Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(4)
My heart pounded just thinking about the task before me. “I understand.”
“You better be on your way. He’s expecting someone to deliver it at any minute.”
With shaking hands, I hid the bottle under my leather vest. The apothecary crept out from behind the counter, shoving me out of his shop and onto the street, closing and bolting the door behind me.
I shivered, wanting to forget the feel of his fingers digging into my shoulders. Folding my hands under my arms, I took the main road that led straight to the center of town. Nearing the Town Square, the street became unusually packed.
Walking shoulder to shoulder with dozens of people filtering into the Town Square, I tried to listen to the conversations of those around me. Many whispered the word execution. I froze, not wanting to witness something so heinous. People bumped into me, pushing me forward into the open cobblestone area.
The Town Square was approximately one hundred feet by one hundred feet wide, surrounded by shops. A wooden platform was situated in the middle. A man dressed in black holding an ax stood atop it. My stomach lurched. I’d never witnessed an execution before. There hadn’t been any gossip in my building and, hopefully, it was no one I knew. This was another reason my father insisted the area be avoided at all cost.
Making my way through the crowd of at least three hundred people, I searched for the man dressed in a fur-trimmed jacket, hoping he’d stand out and I’d find him before the prisoner was brought forth.
A hush descended over the crowd as the king’s personal guard—men dressed in solid black with the royal crest embroidered on their tunics—marched into the Town Square, clearing a path between the people, directly to the execution platform. A clattering sound arose as a shiny black carriage with its curtains drawn shut rode through the open area the soldats had created. When the carriage turned, the painted crest of the king, Morlet Forseve shone. Even though we lived in the capital where the king’s primary residence was located, Morlet rarely made public appearances. He spent most of his time scouring the various towns in the kingdom of Nelebek, searching for the Krigers.
The carriage pulled to a stop before the platform, and a footman opened the door. A figure dressed in a black cape that covered his head and body emerged. He glided up the stairs and spoke briefly with the executioner. I stood on my toes, trying to get a better look.
No one in the Town Square spoke.
“What’s going on?” I whispered to the man standing next to me.
“The king ordered the execution of the man who aided Kriger Henrik before he was imprisoned two seasons ago.”
Legend stated that when Morlet used dark magic and came into power, twelve warriors, known as Krigers, were born. Krigers had special abilities and magical weapons. When all twelve Krigers came together and united their powers, they would be strong enough to defeat Morlet. Papa told me that at first, Morlet hunted down and killed the Krigers. However, every time he killed one, a new one was born. The only way for him to end the Krigers was to kill all twelve at the same time, when their powers were linked, thus ending the Order of the Krigers forever.
And now, the king had eleven of the twelve imprisoned.
Although I’d never known or met a Kriger before, every night I wished I’d see the day they came together and killed the king. If Morlet was gone, surely the people of Nelebek would have a chance at a better life—one without poverty and fear.
Morlet was so desperate to capture the twelve Krigers that he cast a spell on the borders of the kingdom, one that prohibited anyone from entering or leaving Nelebek. Landlocked and with trade to the other eleven kingdoms cut off, the people of Nelebek sank deeper and deeper into poverty. Of course, we were also the only kingdom ruled by someone consumed with dark magic. The king was human—not a Heks—but he didn’t age like humans. Some said he’d been ruling Nelebek for over a century. And since he used dark magic, no one could harm him. Except for the Krigers.
A man dressed as a scribe stepped to the edge of the platform, holding a scroll. “Anyone aiding or abetting enemies of His Royal Highness will be prosecuted under the full extent of the law. The charges are as follows: Finn Flanning knowingly housed Kriger Henrik and didn’t report it to the authorities. He is hereby found guilty and sentenced to death.” The scribe stood tall and stiff.
The king sauntered to the middle of the platform. What was he doing here today? He wouldn’t attend simply for a scheduled execution. There had to be something else going on.
The scribe cleared his throat and continued. “If anyone has information regarding the twelfth and final Kriger, you are hereby ordered to report your information immediately. Otherwise, you will be subject to execution.” His hands shook, and his voice became high-pitched as he spoke. “We have reason to believe the twelfth Kriger is in the capital.”
People around me gasped in astonishment, looking at one another. There was no way to know if someone was a Kriger until he turned eighteen and his latent powers revealed themselves. Could the Kriger be here among us at this very moment?
The king glided forward and clapped his hands together, sending a boom throughout the Town Square. Cool air brushed against my skin, blowing my scarf into the air. My hair tumbled down my back. The need to get out of there became intense. Inching my way to the side, I slowly moved toward the exit, still looking for a man dressed in a fur-trimmed jacket.
“Does anyone have information on the last Kriger?” the scribe asked before rolling up his scroll.