by N M Zoltack
The dim lighting from the flickering torches held in scones along the dungeon walls cast more shadows the illumination, but still, Sabine could see the guard’s cheeks redden with embarrassment.
“They are more than capable of defending your life,” he said begrudgingly.
“Well, then. Do as I bid you.”
The guard nodded and turned to leave.
“Oh, one more thing?” she called.
Thorley twisted to stare down at her. “Yes, My Queen?”
“Do not dare to question me again,” she said sharply. “I am your queen, and you will do as I say.”
“Forgive me, My Queen.” Thorley bowed and rushed away.
Honestly, Sabine was pleased that he had showed signs of being worried about her safety, although she supposed that could have been an act.
Pushing all thoughts of the guard and possibly betrayals aside, Sabine strolled along the dungeon floor. The servant had been placed nearly all the way in the back of the dungeon. The coldness seeped through her gown. She should have grabbed a shawl before heading down this way.
The servant was pacing the floor. Even when he should have realized he had company, he did not stop.
A guard from down the dungeon hall approached, but Sabine lifted her hand and shook his head. The guard slinked away back into the shadows. She did not care for the lack of lighting as she had no idea how far away the guard now was, nor if more guards lurked down here. Regardless, she should be in the habit of assuming any and all conversations were overheard by persons who might stand against her.
“Ulric Cooper,” she said.
The servant hesitated ever so slightly in his pacing before resuming as if she had not made her presence known.
She gripped the cold bars of his cell. “I remain your queen. You will treat me with respect.”
“I will show you all the respect you have given me,” he said, daring to stare her in the eye. He lifted his chin, as haughty as any proud noble.
“You are a servant, or, rather, you were a servant. Now, you are nothing more than a criminal—”
“I have committed no crime, and you have no proof to the contrary.”
The man was infuriating in his smug calmness. He truly seemed to not be afraid at all.
“You do realize you will be killed for this.”
“For a lie? To cover up another’s sin? Someone else killed the prince.”
“If it was not you, then who was it? Not that I believe you,” Sabine said.
“Of course not. How could you believe the word of a servant?”
“Do you know where the princess is?”
Ulric blinked several times, and she could not tell if his surprise was genuine or fabricated.
“The princess is missing?” Ulric asked.
“I should have this cell opened so I could slap you for your insolence,” she said angrily. “Everyone knows the princess is missing.”
“Unless someone has killed her,” the servant dared to say.
“Is that a confession?” the queen asked through gritted teeth.
Certainly, she knew the servant had not killed Prince Noll, but no one had seen the princess since around that time. Was there another killer among them?
“You left after the prince was murdered. The princess is missing. You return.”
“Without the princess,” he said.
“Because you hid her body?”
“Why hide her body but not the prince’s?” Ulric demanded.
“I will have your head—”
“Go ahead. Have my head. I know whose quarters are on that side of the castle where the prince was found.”
Sabine laughed. “Ah, now, do you? My quarters—”
“I am not speaking of your quarters but your mother’s.”
“My mother no longer lives there,” she lied to see what his reaction might be, grateful all the more that she had decided against relocating her mother.
“How curious,” the servant said sarcastically. “I supposed that she was moved after the prince was killed.”
It was beyond infuriating that the servant was trying to piece what had happened together and had done so well despite the fact that his words were not accurate.
“The prince was pushed down a flight of stairs,” Sabine said, furious that she felt the need to defend her mother. “That particular flight of stairs is not the closest to my mother’s quarters. You are mistaken.”
“Or perhaps that was the plan, an attempt to hide her involvement. Or were you the one to shove Noll?”
“Do not dare speak to me in that tone!” Sabine fought to control her temper. Her had itched to slap the man.
This violence her mother would condone, even revel in. Sabine… she did not know if she approved or not, but she had need of this man… for a time.
Sabine glowered at him. Even if her mother forced her hand, Sabine no longer wanted to free this pauper who would dare try to manipulate her.
“You will not die from beheading or from hanging or from drowning. You will die from starvation, do you understand? You have tried my patience far too long with your biting words. The deceit of your tongue will not be heard by another man, and if you so much as ask the guards anything, if you say even one more word, I will have your deceitful tongue cut out of your throat. Do you understand me?”
After a slight hesitation, the servant nodded.
“Do you understand me?” Sabine shouted.
The servant nodded again.
“Good,” she said more calmly. “I hope it takes you a long time to die and that you suffer.” Sabine stepped back. “Guard! See to it that he is given water to drink but no food.”
“Yes, My Queen,” the guard said, slipping forward from the shadows.
Sabine winced. The guard had stood far too close and had most likely overheard too much.
Ignoring them both, Sabine stalked toward the stairs.
The guard followed her. “That one is deranged pure and simple. I bet you’re right. I think he killed the sister and the brother. Might have tried for Rosalynne next if he had the chance. Thank God he never killed her too or else he might have then gone after you.”
Sabine whirled around and gripped the man’s armored shoulders. “Thank you,” she murmured.
