Divided (78 page)

Without bothering to respond, Lavus shoved Taeru forward,
and he stumbled onto the wooden plank.  His body twisted in fear, and he glanced
weakly up to the post that held the rope above him.  Looking across, he saw a
guard positioned by the lever that would split the plank and effectively hang
him.  With his hands bound, Taeru had no defense against it.  Guilt and agony
swarmed in his body, and he squeezed his eyes shut.  Once more, he glanced out
into the unknown crowd that he was forced to face.

But then, he saw a face he knew.  Why was she here?  She
looked disheveled, as if she had just run a long ways.  Her hair was in a
ponytail, and her face was covered in dirt.  She couldn’t be here, not now. 
Her body was frozen, and her eyes were wide—paralyzed with fear and disbelief. 
Oh, not this.  Not here.

Their eyes locked, and his widened just as hers had. 
Panting, he tried to think of any way to stop this from happening.  Why
wouldn’t she look away?  Where was Leif?  To his side, Taeru heard the lever,
and he felt the ground shift.  He shut his eyes, trying to block it all out.

Aela…

“A Hero takes precedence in a moment, a singular moment,
to do what he was meant to do.”

-A Hero’s Peace v.ii

Talon had never felt so entirely slow to Calis.  His horse
had always been the fastest animal on which Calis had ever laid eyes.  But now,
moving through the Shining District—which was entirely deserted—Talon was
pathetic.  The horse was the slowest creature in Elyst, aside from Lee’s
prancing
beast, which was just a few moments behind him.  Still, Calis could think of
nothing but that empty execution cell.  Lavus had to have a reason for bringing
Taeru out here, though, and it couldn’t have been just to hang him.

Finally, Calis could see it in the distance, his
destination.  No journey had ever seemed longer than this one, and he thought
that his heart and soul would burst.  No, Taeru had to be alright.  He had to
be.  Talon’s hooves were all Calis could hear and feel physically, though
mentally his mind raced with painful thoughts.

“How are you going so fast?” Lee asked, incredulous.  How
could Lee even say that at Calis’s current pace?  He was sure that he was
moving more slowly than he ever had before.  And yet, Lee was struggling to
keep up, which he rarely did.  Perhaps Calis’s interpretation was still
disoriented. 

Blood on his clothes had seeped into his saddle and onto his
horse, and he was uncomfortable, as he hadn’t bothered to ready Talon aside
from the small saddle she’d already had.  Someone had probably been stretching
her legs as she hadn’t gotten much use in the past few cycles.  Calis was
uncomfortable riding, but just as he hadn’t had time to properly saddle her, he
hadn’t had time to remove the saddle.  His body hunched down further, closer to
the horse, and he could see the blood that had gotten into her fur.  He could
feel and see nothing more, though.  All he knew was that he had to reach the
noose—and he was out of time.  He had been out of time. 

“Taeru,” he snarled.

He would destroy all of them.  He would kill anyone he had
to kill, anyone that stood in his way.  In the distance, he could see the
people.  This was where they were—they were all gathered like cattle to watch a
show that they knew was wrong. 
Monsters
.  With that thought, Calis
pushed his horse to move more quickly.

They were nearly within range, and he knew it because he
could hear the way Lee gasped.  Clearly, his advisor was paying more attention
to their surroundings than Calis was.  Calis could scarcely think or see—he
just rode.  He rode because that was all he could do, because that was all that
gave his life meaning.  If he didn’t reach his destination in time, then he
would have no reason to live.  But he would—he had to.  He had to. 

Finally, Calis forced his eyes upwards, to try and see his
target.  His eyes widened at what he saw.  The noose, the rope.  There was
something going on, but the only thing that really mattered was the slightly
hunched figure—the one who had his neck in the noose.  “Taeru!”  Calis choked. 
Why was the horse so slow?

Suddenly, there were two horses in front of them.  Knights,
Calis realized.  The men stared at them with angry eyes.  “Stop, at once,” one
of the men ordered.  They had no idea how little time they had left to live,
really, and Calis felt no remorse for that.  In fact, he could feel his grip on
reality slipping as he observed the men before him.  He would destroy them. 
Because they wanted Taeru’s death just like everyone in that square. 

Grinding his teeth, Calis stared into the knight’s eyes, and
the world faded away.  All that existed was the men and the horses before him. 
One man had a bow, and the other had a sword and shield.  The man that had his
sword out—though not his shield—was obviously prepared for a fight.  Nevertheless,
he didn’t expect to be attacked directly.  He expected a conversation, and
Calis wasn’t feeling particularly talkative.  While the man still held his
sword to the side, Calis took advantage and rushed Talon towards the side of
the other horse.  Without pause or thought, Calis’s blade caught the man’s
throat, and he was removed from the horse at once.

