The Violet-Eyed

Chapter 18

Haywire was visibly horrified. "But – Lady Queen, surely you have seen my devotion to you! Will you kindly spare me? Please?"

Sonora frowned. "You're pathetic, Haywire, begging like a child. And your 'devotion' is based on fear, not true loyalty." To the guards, she said, "Take him out quickly. I don't want to be bothered with his grovelling. I will be waiting to witness their execution in fifteen minutes."

Once outside Sonora's bedchambers, Haywire unmuted Martin, Solaria and Miriam, then muted all of their guards. "You can speak now. Help us escape, Lord king and Lady Queen," Haywire beseeched them.

Martin regarded him suspiciously. "Minutes ago you watched us suffer without flinching. Why should I believe you now? And if you believe Sonora should be queen, don't address us by our titles."

"If we don't work together, we'll never make it out alive. I don't have another choice, and neither do you," Haywire said flatly.

"He has a point," Miriam said, though somewhat grudgingly. "But that doesn't mean I don't hate him," she glared at Haywire.

Solaria closed her eyes, ignoring how roughly the guards dragged her. "I'll order these guards to forget about killing us," she proposed.

Haywire shook his head. "No, it won't. They'll still be loyal to Sonora even after you wipe their memories. They believe in her so much. Your power is erasing and recalling memories, not switching people's allegiances."

"But we can't possibly let the execution go as planned!"

"Actually, we can, and that would be the best plan. We let them carry on, then Queen Solaria will wipe the soldier's memories that they were supposed to kill us. It won't last long, because their loyalty to Sonora will make the memories come back. I expect we'll have around ten minutes at most. During that time, King Martin will force the truth out of Queen Sonora and hold her captive. Then I'll kill her quickly. Things should go relatively smoothly from there," Haywire explained.

Martin wasn't convinced. "And how do we know you aren't staging us up to be killed?"

Haywire sighed in exasperation. "And what would I gain by doing that? I'm as good as dead by now. I'm not on her side."

Reluctantly, all three of them agreed to Haywire's plan.

In no time at all, the four of them had been brought to the palace gardens. Haywire had unmuted the guards, but threatened them not to say a word of what they'd heard or else he'd mute them again permanently. They, of course, didn't dare oppose him, since nobody else could reverse the muting effects.

The guards pushed each of them down to their knees. In complete silence, they waited for Sonora to enter. Crowds had been invited to the palace as witnesses, and they shuffled anxiously, hoping the execution would start soon.

When Sonora finally arrived, she made her entrance as dramatic as possible. She'd dressed herself in a billowing royal violet gown, adorned with jewels and pearls. "Quite the occasion, isn't it? Once you're dead, I'll have the throne until I die," she drawled. "I'm sure your execution will be most thrilling to watch," she continued, patting Solaria on the head.

As much as Solaria wanted to snap at her, she knew she couldn't. Instead, she pretended to be still mute, staring blankly at Sonora.

"So, little queen, have you lost hope already? You seem to have given up on using your power," Sonora taunted. "Enough of the small talk. Guards, get your axes ready!" Taking a deep, contented breath, she continued. "Today, I order the execution of the traitors Solaria Archington, Martin Dalian, and their sidekick, Miriam – "

Miriam seemed to have lost all recollection that she was supposedly still mute. "I am not a sidekick," she seethed.

Seeing that their covers had been blown, Solaria made a split-second decision to modify their plan. "I command all of you to forget about this execution," she said to the guards in a stern voice. For a brief moment, they looked confused, but quickly lowered their axes.

Sonora gaped at them in shock. Before she could say a word, Martin had already grabbed a dagger from a guard's belt and rushed to Sonora's side. Pressing the blade against her neck, he regarded the guards. "If you wish her to live, you will leave immediately and surrender your weapons now." One by one, they tossed their blades onto the ground.

Haywire glared at Martin. "Why did you let them leave? They'll send for more soldiers now. You should've ordered them to stay!"

"Well, how was I supposed to know?" Martin retorted. "Maybe if Miriam hadn't exposed us, I'd have had more time to think this through!" He whirled around to face Miriam, glaring daggers at her.

Solaria stomped her foot impatiently. "Stop arguing, will you? Marty, just hurry and question her!"

Haywire held up a hand to stop them. "We don't have time for that anymore. We'll just have to end this right away. Bending down, he fumbled for a dagger in his boot and threw it with all his might.

Sonora screamed. "No, no, Haywire, you can't do this to me..."

The dagger sailed forward – and a female scream rang out loud and clear.