Read Online Mercy's Prince by Katy Huth Jones - Free Book Online Page B

them.
    “Hit it, Sire.”
    “What?” Valerian choked on the word.
    “Hit the pillow as hard as ye can. Don’t hold
back.”
    “A prince must control such urges.” Valerian
shook his head. “I can’t.”
    “Ye canna afford not to. Hit it.”
    Halfheartedly Valerian punched his fist into
the pillow.
    “Harder, Sire.”
    Valerian punched it once more.
    “Harder!”
    With a cry Valerian smashed his fist into the
pillow, knocking Kieran back. A dam broke, and Valerian pounded the small
target over and over, giving in to the blind rage. He stopped when the pillow
vanished. Valerian came to himself and found Kieran on the floor. He held out a
hand to lift the squire.
    “Kieran, forgive me.” His face grew warm.
    “I forgive you, my lord. Feel better now?”
Kieran grinned.
    Valerian’s eyes widened and his jaw relaxed a
little.
    “Yes. I truly do.”
    “It works for me every time. But now we must
hurry.” Kieran tossed the pillow on the chair.
    The moment the dragon doors opened and he saw
the look on King Orland’s face, Valerian wished he had not taken the time to
beat on a pillow. Lords and knights, including Sir Caelis, the bishop, and
Aylmer the Seer were ranged around the king, all waiting for Valerian, it
seemed. He reached the foot of the throne and bowed.
    “What is your will, Your Majesty?”
    The king gestured to the empty place at his
right hand. Waryn’s place.
    Valerian swallowed. When he stepped onto the
spot where his brother had always stood, his guilt over Waryn and now Ruddy
rose in his throat, and he tasted bile. Valerian forced his face to project
calm he did not possess.
    “Bring the prisoners forward,” King Orland
said.
    The doors opened again to admit a group of
about forty men and youths dressed in farmer’s homespun. Although the prisoners’
hands were bound, they did not look as if they would offer any resistance.
Before they came too close to the throne, the guards halted them. All the men
bowed to the king, and Valerian saw their braids then, the braid of the
pacifists’ uncut hair.
    “Who is leader among you?” asked King Orland.
    The tallest of them, although not the eldest,
stepped forward.
    “I am called Gabriel, Your Majesty.” Though his
voice was quiet, the man showed no fear in his face or posture.
    “Answer now, Gabriel, why your village has
refused to take up arms in the defense of Levathia. I have received your
letter, but I wish to hear it from your own lips.” The king leaned forward to
hear the man’s answer.
    Gabriel did not cower, as most would, as
Valerian himself would have. Where did this man find such courage?
    “Your Majesty, we are the Brethren. We have
pledged our lives to peace with a solemn, irrevocable oath to the Most High
God. We cannot fight, not even if it means forfeiting our own lives.”
    King Orland did not move or even speak. In the
tense silence, Valerian studied Gabriel’s peaceful face, and their eyes met. In
that instant Valerian realized Gabriel was a Seer, too. He Saw the
absolute confidence in the man and knew when Gabriel Saw his utter lack.
Valerian averted his gaze and clenched his fists to still their trembling.
Finally the king spoke, and the fury in his voice made Valerian cringe.
    “Do you realize I have the power of life and
death over you?”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.” If Gabriel had any fear he
did not show it.
    “And yet you are unmoved by the plight of your
countrymen?”
    Gabriel paused before replying, but Valerian
knew what his answer would be. He’d Seen the man’s unassailable
convictions.
    “We are moved, Your Majesty, and yet must
remain unmoved in order to serve a Higher Power.”
    Beside him, Valerian sensed the king’s
simmering rage. He could understand it, for this man’s willingness to defy the
king’s decree when the land desperately needed fighting men forced the king
into a corner. If King Orland was lenient, it would set a bad precedent and
weaken the law. But Valerian knew his father well