Chapter 7: A New King

Different emotions raced through Nadya as she returned to the center of the court. Keeping her eyes peeled for any of the strange nomads. When she reach the center she sought out her brother.

One look at her face and Emilian detached himself from his women and made his way toward her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her up and down. She was certain she must look terrible because he gave her a cheerful smile and said,

"Well, sister, looks like its time for bed for you." He gave a little laugh when she weakly tried to pull away. "Here, allow me." He reach down and swept her up. She didn't bother to struggle, just closed her eyes and lay there limply, hoping she was heavy enough to be of at least some burden.

"Emilian!" Emilian turned at the sound of his name to see Marko approaching him. "Where do you think you're going with your lovely sister?" He asked a charming smile on his face.

"To bed, Marko. As you can see she's pretty worn out." He lifted the limp body as proof and Nadya chuckled, remaining limp. She heard Marko's hearty laugh as well.

"Allow me, I believe I'm going to retire as well. Your still a young man, why go to bed early." Emilian looked back at the group of girls longingly before shrugging his shoulders.

"Fine by me." Nadya felt herself being passed from her brothers muscled arms to a pair of strong slender arms. She opened her eyes to find Marko carrying her away from the crowds of gypsies and toward the quiet of her tent.

"I can walk you know." She said looking up. Marko grinned down at her but didn't put her down.

He pushed aside the flap to her tent and placed her gently in her soft bed of blankets and cushions. He took his time lighting a candle and placing it on the little wooden table. Then he took a seat next to her on one of the larger cushions. His hair waved lightly into his face his blue eyes burning even in the faint light.

Nadya had never seen him look so troubled. She placed her hand gently on his arm and he looked up. His face was older now then when they'd first met, but he still had that burning intensity in his eyes. A born leader.

He kept staring at her, and yet she didn't feel awkward under his gaze. He reach out a hand and traced the side of her face with his fingertips. Nadya had known him for many years, but she had never seen him act like this before. Marko and Clopin were eternal youths. Never seeming to act their age.

Nadya took his hand away from her face but held it in her lap instead. He smiled at her and it was a sad smile.

"Your growing up." He said simply. There was worry and sadness in his blue eyes now. "You've changed so much."

He pulled his hand from hers and ran it through his hair.

"I've noticed you know. Its hard not to. You came here a cute little girl; shy and suspicious. And you've grown into beautiful women, just as pretty as Esmeralda. Prettier even in my opinion. A distraction." His eyes met hers. "Always a distraction. And matured with age. In many ways more mature then me."

He gave her a lopsided grin, and she half smiled. Wondering where he was going with this.

"I'm thirty years old, Nadya. And it finally hit me today." He sighed long and slow and spoke into his lap. "When my father made me handle those nomads it just came to me. These are going to be my duties one day. And I've never really cared. I've been to busy messing around. Obsessed with getting into danger and keeping my bed warm at night."

He looked up at her again and she reach out and took his hand again. Trying to be reassuring.

"But it's going to be my responsibilities. And I'm going to own up to it. Starting by acting more my age." He laughed and Nadya smiled.

"You'll be a great leader, Marko." She said truthfully. Marko laughed and pulled her to him. Nadya allowed herself to relax into the hug, resting against his chest. He pressed his lips to her forehead and then stood up.

"Well ma jolie, I must be off to bed." He said cheerfully, kissing her on the forehead again. "Big day tomorrow, I'm going to get up early to see to the morning exit routines with father."

Now his eyes were lit with determination and confidence. She laughed at the look on his face.

"No more sleeping in with your guests?" She asked half jokingly. He turned around and smiled at her, but when he spoke his tone was serious.

"No more of that. I'm a one women man now. I just have to find her." He grinned at her, meeting her eyes for a moment. "Goodnight."

With one last smile he exited the tent.

Nadya laid back on her comfortable pile of cushions and pulled a blanket over herself. She snuggled deeper into her pillows and fell asleep.

SSSSSSSS

A harsh shuffling woke her from her rest. She turned over to see Emilian sprawled out in the bed next to her. Sound asleep.

It must be late then, if he was back. The shuffling started again and she rose from her bed and cautiously approached the entrance of the tent. Everything was quiet and dark. She peeled back the flap of the tent and took a slept outside. It was only semi dark outside the shelter and she could see what was causing the noise.

Two dark men were making there way from tent to tent there feet shuffling against the stone floors as they moved. They held before them long, thin knives. And suddenly she knew who they were. Before she could duck back into the safety of her tent, one of them spotted her.

"Aw, there you are." He said, his voice husky and low. "Mino, I've found her."

The second man turned and they both began to approach her.

"Zito will be pleased." Conzo said "I can understand his obsession now. She's one of the prettiest ones I've seen so far."

"I would've picked the dancer one." Mino said spinning his knife in his hand menacingly.

Nadya backed up, wishing she kept her knife on her at night. But she knew her brother would come at a seconds call. Just as she was about to open her mouth a loud yell came from somewhere nearby.

Mino and Conzo exchanged looks. They came at her faster and before she could so much as open her mouth they had her. One of them clapped a hand over her mouth, the other held her hands behind her back. They hurried forward just as another, louder yell reverberated through the court. It was yell tangled with grief and fury.

