"That's a great idea. Make him look guilty." As Sam continued to adjust Double D's posture, Shalee held up the mask in front of her and rolled her eyes. "There's blood on this thing. I can't believe I put it on."

"Would you please focus?" Sam snapped. "Help me."

With Double D in the ideal position, Sam adjusted Aaron's weight to fall toward the coffin while Shalee hung the mask from the a.s.sa.s.sin's belt, and then they reclaimed their seats.

Shalee slammed Precious against the floor and released everyone from her magic.

The next thing Double D knew, he was standing with the knife in his hand, and the weight of the king was falling toward him. He released the blade and looked at the crowd. Everyone could see him.

Sam shouted, "Guards, seize him!"

Double D instinctively reached up for his mask, but there was nothing to grab. "Garesh," he blurted as he turned to run for the curtain.

One of the guards tackled Double D before he could take his second step. A moment later, nine swords of the king's guard were pointed at his throat. The murderer was captured.

The theatre was frantic. Everyone screamed as the king's legs buckled. As Aaron slid off of his father's body and the handle of the a.s.sa.s.sin's knife caught on the edge of the coffin and left Aaron dangling. A moment later, the bone at the top of the king's skull cracked. Aaron slowly slid off the blade and crumbled to the floor in a heap. The a.s.sa.s.sin's dagger toppled off the edge of the coffin and stuck into the stage next to the young king's shoulder.

Sam rushed to the center of the stage and shouted with all his might. "People of Brandor, sit and be quiet!"

Everyone stopped to look. Most of them did not realize it, but Sam was now their new king, and he was about to make the chain of authority known. He shouted again. "King Aaron has been murdered! I won't allow this gathering to make a mockery of his death! Sit down! NOW!"

The n.o.bles and the members of the military were the first to comply. Seeing their reaction to Sam's command, the rest of the theatre followed.

Sam ordered four of the guards to clear Aaron's body from the stage. He then commanded two others to wheel Keldwin's casket behind the curtain with Aaron. Sam s.n.a.t.c.hed the a.s.sa.s.sin's dagger and pulled it clear of the stage, and then he ordered the morticians to take the bodies from the theatre, and return with the kings in clean attire and fresh coffins.

Once this had been accomplished, Sam ordered the four remaining guards to bring Double D to the front of the stage. The guards complied.

Sam faced the crowd. "People of Brandor, you will remain seated until our kings have been returned! Justice must be delivered. I intend to give the fallen the vengeance they deserve! You will not leave until the command is given! Do you understand?"

Michael, as if he had been prepared to say it all along, stood from his chair and shouted. "Our new king has spoken! Hail, King Goodrich!"

The mob paused as the new reality sunk in. Eventually, they responded, "Hail, King Goodrich!"

Many long moments pa.s.sed before the morticians returned with the bodies of the late kings. During their absence, Sam forced Double D to kneel and face the crowd with his hands tied behind his back.

Sam beat Double D until the a.s.sa.s.sin proclaimed his profession.

Double D spit blood onto the stage. "I also killed your general. I laughed as his body convulsed on the sand."

Upon hearing the confession, the crowd reacted. They shouted curses and called for Double D's execution.

Sam lifted his hand and shouted, "This man has dishonored three great men with his actions! Two of the fallen were warriors, but all three were leaders this kingdom cannot replace! They will be missed! They will be honored on this very night, AND THEY WILL BE AVENGED!"

Sam turned an event meant for a viewing of the pa.s.sed into a pep rally. He would not allow the people to leave without closure-knowing full well that his fallen friends would have approved.

When the bodies were returned, Michael commanded the caskets to be tilted toward the people.

Motioning for the guards to lift Double D to his feet, Sam made another announcement. "People of Brandor, on this Peak, in front of our beloved kings, there will be justice! This man will explain why he has attacked our kingdom and killed our leaders!"

Double D spit on the floor again. "I will say nothing. Beat me if you must, but I'll pa.s.s before I utter a word."

Sam lifted the a.s.sa.s.sin's dagger and opened a gash across Double D's chest. As the a.s.sa.s.sin screamed, the new king pulled Kael from his sheath and commanded the blade to bring forth his fire. The king lifted the weapon in front of his lips. "Are you ready for action, Kael?"

The blade's confirmation was s.a.d.i.s.tic. "Make the torture last, Sam. I want to hear his cries. He deserves punishment. I want to feel the warmth of his blood as I slice him through. Allow me to bathe in his life's source."

Sam relished the thought as he lifted Kael above his head. The people were awed by the blade's flame as he addressed them. "People of Brandor, I hold in my hand a sword given to me by Ba.s.sorine! This is Kael, the one and only Sword of Truth and Might!"

The theatre erupted. They knew how treasured a G.o.d-sword was, and the fact their new king possessed a weapon of this magnitude amplified their acceptance of Sam.

"I shall use this sword to strike down our enemies!" Sam pointed the tip of Kael at Double D. "I say we start with this traitor! What say you?"

