Chapter 095:

Terill held his hands tight in his lap as he sat upon the ruined remains of Queen Valérie’s chair. It wasn’t particularly comfortable but it was what he deserved right now. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the throne room.

King Lambert remained slumped in his throne, blood trailing off his body and onto the floor. The wound on his neck was very thin, made by a sharp and thin blade. He didn’t see it in Valérie’s hand when she slapped and cut his throat. Valérie stood near the door with Abeau, chatting furiously. She spoke to messengers, wearing the white and green of the Kingdom, and sent them away. Was she spreading lies about what happened? She was in the perfect position to do so and with Abeau at her side she had more than enough authority.

A Knight, wearing green armour, from the Green Vipers, groaned as his battered body tried to move forward. With only his elbows he desperately crawled towards one of the open doors, where several Knights had managed to escape through. Terill knew that he had lost too much blood to make it much further but he wasn’t giving up.

Caiden, one of the three surviving Stitch Soldiers, looked at the movement. His eyes were devoid of emotion as he picked up a discarded sword and plunged it through the back of the Knights’ neck. The Knight shuddered once then collapsed. Caiden removed the blade, inspected the blood, and cast it aside. Terill felt physically Ill to look upon him. And for Abeau to claim they were holy. They were anything but. That whole endeavour was supposed to have been destroyed over twenty winters ago. And yet here they stood.

To his right stood Giles and Harold, deep in conversation, while plain-clothed mercenaries began to remove the bodies and clean up the blood. Neither prince held anything on their faces that even hinted at their treason. Giles even managed a laugh at something while Harold smiled. Never before had Terill thought that something was wrong with any of them, their lack of faith not-withstanding. Lila, the first Princess, had disappeared completely and he had lost sight of her during the initial scuffle. He couldn’t see her corpse amongst the Knights, mercenaries and nobles. The last group he didn’t care much for. They were only sycophants to the queen, to earn her favour by dressing up in the most ridiculous ways possible. For what good it did them.

“This has gone rather well.”

Terill looked up and saw Abeau smiling at him. Right now their eyes were about the same height. Terill had always hated the short little fat man, something about him was off. Something that you could only tell if you spent nearly every day with him.

“Has it?” Terill asked flatly.

Abeau shrugged. “We have the Kingdom now, our Stitch Soldiers have been a tremendous success and we can make many, many more now. What’s to be disappointed about?”

Terill lowered his head into his hands. Something crawled at the back of his neck.

This wasn’t the plan at all. Someone’s been working around me…And Abeau thinks I’m in on it.

“I…I just didn’t think it would be so bloody.” Terill raised his head.

Abeau smiled as warmly as he could manage. “I know. I wasn’t expecting that either. So much blood.” He scrunched his face. “And the smell too…”

A plain clothed mercenary stopped at Abeau’s side. “What do you want to be done with him?” He pointed at the King.

“Well, since she’s Lambert’s husband I thought she should make the final decision.”

Abeau shouted for the Queen. She smiled at him, finished giving her order to a messenger, and scampered across the blood-soaked carpet towards them. Her curvaceous body bounced probably in an alluring way, of that he was certain. She had lowered her top and allowed more of her cleavage to show and allow her slightly flushed body to breathe more. A mercenary stepped in her way. She stopped abruptly, nearly falling forwards before the mercenary caught her. She steadied herself, gave him a seductive wink, and then continued towards them, making every effort to miss the stains of blood, even pulling up her skirt in a very delicate manner.

Terill felt Valérie was nothing but pure evil. What person could kill a person they purported to love so terribly and publically?

“Your Highness.” Abeau bowed to Valérie. “What do you want to be done with King Lambert’s body?”

Regret flashed across her face. Something flickered over her eyes, Terill could only describe it like a flutter of leaves, and her smile returned.

“While I still love him, he…He would not listen. And stood against the will of God. I will pray for his soul and that he will forgive me in the realm hereafter. Especially after he sees what we will make here.”

“We will ensure that he is buried in a prime location in the cemetery.” Abeau bowed his head and waved the mercenaries forward.

