“It’s easier to tolerate than a kiss from you,” I retorted.
He flinched, but quickly regained his composure to say, “This ends today. At noon, I’ll meet my subjects in the palace courtyard. Most of them will bow simply to avoid any trouble.”
I tugged again at the glass, biting down on my lip to remain strong enough to continue. Meanwhile, Joth used his hands to raise all the other pieces of glass over my head.
“A few may stubbornly resist. For their benefit, Simon has challenged me to a duel. When I defeat him—and I will defeat him—he will kneel or die in his place. Then the rest of the citizenry will be given the same choice. The end of this story has already been determined, Kestra. Please stop fighting me. Reconnect powers with me and let us return to a true partnership once more.”
“We never were partners, and this fight is only just beginning.” I yanked out the shard of glass at the very same moment as he let the pieces of glass fall. I searched for a way to stop them and failed, but the glass fell in a perfect circle around me … as if I were protected by some sort of barricade.
“You half-lives are my subjects!” he screamed. “Betray me here and I will never heal you. I will destroy what is left of you, just as Endrick destroyed so many others!”
“Attack him,” I said to those same half-lives. “You have nothing to lose now.”
Joth attempted to shield himself, but the half-lives pushed straight through his protections, rolling over him and leaving him gasping for breath. He would be vulnerable now, as vulnerable as I had been last night down in the tunnels. This might be my only chance.
I stood again, though I was limping as I moved toward him, my sword out and ready.
He leaned up on his arms, raising one hand in a defensive position. “If you intend to strike, do so with mercy. Kestra, this isn’t me. Surely you will not be cruel when the same corruption is in you. We are both victims to its power.”
“Kneel to me,” I said.
He glanced at my injured leg. “You need help, or that will bleed out.”
“My leg is fine.”
“It’s not. Perhaps you should kill me now,” he said. “Otherwise, when I get my strength back, you know that I will attack you again. With that injured leg, I will easily win.”
I did know that. This is how I must have been last night, in the tunnels with Harlyn. But I struggled with the memory. My mind had been playing tricks with me down there. Right now, full of strength and magic and once again within reach of great power, wasn’t this what I wanted?
I looked up at the Scarlet Throne, unscathed despite the battle Joth and I had just waged. The throne was mine.
Yet something last night had changed me. I was prepared to kill Joth here, if necessary, but I had no wish for that, nor would I find any satisfaction in his death. I preferred to show him mercy and hope he accepted my terms.
“I’ve got to weaken you further,” I said to him. “If you cooperate, you will live, but I need you to be unable to use your powers until your mother discovers a way to withdraw the corruption. Go to your knees.” That way I could reach his neck without him being in easy reach of me.
“If my mother succeeds, will you connect with me once more?”
“No, Joth.” My voice was gentle, but his body contracted at my words. I had not wanted to hurt him, but there was clearly danger in any connection between his magic and mine. “Now please, go to your knees and live.”
He obeyed and lowered his head, his hands in his lap. I approached him cautiously and put my hand on his neck, but the second I began to pull strength from him, he muttered, “Or you will go to your knees, and die.”
Joth twisted around with one leg, and I was swept off my feet, landing hard on my shoulder and injured leg. I rolled to one side to gather my breath, then felt myself being sent backward toward the shattered windows. I tried to find anything to hold on to, anything to slow the speed at which I was headed toward the edge.
Then I went over it.
I’d escaped the throne room this way before, but Basil had been ready with a net below to catch me. Now there was nothing, only a long fall to the hard ground. I passed treetops and leaves and lost consciousness somewhere on the way down from a limb of a tree.
My last thought was that I was nowhere near the ground. But I soon would be.
Shortly before noon, the palace courtyard was so packed with people that a gnat wouldn’t have fit inside. Few of them would have chosen to be here, but nobody wanted to be reported as absent, should Joth win. And if I was being honest with myself, he likely would.
In the center of the courtyard, a raised platfo
rm had been built so that everyone would have an easy view of the events. Or I hoped they could see us. My only chance today was to get the public on my side.
Once I stepped onto the platform, I made a full rotation, surveying each group in attendance. Most of the Alliance members were here, but I also saw Dallisor nobility, former Dominion soldiers, and a surprisingly high attendance of civilians, the majority of whom I assumed had been Loyalists. I wondered how many of them would quickly claim allegiance to the victor of this duel, simply as a means of survival.
“Listen to me now!” I hoped my voice would carry to the farthest corners of the courtyard. “I will be the first to stand against Joth Tarquin today, but I hope that I will not stand alone. Joth can attack one or two or maybe three of us at a time, but hundreds of us are here. Fight with me, and his reign will end today.”