“For what?” he asked, confused.
“For worrying over me. I am fine.”
The guard shrugged. “We all are until we aren’t.”
She nodded to him. As soon as she began to ascend the stairs, the guard’s words haunted her. For the moment, she was fine, and hopefully, there wouldn’t be a day for a long while when she wasn’t any longer or any possible way fine.
26
Queen Rosalynne Rivera
Rosalynne had been leaning on Wilfrid Frye lately. The guard was one of the few persons she trusted to keep her council. As of yet, she still only had one guard watching over her, which even she knew was insufficient. Wilfrid had to sleep at some point.
That morning, Rosalynne interviewed several knights and finally settled on two. Eldric Synder and Bernard Belinelli. They were both more than capable with their weapons, intelligent, and they had served her father well before her.
Bernard she assigned to herself. Eldric, though, she asked if he would be willing to watch over the queen’s mother, Greta Grantham.
“I will do whatever you ask of me,” Eldric said.
“I know that,” Rosalynne said patiently. “Yet my question remains. Will you watch over her for me?”
The knight nodded. “Of course, My Queen.”
His expression never altered, but she saw the truth in his eyes. He had understood from the first that which she was asking of him. She understood his initial reaction. A queen asking someone to do something, especially asking a knight, simply was not done. But Rosalynne wanted respect, and so, she would first give it.
“Thank you.”
The knight bowed to her and went off in search of his charge.
Bernard Beline
lli had originally been from Cilla. He had not ever returned to his village after being trained to knighthood. He had only been a knight for two years now, but he was fit and capable. Eldric was older, at almost thirty, but the youthfulness of Wilfrid, Thorley, and now Bernard might work well in Rosalynne’s favor.
Pleased with that endeavor completed, Rosalynne waltzed to the royal dining hall and had a light meal. As she ate some fresh fish, she reflected on the upcoming assembly with her people. The previous one, five days ago, had gone rather well, although far too many of the peasants had only come to see about learning more about Prince Noll. Also, many had asked about Princess Vivian. Rosalynne had not given them many details, but overall, the people seemed to have been satisfied.
In two days, she expected more of the same. The people were both curious and worried, and she would do all she could to ensure they did not become fearful as well.
She had looked into who lived on that side of the castle. While the queen’s mothers did not directly live on that side of the castle, Rosalynne could not help wondering if she or Sabine had been involved. Who else would wish Noll dead? Try as she might, Rosalynne could think of no one else. Without proof of Greta’s involvement, Rosalynne would not bother to confront her. She knew the older woman would claim that she had not killed Noll, that someone was trying to make her look guilty, and so on. Excuses would abound.
Which was all the more reason that Rosalynne had felt the need to have a guard she could trust watch the woman.
During her small meal, she contemplated asking her guards to join her because she hated to eat alone. She missed Noll’s constant questions. She missed bickering with Vivian. She missed them both dearly.
So much heartache. So much pain. So much sorrow.
Despite the marching of time, Rosalynne still felt as if she had not had the chance to properly mourn her brother or even her father for that matter. For the most part, Rosalynne felt so very removed from her feelings that she did not know how to experience any emotion. If she opened herself up to grieve, she feared she would not be able to function as a young woman, let alone as a queen.
Once Rosalynne finished eating, she deduced that it was time to have another meeting with Advisor Aldus Perez. It had been far too long since she broached the subject of the prince’s murder. It aggravated her that the killer had yet to be found. While she no longer feared that her own life was in danger, she still needed the murderer to be punished.
Her slippers hardly made a sound as she rushed to the council room. She had already interviewed her father’s men for the various positions of the council and found only half to be competent. As she was not the ruling queen, Rosalynne could not truly forge her own council, but she was slowly piecing together all of the men and women she would have by her side when that day came. Because, whether Sabine would willingly turn over her right to rule or not, Rosalynne would be the only true queen of Tenoch Proper.
But only because she could not abide having that woman on the throne. Rosalynne still did not want the crown herself, and if she could find someone worthy of it, she would turn over the crown. Alas, that was not an option that she could ever exercise.
Bjorn came to mind, but Rosalynne ignored it. She had eaten a few meals with the tournament winner from Maloyan, yet she still could not bring herself to fully trust anyone. Perhaps she never would. Regardless, as much as she had need for a king, Rosalynne did not want to marry. It was foolish of her to act this way. If the only way for her to secrete the crown from Sabine were to marry, why was she delaying the matter?
If only she could follow in the Fitzroys’ footsteps! As they had no heirs, they had appointed a Bahr to the crown upon the end of their reign. Why could she not do the same?
But with there already being two queens, Rosalynne knew she needed her claim to be even stronger. With a husband and a son or daughter, Rosalynne could assume the rule that was hers by birthright even before she reached twenty-one years of age. She was only eighteen now. Three years with Sabine as the ruler would be three too long.
If not Bjorn, then who? The ball that Sabine had planned might work in Rosalynne’s favor. Without a doubt, Sabine herself would also be looking to find herself a husband too.