They gently handled the king and took his body from the room. Terill dropped his head into his hands once again.

“Whatever is the matter, Terill?” Valérie asked as she knelt before him. “You seem quite upset.”

She reached and gently held his shoulder. Terill, fighting the urge to slap her away or scowl, faintly smiled and patted her hand.

“As I said to Abeau, I was not expecting it to be so violent.” Terill took a deep breath and sat more upright. “So, what happens now?”

Valérie smiled. “Now that Harold is King we can start to fight against the corruption and heresy that has taken root in our Kingdom.”

I’m surrounded by rot and corruption. How did I not see it? Have I becoming blinded to…what did she just say?

“What do you mean, Harold as the King?” Giles asked. His face quickly filled with fury as he approached Valérie. “We were supposed to rule together.”

Valérie smiled and swung her hand at Giles' throat. Terill heard a tiny swish of air and the glint of metal just before blood trailed down from Giles’s throat. His hands desperately clamped at his throat as he collapsed to the ground. Terill recoiled as Valérie smiled while Giles desperately clung to his throat as spasms overtook his body and he gurgled up blood. After a few moments he fell limp at the feet of the throne. Harold chuckled and walked towards the door, summoning mercenaries to his side. They picked up Harold’s corpse like he was a dead pig. His head bounced several times on the blood stained carpet before he was taken outside.

Terill couldn’t contain his emotions any longer. “By all that is Holy, what the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Everyone stopped at his outburst, the room turning completely silent. “You’ve just killed your husband, the King, and your son. What, I…What?!”

Valérie smiled. “I have never wavered in my faith. And I have done everything the Holy Father has asked of me.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Her face beamed even brighter. “Have you seen the Holy Father yourself? Felt his radiance?”

“No…I never have.”

“I haven’t either.” Valérie clasped her hands beneath her chin. “But one of his angels came to me in a vision while I visited the new cathedral. I will never forget what I saw.”

She looked to the throne still covered in blood. Abeau signalled a mercenary who produced a thick piece of cloth and wiped down the throne clean of blood before laying a fresh piece on the throne. Valérie nodded appreciatively and sat down, reaching out for Terill’s hand, which he reluctantly held.

“It was the last night at the Cathedral. Oh, by the way, Abeau, it looks absolutely divine. It simply radiates in the night sky.”

“Thank you, your highness. We do our best to please the Holy Father.”

“I’m sure that he will be more than pleased with what you have built. Now…During our last night, when I fell asleep, I awoke to a strange dream. But this felt like no dream I had ever been in before. It felt so real. I awoke wearing nothing but my nightgown in a beautiful forest. Something called me towards a light glowing in the distance. I saw deer’s running through the forest, even small fairies fluttering through the trees. Their little childlike faces turned at me and they laughed as they flew effortlessly through the air. Oh, I’ve never heard anything more sweet and innocent.”

Faeries…You are a delusional idiot.

“And then I found her, nestled in a circle of vines with glowing golden flowers.” Valérie chuckled and looked down at her chest. “I must admit that I felt a little inadequate compared to her. She was…huge, there’s no other way to describe it. These high cheekbones and a pointed nose, framed by long flowing golden hair that reached to her waist. Utterly beautiful. She wore a thin white silken dress as she knelt in the circle. She smiled at the small creatures of the forest that played with her but the moment I entered they scattered. I never thought I would see an angel look so disappointed. She waved me into her little circle, I have never been so nervous, and bade me sit.”

Get to the point already you disgusting woman.

“She held my hands and told me that the Holy Father has need of me.” She smiled at Terill and Abeau. “Of all of us. The angel spoke of a corruption, an abomination, growing in the east, where only monsters and beasts should roam. A corruption that threatens the fate of the world.”

“Belinda’s territory?” Abeau asked. “K-Lambert said that she was not a heretic.”

“When I held her hands I knew that she was no heretic,” Valérie replied. “But I believe that the taint may have been there, however faint. But the angel said it was beyond the Accursed Forest. Into the fallen lands of the Kar Kingdom. There something grows and festers. Something that threatens the stability of the world. And we need to destroy it before it’s too late.”

