Page 101 of Consumed By Fire

If the crowd was wild before, they go even wilder now.

“We need to remind them of their place. We need to send a message. This type of behavior will not be accepted.” He walks slowly, working the audience like a pro.

I am forced to walk up the stairs leading to the stage. It’s slow going because of the chains, which clang noisily with each step I take.

I am marched to where the asshole prince is giving his eloquent speech about how terrible I am. How evil. How I threatened to kill him.

“Kneel before the prince,” a guard instructs me.

I shake my head, unable to talk around the gag.

“Kneel,” he repeats in a rough rasp in my ear.

I ignore him and brace myself, knowing what is about to happen. I might be gagged, but I refuse to show the prince any submission or respect. Not on my own steam.

The crowd murmurs as they see my defiance, and I can’t help but think that Trinity is witnessing this, too. These are images she’ll remember for the rest of her life.

The blow is to my side this time, well timed with a kick to my kneecap. I stagger to my knees, and the crowd goes wild once more.

Before me is the execution block. I see a groove where my neck needs to be. The ax is a sharp reminder of the fate that awaits me. I keep my eyes front and center and my chin up.

“You’re going to die, Draiger,” the prince screams into the microphone, his voice amplified by the speakers.

The crowd is cheering and chanting.

“And it’s going to be a spectacle for all to see!” he adds. “The dragons of Mistveil deserve some payback for all that has been done to us over the many, many years.”

The crowd roars, their fervor feeding the prince’s desire for revenge. He picks up the ax and holds it up above his head.

There’s more screaming and cheering.

Then, there are loud footfalls on the wooden stage, and the crowd goes silent in an instant. So silent that a person could hear a pin drop right now.

“Brother.” The prince sounds shocked. “W-what—?” he starts to say but stops.

Everyone in attendance bows, everyone lowers their gazes.

It is clear that the king is related to the general and to Ice. He, too, has a shock of white hair and vivid blue eyes. He is tall and formidable. I half expected the king to be scholarly, but he looks like a warrior.

“What are you doing here?” the prince splutters. He quickly pulls himself together. “I didn’t think you wanted to witness a beheading, but welcome.” He smiles broadly. “You arrived just in time.” He lifts the ax above his head again, and the crowd starts to cheer once more. It isn’t quite as loud as before.

There is a click over the speakers, and I realize that the king is holding a microphone in one hand. He’s just turned it on. “Good morning, citizens of Mistveil City. I see that many of you took the time to come out to watch the proceedings.”

The crowd claps.

“It is wonderful that you could join us, Sire,” the prince gushes. “Put his head on the block,” he instructs the guards, who push me down. “I would urge you to stay perfectly still, Draiger. We don’t want an accident, now do we?”

The guards have their hands on my shoulders. Another has his boot in the middle of my back.

Before the prince can heft the ax, the king says, “Actually, I would like to hear his last words. Do you have any last words, Draiger?”

I shout “yes” around the ball gag, but it doesn’t sound like much of anything.

“Is that really necessary, brother?” Ice scoffs. “Why would we give this scum the opportunity to speak?”

The king shrugs. “Why not? Humor me.”

“But, brother—”

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