Cassandra's Challenge (84 page)

With the water still pouring over them they try
to breath. Cassandra’s arms are locked around his neck, legs around
his waist keeping her from just puddling at his feet.

“You and I are going to have a long discussion
on your fantasies.” William straightens a wicked gleam in his
eye.

“I have lots and lots of them.” William finds he
can only grin at the thought.

Turning off the water he eases her feet to the
floor. Reaching for a towel he begins the enjoyable task of drying
her.

“Do you realize how precious you are to me?”
Cassandra’s eyes darken as he tenderly wipes the moisture from her
hair. “I thought I knew my place. What my life was to be, where it
was going, was content with it. Then you entered my life. And I
discovered I’d been living only half a life. You gave me love,
honesty, trust, and asked for nothing in return. You stand. For
what you believe, against any who disagree, even me. And you
protect. The innocent and those you love, including me. You are my
love, my life mate, my wife. You make me a better man.”

“William….”

“Shhh….I’m winning this one so be quiet.”
Kissing her he pulls her close. “Now, since you won’t rest, you
will
eat.” Turning her he guides her out of the
bathroom.

Sliding her half eaten meal away she sees
William frown. “I’m fine. If I get hungry later I’ll ask Hutu for
something.” Reaching she touches his hand. “I promise.”

“It’s going to be a long day.”

“I know. Before you walk me through it, Lucas is
set? For Victoria? Everyone has been covered?”

“It’s taken care of, do you want to know?”

“No. I’m sorry. I’m not doubting you.”

“You just needed it verified.” Squeezing her
hand he lets her know he understands.

“Yes, now I can forget about it. So walk me
through today.”

“We’ll need to leave for the Assembly by 1200.
Jotham has made Limisins available for us.”

“We all go?”

“Hutu will remain behind, he knows what to do.
All guards go. Deffand’s men will guard the Wing.”

“Including Ensign Paa?”

“Unless you object.” Watching her he waits.

“No I don’t object. He’ll need his weapon and
communicator.”

“You trust him?”

“You do, that’s good enough for me.”

“We will be one of the last to arrive. Assembly
guards will escort us to our places on one side of the speaking
platform. Queen Yakira entourage will be seated on the other
side.”

“She’ll make sure she arrives after us.”

“Yes, so she can make her grand entrance.”

“Do you think she’ll be a giant blue ball
again?” Her eyes sparkle at him.

He can’t stop himself from laughing at the
image. “I doubt it. She’ll be wearing full Royal attire, a gown of
some sort that reveals her birthmark, but her royal robe and crown
will be prominent. She’ll want to show
she
is the
Queen.”

“Smart move.” Standing she walks to the
window.

“It will play with those who don’t know you.”
Watching her he wonders what she’s thinking.

“They will be making a visual comparison,
something to consider. What’s next?”

“The Head of the Assembly, Terwilliger, will
call the Assembly to order and present you as the Challenger.”

“Will I need to stand and approach? Or just
stand?”

“You will need to approach acknowledge the
Assembly, and you present your Challenge to the Assembly.”

“No.”

“No? What do you mean no?” William stiffens.

“Yakira will have to defend her throne
first.”

“Cassandra, a very strict procedure is followed
in a Challenge.”

“I know and if the gatherings had been completed
then the Challenger must present first.
But
if the Challenge
is called, for any reason, then the defending Queen
must
speak first. The rule was established to prevent just what Yakira
is attempting.”

“You’re sure of this?” William wonders why he’s
even questioning.

“Yes. And I’ll bet you all the credits Lucas
owes me that neither Audric nor Yakira realize it. There’s no
reason for them too. The Challenge has never been called
before.”

Leaning back William thinks about what she’s
telling him. “Yakira won’t be expecting it. The Assembly can’t just
vote to deny your Challenge.”

“No and that’s what Audric is counting on. They
had enough supporters to call the Challenge. He’ll assume this is
all a formality.” Walking over she settles into his lap.

Pulling her against his chest he finishes her
thought. “She’ll appear unprepared and uninformed at an Assembly
she
called. That won’t go over well.” Absently he rubs his
ring on her finger.