Everyone in the theatre exploded, "Slay him! Slay him! Slay him!" Their screams eventually transitioned into, "Hail, King Goodrich! Hail, King Goodrich! Hail, King Goodrich!"

Sam brought his hand up to silence the crowd. He commanded the blade to evoke a new element. Kael brought forth the destructive force of water as Sam turned to face Double D. "Why did you end these men?"

Again, the a.s.sa.s.sin spit on the floor.

The crowd responded with profanities.

Once again, the king held up his hand to command silence. Sam placed Kael's blade on Double D's shoulder. "Why did you kill these men?"

The a.s.sa.s.sin screamed as the watery flame ripped at his skin. He wanted to spit on the floor yet again, but Kael's power was overwhelming.

"I said, why did you end these men?"

Double D looked at Sam defiantly.

"The king pushed the blade into the a.s.sa.s.sin's shoulder. "Answer me!"

Double D broke. "I was hired to slay them! It was just a job!"

Again, the people cursed the a.s.sa.s.sin.

Sam silenced them. "Who hired you?"

"I don't know," he cried. "I get my work through a man called a.s.sistant Kane. He pays me when I'm finished."

"When are you to meet this man to get your coin?"

Again, the power of the sword ripped at the a.s.sa.s.sin's skin to force a truthful response. "I don't. I retrieve my coin from a specified location once the job is finished!"

Sam only had one more question before he brought down judgment. "What's your name, murderer?"

Double D fought to avoid the answer. Many, many moments pa.s.sed, and Kael was still unable to break through the a.s.sa.s.sin's determination to remain silent. He had not said his real name since the night he ended his father and uttering the words pained him to such a degree that he wailed in agony.

Sam shoved and twisted the G.o.d-sword, causing the a.s.sa.s.sin's collar bone to snap.

Double D screamed, "Dawson Drake! My name is Dawson Drake!" His knees buckled.

Sam motioned for the guards to lift Double D back to his feet and spoke for all to hear. "Dawson Drake, I hold you responsible for your actions! The murders committed against King Aaron Brandor, and General Justin Graywind, will be brought to justice on this Peak in front of the people of this great kingdom."

Sam placed the point of Kael against Double D's healthy shoulder and commanded the blade's fire to come forth. He pushed the point into the a.s.sa.s.sin's flesh at a slow, steady pace.

The killer cried out as the heat cauterized the wound.

The crowd cheered as they watched their king twist the weapon. The louder the man screamed, the happier the people became.

Sam withdrew his sword and then pushed the blade ever so slowly into Double D's stomach. The screams of the murderer were horrific as the crowd continued to applaud his torture.

Sam's abuse of Dawson Drake would have continued, but Shalee ran across the stage to stop him. She whispered in his ear. "Sam ... you're scaring me. Stop."

"I'm not finished with him. He deserves this."

Shalee stood her ground. "You end this, or I'll end it for you!"

Sam held Shalee's eyes for a fair period of moments before he commanded the guards to release Double D.

The guards did as they were told, unsure of the king's intent.

The crowd's eyes were filled with questions, many of them screaming for answers.

Sam held up his hand.

The mob silenced.

The king leaned in and whispered to Shalee, but it was not Sam that responded. It was the demon at the back of his mind. "I will end it my way."

Shalee shuddered. There was a coldness in Sam's expression-one that she did not want to oppose. "Do it however you want ... just so long as it ends." She retreated to her seat and turned away.

The king's face tightened. Without another word, he turned and buried the a.s.sa.s.sin's dagger into Double D's gut and then left the blade buried as he took a step back. With the a.s.sa.s.sin doubled over, Sam lifted Kael to his mouth and commanded the flame to go cold. Without further hesitation, he lifted Kael above his head and brought the G.o.d-sword down across the top of Double D's head.

The force of the impact split the a.s.sa.s.sin and his dagger in half like a knife cutting through b.u.t.ter. After a few short moments, the a.s.sa.s.sin's weight shifted and both halves opened like a fisherman's net that dropped its catch across the deck. Double D's halves fell in opposite directions as his guts slid across the stage.

The crowd erupted, glorifying their new king's actions, screaming their praises and asking the G.o.ds to grant Sam long life.

Sam fought to put the demon in his mind back in its cage as he held up his hand to silence the mob. He commanded the n.o.bles and the senators to leave for the arena. "I want you to build a platform. We will light the fire to celebrate our fallen kings tonight." He then addressed the rest of the spectators. "I command you all to go to the arena after Late Bailem! "

He turned to look down at Double D's remains. "Finish cutting that thing up! Throw it into a pail and feed it to the birds!"

The mob cheered as Sam walked off the stage. As he pa.s.sed, he tried to grab Shalee's hand, but she refused to let him have it. Irritated, Sam exited through the back of the theatre.

CHAPTER 31.

