Page 105 of A Kingdom of Lies

“All of you have travelled from near and far for the Resurgence,” Aldrick continued with the sweep of his age-spotted hand. “A spectacle I have not shared with you until now. Do you wish to see why your bounties have been so important to Duwar’s cause? To see what it is I do to aid its promised release? Tell me, Hunters. Let Duwar hear your enthusiasm from the realm it’s trapped within. Do you wish to see?”

The noise nearly knocked me back out of my chair. It filled the room, likely spreading across the entire realm for all to hear. I could only imagine how terrifying it would have been for those living within Lockinge who knew little of what occurred this night.

Aldrick spoke to someone out of view, my eyes could not see who it was no matter how hard I strained. “Bring in my chosen one.”

There was a thud of heavy dragging feet. The clattering of chains sent a shiver up my spine. Then I sawhim,and my mind screamed a name which caused Aldrick’s pleased chuckle to fill my head.

Duncan.

His chest was bare, scars both new and old on display for all to see. A glistening sheen coated his head and caused the strands of dark hair to link in damp chains down his neck. Duncan scowled, paying no mind to the crowd who sneered at him. Among the broken chatter, I could hear slurs being hurled towards him.

Not once did he flinch.

At least until he looked at me.

My heart panged for him. I wished nothing more than to clutch my chest, hoping a hand over my heart would stop it shattering through my ribs. But Aldrick’s control didn’t allow such a thing. I was forced to watch from my seat, unable to do anything but allow my horror to burn from my eyes, windows to the turmoil that devoured me internally.

Duncan’s dark brows furrowed, pale lips pulling into a tight, harsh line which tugged at the prominent scar that I’d memorised so perfectly. I wondered if Aldrick filled his mind. It would seem so because Duncan walked freely and without refusal. There was something utterly rehearsed about his movements.

“Some of you may recognise General Duncan Rackley as he stands before you,” Aldrick spoke. “A Hunter held in high esteem, who, like you all, had pledged his life to better the world in Duwar’s name. He has personally delivered countless fey into my hands. Because of him, and you all, we are even closer to seeing through Duwar’s greatest request. General Rackley is the perfect candidate for the Resurgence. To show you all what I have been doing with your bounty and how your belief will alter the unfair balance that we all recognise in the world.”

Resurgence, a word that had been used enough times to grip sharp talons into my consciousness.

“It will soon make sense,”Aldrick’s voice echoed across my skull, as if reading my mind.

That thought alone had me trying to clear my head. His reverberating laugh only proved that my fears were correct.

The crowd were tense and silent, as though they stood on the precipice of a sky-piercing cliff, waiting for the clouds to part to see what lurked below. I understood what was going to happen. Unlike the crowd before me, they clearly did not know what occurred with the fey blood. How it changed humans and gave them access to power that did not –shouldnot – belong to them.

“You have seen my failed creation. This one will be different – I hope.”

The vision of the thin, weak-looking human who had infiltrated the Cedarfall Court filled my mind, conjured by Aldrick’s will as though to tease me.

“This will be different because I have the missing piece to my puzzle. Many of my chosen have lived long enough to spread a message, but not to thrive as Duwar so wished. This – Duncan – will succeed.”

As his horrific voice filled my head, Aldrick retrieved something from the folds of his cloak. A dagger. Duncan didn’t seem to notice, nor did the crowd as they were transfixed on Aldrick as he carried on speaking about Duwar’s promise and what the entity wished to gift its followers.

But I noticed. And couldn’t do anything to warn Duncan. I studied the blade as though my life depended on it, noticing the swollen handle made of glass that sloshed with dark liquid. Aldrick held the flat side of the blade to Duncan’s back. Surely Duncan sensed it? Yet he didn’t react.

“… how unfair it is that some are born with power and others not. It was why the Creator failed. Unlike the fey’s god Altar, the Creator was selfish with his power, keeping it for himself when he moulded you in his image. It was his greatest downfall. Duwar sees this and forgives you for following a god who never truly cared for you. Not like Duwar will. Duwar sees us all as those before it in equal measures of deserving – no matter whom we are created in the image of. Duwar adopts us all. And in thanks for following Duwar’s promise, I have been instructed to carry out their wishes as you all know. In Duwar’s name I will give you all a chance to become warriors in its making. Our campaign will soon spread like wildfire. When those who still cling to their old Gods see what Duwar can promise, they will run to us with open hearts just for a taste of what Duwar can provide. Witness. See for yourselves. And then decide… are you willing to meet your end to better your future?”

Aldrick hoisted the dagger high into the air. The action snatched the breath from the crowd collectively. I managed my own shuddering inhale through tight lips.

Duncan stood stock still. He didn’t move as the dagger arced downwards, sharp tip aimed for his chest. Then the blade met its mark with a sickening thud. It passed through his flesh with ease, stopping only when the hilt slammed skin-deep. Time slowed to a horrifying stop. Aldrick held Duncan to him with a vice-like grip, keeping him from falling to his knees. All the while the dagger was left impaled through his ribs, reaching all the way into his heart.

I pinched my eyes closed. If I couldn’t see what was happening, it wasn’t real. Someone shouted Duncan’s name from the crowd. Kayne. I recognised his voice. Then his struggling grunts as he fought his way towards the podium.

“Open your eyes and watch the Resurgence, Robin. Do not be afraid.”

I fought to ignore Aldrick’s command but failed. My eyes flew up in time to watch Duncan stagger back. He was far taller than Aldrick, who was beginning to struggle holding him up.

“Blood is the key. It always has been. I can take power from the undeserving and give it to those who would do better with it in their possession. As there is a cost of everything in life, so is there for the Resurgence. But those with burning, strong faith will make it through. Watch! All of you witness what your belief can do. See what you can become.”

Duncan did nothing but look forward, the dagger in this chest changing with every passing moment. Blood. That was what had splashed within the glass handle. Now it drained slowly, down through an unseen hollow compartment in the dagger and into the heart that the blade had pierced.

Only when the vial-like handle was empty did Aldrick tear it free and discard it across the podium where it skipped to a stop at my feet. My entire world shattered as Duncan finally made a sound. He cried out, suddenly breaking out of the prison of silence Aldrick had locked him in.

“General Rackley’s faith will see him through the change.” Aldrick stood back, still a hooded and crooked figure, as he gestured towards the staggering man. “The stronger your faith, the more blessed you shall become.” Aldrick was frantic, shouting, throwing his arms around as though he battered an unseen swarm of monsters that flew around him.

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