The King's Executioner Read online

  Bog was suddenly at Paine’s side, snarling and snapping at Wrath.

  “Why does he not like me?” Wrath asked, letting his hand fall slowly off Paine.

  “Go guard,” Paine ordered and Bog ran to the dwelling door and sat in front of it, snarling in warning. “You can be so blind to the obvious.”

  Wrath’s tone took on an edge of anger. “I am not blind to the fact that I fear this may be one time I cannot save your arse.”

  As he walked off, Paine wondered the same thing.

  ~~~

  As soon as Paine entered the dwelling, Anin asked softly, “Will you take your leave of me now?”

  “No, as I told you, I will deliver you to the King and then take my leave. Are you ready? It is time to go.”

  Anin could not explain the deep ache in her chest and how it spread and seemed to consume her at the thought that once Paine presented her to the King, he would be gone out of her life.

  “Anin.”

  She looked to see that he held the door open. She did not want to leave this small dwelling. She would have preferred to remain here with Paine and what? He had repeatedly reminded her that his task was to present her to the King and he would see it done. He had also told her that he would keep her safe and he had done that. Now it was time for her to do what she must—become the King’s queen.

  Anin pressed her hand to her middle that fluttered with worry. This was not what she wanted, though fate had thought differently. It was difficult for her to believe fate would be so cruel. She had felt how Paine felt when she had laid her hand on him. He cared as much for her as she did for him.

  “There is no time to waste, Anin. The King waits.”

  Anin reluctantly stepped outside and stopped abruptly when she saw the enclosed cart that waited for her. The two narrow slits on either side of the cart would provide only a modicum of light and air. It would be like being locked in a cell and that she could not bear.

  “I will not ride in that,” Anin said and took a step back, bumping against Paine.

  “You will, the King has ordered it,” Wrath commanded and nodded to one of the warriors to open the door.

  Anin shook her head. “I will not be closed away in there.”

  “You fear riding in the cart?” Wrath asked as if the thought was ridiculous.

  “I am not comfortable in closed, tight places,” Anin said, keeping her back pinned against Paine.

  Wrath’s brow knitted as he asked, “You are part Lammok, are you not?”

  “I am,” Anin said.

  “Then how can you fear anything?” Wrath snapped and not waiting for an answer ordered, “You will ride in the cart as the King ordered.”

  “I will not!” Anin shouted her body beginning to tremble.

  Wrath and his warriors stared at her, shocked by her adamant refusal.

  “Let her ride a horse,” Paine said from behind her.

  Wrath glared at him. “Few have the skill to ride a horse. Besides, the King’s orders will be obeyed.” He walked straight at Anin, his hand reaching out to grab her as he got near.

  Paine’s hand snapped out and clamped like a metal shackle around Wrath’s wrist. “Do not touch her.”

  Anin was squeezed between the two men and she braced herself back against Paine to keep Wrath’s body from touching hers. The short distance between her and the fierce warrior did not however stop her from sensing his anger. It raged around him like a thunderstorm ready to unleash fury. No wonder he was called Wrath.

  “I was ordered by the King to keep the future Queen from harm and deliver her safely to him. If riding in the enclosed cart causes Anin harm, then she will not ride in it. I—like you—keep my word to the King.” Paine released Wrath’s wrist.

  “You tread on dangerous ground, my friend, watch your step,” Wrath warned and turned away.

  Anin had to stop herself from turning around and throwing her arms around Paine in gratitude. But he would not wrap his arms around her in front of Wrath and his warriors. It would not be proper.

  He stepped around her and, without saying a word to her, went to look over two horses a warrior brought forth.

  Once again, she felt empty when he left her side. She and Paine were part of each other. And how did one live missing a part of oneself?

  She looked down at Bog, standing beside her and whispered, “I will miss you, Bog.”

  The wolf moved closer so that his body pressed against her leg. She smiled, pleased he seemed to feel the same way.

