Blood Betrayal

Chapter Ten

Marthus sat in the throne room with his King. To keep up airs of normality Daxus hadn't spoken of Ghanny at all. Upon Marthus's return, he only asked his Second if all went as expected. Nodding in answer Marthus had done little to settle his worries.

What he really wanted to know was if she had woken. If she was in pain. He wanted to know if she understood why she had to leave. He wanted to know how Marthus's treacherous fledge had taken to her arrival. Had he been pleased, had he smiled, had he licked his odious lips?

Unsettled by his own thoughts he had kept Marthus from his duties for hours discussing small unimportant things. Anything to keep himself distracted.

While incessantly thrumming his fingers over the arm of his throne Daxus continued his long-winded recounting of every item that had been brought up during court.

"That damn rogue struck again. More dead and more proof of us left for humans to find. They uncovered a mass of dumped bodies by some train tracks. Each was drained of blood with throats torn open. Some had their chests torn open. Exactly the type of thing that is bound to set the human world on a rampage wielding pitchforks and torches."

Byron was becoming a very large problem. The psychic abilities that some of his subjects had could be very useful against humans. Unfortunately, those with the ability to hypnotise humans could only take care of so many things.

If the body count got any higher they would have to hypnotise the entirety of Washington. Even then some would be left ranting about how they were sure monsters are real.

The modern world with its videos and easy communication was tiresome. It seemed as if humans came up with a new ability every day. Cameras, phones, computers. All that new technology was frustratingly over Dax's head, he simply couldn't wrap his mind around it.

The sun was not far off causing Marthus to periodically shiver. Despite his obvious discomfort he dutifully kept the conversation going. "What do you plan to do about it, sir?"

Daxus raised a brow slightly. "I plan to have him killed. Why? What would you do in my position?"

"Maybe one of the surrounding kingdoms needs to expand their territory. Byron has ruled his people into perversion. Now is not the time for testing an untried ruler."

"There is no one capable." The King waved his idea away.

Marthus licked his lip, a nervous gesture. "What of Alistair?"

Daxus gave him a withering stare. "You do love to bring that man up to me. Is this some misguided attempt to help him gain power?"

"No sir, I only mention him because he has fewer people under his protection than the ruler to the East and his kingdom is close. Merging the two would bring the number under him to a large yet still acceptable number. It seemed an apt fit." The man broke eye contact.

"You think he is apt enough to rule that large a population?" Perhaps he was pointing out the most obvious solution and it was a mere coincidence that he happened to be so related to that solution.

Marthus nodded meeting Daxus's eyes again. "The people say he is a good and just King. That he follows the old ways. He is a good man."

"You aren't foolish enough to think that good and just will be enough to fix this problem. That man has allowed his people to run amok too long, made too many without consent, shut himself off from others. Many know nothing but his rule and will not be led into civilised ways easily if at all."

For that very reason simply killing Byron would only create a power vacuum that would most likely be filled by underlings displaying the same kind of madness. His Second Luke was just as mad as Byron and perhaps more zealous.