Falsified (Tarnished Book 2)

42 Prophecy

*Final Chapter for this book*

Our ship was about to come into port, I heard the bell ringing from Erstonia. It signaled the impending confrontation I will have with my father and the tears that will flow from Cherice. Annalise and Zelme docked us with ease, but my mind stared at the coffin that now held a man who deserved so much more from me. It sat on the main deck and I wandered over to it. I brushed my fingers against the lid and traced the engraving of his name.

"Goodbye, may you rest easy," I pressed my palm against the lid and leaned far over his coffin. "You know, if it were not for everything you gave me, I could not stand up for myself." My eyes stung and I knelt beside the coffin. "Thank you."

I withdrew struggling to retract my hands. I slowly got onto my feet to see we docked port. Everyone was cheering that I arrived back, but how much of me that was left had diminished.

"Hey, we need to get to the palace. Go ahead. You can leave Judas' body to us." Gin said but my eyes glanced down at the coffin.

I made a fist at my side. "No, let me do this much for him."

All the crests and Artemis noticed the softness in my tone.

Kay and Simon came over knowing I wanted to carry him back to the country and king he served. We lifted the coffin by the handles on the sides and sure enough, Gin grabbed on the left where I was already managing.

"You don't have to do this alone."

I saw Alric out of the corner of my eye watching me carefully like he always had. I ignored it and started walking toward the palace.

All the people stopped cheering when they saw my expression and they noticed the coffin I brought back with me. The closer we approached the palace, I saw Boedin and an entourage to greet us. They stopped short when they realized one of us did not get back home alive. We entered the palace grounds and soon found ourselves in the presence of both my father and the Tyrant. The gate went up behind us with all the crests among my brother and Artemis, I gently set down the coffin.

I took careful steps towards them and bowed at my waist briefly. "I made it back, but the unwelcome news," I glanced behind me at the coffin and continued. "Judas did not make the journey back."

The Tyrant's face drained of color and my father's worn as an old boot. The Tyrant searched my eyes for what became of his brother. "Did he die an honorable death?"

I furrowed my brow. "I wish it was more honorable than it was. He died because I was not focused on my enemy."

"Jaiden, that is not true." Alric chimed in and I glared at him.

"You know what, I don't want to hear another word. It is my fault." I snapped and suddenly it caught my father's attention. "I should have killed that bastard sooner when I had my hands wrapped around his throat."

"Stop beating yourself up for the actions of someone else. You don't get it, you cannot control other people's lives."

My words left me. I searched my allies' faces and not one of them pointed blame at me. I sighed. "That's the problem here, you have no idea what I just lost in that fight. I killed a man more than deserving of my wrath, and I am not even close to saving this world yet." My voice cut out and then my eyes lingered on Judas' casket. "People around me die because I am always hesitating to be what I am now. The old me is barely here anymore." I placed a hand over my heart and let it fall away. "I can kill a man without a second thought. I can hurt all of you, everyone."