Page 28 of Surrender

“Father?”

Sigrun stirred. “Kylar? Is that you?” He rolled over, squinting in the dim light from the passageway.

Kylar rushed in and knelt by his side. “Are you all right? Did they harm you?”

“I’m fine, son. Just stiff from the cold.”

Kylar lifted his father to a sitting position. Uncorking a flask, he guided it to king’s lips. The old man gulped the water, seemed to gain strength with every swallow.

“Filthy beasts,” he growled. “They got the best of us. My guards, all slaughtered. To the man.”

Kylar slid one arm under his father’s shoulder and helped him to his feet. “We’re going to drive them out of Gadolinium, once and for all. I swear it. Now let’s get you out of here.”

He stepped into the passage and came face-to-face with Balam, holding an obsidian knife to Talia’s throat. He’d twisted her long hair around his hand and forced her to her knees. Haldor stood against the opposite wall of the passage, flanked by two Tabun warriors. One held the blade of a dagger to Haldor’s neck; the other had the tip of one pressed against his groin. Behind Balam, four more Tabun brandished stone-tipped spears.

“The king and his heir. Both here. How convenient. Before you die, you can watch me slaughter one of the wenches you rescued. I found the secret passage my first day here. Thought she might use it. We were waiting for her in the training room.” He poked the tip of the knife into Talia’s neck. “You seemed especially fond of this one. I’ll let you watch her suck me off before I kill her.”

Balam used his other hand to yank his loincloth off. He stroked his shaft. “You can take the sight of those red lips around this cock to your grave. On second thought…” He let go of his prick long enough to wave the hand at his guards. “Bring the king here. Watching someone die always increases my pleasure.”

Two of the guards went into the cell and dragged Sigrun out. The other two grabbed Kylar.

Balam gestured at the king. “Kill him.”

Kylar went wild, struggling with his captors.

Before he could break free, Haldor let out a roar and lunged forward. Dragging both guards with him, he threw himself in front of the spear meant for Sigrun. It pierced his chest and he fell, pinning the Tabun guards under his bulk. Blood poured from the wound in his chest, mingled with blood spurting from his groin. With his last ounce of strength, he pulled the dagger out and tossed it to Sigrun.

The old man came alive before their eyes. He caught the dagger in midair, whirled, and slit the throat of one of the guards holding Kylar. Together, father and son battled the others until all six guards lay at their feet. As one, they headed for Balam.

He dug the knife into Talia’s throat. A trickle of blood ran down her neck.

“Don’t come any closer.”

Kylar shrugged. “Fuck her. Kill her. She means nothing to me. I came here for my father.”

“You…youbastard! How can you say that?” Talia curled her fingers into claws and pawed at the air, trying desperately to get close enough to sink them into Kylar’s flesh. Heedless of the knife at her throat, she hunched lower on the floor and burst into wild sobs.

Balam glanced down at her. It was the opening Kylar had been waiting for. He yanked the spear from Haldor’s chest, lunged, and drove it through Balam’s heart. Then he swept Talia into his arms.

She raised her tearstained face, a look of triumph in her eyes. “Andthat’sthe Kyrillian subterfuge!”

Sigrun knelt and cradled Haldor in his arms. “I’ve loved you like a son, ever since the day I took you in.”

Haldor raised his head. “You’ve been my father… as well as my king. It has been…my honor…to lay down my life for you.”

Talia dropped to the ground beside them. “He doesn’t have to die. We can send him to Earth, through the portal. They’ll save his life – if we get him there quickly.”

Sigrun stared at her, shocked. Kylar gathered the giant into his arms and staggered to his feet. “It’s true, Father. Talia is from Earth. She’s told me of the marvels they can do.”

The old man pulled himself to his full height and threw back his shoulders. “Then we’ll get him there.” He draped one of Haldor’s arms around his neck. Kylar took the other. Together they half carried, half dragged Haldor through the empty palace.

Chapter Twenty

Three days later, the summons came. A note, obviously dictated to one of the palace scribes, stamped with the royal seal. Delivered to her quarters by Ivar, handed to her, accompanied by bows and flourishes. It was clear he had no idea of the real message hidden in the contents.

To her excellency Talia Anderson, ambassador to Gadolinium from the Interstellar Federation

Re: the matter of a lost wager

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