mariko?" He rushed to her side and wrapped her in an embrace. "I wasn't sure I was going to ever lay eyes upon you again."
She smiled at him. "There were some moments there where I thought the same thing." The princess traced the path of bodies across the floor with her eyes. "What happened here?"
"Erlkazar is in grave danger," he said. "We're at war."
"Quinn mentioned that."
Behind her, the Claw entered the great hall, his mask missing.
The king glanced to his assassin, then to his daughter. "Then I guess you've heard about Arch Magus Xeries and his demands."
The princess nodded. "Yes." She looked up at him with her chin pointed to the ground. If she had been wearing spectacles, she would have been staring over the tops of the rims.
The king had seen that look before. Her mother used to give it to him on a regular basis. "Mariko, you can't believe that I want to turn you over to that man. That has never been my intention."
"I'm sure you will do what is best for the kingdom," she replied, not changing the look.
"I'm glad someone thinks so." King Korox Morkann took another look at his daughter. It seemed he hadn't seen her for ages. Indeed, whatever she had been through had made her look older, wiser-a lot like her mother in fact.
"Let me tell you what has happened while you were away." He touched Mariko's elbow and gently directed her down the hall. "Perhaps you will have a clearer view of what our best course of action may be."
She looked like her mother, had the same stern look as her mother, maybe she'd have sage advice, like her mother always had.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The sun rose on a new day in Erlkazar. A westerly wind blew in from the water, lifting the morning fog and gently rustling the grass and leaves. At any other time, this would have been a beautiful spring day. Visitors from other lands would have seen children playing in the foothills, farmers coaxing their crops from the soil, and a community of people who worked and lived together in harmony.
But not today.
On this day, the sun's rays were somehow absorbed by the empty hopeless blackness that was the Obsidian Ridge. The children, those who hadn't been evacuated, were locked tightly inside their homes, cowering behind barred doors with their huddled families. The roads were all but bare, occupied by only the bravest and the most foolhardy. And the wind had nothing to rustle.
The first rays of dawn had brought with them what seemed a plague. The crops, once sprouting with the hope of a fine harvest were turned gray and lifeless. Their budding blossoms had withered and died. The first signs of flowers and fruit had decayed on the vine, transforming into little more than dried out husks.
Xeries had done what he'd promised.
"This is an outage," fumed Lady Herrin, stomping right into the audience chamber. "You are our king, and it is your obligation to protect us from this threat."
"I am aware of my duty, Lady Herrin."
Korox stood on the dais. His throne had been destroyed in the melee that took place only a day before. Blood stained the floor of the chamber, and scars from the battle marred