Page 6 of Shadow Mark

Lisandra gasped, her hands over her mouth in shock. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. We thought…he claimed…”

He ignored the female, having no interest in what Kasim claimed. He had borne witness to the male’s crimes.

Baris knocked away Kasim’s hand, revealing the smallest sliver of wood and fletching. He plucked out the dart, not caring to be gentle. “Clever thing. It delivers a remarkably powerful poison in such a small package. But I don’t have to tell you. Starshade assassins have used these darts for generations.”

Kasim thrashed, arms flailing to cover his injured eye. Baris kneeled at his side, pinning down one wrist with his knee. In a calm voice, he said, “Calm yourself. An agitated state will make the poison work faster, but it matters not. You’re a dead male, Kasim Starshade. I have not forgotten that you were the one to pluck the eye from my karu.”

“Mercy,” Kasim groaned.

“Mercy? What an idea.”

“There is an antidote,” Lisandra said. “He may still live.”

Baris shook his head. “There is no time. The only way to stop the poison from spreading is to remove his eye.”

Kasim begged him not to. Lisandra ignored his protests. “Do it,” she said.

Baris drew a dagger with a thin, tapered blade from the sheath inside his sleeve. “You’ll forgive me if this is clumsy. I’m not as skilled with my left hand, you see.” He made a tutting noise at his unintended pun. “Hold still—unless you want to lose more than your eye.”

Kasim did not remain still. Baris worked as efficiently as he could, considering the poor conditions and the screaming. He was not a cruel male, but he had to admit that he enjoyed the retribution.

His work finished, Baris gave the plucked eye to Lisandra. The female paled, clutching her prize in one bloody hand and looking as if she were moments from emptying the contents of her stomach on the ground.

“I’m insulted that you believed I would walk into such a poorly constructed and obvious trap,” Baris said, wiping the blade clean with a cloth. “I made the marriage offer to House Starshade in good faith. At every turn, your house has failed to honor that faith and broken the treaty that would have given peace to the kingdom. Until now, I have shown you mercy.” Baris used his most imperious voice, speaking loud enough for all to hear. After a pause, he added, “You should thank me.”

Kasim made several sounds, none of them thanks.

“That is not the proper amount of gratitude I’d expect. How incredibly rude.”

“Peace. You are weak,” Kasim spat, his voice slurring. “You’ll pay for this.”

Baris considered the man on the ground, flat on his back and blood spilling down the front of his finery. Kasim glared up at him with such loathing that might have shocked a gentler heart. Baris had already witnessed how cold-blooded the male could be. It was no surprise, but it did make Baris wonder what Kasim hoped to gain from this endless fighting.

The crown? What good was a crown when the kingdom teetered on the brink of ruin? There was more to being a monarch than living in a palace and wearing jewels. Arcosians across the kingdom and all its star systems needed stability, reliable trade, communication networks, education, and the ability to travel without risk of bandits. He honestly did not think Kasim understood this.

“It is not wise to insult your sovereign, but I do not expect wisdom from you. Only treason.” Baris crouched down and stuffed the bloody cloth into Kasim’s mouth. The male glared at him with burning hatred. Or attempted to. Half his face had gone slack from the paralytic. “I sentence you to death for your part in the plot against the crown. I witnessed you, Kasim Starshade, take the eye and the life of a karu, a creature sacred to our people, a crime also worthy of death.”

He spoke in a quiet voice, just for Kasim’s ears alone, “The cost of peace is high. Some must pay more than others.”

Then drew the blade across the male’s throat.

Kasim’s life spilled down his chest with gurgling noises and minimal thrashing. Soon, he stilled.

Baris waited until the last signs of life left the male. He felt ill. This was necessary. The Starshades forced his hand. All the justifications ran through his mind. No one could fault him. Yet he knew that he had spent many sleepless nights imagining this scenario, delivering justice to a traitor and a murderer.

It felt better than he expected.

Baris stood to address the crowd. “Traitors will meet the same fate. My mercy is at an end.”

With that pronouncement, he tossed the blade to the ground.

His brother, Prince Vekele, waited for him at the ship’s ramp, head tilted and wearing a grave expression.

“Do not say it,” Baris warned. The day had been exhausting, and it was not over yet. “Allow me to wash before you lecture me about risks.”

“Very well.” Vekele dipped his head in acquiescence. “I will see to our departure.”

In his cabin, Baris stripped off the funeral garb. The coat fell to the floor. He tugged at the needlessly complicated collar. Automatically using his right hand, the remains of his absent thumb smarted as he fumbled with the buttons on the sleeves. He never appreciated how vital thumbs were until one of his was taken. Growling in frustration, he tugged at the delicate fabric with his left hand, tearing it. Pearl buttons clattered to the floor.

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