Abuse of Power (Rise of the Mages 1) (8 page)

Blast it!

Auggie limped away, the injury a bloody reminder to be more cautious. Rads-infested cowards who wouldn’t fight you head on. Dodge and slash. Bah!

Emar darted in again, the tip of his blade a blur of motion. Auggie raised his sword more out of instinct than deliberation and deflected the blow.

Over the next few minutes, Auggie held back and only attacked when he spotted a clear opening. With his quickness, Emar evaded each blow and inflicted two more small wounds.

Auggie’s energy waned, and his breath came in ragged spurts. The huge sword multiplied in weight as a week of hard riding and little sleep caught up with him. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and his arms and legs grew sluggish. Blood trickled from nearly a half dozen cuts. He couldn’t keep up the fight. If he didn’t end it soon, he was done.

Emar shot in close. As the catcher thrust, Auggie let the thin blade slice into his shoulder. Desperate, he tried again to win with a single mighty blow. The heavy steel whistled through the air with tremendous force. Emar bent like a reed, and the swing missed by inches.

Blood poured from the new wound, the worst one yet. Clasping it with one hand, Auggie retreated, his breath labored.

Emar still looked as fresh as when they started. If Auggie didn’t do something, he was going to lose. His life—and line—ended. Alaina.

A roar of rage and frustration would feel good, but it would also show weakness. Auggie’s mind spun. There had to be something he could do to win.

He recalled a trick one of his swordmasters had used. Might work. It’d hurt like crazy, though. But pain was better than death.

Auggie summoned all his remaining strength. He was only going to get one shot. A desperate gamble. Succeed or fail, the fight would be over.

Holding the broadsword with only his left hand, he struck hard from right to left at his opponent’s stomach. As expected, Emar danced out of the sword’s range. Auggie let the momentum from the miss carry him around, making it look like a mistake.

Emar took the bait and flitted forward. Auggie clenched his right hand into a fist.

A sharp point stung his buttocks. The pain was intense, but Auggie smiled. He whirled around to finish his turn, finding Emar’s head in perfect position.

The roundhouse connected. Bone and cartilage crunched as Emar’s nose flattened. Blood flowed, and dazed, Emar staggered back.

Auggie swung with all his weight behind his blade. Emar, flailing and stumbling, brought his rapier up just enough to turn the broadsword flat. Instead of cutting him in half, the mighty blow pounded his ribs with an audible crack.

Emar let out a whoof as breath fled his lungs. He bent, his face a mask of pain.

Auggie grinned and hit the rads-infested sack of shit with an uppercut. Emar flew backward and landed in a heap on the grass.

Time to end the fight. Auggie flipped his sword so the tip pointed toward the ground. He’d be merciful—a stab though the heart would end Emar pretty quickly. Faster than to the gut anyway.

“No!”

With Benj to protect his back, Auggie ignored the yell. Grasping the hilt with both hands, he straddled the prone catcher and raised the sword above his head.

Something plowed into him from behind and bounced off. He barely even noticed the collision, but how the crap did Benj let someone get that close?

Auggie swiveled his head and found Alaina lying on her back. He glared at Benj, who just shrugged.

“What are you doing?” Auggie said.

Alaina rose shakily. “Trying to stop you from killing him.”

“Whatever for?”

“Because he’s done nothing wrong.”

Auggie’s mouth gaped. “Done nothing wrong? He kidnapped you, held you captive, and plotted to turn you over to a man who plans to rape you. What more wrong could he possibly have done?”

She put her hand on his arm. No matter the circumstances, he couldn’t get over how much he liked her touching him.

“He arrested me to collect his rightful bounty,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Auggie sputtered. “You saw how he acted toward that innkeeper. It’s not right.”

“And that’s worthy of death? That’s your idea of justice?”

Auggie gawked at her. She couldn’t possibly mean it. Emar was a horrible, horrible man who deserved death. Period.

Alaina rubbed his arm as they stood there staring at each other. Her fingers tracing circular patterns on his skin through his leather armor. Despite his best efforts, his rage faded.

“Our abuse of power is far worse than his,” she said.

Auggie tightened his grip on the sword. “Come again?”

“How many commoners are killed every day just because someone thinks they might have magic powers? There’s no one to save them, yet you seek to marry me to keep me safe.” She turned away. “I never should have agreed to this. I’ll go with him.”

