Warcry

forward. “Your Majesty? Without prayers? Without a final shriving of his sins?”
    “I grant him the same consideration he offered my child and Lord Othur,” Lara replied. “You may counsel him for a moment, Devoted One, but he dies this night, before these witnesses.”
    Iain bowed, and went down the steps with Detros right behind him. Heath swallowed hard as he stood, suddenly aware of the task before him.
    Detros sidled over. “Shall I call for a block and an axe? They’re stored in the Guard’s barrack. The axe is kept sharp.” Detros gave him a sharp glance. “This is not an easy thing to do. Strike hard, for the center of the neck.”
    “Aye,” Heath said, looking over the crowd. Detros lifted his hand, but Heath caught it. “Hold a bit,” he whispered.
    Lara hadn’t moved, but Keir was slightly behind her now, offering support. Anna stood tall as well, her red-rimmed eyes focused on Durst.
    “Your Majesty.” Heath went to his knee again. “Send for your executioners. This should be done by one of skill. A clean, quick death.”
    “After what he’s done?” Lara spat.
    “Even so,” Heath said. “Let the Queen’s Justice be tempered with mercy.”
    Lara trembled for a moment, and Heath feared that her rage was too great.
    “Othur would have had it so,” Lara finally said. “Call for the executioners.”
    Heath stood as Detros signaled the guards. The block was brought, and with it two burly men in masks with a sharpened axe and black cloths.
    Keir drew Lara back as it was set on the top step for all to see. Heath drew his mother close, expecting her to hide her eyes. But Anna stood tall and straight, regarding Durst with loathing.
    Durst was wrestled up, but he shrugged off his captors and ascended the steps himself. At the top, he glared at Browdus, standing in the back. “At least my plans didn’t cost an entire village their lives,” Durst spat.
    Lara went white at his words and then stared at Browdus as if she had never seen him before. She opened her mouth but then closed it, her lips pressed tight.
    Durst knelt before the block. “My life for Xy,” was all he said, then he placed his neck on the block, stretching it out as far as he could.
    The executioner never paused. He swung the blade up and brought it down true.
    Durst’s head dropped—a quick, clean cut. The second executioner threw the black cloth over the body and head.
    “Go forth, my people,” Lara’s voice rang out, steady but not nearly as strong. “We will not celebrate this night. But tell the tale to all, that the traitors are dead, and the Queen and Overlord married.” She put her hands on her belly. “We’ll celebrate our heir upon its birth. But not on this night of treachery and death.”
    “Open the gates,” Heath bellowed.
    The chains rattled as the guards swung the wooden doors wide.
    “Devoted One,” Lara said, her voice cracking. “Do not leave. Please stay within the castle until we can arrange for your safety.”
    “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Iain said with obvious relief. “Deacon Browdus can bear word to the church. We must—” Iain frowned. “Where is Browdus?”
    Heath cursed. The man was gone, and there was no telling where he’d slipped off to.
    Iain started again. “We must honor Drizin and arrange for his internment. I would also offer to conduct the rites for Lord Othur. In addition, tradition requires that I witness the birth of your child.”
    “Walk with me, Devoted One,” Anna said. “I’d talk with you.”
    “Gladly, dear lady.” Iain offered his slight arm, and Anna took it gracefully.
    “Mother, I will come to you,” Heath said.
    “When your duty is done, son,” Anna said firmly. “He would want it so.”
    “I, too, would go,” Lara said with a sigh.
    Keir swept her up into his arms. “Then we shall go, my wife.” Without another word, he headed into the castle with Rafe, Prest, and Yveni right behind him.
    Heath looked at the emptying courtyard and at Durst’s body. “You’ll see to this?” he asked Detros.
    “Aye,” Detros said. “Been some time since we’ve had a traitor executed. You did the right thing, Heath.”
    Heath felt suddenly sickened by it all. Durst’s death would not bring his father back.
    “Time was, we’d put the head on a pike and hang the body in a cage below it,” Detros continued. “But the Queen’s a gentle lady and she might not—”
    “No.” Heath ran his fingers through his hair. “Put it in the stable