ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Forty - Death Duel

Death Duel

By the time Prince Kalan and Greyson had fought their way to the throne room an hour later, they had gathered twenty royal soldiers and over two hundred palace staff and citizens. The fight to claim the hallways was costly and too many times they had encountered women and boys too young for the cadet corps already cut down. As Lieutenant Greyson had reported there were far too many dead and wounded royal soldiers than Kalan had hoped to see. Revenge spurned his heart for every dead servant and child known to him. Kalan swore he would see his brother burn in the halls of the Dead instead of earning a warrior's honour for such dreadful acts. As for the child he saw die swinging a scullery pot before having his throat slit, Kalan would see Beric die very slowly indeed.

As two soldiers stepped forward and pushed opened the unmanned heavy oak doors to the throne room, a familiar sound of laughter rang out. Kalan raised his bloody sword and stepped inside, his soldiers and staff filing in around him. There had been more than enough weapons lying around to arm everyone but Kalan still knew the sight of his new army was what brought the smile to Beric's face. Sitting upon the throne at the far end of the room wearing the gold circlet and red cloak of Kingship was his younger brother. The two fierce looking cat beasts that lay on either side of him lifted their massive heads and stared with large hungry yellow eyes. The sight brought a shiver to Kalan's spine as he lowered his gaze to the ring of guards five deep surrounding the dais. In a unified movement they clapped their hands to sword hilts as Kalan approached.

"Well, well, well. My brother you are more ingenious than I gave you credit for. Can you imagine my surprise when the guard you released informed me of your fight to reclaim the throne? And such an army you have brought with you."

Noticing the welts and bruises on his brother's face, and fresh blood on his white shirt, Beric smiled. "I see my guards have been treating you with due care while you were in the dungeons."

"They will pay for what they have done but not before you get what you deserve Beric! Killing women and children is the lowest act even for you!"

"If they chose to defy me then they will die. But I would like to hear how you managed your miraculous escape."

"You under estimate me, Beric, as always. And that will be the undoing of a traitor."

Beric laughed all too loudly and made a sweeping gesture to the soldiers twice in number to his brother's hopeless group. "Considering your position Kalan and the few scraps you've brought along? I think not."

If there was to be a fight, Kalan knew the few trained soldiers he had would die quickly. Already he had lost too many men, women and children and he did not relish how many more would die trying to save the day.

"I have not come to fight you brother, after all we both know you to be the better swordsman."

Beric shrugged off the compliment. "Being General of the Kenderian Guards has its advantages. While I was out doing border patrols and building up my loyal followers you got to play court etiquette. Now why do you waste your time here?"

"I was thinking that you could hand over the crown since you are not the legitimate heir while I still live."

Beric stroked the head of the beasts and one of them purred loudly. "You'd be wrong brother and should have escaped the palace while you had the chance. Coming here was suicide, for surely you know I can't let you leave alive."

At the threat to their Prince, Kalan's men stepped forward with swords half drawn.

"I take that to mean you won't be handing over the cloak and crown without a fight?"