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But Lymok shouts, “Take him. He is one injured man. ”

Several guards rush around the bed to retake Harok. Demonica takes five of them down, before Harok is disarmed by a huge Exceli warrior. Using a double handed grip to smash his own sword into Harok’s and sending it flying from his hand across the floor of the chamber.

A moment later, two guards drag Tobi away. Harok is being held by half a dozen men, squirming and snarling. “You will suffer for this, Lymok. Let my kushir go.”

Lymok turns to Harok. “Let’s not have any more of that. Chain him,” he snaps.

More guards come forward holding heavy chains. Harok’s wrists are pulled behind him and locked into cuffs. He is chained at his ankles and an iron collar is locked around his neck. All through it he glares at Lymok.

Tobi is pulled over to a corner, by guards who hold his arms bruisingly tight. He struggles, but he cannot get free of their grip on him.

Lymok strolls around the bed, stopping to pick up Demonica. Tobi feels nausea rise to see Lymok touch it. That blade should be in Tobi’s hand and no one else’s.

Lymok approaches Harok. He places the tip of the sword to Harok’s throat. “I should scar you with this thing as you scarred me,” he says in a low voice.

Harok spits in his face.

Lymok laughs. “Irgo Harok,” he says, “you are unfit to rule the Forests of Amber. As the son of Irgo Vahul, I take Urynwud in the name of the true Solwen and the Exceli.”

Mereli steps forward from a position hidden behind three of the larger guards. “Harok,” Mereli says in his rich quavering voice. “I would advise you to surrender. Lymok and his allies in Urynwud have opened our gates to the Exceli. Urynwud is fallen.”

“His supporters!” Harok snarls. “Who set him free of the dungeons? Who has done this?”

Mereli says, “There has long been talk among your council that you must be removed,” he says. “You ejected your own cousin from his seat when he suggested we form a pact with the Exceli. The Exceli are our brothers and sisters. Many in Urynwud detest your insistence on Solwen fighting Solwen. Your war with the Exceli has garnered us nothing but bloodshed. During Surrus moon, Lymok told me he planned to ride out and make a pact with the Exceli himself. Lymok sealed that pact and found a way back into Urynwud to inform me of it. He sent warriors to tell me that he was in the dungeons, I dismissed the rest of his guards and gave orders in your absence for him to be freed. It has been endorsed by the Rose Court of the Azurian Empire. And the terms he has agreed include your removal. You are weak, Harok. And you are a heretic. You have been declared unfit to rule the Solwen by the Great Council of Urynwud and the Leaders of the Exceli.”

“No,” Harok says, his throat moving against Lymok’s sword point. “And you have turned traitor, Mereli? My advisor? My father’s advisor?”

Mereli shakes his head. “I was also Irgo Vahul’s advisor. I serve whoever rules Urynwud. And that is no longer you.”

“I should have killed you like I killed the rest of Vahul’s vile court.,” Harok snarls. “I spared you only because of your bond with my father.”

“Your father was a weak Irgo,” Mereli says in his soft, sorrowful tones. “But you are worse. You combine Lal’s weakness with Vahul’s cruelty.”

Harok says nothing. Mereli’s words seem to slice right to his heart.

“Your savage reign is over Harok,” Lymok says. “You should never have sat the throne. You were chosen as a blood sacrifice and only escaped that fate due to your mother’s foul magicks. Take the ring.”

“No,” Harok bellows. But his chained right hand is taken by two guards. He fights but there are too many of them and the irons hold him fast. The ring with the purple stone is forced from his finger by a guard who walks around the bed to give it to Lymok.

With a small smile, Lymok lowers the sword and puts the ring on the middle finger of his own right hand. “Give him a hip cloth and a cloak and bring him down to the Sacred Hall.”

“And the kushessa?” says one of the guards holding Tobi.

“Bring him too,” Lymok says. “Give him an alit to wear. I am sure there are still many in his chamber.”

The guards obey quickly, as if keen to get as far from Harok as possible. Tobi is taken into his own chamber. An alit is pulled out of a chest by a guard and thrown to him. He has never been more grateful to be given one. He pulls it on quickly and smooths it down.

He is taken from his room along the corridor and down the stairs to the Sacred Hall, shoved roughly by the guards if he does not move fast enough.

The hall is full of Solwen. Some are Exceli, but many are not. It seems Mereli was right that many of the Solwen of Urynwud want Harok removed. But along one side of the room are Solwen who are clearly prisoners. Kneeling. Solwen who refused to accept this pact with the Exceli. Tobi can see the Verilissia amongst them, including Yaelin. And Cel and Ador. Lok however stands free, clearly ready to accept Lymok as Irgo.

Harok is marched in a moment later. The Solwen part for him. He wears a small hip cloth and his cloak. He is still chained.

Lymok follows. He walks up onto the dais. Harok’s ring flashing on his finger. Harok’s wooden crown is on his head. He sits on the throne and Harok’s guards stop on the floor before the dais and force Harok to his knees.

31

HAROK