Kingdom's Fall

Chapter 5, Part 1

Aiden took the first watch. Siv offered, but had cast so many looks at Einar’s sleeping form that Aiden refused, waving her away to go and care for him. The rope had snapped the moment Einar had let go of the sill, and his huge frame had been little protection against its own weight. When he landed, he had lain so still that Aiden was sure the fall had killed him. The peace-men had attacked, and as Kara was hauled off Aiden was hard pressed to defend himself. Blades and men had come at him out of the darkness and he had stumbled back against Einar’s shoulder before his own sword responded. There was no other way to describe what had followed than something had taken him over, a mixture of instinct and his own body’s memory of a master swordsman’s skill. Killing the first man felt so easy, so natural, that Aiden almost missed it. It wasn’t until the man fell at his feet, clutching at his stomach and trying desperately to keep his insides where they should be that Aiden realised he was responsible. Two more men died in rapid succession, number two holding his sword so low that the slash across the throat went unparried and the third slipping in something the first man had failed to hold onto. A few more sword points had flashed out of the darkness at him, but they were half-hearted efforts. By the time Siv reached the ground, climbing hand over hand down the front of the building, their attackers had broken.

They found Kara uninjured, physically at least, and once she was separated from her father’s body it had taken all three of them to lift Einar up to a standing position. He was alive, but in poor shape. Blood caked the side of his face, flowing from his mouth and one ear, and he was barely able to walk. Kara and Siv supported him as they limped away from the village, while Aiden did his best to shoulder what remained of their belongings.

Camp was little more than a clearing on the far side of a copse of trees, just enough cover to keep them hidden from the peace-men but not enough to see them safe for long if their opponents regained their nerve. Einar had slid into unconsciousness as soon as he was laid down and Siv had curled up next to his back, staying close to be reassured by the fact he was still breathing. Kara lay curled up off to one side, feigning sleep. Aiden went over to her.

“Are you all right?”

“Would you be if you’d killed your father?”

You never got the chance. Aiden froze as the thought surfaced. Where had that come from? He put it to one side and tried to focus on Kara. “It was an accident.”

“That doesn’t make any difference. I spent half my life wishing he would drop dead, and now he is there’s no way of taking it back.” In the gathering darkness, he felt her shudder more than saw it. “He was trying to save me.”

“I know.”

The silence stretched awkward between them. Aiden rolled his shoulders and winced at the accompanying flare of pain. It was better than the alternative. Every time it faded, he would unconsciously lift his arm to do something and end up doubled over, gasping for breath. It only took the slightest of movements to keep reminding himself of how bad it still was. He rose up out of his squat and felt both his knees creak in protest. Kara stiffened at the movement, and Aiden grit his teeth against the pain as he settled back down.

“Will you go back?” He asked.

“I can’t,” she said. The words came out thick. “They’ll never forgive me.”

And you’d never forgive yourself. Even if the peace-men could be appeased, Aiden couldn’t imagine her running the inn. The guilt would be too much to carry. She’d see her father’s hand in every corner of the place. “You could come with us.”

She let out a short, bitter laugh. “A wanted man and two Islanders. Some adventure that’ll be.”

“There might not be many places we’re welcome, but it’s a better offer than you’ll find at the end of a rope.”