Auggie spun her toward him and grabbed her hand, engulfing her tiny fingers with his. “Alaina, you don’t mean that.”

The mayor cleared his throat and looked like he was about to speak. A glare from Auggie shut him up.

She tried to pull away, but Auggie held tight. Why was she so insistent on giving up? Was the thought of marrying him that bad?

If that was how she felt, he wouldn’t force her, but he couldn’t bear the thought of her dying. “How about a deal?”

She frowned.

“I’ll let this scum go if you agree to do everything you can to save your life. A life spared in return for yours being saved. Will that soothe your conscience?”

She stared at him. “You’d kill him if I say no?”

Emar groaned and tried to rise to his elbows.

Auggie didn’t move his eyes an inch from hers as he lowered the tip of his blade to Emar’s chest. He pressed. “What do you think?”

She gritted her teeth, and for an instant, he thought she’d refuse the offer. Instead, her shoulders slumped. “You win.”

Auggie grinned in triumph. “Do you yield, Emar?”

He nodded. Auggie withdrew the broadsword and eyed him warily as two of the guardsmen helped lift him.

“Depart Vierna today,” Auggie said. “If I ever see you or your men again, I’ll forget my promise to the lady.”

Auggie swayed on his feet. Benj retrieved bandages and ointments from their saddlebags, but Auggie wouldn’t let him tend the wounds with Emar still present.

The guardsmen struggled and, after much cursing, got Emar atop his horse. So much depended on his honor. If he ordered his men to take Alaina, there was nothing Auggie could do about it.

But Emar stayed true to his word and departed without making a fuss.

Auggie leaned on his sword until the last black-liveried man passed from sight. Once dust swallowed the flank rider, Auggie collapsed to his knees.

Alaina tugged at August’s fist, still clenched from the tension of the fight.

For once, she’d do the right thing. Let him off the hook. He opened his hand, and she placed the two rings in it.

“What are you doing?” he said.

“The threat is past. There’s no reason for us to go through with the marriage.”

His face fell. “But—”

Alaina closed her hands over his. “Milord, your heroism is truly remarkable. I can’t thank you … I wish …” She couldn’t meet his eyes. “You, the niskmo, risked your life for me. Just remarkable.”

“You really don’t want to marry me?”

She turned from him and hid her face. “There’s no reason for it.”

“Just because one catcher is now off your trail doesn’t mean others won’t find you. Marriage is the only way to ensure your safety.”

Why was he fighting so hard for her? He’d won. Played the hero. What more was left?

“As a grown woman, my welfare is no one’s concern but mine. And that certainly is not a reason to get married.”

He pulled away from her. “I thought we had a deal. You get safety, and I fulfill my responsibility to produce an heir.”

How could he not understand?

“Listen to what I’m telling you,” she whispered. “That’s no reason.”

August leaned closer to hear her, his face puzzled.

“He could get you pregnant,” Benj said. “People seem to consider that a valid reason for getting married.”

Alaina glared at the moronic lieutenant. Even August scowled.

“Okay. Sorry,” Benj said.

“Milord … August …” Alaina grasped for words.

She ran her fingers across his broad shoulders, imagining life with him—a good life of wealth and comfort and children. But what was any of that without love. Who was she kidding? He didn’t—couldn’t possibly—want her.

“But—”

“For the love of the Holy One!” she yelled. “Can you please just let it go? This is painful enough for me without dragging it out.”

“Painful? For you? Are you that … You know what? Forget it. Good luck to you.” He rose and staggered toward the lieutenant.

Fantastic. She had two niskmoes who hated her. “Here. Take your money.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

August spun, his expression a mask of rage. “Keep—”

Alaina buried her face in her hands. She couldn’t bear whatever he was going to do.

Silence lasted for several minutes. When he finally spoke, his voice came from right beside her. “I don’t understand. You’re the one who doesn’t want to marry me. Why are you upset?”

“I never said that!”

“What?” he said. “You’re obviously upset. You’re crying.”

“No, you idiot!” Alaina looked up at him. “I never said that I didn’t want to marry you. But it isn’t right to enter a holy union without reason. You certainly don’t …” She couldn’t say the word.

August looked shocked before realization dawned in his eyes. “I’ve been treating you like some kind of business partner, haven’t I? You get this. I get that. Simple. But that’s not what you want, not what any woman wants—certainly not what you deserve.”

