The Shadow Throne (Ascendance 3)

“His wife was named Havanila. Harlowe is your father.”

“But —” Roden paused and considered that a moment. “He lost a younger son as an infant. Didn’t I hear that?”

“It was you. I’m sorry. I should’ve told you last night.”

“Do you think so?” He cursed and craned his neck to look in the crowd. I knew by the slump in his shoulders when he located Harlowe. Then his tone softened. “Does he know?”

“No. I thought you should tell him.”

“I wish I could.” We took a few more steps, then he said, “I know you tried to save us, Jaron. I forgive you for failing.”

With a coy smile, I glanced over at him. “What failure? Everything is exactly as it should be.”

“I disagree,” Roden said. “I can think of a thousand ways I’d rather spend my morning.”

“Think of ways you’d like to spend your evening, then.” With a smile, I added, “I intend to curl up in front of a warm fireplace, with Imogen beside me.”

“That sounds nice. But if you’re near any fires tonight, it might be that your soul landed in the devils’ lair.”

I chuckled. “That’s more likely than either of us resting with the saints. But if we do, just imagine the trouble we could cause there.”

He smiled back. “Good-bye, Jaron.”

“No, Roden. Not yet.”

At that, the commander pulled Roden onto the platform and directed him to stand on the stool. From my position, I could see the shaking of Roden’s hands, so fierce it rattled the chains on his wrists. A man standing at the front of the platform announced that here was the captain of the Carthyan guard, guilty of war against Avenia, Gelyn, and Mendenwal. Roden stood tall as the noose was tightened around his neck. He was heaving deep breaths, as if that might somehow delay the suffocation.

Conner had left my side and turned his back on me to greet other dignitaries seated on the steps of Farthenwood. It allowed me to work at the ropes around my wrists, while the position of his body also blocked others from seeing what I was doing. I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do once my hands were untied — I was still unarmed and surrounded by enemies. But it was a start.

Shortly before I was through the knots, Conner turned and grabbed my wrists again. Without calling attention to himself, he wound the loose rope back over my wrists. I couldn’t tell whether he knotted anything again, but if he did, any hope I had was lost.

It was my turn now for the noose. Conner escorted me to the platform and told me to get on the stool, which I did. Then he pulled the noose around my neck and tightened it a little, though it would surely pull tighter to kill me. The coarse threads scratched like claws against my skin and I was already feeling the pinch for air.

From here, I could see the audience better. I recognized a few of the thieves amongst the Avenian soldiers. They were nearly expressionless as they stared up at me; it was impossible for me to tell whether they were regretting or celebrating my death. Probably the latter. And oddly, I saw Erick in the audience. Only Erick, none of the pirates. He acknowledged me with a grim smile and a slight nod. I returned the gesture, grateful beyond words that he had come.

“King Vargan will have you speak now,” Conner said. “Remind our people of where their loyalties must be.”

My eyes shifted from him back to the crowd. When those from Carthya saw me looking, they went to their knees. So did Erick, and a few others I didn’t know. I swallowed hard to gain control of my emotions, and then said, “I am commanded by the king of Avenia to give you one last order and so I shall. Hear me now and always. Be loyal to the thing you know is right. Never bend to weakness, never yield to a false crown. Right will always triumph in the end, and you will want to be on that side when it does.”

The ending I had intended would’ve been even better, if Conner had not cut me off by crashing his fist into my gut. A gasp spread through the audience, who went to their feet in my defense. Kippenger shouted to the crowd to ignore my last words or be hanged next. His soldiers left the platform and quieted a few of the more rowdy objectors with the hilt of their blades.

I had recovered from the punch, but my balance was threatened. I might’ve fallen then, but Conner put his hands on my arms to steady my weight. When he did, I felt something cold run up my sleeve and caught the end of it in my hand.

Conner had given me a knife.

It was small, but felt sharp enough, and I gripped it tightly to keep it hidden. He said nothing more, didn’t even look at me as he left the platform.

The announcer on the platform said my name, gave my title as the king of Carthya, and then accused me of the crime of waging war against the kingdoms of Avenia, Mendenwal, and Gelyn. Ridiculous charges, considering they were standing on my land.

When he finished, he walked off the platform too. King Vargan stood and spoke the simple words, “Do it.”

And the two executioners kicked out the stools from beneath us.

I jumped forward in the instant Vargan gave the order. It only gave me a little traction, but it was enough to keep me suspended in air for a precious second or two. I tore my hands free from the ropes and grabbed the noose to give myself some air. Vargan called out that I had a knife, but when I swung back, I kicked one executioner into the other and both toppled over the edge of the platform. Other soldiers were rushing forward though. I had to be fast.

I used my weight to swing toward Roden, who was quickly losing consciousness. I grabbed on to his rope and with the knife sliced through the cords. Roden fell to the platform, and listlessly rolled over the edge to the ground below. Harlowe and Tobias rushed forward to help him.

With one hand still holding the dangling portion of Roden’s rope, I sliced through my own noose with my free hand, then jumped to the ground beside Roden. Harlowe had already loosened Roden’s rope and Tobias was feeling for his pulse.