The Shattered Crown

FORTY-SEVEN

Nobul watched them as they feasted. It was just him and the five Zatani in the empty courtyard. They were beasts, giants, ferocious and untamed. Nobul had seen them up close before, had fought them, killed them, but that had been a long time ago. Back then he’d been scared half out of his wits, but you forgot all about the fear when the fighting started. There was nothing to fight now though — these men had given him their loyalty. Now all he had to do was watch them, and Nobul wasn’t sure whether to be scared or not.

Their leader, Regulus, had offered him a life-debt. Of course he’d refused. Nobul had no more right over the warrior’s life than he did anyone’s. These men owed him nothing. Nevertheless, they’d wanted to stay close to him, probably as he was the only one who’d shown them any kind of compassion. If you could call setting them free to fight off some magick-spawned monster ‘compassion’.

The rest of the Greencoats were still at the amphitheatre, cleaning up the mess. Nobul was grateful for that, glad he hadn’t had to hang around; he’d seen enough of what those magickers could do to last him a lifetime. The less he had to do with all that shit the better.

Not that dealing with this was any more appealing: what in the hells was he supposed to do with five Zatani warriors?

Regulus rose from the feasting, wiping his mouth on his arm. He turned and fixed Nobul with a determined look. But then these Zatani always looked determined. They always looked fierce.

Regulus crossed the courtyard to where Nobul stood. The warrior moved with an assured grace that Nobul marvelled at. He had never realised how impressive looking these creatures were, especially not when he’d fought them at Bakhaus Gate. You didn’t have the time to appreciate those kinds of things when you were trying not to get killed.

‘We must speak, Nobul Jacks,’ said the Zatani.

‘Now’s as good a time as any,’ he replied.

‘I like you, Nobul Jacks. You speak plain. Just like a Gor’tana.’

‘Thanks.’ I think.

‘My warriors and I have had much to discuss since you freed us. And we have decided to leave this place, unless we have certain guarantees.’

‘Leave? After all you’ve been through to come here and fight for this city?’

‘It is what we’ve been through that has made us come to this decision. We have been treated worse than animals — as enemies — when we only came to this place to offer our fealty. If we are to stay and fight for this city, concessions will have to be made.’

‘I don’t have the authority to-’

‘If you cannot grant what we ask, then we will go. If we are forced to stay we will fight you.’

Nobul swallowed hard. ‘What do you want?’

‘First, we have travelled far. A journey that required we leave our armour behind. If we are to stand atop your walls and defend your people, we will need armour — Zatani armour, built by a craftsman.’

A smile crept across Nobul’s face. He had abandoned his forge months ago, yet his hand still itched for a hammer. It was unlikely there was another man in the city who knew what Zatani armour looked like and could have forged it with his skill.

‘That I can do,’ he said with confidence.

Regulus nodded his thanks. ‘The second demand is more important. We have lost a brother. A warrior of our tribe. We must have recompense for that.’

‘All right. I’m not sure there’s much left in the Crown coffers but-’

‘No, you misunderstand. We do not require your worthless coins. We need a life for his life. A sacrifice as you might call it.’

Nobul felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. He asked the question but already knew the answer. ‘You mean like a goat or a sheep?’

‘No.’

Of course ‘no’. Like it was ever going to be that bloody easy.

‘There’s no way that could happen. We don’t just offer people up for sacrifice. That’s not how things are done around here.’

‘I understand, Nobul Jacks. You do not respect your gods or your dead as we do. It is no matter. We shall leave, then.’ Regulus laid a huge dark hand on Nobul’s shoulder. ‘But I wonder if you might do us one last kindness. We would send our brother off to the stars.’ He gestured to the body of the Zatani they had wrapped in linen. ‘We would require a pyre.’

‘I’ll see what I can do,’ Nobul replied.

With that, Regulus returned to his fellow warriors.

Nobul continued to watch them as the sun went down. The air grew colder, but Nobul chose to ignore the chill. There’d be plenty of cold nights to come, may as well get used to them.

Kilgar and the rest of the lads came back just before dark and the serjeant came to stand beside Nobul.

‘How’ve they been?’ he asked.

Nobul just shrugged. ‘Pretty much as they are now.’

‘The Seneschal’s creating a right old shit storm. He’ll tell anyone who’ll listen this lot need to be killed.’

‘Is anyone listening?’

Kilgar gave him a sly smile. ‘Thankfully not. Lord Marshal and the High Constable both agree we’ll need this bunch in the days to come. When the Khurtas get here they’ll have a proper bloody surprise when we unleash this lot on them.’

‘Yeah,’ said Nobul with a frown. ‘Not quite sure how to put this; but they’re not sticking around for that.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘They’ve had enough. To be honest, the way they’ve been treated the past few days, I don’t blame them.’

