The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

The crowd around them gave a subduedcheer, raising spears, swords, cleavers, and one odd rolling pinover their heads. More than one eye was moist at hearing hersentiment.

“Let’s get moving then,” said Dorian,heading to the left into a side hall that would take them to thenearest staircase. The royal suite was two floors abovethem.

The first major resistance met themoutside the stairs. A score of soldiers had been posted there tocontrol access to the upper levels. Dorian could only assume that asimilar number had been stationed at the other three sets of stairsin other parts of the palace. It didn’t matter anyway, they hadbeen spotted, and their only course at that point, wasforward.

“Follow me, lads! For the Princess!”shouted Dorian to those behind him, and then he started forward. Hewalked at first, using long strides and a quick step. It gave thosefollowing a chance to find their courage as they followed his lead.He quickened his steps and was soon moving at a jog as their chargedeveloped a steady, lethal momentum. At the end he leapt forward,dashing into the enemy to break their formation before hisdisorderly allies reached them.

He was met with spears and pole arms,but he swept them aside almost negligently, moving like a dancerdespite the heavy chain he wore. The men facing him might have beenstanding still in comparison with his speed as he slipped throughtheir weapons and began to bring his terrible sword to bear. Thefirst two men were dead before he had passed between them, and thenhe moved sideways, slicing and killing those that held the spears,for they were the greatest threat to his friends.

Blood and confusion followed, andcries of pain echoed in the hall as men lost life and limb, mostlyat Dorian Thornbear’s hand. His speed and power, combined with alifetime of practice and training, made the fight more of aslaughter than a contest, and the chaotic crew of weapon bearingpalace servants that followed him made it a gory massacre as theyfell upon the wounded he left behind him.

The fight was over almost as soon asit had begun, and Ariadne was grateful that their losses were few.One of the scullery boys had been stabbed through the thigh andanother was dead. None of the enemy had survived.

“Not bad,” said Dorian, looking atEvan. “Remember to keep the shield up, you keep letting it droplike that, and someone’s going to take advantage.” Turning to Alanhe continued, “Your form was excellent, but you need to keep theelbow of your sword arm tucked in closer to your body. You’ll havemore power in your swing that way.” He glanced at Gerold last,shaking his head a bit. Ariadne hadn’t mentioned that he wasactually a messenger, rather than a guardsman. “You need a lot ofpractice. For now though, just try to keep the shield in front ofyou. It does you no good at all if you keep it behind you while youlead with the sword.”

Alan and Evan ducked their heads asGerold answered, “Thank you, Your Lordship.”

They made their way up two flights ofstairs before emerging on the third floor. Several more of thepalace servants were there, and they quickly joined the princess’band of defiant heroes. Traveling through the halls, theymaintained the initiative, finding and killing several more pairsof enemy soldiers. The rebels died before they understood quitewhat was happening. Even Dorian couldn’t help but feel a sense ofhope at the ease with which they made their way to the royalsuite.

His hopes were dashed when they foundthe Queen.

Four men were stationed within theroom where her body lay. Dorian and Ariadne’s band of liberatorsshowed them no mercy. Evan and Alan killed the two closest to thedoor, while Dorian charged the ones stooping to rifle the Queen’sstill form. His mother lay beside her.

The looters were dead before theycould stand.

Kicking the corpses out of the way heknelt beside Genevieve Lancaster. Before his hand could reach theQueen, his mother’s eyes told him that her friend wasdead.

“Mother!” cried Ariadne, shakingGenevieve, hoping beyond hope that her mother might be merelyunconscious. “Mother, please wake up—please!”

Dorian turned away and tried to helpElise ease her way up from the floor.

Elise gasped at the pain, “CarefulDorian, I think my shoulder is dislocated, and my ribs aredefinitely cracked.” Her words came in short bursts, for she couldonly take small, quick breaths.

Ariadne had gone silent, her faceburied in her mother’s chest. A laundress and one of the cooksassisted Elise while Dorian went back to the princess.

“I’m sorry,” he told hergently.

Her head came up suddenly, a cold lookin her eyes. “Don’t be. This was not your fault.” She stood,brushing away his attempt to assist her. “Lady Thornbear, what ofmy father, do you know whether he is alive?” she asked in a firmtone.

Elise shook her head negatively, “Theytold us he was dead.”

“Ariadne…,” began Dorian.

The princess raised her hand toforestall Dorian’s words of concern, “Not now, Dorian. My grievingcan wait for now.”

“He also claimed there was a fire inLancaster,” continued Elise, “but I think he lied. He also saidthat you had been captured, Your Highness.”

Ariadne’s eyes wavered for asecond—bright with moisture, but then they steadied, gazing intothe distance. “I see,” she said tonelessly.

“We need to leave, Princess,” Doriantold her. “It isn’t safe for us to remain here.”

“We need to find Tremont and the othernoblemen who gathered here today. They had a meeting with myfather. The traitors will be among them,” she answered, ignoringhis statement.

He frowned, “What are you thinking ofdoing?”

“Justice must be served,” she declaredsolemnly.

“This is no court, Ariadne, this iswar. High justice is in the hands of the King’s judges. What youare thinking of is plain vengeance,” he warned her. By ‘high’justice Dorian was referring to the power of execution.

Ariadne Lancaster’s eyes focused onhim then, “Except for treason, Sir Dorian. The King retains theright of high justice in matters of treason.”

“But you are not…”

“My family is slain,” sheinterrupted. “To the best of our knowledge, I am the last scion ofLancaster. I amyour monarch, Sir Dorian,” her words were cased in steel. “We willproceed to the meeting chamber where my father met with his counciltoday. We may yet find them there.”