Deathstalker 08 - Deathstalker Coda

That’s why I didn’t take you alive. I couldn’t leave you to the mercies of the mob.”
    And that was how the others found him, when they trailed back into the court. King Douglas, sitting on his throne as though he belonged there, and always had. There was quite a crowd in the court. Lewis and Jesamine, Brett and Rose, Diana and Alessandra, Crow Jane and Joy, and Carrion. And Gil Akotai, who had finally led his troops to the palace, and had gone in alone to find out why the hell all the thralls had suddenly fallen down. He peered uncertainly about him, a little cowed about being in the presence of so many heroes and legends. They all looked at Finn’s beheaded body, and everyone seemed to relax a little.
    Douglas smiled tiredly down from his throne, and they all nodded back, in their various ways. And then everyone looked at Lewis and Jesamine, to see what would happen next. Lewis put away his sword, and smiled at Douglas, who smiled back. And then the King got up off his throne and came down the steps to embrace his old friend and partner. They held each other tightly for a long moment, and then stood back to look at each other.
    “We’ve come a long way,” said Lewis. “To end up right back where we started.”
    “And all of it my fault,” said Douglas. “Oh, Lewis, I’m so sorry . . .”
    “No, I’m sorry . . .”
    They both laughed quietly.
    “I heard about your father,” said Lewis.
    “I heard about your Clan,” said Douglas. “I suppose we’re both orphans now.”
    “No,” said Lewis. “We’re brothers. In every way that counts.”
    “I hear you’ve been doing amazing things,” said Douglas. “I kept up with news of your travels and triumphs, in the Rookery. I was half expecting you to turn into miracle workers, like Owen and his people. Throwing lightning bolts about and healing the sick with your touch.”
    “They were legends,” said Lewis. “I always thought it was more important to remain human, with human limitations. So we could all come home again. I don’t think Owen will ever be back.”
    “Of course, you met him! The blessed Owen himself! What was he like? Anything like the legends?”
    “He was a Deathstalker,” said Lewis. “And the finest of us all.”
    Douglas waited, and then realized that was all he was going to get. He considered Lewis thoughtfully. “You have a following now, Lewis. You could take the throne, if you wanted. You could make yourself King.”
    “I never wanted to be King,” Lewis said easily. “Hell, I never even wanted to be Champion.”
    “That was then, this is now,” Douglas said firmly. “I’m going to need a Champion I can depend on, as I start putting the Empire back together again. Be my Champion, Lewis. Be my right hand, and my conscience.”
    “What about Jesamine?” said Lewis, and the quiet in the court seemed to deepen as everyone waited for Douglas’s reply. Jesamine seemed content to wait forever for him to speak. And then Nina Malapert came bustling through the doors into the court, with three news cameras bobbing along behind her. She squeaked loudly at the sight of so many famous faces in one place, waved cheerily to Douglas, and started bossing the cameras about to get the best angles. Douglas regarded her fondly.
    “Jes belongs with you, Lewis. She always did. I . . . have someone else I care about.”
    Lewis looked at Nina, with her gaudy clothes and pink mohawk, and raised an eyebrow. “You always did have appalling taste in women, Douglas.”
    “I’m glad you’ve found someone,” said Jesamine.
    Douglas looked at her. “Did you ever love me, Jes? Even for a moment?”
    “I might have,” said Jesamine. “If things had been different.”
    She linked her arm through Lewis’s and Douglas smiled on both of them. And for the rest of his life he never told Jesamine that he loved her, and always would. He never told anyone. Because he was the King, and he knew his duty. Some secrets should remain secrets, for the good of all. He looked round sharply, as Stuart Lennox lurched through the doors and into the court, leaning heavily on Jas Sri; both of them battered and bloody but grinning widely with the joy of being still alive when so many others had died.
    “Sorry, Stuart,” Douglas said cheerfully. “It’s all over, and you missed it. The uber-espers are defeated and Finn is dead. Not a bad day’s work, all told. So, Stuart—how would you like to train and lead a new order of Paragons? And