Page 144 of A Crown of Lies

Steel clashed, and Eris backed away, panic rising in her throat as the baby kicked harder than ever. She cried out and doubled over as a severe cramp threatened to bring her to her knees.

Eris turned, but froze when she saw the Knight Commander of the brotherhood draw his sword and stalk down from the dais. “Isaac!”

Isaac turned and caught the Knight Commander’s sword as it came down, gritting his teeth. “Javin. I should’ve known. Of course you would step forward to lead the loyalists.”

“You should’ve died in Trinta,” Knight Commander Javin snarled and kicked Isaac back. He lifted his sword.

“That is enough!” Michal shouted firmly. He approached the fighting slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. “I will not have this historic day ruined by pointless bloodshed.”

“Brucia does not recognize your claim!” Eris spat through clenched teeth. “I will not kneel!”

Michal stopped in front of her, frowning. “Your objection is noted and disregarded. You are no longer the queen of Brucia. You do not get a say.”

The words hit her like a slap and she nearly crumbled.

“It will take more than words to make that happen, traitor,” Isaac spat.

Michal folded his arms behind his back. “Do you really think I would make such a move if I did not think I had the full support of every city? Well, Greymark and Roque excluded, but the rebels there will be dealt with soon enough. I have the backing of the faithful, and the Brotherhood. Even the few mages who have remained in their cage at Trinta have sworn to serve me. Masedon has sent their king to swear fealty. And in Brucia…” He twisted to address the High Octarian. “What time is it your holiness?”

“About four o’clock, your imperial highness,” replied the High Octarian.

Michal turned back to them with a smile. “And about now, the holy army that has mustered with support from the Free Cities should be at your gates. The Octarian will be letting them in, despite protests from your Crows, if they remained.”

Eris couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Surely the Crows would have stayed, would have fought? “You can’t just march an army of zealots into my city and declare it yours!”

“I can if it is undefended,” Michal said with a shrug. “You are here. The Crow is in D’thallanar. And public opinion has turned against the four thousand Crows you think you left behind to defend your city. Many deserted already. My loyal governor will issue a proclamation shortly, reclaiming the land they were given and declaring them traitors to the crown. A bounty of one hundred gold pieces per head will be issued for Crows, and a thousand for their lieutenants.”

“What loyal governor?” Eris demanded.

Michal gave her a bored look. “Where is your master of coin, Eris?”

“The rest of the council—”

He interrupted her with an irritated sigh. “The rest of the council is dead or in chains already. I began that process the moment you arrived.”

“You…” Isaac’s chest was heaving. “How could you? What gives you the right—”

“I rule byDivineright.” Michal’s voice boomed through the cathedral. “The Eight Divines have chosen me as their messenger to this world. The Mother speaks to me, through me, protects me!” He lifted his ring. “I alone shall deliver the lost and the fearful to salvation in the embrace of the Mother. I alone shall be the shield our people need, the shelter from the rising storm in the east!”

Eris turned and grabbed a sword from one of her guards, holding it out in front of her. “If you expect me to just stand here and let you take everything from me—”

“Here is what is going to happen,” Michal said, pacing a short line. “You will go into exile.”

The Knight Commander lowered his sword. “Your eminence, this is not what we agreed. She must face judgment!”

“Judgement is the Judge’s, Knight Commander,” Michal said, halting. “And there is no escaping it. What do you suppose will happen if I kill a pregnant queen in exile on the day of my coronation, hm? It was one thing to slay Haarima-jaan. She was hated and ineffective. But Queen Eris…” He narrowed his eyes at her. “I will not make a martyr of you for the elves and mages to rally behind.”

Eris put a hand on Isaac’s arm, steadying herself as another cramp—the most intense one yet—nearly made her double over. She breathed through it, sweating. “If you don’t mean to kill me, then what is it you want?”

“I want you tokneel.” Michal growled. “Kneel before me and acknowledge my right to rule, and I will allow you to leave and live out your days however you choose, so long as you never again set foot in Brucia or any of the Free Cities. Perhaps the elves would be more welcoming.”

“We will never—”

Eris held onto Isaac as he surged forward, preventing him from challenging Michal directly. She looked up at him, her heart twisting in her chest, falling in on itself as she faced the most impossible decision.

Or it would have been a year ago. When Taratheil came to lay siege to Brucia, she had nothing to lose. If she refused, she would die. Her child would die. Isaac and all her guards would die. And then Ruith would die trying to avenge her.

Isaac clenched his jaw. “His words are empty threats. I can defend you.”

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