The Midnight Star Read Free

They are your masters and untouchable. In return for your loyalty, each of you will receive a gift of five Dumorian safftons and fifty gold Kenettran talents.”
    People murmur in mild surprise, and when I look to my side, I see Magiano glance at me in appreciation.
    Sergio jumps down from his horse and moves forward with a small team of his former mercenaries. They go through the crowd, picking out a person here and there, then drag them forward where Sergio forces them all to kneel before me. Fear washes over these chosen ones. As well it should.
    I peer down at them. As expected, all those chosen by Sergio and his team are strong, muscled men and women. They tremble, their heads lowered. “You have the chance tojoin my army,” I tell them. “If you do, you will train with my captains. You will ride with me to the Sunlands and the Skylands. You will be armed, fed, and clothed, and your families will be looked after.”
    To make my point, Magiano descends from his stallion and approaches them. At each one, he makes a show of digging into his bag and dropping heavy satchels of gold Kenettran talents in front of them. The people only stare. One of them grabs his satchel so frantically that the coins tumble out, glittering in the light.
    â€œIf you refuse my offer, you and your family will be imprisoned.” My tone deepens. “I shall not tolerate potential rebels in my midst. Pledge your loyalty, and I will make sure that promise is worth your while.”
    From the corner of my eye, I see Sergio stir uneasily. His eyes turn to the perimeter of the square. I stiffen. I’ve become very good at knowing when Sergio senses danger. He mutters to several of his men, and they head off into the shadows, disappearing behind a door.
    â€œDo you pledge?” Magiano asks them.
    One by one, they answer without hesitation. I motion for them to rise, and a patrol of Inquisitors comes to lead them away. More able-bodied men and women are brought before me. We repeat the same ritual with them. Then, another group. An hour passes.
    Someone in one of the groups refuses to pledge. She spits at me, then calls me some name in Dumorian that I don’tunderstand. I turn my glare on her, but she doesn’t back down. Instead, she curls her lips.
A defiant one.
    â€œYou want us to fear you,” she growls at me, speaking now in accented Kenettran. “You think that you can come here and destroy our homes, kill our loved ones—then make us grovel at your feet. You think we will sell you our souls for a few coins.” She lifts her chin. “But I am not afraid of you.”
    â€œIs that so?” I tilt my head at her curiously. “You should be.”
    She challenges me with a smile. “You can’t even bring
yourself
to spill our blood.” She nods in the direction of Sergio, who has already started to draw his sword. “You have one of your lackeys do it for you. You’re a
coward queen
, hiding behind your army. But you cannot crush our spirits beneath your Roses’ heels—you cannot win.”
    At one time, I might have been intimidated by words like these. But now I just sigh.
You see, Magiano? This is what happens when I show kindness.
So while the woman continues her speech, I swing down from my stallion. Sergio and Magiano watch me in silence.
    The woman is still talking, even as I stop before her. “The day will come when we strike you down,” she’s saying. “Mark my words. We will haunt your nightmares.”
    I clench my fists and fling an illusion of pain across her body. “I
am
the nightmare.”
    The woman’s eyes bulge. She lets out a choked scream as she falls to the ground and claws at the dirt. Behind her, the entire crowd flinches in unison as eyes and heads turn awayfrom the sight. The terror flowing from her feeds directly into me, and the voices in my head explode into shouts, filling my ears with their delight.
Perfect. Keep