Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 by Galvin, Aaron (top 5 books to read TXT) 📗

hand to take over instead and bring a swifter end to silence such woeful cries. Aye, and especially if that hand were meant to be the one sending your soul off to swim the green waters.”

“The king?” Sydney cocked an eyebrow. “Darius was the executioner?”

“He was meant to be,” Malik snorted. “Until his repeated failures led my father to take over. The wisest say history often repeats itself. I’ve thought long on the wisdom of such words during these traitor trials. To my mind, it ought to be your father passed his judgement and justice both from the moment he questioned your mother’s fealty. But now, as then, he would rather me, or your feeble horse-lord, carry out the verdicts and the consequences for his judgement instead.”

Sydney’s pulse quickened as Malik grew still and quiet. Is that why you’ve come here tonight? Her tail swooped from side to side. To carry out his judgement?

“No. There is no true justice, nor trial, to be weighed on you, girl. No true justice upon the queen either,” Malik nodded toward her shark tail. “All the proof one needs concerning your mother’s guilt is there, as I could have easily shown to the crowds to condemn you and the queen whenever I chose during these past days.” He grinned again. “Let you ask yourself why I did not.”

So, you have come to kill me, then, Sydney stuttered. Just like you killed my brother and all the others?

“Quite the opposite,” Malik chuckled. “And I didn’t kill your brother.”

Yes, you did, said Sydney. I know it was you. I knew the second I saw my brother’s body.

“More proof of just how little you know, then, girl.” Malik approached the tank, delight dancing in his eyes. “For how do you claim to know it was truly your brother’s body I presented to the crowd? Why not some other doomed and nameless savage to take his place instead?”

Because you had Barb too. Sydney’s brow wrinkled. And . . . and I saw him. You had your Orcs put Jun’s body inside the tanks on display for all to see.

“You saw what I wanted you to see, girl,” said Malik. “Just as the king swallowed the same sad story my Orcs and I sold him and all those in the crowd today also. Truth be told, I believe I nearly had your mother sold on the lie as well. But then, she would be the only one to know the real truth of all those who bore witness today.”

Sydney choked. You . . . you’re saying Jun is alive?

“I think it likely,” said Malik. “My Orcs found his guardian, but, to her credit, the Merrow guardian proved more cunning than my Violovar thought of her. I gather she must have wizened to my seawolves tracking her somehow. Either way, your mother’s friend, Barb, cast herself upon the nearest sword, rather than she allow my Violovar to question her for the prince’s whereabouts. A brave Merrow, that one. No wonder your mother left the guardianship of the prince in her keeping.” He shrugged. “Then again, no doubt your mother warned all of those watching over your brother that someone should come to look for him, in time. Still, whether his guardian hid your brother, or sent him elsewhere with others loyal to your mother, I do not know yet. Either way, my Violovar continue to seek him out.” His face darkened. “And they will stop at nothing until they find Prince Jun, I assure you.”

Sydney shook her head. No. You’re lying. This is all just another one of your sick games. Why would you tell me all these things, if they weren’t just more lies to torment me?

Malik laughed. “Why would I wish to torment you, girl?” He asked. “What purpose would that serve for me to taunt an ignorant, spoiled whelp that I already own as my prisoner and have long known to be a fool already?”

Sydney ignored the slight. I don’t know, she said honestly. But I don’t know why you and the king dress me up as a princess and keep pretending that I’m still his daughter either. Or why you’re keeping me in this tank at all, if you already know that you’re going to kill me.

“Perhaps the king has not truly decided what to do with you yet,” said Malik. “Or, say rather, perhaps he’s waiting for me to tell him what to do.” The Blackfin chuckled. “Yet another sign of the king’s incompetence and cowardice. Make no mistake, child, if you were the daughter of my mortal enemy, you and your mother would already be long dead.” He patted the pommel of his sword. “Aye, and by my hand and blade too. Despite all that has been done to him, however, all the wounds given him by those he loved, King Darius the Sweet remains now as he was on the day that I saw him given a different traitor to execute. All these long years, and still he is weak and broken to such action and willful resolve.”

Sydney sneered, the image of Darius idly watching the trials and executions burned into her mind.

Malik cued on her silence. “You doubt me?” He scoffed. “That’s fine. That you still live is a testament to my words, girl. I did not come here to debate our thoughts on the king though. I came here with an offer in earnest for you. An escape from this prison, if you would like.”

You would want me to believe that, said Sydney. But you were the one to put me here. Why would ever help me to escape?

“For the same reason I placed you here to begin with,” said Malik. “It serves my needs, Princess.”

I’m not a princess, said Sydney.

Malik smirked. “The king says you are . . . and the people still believe it, despite all else they’ve seen today. You can thank your mother for that, at least. By bringing you here and leaving your brother behind, she