“And that’s why you murdered your husband and your son?”

“She told me that nothing must stand in our way. That things that threaten us must be removed immediately. Even…Even my own son.” Again the leaves flickered and passed over through her eyes. “But I know that he, and my husband, will forgive me once they see what we do.”

This is insane. Utter madness and delusion taken to the utmost extreme.

Before Terill could speak further Harold approached the throne. Valérie smiled and rose from her chair, embracing him tightly. When she parted he saw the bizarre look of love between them, more than parent and child.

“Thank you, mother. I thought that Giles was supposed to fall during the scuffle. That’s what we agreed upon just before coming here. Right?”

Valérie flushed and playfully pushed him away. “I really wasn’t listening. Though I’m surprised that Lambert wasn’t woken up by my screams.”

What?

She tenderly rubbed his cheek as he held her hand. “Though it wouldn’t be for the first time.”

The Fuck!

Harold smiled at Abeau and Terill. “I too had a vision, a few days after mother did. The angel said that what we have together is not wrong as we love each other more than anything in the world. Our love is pure. And sanctified by the Holt Father.”

Sure. Something that accepts incest is clearly the work of the Holy Father.

“When…Forgive me asking, but when did this start?” Terill asked quietly.

Valérie smiled. “Not long ago. Somewhere near the end of spring? Though, looking back, we’ve both had feelings for each other for so long. It’s just that everyone else thinks it’s wrong.”

Harold kissed his mother. “But enough about that. Terill, Abeau, we need help to see the Holy Father’s wishes realised.”

“I have the first step.” Abeau waved a mercenary over. “It is only a single step but an important one to greatness and glory, in the name of the Holy Father.”

Abeau waved Harold to take a seat on the throne. He followed his order as the mercenary handed something to Abeau. It glinted with a golden shine. Abeau raised Lambert’s crown above Harold’s head.

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“In the name of the Holy Father, I anoint you, Harold Qaiviel the First, King of the Qaiviel Kingdom. Long may you reign.”

“Long live the king!” the mercenaries cheered. Terill doubted their sincerity.

Harold touched the crown and smiled. “I was the third child. I was never going to inherit the crown. But then the angel said I would…It’s all thanks to her.”

“I’m so proud of you!” Valérie hugged Harold who returned it tightly, his fingers digging into the flesh on her back.

Terill held himself back from shaking his head in disgust, though he wanted to do much more.

Harold patted his mother to stand back up. She smiled and stood by his side. “Now, as King, I ask for your guidance.”

His first look was directed at Terill. Abeau, strangely and thankfully, came to his rescue. “My King. The Church has many more of the Stich Soldiers ready for combat. But…we need some concessions from the crown to fund and manage this army. Concessions that require your signature.”

A priest, one Terill didn’t recognise, stepped forward and produced a fine piece of paper. One side was completely filled with dense writing. Terill caught a glimpse of the words and mentally gasped. He had no idea that Abeau would be so bold, to give the Church complete independence and, in many cases, make them more powerful than the nobles. In almost all situations supplanting them as local rulers and taking their people and taxes for the Church. In one signature the entire Qaiviel Kingdom could be overhauled. Terill should have been excited. An enlightened theocracy led by enlightened people like himself was something that he always dreamed of. But not like this. Such an upheaval would undoubtedly cause a civil war. Certainly with these…people leading it.

Harold barely looked at the document before he signed. Abeau appeared just as shocked as Terill but quickly regained his composure.

“Thank you, most gracious of Kings. We will soon have an army that eclipses anything that the United Kingdom could manage at its zenith.”

“Excellent.” Harold clapped his hands. “And how long will that take?”

“But a few days. We will begin marshalling our forces as soon as possible.”

Harold stood up, trying his best to look regal, though it failed. “Let the first Holy Crusade commence. Let every heretic, be it man, woman or child, feel and fall before the wrath of the Holy Father. The lands of beasts and monsters, the corruption that threatens the world, will fall beneath his righteous light and fury.”

