A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones, #1)(55)

Seven fully armored Onyx soldiers pushed through the tent’s flaps and marched straight through the forum on a track toward Kane.

The king shot out of his chair with something I had never seen in his eyes before—pure fear.

My throat had constricted, and I fought to swallow nothing at all.

The soldier whose armor was studded with silver spoke to Kane in hushed tones. I recognized the armor but not the man, and realized he must have taken Lieutenant Bert’s position.

I waited and waited and waited.

The atmosphere crackled with horrific anticipation.

But as soon as they exchanged a few words Kane’s shoulders relaxed. And mine followed suit. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t what he dreaded. The fleeting relief came and went before Kane faced the forum.

“Enough for tonight. Lady Kleio, see to it that your spies make sure the pass is cleared. Utilize Eryx if need be. My men will begin to harvest and transport the ore.” With that, the entire tent cleared out in a matter of minutes, leaving only Kane, Griffin, Lieutenant Eardley, and the soldiers.

And me.

Griffin ordered men to cover up the war table. I waited for someone to tell me what to do or where to go, but no instruction came. Kane nodded to the lieutenant, who left the tent and returned with three more Onyx soldiers.

The sight before me filled my stomach with a twisted queasiness, and I dug my fingernails into the wooden arms of my chair. Each soldier held a man whose arms and legs were bound by chains and a sack hung over their heads.

I drew in a quick breath—prisoners.

They were prisoners of war.

Kane turned his attention to the men forced to their knees in front of him.

The lieutenant cleared his throat. “These three Amber soldiers were found in our keep, trying to access the vault. They killed six of our men and three bystanders. I believe them to be a specialized team of King Gareth’s. How do you wish to proceed, my King?

Kane’s face was pure steel. Cool, calm fury. Not a single ounce of the man I had come to know was left. He looked like death and violence personified, and fear rippled through me. Not for myself, but for the men who knelt before him.

“Off,” he commanded, and the soldiers removed the men’s hoods.

I nearly fainted.

Before me, dirtied, nose bloodied, and wincing in agony, was Halden.





FIFTEEN


Without thinking I moved toward him, hands outstretched.

No, no, no, no—

Griffin grabbed me by the arm, yanking me backward.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he whispered.

I felt frantic. The tent was far too hot, the candles suffocating.

“I know him!” I whispered back. “He’s a friend, there has to be some kind of mistake.”

I couldn’t believe he was alive. And here in Onyx. And imprisoned. And—

Griffin’s hold on my arm tightened. “You have to get out of here, now.” He stepped in front of me, shielding me behind him, but it was too late.

“Arwen?” croaked Halden. His hair was a dirty mop on his head, painted red with blood. His nose was swollen, his cheek bruised—but his brown eyes looked just as they had the day he left for battle. Round, sincere, and pained.

“Shut up.” The soldier behind him smacked him across the back of his head.

“Stop that!” I couldn’t stand to see Halden like this. I lunged forward again.

Kane whirled to me. “You know this boy?”

Before I could speak, Halden answered. “She was going to be my wife.”

I went still.

The entire tent did.

Halden, you Stones-damned idiot.

Kane looked positively livid, and even Griffin had gone pale.

“No, that’s not…It’s not exactly—” Words were not coming to my brain in time.

Kane didn’t even wait for me to finish. He stalked over to Halden, eerily calm. “You love this woman?”

Halden looked right at me with fervor. “More than anything.”

Bleeding. Stones.

Kane nodded curtly. “Good.” Then he looked to the soldiers behind Halden, “Kill him.”

“No!” I shouted.

Did anyone else hear that ringing in their ears? What was happening right now?

“Are you out of your mind?” I pleaded.

But Kane had stopped looking at me. He sauntered over to his leather chair and picked up a glass of dark liquid, sipping slowly. Leisurely, as I struggled.

The soldiers began to drag Halden and the other two young men away.

“Stop!” I raged. “Right now!”

But Griffin’s hold on my arm was like a metal cuff. He wasn’t even straining to keep me in place.

Kane studied my face, cold and unfeeling as tears brimmed in my eyes. The boy to Halden’s right began to plead and the one on his left loosed urine down his leg as he shook. Kane said nothing as I wailed in earnest.

No, no, no. Please, no—

Finally, Griffin interjected. “My King. May I suggest we discuss the benefits of keeping even one of these rodents alive? They may have some information of value. Shall we let them rot in the dungeon while we confer?”

Kane rolled his eyes and tensed his jaw, taking another sip of his drink, but eventually he nodded to the lieutenant. “As the commander wishes. Take them to the dungeons for now.”