G.o.ds Who Wager The Hidden G.o.d World Ancients Sovereign Yaloom's Home LASIDIOUS WENT TO THE HOME of Yaloom on Ancients Sovereign to deliver a message. When the Mischievous One arrived, he found that Mieonus was present. She was watching the a.s.sa.s.sination of Aaron Brandor with Yaloom as they glared into an indoor waterfall that cascaded past the railing where they stood and fell into a large pool far below. This flowing sheet of water was a lot like watching a giant TV, and the images being portrayed were of events in progress.

The G.o.d of Greed had exquisite taste. His home was breathtaking, and it represented everything that he considered to be the best. Unlike his home, Yaloom's appearance was ordinary, however, his fingers were covered with priceless rings. The G.o.d was extremely self-centered, and even the way he stood showed his arrogance.

"Good Peak," Lasidious greeted.

When Yaloom failed to respond, Mieonus held up her right hand. "Shhhh! We're busy."

Lasidious shook his head and looked over the railing. The pool below was filled with gems that shimmered from the bottom of its depths. From there, the water continued to cascade over many other smaller falls as it moved throughout the rest of the structure.

Yaloom's mansion was created at the center of a 580 pace waterfall. A hole existed at the top of the structure, and every ounce of the falls funneled into this opening and coursed through the home before it exited at the bottom. From there, the water fell the remaining 250 paces.

Despite the ma.s.sive force pouring into the home, it was pleasant where the G.o.ds stood. Yaloom had engineered the mansion in such a way that the deafening sound of the waterfall hitting the top of the building was not heard on this main level. He had smoothed the walls inside to direct the flow peacefully around them for pleasant conversation.

Lasidious had come to Yaloom's home to solicit a meeting about the pieces of the Crystal Moon, but instead, he ended up watching the events in Brandor unfold. Since the happenings were current, it was too late to do anything to manipulate a different outcome. He cringed as the a.s.sa.s.sin shoved the barbarian blade into Aaron's jaw and watched as its tip pierced the top of the king's head.

Though the a.s.sa.s.sination was not what the Mischievous One would have wanted, it was not without entertainment value. He smiled as Shalee froze the crowd and then released Sam to help her deal with the situation. Hmmm! They work well together, he thought.

To Lasidious' delight, Mosley was sitting on the stage, but the people did not know the G.o.d of War was present. An orange glow was surrounding the wolf, and this was the waterfall's way of signifying his invisibility.

After watching the guard tackle Double D, Lasidious questioned, "Why would you have manipulated this a.s.sa.s.sination? What did you expect to accomplish by it?"

Yaloom responded. "The Kingdom of Brandor will be weakened by this. They'll be left disorganized for the upcoming war."

"Imbeciles! Don't you realize what you've done?" The Mischievous One slapped his own forehead.

"We aren't imbeciles!" Mieonus snapped as she stomped her lifted heel against the floor. "This a.s.sa.s.sination will benefit our team."

"Your team? Most of your team is doing nothing. They're witless. There's so much more that could be done. You order one a.s.sa.s.sination, and you expect that this will win you the pieces of the Crystal Moon?"

"It will!" Yaloom shouted. "I-"

Lasidious trumped Yaloom's voice. "No! It won't! You may have ruined your chance to secure the first two pieces. Your actions have strengthened the leadership in Brandor ... not weakened it. How stupid could you be?"

"Stop degrading us," Yaloom demanded, "or we'll-"

"You'll what? You'll do nothing, because you're afraid you'll end up like Ba.s.sorine." Lasidious paused. "You don't even understand why I'm upset."

"Then explain it!" Yaloom snapped. "The way I see it, Brandor is void of leadership."

Lasidious took a few deep breaths, and then he spoke in a calmer tone. "Have you forgotten how smart Sam is and the fact that Ba.s.sorine gave him his sword? And that has nothing to do with the power Shalee possesses. For you to make her a queen is ludicrous." He threw his hands in the air. "Ba.s.sorine chose Shalee for a reason. He must have known something we don't. It's clear she's not just a baby maker. Whatever his secret was, I intend to figure it out."

Mieonus reasoned, "We didn't know to watch Shalee. Just try to look at it our way. No kingdom should be able to survive the destruction of its hierarchy when it happens over a matter of Peaks. When we instigated the a.s.sa.s.sinations, Keldwin had not even planned his tournament yet. How could we have known that Sam would be invited to Brandor so quickly and end up in a position to step into leadership once Aaron was killed?"

Yaloom cut in. "Yes ... we thought with the general and the prince pa.s.sing, Brandor would be led by a king that was growing sicker by the Peak. Sam becoming king was dumb luck."

Lasidious threw his hands in the air again. "There's no such thing as dumb luck, imbecile. You should've stopped the a.s.sa.s.sinations, and if your eyes would've been open, you would've. The two of you have been outwitted by Mosley and the council of cretins that surrounds him."

Mieonus stomped her lifted heel again. "You don't have to be so rude!"