Terill slowly started to panic as he saw the new Kingdom rapidly descend towards the path of war. In his experience, no one benefitted from war. Perhaps he could delay it for a time.

“What about the centaur invasion?” he asked Harold. “Fabrice, the Red Salamander, said that it was going to be quite a dangerous event.”

“The Knight Orders will continue to our borders and our people,” Valérie said flatly.

“Once they find out that their representatives were killed I doubt they’ll be anything but hostile to you. I know that Fabrice managed to escape, as did a few others. Marcus and Bernard for one. I don’t think Bernard’s going to forgive you for killing the King.”

Valérie appeared taken aback. Like she could not understand his words or reasoning.

“The Knight Orders are an important part of the Qaiviel Kingdom.” Abeau smiled. “And we will need them for the coming crusade. We will write letters demanding they pledge loyalty to the new King. Those that do not will be destroyed and their land can be seized by any loyal Knight Order, with the backing of the Church and Royal army.”

You’ll only get the greedy and desperate that way. After what you did I don’t think greed will be enough to assuage their rage. I can only think of one Knight Order that might work with you.

“I suggest that we contact the Golden Roar first.” Abeau continued. “They have suffered greatly under your father’s reign. The chance to reclaim their property will be more than enough of an incentive to work with us.”

Only the truly despicable.

“Do that.” Harold pointed at Abeau. “I appoint you…what would you call your new position?”

“I believe it would be chancellor,” Valérie answered.

“Very well. Cardinal Abeau, I bestow upon you that position and the power it entails. See to it that the First Crusade is properly formed and destroy every enemy of the Holy Father in this realm and beyond. We must make the angel of the Holy Father, which sanctified our love, proud.”

Harold kissed Valérie’s hand. This time even Abeau was deeply concerned. He flashed a look at Terill. One that said that he was in command now. His role as Inquisitor was now lesser than his. Though if he and the other members of the Church had been able to do all this underneath his nose he didn’t deserve the title.

“What about your sister?” Abeau asked.

“What about her? Hopefully, she’ll be found dead soon enough. Our soldiers are searching the castle and have found nothing. And a messenger has just told me that Leo has been spotted fleeing the castle with a few of those missing Knight’s. Those worry me the most.” He leant forward. “Abeau. Those people need to be killed before they can raise an army against us. They had several hundred guards already at their side before they were caught.”

“A worrying development for sure. But I know the city guards did nothing wrong. They would not have known of your vision or ascension to power. I will see that they are spared and compensated for any harm that came to them under Leo’s leadership.”

This is all madness!

“How will you explain this to the people?” Terill asked. “They won’t believe you. Even you must see that.”

Harold nodded seriously, rather than taking Terrill’s words as trying to show him the madness he was undertaking. “We will tell the people that heretics, from beyond the forest, killed the King and everyone else. We barely survived by the grace of the Holy Father. And now we will have our revenge.”

“Which is exactly what happened,” Valérie said adamantly.

Terill didn’t have the strength to disagree. His old body just wanted to rest. Perhaps forever. He needed to get out of this place.

“Your Majesty, Highness and Cardinal Abeau.” Terill pulled himself up from his seat. Valérie moved to help but he willed himself to move faster so she wouldn’t touch him. “Congratulations are in order for your ascension. But I must leave now to continue with my work. I wish you the utmost luck with the Crusade.”

“Thank you Terill.” Valérie held his hands. He forced himself to not shake with disgust or anger. “May the Holy Father bless your way.”

Terill began walking away as fast as he could.

“It’s time that I became reacquainted with my new wife.” Harold deliberately mimicked his dead father. “My Queen.”

Terill stopped dead. His disgust prevented him from taking another step. “You’re keeping your mother…as your queen?”

“Yes.”

Harold and Valérie looked confused while Abeau, his eyes hidden from them, turned to utter contempt towards Terill and the new King and Queen. Perhaps they too were not long for this world.

“I wish you both happiness.”

They smiled and Valérie leant down to kiss Harold like a lover. Terill tore his sight away from the sight, bowed his head and rushed out of the room.

There is no god. Not here. Why would the Holy Father allow such a thing to transpire? Were we wrong from the very beginning?

