Sure enough, Tess emerged on the highest, most ornate and most pronounced balcony of the rotunda, made from chiselled quartz blocks. There was no hint of joy on her face. There was only a scowl as she looked down on all the soldiers. Gazing back up at her and cowering under her intimidating leer, they were all silent. Finally, Tess spoke.
“Last night,” Tess announced, “our hostages from the Adorian Village escaped captivity.”
A collective gasp rolled across the soldiers as they realized what that meant.
“To escape, the hostages tunnelled through a five-block-thick wall of solid obsidian,” continued Tess. “This is a feat that would take at least two full days to complete if done by anything other than a diamond pickaxe. And seeing as no guards saw any sign of an escape in progress during their check-ups, this can only mean that somebody in this room managed to sneak a diamond pickaxe to the hostages.”
A collective burst of panic rose off the crowd, and though nobody dared to speak, the tension in the room could be cut with a sword.
“I know that someone among us is the traitor,” Tess said slowly as her eyes swept over the soldiers below her. “If you step forwards and reveal yourself to me now, then you shall simply be executed by firing squad, quickly and painlessly. However, if you don’t, then I shall be forced to begin interrogations, and when I discover who it is, you will be tortured without mercy before you become food for the Zombie villagers. If anybody would like to speak out, you may do so now.”
G, who was struggling to keep his own heart from exploding with panic, heard Jayden beside him take a deep breath, let it out, and then raise his hand.
“I confess,” Jayden said, a slight warble in his voice. “I did it.”
G’s mind went blank, refusing to comprehend what was happening. He turned to stare at Jayden in utter shock, totally blindsided and utterly bewildered by what his best friend had just said.
“Is that so?” asked Tess, a hint of surprise in her voice as all the soldiers around Jayden backed away from him in abhorrence. G followed suit, convinced that he had gone totally insane. “How did you do it, Drayden? And what was your motivation?”
“My name is Jayden!” he exclaimed, pulling off his black leather cap, throwing it to the ground, and stomping on it. “I am a member of the governing council of Element City and a friend of President Stan2012. I have been living undercover among you for these past weeks, working to free the hostages you have taken from us. Now, my work here is done.” A manic smile crossed Jayden’s face as he pumped his fist into the air and, with patriotic fervour, he bellowed, “LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC! LONG LIVE PRESIDENT STAN!”
G’s mind was still reeling from what was going on. He was hardly able to comprehend that Jayden had just revealed himself for no good reason, and that soldiers were drawing their bows and taking aim at him. Suddenly, a lightbulb clicked on in G’s head. There was at least one good thing that could come from this turn of insanity. G leaped forwards and into the ring, letting the overwhelming despair that was boiling inside him burst from his mouth.
“How could you do this?” G shouted, tears streaming down his face as he let all the white shock he was feeling burst through his voice. “You were my friend! I trusted you! How could you work for that evil president?”
Jayden glanced back at G, and caught his eye. For an instant, he looked miserable, as if all he wanted was to be able to say “sorry.” However, the look soon vanished, to be replaced by nothing but zeal.
“I’d never lower myself to the level of calling myself the friend of a Noctem!” Jayden spat in disgust.
There were so many things that G longed to say but knew he couldn’t. He was forced to simply stand still, quiet and motionless. It was all the same, though. Words could not describe the agony that wrenched his heart as two soldiers pinned Jayden to the ground, and a third raised a bow to his head. G looked away, preparing for the arrow to fly.
“Hold your fire!” Tess’s voice rang out from the balcony above.
G looked up, hardly daring to believe his ears. The collective group of soldiers, including those who were restraining Jayden, seemed to follow suit as their eyes locked on Tess. She was staring back and forth between Jayden and G, an intrigued look on her face. G’s heart skipped a beat. Did she suspect something?
“Executioner, stop,” Tess said again, holding up her hand. “I have a better idea. All troops, move out. Leave this rotunda. Guard and MasterBronze, stay put.”
G was petrified as the troops began to move out around him, giving him uncomfortable glances as they flooded through the doors. The executioner put his bow away and drew a glowing diamond sword, jabbing it up against Jayden’s back and grunting, “Hands in the air, dirtbag.” Jayden complied, and his eyes darted to the side and met G’s. He could tell they were both thinking the same thing.
Tess knows, G thought in a panic. She’s got to know. Why else would she have singled me out? All the recruits probably realize that Jayden and I have been talking this entire time. And why did Jayden reveal himself anyway? She might not have ever guessed it was me. He didn’t need to sacrifice himself!
The sounds of footsteps on the stone-brick floor echoed throughout the cavernous rotunda as Tess made her way to the centre. G and the executioner snapped to full attention as Jayden scowled at her.
“General Tess,” the guard asked in disbelief, “why did you tell me not to execute this spy?”
“Trust me,” Tess replied, a devious grin creeping across her face, “I know what I’m doing. Guard, you are dismissed now.”
The guard stared at Tess with a total lack of comprehension, and then turned round and made his way to the door, grumbling the whole way. Jayden watched as he went, hands still raised, and Tess drew a glowing diamond sword from her own inventory, pointing it at Jayden.
“MasterBronze,” Tess said slowly, turning to face G, “I understand that you are friends with this traitor. Is this correct?”
“I thought I was,” G grunted, trying to sound hurt and betrayed, and not let his true dread be too obvious. “He always seemed like such a nice guy, I can’t believe that he’s been working for President Stan this entire time.”
“Well, I hope that you can bring yourself to believe it,” Tess chuckled, “because you’re going to be the one who kills him.”
G heard, but he didn’t understand. “I’m … sorry …?” he finally croaked.
“For the past few weeks, I have been training you as my apprentice, MasterBronze,” Tess continued matter-of-factly. “I must say that, so far, I am quite impressed by your progress in combat and skills training. However, if you are truly going to become a great leader of the Noctem Alliance, you must learn to make sacrifices for the sake of our cause … even if it means stabbing your best friend in the back. And besides, if your loyalties are in the right place, then you should be able to get over it quickly.”
G stared blankly at Tess, still not understanding what he was being asked. Then, out of the corner of his eye, G saw Jayden staring at him with wide, fearful eyes, and finally snapped back to his senses.
“Um, well …,” G sputtered, trying to think fast. “I mean … General Tess, ma’am … can I at least kill him in private? It’s … going to be difficult enough without you watching.”
Tess sighed and rolled her eyes. “Whatever. We’ll go to the holding chamber. Move it, you worthless piece of trash!”
Tess poked the diamond sword into Jayden’s back and he began to walk forward, hands still raised above him. G followed Tess down the hallway. He realized that they were headed towards the room where Sirus and the others had been imprisoned. G glared with contempt at the back of the general who was walking in front of him, and his hand started to crawl towards his pickaxe before he stopped himself. As easy and satisfying as it would have been to strike Tess