Abuse of Power (Rise of the Mages 1) by Brian W. Foster Read Free Book Online Page B

and massaged his temples for a moment. When he looked at her again, he spoke in a much softer voice. “Please, just tell me.”
    “Fine.” She walked to the oak. “I was engaged to a journeyman blacksmith named Elrich.” Tears welled, and she pushed them down. She missed him so much. “A good man, though young. Tall with lots of muscles.” A lot like August, actually, and in more ways than just looks.
    “Lord Raymon Macias passed through my village one day and saw me. I don’t know if it was a game to him or what, but he decided he must have me.” Her legs felt weak, and she sank onto a stone. “He tried to convince me to bed him a single time, suggesting we do the deed the night before my wedding. No one would ever have to know.” She clutched her hands over her eyes. “It’s all my fault. I held my honor too highly.”
    The tears would no longer be held back. She stared at August. Was he really going to make her continue?
    “Please,” he said. “It helps me to understand.”
    She closed her eyes. “A few days later, Lord Macias returned with a platoon of his father’s soldiers. They dragged Elrich into the village square, claimed he’d cheated them with his work on their armor. The penalty was to be death.”
    Her voice trembled. “Everyone knew the charges were false, of course. Elrich’s work was always impeccable, and he’d never short anyone. No one would say a word against the niskmo, though.”
    “What did you do?” August said.
    “I had no choice but to give into his demands. Right? To save Elrich? So I tried to pull Lord Macias aside, but he wouldn’t even allow me the dignity of conceding in private. He whispered in my ear that I better make it sound like I wanted him, beg for his favor in front of the entire village.” Heat rose to her face. “He made me say things …”
    She tried to meet August’s eyes, but he looked away. He didn’t tell her to stop the story, though.
    “How stupid I was! He’d never given any sign he was anything but purely selfish, but still, I actually expected him to relent, to take me to his bed and let the matter drop. Instead, he laughed at me. Told me he’d see to me after he’d taken care of the thief. Before I even knew what was happening, they’d forced Elrich down with his head over a log and were aiming an ax at his neck.”
    “It’s okay,” August said. “I understand now. You don’t have to …”
    It was too late; she couldn’t stop. “All I wanted was to save his life. I loved him! Don’t you understand? I stretched my arms toward him in horror and wished with all my heart for the ax to fly away.” She barked out a laugh. “And it did. I didn’t mean for it to land on Lord Macias’ foot.
    “Everyone stood there stunned. The tender looked like he was about to declare it a miracle from the Holy One. Then they saw my face and knew the truth. ”
    Alaina grimaced. “My friends, my family … The fear in their eyes.” She cleared her throat and gathered herself. “In the confusion of everyone falling all over themselves to help Lord Macias, I ran. Elrich’s scream tore through me as they cut off his head, but I kept running. I barely managed to get away.”
    The lieutenant placed his hand on August’s shoulder. “You know your duty. Helping an innocent girl escape is one thing. Aiding a mage ...” He grimaced. “She admitted to using magic. She used it in our presence.”
    “That would be a mercy, milord. Truly.” She hugged her arms close about herself. “You don’t understand what it’s like. Put me out of my misery.”
    August stood without uttering a word and walked toward the south.

9.
    Auggie stomped through the woods.
    He wanted to break something. Anything. A branch got in his way, and he snapped it. Better but not good enough.
    Yet again, his duty warred with his wants. Turn Alaina over to a catcher—a responsible one who would perform his charge in a humane manner instead of that odious Emar, of course—or