The Traitor by A. Lombardo (i can read with my eyes shut TXT) 📕

Queen Nola stood with renewed strength, no longer burdened by the stone. “Enough of this nonsense!” she shouted. “I am Your Queen. Hear me and seize this traitor.”

Maxwell charged forward, and Cazier twisted in place to block his advancement. “Regent, you have no place in these proceedings. Stand back, or I will have you arrested.”

Cazier took three steps back toward Kai’s huddled group, but he kept his eyes on the departing Regent and the rest of the council. “I want to know the truth, Kai.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I am now and have always been your loyal friend. Riome can attest to my clarity, but I must know the truth. I know you could never kill your father, but who did? Who took him? Who was the third person in the room?”

“I am still your queen!” Nola screeched. “You will defend me against this traitor. His seeds of doubt do not erase what we know to be true. He killed Iver. I saw him with my own eyes, and Seth supports his treachery. Arrest them both,” she ordered again.

Wanting to speak, Kai placed a hand on Drew’s shoulder, and the huddle parted, allowing him to step forward and address the group. Seth clung to his side, unwilling to let go. Prepared to tell what he remembered, he took a deep breath. He knew he had no proof. No name to shout and deliver witness.

“I was there that night,” he started, “and my blade did stab my father, but . . .”

Chapter 24

Roark’s Fury

Grabbing Kai by the neck, Roark separated the brothers and shoved Kai through the crowd into the open field before releasing him. “No more lies—you will not return to Diu. Hanging would be too easy a death. You will die by my hand, slow and painful. And do not spout your lies at me, boy. In your own words, you admitted to killing Iver, for that you will pay. Tell me where you put Iver, return him to us, and I might end your life quickly.”

“I cannot tell you what I do not know. I wish I knew who took my father. I was a prisoner moments after, and there was no way for me to steal his body. And if I knew who had, I could prove my innocence. I could prove Nola was the one who pushed in the blade. Please believe me. I want to know the same as you who took Iver.”

“Enough lies,” Roark charged, delivering a solid blow with his entire weight behind the motion, and the strike forced Kai to bend and shift to avoid falling to the ground and getting killed on the first assault.

Words are pointless, Kai thought. The Admiral would not take time to listen to any more useless words. He should have noticed the Admiral’s intent earlier. Ever since Kai uttered his first word, the man had seethed on the edge of his seat, waiting to avenge Iver, and he would wait no longer. Although fighting his friend felt wrong, and Kai wanted to protest, he knew Roark’s quick temper would not allow him to see anything but red.

A glint of polished steel flickered as Roark slashed with his sword and attacked Kai again and again. His skilled footwork and rapid thrusts kept Kai on his toes. The blade Riome gave him blocked each strike, but he quickly realized, blade for blade, that he was in trouble. The quality of the Admiral’s sword and the man’s skill would test Kai’s limits.

It did not take long to notice that Roark’s attacks were strategic, meant to test Kai’s reach, balance, and strength. Clearly, the Admiral was searching for Kai’s weaknesses. He would show him none. Maintaining as much distance as possible, Kai shifted to a more level location on the hill while forcing Roark to face the sun.

Kai kept his distance, eyeing the dagger within his opponent’s belt. He knew all too well if the opportunity or misstep brought them close, Roark could quickly draw his blade and strike before Kai could block the second weapon.

Acting on pure instinct, Kai kept on the defense, letting Roark do all the work. Although hoping to exhaust the man was hardly a strategy, he could not bring himself to attack. The Admiral, on the other hand, showed his skill and proved he did indeed deserve the Red Warrior title. Each decisive blow started to fracture the blade in Kai’s hand. The edge was no longer sharp, and he was sure it would only take a few more hits.

On the next strike, the blade broke, leaving Kai with a useless weapon. Faced with death, Kai thought only of Rayna. He did not want her to watch him die, not like this. Sidestepping a lunge, Kai dodged an attack, pivoting around his opponent and punching Roark in the ribs. Without a weapon, his chances of finishing the fight were slim, and he refused to use the throwing stars from Riome.

“Kai!” he heard Dresnor shout, and he turned in time to see a sword fly in his direction.

He caught the weapon midflight and felt the balance of the blade as he twirled the sword forward and back, followed by a figure eight and a few cut-twirls. Pleased with the weapon, Kai inspected the pommel—a silver wolf. It was Dresnor’s sword. Roark charged before he could thank his Kempery-man.

As he deflected and dodged another round of attacks, it dawned on him that holding back was no longer an option. He needed to fight. Using his knowledge and speed, he switched his footing and charged Roark. While the Admiral deflected the blow, Kai got in close and punched the man in the wrist, followed by a jaw hit.

“Please, Admiral, see reason! I do not want to hurt you. I