Read Online Sebastian of Mars by Al Sarrantonio - Free Book Online

toward me, her eyes flashing gold, one hand thrust outward
with the short claws fully extended. “But I did not betray you,
and I will go to my death protesting my innocence. ”
    “Your death –” I said, momentarily
speechless. “Do you mean to say –?”
    She straightened, and her eyes lost some of
their fire. “You didn’t know? The orders of execution were signed
by Xarr when he arrived yesterday.”
    I felt my face flush. “I will not let this
happen!”
    A knowing, almost kind expression came across
her face. “Poor Sire. I can see now that you had nothing to do with
it. This, at least, brings me peace of a sort.”
    “No! This cannot be! I will not let –”
    She held up a hand. “You know your own
mother’s document, do you not?”
    I was still frantic. “Yes! But –”
    “There is nothing you can do, sire.”
    She stepped forward and suddenly enfolded me
in her arms. I felt like a blubbering kit, and was crying against
her bosom, just as I had so many times after my sister had teased
me, or some other childish fate had befallen me.
    “Do you know,” she soothed, “that in a way I
came to see you as my own son? The mind doctors would say that you
were a substitute for my own loss, and I was one for you.”
    “I will not allow this to happen!”
    She pushed me gently away, and I saw that the
fire in her eyes had been completely replaced by a soft look.
    “I did love you as my own. I always will,
Sebastian.”
    I pushed myself completely away. “I will
speak to Xarr!”
    I stormed out of there, pushing the guards
roughly out of the way at the entrance.
    I caught General Xarr as he was preparing to
leave. He was mounted on his horse, in full armor, surrounded by
the small band of soldiers who would accompany him as he sought to
rally what troops stood between us and the advancing Frane army. It
was a grim task, and he looked grim.
    The secret gates from our cavern entrance had
been deactivated, letting in a wash of sunlight that was doubly
dazzling because it had been so long since I’d seen the sun. The
far horizon was layered in mist and dust, and the plains and
rolling hills below, patched here and there with the green of
vegetation, looked a world away, we were so high.
    “What is it, Sire?” he nearly snapped at me
when I stood in front of his mount, resplendent in deep red armor
itself. As if to mirror its rider’s sentiments, it snorted at
me.
    I glared at him, and his own ire diminished.
He dismounted, and drew me aside, out of the sunlight and into a
small feline-made tunnel.
    His one good eye stared at me balefully. “I
have much to do.”
    “Yes, you do. You can begin by pardoning
Rella.”
    He drew himself up. “Those execution orders
were drawn up by Jift. And, yes, I signed them, just as you’ve no
doubt heard by now.”
    “Do you really believe her guilty?” My voice
was shrill, and the old general suddenly gripped me by my arm,
tightly, and drew me deeper into the passageway.
    “With all respect, sire, shut your mouth!” he
whispered fiercely.
    “Wha –”
    His grip tightened, and he drew his face
closer. The scar which ran from his right eye to his chin looked
like a dry riverbed seen from a great height.
    “You march in here, in front of my men – in
front of your men – wailing like a suckling kitten! What’s
wrong with you! This will be all over the camp before nightfall! If
you want them to respect you, you have to act like a man!”
    “But Rella – they’re going to execute her!”
    His grip became tighter yet, and suddenly I
lowered my voice and tried to bring myself under control.
    Xarr let go of my arm, and his voice grew
less harsh. “I know what she means to you. I should have counseled
you, but there was no time. For this I apologize. For what it’s
worth, I thought highly of her, myself. But this must be done.”
    “ Why? ” My voice rose again in
anguish.
    His own voice rose: “Because she is guilty!
Because she did the things she is accused