Chapter 52

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Marc closed his eyes as he activated the code that would shut down communications within the Palace, feeling himself pushed inextricably in the direction Maralt wanted. He knew if he didn’t go, everyone he cared for would end up dead. They might die anyway and now Dynan was convinced he was responsible for controlling everyone around him. He stopped, closed his eyes and leaned against the stair wall. Cooling stones helped calm his mind for a moment, excruciating weariness pulling at him. There was no cure for this kind of exhaustion, except death.

Maralt didn’t want him dead though. He didn’t want Dynan dead either. Not yet. His breath cut short. A chain rattled in his mind, snapping to, and cracked overhead loudly enough to make him jump. Maralt wanted Dynan’s life, as King, with Marc at his side as Lord Chancellor. That was his first step to complete domination.

Running footsteps descending fast from above startled him. A messenger appeared, saw him, and fell down a few steps trying to stop. He caught himself, turning to Marc. “I have a message from Prince Dain. Their Majesties Drake, Creal, and Alexia are arriving from Trea. Prince Dain believes they brought Princess Shalis with them. He requests your immediate presence in the King’s office.”

Marc stared at him, his mind frozen in fear. Shalis. “No.”

The messenger turned to continue down to the Medic Center, frowning a little at Marc’s response.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

“I’m to deliver this same message to Prince Dynan.”

“No.” Marc stood, pushing himself up. “You can’t do that. He’s not well enough.”

“I’m sorry, Commander, but Prince Dain insisted and his authority is greater than yours.”

Marc pulled out the parchment. “This document says otherwise. You will not go to Dynan.”

The man blinked at the paper, then looked at him. “What’s a piece of paper?”

“Stop.”

“I’ll just send another,” he said, smiling at him. His eyes were black. “Are you going to wait here to stop them all? Princess Shalis will be here soon, my Lord Chancellor. You won’t want to miss her arrival.” Marc stumbled back as the messenger leaned toward him, his voice lowering to a whisper, eyes boring into him. “I won’t be the one to take her, Marc. Just wait until you see her. You’ll understand what I mean.”

Marc turned from him, pushing himself up the stairs and away from the piercing gaze that followed him. He kept crawling, listening as the messenger’s footsteps retreated, echoing hollowly against cold stone that now seemed to leach his strength away. He forced himself up off the steps, leaning against the wall when everything swam around him. Desperation drove him to move and he climbed.

Footfalls behind him made him stop again and he saw Ralion charging up the stairs. Marc shrank away from him, but Ralion hardly slowed, grabbing him in two strong hands, half-carrying him as he went until Marc got himself going again.

“He’s got Dynan now,” Ralion said, setting him down at the top stair, looking out around the corner before moving again. Outside in the courtyard, snowflakes swirled down, adding in increments to what already lay on the ground. Marc saw it, remembering another window he’d stood by, and moved to this one again. Shredded curtains stirred above him, rifled by the wind coming in through the cracks in the boarded windows. “Marc, I said Maralt has got Dynan. Geneal and Loren too.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Marc said, turning from the window. “Not Dynan. Not the way you think he does anyway. Geneal and Loren yes, but not Dynan. Not yet. He will soon enough.”

“Listen to you! What difference does it make?” Dain asked. “He thinks you’re responsible for all this. Not that he’s half-wrong about that, but he’s on his way up here, Marc. You’re going to explain to me, right now, why you just pushed Dynan.”

“Dain, no. Please.”

Ralion spun around, searching, and Marc realized he’d spoken aloud again. He gave Dain a dark look.

“It’s not my fault you can’t keep your thoughts to yourself.”

Marc concentrated, including Ralion in his mind. He gasped, rearing back and away from Dain, even drawing his sword. Dain stood, looking at him unhappily. Marc knew Ralion was thinking about Sheed and realized how little time he had for this. He pushed him out, confusing the guard even more.

“Where? ... What?”

“That is Dain, Ralion. The one who would rather die than hurt any of us. I got him away from Maralt. It’s not Dain we’re fighting. The reason I pushed Dynan,” he said so that both of them could hear him. Ralion looked at him sharply, “is so I can counter what Maralt is doing. Right now, I don’t have any authority to stop him. He could order up an army, start a war, anything because everyone looks at him as you.”

“Dynan being awake should take care of that.”

“If I don’t stop what’s happening, Dain, you’ll both be dead within the hour. He’ll take Dynan, take his body, take his life, and rule here as King, and no one will know it.”

