Black Rose (31 page)

She
nodded and allowed Erik to lead her onto the dance floor. A soft tune filled
the room from the royal musicians as the two Captains bowed and began to glide
across the floor. As they transitioned into a more intimate portion of the
dance, the Captain said, “I am glad to see that you took my words to heart.”

“They
were well received,” she replied quietly.

The
two separated momentarily in the twisting of the dance and then turned again,
one towards the other. “He is not what you think,” Erik whispered as he twirled
her in his arms. “He is a monster.”

“What?”
They came to a complete standstill as the music came to an end. “Call on me
tonight,” he whispered as he gave a bow and left the floor. Mara stood
momentarily confounded before finally managing to find her way out of the crowd
to resume her previous position against the stone wall. She re-positioned her
sword at her side and then looked up to find Edward’s dark gaze upon her. She
ignored him, waiting out the end of the festivities before turning to her
chambers.  She replayed the dance for some time before finally emerging
from her room. She walked down a series of long hallways and eventually knocked
on Brendan’s door, awakening the young Lord from his slumber. “Brendan,” she
said. “Do you remember that night, when I declared the right of substitution?”

“Yes,
my Lady.”

“Good.
I want you to keep that in mind when I tell you that I need a favor of absolute
secrecy.” He nodded without speaking, so Mara continued. “I need you to go to
the rooms being occupied by the Muir Court and I need you to bring Captain Erik
here to your chambers. I need you to tell no one—not even Phillip.”

Brendan
nodded and quickly left to carry out her bidding. A few minutes later, Brendan
re-entered the chambers with the Muir Court Captain following closely behind
him. Upon his arrival, she turned to Brendan. “Whatever you may hear, I charge
you to absolute secrecy. Should you by any chance have been seen or be
questioned as to the details of this meeting, you are to say that you, being a
young knight, were honored by the chance to converse with such an esteemed
Captain. Tell them he told you of fighting in the Golden Age of the Roman
Empire and for the glory of ancient Greece.” Brendan gave a bow and moved
towards the far wall without being asked. Then Mara turned her attention to the
Muir Captain. “My Lord?”

Erik
studied her for several moments before speaking. “Honor,” he stated, “is such a
tricky thing. Makes it difficult to know what can and cannot be spoken, before
it exits no more.”

“I
find it hard to believe, my Lord, that one such as yourself could lose your
honor so easily. You are a hero among a sea of legends.”

He
offered a sad smile. “My Lady, if you knew but a fraction of the things I have
done to gain such a reputation, a ‘hero’ is the last thing you would see.”

“And
what would I see?”

“A
killer,” he replied. “Perhaps one of the greatest to ever live, but a killer,
nonetheless.” He took a step forward. “And one day, my Lady, you shall be as
well.”

Mara
stared at him for several long moments. “You would like to speak with me, my
Lord?”

“Only
to tell you that the one you seek is within your grasp. And if you search long
enough, are determined enough, you will find him. But beware—vengeance comes at
a high cost and you may not like what you have become once it is achieved.”

Mara’s
breath caught in her throat. “You know who killed her.”

“That,
I cannot say.”

“Then
why did you ask to speak with me?”

“To
tell you to beware. You may have rejected your title, but the same royal blood
which condemned the Princess to her fate even now flows through your veins.”

“Who
killed our Princess?” she asked again.

“I
can say no more.” Erik reached forward and traced his hand along the side of
her face, brushing through the long strands of her dark hair. “I dread the day
I see you across the field of battle. Yet, I know that the day will come.” He
continued to stare into her violet eyes and then, to her further surprise, he
leaned down and kissed her. “When that day comes, my Lady, consider this
kindness I have shown. Kill me quickly and I shall consider the debt repaid.”