Finally, he got it. They could go their separate ways. She would figure some way not to get herself killed. Maybe find a craftsman somewhere … No. Marrying someone wouldn’t be fair to the man. Alone. Forever.

“I’ve been a child. No more.” August dropped to his knee and held the engagement ring out to her. “Alaina, will you marry me?”

She scowled at him. Again? Really?

“Not for safety and convenience,” he said. “In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve stolen my heart. I didn’t face down Emar out of a sense of obligation or to win a bride. I dueled him because your death would have meant mine anyway. Marry me because I couldn’t imagine going on without you. Because I love you.”

Those words could not be true. Yet, the hand holding the ring shook. Was he nervous? Could he actually be afraid that she’d say no?

Was it somehow possible that he told the truth about loving her?

Tears leaked from her eyes. “That is a reason to get married. Thank you. But I can’t.”

“Alaina …”

“Milord … August … Auggie, you’re offering me everything I’ve ever wanted. A good man. Safety. Security … Love. But I don’t deserve you.”

He stayed on one knee, swaying, looking really uncomfortable. Losing blood. But he made no move to get up. “Didn’t you hear what the tender said? You’re allowed to be happy. You deserve happiness.”

Why wouldn’t he just let her go? She knew what people thought of her, and it wasn’t that she was worthy of anything other than a noose.

“You’re not evil,” he said. “You were born with power that threatens the king’s rule. Put away that power and promise never to use it again. All will be forgiven. It’s the Holy One’s wish.”

Sunlight reflected off the sparkling diamond in his hand. So tempting. So, so tempting.

“It’s what you want,” he said, “and it’s what you deserve. Think about it. Have you ever done anything actually bad? And you saved my life and another if you count that jerk you made me let go.”

She touched the ring. Real. But it couldn’t be.

Auggie nodded. “Go ahead.”

Alaina slipped the ring on her finger. It looked good there, like it belonged. “Yes. A thousand times, yes.”

She threw her arms around him, and her lips met his. He rose and lifted her from her feet.

When they finally broke their kiss, Auggie looked at the smiling faces of all who watched. “Let’s get us married.”

“Now?” she said. “Wouldn’t you prefer to have a huge wedding with your father present?”

“Oh no,” he said. “I’m not taking any chance on you getting away.”

“On one condition.” Alaina broke his grip and faced him. “I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“If I’m really not a horrible person, then neither are the other people who are being executed for the same crime. That’s not okay. Make this situation right.”

“Alaina! There’s a reason for the laws. Remember the Wizard’s War? The devastation?”

“That doesn’t make it okay to kill people for something beyond their control. There’s got to be another way.”

Auggie closed his eyes for a moment. “It’s the law of the three kingdoms. A duke alone can do nothing.”

She put her hands on her hips. “You have more power and influence than any besides a king. You can do something.”

He sighed. “Very well. I’ll do anything within my power to change it, though I don’t think my efforts will be terribly effective.”

She hugged him, and Auggie organized the wedding party, as he put it, “before they suffered any more doubts or interruptions.”

When the tender finally pronounced them married, he kissed her again. “Now I truly can call you my lady.”

She looked in wonder at the second ring on her finger. “I’m Alaina Asher. It’s hard to believe.”

He winced, and her eyes narrowed.

“After all that, you’re having doubts?” she said.

“No! It’s just that … you have to understand that my family has this really stupid tradition of giving all the children names that start with ‘A.’ Bad enough that generations have inflicted this too-cutesy crap on their kids, but my grandfather, Alton, married Adalyn.”

“Okay,” she said. “So?”

“Then my mom, Alexis, married a man named Gabe, and he promptly changed his name to Abriel. Abriel Asher. How nuts is that?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s insane!” Auggie said. “Now that I’ve married Alaina, I’m continuing the precedent. I will not allow our heirs for the next hundred years to force their spouses to change their names all for some stupid tradition. It ends with me.”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I like it.”

“No! Absolutely not. So let it be heard that I hereby decree that no Asher child will ever again be saddled with an alliterative name.”

Alaina grinned. “We’ll see.”

Auggie groaned.

THE END

Auggie and Alaina’s daughter, Ashley, appears in my epic fantasy novel,
Rise of the Mages
. (Sneak Preview follows!) If you enjoyed this novella, you’re going to love that book. It will be available on Amazon October, 1, 2015.

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