He held up his hand when Dain started to protest that contention and moved from the window into the main hall. He stopped abruptly when he saw Maralt leaving the King’s office with Allie. They turned to look at him and Allie started toward him. Maralt put a seemingly friendly arm around his shoulders, drawing him away. Allie kept looking back, until he was forced to stop, and Marc remembered telling him he’d never let Maralt touch him again.

Maralt glanced back as he paused at the main doors. Marc felt his gaze move to Ralion and rushed to grab his friend, pushing the big man behind him. Ralion jumped when Dain appeared beside him.

“What? I can’t have that one too?” Maralt’s thought reached them and he laughed. “You may keep him if you like. For now anyway.” He laughed again. “Think how it feels, Marc. Can’t you just taste...”

“Shut up. I’m not like you.” Marc pushed Ralion out again, but found it more difficult this time, shaking from the effort.

“What is he talking about?” Ralion asked, his voice wary.

“Nothing. I won’t hurt you.”

Ralion looked at him, then at Maralt. “Better you than him.”

“He has a point,” Dain said.

“No, Dain. I’m not going to do it.”

“Do what?” Ralion asked.

“I’m not going to do it, so both of you shut up.”

“Oh but you will, Marc,” Maralt said. “In the end you’ll have to if you want to survive and since I know how much you want to live, you’ll do exactly as I have. Then you’ll understand. I think I hear my ‘sister’ arriving. Care to join me?” One of the big doors lumbered open and Maralt slipped outside, pulling Allie with him.

There wasn’t any more time for discussion. For a change, Dain agreed. Marc started running.

The transport had already landed and Shalis was already off when Marc got outside. She ran to Maralt, reaching him about halfway up the stairs and he lifted her, spinning her around before pulling her into his arms. Smiling up at Marc, he licked his lips as he held her.

Marc almost fell down the stairs to reach her. Ralion’s steady grip on his arm kept him on his feet. He wanted to rip her away from Maralt, but realized he couldn’t, and then suddenly saw as he drew near why he shouldn’t even touch her, seeing too late that he wouldn’t avoid it.

Maralt was right. A glowing, pure nimbus of light energy surrounded her and the man she thought was her brother stood in its circle, breathing it in, stealing it away from her.

Shalis saw him, turning from Maralt, and before Marc could think of anything to stop her, she was in his arms, crying out his name, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He was powerless to stop her and found himself reciprocating. An overwhelming desire to take her and keep her filled his mind, trying to subvert an equally powerful desire and need to keep her safe.

Gently, he pushed her away, an effort that left him visibly shaking. He found it difficult to breathe, aware of Shalis’ sudden concern. “Marc, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“I’m all right. Go inside, Shalis. Dynan should be here soon. Go on. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“But you’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

“Right now, I’m just cold. The sooner we get you all inside the sooner I’ll stop.”

He saw Drake exit the transport, turning to assist Alexia down the steps. Maralt moved to him as he started up the stairs, greeting him warmly, looking, and acting exactly as Dain would, and Drake, having had no warning that Dain was even alive, threw his arms around him, laughing.

“I have to wait. Ralion, take her inside.”

She nodded hesitantly, let him go, and slowly moved away. He felt her watching him though, her confusion striking his heart cold. He turned from her, managing a smile for Drake and a less than perfect bow to Alexia. Creal followed them and Marc didn’t cope any better with him.

“Marc, you look like you could use about a week of sleep.” Drake smiled at him, extending his hand. Marc hesitated because around Drake he saw the same source of energy, less intense than Shalis, but no less compelling. Near at hand, Maralt chuckled as Marc took the King’s hand. He let go quickly, struggling with a wrenching nausea that threatened to choke him.

“You’ve done well enough,” Alexia said in a surprisingly mild tone and she too extended her hand. “You’re still alive.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Marc said. When he took her hand, he was overcome by need again. Here stood an enemy of Dynan’s and it wouldn’t take much to reduce her to nothing.

“Marc, Marc, what are you doing? Let her go,” Dain said.

Alexia blinked, her hand rising to her head. Creal was at her side as she swayed, drawing Drake’s concern. She waved them off a moment later, assuring them it must only be all the travel affecting her, but she looked at Marc strangely, withdrawing from him. Creal looked too, but moved to escort the Queen inside.

“One more step,” Maralt whispered in his head.

“Are you all right?” Drake asked.

“Just tired. You’re here earlier than we expected.”

The King nodded. “We left a day after you did.”

“You did? I mean, why?”

“Creal suspected you hadn’t gone to the base. When he brought those suspicions to me, I told him he was correct.”

“Why don’t we all move inside?” Maralt said, “And we’ll hear all the details in comfort.”

