He lowered his bow.
‘Last I heard you were locked in a tower,’ Cooper said, pulling his horse up a few yards from the house and looking down at the dead body at Astin’s feet. ‘Did the king have a change of heart?’
‘The king’s dead,’ Astin replied. ‘But I’m guessing you already knew that.’
Cooper watched him a moment. ‘I think even you would agree it was time for a change in leadership. King Edward is not his father. Any defender who lays down their weapons and bends the knee will be spared.’ He paused. ‘I doubt the merchants will take much convincing when they realise he already has control of the food. Troops are securing the farms as we speak.’
Astin slowly shook his head. ‘You absolute traitor.’
‘Soon to beLordTraitor.’
Every muscle in Astin’s body was tense. ‘Do you honestly think anyone’s going to respect that title?’
‘Not at first, but they will when they realise I’ve given Chadora a king fit to rule.’
‘All you’re doing is giving away our food. Nothing more. Nothing less.’
Cooper let out a breath and walked his horse forwards. ‘Surely you understand that letting you live would be a big mistake. You’ll fight me the whole way.’
That was true. He would.
‘Don’t. Please,’ Presley said, stepping out of the house.
Astin calmly raised his hands, not wanting any arrows flying his way while his sister was outside. ‘Presley, get back inside.’
‘No.’
He looked over his shoulder. ‘Inside,now.’
She turned when she felt a tug on her dress. There was Rose looking up at her with pleading eyes. Presley snatched her up and carried her inside.
Astin heard the release of an arrow, a familiar noise he would recognise anywhere. There were things he could have done in that moment to save his own life, but to what end for those inside the house? He pressed his eyes shut, readying for the searing pain.
I’m sorry, he told Lyndal as she filled his thoughts. He would have done anything to spare her the grief of his death.
He flinched at the sickening thud of arrows hitting flesh, waiting for the explosion of pain that would spread like liquid through him. A scream rang out, but it did not come from him. His eyes snapped open, and he found his mother next to him, an arrow protruding from her chest. She looked down as her knees buckled, and Astin caught her, lowering her the rest of the way to the ground.
Another scream sounded, and he realised it was coming from Rose.
‘Mama!’
Presley stood frozen in the doorway, face slack, holding tightly to her daughter.
Astin’s eyes burned as he crouched over his mother. It was not supposed to end like this. Her protection had come far too late, and his forgiveness not at all.
‘I’m sorry,’ she breathed, eyes fixed on him and voice gurgling.
He had seen death up close before, but the sight of his mother desperate for exoneration as she struggled to draw breath almost broke him. He was supposed to say ‘I forgive you’. That was the correct response. But the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he gave her the next best thing he could. Bringing his face close to hers, he said, ‘Father’s waiting for you.’
Lari’s mouth turned up slightly as she exhaled and fell still. Her chest did not rise again.
Presley dropped to her knees, and Rose slipped from her hands, running over to the woman she had called “mama” her whole life.
‘Look what you’ve done,’ Cooper snarled, jumping down from his horse.
Astin lifted his gaze to his stepfather, then said to Rose, ‘I need you to go inside with your sister. Can you do that for me?’
Presley was already at his side, pulling the girl away and dragging her towards the house.
