Born of Silence (46 page)

Darling had known exactly the buttons he was pushing and why they stung Ryn so badly. He shouldn’t have done it.

But he’d wanted to hurt Ryn the way Ryn had hurt him by refusing to help. And it was too late to take those words back. Once they were out, they’d been a deadly challenge.

One Ryn had met with a furious snarl. He’d whirled on Darling
then and grabbed him. They’d started fighting like two rabid animals. A fight that ended several minutes later when Ryn lifted Darling off his feet and threw him into the glass dining table. Because of his shattered arm that was in a sling and the other that was braced due to a sprain, Darling had been unable to catch himself. As a result, his face had taken the brunt of the fall.

In all the vicious beatings he’d had over the years, never had he seen so much blood. Felt more pain. The glass had torn through his body like a thousand razors. It’d taken the medics over half an hour to extract him from the broken pieces.

The whole time they worked to save him, Darling had prayed he’d finally bleed out and die.

But the gods had never been merciful to him.

Ryn had apologized repeatedly the entire time they pulled him from the glass and metal, but just like the angry words that had flown between all of them, it was too late to take it back. The damage had been done and it was permanent.

Their relationship had never recovered from that night. They were both ashamed of what they’d said and done.

Now those memories paralyzed Darling as he saw his reflection in the marble wall in front of him and he cringed inwardly.

His mother was right. He was hideous and disgusting.

Too ugly to look at.

Arturo’s insults rang in his ears. They mingled with the hostile words and shouts he could hear coming from inside the throne room as his brother fought with the plebs.

But as his gaze went to the state portrait of his father that hung to his left, he remembered the brave little boy who’d stood at his father’s tomb and had vowed that he would keep the things his father treasured most safe from harm.

The wife his father had loved above all things.

The children who’d been the pride of his heart.

And the empire that he’d worried and slaved over.

I won’t let them suffer without you, Papa. I swear. I’ll be the man you wanted me to be. No matter what, I will make you proud.

Darling had fought hard to protect his mother and siblings. Now it was time to keep the last part of that promise.

Taking a deep breath for courage, he lifted the cowl on his royal dark blue and gold robes so that it covered his head and shielded his face, then headed for the doors.

The moment they swung open, every eye in the room turned toward him. Wanting to run for shelter, Darling raised his chin and let the rank and mantle of noblesse oblige settle firmly on his shoulders.

This was what he’d been bred and trained for.

And as he stood there, he heard his father’s voice in his head.
“The past is history written in stone that can’t be altered. The future is transitory and never guaranteed. Today is the only thing you can alter for certain. Make the most of it.”

Ryn, who had changed out of his pirate gear in favor of imperial robes, rose from the throne where he’d been acting as pro tem. Maris, Drake, Syn, Hauk, and two other gerents stood to his left while a small group of plebs were on the right. His older brother bowed down before him. “Your Majesty.”

The others followed suit.

Once they righted themselves, there was an absolute chill in the air as they faced him. Yeah, he was as welcome here as a fatal STD in a whorehouse.

But that didn’t change the fact that he was their governor and this was
his
duty.

Darling focused his blurry gaze on the tall, skinny pleb standing closest to Ryn. He’d lay money that he was their leader. So he
was the one Darling addressed first. “Care to enlighten me as to why you were shouting at my pro tem?”

The plebs paled. But the tall one didn’t shirk in spite of his obvious fear. He took a step forward. “My name is Gerst. Svidan Gerst, Your Majesty. And we’re from the workers’ coalition.” A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face. “We are asking that our workday be shortened. Right now, we’re working eighteen-hour days with no time off for illness or recuperation.”

Ryn made a noise of frustration. “I was trying to explain to them that they need to take the matter to Lord Derkstig since he’s the one who’s in charge of setting labor standards.”

Gerst grimaced at the mention of the gerent’s name. “And we’ve taken it to him. His answer is to suck it up and be grateful we have jobs while others don’t.”

Just as Darling started to respond, the door to the main hall opened. Scowling, he watched as Zarya came in holding a little girl around the age of seven in her arms. Dressed in white, the little girl had curly brown hair that framed an angelic face.

He noted the panic on Gerst’s features.

“See,” Zarya said in a soothing, sweet tone to the child. “Your father’s fine. Just like I said. No one’s hurting him.” She set the girl down so that she could run to Gerst.

Sobbing, the girl buried her face against her father’s leg and held tight while the plebs rolled their eyes in obvious contempt.

Zarya curtsied to Darling. “Forgive our interruption, Your Majesty. There was a group of boys outside the gate who were tormenting her. They told her that her father was in here, being eaten by a monster. So she snuck into the palace, wanting to save her father from harm.”

He would laugh if it wasn’t so typical. “Maris?”

Maris came over immediately.

Zarya watched while Darling whispered something to Maris and Maris quickly left the room.

The girl’s father peeled her off his leg and forced her to stand in front of him. “Drus, you have to leave now. I have important business to attend to.”

The little girl sniffed and nodded. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I was just so scared you were hurt.”

Zarya moved to take the girl’s hand. “Come with me, sweetie.” But before they left, she led Drus over to Darling.

With those voluminous, official robes that obscured his entire body, and the cowl covering his face and head, he did appear scary and fierce. Especially since no one could see or read his expressions.

However, Zarya knew the truth of him and he wasn’t the minion of evil they feared him to be. “Drus, this is Governor Cruel. See what I told you, he’s not a monster. He’s just a man, like any other.”

Darling knelt down on the floor and held his gloved hand out to her.

The girl stepped back to hide behind Zarya.

