The Garnet Dagger Read Free

court.”
    Elders took their seats.
    “Tell all how this atrocity happened. Hide nothing.” His eyes bored into mine.
    All the members of the council stared from their seats.
    Clearing my throat I saw Nivel raise eyebrows, but then nodded for me to tell. Feared the worst, but I would not shame myself or Liana with cowardice.
    Told them of the human clothes, and sneaking out. The vampyre who attacked me. My thoughts of an unknown immunity that did not beckon me to declare him master, but rather end his life.
    I kept my voice steady as I spoke of Liana’s death. Never did I mean her harm.
    The guards holding me by my arms dropped them. Despite my grief I chuckled. No one would ever want to touch me again.
    “Reaper of death,” Liana’s mother choked. “Kill him before we all perish.”
    “Aye.” I implored them. “Kill me and free yourselves. I’ll not bring judgment upon you.” Life for a life, that was our law. I welcomed death, something more permanent then this walking curse.
    A resounding gasp filled the chamber.
    “Who let him read the sacred scrolls?” Elder Jaris swung back his arms.
    “Our destiny,” my father stepped forward. “Read the text to him when he was a child, as my father before me, and so on. As is the custom — I’d no idea he remembered the words.
    “After his marriage, he’d receive the instruction to watch for the sign. Safeguard his sons.” Red crept up the collar of his white tunic. “I failed in my duty. Kill me.”
    “Nay. I disobeyed the laws. My hands removed the life from Liana.” I prostrated myself before them. No one else must die because of me. Another could take the punishment of an accused if both were willing, and I was not. “Challenge not an old man, but kill the disease now.”
    Shouts of agreement rang through my ears. My heart echoed in unison with the stomping of their feet.
    Twang of swords drawn brought determination to my legs. I rose to my knees, then bowed my head for the blow.
    “Wait,” a voice boomed. Nivel rushed forward. “Prophecy foretells our destruction if the dark one perishes. He alone can save us.”
    Silence pounded through the chamber. The marble floor beneath me radiated coldness through my knees.
    “Remove this dark one from our mist while Nivel discusses the prophecies with the council,” Jaris waved the swords back. “Then we’ll determine who is to be executed.”
    Stealing a last look at my father I trudged out of the chambers. Metal points from spears pushed me forward.

Chapter Four
    Secluded within my chambers, I paced. Thousands of regrets paraded through my mind. If only I hadn’t delayed in the village, or paused in the forest.
    Disgusted, I kicked aside my bow. Outside my chambers, soldiers guarded the door.
    I glanced down at my hands. They appeared the same, wide palms, long fingers. But I clenched them. I’d use my power against any if they killed my father or mother.
    Strange, all my life I’d been envious of others of my kind with the hint of magic.
    Often, the greatest could manipulate a glass of water, or a flame. No one had the power to give life, or take it.
    Perhaps, if I found this witch the prophecy spoke of? Drew her blood and redeemed my actions? My hand raked through my hair. How was I to find her?
    My twin sister had been sacrificed to the witches, for it was our law whenever twins were born. The youngest twin, regardless of their gender, was surrendered to the witches. When I asked my father how often twins were murdered, his green eyes, lighter than mine, watered. Twins were rare, born once before, many thousands of years ago. Wasn’t it enough that the witches took my sister? Now they had used their foul magic to contrive this curse upon me.
    Bring this witch now before me and I’d remove her head. Show the elders my proof. Or a thousand witches. I’d kill them all.
    But alas, no witch would be found within these chambers. Nor anywhere within our tree cities.
    Damn the wolves. Their constant