Kilgar cursed under his breath. ‘Don’t suppose there’s anything we can do to change their minds?’

‘Aye, there is. They want a human sacrifice to compensate for the death of their man there.’ He gestured to the linen-wrapped corpse.

‘They want a fucking what?’

‘That’s what they said.’ Nobul shrugged.

‘We just bloody can’t.’

‘That’s what I thought you’d say. They’ll be leaving just as soon as they’ve burned the dead one. I suppose setting up a pyre is fine?’

Kilgar nodded, though he obviously wasn’t sure. ‘It’s the least we can do. See to it.’

The least they could do.

Was it the least they could do? Could they do more?

It didn’t look like it. A sacrifice was a demand too far. Not that Nobul would have minded. There was one candidate in particular he would have loved to offer up, but he’d never get away with it.

Would he?

The lads built a pyre by torchlight; there was plenty of wood in the store. Then they all stood back and watched the Zatani perform their ritual, growling in their alien tongue. Roaring and raking at their flesh with those claws. When that was all done, Regulus took a torch and lit the pyre. They were silent for that, just watching the sky.

Nobul had no idea what they thought was up there but it seemed pretty important to them. He found himself admiring the Zatani — their nobility, their loyalty. They’d fight for each other till death, and that was a rare thing.

In another few days he’d be atop the wall, facing the savages that were coming to destroy the city. How many lads would give their lives to watch his back? These Zatani knew a thing or two about courage, about brotherhood. It was madness to let them walk away when they could be fighting by his side.

As the fire burned in the courtyard, Nobul made his way down to the cells. The prisoner had been all but forgotten, and when Nobul turned the key and opened the door he half expected him to have escaped.

‘Ah, Nobul,’ said Friedrik with a smile. ‘It’s been too long. I’ve missed you.’

Nobul unlocked the manacles that secured the prisoner to the wall.

‘Where are we going?’ Friedrik asked. He sounded jolly, like they were going for a jaunt around the marketplace. ‘I don’t think I look my best. I hope it’s nowhere important.’

Friedrik winced as Nobul grabbed him and dragged him out of the cell.

‘You know my offer’s still open,’ said Friedrik. ‘Let me go and you can have anything you want.’ When Nobul didn’t respond, Friedrik affected a solemn look even Nobul could see through. ‘Look, I’m sorry about your boy, I truly am. If I could give him back to you, I would. But there must be something else you want.’

Nobul stopped in the corridor.

Friedrik wasn’t sorry one bit. He didn’t regret a thing.

Nobul looked Friedrik in the eye. ‘Tell me where the Guild are, where your partners are, and you’ll live.’

Friedrik looked back at him. He was clearly attempting to remain grave, but his frown turned to a smile and then to a laugh.

‘That’ll never happen,’ said Friedrik. ‘But I’ll tell you what will — if you don’t get me the fuck out of here, you’re going to end up with a sack over your head again. You’re going to end up worse than last time. We gave you a fighting chance then. Next time you’ll be fed to the animals piece by fucking piece.’

‘You first,’ Nobul said, before dragging Friedrik up the stairs and out into the courtyard.

The funeral pyre was burning high now, almost level with the roof of the barracks. The Zatani still looked on in silence, and Kilgar and the lads kept a distance away from them.

Nobul paused for a moment, staring into those flames. He could feel Friedrik clawing at him, asking what the fuck was going on, but he ignored him. This was it. This was where everything would change. This was where he’d leave the last of his humanity behind.

For what you’re going to have to do, that’s the best place for it. Humanity is only there to burden lesser men.

Friedrik struggled as Nobul dragged him across the courtyard. Probably fear of the flames or maybe he’d guessed what was in store.

‘Wait,’ he shouted. ‘Just fucking wait.’

Nobul dumped him on the ground before the Zatani.

‘There’s your fucking sacrifice. You’ll get the rest of what you need as soon as I’m able.’

Regulus nodded his thanks and Nobul stepped back, away from the fierce-looking warriors who now surrounded Friedrik.

‘What’s going on?’ shouted Kilgar.

Nobul held out his arm, pushing the serjeant back. ‘I’ve made a choice,’ he said. ‘They can have their sacrifice. Feel free to try to stop them.’

Kilgar looked on, but made no attempt to intervene.

Friedrik was on his knees, staring out from between the huge killers. All his arrogance, all his confidence, was gone now.

‘Nobul,’ he shouted, his voice breaking as the fear gripped him. ‘I’ve changed my mind. I’ll talk. All right? You fucking win, call them off.’

Too late. Far too late.

Regulus lifted his head and roared to the gathered stars. It was joined by a chorus as the other Zatani let rip. Friedrik began to scream.

He screamed for as long as he was able.