Kneeling down to her level, Zarya patted her on the back and turned her around to face Darling.

His damaged voice filled with patience, he tried again. “It’s all right, Drus. I won’t hurt you. I promise. You know, you remind me of my baby sister when she was a little girl.”

Her eyes widened in awe. “
You
have a sister?”

“I do, indeed. Like you, she’s very beautiful, and very dear to me.” There was a smile in his tone as he spoke gently to her. “I also have a couple of very mean brothers, as well.”

That made the corners of her mouth twitch as if she wanted to smile, too, but was still too afraid to try it. “Really?”

“Really. They’re standing right there.” He pointed toward them.

Drake and Ryn appeared less than amused by his description. But neither said anything to refute it.

The girl giggled.

Maris returned with a small box. He bowed formally as he presented it to Darling.

“Thank you, Lord Maris.” Darling opened the box and pulled a small medal out that he held up for Drus to see. “Do you know what this is, Drus?”

She shook her head.

“It’s called the Recognition of Honor and Courage. We give these to the soldiers who show exceptional bravery while under fire. Men and women who stand up for others even when it’s really scary for them to do so.” He tied a small knot in the ribbon to shorten its length. “I would like to present this to you.”

Drus scowled at him. “Why?”

“Because you were terrified for your father. Even though you thought he was fighting a scary monster, you came inside to check on him, and I’m quite sure you thought you’d get into a lot of trouble for it.”

She nodded vigorously. “Setchel said that I’d get fed to the monster, too.”

“See,” Darling continued, “that’s extremely brave. Now if you’ll kneel in front of me, I’d like to give you your award.”

Zarya smiled as Drus knelt like an adult in front of her governor.

Darling held the medal up and performed the entire official ceremony. “It is with my greatest honor and gratitude that I, the 139th Governor of Caron Druxton Ambridate Darling Setonius Cruel, bestow this medal on you, Drus Gerst, for exceptional bravery while under the duress of fear and fire. May you live always to be a shining example to the people that when other lives mattered most, yours mattered least. It is for others that the brave will
always gladly lay down their lives so that all our people can live without fear.”

He placed the medal around her neck. “Now rise, Dame Drus. And let everyone know from this day forward that you are the bravest of the brave. You are the pride of the Caronese people and of her governor who thanks you for your courage and service.”

Her beautiful features lit up as she cradled her medal in her small hands. Laughing, she launched herself at Darling. She hit him with such force that it knocked him back and caused his cowl to fall to his shoulders.

Drus’s laughter turned to a terrified gasp as she looked up and saw his scarred face.

Zarya held her breath at the sudden tension in the room. The gerents and plebs glared with obvious disdain and aversion.

Eyes wide, Drus stared in dismay. “Did someone hurt you, Your Majesty?”

Agony and embarrassment burned bright in his blue eyes, but to his credit, Darling offered the girl a smile that was twisted slightly by the vicious scars across his lips. “They did.”

“Then you can’t be a monster.”

Darling frowned. “How so?”

“Monsters can’t be hurt by people, silly. My nan says so. You can only be hurt when you have a heart and monsters don’t have hearts. That’s why they steal them from others.” Smiling at him once again, she leaned in to give him a quick kiss on his bearded cheek, then she patted it kindly. “I’m glad the beautiful lady was right. You are just a man and a very nice one, too.”

Darling lowered his head and gave her a somber military salute. “Thank you, Dame Drus.” He rose to his feet as Zarya came forward to reclaim Drus’s hand.

She smiled down at the little girl. “Come on, sweetie. I’ll take
you to the reception room where we have cakes and cookies so that you can wait for your father.”

Drus let out a squeal of excitement. “Cakes! Oooh, I can’t wait. I love cakes.”

Zarya paused at the door to watch Darling replace his cowl before he faced the men.

Her heart breaking for him and the pain she’d seen in his eyes, she led the girl outside.

As they were waiting, she allowed Drus to eat enough sweets that she was sure the girl’s father would issue a death warrant for her. But it made Drus happy and kept the girl occupied while the men conducted their business. Over and over, Drus showed her the medal. She also showed it to any and every person who came anywhere near the room. Sometimes she even chased them down whenever they passed by outside in the hallway.

It seemed like an eternity had passed before the doors opened and the girl’s father came to claim her. There was a happy light in his eyes as they took their leave.

The gerents, however, were another matter entirely. They appeared ready to slaughter someone.

Zarya went to the throne room to find Darling sitting on the throne while Ryn glared at him. Maris and Drake stood opposite of Ryn with Syn and Hauk beside him.

“The aristos are going to demand your head over this.”

Darling shrugged at Ryn’s dire prediction. “Then they should have taken care of the matter before it was brought to my attention.”

“Let them have their strokes,” Drake said drily. “I, for one, am proud of you, Darling.”

Ryn passed a look of utter contempt to his youngest brother. “And you’re a stupid little punk incapable of understanding the repercussions of one bad decision.”

Drake moved to attack Ryn, but Darling sprang from the throne to catch him before he made contact. It was actually an impressive feat.

“Settle down,” Darling said sternly as he forced his younger brother away from Ryn. “Now.”

Hauk laughed unexpectedly. “You know, Ryn, I keep thinking back to what my father used to say to me. There are two kinds of people in this world. Those like my mother who can walk into the most backwater dive hole with the worst riffraff in the universe and in ten minutes, she’ll have them baking cookies and singing love songs together. Then you have those like my father. The kind of man who could walk into an antiwar monastery and in ten minutes have the monks at each other’s throats.”