Free The Crown of the Usurper by Gav Thorpe Page A

jabbing the butt of his spear into the throat of another blackcrest.
      A shout of alarm echoed down the passageway as Muuril followed Gelthius, the blackcrests only a few paces behind. Gelthius ran and ran, passing through archway after archway as he headed towards the main entrance of the palace. He ripped off his helmet and let it drop from his fingers as he skidded on a rug laid across the smooth floor. Muuril had caught up with him and the two almost fell down in a tangled heap, the sergeant hurdling Gelthius' skidding body at the last moment.
      Barging through a door to their left, they burst into a small garden between the wing and the main palace. There were four legionnaires in the green-and-grey of the Twenty-first guarding an open gate on the far side of a pond. Gelthius and Muuril splashed through the water and reached the legionnaires, panting heavily.
      "Fucking blackhead cunts want for us," gasped Muuril as he pushed between the bemused legionnaires. "Do the captain and me a favour, eh?"
      Gelthius did not wait to hear agreement as he pushed on through the tunnelway beyond the gate. At the far end an archway led into the main palace and his sandals slapped on the marble of the grand foyer. He had never seen marble before he had gone to Magilnada, and when he had first set foot inside Asuhas' palace he had been astounded to see an entire greeting hall made out of green-veined stone. Now he didn't pay it a second look as he hurtled through the crowds of petitioners and functionaries milling between two curving sets of steps leading up to the main audience hall.
      He aimed for the sunlight streaming through the row of open doors and reached the threshold as sounds of shouting and fighting erupted behind. Crashing into one of the doors he looked back, expecting to see Muuril in the altercation, but the sergeant was hot on the captain's heels. Beyond him, soldiers from the Twenty-first and the blackcrests fell brawling into the foyer. The legionnaires stationed at the entrance heard the ruckus and piled across the entrance hall to help their comrades.
      "Let's ditch this weight," panted Muuril, pulling open a buckle that kept his breastplate in place. The two quickly shed the bronze armour while a crowd of amazed onlookers gathered around; nobody tried to interfere.
      Thus lightened, Muuril and Gelthius ran out onto the broad steps that led down to the city square. The clamour from inside faded as they sprinted down the steps, taking them three at a time. The square was thronged with the noble's market; stalls with expensive jewellery, clothes, pets and all manner of luxuries were laid out in rows; the high born and aspiring rich of the city and their entourages glided slowly between the stalls and soon Muuril and Gelthius were lost in the throng.
     

IV
    Anglhan stood looking at the tapestries while Asuhas received a report from the captain of the Brotherhood guards. The governor of Ersua had been less than pleased to become an acquaintance of Anglhan but was too afraid of Leraates and the Brotherhood to do more than complain about the situation. Asuhas' weakness had made it easy for Anglhan to present himself as an ally, a conspirator that would help Asuhas loosen the grip of the Brotherhood on his office. The former governor was reminded of the boast Asuhas had made earlier: "We Askhans learn from our mistakes as well as our successes. Something you Salphors are not so good at."
      Perhaps Anglhan did not think like a Salphor, and had never thought like a Salphor. He was not about to repeat his previous mistakes. Some men might give up on lofty goals after a disaster like Magilnada, but to Anglhan it was just another lesson in life to be heeded and built upon. A man not as driven as Anglhan might have concluded that he had become greedy and should have been content with the governorship of an Imperial city rather than manoeuvring to become ruler of his own kingdom. Anglhan pitied this