Bitterwood. Part 38

"I didn't mean to hide from you," the source of the voice said, stepping from behind a pillar. It was Metron, looking especially frail and weary as he hobbled toward them. "I wanted to be cautious. I escaped from Blasphet and returned here to report our plight to your father. I arrived to find everyone dead. I heard your father's voice and followed it to the roof where I saw him flying off with a human held in his jaws. The king crashed into the river and never came back to the surface."

"You lie," Shandrazel said.

"No," Metron said. "My words are truth. You're king now. You must respect the words of the High Biologian... Sire."

"So I shall," Shandrazel said, with a nod of agreement. "However, I'll not be listening to you."

"What do you mean?"

"On this day, I accept that I am king. Though I do not intend to remain so for long, I will take advantage of one of the privileges by appointing a new High Biologian. Androkom is my choice."

"But," Metron protested, "you may not appoint a new High Biologian until my death."

"Or until you are convicted of treason. And who is the final judge in such matters?"

"The king..." Metron said.

Shandrazel held forward a slip of paper. "The note you sent Blasphet informing him of our visit and asking him to dispose of us. The penalty, as decreed by all previous kings, is death."

"But-"

"But," Shandrazel said, "I'm not like previous kings. Your sentence shall be exile."

"You must reconsider," Metron said. "I've faithfully served this kingdom for generations. I have nothing but the best interests of all dragons in mind. You cannot do this."

"I can. Now, speak the truth. Where is my father?"

"I did speak truth in this matter, Sire."

Shandrazel stood silently for a moment, realizing that Metron was being honest, in this at least.

"So..." he said, sighing deeply. He moved toward the open door of the chamber to gaze upon the clouds beyond. "On this day, I have lost both father and mother, for Blasphet boasts of slaying her as well."

"I'm sorry," Androkom said.

"Thank you for your sympathy." Shandrazel sighed. "I fear I have no time for my own sorrow. Later, I will mourn. But now, I must prepare myself."

"For what?" Metron asked.

Shandrazel looked out toward the Free City, and the ragged mob that marched from it, headed toward his door.

"For the future," he said. "If there is to be one."

THE SUN HUNG low behind the castle yet seemed reluctant to set, on this, the longest day any man had ever seen. Pet felt the weight of the eyes upon him, the eyes of a thousand men, every man of fighting age who had survived the Free City. He looked to Jandra who smiled at him. She'd shown remarkable strength since Vendevorex had pa.s.sed, moving among the injured, healing those she could. With her help Pet had a.s.sembled the men into something not quite an army, yet something more than a mob. low behind the castle yet seemed reluctant to set, on this, the longest day any man had ever seen. Pet felt the weight of the eyes upon him, the eyes of a thousand men, every man of fighting age who had survived the Free City. He looked to Jandra who smiled at him. She'd shown remarkable strength since Vendevorex had pa.s.sed, moving among the injured, healing those she could. With her help Pet had a.s.sembled the men into something not quite an army, yet something more than a mob.

Pet climbed onto the wagon resting at the base of the palace walls. He raised an open hand and the men before him fell silent.

"Today," Pet said, "we've lost almost everything."

He watched their faces, saw the anger showing in the eyes of many, the emptiness in the eyes of most.

"Thousands dead.Wives. Children. Fathers. Mothers. Not a man stands among us who hasn't lost someone he loves."

The men in the crowd nodded in silent acknowledgement of this fact.

"We're far from home," Pet said. "We don't know if those homes even still exist. We have little food. We're weary from battle. We stand under a burden of grief more heavy than a mountain."

Pet paused, letting his words sink in. "Everything is lost but hope."

The men looked at him, hanging on his words.

"We'll never bring back the dead," Pet said, clenching his fists. "Revenge will never bring us relief. But justice, aye, justice shall surely bring us hope. We attack this castle tonight not in the name of vengeance, but in the name of justice! King Albekizan will be brought low, and his kingdom will pa.s.s forever from this earth. In its place shall stand a new civilization, a land of truth and kindness, where atrocities like this day's will never happen again!"

Pet thrust his fists into the air. The crowd let out a loud cheer. "Justice!" Pet cried.

"Justice," shouted the crowd.

Back and forth the word was called out until suddenly, a voice shouted down from the walls above, "Agreed! There will be justice!"

The army began to talk among themselves and point to the top of the wall. Pet looked up and saw a huge sun-dragon standing over him.

"It's Shandrazel," Jandra said. "He can be trusted, Pet."

Pet called out, "Bring us King Albekizan!"

A man in the crowd cried out, "Bring us his head!"

"Albekizan is dead," Shandrazel said. "We will drag the river for his body, but I won't allow its desecration. The war is over."

"Never!" someone in the crowd cried. "Not until we have our justice!"

"Yes," Pet said. "It's not over simply because he's dead."

"No," Shandrazel agreed. "It's over because I will not fight you. But I do not come to surrender. I come instead to help you create your kingdom of justice."

"We'll never live under a dragon's thumb again," Pet shouted. The crowd of men cheered.

"So you now intend to be the thumb?" Shandrazel asked, snaking his head down the wall so that his voice could be better heard. He looked into Pet's eyes and said, calmly, "If you seize the throne by force, the dragons will not consent to your rule. There will be further war."