“Is Terwilliger going to give me any trouble
when I call him on it?” With her head on his shoulder she burrows
in, letting her arms settle around his waist.

“You know exactly where this procedure is, page,
code?”

“Of course.” She sends him an insulted look.

“Of course you do.” He kisses her nose smiling.
“Terwilliger will look it up, if he doesn’t already know it and
will concede you’re correct. He’ll enjoy doing it too. He can’t
stand Audric.”

“I hadn’t realized that.”

“Terwilliger’s been in the game a long time. He
knows better than to say anything publicly.” The silence between
them is comfortable, each thinking about what needs to be done
while enjoying the others closeness.

“Aunt Cassie! Uncle William!” They both look
towards the hallway as they hear Victoria.

“Tori, they may still be sleeping.”

“Hutu said he brought them breakfast
ages
ago.”

“We’re up, come on back.”

“See!” Victoria rushes into the room. “Hi!”

“Good morning sweetie. I take it you had fun at
Amina’s.” Cassandra slides out of William’s lap tightening her
robe.

“It was good. No nightmares.”

“That’s good. Have you eaten?”

“With Amina. Flatcakes….and chocolate chip
cookies.” Tori’s mischievous smile warms Cassandra’s heart, and
gives her a craving.

“Chocolate chip cookies?
You
got cookies
with your breakfast?” William receives a seriously put out look
from his wife.

“I’ll have Hutu send some up.” Smiling at Lucas
he turns his attention to Victoria.

“Just how did you convince Hutu to bring you
cookies with your breakfast young lady?” Innocent green eyes meet
his.

“I’ll never tell.” William looks to Lucas.

“You have your work cut out for you.”

Brushing Victoria’s hair Cassandra thinks about
the day ahead. “Victoria.” Putting the brush aside she turns her
niece around to face her. “Today we go before the Assembly. Today
we get the Glitter Man.”

“Really!?!” Victoria’s eyes lose their
innocence, breaking Cassandra’s heart.

“Yes. So now you
have
to listen to me.”
She grips Victoria’s chin. “You stay with Lucas today. Right at his
side. Do you understand me?”

“Yes Aunt Cassie.”

“You do exactly what he tells you, he’ll keep
you safe.”

“I
know
Aunt Cassie.” Victoria rolls her
eyes.

“No Victoria, you don’t.
Listen
to me.”
Cassandra waits until Tori’s eyes settle. “If Lucas tells you your
leaving, you
leave
, whether William and I do or not.
Do
you understand me?
”

“Aunt Cassie?” Victoria finally looks
scared.

“It’s been arranged Victoria. Do you want to get
the Glitter Man?”

“Yes.” She whispers.

“Then you have to promise me,
promise me
,
you’ll do this. I can’t do what I need to do, neither can the
Admiral if we have to worry about you. About you not listening to
Lucas.”

“I’ll listen Aunt Cassie, I promise.”

“Alright, we leave at 1200, lets finish your
hair then you can decide what you want to wear.”

“How’s she doing?” Watching Cassandra enter
their room he can tell she’s troubled.

“Good, picking out what she wants to wear.”
Walking over to the dresser she picks out black eadia. Leaning back
on it she looks at him. “Am I doing the right thing? Putting her
through this?”

“You’re doing what you have to do to keep her
safe.”

“If we left now she’d be safe.”

“What kind of life would she have Cassandra.”
Framing her face he tells her what she already knows. “Always
hiding, worrying about Audric finding her. It’s time to finish
this.”

“You’re right, I know you are.” Looking into his
steady eyes she draws strength. “I just needed hear it.”

“You’re tired.” William’s concerned, she never
doubts herself unless she’s tired.

“I’ll be fine. I have you.” Stretching up she
gives him a reassuring kiss. “But I could sure use a cookie.”

Her request eases some of his tension. “I’ll get
you some. Now get in the shower.” He turns her to the bathroom.

“Alone?” She looks over her shoulder realizing
she’s only half teasing as her husband’s eyes flare.

“
Yes. We’ll have time for that later.” But
he indulges himself with one hard kiss. “Now go, I’ll have cookies
waiting for you when you get out.”

“Cookies, as in multiple.”