"He wouldn't leave without us would he?" Conzo asked and Mino grumbled a reply, speeding up toward the exit.

"Stop right there." Came a deadly quiet voice from behind them. Seizing the moment, Nadya bit down on the hand over her mouth. The owner yelled and released her. She took that second to step down hard on the foot of whoever held her arms behind her back.

She was released quickly with an exclamation of pain. Nadya took several steps back from her captures. Her eyes assessed the scene before her and for a moment she hoped she was simply dreaming.

Marko stood across from the nomads. His hands shaking covered in bright red blood, visible even in the limited light. In one hand he held a shaking dagger. But Nadya knew enough about him to know that he was shaking from rage and not fear.

"Where is he?" Marko asked in the same venomous voice. Mino and Conzo laughed and shook their heads.

"He's gone now. Your majesty." Mino said spitefully his mouth twisted in a sneer; mocking him.

Nadya covered her mouth with her hand as she abruptly realized whose blood that was. Marko would be the king now.

"All that's left is us." Mino continued and Conzo laughed cruelly. They both flashed there knives. Taunting him.

With a yell Marko charged and Nadya screamed as the blades met. She could see people leaving their tents now, heard more screams from a distance, as Molish's body was found.

She saw everything vividly. Saw Marko fighting, two against one. Losing.

She saw gypsies running toward them, much to slow to be real. Clopin in the lead, twin daggers in his hands. He was yelling, his face twisted up in rage and fear for his best friend.

She watched as Marko grunted in pain as one of the knife found a home in his chest. Watched, helplessly, as he fell to his knees dark blood stretching across his blue shirt. She witnessed the light fade from his blue eyes and then dim out.

She fell to her knee's her hand still covering her mouth as she screamed. It felt as though everything that was right and sane was crashing down on her. She screamed again.

Clopin was there now, battling with the murderers. But she saw nothing but the dull, lifeless blue eyes.

More gypsies were there now, there was more screaming, more yelling. Tears fell down her cheeks, her hand still immobile over her mouth.

Then suddenly, strong muscled arms were around her; holding her. She turned into the familiar embrace and let the tears spill. Emilian rocked her gently, whispering to her softly. His voice choked up with unmet sorrow.

There were voices all around them and weakly she pushed herself away from the comfort of her brothers arms. He helped her to her feet and she walked as if in a trance toward Marko.

The crowds around him parted to let her through. Many girls were screaming and crying, men were shouting. All the pandemonium didn't matter. As if in a dream she approached the body.

Marko lay were he had fallen. The black knife still stuck in his chest. Nadya came to her knees beside him and shaking took his cool hand.

Esmeralda was there, tears pouring down her face as well. Her green eye clouded with grief as she took Marko's other hand. Nadya kissed his hand gently, for the last time. Then she rose, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand.

Emilian took her shaking hand and they took a step back to the edge of the crowd. The murderers were on the knees in the center. Clopin stood before them, a dagger pointed directly at each neck.

Cold hatred burned from his black eyes, a hatred Nadya had never seen from him before.

"Hang them!" He bellowed coldly. A yell of approval sounded throughout the crowd. Someone produced ropes and a noose was hung around each mans neck. The crowd cheered as they were pulled to there feet and dragged to the gallows.

Nadya could hear Emilian chanting and pulling her along with everyone else but she only gripped his arm tighter. He pulled her along until they had a front row spot at the gallows.

There the murderers of Marko Fapolii were hung by the neck until dead. Clopin had been the man to pull the lever and his stoney stare didn't look away until the bodies had stopped twitching. As soon as the bodies had been cut down and thrown away to rot a heavy set man stepped up onto the wooden platform.

"And who shall be the King of Tyrants now?" He shouted out to the hyped crowd.

"You, Simzo!" Someone shouted from the crowd. Simzo smiled greasily. The slick smile Nadya had always hated.

"I could lead us." He said as though this thought hadn't already occurred to him. There were some shouts of approval from the crowds below.

"Clopin should lead us!" Came another shout. Simzo glared in the direction but was unable to tell who had spoken.

"Clopin!" Another shouted from the other side of the crowd. Simzo's head spun around and he squinted in the direction of the voice. More shouts of Clopins name came from the rallied crowd.

Not that Clopin appeared to notice. His eyes were set on the limp ropes from which the bodies had just hung. He didn't seem to hear the shouts of the people, calling out his name.

"Yes," Nadya said stepping forward, and surprising even herself. "Clopin should lead."

As though she was the only one he'd heard, Clopin turned his gaze in her direction. His eyes found hers and Nadya was sure that she was the only one who could see the pain there.

Then swiftly it was gone and he was standing before the crowd. His arms spread out, he gave a little bow.

"I except." He said and there was a deafening cheer from the crowd of gypsies. Nadya spotted Simzo grumbling to himself and she found it in herself to smile and cheer along with everyone else.

"Long live Clopin Trouillefou: The King of Tyrants!"

A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed it! Was hard for me to write, but it had to be done. Please review!