Page 133 of These Divided Shores
“You never wanted to convert Grace Loray,” Ben said, breath escalating. “You’re going to kill everyone.”
“You’re insane,” Lu said. “This is barbaric—”
Pilkvist shot forward another step. He had a pistol out now, and Ben swung in front of Lu, a shield.
“Barbaric,” Pilkvist echoed.
“Ingvar!” Lu shouted. “Elazar promised you support on this island. He promised to help your people and return New Deza to the Mecht immigrants. He’s taken you—he lied!”
Ingvar launched forward again and aimed his pistol at Elazar’s head.
Defensors swarmed the platform, weapons out. The crowd reacted, stifled screams and calls of alarm, the firstbeginnings of reaction through their confusion.
But Elazar smiled, one hand raised to stay his soldiers. His other hand he stuck into his robes and withdrew a vial.
Lu’s other vial of permanent magic. Ben had the last one, which he had given to Gunnar before this so the defensors couldn’t take it from him.
Ben instinctively reached for Elazar’s vial. At a tip of Elazar’s head, defensors pinned their weapons on Ben and Lu.
“Ah, Benat. I wouldn’t. The Pious God has no use for you anymore. Adeluna, child—you have succeeded, I heard?” Elazar tipped the vial, admiring it. “Everyone on Grace Loray will die to drive out the Devil’s foothold in this world. Argrid will rise. I will unlock the powers in my new son’s blood, and he will reign unmatched over this earth. With this vial, I will pave the way, becoming the Pious God myself.”
He uncorked and downed the contents before Ben could scream,“Don’t!”
Coughing, Elazar doubled forward. Lu braced herself on Ben.
Pilkvist didn’t pull the trigger. He watched Elazar sink to the ground, defensors doing the same, and Ben was reminded of a cell in Deza, Elazar and Jakes watching a sick man Ben had given healing potion. Not caring for the life or death in the balance—wanting the outcome.
After a lifetime, Elazar uncurled, straightened. His hairwas mussed now, wild around his face, and his deranged eyes focused on Ben.
“I am the Pious God incarnate,” Elazar bellowed, and cupped his hands over his head in the Church’s symbol. “And I will consume this Devil-touched island in fire and blood.”
He began to sing a bellowing hymn that the defensors surrounding the area picked up. It reverberated through the docks, resonant and haunting, and when it ended, death followed.
A gunshot. Another. Ben grabbed Lu and hit the platform, arms thrown over their heads. Through the tangle, Ben watched spots of blood puncture Pilkvist’s chest. Defensors fired again, and again, but Pilkvist snarled and forced his pistol to stay up—
Elazar didn’t move, his focus on the sky, face utterly serene.
Pilkvist turned his pistol to his own temple and pulled the trigger.
A cry tore from Ben’s lips. Lu scrambled closer to Ben, pushing him back, back—toward the edge of the stage.
Mecht raiders were interspersed with the Argridian defensors. On the stage, on the tide wall; everywhere, they saw Pilkvist’s death.
“If you do not wish to surrender,” came Elazar’s voice again, “then, Benat, I suggest you head for the castle. My new son is undergoing his first task as Argrid’s heir:disposing of my errant nephew.”
Lu spun around on her knees and screamed. “What did you do to them? What—”
Ben grabbed her, flattening the two of them as defensors started firing—at the crowd.
The defensors on the tide wall followed. The pop of gunshots fostered screaming, the crowd breaking awake in a frenzy of agony and attack. Within the crowd, citizens turned on their neighbors in snarling waves, fingers in claws, weapons made from stones or hidden knives. The vacancy in their eyes remained, Menesia triggered by the hymn.
Elazar was killing them. Everyone on this island. Hewantedthis bloodshed.
Chanting rose, the lull of voices fighting to break through the Menesia fog.
“Barbaric,” the Mecht raiders said.
“Tell your raiders to attack. To slaughter without mercy.” Elazar dropped a look at Ben. “This is Grace Loray’s destiny. Do whatever you feel you must—but purity will come to this island, and in the morning, all evil will be crushed.”
