Page 92 of Condemned

Chapter Thirty-Five

They sat on the stepsof the farmhouse verandah to listen to Takk. His tale was short and sweet. Golden really, even if he knew little.

“The letter was from someone I know at court. Normally, I’d say who, but I can’t. Avalon, your uncle killed himself. I can’t imagine that being a trauma to you.”

She shook her head. The bastard was gone.

“Or should I say, maybe he did. Either way he’s dead and secrets were spilled as a result. Conspiracies to do with the war. There wasn’t a lot of exact information in the letter, but powerful people have resigned, killed themselves, or been removed from positions of power. Bad things have happened to bad people.” He smiled. “We have come out on top. Someone in power at the king’s court likes us. So,” he slapped his knees, “it’s done.” He rose to his feet and walked into the farmhouse. “I’ve something to fetch.”

“Fookin’ amazing.” Kondio put his head down and ran his hands over the back. “Good times ahead for our family.”

“Yes.” Timin agreed, and... Nibbles ran up onto his shoulder.

Speechless, Avalon pointed. “Uhhh.”

“This?” He smiled widely. “I bet I was the only one who noticed we had two of them since the crash site?”

“Wow.” She smiled back, glad Timin had his helper still. On the hard ride here, he’d suffered a seizure and barely kept himself in the saddle. “How could you tell? They were never together.”

“Golden eyes, this one. The other, its eyes were a reddish gold.”

Red sounded a little evil. She decided she preferred Nibbles.

“Would you look at that!” Timin pointed past her toward the yard gate. “Omage priests. What are they doing here?”

Five of them were walking in line down the road in the same direction ARBO had gone. Which might be connected? “I think they’re following the bots?” she ventured. “Not us. They lost interest in me, remember?”

“That high priest did let them go. I heard in town that Omage is all excited about that prophecy of theirs. The end of the world is coming. As if the bots have something to do with it.” Zo slid across the step to sit beside her. “They did seem happy to lose you.”

“Fate again, Zo?” she murmured.

“I’d say so. Though I don’t hold with it being the end of the world. I have too many things left to do. To you.” He stirred the hair on her nape with his hand and claws.

“Good.” She smiled gently and he smiled back. Her heart was ready to burst today. So much happiness.

* * *

Arx had left his fancyhelmet and his florse behind, and his two aides. He preferred to see and use his hands without restriction. An animal was always an unknown, it disturbed the aim. The grass whispered against his legs as he walked. To either side sunlight burned a path of brightness across the waving seed heads.

Almost there. He could see their small figures. Like dolls at this distance, and they were oblivious, shielded in their happiness from harm. Or so they thought.

He had the righteous arm today.

He had been chosen to do this and he would prevail.

Which would he kill?

Who would he harm?

The girl of course would die.

He danced his fingertips down the hilts of the poisoned daggers in their sheaths beneath his uniform coat.

Expertly made, perfectly balanced, they cut the air as they ran through it, unerringly true.

* * *

“It’s time!” Takk stoodin the doorway, his hands full of packages. The gift wrapping on some was familiar.