The Autumn Republic

Taniel rushed toward Claremonte, only to find himself driven to his knees. He tried to stand, but he felt as if the weight of the world were pressing down on his shoulders. His eyes bulged and his heart thundered as he shoved against the unrelenting, invisible force. Through the slits of his eyelids he could see Claremonte and Cheris, both on their feet, jaws clenched, fighting back against Kresimir’s sorcery.

Taniel realized that the pressure he now struggled against wasn’t directed at him, but was rather the strength of the two gods suddenly pushing against each other. He was only caught in the middle. His whole body shook as Ka-poel’s magic fought to protect him. He could feel every sinew straining, bones ready to snap at any moment. Ka-poel worked her way down the stairs at one end of the room. Sweat poured off her face and her fingers danced like a puppeteer with her hands on the strings.

Claremonte and Cheris moved toward each other with Kresimir between them. Kresimir himself seemed unaffected, but Taniel could see the doll above him dripping wax, the pressure turning it into a formless blob.

Claremonte raised his flint knife and brought it down on Kresimir’s neck. The god toppled before him, and Taniel suddenly lunged forward, freed of the oppressive conflict of sorcery. He gained his balance and grabbed Claremonte by the front of his jacket, thrusting Ka-poel’s bayonet through the soft part beneath his chin and through his brain.

Cheris’s scream made Taniel release Claremonte’s body and clutch at his ears. She ran toward him, hands raised, and he braced himself for the power of her fury.

Cheris stumbled. Taniel looked to find Tamas at her feet, Claremonte’s flint dagger in his remaining hand. Blood poured from Tamas’s ears, nose, and mouth, and black powder stained his chin. He thrust the dagger through her leg.

She yelled again, but more in anger than in pain. “You think that will kill me?” she demanded. She snatched Tamas by the collar of his jacket and lifted his broken body only to recoil as he spit blood in her eyes.

“Let him go,” Taniel roared.

“You have no power to command me,” Cheris said. “I will drink the blood from your father’s corpse. I will slaughter you and your savage and then I will bring my love back. I have that power!”

“Let him go, and you win.”

Cheris hesitated. “What do you mean?”

Taniel drew the bayonet from Claremonte’s lifeless body and flipped it around in his hand. “Here,” he said. “You win.” He tossed the bayonet.

Cheris dropped Tamas and reached up, but the bayonet arced over her fingertips. She whirled, hand extended.

Ka-poel snatched the bayonet from the air and rammed it through Cheris’s heart. The god gasped once and toppled to the ground. Ka-poel straddled her body and drew the bayonet out, ramming it in again and again until Cheris had stopped moving.

Taniel grabbed her arm. “She’s dead, Pole.”

Ka-poel sneered at Cheris, but let Taniel pull her away. He left her to check Claremonte’s and Kresimir’s bodies while he went to Tamas.

His father lay on his side, soaked in blood. Both legs were broken, his left arm shattered and left hand gone entirely. He still clutched the flint dagger in his hand. “Dad,” Taniel pleaded, feeling desperation grab hold. “Dad, come on!”

Tamas’s eyes fluttered. “Lost one of your pistols,” he croaked.

“It’s fine, Dad,” Taniel said, cradling his father’s head in his hand. “Come on. Stay with me.”

“Is it over?”

“Yes. They’re dead.”

“Bloody gods.”

“Stay with me, please,” Taniel sobbed.

“No, Tan,” Tamas said, blood on his teeth. “I don’t think I will.”

Taniel’s vision blurred. “Please, Dad.”

Tamas groped blindly for the front of Taniel’s jacket, his fingers gripping the bloodstained lapel. “I’m proud of you, Taniel.”

“Nothing to be proud of, Dad. I’m a terrible commander. An awful soldier.”

“You’re a good man. A good fighter. That’s all that matters.”

“Just stay alive, Dad. You hear me? Stay alive.”

“I’ve earned this, my boy. I’m ready to rest.”

“No you’re not. You’ve got so much more to do.” There was a rumble and the building shook around them, but it didn’t matter, not anymore.

“I’m going now, son. Get out of here. Brude’s going to have a death rattle, and it won’t be pleasant.”

“You’re coming with me.”

Tamas’s breathing slowed. His fingers loosened and his arm went slack. Taniel ignored another insistent rumble, ignored Ka-poel tugging at his sleeve. “Dad…”

“Hey,” Tamas whispered. His lips curled into a faint smile, and he softly said, “Your mother says hi, my boy. We love you.”

CHAPTER 52

Adamat reined in his horse in the palace gardens, not far from the twisted remains of Skyline Palace’s front doors. He dismounted beside a squad of Adran soldiers tending to their wounded.

“Where’s the field marshal?” he asked.

A captain got to his feet. “He led a company of men inside the palace not fifteen minutes ago. What do you-?” He was cut off by a low rumbling sound. The soldiers exchanged nervous glances.