Page 132 of To Kill a King
“Damn.” He flung the door open and jumped out onto the street. The bazaar was in shambles, vendors trying to close their stalls while looters and customers ran amok in the chaos. Slamming the carriage door, he headed toward the outer wall at a jog.
His sharp ears caught snatches of conversation as he rushed by. “An army! An army’s coming!”
“The dwarves. The dwarves are attacking!”
He frowned. What in the pits of hell did those vermin think they were doing? Fear sliced through his gut, leaving ice in its wake.
Did they know about the Whisperers?
How many did he have in his stores? Only three, maybe four. Damnit. This is what he got for giving so many to Brooks and his idiot friends.
The city didn’t have the food stores to withstand a siege. If they didn’t have enough Whisperers to wipe out the invaders, they were done for.
He wove his way up the stairs to the battlements. The guards ran in every direction, lining up supplies, weapons and armor. No one seemed to notice him.
Another guard sprinted by. Malkov stepped forward and peered over the edge of the wall. He shielded his eyes with his hand as the afternoon sun blinded him.
He squinted into the distance. An army stretched out before them, still a mile or so away. Even at this distance, the dwarves’ armor glinted in the sun. Their marching footsteps, all in sync, pounded into the earth.
Their patrols must be experts in stealth, to get so close to the capital without alerting his forces. He shuddered.
They wouldn’t get him like the elves did his parents.
“Your Majesty!” The Lieutenant—Brandon? Bryson? Something like that—stepped forward and saluted him.
“Update, Lieutenant.”
“We estimate five thousand soldiers, my King.”
Malkov cursed. He didn’t have Whisperers for half that many.
A woman in a golden headdress designed as a stylized sun crested the hills to the south, riding a white stag. The peal of her horn rang across the field.
An answering response sounded from the north.
Malkov’s insides turned to stone as around him, the men sputtered and gaped. He hadn’t heard that tone in decades.
Elves. The king spun on his heel and stormed down the stairs, careful to give the appearance of anger rather than fear. He scowled at his driver. “Take me back to the castle.”
He may not have enough Whisperers currently, but if all went to plan, his wife would show herself soon. It was time to rectify that little problem.
Chapter 28
Aliya
Hear ye, hear ye!
On this day the king hath discovered three Traitors, who have been tried and sentenced to death for plotting to murder the king. Your presence is commanded in the Town Square at the three-quarters bell for the execution of:
1. Jalius Cogtinker
2. Kord Luehn
3. Karlee Ro
Aliya blinked as a pit opened in her gut. She chewed the inside of her cheek as she stared at the poster hanging prominently in the market. So this was how Malkov intended to draw her out.
Glancing over her shoulder, she checked the position of the sun. Three-quarters bell was more or less when everyone sat down for supper. She had a little bit of time left before she could expect the mages to be paraded to the execution block.