Page 141 of The King of Koraha
“As far as punishments go, that’s a nice bit of revenge,” the King said. “But I’d like a turn.” He’d pushed into a sitting position on his cushion. His hand was rubbing his forehead as if it throbbed. His gaze moved to where Najib was still pressed against the wall. “After I deal with the traitor.”
“That’s fine,” Shyla said, pocketing the blackfire pendant. “Beast isn’t going anywhere.” She patted his head again. “Do you want me to compel Najib to answer your questions?”
“No,” Najib said, horrified. “I’ll talk.”
Mojag escorted Najib before the King and forced him to his knees. Najib glanced around, but he was outnumbered and no doubt the King would turn him into a raisin if he tried to escape.
“Why?” the King asked.
“You stole my power. I should have been king, not you. I’m smarter.”
“Not smart enough to remember that I didn’t steal anything,” the King snapped. “The Sun Goddess chose.”
“It’s not a choice. I’ve done my research. It’salwaysthe first person to make the oath who becomes King. You went first.” It sounded like an accusation.
The King kneaded his temples. “Yes, I did, because you were scared about what was going to happen and I went first to show you it wouldn’t be that bad.” He balled his right hand into a fist.
By volunteering to go first, the King showed he had courage and empathy. It was a good way to pick a ruler. Shyla approved.
“How could you break your oath?” the King asked.
“I couldn’t,” Najib spat. “That’s why I collaborated with the commander. He could do all the things I couldn’t. Although my oath shouldn’t have been binding—I took it when I was eight circuits old. I didn’t know it would force me into a life of servitude.”
The King’s angry expression melted into sadness as his shoulders relaxed. “Servitude? I thought we were partners. Brothers. Best friends.”
“You thought wrong.”
“How did you hide your thoughts from me?” Shyla asked.
“They were buried deep. They had to be in order for me to do my job. Besides, I knew you wouldn’t go that deep. You’re not that ruthless.”
“I am if I’m pushed.” She glanced at Xerxes. His head was still bowed. Maybe she should make him grovel. “But I still would have picked up on the sunfire.”
“That’s why I didn’t wear one until now.”
“You plotted to kill me in order to get your magic back?” the King asked.
“Yes.”
“What if it didn’t work?”
“It will work.”
“How do you know? Did you research it? Has it happened in the past?”
“It will work.”
“In other words, you were willing to risk every single person’s life in order to get what you wanted.” The King sighed. “I’ve no choice. Due to the magnitude of your crime, you must be executed.”
Najib hopped to his feet with a cry. He thrust the sunfire forward, capturing the King’s attention. “Your immunity doesn’t work on the sunfire. Youwill drowneveryone here except me, you, and the commander.”
The King’s expression turned blank. He swept his arm out. A column of water arced from the pool. Shyla lunged toward Najib, reaching for the sunfire. The traitor stepped back and she missed. But then the King’s sapphire necklace glowed with a blue fire. It hurt to look at it. Shyla averted her gaze as the entire chamber filled with the incandescent light.
“No!” Najib screamed as his sunfire dimmed and darkened, turning black.
The one on Shyla’s pendant also turned opaque.
Najib charged the King, but the column of water swept Najib off his feet and carried him into the depths of the pool. When the advisor failed to surface, Shyla glanced at the King. The glow had faded and his hand was pressed to the necklace.