Two
days later, after the members of the Muir Court had been seen safely back to
the edge of their own kingdom, Mara was summoned to the door of the Queen’s
chambers. When she arrived, it was to find other members of the Guard,
including Brendan and Phillip, had also been summoned. “I think she called all
who worked on the Royal detail while the Muir Court was in residence.” Mara
nodded and then proceeded to follow the crowd into the rooms beyond.

The
Queen stood near the center of the room dressed in a silver, full-length gown
with long, flowing sleeves. “Your Majesty.” She bowed, but the Queen did not
glance her way.  Mara swept the room. Garreth, Edward and Jacob stood
several feet to her left while Phillip and Brendan were on her right. Along the
back wall stood several more members of the guard, but their faces were cast in
shadow. She took a step towards Phillip, creating a half-circle around the
Queen, who had turned to address her Captain.

“Is
this all?” the Queen inquired.

“Yes,
my Lady.”

“Good.”
She nodded. “I would like to congratulate you all on a job well done. The
Royals of the Muir Court arrived and left safely. All appears to have gone
smoothly. This speaks to the discipline and loyalty of the members of this
Guard.”

Mara
had to prevent herself from audibly sighing in relief. But relief had come too
quickly.

“Or
are you?” the Queen suddenly asked the Captain.

“My
Lady?”

“Are
you, all of you, my most loyal of knights?” Her gaze traveled the room, but it
was Brendan who her gaze finally settled upon.

“Yes,
my Queen,” he answered tentatively. 

“Then
tell me, young knight. Where were you the night of the final banquet?”

“On
guard in the dining halls, your Majesty.”

“And
tell me, Brendan. What happened after the banquet?”

“My…after?”

“Yes,”
the Queen answered. “What did you do after the banquet?”

“I…”

“What
were you, barely more than a child, doing in a private meeting with the Captain
of the Muir Guard?”

 
Brendan drew a breath and delivered the rehearsed answer. “Captain Erik offered
to tell me a few stories of his victories in Rome and Ancient Greece.” Brendan
forced a nervous smile. “Did you know he actually fought beside Caesar? I had
been dying to hear the tales.”

The
Queen considered him for a moment. “In the middle of the night? You honestly
expect me to believe this story?”

“There
was no time during the day, your Majesty. As the Captains were in meetings
every day of the trip. I was most honored by his agreement to come and speak
with me.”

The
Queen stepped closer to where Brendan stood until she was a few paces
away.  “Perhaps you are telling the truth.” She paused. “Then again,
perhaps you are not.”

“I
assure you, I am.”

Mara’s
eyes closed tightly at the tone in the Queen’s voice—one she knew all too well.

“Hmm,”
the Queen mused. “I suppose this is nothing a few rounds with the lash will not
sort out.”

Mara
drew a breath to speak, when Edward called, “My Queen, I have never known the
boy to lie. You have my word to vouch for his honor.”

“Your
word?” the Queen stated as she turned those dark eyes upon the Captain.

“Yes.”
Edward took a step forward, his hand upon the hilt of the silver blade by his
side. “If the boy says he is telling the truth, there is no reason to
disbelieve him.”

“So
quick to come to his defense, Captain. Perhaps it is you who needs to be
questioned.” She closed the distance between them. “Hand me your blade.”

Mara’s
heart began to race as Edward handed his sword hilt-first to his Queen. She
took the blade in her hand. “Such a magnificent weapon. To think with a single
stroke, you would forever bear its mark.” She shook her head and then tossed
the blade aside. It struck the floor with a loud clatter. “Perhaps something a
little less lethal.” She pulled a smaller, thin blade from her side.

“My
Queen,” Mara interjected, walking quickly across the floor. “The boy is not
lying. He wanted to hear Erik’s stories. I arranged the meeting myself. I can
personally promise it was nothing untoward. There is no need for this.”

“Hmm,”
the Queen answered without removing herself from the man standing in front of
her. “Then it seems only the Captain is in need of a lesson.”

“Please,
your Majesty.” Mara paused a single pace from where the Queen stood. “They did
nothing wrong.”

