Page 30 of The Forgotten Throne

Tears started to well up, and all I wanted to do right now was hug him but I knew I couldn’t with so many eyes watching. Seeing my need, he raised a hand to cup my cheek and wipe away the tear that slipped out. I held his hand there for a moment, taking strength from it as Jade stepped up beside me, taking my other hand and giving it a squeeze.

“Acton and I haven’t been family in a long time and there was nothing that could be done to save our relationship. I’m sad he has brought himself to this end but as Dayson said, these are choices they made and the consequences that they must deal with for their actions. You gave them so many chances to change and they didn’t. You have to set the standard for when your mercy runs out this is what happens. Your heart is pure, but I refuse to ever let someone taint it with their actions. What happens here today will prove you are a woman of your word and will follow through on what you say good or bad.”

Their reassurance went a long way to making this whole event more bearable. What I had feared most about this is hurting them, these amazing men who have been by my side through all these recent ups and downs. I wanted to be there for them, but I didn’t know how to help when I was the one causing them pain. As Dayson stepped away hearing footsteps coming up the stairs to the stage revealing the three Clan Leaders in question. Izel was standing near the stairs and he glanced over at me to avoid looking at his father. Through that look I could feel him using his Birthright to give me strength and belief in myself, making me want to cry all over again. How could these men be so wonderful in the face of losing their fathers and brothers?

“Queen Cassarah, would you like one of us to make the announcement and sentencing?” Lawrence asked, pulling my attention back to them.

I took a moment to think that over, I could take the easy way out and let them deal with the crowd but I knew the right move was to give the news myself. “Thank you but no, I believe it is best that I handle this matter personally. This is the first instance of this happening and I need to know that the people understand I am the one who made this call.”

The four older men in their color-coded robes all bowed to me placing their hand over their heart as they did. “Gods strength to our Queen.” They all murmured before stepping to the far side of the stage leaving it open for me and the three men who were about to meet their fate.

Walking to the front of the platform I pulled down my hood so that everyone could see my face having no doubt who it was that was speaking. “My people, I come to you as your Queen on this fateful day to announce the crimes done by these men and the punishment they will receive for it. These men, once leaders to those of us who lived outside of Sheca’s protective walls, fell prey to greed and reluctance to see things change. Last night they sought to bond with dragons in hopes of gaining their powers to give them the edge they needed to remove me from the throne. Those of you who are from Sheca understand the grave error they have made. For those of you who just arrived, know that it is akin to slavery where the only choice of freedom from it is death—slowly and painfully. Their other crime is that of treason to the crown working to undermine and kill me. I’ve discovered there is more treachery against the mercenary people as a whole all done to keep them in power. For these crimes and other they are sentenced to death.”

As I was going to step back, Paxton came up the steps hauling another person who was bound up onto the stage. “My Queen, we almost forgot this man in the mix of things.”

There stood Porvan, Paxton’s father, bedraggled from his journey and captivity in the fortress. I knew they had brought him along in the very back of the group under watch and forced to travel on foot. Knowing now that he’d been working with Payson to help the Lost King he deserved no less of a punishment than his fellow Clan Leaders. Could this be the part I was missing? Had they hoped that by removing me they could bring back Porvan to work with the Lost King to get them out of this mess? It was the only thing that made any sense and for him of all people to know of the dragons’ secret was dangerous on so many levels. It had to be finished here and now to protect everyone involved so we could start fresh. I nodded to the guards with the other prisoners and they grabbed Porvan, shoving him down to kneel with the others. The look that passed between them told me everything I needed to know about what pushed them to this point. Porvan was a leech and I should have already done this but I didn’t want to start out my rule that way, seems the universe had other plans for me.

Unsure of where to stand I moved off to the side but still in full view of the crowd so they didn’t think I was brushing this matter off. What shocked me the most was when they grabbed Garold and kicked him to his knees at the chopping block and Dayson walked up with an axe. Surely he wasn’t going to kill his own father? It would seem that was exactly what his intention was as he raised the axe high above his head and brought it down with finality. No matter how much I stared at Dayson he refused to look at me, only stepped back and handed the axe off to Jade as Acton was sprawled out on the chopping block next.