Turning, Calis saw Lee release the dagger, and it twisted
and spun until it lodged into the other knight’s eye socket.  Dead in a beat,
the man fell from his horse.  The two horses, unable to do anything without
their riders, neighed and moved restlessly.  “Calis!”  Lee’s voice was so
pained and desperate that Calis knew precisely what had happened.  He leapt
from Talon, stumbling to his knees before the man with the bow.  He wrested the
bow from the man’s shoulder, and he grabbed an arrow, notching it.

He hadn’t been much for archery as he had always preferred
melee, but in this moment, this bow was his only chance for life.  Pulling the
string, he whirled his body, looking towards that noose.  He could see the rope
above everything else, as though it was glowing, thick, and pleading to be
struck.  He narrowed his eyes, staring down the arrow—he was on higher ground,
and the distance wasn’t long enough for the arrow to stop before it cut the
rope.  Calis aimed above his mark, grinding his teeth.  He released the arrow,
and he could see Taeru’s body begin to fall as the arrow sailed through the
air. 

“TAERU!”

“Aleia had the beginnings of villainy, and the Magisters
had always known that.  Aleia was their dark side, and the hero showed them
their folly.”

-A Hero’s Peace v.i

 “Leif,” Aela choked.  The guards were chasing them, and if
they didn’t part ways, then they would doubtlessly be caught.  Her panic was
rising, and thoughts of Katt and Alyx pulsed through her mind ruthlessly. 
“Leif—no, I can’t leave you now.”  She had looked back just once, though she
had seen those bodies hanging from the noose.  It had been several shifts ago
since she’d been running, but the image was still vivid.

Leif shook his head, and his jaw clenched as he brought her
into a quick embrace.  His arms felt safe, and she could have melted into him
in that moment.  Her eyes blurred with tears, and she tried desperately to
focus solely on him—the only source of happiness in this world of impending
darkness. 

The book burned in her mind, though she had left it at
Katt’s house.  Surely, it would be safe, but she would have to find a way to
get back to it.  Now, her girl disguise would be next to useless.  She had been
spotted with Leif, after all.  “We have to,” Leif finally said.  “I’ll be
fine.  And they will pursue me.  Get as far away from me as you can, and then I
will find you.  You have my word.” He sounded so confident, and it shook Aela’s
fear.

“You promise?” she asked weakly.  She needed more
reassurance, the idea of that noose—of seeing Leif dangling from it—was
horrifying.  Her heart felt as though it had permanently taken up residence in
her throat.

All that she got in response for a moment was his quiet nod
and his dark blue eyes burning into her.  She felt that need for him, desire,
igniting in her body.  “I love you,” she finally gasped.  She threw her arms
around him, and then their lips were pressed against one another. 

When they parted, after his lips had held hers for several
moments, he offered her a whimsical smile.  “One sun soon, I will have you do
that when we aren’t about to part.”  He sounded genuinely happy, for that
single instant, and she smiled. 

“One sun soon,” she agreed. 

He kissed her cheek gently, and they could hear the
approaching guards again.  The small alleyway where they had taken refuge would
soon be overrun.  She choked and nodded to him.  “Are you going to find Katt
and Alyx?”  She hated that they had abandoned the two of them—especially after
what Alyx had been forced to witness. 

The dark eyes clouded in consideration of this statement Leif
was clearly not intending to seek them out.  “They’re safe.  They haven’t been
seen with us.  Though, Katt will have to hide Alyx.  She seems rather skilled
at that sort of thing, though.”  Once again, he sounded confident, as though
they had nothing to fear.  “Now go.”

He eased her forward, and she launched herself over the wall
behind them while he climbed onto a roof in the opposite direction.  As much as
she hated to be away from him, she knew that if she got into trouble—then he
would soon follow.  Her body moved breathlessly through the walls and carts. 
So few people were in the streets, all having retreated to their homes after
the scene in the square.  But guards—those were everywhere.

Aela moved her body in and out of alleys, just avoiding
sight, as the men continued to search for her or Leif.  They would know her,
and she would surely be compromised the moment they laid eyes on her.  Still,
she managed to evade them for a while, using the roofs and unattended stalls to
hide her body.  She could hear them talking to one another, and some seemed
amused at what had happened while others were terrified. 

She moved quietly throughout Dark District, and she realized
that she didn’t know where she would go.  She couldn’t return to Katt’s, as
that would damn the red-haired girl at once.  No, she would have to find
somewhere else to go.  She found herself by the wall of the Shining District
again, near the hole that they had gone through just this sun.  Why did that
feel like such a lifetime ago?  Because she had witnessed innocent people hang
between then and now?  Yes, that was why.

