The Reborn King (Book Six) (31 page)

Soon the door opened and a young man in plain clothes gestured for the boys to follow.

Just as they were leaving, Dresher called out, “Be careful. Morzahn is a murderer, but not a fool. And his reputation was well earned.”

His words struck home. Aremiel had been wondering how Orias would handle speaking to his father. Seeing him in chains would do nothing to lessen the impact of his presence. His legend alone would make even the bravest of men think twice before confronting the mighty Morzahn.

As they descended into the basement, the air quickly became thick and putrid. Only a few dim torches lit the small room at the foot of the stairs. Here, a middle-aged man with a bald head, olive skin and narrow features was waiting for them, along with an older, silver-haired woman.

Agents
, thought Aremiel.

“Your father is through there,” said the woman, opening a door leading to the cells.  “Take as long as you need, but do not approach the bars for any reason.”

Orias led the way. The room beyond was at least fifty feet long and twenty feet wide. To the right was a series of iron-barred cells, and at the far end another door that it was rumored had once been a torture chamber – though it was now empty.

Morzahn was in the third cell along, still dressed in a simple shirt and trousers…and still shackled. He was sitting on a stool, back straight against the wall and eyes closed.

“So they send my own son to question me, do they?” he muttered. His voice was as deep and powerful as his frame would suggest.

“They didn’t send me,” said Orias. “I came of my own will.”

“Did you?” He chuckled. “Did you really?”

Orias stood in front of the cell, with Aremiel just behind and to his left.

Morzahn opened his eyes. “You’ve grown. You’ll be as big as me one day, I’d wager.”

His gaze fell on Aremiel. “And this must be your friend Aremiel, son of the High Lady of Valshara, leader of the Order of Amon Dähl.” His words were filled with contempt. “Does my son know that you’re here to spy on him?” He paused, then nodded. “Of course he does. He’s no fool. And unless I’ve been told wrong, you’re too good a friend to have kept such information from him.”

“I asked Aremiel to be here,” Orias said. “And yes, I know his mother asked him to report back to her. But that won’t be needed. I plan to do so myself anyway.”

“I'm sure that you do.” Morzahn rested his huge forearms on his knees. “You’ll need to prove yourself many times over, now that I’ve been branded a traitor. No one will ever look at you the same way again. And for that, I am truly sorry.”

“Is it true?” he asked. “Did you do what they say?”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

Anger flashed across Orias’ face. “Tell me!”

Morzahn sighed heavily. “Yes, it’s true. I killed those men. And yes. I
was
looking for the
sword
.”

Tears welled in Orias’ eyes. “Why?” His voice cracked.

“Because I had to. Because things are not always as they seem. One day you’ll see that.”

“And did you find it?” He forced his words out through stifled sobs.

“That’s what they really want to know, isn’t it?” Morzahn sneered. “They want to know if I discovered a clue that would lead to the
sword
. Well, they can all go to hell. I’m not saying anything else about it.”

“But why did you want it?” Orias was doing his best to govern his emotions in the way he'd been taught, but each word his father spoke was bringing forth more rage and anguish.

“Because the madness must end.” This time his father's voice was soft and kind. “You must not ask me more.”

“Why not? Surely I have the right to know why you have betrayed everything we were taught to believe in.”

“You have the right to know, only what I decide you should know,” Morzahn countered calmly. “And son of mine or no, seeing as you are still a part of the temple, you cannot be entrusted with my reasons.”

Orias glared furiously at his father for a full minute before speaking. “Then if you have nothing more to tell me, I will go.”

“There is one thing,” said Morzahn. “Tell your mother that I am sorry we never got to walk the beaches of Skalhalis again. And that I love her.”

“Is that all?” he asked. Though tears were streaming down his cheeks, his voice was steady.

“Yes.” Morzahn lowered his head. “That is all.”

“Then we are done.” Orias gave a sharp nod and walked smartly to the door. Just before opening it, he paused to glance back. “I’ll smile
when you hang. I wanted you to know that.”

Morzahn said nothing, nor did he look up.

The two agents looked highly displeased when the two boys returned.

“That didn’t take long,” said the man. “You should have pressed him harder. I knew it was a bad idea to send a child in with him.”

“You would have done no better,” the woman scolded. “So stop being an ass.” She turned to Aremiel. “Did you glean anything from his words?”

“He may not have,” Orias cut in quickly. “But I did.” He started toward the stairs.

“And where do you think you’re going,” said the man.

“To see the High Lady,” he replied.

Orias sped from the room and up the stairs so rapidly that Aremiel found himself struggling to keep up. But instead of taking the left hall leading to his mother’s chambers, he took a right and then motioned for Aremiel to follow him into a rarely used storage closet.

“I wanted to speak to you alone before we see your mother,” he whispered. He looked outside to check that they weren’t being followed. When satisfied, he closed the door. “My father mentioned Skalhalis. He said to tell my mother he wished they could walk again on its beaches.”

“Yes. So?”

“
So
they have never been there together,” he explained. “He’s trying to send her a message.”

Aremiel thought for a moment. “Are you going to tell this to my mother?”

“No. But the agents were certainly listening in. If they picked up on what he said and thought it worth noting, they would go straight to the High Lady. I don’t want my father involving my mother if I can prevent it.”

Aremiel didn’t want to say what he was thinking, but knew that he must. “How do you know she’s
not
involved?”

“I don’t,” he admitted. “But she will certainly come here after word of all this reaches Baltria.
I
will speak to her first.”