His growing crisis of faith refused to abate as he neared the door. He glanced back as he passed through to see Abeau summoning a mercenary to his side.

---[]---

Despite being older than Lambert, Terill was still able to move quite fast. Not as fast as one of the mercenaries but fast enough to give them a chase. He scurried as fast as his old and arthritic feet would allow down and through the many winding corridors of the castle.

“This place is insane.” He mumbled to himself. Mercenaries and Royal Guards, already anointed with new crests of the church, allowed his passage and even the Royal Guards bowed their heads as he passed. Word had yet to reach them. Unless that was just paranoia. Well-founded paranoia.

“I need to get out and away…How do I get out of this place?”

Terill continued to wander but heard something gaining behind him. He did not want to know and grew increasingly worried as the sounds grew closer. It was metal striking stone. The same kind metal boots would make.

If they catch me that’s the end. I need to hide.

Hiding had been a big part of his early youth. That was a dark place that he didn’t often venture. Shaking it aside he found an innocuous small wooden door along one of the main corridors. He had no idea what lay on the other side but the sounds were very close now. When he glanced back he saw shadows moving against the wall. He opened the wooden door and disappeared inside. The interior was some sort of massive pantry, filled to the brim with preserved foods and barrels of water. This room alone would provide for many, many winters during a siege.

He waited near the door and heard the metal clanking pass the door by. Had it been paranoia? He didn’t want to find out. His old body couldn’t fight powerful and young mercenaries. The sounds stopped for a moment before they continued moving.

He decided to wait until the count of sixty. Hopefully, that would give them more than enough time to be in a different part of the castle. Just as he was about to open the door he looked back and saw a flicker of movement. The white of an eye tearing itself away from looking directly at him. Something drew him towards it. He had no weapon on his person, not that it would do much good for him, but he approached all the same.

Out of the darkness a body leapt towards him, kicking him back onto the cold hard stone. Stars filled his mind and vision until he felt cold metal placed on his throat. Lila, first princess of Qaiviel, straddled his chest with a short knife pressed to this throat. As he gulped he felt the razor sharp edge upon his skin.

“What did you do to them?” Lila asked, her voice cold and flat.

“I don’t know what happened to them.” Terill squeaked out. “They said it was a vision of an angel that made them do it.”

“Bullshit.” Lila spat at him. “You’ve always wanted to take the throne.”

Honesty might see my throat retain its blood.

“I did,” Terill admitted. “But not like this. I didn’t want your father dead, or your brother.”

“What?!”

“Your…” The blade pressed dangerously hard against his throat. “Your mother did to Giles what she did to your father. But he seemed in on it. I don’t know what’s happening…And how did you manage to escape?”

Lila withdrew her blade slightly but kept it close to his neck. “Behind the throne lies a secret passageway. I took it once the fighting started…So my brothers are dead?”

Terill shook his head. “Just Giles. Harold is the new King, with your mother as his Queen, and Leo has fled the capital.”

“What the fuck?” Lila stood up and moved to the door. “And why are you here? Shouldn’t you be enjoying your new position? Licking up my father’s blood?”

“Right now I’m running for my life. I think Abeau wants to kill me.” Terill nodded towards the door. “I think a few of the mercenaries are already looking for me.”

“You got what you deserved then. Either you were a part of it and were betrayed or you were too stupid to see it coming.”

Terill slowly nodded. “Perhaps. Perhaps I got what I deserved. You didn’t speak like this before when I met you. Why now? Were you always like this?”

“It’s not a woman’s place to speak such words.” She grumbled. “So I just stand there, looking dumb and slow so they don’t think anything more of me. That’s how I survived.”

“They didn’t even ask about you until I brought it up.”

Lila shook her head. “I should have known that.” She looked at him, the fearlessness draining from her eyes. “Where are you going?”

“Home. Back to Falkirk. I know that Abeau holds no power in that area. At least I hope he doesn’t. That’s the best plan I’ve got. What about you?”

She looked around the room. “This was as far as I got.”