She eased along the wall, trying to figure out where she
could go.  She could always try and disappear into a cellar like Leif and she
had done once before.  However, she didn’t know how she would get food, and she
hated to corner herself like that.  She was at the hole, and yet she could
think of nowhere to go.  She tried to think like Leif, though her mind was
drawing blank.  She was not as skilled as he was, by any stretch, and if she
didn’t come up with something soon—then she would let him down. 

“I just saw someone go back there, Reate, check it out,” a
voice said from behind one of the buildings near her.  Aela’s eyes widened in
concern.  Were they talking about her?

The other man responded, giving her a moment to process it. 
“You didn’t see anyone.  You always say that.  Why do you always try and get me
to do this shit?” a voice snapped in response.  “If you think you saw someone,
go check.”

The way they were talking, Aela was sure that someone had seen
her.  She stared around in panic.  The nearest roof was not high enough—she
wouldn’t be disguised, and then she would begin a chase.  No, there was only
one way for her to go that would ensure that she wouldn’t be caught.  However,
just as before, a hole would be obvious.  She glanced immediately to a cart
that sat a few paces away from her.  She moved towards it, yanking it
backwards, towards the hole, and then, as she ducked through, she pulled the cart
directly up against the hole—it was just large enough to cover it.

On the other side of the wall, she found that she was alone
again.  She hoped that the guards on the other side of the wall were not the
only smart men in all of the Telandan army—because they would have to be, based
on what she’d seen, in order to discover her trick.  She moved away from the
wall, not waiting to see if she would be discovered. 

“Are you going?” someone said from behind a corner that she
couldn’t stop herself from turning in time.  The roads had been so deserted
that she hadn’t been thinking to be cautious, and she turned the corner
foolishly soon.

Eyes shot up to her, and they flashed with irritation. 
“Hey—what are you doing?” the voice shouted, coming from one of two people that
were just a few paces away from her.  Aela turned and moved away, down the road
and into another side street. 

The people were chasing her, and she could hear their clumsy
feet on the pavement behind her as she continued forward.  Surely, she ought to
be able to outrun a few nobles—even in her current condition.  Her side hadn’t
been too badly punctured, but she could feel it with every step that she took. 
She wished she’d had time to tend to it before she’d had to run so much.  Leif
had tried to get her to stop, but she had been certain that such a break would
have gotten them apprehended. 

Slowly, but surely, she could feel herself losing the two
men behind her.  They were growing further and further away, with every twist
and turn that she made through the Shining District.  The roads were much
easier to navigate than in Dark District, but it was much harder to lose
someone.  Aela wasn’t even thinking about running into others.  And yet—she did
so.  Skidding to a stop, she saw the backs of what must have been a hundred
people. 

Before she staggered back, her eyes were dragged upwards,
upwards, upwards until she was staring at an injured form on the stage.  No,
not a stage, a noose—a risen square for hanging.  And there was someone there. 
Someone that she knew, and her heart was stuck in a free fall while her body
seized with pain and pleas.  No, this couldn’t be—this couldn’t be now.  No,
no… she had to… she had to move, but her body wouldn’t.  She just sat there,
weaponless—helpless. 

All at once, his eyes found her.  She could see the dried
and wet blood that soaked his chin and neck.  He was covered in blood, she
realized.  His eyes were tired, but above all, they were horrified at seeing
her.  Her eyes widened, and the paralysis spread to all parts of her body.  Her
breathing stopped, and she thought she wanted to die. 
Hang me, hang me
first! 
Her mind screamed, pleaded to people that couldn’t hear it. 

“No,” she whispered.  Her voice caught in her throat,
though, and she couldn’t make herself any louder.  No, the sight of her
brother—her poor, sweet brother, in that condition, was stealing her breath. 
He was riddled in bruises, in cuts—his lip was busted, and blood coated his
face and body.  Cuts tore all along his arms, terrible, long ones, and up his
chest.  Aela whimpered, trying to force herself to fight through the pain.

Taeru was miserable at seeing her, and she was amazed at how
he even bothered to care that she was present.  He was the one who had gone
through this—through this awful pain.  This… unbelievable, horrifying brutality. 
Pain exploded through Aela’s chest, and she thought that she would die—she
would die first, here.  She ought to.  She would prefer it.  Nothing mattered but
all those injuries.  His injuries.

