A wide, open archway gaped at the bottom of the stairs. Treffen and Emerald passed through it into a large, dimly lit chamber.
The first thing Treffen noticed was Gawain, bound and kneeling in the middle of the room. Thank the Goddess, he’s alive. Gawain gave no sign of noticing their entry as he struggled against the ropes that held him.
The room was oddly shaped, with long, tapering hallways branching off in five directions from a large, central space. It’s a star, he realized. They’d entered between two points of a five-pointed star. At the far ends of two of the points, blue light flickered. The other three were dark. Just like the staircase, the floor and walls were smooth as glass.
“Ah, so glad you could join us. You’re just in time.”
The voice made Treffen jump. From the shadows of one of the star’s dark points, a figure emerged. It was a chimera unlike no other he’d seen. Mostly goat. Partly . . . turkey? Entirely horrible. The white-haired creature wore a deep blue robe and bore himself regally, the deep voice leaving no doubt. This was the Betrayer himself.
Other chimeras followed the king out from behind what looked like a raised dais with a throne on top. There was one with round, curling ram horns, and one that snorted like a pig. And . . . there was Trent.
The Treant stared at the floor, trying to stay behind the others.
“Do come forward and kneel, won’t you?” The king made it sound like a request. The sword points in Treffen’s back said it was no such thing.
Treffen and Emerald shuffled forward, and Treffen knelt next to Gawain. “Are you okay, buddy?” he whispered, but the Knight just gritted his teeth and swallowed. His helmet lay dented beside him.
Emerald stood defiant before the Forgotten King. “I will not kneel to one who betrayed my family.”
Whispers and muffled quacks from the Billmen broke out around the room.
“Your family?” the king said. “Ah, yes, King . . . Jasper is it? Which one is he by now?”
“The Third,” Emerald replied, staring into the king’s odd-shaped goat eyes. “King Jasper the Third, ruler of Crystalia.”
The Betrayer did not look impressed. “Current ruler, yes,” he agreed. “Perhaps not for very much longer, though, don’t you think?” His placid countenance creased with a tiny frown line between the brows. “Now my dear girl, I must insist that you kneel.”
Feathered hands forced Emerald down next to Treffen.
“So much better.” The king stepped forward and began to stroll in a circle around his captives. “I admire your loyalty. It’s something I prize highly in my own retinue.” He indicated the chimeras behind the throne. “Loyal subjects, all, and much overdue for the rewards of that loyalty.”
Trent shrank back further. Good. You should feel bad. Every day for the rest of your stupid tree life.
“But today is not their day.” The king turned back to the captives and stared straight at Gawain. “Today is your day. Today is the glorious day when you will finally stop the endless struggle that has worn so hard on you all the days of your life. You’ve been very bad, young Bear.” At the word “Bear,” Gawain twitched. “You’ve made me wait such a long time. But I am a merciful lord, am I not?”
No one answered, and the king spoke more emphatically. “Am I not?”
Murmurs of assent from around the room.
“Better.” When he nodded, the furry wattles bobbled under his chin. “I am, as it happens, a forgiving master. Today you shall witness my mercy as I welcome you home.”
Emerald snorted, still looking royal even kneeling with hands tied before her. “If this is home, I think I’ll pass. If you really were merciful, you’d kill us now instead of boring us to death with a stupid speech.”
The king quirked a fluffy eyebrow at Emerald. “My dear girl, I wasn’t talking to you.”
Any hope of survival evaporated from Treffen. If he doesn’t want Emerald, he’s sure not going to spare me.
“As I was saying,” the king continued, “this is a most joyous day for you. And for me as well, I think.” He nodded to the chimeras. “Centuries ago I sought to unite the kingdom under my banner and free it from the tyrannical rule of King Felspar. Through deceit and treachery, I was robbed of my rightful throne and imprisoned in this cursed chamber.”
That’s not what I was taught.
“Nearly all of my faithful followers remained by my side.” He indicated the Billmen. “My noble soldiers were blessed with downy feathers, indicating their pure hearts.” An appreciative quacking filled the room. “My bravest Knights were changed into powerful forms that revealed their true souls.” The chimeras growled, grunted, and barked approval. “But four houses strayed from my blessings. The Knights of the Boar and the Falcon were the first to return to my service. The Ram was a recent addition.”
The chimera with the curled horns pawed a hoof against the ground.
“And now the final house kneels before me to request my blessing.” The Betrayer laid a hand on Gawain’s shoulder, and the Knight jumped as if shocked by lightning. “The Bear has returned to me, and my procession of Bramble Knights will be complete once more.” The king frowned. “I thought your father might be the one. I tried, but his blood was not the key.” He squeezed Gawain’s shoulder. “I tried all of it. But it seems that only a true Knight who wears the armor can break the spell.”
Poor Gawain. Poor Gawain’s father.
Sweat poured off the Knight’s brow.
How is he even upright? This close to the source of his family’s curse, he must be in agony, fighting the darkness.
“Do you want to know how they bound me here?”
Emerald sighed. “Do we have a choice?”
The king’s face betrayed a moment’s annoyance, quickly replaced by his bland, noble bearing. “You do not.”
He motioned for his chimeras to come forward. “Bring our new friends. Let’s take a stroll around the chamber one last time.”