“Right…Well, I won’t stop you from coming or staying.” He gingerly opened the door and peered out. No one was present in the corridor. “But I’m getting out of the castle.”

Terill stepped out and held the door open. He looked back and Lila was desperately judging whether or not she should follow. After a moment she made her decision and followed. Now out in the light, he realised that she was still wearing her dress, a plain light grey dress with small spatterings of blood. She frowned at him and held the knife close to her dress.

“Do you know where you're going, Terill?”

“No. I just know I need to get away from here. Perhaps one of the servant’s quarter’s that leads outside?”

Lila shook her head and walked down the corridor. Terill didn’t have anything else to go on and following her was the best bet. Lila moved very quickly, fast enough that he had to almost run to keep up. She didn’t bother to check if he was following.

She reached a corner of the corridor and stopped. Terill slowed and stood just behind her as he looked around the corner over her head. A maid, carrying a large bundle of cloth, slowly walked towards them along an empty corridor.

“Do you know her?” Terill asked.

Lila shook her head. “No. I’ve never seen her before. I don’t know any of them. But I wonder if she knows?”

“I don’t know. The mercenaries might have told them to keep an eye out for you but probably not for me.” Terill took a deep breath. “I’ll go first and see what happens.”

Lila nodded and Terill moved around the corner. The maid saw him and smiled warmly and said nothing. Terill returned the smile and nodded, just as her face turned to unbridled shock. Lila emerged from behind with the knife in her hand. The maid didn’t have a look of confusion from the princess carrying a blade, but rather shock at her sheer presence. She dropped the bundle of cloth and looked along the corridor for someone, but she was alone.

“Don’t move or say a word,” Lila spoke coldly and softly.

The maid hesitated to turn and run. Lila took advantage of her hesitation, stepped forward and grabbed her by the throat. The maid stopped dead when she felt the cold iron placed upon her throat.

“Why are you running?”

The maid gulped. “They told me you that you are wanted by the King. For treason. That you tried to kill your father.” Her face turned to disgust. “How could you do that? To your own father? Is nothing sacred to you?”

“That wasn’t me,” Lila said.

She looked at Terill but the maid reached for the knife. Lila wrestled for the blade. Terill tried to intervene but he was not fast enough. The maid tried to throw the knife to the ground but Lila held on. The maid jerked her hands down further but lost her balance when she overreached and lost her balance. Lila grunted and tried to pull away, the maid started to fall onto her, before she wrenched the blade up. And into the maid’s throat.

Lila gasped as the blade slowly slid free of the maid’s throat. Warm blood sputtered from the wound and covered her face and hands, staining her grey dress. The maid’s hand released Lila’s and both clasped at her blood-drenched throat. Terill winced and looked away as the maid collapsed onto the floor and fell limp. The blood pooled into the grooves of the stone floor and stained the bundles of cloth scattered across the floor.

Lila stood motionless, staring at her bloodstained hands. The knife tumbled loose and clanged onto the floor.

She looked up at Terill as tears welled in her eyes. “I…I killed someone! I didn’t mean to hurt her! I just…”

She was on the verge of bursting into tears and sobs. That would certainly bring the whole castle down upon them. He held her hands, they were so soft and warm on his own. And sticky with blood.

“What you did was in self-defence. No one, not even the Holy Father, will judge you for that.”

It felt wrong to evoke his name but Lila calmed a little.

“Are you okay to walk on your own?”

Lila wiped away the tears and nodded furiously. Now she was a strange mix of confidence about to be consumed by terror.

“If they catch us we’re dead,” Terill said. “Especially after this.”

“So don’t let them catch us.”

“So you do know a way out?”

Lila nodded. “There are many ways in and out of the castle. I know one that leads outside the city wall. Only I and Harold know of it.” A brief childhood memory flickered over her eyes. She pursed her lips and forced the memory down. “So I don’t think they’ll known about it. We take that and then we’re safe.”

Terill knew that wasn’t true. It would be a long ride to Falkirk, even on horseback. And they had no money nor the time to get any. Nevertheless, it was better than being executed. He followed after Lila as she ran along the corridor, constantly glancing back to make sure that he kept pace.