  Paine lifted her onto a horse. “Just follow the animal’s lead.”

  Anin did not bother to tell him she was familiar with riding a horse. She rode her da’s horse often, though he had scolded her whenever he discovered her doing so.

  He mounted his horse and rode in front of her beside Wrath. The cart traveled behind her and warriors behind it. Bog kept pace with Paine, though kept his distance from the horse and he glanced back now and again at Anin as if keeping close watch on her.

  As the day wore on so did Anin’s loneliness. No one spoke to her. It was as if she traveled unaccompanied. She had felt less lonely when she had left her home and traveled by herself to her mum’s people. She had felt the companionship of the forest and the creatures that inhabited it. At least they had welcomed her. Wrath and his warriors were there out of duty to the King and had bid her no welcome.

  It was not until well after the sun was high in the sky that they stopped for a brief rest. Anin hoped Paine would come and sit with her, but she sat in solitude under a tree with no one paying her heed. She watched as the warriors talked among themselves and Paine and Wrath huddled not far from the narrow stream in conversation. Bog had gone off to do as he pleased and it gave Anin the notion to do the same.

  Since Paine had found her, she had not done as she pleased and her freedom would certainly be curtailed once she was Queen. This would be her only chance to do as she wished and she wished to take a brief walk in the woods and relish the comfort it always brought her. Seeing that no one looked her way, Anin stood ready to slip quietly behind the tree and into the woods and welcome the peacefulness of the forest that was sure to surround her.

  She froze mid-step as Bog’s lone howl echoed through the forest, sending gooseflesh rushing over her. She waited, fearful another would follow. And it did.

  Anin was about to turn and run to Paine when a Drust warrior burst out of the woods, his spear raised and aimed straight at her. She was suddenly shoved aside. Falling to the ground, she watched as Paine’s battle axe deflected the spear, then quickly brought it down on the screaming warrior, silencing him with one blow.

  Paine reached down, yanked Anin up by her arm, and shoved her against a tree where she was quickly surrounded by some of the King’s guard. Knowing they would give their lives to keep her safe, he rushed off to fight along with Wrath and the other guards.

  The attack ended quickly and deadly for the few Drust warriors. Paine and Wrath easily dispensed of them, Bog arriving to help with the last one.

  Wrath turned to Paine when all was done. “The Drust was not in favor of the tribes uniting, but to openly attack the King’s guard and on Pict land makes no sense. They know the King will have no choice but to retaliate and they cannot hope to defeat him and the united tribes.”

  “They attacked with one purpose... to kill Anin,” Paine said with a glance at her, the King’s guard still surrounding her.

  “Why?” Wrath asked the question puzzling. “No attempts were ever made on the King’s two previous wives. What is different about Anin?”

  “That is the question I have been asking myself.”

  “And one that needs a quick answer before war settles upon the land again. If we keep a strong pace, we can make it to the King’s stronghold before the sun sets on this day.” Wrath did not wait for Paine to agree. He turned and ordered his warriors to mount, then turned to Paine. “She rides in the cart where she will be safe.”

  “She will not get in the cart.”r />
  “Then put her in it,” Wrath ordered.

  “No,” Paine said.

  “She must be kept safe.”

  “Her safety is for me to see to. Your task is to aid me in that,” Paine reminded.

  “And how do you intend to do that?”

  Paine walked away from Wrath without responding, though his actions answered for him. Paine hoisted Anin onto his horse and mounted behind her.

  Wrath rode up beside him. “I wonder what the King will think when he sees you mounted on the horse behind his future Queen.”

  Paine wrapped his arm firmly around Anin’s waist. “He will know I do what is necessary to keep her safe.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  They arrived at King Talon’s stronghold at dusk and Anin’s breath caught at the sight of the place. She had heard talk of the structures the King had had built at Pictland, but she thought them nothing more than mere tales, thinking it impossible. Seeing it herself proved how wrong she was.

