Page 27 of First (After the End #1)

THE BATTLE

Gabriel

A few minutes later, on the other side of the keep, three Larsen guards kneel to the floor in front of the Council of Elders. The first has broken bones. The second is bleeding. The third, both.

“I will ask you one last time,” the eldest member says, “who asked you to tamper with the life support systems in the military wing?”

“Lord Larsen,” the second guard burbles.

He’s been doing most of the talking because he is the highest-ranking member and has been in Lord Larsen’s circle for decades.

Also because his jaw is still in working order.

“He asked us to s-sabotage the military wing, and the Larsen wing, to avoid being suspected of any w-wrongdoing.”

It’s nothing the elder didn’t already know. “Is that what you were doing when you were caught by General Agard?”

The guard nods, frantic.

“When they were caught, an emissary of the council was also present,” Ivar reminds him. “And additional testimony confirms that Lord Larsen has been amassing weapons and—”

“Yes, Counsel Agard. You have mentioned that several times already.” The council member looks gravely in my direction, and I’m almost tempted to commiserate with him about how fucking annoying my brother can be.

But I have places to be. “Have we at last met your burden of proof?” I ask, not bothering to hide my frustration toward the Twelve. It’s been a while since I’ve felt it necessary to show any kind of deference while seeking their audience.

The disrespect, luckily, is mutual.

“You have, in fact, provided enough evidence that Lord Larsen is attempting to seize power,” the elder concedes.

I nod once. My cape swirls as I spin on my feet and stalk down the great hall, Martia at my side.

There isn’t much time, and House Larsen must be stopped.

By now, Lord Larsen surely knows that his sabotage attempts were intercepted.

He has no choice but to attack us, and when the battle starts, I’d rather be there with my soldiers.

I’d rather go make sure that Sofia is safe.

“However,” the elder says.

I freeze in my tracks, and so does Martia. We share a disbelieving glance. Before I turn around, I try to wipe from my face the desire to stab every single member. One by one. And make the others watch as they are being skewered themselves.

“Yes?” I growl.

“Do not assume, General, that we are unaware of your scheming. You did all you could to provoke Lord Larsen and the coup he is now enacting.”

“I did all I could to accelerate it,” I correct him, and I think I see the elder sigh. The one on his right is definitely rolling her eyes.

“Yes. And the council would like to state for the record that we do not approve of your methods.” A pause, during which I wonder for how long Ivar would bitch at me if I just beheaded all twelve members.

If it’s less than a week, it might be worth it.

“However, General, we must admit that once weighted against Lord Larsen’s, your actions are significantly less objectionable. ”

I’d hate to make another premature departure, so I wait for him to finish his train of thought. When he doesn’t, I ask, “Does this mean that I can take my leave and go quash a fucking uprising?”

This time around, his sigh is obvious. Then a thin shriveled hand waves me away. “Please, sir.”

I make it to Lord Larsen just a few minutes after the battle has begun. Finding him and his son Gunner through the throng is easy; with a simple flick of my wrist, I rotate my sword until the tip of it is pointing in his direction. “We won’t go down without a fight,” he roars at me.

I tilt my blade.

Smile.

And murmur, “I was hoping you would say that.”