And then, there was the sound.  A sound that echoed through
her mind and cut out everything else.  Leif would ask her to look away, but she
couldn’t… how could she abandon her brother?  Her hands felt idly for a weapon
that they’d never find, and her feet stumbled forward.  The rope dropped and so
did Taeru—but… there was… something else.  Her body paused, staggered forward,
and she saw the arrow—the rope split at once, and Taeru fell—all the way to the
ground.

Aela’s breath caught, and she moved her body forward,
weaving through bodies as chaos slowly began to break out.  She shoved and
pushed them, trying to fight her way towards the front, and eventually, she
succeeded.  “Taeru!”  she shouted, though the sounds of other shouts from
guards overshadowed her.  The arrow—who had shot the arrow?  Leif?

That didn’t matter—what mattered was that Taeru still had a
chance to live and that she had to get to him immediately.  As she pushed to
the front, she saw Lavus on the ground.  He’d jumped, she realized, and he was
standing over Taeru with his blade.  Taeru was scrambling, having just managed
to remove his wrist bindings—apparently they had been jostled by the fall.  “I
am ending this, you worthless child,” Lavus roared.

Aela tried to moved forward, but another body slammed into
her, and she was thrown to the ground.

Taeru!

The first blow was caught by Taeru’s outstretched hand.  Her
brother let out a soft cry as the blade cut through his palm.  It stopped the
blow, though, and Lavus wrenched the blade back angrily.  Taeru’s hand was
jolted forward, and again, he cried out in shock.  Aela tried to reclaim her
feet, but the chaos was getting too difficult to navigate.  No—she couldn’t
lose him here, not when… no!  Another thrust of the blade, and Taeru just
managed to knock the blow away.  The sword caught him through the side, though—much
like Aela’s own injury.  Taeru hissed in shock, and this time, when Lavus
pulled back, Aela could see Taeru’s eyelids fluttering.

The injuries on her brother were more than Aela’s worst
nightmares come to life.  And despite his best efforts to bring his hand up
again, Lavus’s next blow was going to kill him.  Aela tried to crawl forward,
and her feet seemed impossible to reclaim.  She needed to get there—she had
to. 

But, Lavus was already bringing down the blade.  “Taeru!”
she managed to gasp.  Taeru didn’t look, and neither did Lavus, even as Aela
outstretched her hand. 

Then, though, there was the clang of metal on metal, and a
new figure had entered the fray.  Lavus was staggered, stumbling back in the
chaos.  Aela found the person before the king with widened eyes.  Calis
Tsrali.  He looked terrifying—his entire body was coated in blood that didn’t
appear to be his own, even his blond hair was splotched red, and there was a
gash across his face.  Where had he been?  How had he gotten here?

Then, Aela saw the white horse standing in the pandemonium,
just behind Calis.  It stood patiently despite the turmoil.  Swiftly, Aela
turned her head back to the fight unfolding—though, just as she did, the fight
ended.  Calis moved forward, and his sword exploded out of Lavus’s spine while
the larger man choked on blood. There was no emotion in Calis’s face, though,
and rather than concerning himself with whether Lavus was dead or not, he
retracted his blade.  “I told you that you’d regret laying a hand on him,” Aela
heard over the noise.

Then, with a flourish, Calis brought the sword over his head
as hateful words and blood sputtered from the king’s lips.  Then, with a single
motion, Calis brought the sword down into the man’s mouth, cutting through
tongue and bone until it came out of the other side of his father’s skull. 
Releasing, Calis stepped back, and his eyes remained cold and blank for a
moment. 

Aela inhaled sharply, unsure of what she’d seen, even as the
image played in front of her eyes over and over.  Those eyes.  Aela was
terrified, and she quivered at the sight of them.  Then, in a moment, they were
gone.  The prince turned to regard Aela’s brother, who had been rendered
unconscious at some point during the exchange.  Then, the eyes were so filled
with emotion that Aela felt dizzy.  In fact, there were tears, Aela noticed, in
Calis’s eyes. 

Calis’s body moved forward, kneeling over Taeru, even as
further chaos broke out as people realized that Lavus had been murdered.  Calis
seemed entirely oblivious to the people around him, even his father’s corpse,
impaled through the mouth on a sword stuck in the ground.  The firm, cold hands
that had put that corpse there, though, shook as they hovered momentarily over
Taeru’s body, and Calis choked out a weak cry as he brought Taeru into his lap.

So gentle.  So entirely careful.  Calis caressed Taeru’s
body, whispering words that Aela couldn’t hear over the calamity.  Calis moved
the back of his hand over Taeru’s cheek, and he slowly brought the boy’s head
to his chest.  He kept whispering, the sadness was palpable, and his eyes were
so entirely filled with emotion and… love… that Aela could scarcely believe he
was the same person who’d just struck down his own father.