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“He’ll be upset if you die.” Tuck warned, placing a hand on my shoulder. He squeezed then let me go.
“Look for me by the outer wall.” Brex instructed before I slipped out the door. I had no idea what she had planned, but I prayed it would be enough to get us all out of here.
The training courtyard was on the north side of the castle. The wall to the north was solid stone with forest behind it while the other three were the outside walls of the castle. The training area was set up like an arena with a raised dais arena.
On top of the walls were walkways for soldiers to patrol or for the servants and other commoners to assemble and watch the fighting. The other ladies and I would sneak up here and watch the guards and soldier’s train. The lip of the walkway gave young girls an easy hiding spot.
I made my way there, doing my best to walk quickly and yet not draw attention to myself. The walkway was relatively empty with only a few guards patrolling the top. The arena was filled with people all there to watch women and children be executed. It was quiet. Much quieter than any other execution or tournament that I’d attended.
Could the people feel how wrong this was? They outnumbered the soldiers and guards, but I saw the faces of the Brural contingent interspersed through the crowds and knew that each one was worth ten soldiers. The odds looked a bit more even since the witch’s enchantment didn’t work on them any longer.
On a raised platform, a wooden beam had been erected, and hanging from it were ropes expertly tied to ensure a quick death. Surrounding it were children and their mothers. Most children were crying while mothers tried to sooth them, but how could you when death was so near?
I looked around for Einri and after a full minute of searching found him strapped to a plank. Thick chains wound around his wrist, ankles, and chest. The ends were fastened to a team of horses facing the opposite direction. It would only take a few ordered words to rip him to pieces if he were an ordinary man. I watched as he strained against the chains, the metal digging into his flesh while the men in control of the horses corrected them every time they were pulled out of alignment. Blood dripped in rivulets down the chains and planks collecting into puddles on the muddy ground.
I’d never seen such a brutal and gruesome set up.
While I’d been searching for Einri, I had noticed that the King and Asena were nowhere to be found, though I still felt her presence like a piece of rough wool against my skin. I made my way around the walkway, hiding my bow and quiver under my cloak until I was facing Einri with the hanging platform between us.
A harsh voice barked out orders drawing everyone’s attention as Captain Rekker arrived pushing through the crowd. To the right, a door opened and the King stepped out followed by the witch. They sat on a dais with two thrones that rose high above the heads of the crowd. It must be new because I had never seen it before.
“These people have been found guilty of trespassing onto Thimmarian lands. We will not tolerate the enemy roaming our kingdom unchecked. With Brural’s blessing they shall be hanged by the neck until dead and serve as a reminder to all.” The king announced.
Murmurs followed his words, and I clenched my fist around my bow then glanced to the left toward the north wall. I couldn’t see anyone there that looked like Brex, which meant they were still getting organized. If they didn’t show up soon, I’d have to improvise.
Captain Rekker growled, shushing the murmurs as he strolled forward and grabbed a woman holding a baby to her chest. He dragged her up the stairs of the platform, ignoring her screaming pleas and the baby’s cry. Einri roared and strained, managing to pull all six horses backwards. The horses quickly rallied, pulling his arms to either side again.
Captain Rekker wrenched the baby from her grasp while another soldier tied her hands behind her back. More women were led onto the platform leaving the children to watch and cry as their mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers died. It was despicable, and my anger grew into hate.
Once the ropes were all taken Captain Rekker returned to the first woman, still holding her baby. He stopped and faced her with a sadistic grin that sent a spike of fear and anger right into my heart. He intended to stand in front of her with her baby in clear view and watch her swing.
I drew an arrow, intending to send it right into his heart, but before I could follow through, he nodded at someone and the lever was pulled. As the floor fell out from below the woman, I made a choice and adjusted my aim. Before the rope pulled taunted my arrow sliced through it and she fell unharmed to the ground below.
Gasps echoed around the area while steel strengthened my spine. This was wrong. Beyond wrong. I wouldn’t stand for this.
While everyone looked around for the culprit who had sliced the rope, I lowered my hood and climbed up onto the stone wall.
“There are many traitors in this arena, my lord, but no one from The Greenwood are.” I shouted at the king, lifting my bow to point at him. I aimed for his eye. “Let them go.”
“How dare you interrupt? I’ve already had to dispatch your father, don't make me do the same to you,” Graeme retorted, clasping his hand with Asena’s beside him. My heart lurched at his words, but I refused to believe him. He was just trying to get under my skin. I wouldn’t let him.
“My father was your best friend. Is she worth giving up everything for?” I prayed that he could still be reasoned with.
“That and more.” The King replied, while Asena withdrew her hand from the box by the throne.
“Here that, Thimmaria. Your beloved King would sacrifice his own kingdom for a witch. I know some of you can see past her lies and deceptions. Don’t allow her to cloud your judgment. The enemy is right here. It’s not Brural. It never was.”
“Lies and treason.” The king yelled before he motioned for the guards and Captain Rekker to continue.
Asena lifted whatever was in the box, her eyes never leaving mine. My heart shattered when she pulled the decapitated head up, her hand buried in my father’s greying hair. A roaring filled my ears as I stared at what was left of him. His eyes were closed and he looked to be only napping.
The sound of the lever being pulled again forced me to turn away. As each woman fell, I shot an arrow through the rope. I hoped once they were on the ground they could run away to safety.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement and glancing quickly I saw Brex rolling a barrel by the wall to rest beside other barrels. I returned my attention to the women and shot three more ropes before I heard the shouts of the men we’d rescued running into the arena and making a beeline for their women and children. Many men lost the battle with their beasts and transformed, snarling. Screams and the sounds of fighting became deafening.
I shot the last rope before I turned my attention to Einri. He was staring at me, his silver eyes unmistakable at this distance. I didn’t know or understand what was between us but in that moment, something sparked to life in him, and that same spark grew into a flame within me. We were connected, him and I, it was a turning point and neither of us would ever be the same.
Someone roared my name drawing my attention, and I saw Captain Rekker up on the walkway running toward me with murder in his eyes. I only had one chance, and I prayed it would work before he reached me. I drew back my bow, the string resting on my cheek for just a moment while I aimed then released.
