Free The Beast of the North by Alaric Longward Page A

here. For us to be partners, I need some assurances. You understand this?’
    Would they take my family as a hostage? I cursed under my breath while I was nodding.
    The Horns clapped his hand on my shoulder. ‘They are safe. So are you. Don’t be so afraid. Understand you are ours for now. Obviously our deal with the Blacktower family has to be sealed,’ the silver one said unhappily, ‘but we will control you. They won’t. They would never have controlled the doppelganger, anyway. They are nobles, and while such creatures are as decrepit as we are in many ways, they have no ways to manipulate the lower folk, and lesser folk will do well in killing a queen. The men who will kill the queen are creatures of crude habits and no sense of honor.’
    ‘I see,’ I breathed. ‘And so I’m your guest now? With no access to the outside world.’
    ‘Yes,’ it said. ‘And no access outside.’
    I rubbed my head. ‘If Shaduril fails to kill the king, assuming I kill the queen, of course, will you and the Blacktowers take the Tower of the Temple? Surely, you won’t just wait until he comes to fillet you in revenge? And if you do, how? I hear it is impregnable. The Tower. That there is only one access, and it is well guarded. And army would fail—’
    ‘Do not worry about such plans. Worry about your part,’ it said.
    ‘But—’
    ‘You are a Grim Jester now, Maskan,’ the Horns told me and yanked at my chains. They opened up, the metal and leather were broken. I stared at the sight of torn fetters in shock That had been a clear message to end all further arguments, and I took note of it. My face shifted, and I retook my own face. ‘Much better,’ the silver one said with an approving voice. It leaned closer. ‘Understand, my friend, that if you do not do this, we will murder your mother, your half sister, and brother, your stepfather. And perhaps, now, even your Shaduril. It is not beyond us. Say, “thank you.”’
    ‘Thank you,’ I told it as I sat up, feeling rotten and beset by fears. My neck hurt and so did my face, where the brute had struck me. ‘So.’
    It waved its hands, pleased. ‘We will train you. I shall give you some more information. Falg is a slave, and as a slave to the queen, he has habits and arrogance of a king himself. He is also a warrior and occasionally sneaks off to fights in the Dark Sands events. He has a partner, and they do very well,’ I was told as I got up. The figure and my new master or mistress—I still did not know which—was shorter than it seemed. ‘He will fight the day we shall exchange him with you. Perfect opportunity, no? Alrik found this out, by the way. We know the date of the queen’s visit, and we learned there were wagers made for Falg in the Tenginell house by the guards. For that very day, she is there. He will leave her for a while. You will need to train, and the plans have to be perfect. Though, perhaps not all that accurate. People see your new face, and they have no reason to doubt there has been any change. All you have to do is to act the part. Shaduril Blacktower will be happy, so will her father. And brothers and sisters. They shall all be heroes! Perhaps even elevated in the ranks of the city. Royals, if they are ambitious, or close to it, after all.’ There was a hint of amusement in the voice.
    ‘Murderous family,’ I told it. Such a sweet thing a killer?
    ‘Yes, but that is the way of change. It takes place only through a hail of blood. The Brothers will be the problem. They have to die, all Danegell guards. Not sure how Balan Blacktower plans on taking care of them, and I can see why you worry. They will have to go. All the witnesses as well, of course,’ the Horns chuckled dryly, and I decided I was a witness already.
    What the Hel am I doing? I thought. I’m dead. ‘Indeed,’ I said with a grin, massaging my legs as I walked up the slope. To the left and right, there were cells. I did not turn to stare inside the musty, smelling