The deceit and the games we play. Rosalynne grimaced and burst into the council room. Several persons were inside, including Aldus Perez, and she kindly demanded that the others all give her and Aldus the room.
The men and women did so with grace and respect. Rosalynne noted their names and wondered if they were Sabine’s council. The ruling queen herself was not here. Perhaps Aldus was taking it upon himself to address Sabine’s council. Just how much control did the advisor have?
“My Queen,” Aldus said, coming to his feet. He walked around the table, seized Rosalynne’s hands and kissed her knuckles. “How can your humble servant serve you?”
“You are a lot of things,” Rosalynne said dryly. “Humble is not among your virtues.”
Aldus threw back his head and laughed. “I do not have many virtues.”
“Most men do not.” When he opened his mouth, she added, “Nor do most women.”
“Gentlemen and ladies only.”
“You are not a gentleman, then?”
“You tell me.”
Rosalynne stared at him curiously. He was not that much older than her. Did he court Sabine? Was he trying to court her? The advisor had power from his position, but did he long for more? Did he wish for the crown?
He shan’t get it from me.
“You are an advisor,” she finally said, “and you are failing me.”
“Never, My Queen,” he said with a gasp. “Tell me how I—”
“Noll.”
Immediately, any pretense of seducing her if that had been his goal fell away. The advisor cleared his throat.
“You should speak to the queen.”
Fury laced through her. Why would he dare to tell her such a thing? If Sabine had knowledge of the killer, why had the queen not told her already? Why had Sabine withheld this information?
Rosalynne closed the already tight space between them. “You would do well to remember that I am queen too.”
“My Queen,” Aldus said, stepping back and falling to one knee. “I apologize. I feel it is my duty to help you both. I serve only ever the crown. You must believe me that I would never do anything to harm you. Your brother—”
“Do not dare speak to me about Noll unless you have the name of his killer and satisfactory proof that he or she was the murderer.”
“You wish for proof, My Queen?”
“Indubiously,” she stated firmly.
“My Queen, that might not be possible.”
“I do know you have offered gold for anyone who has seen the murder, but thus far, everyone who has approached has been determined to be lying. They were not at the castle when Noll had been killed or else they had been at the assembly.”
“You remain certain that Noll was murdered then?” Aldus asked. “We have no proof of the exact timing of his death.”
“I am as certain as can be. How else could no servant or maid have seen Noll? They were all outside for the duration of the assembly. There are too many maids and servants rushing about the castle for me to believe it possible that none witnessed anything.”
“I suppose that makes sense,” Aldus said.
“We have gone over this before,” she said dryly.
“I know, but you have no proof of that, not truly.”
She gnashed her teeth. “What news might the queen have for me?” she asked through gritted teeth. She hated referring to Sabine as queen.
“I feel as if that is not my place.”
Rosalynne slid back a step. She never had told the advisor to get up from one knee, and she did not now. “Then you have chosen her over me. I see that you do not only serve the crown because if you did, you would recall that my brother had worn one himself.”
“My Queen,” Aldus called out, but she did not turn around.
The door to the council room opened beneath her palm. Between her guards was Tabes. Rosalynne bent down and scooped the dog into her arms. He was still small yet, still growing, and he licked her face. She allowed herself a small smile. Noll’s dog had been sleeping with her lately. For the most part, he kept to himself during the day when he normally would have been nipping at Noll’s heels. That the dog had found his way to her meant a great deal. Perhaps his mourning was slowly ending. Mayhap they could help each other with their grief.
When Rosalynne looked up, approaching her and her guards from down the hall was Thorley Everett. She had hardly seen the guard since she had given him to watch over Sabine, and she rushed over to him. Along the way, Tabes squirmed out of her arms and hovered by her long skirt.
She gripped the guard’s elbow and ducked him into the nearest tea room. As normal, her guards remained in the hall, but she motioned for Wilfrid and Bernard to join them.
Once Bernard closed the door and settled beside Wilfrid to guard it, Rosalynne turned to Thorley. “What news do you have?”
“The queen can talk in very hushed tones when she wishes to. At times, she even manages to lose me. I think she may then go to see Aldus.”
“Why wouldn’t she want you around for meetings with her advisor?” Rosalynne was confused.
“Because of the natures of their discussions?” Wilfrid suggested.
“Or because there isn’t discussions going on at all,” Bernard said.
Rosalynne’s eyes widened. “Do you think that has merit to it?” she asked Thorley.
The guard nodded. “I do. One of those times, I was able to locate where she had been without her noticing me. When she left the room, she was fixing her clothes. I stayed in that hiding spot for as long as I dared and finally he left. I then risked going into the room and saw that no one else had been there.”
“I suspected as much. Good. This is… Thank you.”
Thorley hesitated.
“There is more?”
“She has been avoiding Aldus for secret meetings so I have yet to find a chance to break away until now,” Thorley said in a rush. “I cannot dally for much longer, but the other queen and Aldus have arrested a man for your brother’s murder.”