Drake looked up at the falling snow and nodded. Maralt moved to go with the King and Marc turned from them, looking down at the transport. A voice erupted in his mind, telling him of danger. A child’s blond head ducked out the ramp door, followed closely by a woman he hardly recognized, dressed in a gown of gold brocade.

Drake moved up the stairs, but Maralt turned, eyes widening when he saw Garan. The boy looked up at him and saw his father. Dain lashed out, reaching for him, screaming at him, but Marc jerked him back and silenced him quickly.

“That’s right, my Lord Chancellor. Keep your dog on his leash while I go greet my son, the answer to all my problems.”

“No!” Dain screamed, wrenching away from Marc and before he could stop him, reached for Maralt. He only laughed, and took Dain, his hand over his heart. He fell immediately to his knees. On his way down, Maralt pulled him in.

Marc started after them, dreaded realization squeezing his heart. He couldn’t breathe. Maralt had Dain. His first thought was to go get him back, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him short. He turned and shrank away. Dynan nodded to the two guards with him, who moved to either side. They didn’t touch him. Marc knew without doubt that he was incapable of stopping himself from attacking if they tried to force him.

“Marc,” Dynan said sharply, then softened his tone. “Come with me. I need to talk to you.”

Marc wanted to warn him then, knew he had to. He wondered why he hadn’t listened before, why he hadn’t told Dynan when he’d had the chance. It was too late now. He saw that clearly. Maralt had wanted it that way. If Marc tried to accuse him of anything, Dynan wouldn’t believe him.

“We’re only here to help you,” Maralt said as he returned, carrying Garan while Bronwyn held his arm. “Now that we’re all together, you have nothing to fear.” He smiled broadly, bouncing Garan, and turned to Dynan. “Thank you for finding him.”

“He more or less found me. Come on, let’s get in out of this cold.”

“I want to stay out and play,” Garan said, squirming to be let down. “Are there any other boys here?”

“Not at the moment,” Maralt said, stooping down beside him as he set him down. Garan took a step back from him, and he looked to Dynan for a moment and then to Marc. The man who he thought was his father pointed off to a long single story building set back against a rising hill. “The barn is over there. You have an hour and then I want you back inside. All right?”

“Yes, Papa.” Garan nodded, his brows drawing down, but he turned away.

“Papa,” he said as Garan raced off. “Has a nice sound to it, don’t you think?”

“Shouldn’t he have a guard?” Dynan said.

Maralt turned from watching Garan tumbling through drifts of snow, a disparaging smirk on his face. “You think I want him growing up learning how to escape his guards like we did? He’ll be fine. After all, he’s only going to the barn.” Maralt smiled again and laughed under his breath.

Marc choked, unable to stop, unable to keep fear from swallowing him. He stood, frozen in place, shaking, and the only man who could touch him without dying instantly moved to his side, motioning the guards away.

“You’re going to be all right too, Marc,” Maralt said. “You know, Lord Chancellor’s older than you have cracked under less pressure. You’ve got to learn how to pace yourself. He’s in a real bad way, Dynan.”

“I know, Dain. Why don’t you let me deal with this?”

“You think I wanted the Chancellorship?” Maralt shook his head and laughed. “Not on your life. You’ve got Their Majesties to manage right now. I’ll take him. I’ll get him settled in your office; all he really needs is sleep ... And then I’ll join you.”

Marc stared at Dynan as he nodded, unable to speak, unable to warn him, unable to tell him to run. Maralt’s hand squeezed his shoulder. A black hand closed his sight and he fell.

He was taken into the King’s office and the door closed behind him. Maralt shoved him over to the couch. “I grow tired of this, Marc. You fight me when you shouldn’t. The price for disobedience is a life. Who will it be?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll decide for you. Eldelar Elger. We don’t need him at all.”

He was wrenched into the Medic Center, where they found Eldelar leaning over Geneal. Marc was forced over to stand next to him and then Eldelar knew they were there. His eyes widened when he recognized Maralt, fear leaping into his face.

“Take him.”

Marc knew then what he intended. Before he could think to resist, Maralt pushed him forward, took his hand and guided it inside the doctor’s chest.

“Take him.”

His mind split apart, one side watching in horror as his hand closed around the life force that made Eldelar who he was, the other wanting to obey and take that energy into himself. Pain spilled through him and he fought, but the compunction was too strong. He watched, unwilling as his hand drew out, clasping a bright welling light.

Eldelar collapsed, dead at his feet. He watched, helpless to stop when Maralt took his hand, raising it.

“Here Marc. Taste what real power is like.”