  They came upon a wood fence taller than three men standing atop each other. The tops of the fence had been carved into points as sharp as spears and torch lights flickered from various spots along it, making it appear as if the fence went on forever.

  Two large wooden gates opened as they approached and once inside Anin’s eyes fell on the large structure that dominated the middle of the area. It was like none she had ever seen. It stood two stories high, large posts running in intervals up the front of the dwelling. Two large doors stood in the middle of the lower level. Smoke drifted out of several holes in the turf-thatched roof and tall torch posts stood like sentinels along the front of the structure. Several other dwellings sat nearby, some appearing to be work structures.

  People stopped what they were doing to stare at Anin. No smiles crossed their faces and she wondered if it was because she rode with the King’s executioner.

  When they stopped in front of the large dwelling, Paine quickly dismounted and hastily reached up to take her by the waist and slip her off the horse. She purposely placed her hands on his arms, wanting to feel what he was feeling.

  The sensation was so strong it startled her and sent her insides churning. He did not want to be separated from her. He did not want to let her go, though he did, and with haste when her feet touched the ground.

  The loss of his touch was almost too much to bear. Once again, she felt as if he took part of her with him.

  “What is wrong?” Paine asked, stepping closer to her.

  She raised her head, not realizing it had drooped with her heavy thoughts. What could she say to him?

  The two large doors opened, sparing her from responding.

  Wrath walked up to them, glancing from one to the other. “Are you ready to face the King?”

  A shiver ran through Anin, though Paine ignored the question and stepped to her one side. Wrath stepped to her other side. She felt imprisoned by the stature and width of the two strong men and dutifully followed along as they walked toward the open doors after Paine ordered Bog to wait outside.

  She entered to find it a feasting hall, though a much larger one than she had ever seen. Long tables and benches sat in rows. Huge logs crisscrossed the ceiling and others ran along the walls, waddle and daub snug between them. A sizeable stone fire pit occupied a far corner of the room, the smoke going up through a hole between the posts. Not far from it sat a long table with no bench in the front of it. Behind it stood two men, the tall one’s back turned to them. The other man only reached his shoulder, though his face was not aged with lines and ruts, his short hair was pure white. He stared at them, no sign of welcome on his face.

  Anin’s insides churned again. The tall one had to be King Talon. It was said he stood two heads above most men and his long, dark hair signaled he was of the ruling class. He wore a sleeveless, long, dark leather tunic and though his arms were leaner than Paine’s they were defined with thick muscle. It was said his strength was beyond that of any mortal man. Many believed he could tame the wild beasts, calm an angry sea and that the land would tremble in fear when he walked upon it. There was talk that he could split a man in two with one single blow of his sword and he rode a beast of a stallion that no one could go near but him.

  To Anin it was more tale than truth... until seeing him for herself.

  The white-haired man gave the King a nod and stepped aside and that was when King Talon slowly turned around.

  Anin stared unable to take her eyes off the King. She did not know if it was his fine features that captivated or it was the markings that ran down along the right side of his face. She had heard that no one had ever seen such strange markings and it was believed that he was born with them... born to be King.

  His deep blue eyes were just as strange and alluring. Once drawn in by them, they were difficult to escape. Though, as tempting as this man might be to most women, Anin did not find him so. To her, he frightened more than attracted and she found herself moving closer to Paine.

  “Do not keep me waiting,” King Talon ordered sharply and walked around to stand in front of the table.

  Anin reluctantly kept pace with Paine and Wrath, her worry mounting with each step she took. They stopped a short distance from the King and Anin continued to stare at him. It was difficult not to. He was an impressive man. His leather tunic sat open from below his neck to the middle of his chest, lean with muscle. A leather belt was drawn tight at his slim waist, keeping the remainder of his tunic that fell to his ankles closed.

  Paine spoke. “King Talon may I present—”

  The King interrupted abruptly, “I will hear about the Drust attacks first, and then you will clarify why you were found naked on a sleeping pallet with the woman who was to be my future Queen.”

