“Get the royal physician!” Pan called out.
The Hapsid guards looked at each other dumbly. They had been bred for guard duties and battle, not for thinking. Yet Pan didn’t for one minute believe they couldn’t understand such a simple instruction.
“Get him now!” Go!”
Seronisis cradled Bathor as a small contingent of Hapsid troopers ran back the way they had come earlier that morning.
“I’m sorry, brother,” Seronisis said, sobbing. “I had no idea how much you hated me.”
Bathor coughed and a small fountain of blood erupted from his mouth. “I…never hated…you.” He coughed again. “I just… loved…the throne more.”
There was a final, feeble, cough and Bathor’s body went limp. Without a word, Seronisis bowed his head and sobbed into his brother’s hair.
Pan, whose tears were now streaming down h