“Ah so we come full circle. You finally get to kill off the rest of your family. Only this time you don’t get paid for it, unless getting between the Queen’s legs is payment enough for you,” Acton taunted. It appeared he wasn’t finished but Jade was as he put his whole body into the downward swing and as the head rolled away, he spat on it with disgust.

Izel stepped up onto the stage and taking the axe from Jade, walked up to his father who was fighting the hold of the guard even though his hands and feet were bound. “Son, don’t do this. I know what you’re trying to prove but she isn’t worth it. You don’t know what it truly means for her to be the Dragon Queen. She will destroy the world not save it.”

“If you believe that of Cassarah then you know nothing. I will not stand to have you slander her in such a way. Goodbye, Father,” Izel said as he too dealt the final blow. A sob from the crowd was heard, and I held myself back from looking, knowing that Izel had a mother and a younger brother out there.

Finally, Porvan was positioned, and Paxton snatched the axe out of Izel’s hands and marched up to his father. “Well, would you look at this? How the roles have been reversed. I tried to stop you all those years ago, and it almost killed me. I let you win then, never coming back to finish the job. Well, I’m back now and you are getting the death you deserve, that of a common criminal.” Before his father could say anything in response, Paxton swung so hard that the blade got stuck in the chopping block. He muttered a few curse words and stormed off into the crowd who parted for him, not wanting to be touched by someone who just killed their own father.

Feeling that something else needed to be said, I started back to the center, but Dayson grabbed my arm and gave a short shake of his head as Jade took center stage.

“Let it be known that we, the Dragon Queen’s guardians, will do whatever it takes to protect our queen, proven here today as each of us have taken the duty of killing our own fathers. Queen Cassarah is a woman of grace and mercy but know that her mercy has its limits. When it comes to an end, expect to find us coming for you. Be the people who deserve a Queen such as ours. Give her a chance to show you what she wants to see our people become. Long live the Dragon Queen!” Jade belted out at the end.

“LONG LIVE THE DRAGON QUEEN!” the crowd answered, their voices echoing off the mountains around us.

Chapter Nineteen

The Things We Do for Love

After the punishment was doled out, we headed back to the house we had slept in and found the kitchen table covered in food. An older woman stood in the kitchen removing a pot of steaming hot liquid that smelled amazing.

“Oh, you’re back. Wonderful, just in time while the food is hot.” She greeted us with a smile. “My name is Marta, and this is my home. I’m very pleased to be hosting you until you can make the move to the castle.”

It hadn’t dawned on me that this home had to be someone’s and wasn’t just left empty here for us to use. Many of our people had similar situations with others taking them in if they had room while the rest have to camp out until more permanent lodging can be made.

“Thank you so much for giving us a place to stay, it was heavenly to sleep in a warm bed after our travels,” I shared as I took a seat at the table. “Everything looks wonderful, I hope we didn’t make too much trouble for you having to feed us all.”

“Nonsense, it is my honor to serve the Queen and her men,” Marta answered, brushing off my concern. “No please sit, eat, I just finished making some kavat which should help you warm up after being out in the damp.”

Marta filled the mug and handed it to me but before I could take it from her Izel intercepted it and took a sip before waiting a moment then handing it to me. I gave him a questioning look, but he just smiled and made a plate sampling everything then handed it to me.

“Izel, did you just check my food for poison?” I demanded with a frown.

“Yes,” he stated. “After all that has happened, I wouldn’t put it past an angry family member or someone else in the clans to retaliate against the death of the Clan Leaders.”

My anger flared at this, and I slammed the mug down on the table. “Don’t ever do that again! What would have happened if it was poisoned and you died? What good would that have done anyone?”

“Better me than you,” Izel answered as he made up a plate for himself and sat like he hadn’t just risked his life for mine.

I knew it was their job to keep me safe, but I never intended for them to go out of their way to risk their lives by doing such foolish things like testing my food or killing their family members. “That is where we differ in our thought process my dear guardian.” I scanned the table with narrowed eyes at all the men seated at the table. “Don’t think you’re off the hook for the stunt you pulled back there. Whose idea was it for you to do the job, I’m sure there is someone here who has been given the title of executioner.”