Akisane put a hand on Darksun’s hilt. He relaxed as fear dissipated like frost in the daylight.
Duke Akitomo examined him. “Leave the blade alone unless you plan to use it.”
Look at your father’s coat. Did he sleep in it? He fears Thailoc, and is in a rush to prepare for battle before the chains break. He will fear you as well when you master me.
From a more equal footing, Akisane saw his father from a new perspective. Where the Duke was always polished to a mirror finish, now there were scuffs and chips in the facade. And he suspected what was about to happen. His father would set things in motion whether the pieces were in place or not. But he would not correct the Duke. He would be ready to take advantage of whatever ensued, and if the opportunity presented itself, he’d put an end to the tyrant. “There’d be no reason to use it here.”
The Duke didn’t respond. Instead, he looked at the two tables in the chamber. That tightness of the mouth—it looked all too familiar.
Long ago, William had grabbed his arm once and said, “Don’t run. It’ll only make it worse.”
The Duke had knelt and put a hand on his small shoulder. “If you can’t control pain, then you have no business being my son.”
The brothers had learned to go to another place, to retreat into a rigid fortification in their minds as the thrashings continued.
Their mother cleaned the blood from the floor but would never touch their gashes or bruises until the Duke had left. It was understood that he didn’t want the carpets stained.
The necromancer poked a thin glass tube into Gon’s arm. Her stomach was flat now, as if she never carried the abomination. She led Akisane to the table with their offspring. “Now that we have a child, it’s time I told you my name. My name is Metztli. You are one of a hundred who know or have known it.”
Akisane didn’t know what she was saying. “You’ve had a hundred children?”
She smiled and went back to draining the kid’s life force. The red liquid abandoned the arm and ran down a long tube into the glob of semi-transparent jelly with the shadow of veins and a large child, who began to struggle and turn. “He’s ready to be born.”
The Duke stayed across the room and crossed his arms. “Then get it over with.”
A dagger appeared from beneath her robes. She ran a slit through the membrane, and liquid sloshed out, along with an arm. The fingers grasped. Eventually, a body slid free, and she caught it before it fell over the edge. Then, she wiped away the slime until a face emerged.
It looked all too familiar.
The Duke’s narrowed his eyes. “It looks like my first disappointment.”
Akisane stumbled back. Where Darksun left a absence of fear, a new terror filled it to the brim. There was William, just as he’d looked at ten years old.
The imposter turned his head and spewed clear liquid from his mouth. He gasped, and Metztli slapped a hand on his back. He began to breathe normally but with the rattle of fluid still in his windpipe.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Metztli smiled and ran a hand through the child’s wet hair. “His name is Atzi.”
Akisane stepped back until he was as far away as his father. Of course, there would be a family resemblance, but this was a clone. It wasn’t natural. No doubt the necromancer had used dark magic.
She helped Atzi to his feet, which were wobbly at the knees. “Akisane, I see the look on your face. My kind can’t have children by sex alone, so there are many spells involved. Rest assured, he will be powerful. He will grow extraordinarily fast, both physically and supernaturally.”
The Duke stepped forward. “And he will help us defeat the King’s army?”
“Oh, yes.”
“And what of Gon? Is he still fit to use as bait?”
“I believe he will live.”
Atzi kept a hand on the table but took a few uncertain steps. He coughed and then moved his mouth.
Metztli took the child's arm and helped him walk. “He’s about to say his first words,” she said.
Atzi looked at Akinane, and his words started to form. “I recognize you.”
Akisane felt like he’d been kicked in the gut. He turned and said, “I’ve got to go.”
Metztli chuckled, and it seemed to ring in the chamber.
The Duke joined him as he walked out the door and down the hall. “We are about to join the tournament. I want a show of force that will persuade the knights to join us when the time comes. I want you to fight tomorrow.”
“And the order as well?”
“Yes, I want shock and awe.”
Akinane was about to turn into the doorway where Shank awaited when the Duke stopped him.
“One last thing. Arrest Whitebeard. He’s to be chained in my hall.”
“On what charges?”
“Suspicion of killing the King’s son.”
“You have evidence?”
“Enough to hold him, get him out of our way.”
When Akisane and Shank were alone, they found a barrel of wine and began to drink themselves into a better mood.
Akisane leaned against the wall. “With Darksun, I feel like I could challenge the Lords of Chaos, yet I’m afraid of my own son or whatever curse came out of her.”
Shank juggled a pair of daggers with his one hand. “You know, a lot of people find fulfillment in parenthood.”
“This isn’t like that.”
“Are you sure?”
Akisane drained another cup. “I’m not sure of anything else, but I’m sure of that.”
That damn thing looked just like William. Akinsane put his hand in his pocket. It was trembling again.
Shank added a third dagger. “So, what are we up to tonight?”
“It’s time to go put the soloknight in chains.”
One of the daggers rang as it hit the floor.
Henry (Akisane)
Level: 10
Focus: Telekinesis
Secondary focus: Shadow walker, fire walker
Weapons: Darksun Sword - 85% corrupt, decay+12