“And if she
is
involved?”

His face tightened. “Then I will lose two parents.” He grabbed his friend’s shoulders. “I need you to keep quiet about this until I can speak with her. Will you do that?”

Aremiel nodded slowly. Even though he felt this was something that his mother should know, he could understand why Orias would want to wait.

“Thank you,” Orias said. He cracked open the door. “Come on. Let's go see the High Lady.”

When they arrived she was talking with Dresher at her desk.

She motioned for them both to sit. “So, have you said all that you needed to say?”

“Yes, High Lady,” replied Orias. “And he doesn’t know where the
sword
is. He wants you to think that he might…but he doesn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, High Lady. I’m sure.”

She studied him for a moment. “As your father has confessed and there is no doubt of his guilt, his execution will not be delayed. If you would like, I can send you away with Dresher until it’s over.”

“If my father is a traitor, I would see him hanged. There is no reason to send me away.”

The High Lady frowned. “Naturally, it is your right to be here. But I urge you to reconsider. This is not something you want to see.”

“Begging your pardon, but it is.”

She sighed and rose to her feet. “Very well. You have two days to change your mind. In the meantime, stay with Dresher. I’m sure there is much you can learn from him.”

Both Orias and Aremiel stood as well.

“Stay here, son,” she said.

Orias gave his friend a nod and then left with the knight.

His mother sat back down. “There is more. Isn’t there?”

Aremiel plopped heavily back into his seat and remained silent for a long moment. His mother could always see through him. He desperately wanted to tell her what Orias has said. But the thought of betraying his best friend repulsed him.

“You can tell me, son,” she assured. “Orias is confused right now. He may not show it, but seeing his father has wounded him. He cannot possibly know what the right thing to do is.” Her smile was tender and compassionate. “I know you don’t want to betray his trust. But this is important. If he withholds information, it could end his chances of becoming a knight. So if you truly want to help him, you must tell me what you know.”

“If I tell you,” he said. “You must swear to keep it to yourself.”

His mother shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t make that promise. If there is a danger to the temple, I must act.”

“There is no danger,” he promised. “You have to trust me on that.”

“I do trust your intentions, son,” she said. “But you are still too young to understand certain things.”

Steadying his resolve, he sat up straight. “Either you swear, or I won’t tell you.”

The two locked eyes. Finally, it was the High Lady who relented. With an exasperated sigh, she lowered her head.

“Very well,” she said. “I swear.”

Satisfied, Aremiel conveyed what Orias had told him.

“Then I see no harm done,” she remarked, speaking as much to herself as to her son. “Word has already been sent to his mother this morning. And as it will take a few weeks for her to arrive here, I suppose there is nothing to do but wait.”

There was a knock at the door. A moment later the old woman from the cellar entered.

“I beg your pardon, High Lady,” she said. “But there are matters we should go over.”

The High Lady nodded. “Of course.”

Aremiel got up and embraced his mother firmly. “Thank you.”

She kissed his cheek and watched him leave.

Being that the execution was scheduled in two days, the builders began erecting the gallows at once. Laraad, who was helping in their construction, made a special point of smiling broadly at Orias every time they saw each another.

Orias, however, appeared unconcerned by his taunting. Most of his and Aremiel's time was spent with Dresher. The knight had ridden with Morzahn on many assignments and knew him well. At first, Aremiel thought it rude when he spoke of the man so casually in front of Orias.

“Morzahn was not always as he is now,” Dresher explained. “His crimes will cost him his life. But he did many great deeds before his fall. There are hundreds, if not thousands of people who owe their lives to the courage of Morzahn. And I would have his only son know of that.”

As it turned out, Orias seemed glad to hear Dresher's stories, and even asked questions about certain details.

When the day arrived, Aremiel expected to see Orias’ demeanor change. But instead, he was as cheerful as he had ever been. They ate their morning meal and afterward made their way to the courtyard. By the time they got there it was filled nearly to capacity.

The High Lady was standing beside Dresher atop the gallows, with six knights guarding the pathway leading from the main building. Each one wore a black cloak with the hood pulled over his head.

Aremiel scanned the crowd. Laraad and a few others were perched atop the ramparts, laughing and talking as if they were at a fair rather than an execution. He had never hated the boy more than at that moment.

They pushed their way through the throngs of people until arriving directly in front of the gallows. Murmurs and whispers could be heard as eyes fell on Orias. But he ignored them all and simply stood there, stone-faced and silent.

When the temple doors swung open, a hush fell over the crowd. Out walked Morzahn, closely escorted by a knight on either side. They slowly led him to the foot of the gallows and up the steps. Dresher looked him in the eye for a second, then turned away to position himself beside the trapdoor release lever.

“I’m glad it’s you, old friend,” Morzahn told him.

Dresher simply nodded.

The High Lady stepped forward. “You have been brought here to answer for the crimes of murder and treason. Through your own admission you have been found guilty. And as you have offered up no cause for leniency, you are hereby sentenced to death. Do you have any final words you wish to say?”

Morzahn looked out on the crowd until he spotted Orias. His voice carried clearly. “I should have told you this when we spoke before…I love you son. No matter what I’ve done, always remember that.”

Aremiel expected tears, but instead Orias reacted by quickly climbing atop the gallows and placing his hand just above Dresher’s on the release lever.

Gasps of both wonder and revulsion reverberated through the crowd. The High Lady simply looked on in amazement.