The
Queen did not reply, but instead raised the blade and sliced through the dark
fabric of Edward’s shirt, revealing the smooth lines of his pale chest.

Mara’s
breathing began to quicken, her heart pounded even harder in her chest. “My
Queen,” she tried again, “please don’t.” Phillip moved forward but froze as
Mara took her last step, placing herself physically between the Queen and her
Captain. “I arranged the meeting.  Punish me, if you must. But Edward had
nothing to do with it.”

“Mara.”
Edward tried to move her, but she brushed him away. 

“Be
careful,” the Queen said. “You give away your weakness far too easily.”

“That
may be,” she replied. “But it does not change the facts. Please.” Mara slid to
her knees and gazed up, meeting the Queen’s gaze with her violet eyes. “Aunt
Clarissa, please.

The
Queen stared down for several moment and her voice grew cold. “That is not
going to work, my child. Not this time.” The Queen moved her thin blade in a
forward motion toward Edward’s left side. It flew forward but instead of flesh,
the blade met the cold steel of Mara’s silver blade.

“Wait,”
Nolan exclaimed from his seat beside Mara. “You raised your blade…to the
Queen?”

Mara
shifted in her seat uncomfortably and exchanged a glance with Garreth, who
cleared his throat. “Yes,” he answered for her. “Mara raised her blade to the
Queen.”

Garreth
could recall the scene as though it had happened only moments before. The sound
of colliding metal echoing through the dark room. The silence which followed.
The men against the far wall surging forward, only to hesitate as the
Sub-Captains pulled their own swords to meet them. All eyes slowly turning to
where Mara sat frozen upon the stone floor, her blade crossed with that of the
Queen’s. 

It
was the Queen who broke the silence. “I could have you killed for this.”

Mara
met her Aunt’s gaze directly. Her heart pounded against her chest, yet her grip
upon her sword remained steady. It was the Queen who pulled back first,
lowering her sword to her side. “Clear the room,” she commanded. “I wish to
speak with my niece alone.”

The
crowd thinned quickly, most relieved to escape the storm to come. Yet Garreth,
Phillip and Edward remained. “I said, alone,” the Queen repeated.

“Your
Majesty,” Edward said from his place behind Mara. “If I could just—”

“Do
as she commands,” Mara cut him off. “She is right. This is between family.
Isn’t it, Aunt Clarissa?”

“Yes.
Garreth, you stay. The rest of you leave, or face my wrath.”

“Mara.”
Edward’s voice betrayed them both.

“Go,”
she said, knowing that if she turned into his dark eyes she would lose all of
her hard-won resolve. Phillip stepped forward and gently began to lead Edward
from the room when he suddenly knelt down and grabbed both her arms. “Mara…”

“Too
late,” she replied refusing to look into his eyes. “I cannot do this with you
here.” He stared at her for a moment. Then he stood and left the room without
another word.

When
only Garreth remained, the Queen turned her dark eyes upon her niece. “You
earned a death sentence today, Mara. Were you aware of this, when you pulled a
blade upon your sovereign Queen?” Mara met the Queen’s gaze directly,
attempting desperately to slow the frantic beating of her heart. “Do you
understand me, niece? For what you have done, I have the right to take your
life.”

“Then
take it, and let us be done with it.”

“Still
in love with him,” the Queen said quietly. “Who would have guessed that after
all these years—after all the pain he has put you through—that you would still
love him enough to put your life between his flesh and my blade.” She shook her
head. “How painful it must be to love someone that much, knowing he has nothing
to offer in return. How…tragic.” She paused. “What a horrifyingly incredible
thing, to love as you do. So…like your mother.” The Queen knelt down until she
was eye level with Mara’s kneeling form. “Tell me, niece, if I ordered Edward’s
life to be taken in your place, would you choose, as did your mother, to follow
him to the funeral pyre?”