“Yes multiple.” With a gentle shove he sends her
on her way.

Biting into a cookie Cassandra looks at the
clothes Pazel and Kia has made for her. They were beautifully done,
elegant. Hopefully she’d get to wear all of them. Wiping the crumbs
for her fingers she reaches for the black pant outfit she’s yet to
wear. Letting her robe fall to the ground she pulls on the pants
first. They were tailored to fit her form perfectly until they
widened at mid thigh. Kia had placed inserts in the legs allowing
them to drape as they widen. Pulling each leg to the side the
hidden slit on the inside of each leg opens, easily revealing her
birthmark.

Satisfied she pulls on a simple camisole style
top that is covered with simple black lace accented with a small
amount of clear crystals, wide straps, unadorned, finish the top.
Leaving the matching long sleeved jacket hanging she turns for
footwear.

Heeled boots, not to high in case she needs to
move quickly, but high enough for the pants to just brush the
floor. Zipping them tight she checks, with the tops ending just
below her knee, her birthmark is completely covered. Smiling she
walks into the bedroom.

Munching on another cookie she looks at her
reflection in the mirror. Where at Dadrian’s sochraide she’d been a
tower of white, today she would be dark, not for darkness but in
remembrance of those she’d lost. Today there would be no
redemption. Not for Audric.

Holding the cookie in her mouth she pulls her
hair up high looking at the results, shaking her head she lets it
fall. Running her fingers through the dark mass she lets it fall
naturally onto her shoulders. Yes, that’s what she wants, an
outward sign she wouldn’t be controlled or confined.

Finishing the cookie she turns to find William
leaning against the door frame, watching.

Finding her dressed in elegant black, deciding
how to wear her hair a half eaten cookie between her lips has
William leaning against the door frame. He can see her mind
working, up, back or down, what is the image she wants to present.
As she runs her fingers through her hair letting it fall free and
natural he knows she’s found it. Finishing the cookie she turns
finding him.

“How many?”

“What?” Walking towards him she frowns.

“Cookies.”

“Oh…huh just three, so far.” She gives him a
guilty smile.

“Really?”

“I’m not done yet.” Smiling she gives him a
gentle kiss. Pulling her close he deepens it.

“It’s almost time.” He lips continue to brush
hers.

“I know.” With her arms wrapped around his waist
she frowns.

“What?” Easing back she looks at him. She hasn’t
seen him wear this jacket since their arrival. It contained none of
the medals she’d grown accustomed to seeing on his chest and had a
large bump.

“You’re carrying a weapon.”

“Yes.” The thoughts running threw her mind are
written on her face. She voices none of them. Just nods.

“Let me get my jacket and I’ll be ready.”

“Marat, report.”

“Sir, King Jotham and his security have left the
Palace. Four Limisins are waiting at the private garage. All men
are ready, weapons and communicators checked. Waiting for your
orders, sir.”

“Cassandra?” William turns to her. She’s
standing at the doors to the garden, listening as she looks out.
The garden that, just yesterday she’d married William in. It was
time to block it out, to focus on what she has to do.

Turning he sees she’s pulled herself in, her
eyes flat, shutting everyone out. While he understands it he
despises it. “I’m ready.”

Entering the garage Tar and the Michelakakis get
into the second Limisin while William leads his family to the
third. Once everyone is secured, guards fill the first and last
Limisin, surrounding them with protection.

“Aunt Cassie?” Victoria is sitting between Kyle
and Lucas, watching her Aunt.

“What baby?” She sees the flicker of fear in her
eyes. “Come over here.” She holds out her hand, sliding over so she
can sit between her and William. “Tell me.”

Closing her eyes she burrows into her aunt.
Leaning down Cassandra kisses the top of her head. “Hey, it’s going
to be okay. We’ve got three big strong Zafar men here that are
going to help and protect us.”

“I know.” Tori’s voice is muffled.

Cassandra knows her niece, she hates having to
sit still, has an active mind, always wanting to learn. “Tori,” She
tips her chin up. “I need you to do something for me.”

“I already promised I’d listen to Lucas.”

“I know and I still need you to do that but
there’s something else. Something I need you to do. That only
you
can do.”