  Relief and fear stirred in Anin. If she no longer was to be his queen, then what was to happen to her? And how had he known about Paine and her?

  Paine did not bother to look accusingly at Wrath. He would not have betrayed him when he said he had told him he would explain to the King. It was one of Gelhard’s men and that was where his eyes went... to the white-haired man, the High Counselor to the King. Gelhard had men everywhere and they kept him abreast of all that went on, down to the most insignificant thing.

  Also, the King was allowing him to explain what had happened, something he did not always allow others to do. What concerned him more, though, was what King Talon intended to do with Anin, since his words made it clear that she would not be Queen.

  Paine detailed each attack though he did not speak of the Drust’s death trap or of the meeting of the Drust and someone wearing the garb of a King’s warrior. That was left to tell when he could speak with the King alone.

  The King listened intently to Paine and Wrath’s accounts and when they finished he stepped close to Paine and Wrath so they could only hear what he had to say. “Only those close to me knew of your mission, Paine. Someone betrays me.”

  “There is more to tell,” Paine whispered and the King gave a barely noticeable nod.

  King Talon stepped back and looked to Paine. “Now you will tell me why you and the once future Queen was found sleeping naked together.”

  Anin gave no thought to her action, she stepped forward. “It was my fault, my King.”

  Paine shook his head and stepped up beside her. “She speaks nonsense. I did what was necessary to protect her.”

  Anin turned to Paine. “If I was not so afraid of thunder, you would not be defending yourself to the King.”

  “My task was to keep you safe, no matter what your fears.”

  “Enough!” King Talon shouted and looked to Anin. “You are part Lammock. How can you fear thunder?”

  Anin bowed her head before she spoke. “I cannot explain it, my King, but thunder frightens me and Paine kept me safe from my own fears.”

  “Then why were you naked together?”

  “A rainstorm soaked us and we slept apart until... the thunder.” Anin lowered her head, knowing how it must sound to the Ki
ng.

  King Talon turned to Paine. “You have done well. You have saved me from an unfit Queen. You will be rewarded.” He turned to Anin. “As for you, you shall be imprisoned until I determine your fate.”

  Anin felt darkness descend over her, squeezing the life from her and without thinking she threw herself against Paine and wrapped her arms around him. “Please, do not let them do this to me.”

  “Would you prefer I have him take your head?” King Talon said with a snarl.

  Anin shook her head, then shocked everyone with her actions. She turned and grabbed King Talon’s arm. “Please, my King, do not imprison me, I meant no disrespect.” She should not touch the King without his permission, but it was the only way to know how he felt toward her.

  She released him almost as quickly as she had taken hold of him, dropping back to lean against Paine. Never had she felt such immense power, such potent strength, such sureness in word and deed, and threading through it all was a smoldering passion. And what did he feel about her? She was of no consequence to him.

  “Never dare touch me without permission again!” King Talon ordered sharply, then summoned a warrior with a wave of his hand and ordered, “Lock her in one of the prison chambers until I decide what is to be done with her.”

  Paine shoved Anin behind him away from the warrior who dared not approach the executioner. “Anin has suffered much on her journey here and has done nothing wrong.”

  “That is for me to decide. Now move aside and let the warrior take her,” King Talon ordered.

  Paine did not hesitate. “I cannot do that, my King.” He was sealing his fate, but it did not matter. Anin would not survive a prison chamber. It was an enclosure without a shred of light and if it should thunder... he could not imagine the fear she would suffer. He could not bear the thought.

  King Talon stared at him for several moments, then ordered. “Throw him in there with her.”

  Fright gripped the warrior’s face at having to force the executioner.

  Wrath stepped forward. “I will imprison them both, my King.”

  “No,” the King snapped. “You will stay here and speak with me. Paine will give the warrior no trouble. Will you, Paine?”