"We'll be ready," said Pet.

"There is another solution," Shandrazel said. "A compromise is possible. Will you listen to my proposal?"

Pet looked at the mob of men he led. He doubted they were in the mood for compromise. But Pet felt the responsibility of the role he played. He knew that his words could launch a war far bloodier than what he'd witnessed today. But was it possible that he could lead these men to peace? Would they accept him as a leader if he weren't marching them to war?

"We aren't in the mood for compromise," Pet said. "What can you possibly have to offer us?"

"I propose," Shandrazel said, "that both a human and a dragon shall rule jointly, though neither as a supreme power. The age of kings is pa.s.sing. If we wish to move forward, we will need new forms of government; a government where laws are based on reason rather than on the whims of a king. A government where courts make decisions based on truth and fairness rather than tradition and prejudice. I have many ideas, though this isn't the proper place to discuss them. I invite you to join me in the castle, that we may peaceably discuss the creation of a new government. What say you?"

"Never!" someone shouted. Pet recognized the voice.

"Kamon," he said, "come forth."

The old man left the crowd, marching as boldly as his frail limbs would carry him. Pet helped him rise to the platform.

"Everyone knows me," Pet said, "but you may not know Kamon. He was one of the men who freed me from the platform. I owe my life to this man. But we are of different minds on many things, I find."

"You dare to talk with this dragon?" Kamon said, his small body producing a surprisingly vital voice. "Human blood has been spilt this day, and the earth itself cries for vengeance!"

The crowd shouted in agreement, raising their weapons. Even Ragnar and his followers, long foes of Kamon, seemed ready to follow the aged prophet into battle.

They were ready to fight. Pet could see it in their eyes. If he gave the word, every last man before him was willing to put his life on the line to storm the castle.

As he stood in silence, considering his options, the crowd lowered their weapons and grew quiet, waiting for him to speak. At long last he took a deep breath. There was only one thing to say.

"Friends, earlier today, I said much the same thing as Kamon. I wanted to see dragon blood on my sword as badly as any of you. But the day has been long. It may be that I'm weak. Or it may be that I'm tired of death. I want justice, but I also want peace, and I'm willing to talk to anyone, man or dragon, to get it." Pet took the sword that hung from his belt and handed it to Kamon. He said to the aged man, "If you want blood, I won't oppose you." Then, to the crowd, "No one has made me your leader but yourself, and no one can stop you if you want to follow Kamon into this castle and kill every living thing you find. If I'm to remain your leader, put down your weapons and wait while I speak with Shandrazel. By dawn, we may have our victory without further blood being spilled."

"You can't mean this," said Kamon.

"I can," Pet said. Then, addressing the crowd, "Now, choose. Kamon or Bitterwood. Vengeance or justice. Which path will you follow?"

Pet looked at Kamon who glowered at him, looking ready to run him through with the sword he'd just been handed. Yet, something stayed his hand.

"Bitterwood," someone in the crowd mumbled.

"Bitterwood," another said.

"Bitterwood," the crowd shouted, as the last embers of the sun faded away.

And at the edge of the mob, Ragnar and a handful of followers marched away, weapons still in hand, glancing back toward the Pet with a look of abject scorn.

EPILOGUE: HOME.

KILLER GROWLED, CAUSING Zeeky to stir from her sleep. Poocher squealed as the ox-dog began to bark furiously. She rubbed her eyes. Zeeky scanned the darkness around them but saw no one. The air carried the smell of the last embers of the fire she'd built earlier in the night. Zeeky to stir from her sleep. Poocher squealed as the ox-dog began to bark furiously. She rubbed her eyes. Zeeky scanned the darkness around them but saw no one. The air carried the smell of the last embers of the fire she'd built earlier in the night.

Killer continued to bark into the dark voids among the surrounding trees.

"Is that thing going to eat me?" a man said.

Zeeky recognized the voice.

"It's okay," she said, and Killer stopped barking.

"Come on, Hey You," she shouted.

The old man emerged from the darkness as the moon slid from behind the clouds. He walked stiffly and sort of tilted to one side. His left arm hung limply, swaying as he moved. Bandages had been wrapped around his chest.

Yet, as awful as he looked, Zeeky was happy to see him. She jumped up and ran to him, giving him a hug, though not a hard one, as he looked like he might not be able to take it.

He placed his right hand on her back and said, "You don't need to call me Hey You anymore."

"So what should I call you?"

"Bant will do."

"Okay."

Bant grimaced as he lowered himself to the ground. She helped him sit then sat beside him.

"I'm glad you're alive," she said. "After the-"

"Shh," he said. "Let's not talk about what happened back there. Let's talk about tomorrow. Where you heading to?"

"Home," said Zeeky.

"You aren't an orphan?"

"I hope not."

"Didn't think so," Bant said. "Bet your dad was going to kill that pig 'cause it was a runt, so you ran away with it."

"How'd you know?"

"I was young once. A long time ago." Bant shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe I'll be young again one day."

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Don't know," he said. "If you want me to, I'll stick with you for awhile. I'm guessing you don't know how to find your way back."

"No," Zeeky admitted. "I'm so lost."

"So am I," Bant said. "But home's out there somewhere. Maybe, together, we'll find it."